Looking forward to the Kentucky Derby

I remember about five years ago, one of the horses in the Kentucky Derby caught my attention because of its name. The horse was a 50-1 underdog, so I thought it would be fun to place a bet. Of course I never got around to it, and then I was pretty bummed to see the horse pull out a stunning upset.

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The Light from the TV Shows: A Chat with Clive Standen (“Vikings”)

Given the astounding success that History Channel found with its previous based-on-stuff-that-really-happened dramatic effort, “Hatfields and McCoys,” it’s no wonder that the network is throwing such a profound promotional push behind its latest endeavor, “Vikings.” Granted, the cast of this one can’t quite compare with headline names like Kevin Costner and Bill Paxton, but don’t be so hasty to dismiss it just because you don’t know as many of the actors off the top of your head. After all, at the very least, it’s got Gabriel Byrne, who’s quite good (as anyone who’s watched him on HBO’sIn Treatmentor any number of his many cinematic efforts can handily testify), but, seriously, there’s a lot of other solid actors in the ensemble as well…like, say, Clive Standen, for instance. Bullz-Eye had a chance to chat with Standen about his work on “Vikings,” but we also managed to chat a bit about his work on “Camelot”  and “Doctor Who as well as a slightly less fondly remembered effort called “Heroes and Villains.”

VikingsCliveStanden

Bullz-Eye: To start with the inevitable, how did you find your way into “Vikings in the first place? Presumably it didn’t hurt that you’d already worked with the creators.

Clive Standen: It was a long process for me. I was fighting them, kicking and screaming, to try and get seen for this. [Laughs.] I was filming with one of the producers of Vikings, Morgan O’Sullivan, when I did “Camelot,” and I remember him and Michael Hirst talking about it quite a lot then as a new, exciting project they’d been working on for ages. Michael had been invested in the Viking saga for a long time. Right from the beginning, I think they were looking for big names, and they had their kind of wish list, with people like Viggo Mortensen and…well, it was a completely different breed. And I was stuck in “Camelot,” and I was just so jealous. When “Camelot” was finished, I was writing letters and, as I say, kicking and screaming, saying, “Can I get seen for it?” And they wanted to see me for Rollo, which is the part that I played, but for some reason I went on this whole journey of doing screen tests and things for the part of Ragnar. At the very end, though, they offered me Rollo, which was the part that I wanted in the first place, so I must say it made me very happy.

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Picture of the Day: The Amazing Rachel Sterling

We always loved going to Los Amgeles to shoot Featured Models, as we ran across amazing beauties like Rachel Sterling, who you might recognize from her appearances in films like “Wedding Crashers.”

The Amazing Rachel Sterling

  

Coming Soon: A Moviegoer’s Guide to March

march_preview

After suffering through the doldrums of winter, it’s encouraging to see that the quality (and selection) of movies will improve along with the weather. Though many of this month’s films probably won’t be remembered by the time summer rolls around, there are a few indie flicks with real cult potential and a pair of tentpole-type movies based on popular properties that will benefit from opening during a less competitive time of year.

“JACK THE GIANT SLAYER”

Who: Nicholas Hoult, Ewan McGregor, Eleanor Tomlinson, Ian McShane and Bill Nighy
What: When a young farmhand unwittingly opens a gateway between our world and a fearsome race of giants, he must fight for his kingdom and the princess he loves.
When: March 1st
Why: It’s been awhile since Bryan Singer directed a movie that I was genuinely excited about, and unfortunately, “Jack the Giant Slayer” doesn’t break that trend. Though the fantasy film sounds great in theory, the trailers don’t look very promising, particularly in regards to its uneven tone (is it for children, adults or the whole family?) and cartoonish CGI. It doesn’t even bare much resemblance to the fairy tales on which it’s based, and while the cast is filled with some great actors (Nicholas Hoult appears to be the real deal), there’s probably a good reason why the original summer release date was axed.

“STOKER”

Who: Mia Wasikowska, Nicole Kidman, Matthew Goode and Jacki Weaver
What: After India’s father dies, her Uncle Charlie comes to live with her and her unstable mother, only to discover that he has ulterior motives.
When: March 1st
Why: Continuing the Korean invasion that kicked off in January with Kim Ji-woon’s “The Last Stand,” Park Chan-wook’s English-language debut hits theaters in time for U.S. audiences to get accustomed to the director’s unique style ahead of the long-awaited remake of his 2003 cult hit “Oldboy.” It’s taken longer than expected for Park to export his talents to Hollywood, but “Stoker” is the perfect project if there ever was one. It’s also clear from the cast he’s assembled that the director is well-admired within the industry, and all three leads don’t seem to be holding back. Early buzz has been mostly positive, drawing comparisons to Hitchcock, and that alone should be enough to get you excited.

“OZ THE GREAT AND POWERFUL”

Who: James Franco, Michelle Williams, Mila Kunis, Rachel Weisz and Zach Braff
What: A small-time magician with questionable ethics arrives in a magical land and must choose between becoming a good man or a great one.
When: March 8th
Why: Disney is putting a lot of faith in Sam Raimi’s “Wizard of Oz” prequel, no doubt hoping that it can reach “Alice in Wonderland” levels of success, but was anyone really clamoring for another movie? It’s not even based on any of L. Frank Baum’s novels, despite the fact that Disney owns the rights to nearly every book in the Oz series, and though it’s supposedly inspired by his works, the risk of upsetting fans of the original film doesn’t seem worth it. Then again, “Oz the Great and Powerful” is exactly the kind of franchise-ready cash cow that Disney loves to produce (i.e. “Pirates of the Caribbean”), and while it’s depressing to see Raimi wasting his talents, at least it’s in good hands.

“DEAD MAN DOWN”

Who: Colin Farrell, Noomi Rapace, Dominic Cooper and Terrence Howard
What: In New York City, a crime lord’s right-hand man is seduced by a woman seeking retribution against his boss.
When: March 8th
Why: Park Chan-wook isn’t the only foreign director making his English-language debut this month, as Niels Arden Oplev follows up his award-winning Swedish version of “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo” with a new film that reunites him with star Noomi Rapace. This is one of those movies that flew completely under my radar until it came time to start planning the preview, but from what I’ve seen so far, “Dead Man Down” has the potential to be the big surprise of March. Colin Farrell is capable of delivering great work with the right material, and Terrence Howard is an excellent choice to play the silky-smooth villain, but more than anything else, this could be Oplev’s coming out party as a director now that he’s no longer stuck in the shadow of Stieg Larsson’s popular novel.

“THE INCREDIBLE BURT WONDERSTONE”

Who: Steve Carell, Jim Carrey, Steve Buscemi, Olivia Wilde and James Gandolfini
What: After magician Burt Wonderstone splits from his longtime stage partner, he sets out to rediscover what made him love magic in the first place.
When: March 15th
Why: “The Incredible Burt Wonderstone” may sound like comedy gold on paper, but it’s hard to get past that terrible trailer, which almost certainly doesn’t do the movie justice. Though pairing Steve Carell and Jim Carrey together in a film would have been a brilliant stroke of casting five years ago, neither actor has done anything of note recently. It’s also a little strange that the movie will be opening South by Southwest this year, because it doesn’t seem to have the type of comic edge I’ve come to expect from the Austin-based film festival. Then again, if it’s good enough for SXSW, then I’m willing to remain cautiously optimistic that it won’t be nearly as bad as the early trailers suggest.

“OLYMPUS HAS FALLEN”

Who: Gerard Butler, Aaron Eckhart, Morgan Freeman, Ashley Judd and Rick Yune
What: Disgraced Secret Service agent Mike Banning must rescue the President after he’s held hostage by terrorists inside the White House.
When: March 22nd
Why: Over the past 20 years, there has been a bizarre trend of likeminded disaster movies opening within months of each another, so it seems only natural that director Roland Emmerich (who’s no stranger to this phenomenon) is involved in Hollywood’s latest instance of copycat action thrillers. Though his similarly plotted “White House Down” won’t arrive in theaters until June, “Training Day” director Antoine Fuqua has beaten him to the punch. Both movies will probably be pretty interchangeable in terms of plot and action, but while “White House Down” features the more box office-friendly duo of Channing Tatum and Jamie Foxx, I’d take Gerard Butler and Aaron Eckhart any day of the week. For those waiting for a “24” movie, this could be the next best thing.

“ADMISSION”

Who: Tina Fey, Paul Rudd, Nat Wolff, Michael Sheen and Gloria Reuben
What: A Princeton admissions officer takes a professional risk after she meets a college-bound alternative school kid who might be the son she gave up years ago.
When: March 22nd
Why: Despite its sitcomy premise, “Admission” has one thing going for it that most romantic comedies don’t: Tina Fey and Paul Rudd. The two stars are not only some of Hollywood’s most likeable comic actors, but they tend to make everything they’re in more enjoyable. Fey hasn’t appeared on the big screen since 2010’s “Date Night,” but now that “30 Rock” is over, here’s hoping that audiences will see more of her in the future, because she’s the kind of leading lady that could reinvigorate the rom-com genre. Director Paul Weitz has had his share of flops in recent years, but he’s proven with “About a Boy” and “In Good Company” that he’s capable of making a great movie.

“SPRING BREAKERS”

Who: Vanessa Hudgens, Selena Gomez, Ashley Benson and James Franco
What: Four college girls who land in jail after robbing a restaurant to fund their spring break vacation find themselves in the debt of a drug and arms dealer.
When: March 22nd
Why: Guaranteed to be one of the most controversial films released all year, Harmony Korine’s “Spring Breakers” is the kind of movie that people are either going to really love or really hate. I’m not sure which group I’ll end up in, but Korine has definitely perked my interest with his sumptuous visuals and timely social satire. The big story, however, is the cast, which includes former Disney stars Vanessa Hudgens and Selena Gomez trying to break free from their squeaky clean images with more adult roles, and James Franco continuing his bizarre acting career with a turn as a cornrowed, gold-toothed wannabe gangster that should make the movie worth seeing whether it’s good or not.

“G.I. JOE: RETALIATION”

Who: Dwayne Johnson, Bruce Willis, Channing Tatum, Ray Park and Adrianne Palicki
What: The G.I. Joes are not only fighting their mortal enemy Cobra; they are forced to contend with threats from within the government that jeopardize their very existence.
When: March 29th
Why: The quasi-sequel to 2009’s ill-fated “G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra” has had a pretty bump road on its way to theaters after its initial summer 2012 release date was pushed back nearly a year amid reports that Paramount wanted to convert the film to 3D. Of course, the real reason for the delay was some not-so-secret reshoots with Channing Tatum, whose reported death in the beginning of the movie didn’t go down well with test audiences. Regardless of what the finished product looks like now, it would be pretty hard to do any worse than Steven Sommers’ first film. And between the addition of guys like Dwayne Johnson and Bruce Willis and director John M. Chu’s professed love for the property, “Retaliation” could be just what the franchise needs to get it back on track.

“THE PLACE BEYOND THE PINES”

Who: Ryan Gosling, Bradley Cooper, Eva Mendes and Rose Byrne
What: A motorcycle stunt rider turns to robbing banks to provide for his lover and new child, a decision that puts him on a collision course with an ambitious rookie cop.
When: March 29th
Why: I wasn’t crazy about Derek Cianfrance’s anti-rom-com “Blue Valentine,” but his second outing with Ryan Gosling looks much better, despite the fact that some people are already lazily comparing it to “Drive.” The movie premiered last year at the Toronto International Film Festival to glowing reviews, and there’s a good chance that Gosling and Bradley Cooper will earn Oscar nominations for their work here. Both men have proven themselves capable of delivering excellent performances, and it’s only a matter of time before they win the big prize. What really makes the film stand out, though, is that it doesn’t seem to be your average crime thriller. There’s something smarter and more emotional about the story being told, and that’s usually the sign of a great movie.

  

Angie Vu Ha – Asia’s Sexiest DJ

We’re very excited to feature Angie Vu Ha, a Vietnamese model, DJ and producer who was kind enough to share these eight amazing photographs.

Angie started modeling in the fashion industry when she was 17. Shortly after that a film director discovered her and gave her the leading role in a TV series. She then took her talents to the music business and is now best known as “Asia’s Sexiest DJ” and was recently featured as one of the Top 10 Sexiest Supermodel DJs in the World. She also produces music, and her current tracks are being supported by some of the world’s elite DJs.

Dishing out the hottest Funky House, Electro, and Dirty Dutch Tracks, Angie released three singles, Cookies, Cream and Cyber Sex on Escape Recordings UK, released on Beatport. You can see more videos on her YouTube channel.

Angie is very active on the Internet and social media, so there are many places you can follow her career, including her official website, her Facebook fan page and on Twitter. In October 2012, Angie won the Playboy Miss Social contest.

You can also check out this awesome video of Angie behind the scenes from her photo shoots for her Limited Edition Glamour Calendar 2013.

Bullz-Eye.com brings you some of the sexiest Internet Models from around the web, along with producing our own original glamour photography in channels like our Featured Model and Girl Next Door sections. Check everything out starting on our Opposite Sex page.