BBC wins request for Stig case to be held in secret

The costumed Top Gear stunt driver had planned to unmask himself in a candid new autobiography, but his employers are seeking an injunction to prevent HarperCollins from publishing the book.

Mr Justice Morgan yesterday granted the Corporation's request for the case to be heard in private, ruling that a public hearing “would defeat the object”.

HarperCollins had applied for the public to be allowed to sit in on the case, arguing that it wanted to defend its reputation openly against perceived criticism in the press.
The Stig races a variety of cars on the Top Gear programme clad in white overalls and a blacked-out visa, and only about six people - including the programme’s presenters, Jeremy Clarkson, James May and Richard Hammond - know his identity for certain.
The secrecy has elevated him to cult status and spawned t-shirts with slogans such as "My Dad is the Stig", but he is said to be unhappy that other presenters are able to earn considerable sums from book deals and promotional products.
The BBC claims that the mystery driver signed a confidentiality agreement and argues that blowing his cover would spoil viewers’ enjoyment of the flagship BBC 2 show.
HarperCollins has criticised the Corporation for spending license payers’ money on the attempt to block the book.
The publisher said in a statement: "We will vigorously defend the perfectly legitimate right of this individual to tell his story".
Top Gear’s executive producer, Andy Wilman, responded by accusing HarperCollins of being “a bunch of chancers” who were trying to “cash in” after contributing “absolutely bugger all” to the show’s eight-year creation.
Writing on the Top Gear blog, he also made a sideswip at the Stig, writing: "It's an issue of trust. Everyone who's ever worked on Top Gear has kept the Stig thing a secret, and the person who wears the suit has signed confidentiality agreements to do the same…Your word is supposed to mean something."
Speculation that the Stig could be Ben Collins, a racing driver and stuntman from Bristol, intensified earlier this month after the accounts of his company, Collins Autosport, were found to list “driving services provided for the BBC, mainly in the Top Gear programme”.
The 35-year-old, who has performed as a James Bond stunt double, was also “outed” as the Stig in 2009, when a builder, Jason Goody, claimed to have come across his famous white suit and gloves on display in a cabinet while working in his home.
Simon Whitehead, a Bristol gallery owner, later claimed that Mr Collins had identified himself as the mystery driver and asked if an artist could help produce a limited-edition print of him in action.
The current “white” Stig took on the role in 2003 after the original “black” Stig, the racing driver Perry McCarthy, outed himself in an autobiography called Flat Out, Flat Broke.

Zac Efron Gets Some Tips from Tom Cruise

An unlikely bromance has bloomed between Tom Cruise and Zac Efron, who recently became friends after bonding over their love of motorcycles. The two men apparently talk all the time, and Tom has even become Zac's so-called "professional and personal guru."

A source said: "Tom and Zac clicked the minute they met. Now, when Zac gets a script to consider, his first call is to Tom. Tom warned Zac to diversify and not get pigeon-holed in one type of role.”

Tom Cruise and his wife Katie Holmes (Bauer Griffin) In addition to giving the High School Musical actor professional advice, Tom, who is married to Katie Holmes, advises his young friend in personal matters too.

The source explained to the National Enquirer: "Zac is extremely shrewd, but he considers Tom a personal and professional guru.

“Tom also warned Zac how to conduct himself in public."

The pair are enjoying their bonding sessions so much, they're even considering working on a new movie together.

The source added: "They've even talked about teaming up on a film together -- the way Tom did with Paul Newman in the 1986 film The Color of Money."

Career advisor Tom Cruise

Tom Cruise is giving Zac Efron career advice.

The two actors – who recently became friends after realizing they are both motorcycle enthusiasts – speak regularly, with Hollywood legend Tom becoming the younger star's “professional and personal guru”.

A source said: “Tom and Zac clicked the minute they met.

“Now, when Zac gets a script to consider, his first call is to Tom. Tom warned Zac to diversify and not get pigeon-holed in one type of role.”

As well as giving the 'High School Musical' actor professional advice, the 'Knight and Day' star – who is married to Katie Holmes – advises his young friend of personal matters too.

The source explained to National Enquirer magazine: “Zac is extremely shrewd, but he considers Tom a personal and professional guru.”

“Tom also warned Zac how to conduct himself in public.”

The pair are enjoying their bonding sessions so much, they are even considering working on a new movie together.

The source added: “They've even talked about teaming up on a film together – the way Tom did with Paul Newman I the 1986 film 'The Color of Money'.”

Pakistani-Twitter-user-gets-Tom-Cruise-to-bail-out-flood-victims

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's tweeters are leaving no stone unturned to embarrass the international community, which hasn't yet done enough for victims of the devastating floods, by asking them why they aren't singing "We are the world" for the country.

Natasha Jahangir, a New York based photographer and architecture major, got Hollywood actor Tom Cruise to ask his fans to contribute for the flood victims through a tweet.

"It's so sad (that) Tom Cruise is ignoring his Pakistani fans. Help raise awareness/donations for Pakistan," read Jahangir's message to Cruise.

Though Cruise was quiet for two days, the "Mission Impossible" star responded with "People of Pakistan, our thoughts are with you."

Cruise encouraged his nearly million fans on Twitter to send at least 10 dollars through their mobiles by texting the word "flood". His message was retweeted by hundreds of fans.

What is baffling Jahangir and other young Pakistanis is why the international community isn't pooling resources for flood victims.

Jahangir's standard message ever since reads: "I don't hear anyone singing 'We are the world for Pakistan'."

In her own words she has been mass tweeting to celebs like a "mad spammer" with or without much success. American Idol host Ryan Seacrest, who has over 3.4 million followers on Twitter, asked his fans to donate 10 dollars to a Pakistan relief fund following a tweet from Jahangir.

Though Jahangir got lucky she isn't the only one reaching out to the stars. Zara, another Pakistani Twitter user, has been doing much the same.

"I can't begin to tell you all how lucky Ms Jahangir has been in tweeting, because I have been doing the same.

Luckily, I caught the attention of Angelina Jolie so far and it worked," she posted on a blog.

Tom Cruise Working Out Like Crazy, Thinking Plastic Surgery

 As he’s preparing to reprise his role as daredevil agent Ethan Hunt for “Mission: Impossible 4,” which goes into production this year, Tom Cruise has changed his lifestyle to get back in shape and is even considering plastic surgery.

According to the print issue of InTouch Weekly (story via here), Cruise is somewhat fearful that audiences and, most importantly, studio bosses will think he’s lost that certain something he had to make the character believable.

As such, he’s determined to shave off 10 years of both his body and his face: with strenuous workouts for the former and some help from plastic surgery for the latter. His determination must be even greater now that Oscar-nominee Jeremy Renner (of the Oscar-winning “The Hurt Locker”) has been cast as his younger associate who may even take his place for a potential fifth film.

“A month after celebrating his 48th birthday, Tom Cruise has vowed to shave years off his face – and physique. His goal? To look 10 years younger by the time he begins shooting Mission Impossible IV later this year,” writes the tab.

Since making the decision to get back in top shape, Cruise has been spending as much as three hours every single day at the gym, while also going on a diet and seriously considering getting some plastic surgery.

“Tom has put himself on a strict fitness routine and diet, which includes daily three-hour workouts and a low-carb meal plan consisting of 1,200-1,300 calories per day,” dishes a well-places but unnamed source.

“Tom had to fight hard to reprise his role as super agent Ethan Hunt – Paramount reportedly blamed Tom for the disappointing performance of MI:3, and they wanted someone younger – and cheaper – for the sequel,” the mag writes.

So Cruise is actually getting a never-expected second chance from Paramount with the fourth flick, which would explain why he’s determined to show that can “be” younger. He also reportedly accepted a cut in his usual fee, just to be allowed back on board.

“Tom is determined to look like he did 10 years ago… he has been working out with his personal trainer, and he is also considering getting Botox and fillers to smooth out his skin,” the same spy explains for the publication.

Admittedly, Cruise is so “focused” on his goal of making an energetic and believable Ethan Hunt that he’s not even visiting wife Katie and daughter Suri in Toronto because, claims the spy, “he doesn’t want any distractions.”

Tom Cruise donate for Pak flood-victims

LOS ANGELES: Hollywood mega star Tom Cruise has called upon his fans using social networking to give donations for the people affected by unprecedented floods in Pakistan. Tom Cruise’s message appears on Twitter in which he said: “People of Pakistan, our thoughts R with U.” He appealed for sending 10 dollars by phone by texting “Flood” to 27722.

Tom Cruise crashes teen fan's dirt bike

Hollywood actor Tom Cruise crashed a teenage fan's dirt bike into a wall while showing off some stunts.

The 'Knight and Day' star was reportedly asked by the fan to have a go on the speedy two-wheeled vehicle outside the Scientology Celebrity Centre in Hollywood. He lost control, crashed and ended up scraping the bike all up the side, reports contactmusic.com.

He reportedly told the young fan: 'Guess I got a bit carried away. Give me your name and phone number, and I'll have it fixed good as new'.

However, the teenager decided he would rather keep the bike in damaged state, autographed by Cruise.

As he started to head home, the teenager is said to have shouted at the actor: 'Thanks for breaking my bike in

How Else Can Paramount Make Us Forget Tom Cruise Is in Mission Impossible 4?

Poor Tom Cruise. Yesterday we learned that Paramount is adding Jeremy Renner to the fourth Mission Impossible movie as an operative who will someday inherit the franchise from Cruise. Today, we find out that they're also adding a female agent — Paula Patton and Lauren German are being considered, reports Deadline — and that MI4's title will not include the words "Mission Impossible," but, rather, completely different words ("much as Christopher Nolan's Batman sequel was simply titled The Dark Knight," says Variety), presumably to distance the film from previous installments that more prominently featured Tom Cruise. So how else might the studio downplay his involvement?

A few suggestions:

• You know how they're always using those cool lifelike masks in Mission Impossible movies? They could have Cruise wear a Robert Pattinson one for MI4's entire running time.

• Replace the Mission Impossible theme song — so identifiable with Cruise and the previous MI movies — with Cee-Lo's "Fuck You."

• Have Ethan Hunt lose the use of his legs during MI4's first few minutes, requiring him to transfer his consciousness into the body of a Na'Vi.

• Schedule his MI5 costume fittings during the MI4 publicity tour.

• Cast Mel Gibson as another fellow operative.

Surely you have better ideas! You know where to leave them.

 

Tom Cruise’s KNIGHT AND DAY

Share Tom Cruise, Cameron Diaz in James Mangold‘s Knight and Day Tom Cruise‘s vehicle Knight and Day was labeled a "belly-up flop" in the United States because it opened in late June with $20.1m on its initial weekend (the spy caper had been out since Wed. that week). Not helping matters was Cruise’s reputation as a Couch-Jumping Scientologist. Its run is almost over, Tom Cruise’s "flop" has taken in nearly $76m at the domestic box office. Not a bad figure, though a disappointment considering the film’s $117m production cost (not including marketing/distribution expenses). However, Knight and Day has scored $146.5m overseas, where apparently people don’t care about Cruise’s religious beliefs or where he chooses to do his calisthenics. The film’s worldwide total to date is $222.27m, placing it at no. 17 among 2010 releases. Not bad at all for a belly-up flop. Photo: Knight and Day (Frank Masi / 20th Century Fox)

Knives out for Jennifer Aniston as ‘Switch’ flops

Hollywood watchers love nothing better than putting the boot in to a struggling star, as actress Jennifer Aniston seems to be finding out. The knives came out for Tom Cruise this summer with his latest movie declared a turkey – and now it's the former Friends star's turn to be proclaimed a busted flush.

The difference of course is that Cruise was once box office platinum, while Aniston has – as many critics are keen to point out once again – never managed to capitalise on the fame she earned for 10 years in the world's most popular sitcom.
Friends wrapped in 2004, 10 years and 238 episodes after it started. Where are they now? Well, Matt LeBlanc (Joey) has not acted since 2006 while Lisa Kudrow (Phoebe) now produces the US version of Who Do You Think You Are?.
Matthew Perry's post-Friends career – he played Chandler - has included Emmy nominations for a part in The West Wing, but been comparatively low-key.
Courtney Cox (Monica), at least, is doing well on TV, with a starring role in Cougar Town and David Schwimmer (Ross) has directed successfully (Run Fatboy Run) and worked in theatre. But none of the five have managed to escape the long shadow of Friends for big screen success in lead parts.
Aniston has come closest, with a string of film roles – but has never scored a major hit. And her big screen successes have all been as a co-star – in Bruce Almighty with Jim Carrey, Marley & Me with Owen Wilson and The Break-Up with Vince Vaughn.
Now, her latest romantic comedy, The Switch (above), is officially a flop. Opening in the US this weekend, it took just $8m and languished in eighth place in the box office charts – as gossip blogger Perez Hilton put it: "Ouch!!!! She is just not a film star!"
"Another Aniston movie flops," was the Toronto Sun's succinct headline. "At what point will Hollywood give up on Jennifer Aniston?" wondered Forbes magazine. "Jennifer Aniston: Where should she go from here?" asked Entertainment Weekly.
And today Hilton has an answer for EW, with the news that Aniston seems to be capitulting: she will return to the small screen to join her old Friends co-star Courtney Cox with a guest role in Cougar Town, where she will play Cox's shrink.

Ahoy there! Katie Holmes Cruises on the high seas with Tom's adopted daughter Bella and Suri

Katie Holmes had a soggy family day out with step-daughter Bella Cruise and tot Suri in Toronto while taking a break from filming her new movie.

Despite the rain, the trio got in some mother-daughter bonding time over the weekend in Canada, with Katie bringing along some of her co-stars for the ride.

The former Dawson's Creek star and Bella were seen laughing and enjoying each other's company while on a ferry ride to an amusement park.

Soggy fun: Katie Holmes and step-daughter Bella Cruise enjoy a fun day out despite the wet weather as Suri struggles with her pink umbrella

Girlie fun: A dressed down Katie having a laugh with Bella as Suri looks on

Katie is currently filming the biopic The Kennedys with Greg Kinnear, who came along for the trip with his wife Helen and daughters Lily and Audrey - giving Suri some young playmates to have fun with.

The group loaded up on a ferry to Center Island in Lake Toronto, to visit Centreville Amusement Park for a fun-filled Saturday outing.

Bella who is Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman's adopted daughter has grown closer to Katie over the years and is seen out more with Katie than with Nicole.

Family day: Bella takes a picture of her little sister on her camera phone as they enjoy a ferry ride on Lake Toronto

The 17-year-old spends a lot of time with Katie, often enjoying shopping trips and movie set visits with her step-mum.

Tom and Nicole also have a 15-year-old adopted son Connor who Katie is close to as well.

Suri looked adorable in a pink summer dress, pairing it with purple ballet slippers and carrying a cuddly toy.

Cruising: Katie Holmes enjoys a ferry trip with her family and co-stars as they make their way to Centreville Amusement Park in Lake Toronto

She seemed to enjoy spending time with her big sister who took pride in  looking after the mini-fashionista.

Katie was dressed down in faded jeans, cowboy boots and a beige jacket. A far cry from the glamorous outfits she sports in her portrayal as style-icon Jackie Kennedy.

She has spent the week filming scenes leading up to the assassination of President John F. Kennedy.

Katie, wearing a replica of Jackie's iconic pink suit, and Greg Kinnear, who plays JFK, were seen recreating the former president's arrival at Dallas airport .

They then shot a sequence where the presidential motorcade leaves the site.

President Kennedy was killed on November 22, 1963, as his open-top limousine drove through Dallas.

Angelina Jolie Ready For Directing Debut

Jolie is said to be ready to begin directing a movie about the love story of a couple on opposing sides during wars in former Yugoslavia. Co-producer will be Filip Gajic – a reputable Belgrade director and owner of producing house Abarit. Rade Serbedzija will appear in the production, whilst Jolie will be cast as the lead female role.

Jolie has states that the movie focuses upon “a couple who meet on the eve of the war and the effect that it has on their relationship”. She has also states that “the film is a love story, not a political statement”.

Zac Efron 'talks on phone to Tom Cruise'

Zac Efron has reportedly become close friends with Tom Cruise.

The actor - who previously revealed that he received motorcycle riding lessons from Cruise - is said to talk on the phone often with the Knight and Day star.

“Tom and Zac clicked the minute they met. Since then, the two stars have talked by phone several times a week," a source told the National Enquirer.

"Zac is hungry to make the transition from teenage idol to movie superstar – and he’s using Tom’s career as a template for success. And Tom’s using Zac because he’s desperate to connect with a younger audience."

Dexter: The Fourth Season

Budding bromance: Zac Efron and Tom Cruise

Zac and Tom? Best buds, apparently.

Zac not only got motorbike lessons from Tom, but often calls him for a chat too, reports the National Enquirer.

"Tom and Zac clicked the minute they met. Since then, the two stars have talked by phone several times a week," a source said.

"Zac is hungry to make the transition from teenage idol to movie superstar – and he's using Tom's career as a template for success. And Tom's using Zac because he's desperate to connect with a younger audience."

Nice to know it's a friendship based on cold ambition and not, say, a shared love of dentistry.

When you think about it, Zac is a bit like a young Tom Cruise.

He's pretty, he's kind of earnest in interviews and, while he's not as wee as Wee Tom, he's not what you might call tall.

So perhaps it's not surprising that he's turning to the older star for guidance as he navigates the perilous paths of celebdom.

And in 20 years' time, after a couple of failed marriages, perhaps Zac can hook up with Suri, thereby beautifully completing the circle of Efron/Cruise lurve.

Yes, we're incurable romantics here at Eleven.

Tom Cruise yine baba olacak

Katie Holmes, 4 yaşına basan kızı Suri'ye bir kardeş dünyaya getirme kararı aldı. Bu amaçla şürekli doktor kontrolünde bulunun Holmes'ün, attığı her adım böyle bir karar aldığı yönündeki haberleri doğrular nitelikte. 'The Kennedys' isimli mini dizinin setinde sahte sigara ile rol yapan, kesinlikle alkol tüketmeyen Holmes, son birkaç haftadır bol giysiler giyiyor. Dizi filmde de hamile Jackie Kennedy'yi canlandıran Holmes'ün kısa sürede hamile kalmayı planladığı ya da bir aylık hamile olduğu iddia ediliyor.

Los mozos que actuaron como extras con Cruise critican el retrato taurino de 'Noche y día'

Rubén Lozano, alias 'el manguera', Cristian Serra, alias 'Shin Shan', Javier Ribes y Juan García han revolucionado el pequeño municipio castellonense de Onda, tras el estreno, el pasado 16 de julio, de la película protagonizada por Tom Cruise y Cameron Díaz 'Knight and Day', traducida en las carteleras españolas como 'Noche y día', una cinta que critican por su escasa fidelidad con la realidad taurina.

Cruise y Cameron han pasado a un segundo plano en Onda, puesto que para este pueblo de la provincia de Castellón los verdaderos protagonistas son cuatro jóvenes recortadores taurinos que se han estrenado como 'actores'.... en realidad, como extras y tampoco es que se hayan exhibido en demasía en la cinta como mozos de los 'sanfermines'. Sin embargo, pueden presumir de haber rodado una escena con las dos estrellas de Hollywood, ¡y hasta de haberlos saludado personalmente!.

Tampoco es que este trabajo del director James Mangold merezca una gran atención, a tenor de la mayoría de los críticos y hasta de los mozos que actuaron como extras. Si se les pregunta si les ha gustado la película, la respuesta es tan rápida como un encierro limpio y sin incidentes: "No. No me ha gustado nada. La he visto muy irreal, que abusa de los efectos especiales y que hace sentir al espectador que no se podría rodar de no existir las tecnologías de hoy en día", comenta Rubén Lozano, 'el manguera'.

Reconoce que, del mundo taurino los reponsables sabían más bien poco. "Se supone que es un encierro en Pamplona y acaba en la plaza de La Maestranza. ¡Todo el mundo conoce La Maestranza, me parece una metedura de pata. Tampoco es muy creíble el hecho de que un toro sea más grande que un coche y que lo llegue a volcar, es exagerado".

Amistad con el ganadero Cipriano Hebrero

La historia de cómo estos cuatro chavales acaban sintiéndose actores por un día no sería posible de no ser expertos recortadores taurinos desde los 13 y 14 años, tarea que se les encomendó como extras. "El ganadero Cipriano Hebrero, que tiene amistad con nuestro representante taurino, nos conocía como recortadores ya que hemos estado en su finca de Madrid, y nos comentaron que los responsables de casting de la película estaban buscando gente para simular un encierro de San Fermín", indica el 'rodaor'.

Y allá para Cádiz que se fueron los cuatro chicos de Onda, con edades comprendidas de entre 21 y 29 años, para exhibir sus dotes de corredor delante de los astados de la ganadería Cipriano Hebrero. "Llegamos a Cádiz a las dos de la madrugada y a las 5.30 horas ya estábamos en pie, porque a las seis de la mañana venía a buscarnos el autobús para trasladarnos a una carpa donde nos pusimos la vestimenta tradicional del plamplonica en San Fermín. Desayunamos y a las 9 horas comenzamos a rodar", recuerda el joven.

Un total de 12 tomas y un total de 33 encierros se corrieron esa mañana en la calles gaditanas para la misma escena: primero, los recortadores corrieron sólo con las motos (y los dobles de los actores); segundo, sólo los 'rodadores'; tercero, los toros y los extras; y por último, todos juntos.

Sobre las 12 del mediodía llegaron las estrellas de la gran pantalla para trabajar con ellos y entonces los jóvenes de Onda sucumbieron a la fascinación. "No me gusta agobiar a un famoso cuando lo veo, pero tanto Tom Cruise como Cameron Díaz se mostraron muy simpáticos con nosotros, nos saludaron, nos estrecharon la mano y algunos se hicieron fotos con ellos".

La anécdota del rodaje que se traen consigo, aparte del 'estrellato', es que los astados dieron verdaderos problemas a la dirección de la escena, porque se escaparon y tuvieron que 'rescatarlos' de la playa, no sin antes haber dado algún susto que otro.

Sideshow: Katie on ‘incredible’ Cruise

Sure, he deigned to help change daughter Suri’s nappies, but Katie Holmes, 31, says husband Tom Cruise, 48, is so preternaturally perfect, so beyond the material plane, she’s in perpetual awe. “He’s quite an incredible human being,” she tells New York mag.

Suri is my fountain of youth: Tom Cruise

He may have turned 48 last month but actor Tom Cruise shows no signs of slowing down and credits his four-year-old daughter Suri for being his fountain of youth.

Cruise, married to actress Katie Holmes, is the father of three children and admits to having a secret for staying young, People magazine reported.

"I love all my children, but Suri is my fountain of youth. We jump on the trampoline together," Cruise said.

The Top Gun star is also father to Connor, 15, and Isabella, 17.

"I'm still better than my kids at basketball. One of these days, though, they'll beat me and I'll be delighted," he added.

Talking about what he got this year on his birthday, Cruise said, "For as long as I can remember, my mom has given me a roast chicken with green beans. Kate gave me 'The Great Escape' (the classic 1963 WWII movie starring Steve McQueen).

The children gave me pictures, homemade videos and photos. We paste everything into books, and when I page through them I am the happiest man in the world".

Read more at: http://movies.ndtv.com/movie_story.aspx?Section=Movies&ID=ENTEN20100150122&subcatg=MOVIESINDIA&keyword=hollywood&nid=45270&cp

Angelina Jolie's Salt role originally for Tom Cruise

Actress Angelina Jolie has been making more babies than movies of late, but now she's back at her day job.

Her comeback role in Salt is an all action one, originally intended to be played by a bloke.

And not just any bloke.

Jolie in fact is the new Tom Cruise.

Salt is a spy story with Evelyn Salt at its centre. Accused of being a Russian spy she is on the run from pretty much everyone.

One of the role's big attractions for the self-confessed adrenaline junkie, was the action.

“Preparing for a stunt you get excited – heart racing, the doing is so fun, exciting, go home that night, I did it, the little kid in you, feel alive. Different kind of human experience that we need as part of life,” says Jolie.

That life is a very public one for Jolie - part of the most famous celebrity couple on the planet right now and certainly the most recognisable.

So does she have any regrets?

“No I am a big believer we can't do that [have regrets] or we will walk timidly forward,” says Jolie.

“You'd think, 'What if I make a mistake today I'll regret it'. I don’t believe in regret, I feel everything leads us to where we are and we have to just jump forward, mean well, commit and just see what happens.”

What is happening next maybe something that has long been on Jolie's hit list: Cleopatra.

“She [Cleopatra] was a really fascinating, very intelligent leader of a country,” says Jolie.

“She’s been undermined by a lot of things done about her so I thought it would be nice to correct history.”

Plus Salt has potential for a sequel too - it's just opened here, we wait to see if audiences have a taste for it.

Billboards that Can Watch You, Your Pockets and Purse

Almost everyone’s either seen or heard about the 2002 film “Minority Report” with its scene of Tom Cruise walking past digital advertising signs that call out to him by name and deliver sales pitches for such things as Guinness beer, Lexus, and a trip to an island paradise.   And almost everyone’s read or knows about “1984,” George Orwell’s novel of a dystopian future that spawned the iconic phrase, “Big Brother is Watching You.”  Now, thanks to tiny chips embedded in millions of credit cards and cell phones, those sci-fi fantasies may soon become a reality.

Being developed by IBM engineers, digital billboards that use RFID, or radio frequency identification, will be able to read the information contained in the chips, such as a person’s name, age, gender, address, and purchasing history, and then deliver a personalized advertisement as that person walks past or stops to look at a billboard. 

The chips are currently used in “contact free” credit cards that can be waved instead of being slid through a scanner, and in cell phones that allow users to access bank accounts and make online purchases.

According to IBM, this technology will protect consumers from being subjected to irritating or irrelevant advertising by showing ads designed to appeal to individuals based on who they actually are and what they might want to buy.  

This, of course, has great appeal to advertisers and manufacturers of products and services, but has alarmed a number of privacy advocates.  Appropriately, perhaps, the RFID technology derives from covert listening devices developed during the cold war era in the former U.S.S.R

Billboards employing this technology would be a major step forward from signs now being tested in the Tokyo subway that employ cameras to scan passersby who stop or turn their heads to look at the signs. 

These images are stored and analyzed to determine age and gender, information that will be used to tailor advertisements to specific demographic groups at different times of day and night.

The RFID chips can now be read through a wallet or purse at a limited distance that may make it difficult  for most digital billboards on city streets to employ the technology.  However, engineers are working to increase that distance, and if the “Minority Report” signs at pedestrian level become reality, billboards that can look into your pocket or purse as you wait in your car at a traffic light may not be that far behind.

Beyond that, the next step must surely be devices that can detect consumers’ thoughts. 

Are they hungry?  Show the McDonald’s ad.  Are they thinking about money?  Show the Chase bank ad. 

Are they thirsty?  Show the Absolut vodka ad. 

And so on, into the glorious future vividly depicted sixty-one years ago in “1984.” 

Just substitute the words Toyota or Coke or Apple or any other corporate product or service for “Big Brother” and Orwell’s vision will have finally arrived here in the 21st century.

Kick-Ass (Two-Disc Blu-ray/DVD Combo Pack + Digital Copy) 

Pinkberry: The Movie Actor Miles Fisher Joins 5nal Destination

You don't know who Miles Fisher is, probably, but if you're familiar with various Internet memes you might have come across him-- he did a dead-on Tom Cruise impression that may well have been the only bright spot of Superhero Movie, and he was the Ari Gold-type super agent in the spoof of all things stupid and Hollywood, Pinkberry: The Movie. Now Fisher is going to be associated with something else stupid and Hollywood-- except, sadly this one will be real.

Deadline Hollywood reports that Fisher has been cast in Final Destination 5, which is apparently also quite seriously going by the title 5nal Destination. They're not saying what his part will be, but it seems safe to assume he'll be some smart-alecky young guy who thinks he can cheat death before he is offed in some gruesome and unpredictable way. Fisher has also had roles on Mad Men and Gossip Girl, so Final Destination 5 might be a step down in some ways, but he might be the first person to take a hilarious Tom Cruise impression and turn it into a career, so good on him.

"Pinkberry: The Movie" embedded for your amusement below.

The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest 

Who Has the More Fab Abs — Tom Cruise or Leonardo DiCaprio?

Our annual hottest shirtless bracket is under way, and the matchup between tom cruise and leonardo dicaprio is proving to be one of the most surprising — they're in the middle of the second closest race, and Leo's in the lead by just 500 votes! Leo could bare his six-pack any day now during his sardinian vacation with bar refaeli, while Tom gave us a glimpse of his abs during a commercial shoot in june. It's a tough decision, but who looks hotter without his top? Make sure to select all your favorites, and you'll be in the running to win a pair of tom ford sunglasses! You will be entered for each round you complete, so the more rounds you play, the more chances you have to win. Check out the official rules and get voting!

Is Jessica Alba’s Daughter Honor the New Suri Cruise?

Jessica Alba has a great sense of style and it’s clear that she’s passing it on to her 2-year-old daughter, Honor. The 29-year-old was spotted out in Los Angeles carrying her toddler, who was perfectly co-ordinated in a red print dress and matching sandals.

Jessica admits that Honor is her mini-me, saying, “She looks like a girl version of me. She has my nose, my eyebrows and my forehead, dimples. She has my mouth when I was a baby and my ears.” But there’s someone else we think Honor looks like. With her love of girlie dresses and matching accessories, she’s like suri cruise! And just like Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes‘ 4-year-old daughter, Honor is always perfectly put together (complete with hair accessories), and she loves wearing dresses and skirts rather than the tomboy ensembles favored by Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt’s daughter shiloh.

Tom Cruise, David Beckham Not To Team Up For ‘Mission: Impossible 4’

For all the fans who were happy that they will get the opportunity to see their favourite celebrities together on screen has to face disappointment as the representative of Hollywood actor Tom Cruise has dismissed the reports which stated that he will be starring with soccer ace David Beckham in ‘Mission: Impossible 4’.

Lately, it was rumoured that Cruise and Beckham real life friendship will be seen in reel life as well. The rumours sparked after the Hollywood hunk praised the sports star for his looks and admitted that he is ‘encouraging him to become an actor’.

However, Cruise's spokesperson while dismissing the reports added that Cruise’s comments have been stretched out by the media.

"This is blown out of proportion. He was asked a simple question on (a press) tour about if he thinks David would be a good actor and he said yes... Then it ran into the ether in a crazy way that doesn't (represent) what he said," said the spokesperson.

TOM CRUISE WORKING TO "SCALE"!

Hollywood legend Tom Cruise is reportedly taking a pay cut in order to star in the fourth installment to the 'Mission: Impossible' franchise directed by 'The Incredibles' director Brad Bird.

The pay cut on 'M:I 4' is due to the disappointing takings at the box office of Tom's new action comedy 'Knight And Day' in which he reteams with the lovely Cameron Diaz, although it has been well documented over the past couple of years that Cruise is no longer the box office draw he used to be.

The actor will according to reports work to "Scale" which is the minimum wage set by the Sceen Actors Guild, but apparently if the film is a success when it is released in 2011, Tom will see a rather “nice back-end after the cash break-even”.

Paramount are also taking on a financial partner in the shape of Skydance Productions to help with the reported budget of £85 million.

Stunt 'intense' for Tom CruiseStunt 'intense' for Tom Cruise

Tom Cruise has said he found filming a stunt in his new movie Knight And Day "intense".

The nail-biting scene - which was witnessed by wife Katie Holmes and their four-year-old daughter Suri - consists of the Hollywood star helming a speeding motorcycle with a gun-toting Cameron Diaz astride him, as bulls thunder down the streets of Spain for 'el encierro' (the running of the bulls).

"There are certain days when you do some hairy stunts - you just want to be cool; you don't want to make a big deal of it, everyone wants to be chilled about it, but it was intense," he said.

"My sister Lee Anne was there and so was Kate. She was like, 'You're going to do the bulls things today?' No one wants anyone around who will say, 'Oh my God, don't kill yourself today!'"

Tom said he had always wanted to do a dangerous stunt on the big screen.

"I always thought I wanted to run with the bulls until I was on a motorcycle doing it, running and getting ping-ponged into walls with big bulls in front of us. I was just thinking to myself, 'Do not go down on this motorcycle with Cameron on the back'," he admitted.

"It was a stunt that I had wanted to do in a movie for a while - for me to flip someone around on a motorcycle. There were just moments when I couldn't wait to see what she'd do."

:: Knight And Day is in cinemas now.