MTV Movies Blog ›

Welcome to MTV's Harry Potter World Cup! We've selected 64 of the best "Harry Potter" characters and matched them up in a series of duels for a chance at magical glory, but it's up to YOU to decide who the greatest "Potter" character of all time is in this pool of wizards and witches. Will the Death Eaters destroy Hogwarts, or will good triumph over evil? In the end, the choice is yours, so keep voting at MTV Movies Blog and make your voice heard!

Welcome to day three of the Harry Potter World Cup! The wizards and witches from the Privet Drive and Godric's Hollow divisions have all embarked upon their first round match-ups, and now it's time to turn your attention towards the wonderful world of Hogsmeade — well, perhaps not so wonderful for our first-seed competitor.

Despite the fact that he's a fan-favorite and an early pick to go deep, Ron Weasley's first duel against the dangerously obsessed Lavender Brown has the red-headed wizard rightfully quaking in his boots. Simultaneously, an old friend and an old foe from Ron's past is doing his best to stay alive. It's certainly an interesting way to kick off the Hogsmeade division, with voting closing at midnight on Sunday (June 27).

(1) Ron Weasley vs. (16) Lavender Brown
We all know that Ron's heart belongs to the lovely Hermione Granger, but he made the fateful mistake of pursuing an earlier romance with fellow Gryffindor Lavender Brown during "Half-Blood Prince." Though he ultimately broke away from her clutches, Lavender's scorn towards Ron remains sharp as ever. If she can channel her lovesick lunacy with every ounce of her magical might, then Ron could very well go down swinging in the first.

(8) Oliver Wood vs. (9) Peter Pettigrew
In a fair fight, Gryffindor's immensely popular Quidditch champion would have no problem flying circles around Voldemort's right hand stooge. But since when have you ever known Wormtail to play fair? Oliver Wood undoubtedly has the fan support, but don't discount Pettigrew's penchant for deception — underestimating this rat is what got the Potters killed in the first place, after all.

Having trouble deciding? Consult our Harry Potter World Cup experts from MuggleNet, The Leaky Cauldron and MTV News for their insight!

Tags Harry Potter, Harry Potter World Cup

Welcome to MTV's Harry Potter World Cup! We've selected 64 of the best "Harry Potter" characters and matched them up in a series of duels for a chance at magical glory, but it's up to YOU to decide who the greatest "Potter" character of all time is in this pool of wizards and witches. Will the Death Eaters destroy Hogwarts, or will good triumph over evil? In the end, the choice is yours, so keep voting at MTV Movies Blog and make your voice heard!

It's a widely held belief that (*deep breath*) Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore (*aaand release*) is one of the greatest wizards of all time, if not the greatest. Well, his reputation is certainly on the line now that the Harry Potter World Cup is in full effect.

Day two of first round voting in the Godric's Hollow division closes out with Dumbledore, easily one of the strongest competitors in the entire World Cup, squaring off against reluctant Order of the Phoenix member Mundungus Fletcher. At the same time, Dumbledore's former flame (just ask Ms. Rowling) and long-time rival Gellert Grindelwald puts his skills to the test against the wand expert Ollivander. Voting on these contentious duels closes on Sunday (June 27) at midnight, so without further ado, let's get to the battle!

(7) Gellert Grindelwald vs. (10) Mr. Ollivander
Though we see very little of Grindelwald in the "Harry Potter" films and only hear of his past tales of triumph and terror from second hand sources, there's no denying his reputation: second only to Voldemort, Grindelwald is considered the most dangerous Dark Wizard of all time. That's quite an intimidating prospect for Mr. Ollivander, but he's no slouch himself — the Diagon Alley staple (don't ask what he's doing in Godric's Hollow) is widely agreed upon as the best wand maker in the wizarding world, bringing a depth of knowledge and craft that could easily prove to be Grindelwald's undoing.

(2) Albus Dumbledore vs. (15) Mundungus Fletcher
The very thought of facing Albus Dumbledore in a duel would send shivers down any reasonable opponent's spine, most especially Mundungus Fletcher. The notorious con artist has extreme loyalty to the Hogwarts headmaster, second only to… well, himself. When push comes to shove, Fletcher will do what he must to rise to the top. But it's that exact self-centered thinking that puts him at a disadvantage against Albus and his selfless spirit — barring a major upset, this first round should be a walk in the park for the good wizard.

Having trouble deciding? Consult our Harry Potter World Cup experts from MuggleNet, The Leaky Cauldron and MTV News for their insight!

Tags Harry Potter, Harry Potter World Cup

The first "Puss In Boots" trailer has finally hit the web, so expect plenty of non-ogre-like kitten cuteness to head your way. Duloc's best feline assassin has found himself a case -- and a lady love -- in this latest trailer, and we couldn't be more thrilled.

After the jump, find out about Warren Beatty's newest directorial project, who might be directing "Maleficent" and more!

Read more...

Tags guillermo-del-toro, Maleficent, Puss in Boots, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, Warren Beatty

Welcome to MTV's Harry Potter World Cup! We've selected 64 of the best "Harry Potter" characters and matched them up in a series of duels for a chance at magical glory, but it's up to YOU to decide who the greatest "Potter" character of all time is in this pool of wizards and witches. Will the Death Eaters destroy Hogwarts, or will good triumph over evil? In the end, the choice is yours, so keep voting at MTV Movies Blog and make your voice heard!

Though his time on the job was no longer than most of his colleagues, is there any doubt that Remus Lupin is the best Defense Against the Dark Arts professor the "Harry Potter" series has ever seen? Well, maybe there is for some of you, but not for me — and I suppose that this is the part where I must admit that the good werewolf is my favorite "Potter" character of all time, and already has my vote for as long as he's in this race. Sorry, guys; I know I'm supposed to be biased, but it is what it is!

Still, even my favor for Lupin won't help him win the Godric's Hollow division — his fate rests in your hands, and the road ahead looks very difficult for him indeed. Meanwhile, as the Dumbledore loyalist struggles to survive his first round match-up, there's another duel going on that should have equally interesting results on Sunday (June 20) at midnight when the first round polls have closed.

(6) Hedwig vs. (11) Seamus Finnigan
Two of Harry's longtime companions go head to head in this latest match-up. In one corner, our hero's incredibly popular and dearly departed owl, Hedwig. In the other, his fellow Gryffindor and good pal Seamus Finnigan. Like his buddy Dean Thomas, Seamus has his share of support from his fan base. But, really, who doesn't love Hedwig? She could very easily fly away with this one.

(3) Remus Lupin vs. (14) Argus Filch
Few people understand the nooks and crannies of Hogwarts like Argus Filch, the wizarding school's notoriously crotchety caretaker. If you're a student, the last thing you want is for Filch and his pet cat Mrs. Norris to catch you roaming the halls at night. But Lupin, who has plenty of school-savvy as one of the creators of the Marauder's Map, knows the secrets of Hogwarts just as well as Filch. Plus, he's a werewolf. Just as paper covers rock, werewolves beat caretakers, always. (Translation: don't break my heart, Lupin — or my bracket!)

Having trouble deciding? Consult our Harry Potter World Cup experts from MuggleNet, The Leaky Cauldron and MTV News for their insight!

Tags Harry Potter, Harry Potter World Cup

Liam Neeson, if you're reading this, we just want you to know how much we love you. Not that we haven't always been big fans of yours, but your late-stage breakout as an action star has been not only thoroughly fascinating to behold, but endlessly entertaining as well.

After showing off his combat chops in the Luc Besson produced "Taken," Neeson got another shot at the action hero hall of fame in "Unknown." The Irish actor stars as Martin Harris, a doctor traveling with his wife (January Jones) through Berlin for a biotechnology summit. His excursion goes awry following an accident that leaves him comatose, but matters are complicated even further when he wakes up and everybody he knows and loves — his wife included — have absolutely no idea who he is.

Neeson's not alone in the butt-kicking action; he's aided by an all-star cast that includes Diane Kruger, Aidan Quinn and Frank Langella, to name a few, all of whom are highlighted in this exclusive behind-the-scenes featurette from the just-released "Unknown" Blu-ray.

"Unknown" lands on Blu-ray today (June 21).

Tags liam neeson, Unknown

What does NKOTBSB (ed note: New Kids on the Block / Backstreet Boys, for those of you who don't immediately recognize the acronym like me -JW) do on the road? Aside from perfect their harmonies and sweet boy band dancing skills, well, they also watch bizarre horror flicks like "The Human Centipede."

Well, at least New Kids' resident bad boy, Donnie Wahlberg does. The hot topic came up (we promise, we didn’t bring it up) when MTV News caught up with the guys during a tour stop in New Jersey and Donnie very frequently dropped the movie's title several times during the conversation, usually making everyone in the room giggle.

"Listen, this is therapeutic for me," Wahlberg reacted with a grin when the frequent mention of "Human Centipede" was called into question. "It may seem funny to you..."

Read more...

Tags donnie wahlberg, new kids on the block, The Human Centipede

Welcome to MTV's Harry Potter World Cup! We've selected 64 of the best "Harry Potter" characters and matched them up in a series of duels for a chance at magical glory, but it's up to YOU to decide who the greatest "Potter" character of all time is in this pool of wizards and witches. Will the Death Eaters destroy Hogwarts, or will good triumph over evil? In the end, the choice is yours, so keep voting at MTV Movies Blog and make your voice heard!

Ooh... now this one's going to be fun!

Day two of the Harry Potter World Cup rages on, and it does so with two back-to-back duels that promise a whole lot of excitement, entertainment and downright hilarity. Two of our favorite Weasley siblings are getting in on the wizarding warfare today, and their match-ups should be a cakewalk for both of them — unless these Godric's Hollow division underdogs prove to have more bite in them than expected. No matter the outcome, wands must be at the ready: voting for round one ends on June 27 at midnight, so there's no time to waste!

(5) Ginny Weasley vs. (12) The Dursleys
It's payback time! No, the Dursley family never directly insulted Ginny Weasley, but they did treat her beloved boyfriend like absolute rubbish. Therefore, it's time for Ginny to do some bloodletting on Harry's behalf. Then again, the Dursleys are the only competitors in the entire Harry Potter World Cup that are competing as a group — after all, like the Mighty Ducks, Dursleys fly together — so perhaps it's a bit early to put these muggles down for the count.

(4) George vs. (13) Dolores Umbridge
It's payback time again! Dolores Umbridge has to go down in the history books as one of the single worst Hogwarts headmistresses of all time, and George Weasley — one half of the mischievous Weasley twins — made sure she paid dearly for her sins during "Order of the Phoenix." But can the beloved prankster get the better of the Ministry of Magic's pinkest member without an assist from his brother?

Having trouble deciding? Consult our Harry Potter World Cup experts from MuggleNet, The Leaky Cauldron and MTV News for their insight!

Tags Harry Potter, Harry Potter World Cup

The first of many (seven to be exact) dwarves has been cast in "Snow White and the Huntsman."

Ian McShane, late of "Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides" and HBO's "Deadwood," has come on board Universal's "Snow White" adaptation as the film's lead dwarf, THR reports. He joins a cast that includes Kristen Stewart as Snow White, Chris Hemsworth as the titular huntsman, and Charlize Theron as the fairytale spin-offs evil stepmother.

"Snow White and the Huntsman" is set to start production in August with a June 2012 release date.

Get the rest of today's casting call past the jump!

Read more...

Tags Greetings from Tim Buckley, Ian McShane, Jake Gyllenhaal, Man Vs. Wild, penn badgley, Sarah Shahi, Snow White and The Huntsman, Sylvester Stallone, The Bop Decameron, woody allen

MTV Movies Managing Editor Josh Horowitz is currently traveling in Moscow, but this isn't any ordinary excursion—it's more than meets the eye, as he braves cultural confusion and borscht by the bowlful in an effort to cover the world premiere of "Transformers: Dark of the Moon" in Russia. These are his stories.

I can now say with absolute certainty that “The Dilemma” is not a good movie. I saw it for the junket in Chicago earlier in the year (if you want to see the best thing that came out of that movie, enjoy this moment where I told Vince Vaughn that he ruined my Christmas) and I’m now on my third viewing thanks to the limited entertainment options on my 10 hour flight from JFK to Moscow. The Ambien hasn’t taken so I’m stuck with the “Just Go With It/The Dilemma” double feature. My only thoughtful analysis at this point is “The Dilemma” could have used more Brooklyn Decker.

But of course none of this has to do with giant robots and that’s why I’m here. Yes, I’m currently journeying in my economy plus seat ($80 for four more inches of leg room!) to a land I truly never thought would come my way. But Paramount and Michael Bay have some kind of spectacle to drop on the planet and you can’t do something like that half-assed, can you? So despite the fact that the last third of the film takes place in Chicago and a relatively short section apparently takes place in Russia (and not even in Moscow I believe), it’s vodka and borscht on the agenda for me this week (more of the former).

Read more...

Tags transformers dark of the moon

Welcome to MTV's Harry Potter World Cup! We've selected 64 of the best "Harry Potter" characters and matched them up in a series of duels for a chance at magical glory, but it's up to YOU to decide who the greatest "Potter" character of all time is in this pool of wizards and witches. Will the Death Eaters destroy Hogwarts, or will good triumph over evil? In the end, the choice is yours, so keep voting at MTV Movies Blog and make your voice heard!

The second day of the Harry Potter World Cup opens not with a whimper, but with a witch — the brightest witch of her age, to be exact!

As we turn out attention away from Privet Drive and towards the Godric's Hollow division, all eyes are on Hermione Granger, one of Harry's truest and most fiercely loyal friends. And while she has a doozy of a duel in front of her, don't let Hermione have all of the fun; there's another truly bizarre match-up lurking just around the corner. It should be interesting to see how that one shakes out when voting closes at midnight on Sunday (June 27)…

(1) Hermione Granger vs. (16) Rita Skeeter
One of them is the brightest witch of her age, a young woman who's faced time-traveling survival scenarios, venomous basilisks and club-carrying trolls and lived to tell the tales thanks to her quick thinking and her brave spirit. The other is, well, pretty much just a troll. There's no love lost between Hermione and Rita Skeeter thanks to the "journalist's" work in "Goblet of Fire," so sparks are destined to fly as these two collide in their first round match-up.

(8) Nearly Headless Nick vs. (9) Fawkes
When it comes to this duel, it's okay to cry — really, it is. Nobody wants to see Nearly Headless Nick or Fawkes the phoenix die out in the first round of Harry Potter World Cup. But Hogwarts' most chivalrous ghost and Professor Dumbledore's cherished companion must respectfully enter the battlefield against one another, with the choice ultimately resting in your hands — which of these two surreal entities holds the fondest place in your heart, and which one can pull ahead in this reluctant battle?

Having trouble deciding? Consult our Harry Potter World Cup experts from MuggleNet, The Leaky Cauldron and MTV News for their insight!

Tags Harry Potter, Harry Potter World Cup