Michael J. Fox takes us Back to the Future! During his “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Cure Parkinson’s” gala, the actor whipped out his guitar, got on stage, and rocked out to Chuck Berry’s “Johnny B. Goode” a-la Marty McFly – and may we say, he sounded pretty good!

Here’s Michael J. Fox playing “Johnny B. Goode” now…

Here he is in his playing the song in the classic 1985 Back to the Future.

The dude’s still got it!

But Michael’s performance got us thinking – which classic movie performances would you love to see re-enacted live? So we came up with a few that we know we would just die to witness!

First up – Matthew Broderick singing “Twist and Shout,” as he did in Ferris Beuller’s Day Off. Need we say more? I still sing along every time.

Even though he’s lip synching and the only music he is playing is air guitar, this classic scene of Tom Cruise rocking out to Bob Seger’s “Old Time Rock ‘N Roll” in Risky Business will never get old.

One performance we would have loved to see, though, is a re-enactment of Heath Ledger’s display of affection in 10 Things I Hate About You, singing Frankie Valley and the Four Seasons’ “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You” in an attempt to win over Kat Stratford’s heart so he can make some cash. Despite the sub-par vocals, it makes my heart melt every time.

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After more than three years after Heath Ledger’s death, his former fiancee, Michelle Williams, is finally opening up about his sudden and tragic death.

Williams has proved to be quite a strong women in the years succeeding Ledger’s death. She has taken on some very dramatic films including Wendy and Lucy and Mammoth. This year she stars in the Weinstein Company’s indie gem, Blue Valentine, alongside Ryan Gosling.

See the video below for clips from the interview.

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Though it has been states many times over, The Dark Knight Rises will in fact be Christopher Nolan’s last Batman installment. News this week surfaced in regard to unused footage of Heath Ledger in the role of the Joker. Rumor had it that Nolan was planning on using some of this footage for the new film.

According to Comingsoon.net, Nolan spoke to Thompson on Hollywood to refute the rumors about the Joker footage and give some ambiguous information (in true Nolan fashion) about The Dark Knight Rises. Nolan said that the rumors are all false. The Joker will not appear in the new film. Nolan did reveal that Tom Hardy, who we have been speculating about for some time, will have an important role in the film. Of course Nolan didn’t say whether Hardy will be playing a hero or a villain. Nolan loves his secrets!

The director is still working on the script which is a collaborative effort between him and his brother Jonathan. The script is due in January and Warner Bros. has set the release date of the film for mid July right in the middle of summer blockbuster season.

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Last month, an announcement was made that a Kurt Cobain biopic was to be filmed, and according to CHARTattack, this has resulted in a flood of suggestions as to who should play the late front man of the legendary grunge group, Nirvana.

Cobain committed suicide in April of 1994.

Jake Gyllenhaal (Brokeback Mountain, Donnie Darko) is the most recent actor to be added to the list of possible “Cobains.”  Jokingly, it was pointed out that since he’s got long hair now, for his new role in Prince of Persia, he could fit the role.

“I don’t know if I’d be the right choice – but the hair from Prince Of Persia could translate somehow,” Gyllenhaal told NME.  “We could just bleach it!”

The rumours last month were that Robert Pattinson (Twilight) would play Cobain, but Courtney Love, Cobain’s widow, squashed those hopes.  Love said that she would rather see Ryan Gosling (The Believer) or James McAvoy (Atonement) play the role.

Gosling has got great acting skills and has proven himself to be able to pull off a wide variety of roles.

Although McAvoy is only just beginning to gain recognition on this side of the pond, he is also great.  He’s won BAFTA (British Academy Of Film And Television Arts) Awards … meaning he is good.

There is also Heath Ledger.  But seeing as he is dead, this is not going to happen.  But he would have been fantastic as Cobain.  He was deep, dark, and a little troubled in his own right.  He also displayed top quality acting chops, and while he was alive, Ledger could pretty much take on any role thrown at him.

And why not Emma Watson?  Cate Blanchett played Bob Dylan and got nominated for an Academy Award.  There is no reason why Hermione Grainger can’t turn into the grunge rocker.  And she could also bring a whole new audience to appreciate Cobain.

From here, the list goes on and on.  But it’s all in the hands of Courtney Love now, more or less.  Hopefully this turns out OK.

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It has been over two years since Heath Ledger passed away but the late actor remains in the memories of his family, friends, his fans, and others.

Thursday night at the Australians in Film Breakthrough Awards, the Heath Ledger Scholarship was presented to up-and-coming actress, Bella Heathcote, reports People.com.

Heath Ledger’s sister, Kate, and Mother, Sally Bell, attended the ceremony.  His sister commented, “It is very special,” she said, “It’s honoring our boy so we couldn’t be prouder and we think it is an amazing scholarship that is going to give so many opportunities.”

“He had a huge passion for acting. That was the most important thing for him. It wasn’t about the money. He had such a passion that just showed through regardless of how big the role was,” said Ledger’s mother.

Although the actor is gone, he continues to be remembered and honoured by his loved ones and the industry his talent graced.

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A rap music video directed by the late Heath Ledger has been released online, according to NME.com.

The video is for the song, “Cause An Effect” and was made by Ledger is childhood friend, rapper N’Fa (short for No Fixed Abode).

“Every day I count my blessings that he directed this piece of art,” N’Fa said. “It was a song I was proud to have written but I never expected to have such an immense video made for it. I’d known Heath since we were very young and he was always a creative kind of guy and, in many ways, ahead of the curve. When he had the idea about doing this video I had no question about it.”

N’Fa was a member of the award-winning Australian hip-hop group 1200 Techniques before pursuing a solo career.

Ledger died on Jan. 22, 2008 in his New York apartment. His untimely death shocked the world and put his home country of Australia into mourning. Despite his death, “The Dark Knight” was released with Ledger as the chilling Joker. Ledger’s performance in “The Dark Knight” earned him an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor.

Ledger has also directed music videos for Modest Mouse and the late Nick Drake. Ledger was reported as saying that he was once obsessed with the English-born singer/songwriter’s music and life, according to MTV News.

Ledger shot and edited a video for Drake’s song called “Black Eyed Dog.” The title was apparently chosen because of a Winston Churchill quote describing depression. The song  was also reportedly the last song that Drake recorded before overdosing on anti-depression medication in 1974 at the age of only 26.

Ledger also shot Australian singer Grace Woodroofe’s video for her cover of David Bowie’s “Quicksand,” and the video for Ben Harper’s “Morning Yearning.”

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Who the hell do you think I am? I'm the goddamn Batman.

Have you ever danced with the devil in the pale moonlight?  It’s something I ask of all my readers… I just like the sound of it.

And with that not-so-obscure reference, we begin our review of Batman: Arkham Asylum, which is the best game of 2009.  Yes, I am saying that in October.

I have been drooling over this game for months now, and anxiously anticipating doing this review.  Now, as much as I would like to give an unbiased and honest review of Batman: Arkham Asylum, that is impossible.  I am a huge Batman fanboy (Batboy?) and although this will be a fair and balanced review, I am obviously biased in some respects.  I mean, I am literally wearing a Batman T-shirt right now, and not even for the purpose of this review.  Just ‘cause, suckers.

But I digress.  This game is set over the course of one night on Arkham Island.  Batman has apprehended the Joker, and hauls him back to the asylum.  Joker doesn’t really mind though, and proceeds to take over the asylum and release the inmates.  Great. Now Bats has to pick up all the pieces.

Quite possibly the coolest feature of this game is the nature of the gameplay itself.  You don’t just run into rooms to find a group of baddies and subsequently dispatch them.  Okay, you do – but not all the time.  You don’t just prowl from room to room in the shadows, sneaking up behind guys and taking them out without a sound.  Okay, you do – but not all the time.  You don’t just solve puzzles and riddles.  Okay, you get the point.

I'm totally going to win that giant stuffed gorilla.

The seamless transition from the gangbang combats to invisible predator rooms to the riddles and whatnot in between really make this game flow exceptionally well.  That’s actually the primary element of this game -flow. The combat is actually called Freeflow Combat – using your various attacks to open up a can of Bat-Whoop-Ass on the various miscreants you encounter throughout the game by seamlessly landing blow after blow on opponent after opponent rather than one at a time.   You can even mix in attacks from the various gadgets you acquire over the course of the game – the Batarang, Batclaw and Shark-Repellant Bat-Spray.  Okay, not that last one.

There are some games out there that have alternative modes of play that are not exactly the greatest thing to ever happen to gaming.  Arkham Asylum is not one of these games.  The challenge modes are amazing – each of which is basically one of the different combat rooms you will encounter throughout the game.  This allows you to pick up Arkham Asylum anytime, and run through as much or as little of the different facets of this game at your leisure – which I have done ad nauseum.  Even more awesome – there is downloadable content that allows you to go on a murderous rampage as none other than the one and only Clown Prince of Crime – the Joker, however, only on the PlayStation 3.  The lack of grappling hook and gliding is made up for with the awesomeness of walking around the challenge rooms dispatching guards with kicks to the nuts, exploding-chattering teeth, kicks to the nuts and a legit gun.  Yes, Joker straight-up murders people with a gun.  Also, he kicks them in the nuts – did I mention that?

In this reviewer’s not-so-humble opinion, the pinnacle of the gameplay is the Invisible Predator mode.  When I think of Batman, I think of moments like the scene in Batman Begins where the criminals are being picked off one by one, growing ever more terrified as their numbers dwindle.  This is the epitome of Batman and also the core element of the Invisible Predator style of gameplay.  For me, it just doesn’t get any better than grappling from gargoyle to gargoyle in the shadows, gliding down behind a gun-wielding psychopath and choking him into unconsciousness, then hanging upside-down in the shadows and grabbing his buddy when he comes to help.  If the criminals are terrified, then bonus – more on that later.

Hello, my name is Joker. And this is my friend, Obscenely Large Revolver.

The Detective Mode is more likely than not the mode you will view the majority of the game in. Although sacrificing the gorgeous graphics somewhat, you can see everything that is pertinent to the mission at hand and more, from vent covers that can be removed and entered, to lingering bad breath or tobacco traces in the air.  While reducing the challenging element of problem solving, it doesn’t really matter – the game remains moderately challenging puzzle-wise with the ever-narcissistic Riddler hitting you with clues to the hundreds of enigmas and brain-teasers throughout Arkham Island.  Detective Mode also allows you to view enemies through walls, and examine their armament and status – status meaning whether they are Calm, Nervous, Terrified or Crazed.  Try to keep the enemies Terrified – they start shooting at noises in the darkness, and basically turn into whiny 8-year old girls.

As I mentioned earlier, the graphics in Arkham Asylum are gorgeous.  Simply gorgeous.  The dark, gothic atmosphere of Gotham and Arkham (hey, did you ever notice those are spelled similarly?) are captured perfectly.   The environment almost has a personality – brooding, dark and malicious. The animations on the enemies are smooth and functional at worst, disturbing and frenetic at best – exactly what you would expect from the psychos and maniacs stalking the halls of the asylum.  However, they tend to fall limp in unrealistic ways when you knock them out, but it’s a minor issue. The animations on the main characters are even better.  By main characters of course, I mean Batman – and his cape.  The cloak is almost a character unto itself, flowing behind you when you run, snapping out into a wing-like profile when you glide, and gradually becoming more tattered and ripped as Batman’s night gets worse.

Where the hell did I park the car?

The sounds of Arkham are also very conducive to the mood – the only way the soundtrack could be better would be if it had a bit more variety to it – low strings and baritone throughout – or if Danny Elfman just did the score.  Speaking of nostalgia, the voice acting is superb, with the quintessential voices from the DC Animated universe coming on board – Kevin Conroy as the Dark Knight, and the amazing Mark Hamill as the Joker.  Heath Ledger, step aside – for this incarnation of the Joker, the Force is strong with this one.

I thoroughly enjoyed Batman: Arkham Asylum.  It combines all the elements of an exceptional game – graphics, solid and intuitive gameplay that isn’t oversimplified or overly complex, and an atmosphere and story that draws in the gamer allowing them to fully appreciate all the other elements of the game.  All these elements come together to stomp more face than a professional face stomper – wearing stompin’ boots.

You didn’t think really I’d end my review of a Batman game without mentioning face-stomping, did you?

Cheers.

Gameplay – 5/5

Graphics – 5/5

Sound – 5/5

Replay Value – 5/5

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The late Heath Ledger is probably best known for his talents on-screen. Now his off-screen talents will also be showcased with the upcoming release of two music videos directed by the actor before his death last year.

The first is a video for the Modest Mouse’s “King Rat,” a bonus track from the band’s most recent album, “We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank.”

Singer Isaac Brock revealed to VH1 in 2007 that the collaboration came about after he met Ledger through a mutual friend during a trip to Australia.

The animated video will be released “soon,” a spokesperson for the band told The Guardian.

Also set for release this year is a Ledger-directed video for Grace Woodroofe’s cover of the David Bowie’s “Quicksand.” The track is found on the indie-blues singer’s debut album, which will also be released this year.

Ledger had previously directed music videos for Australian hip-hop artist N’fa and singer-songwriter Nick Drake, the latter being a commemorative one for the late musician.

Ledger, who passed away in January 2008 from an accidental overdose of prescription medications, received a posthumous best supporting actor Oscar for his role as the Joker in “The Dark Knight.”

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The investigation into the death of Heath Ledger has been closed by the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Good news for Mary-Kate Olsen, who refused to speak to authorities without immunity earlier this week.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office could have enforced a subpoena against Olsen, compelling her to testify in front of a federal grand jury. As previously reported, Mary-Kate was the first person to be called by Ledger’s housekeeper after finding the Dark Knight star dead in his apartment.

Ledger’s autopsy results found the actor had Oxycontin, Vicodin, Xanax, Valium, Temazepam and Doxylamine present in his system.

“Despite tabloid speculation, Mary-Kate Olsen had nothing whatsoever to do with the drugs found in Heath Ledger’s home or his body, and she does not know where he obtained them,” Olsen’s lawyer, Michael C. Miller, told People in a released statement.

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Mary Kate Olsen is adding to suspicion about her involvement in Heath Ledger’s death by refusing to speak with authorities unless she has immunity.

Olsen was the first person called after her masseuse found Ledger’s body. She also owned the apartment where he died.

Drug Enforcement Administration are still trying to find out how Ledger acquired some of the drugs that formed his deadly cocktail.

According to CBC News, “Authorities have obtained a subpoena that could force Olsen to appear before a grand jury if negotiations with her lawyer fail.”

Olsen’s lawyer has released a statement insisting that the tiny twin had nothing to do with the drugs Ledger was taking.

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Heath Ledger’s hometown of Perth, Australia paid tribute to the late actor as they named a new performing arts centre in his honour Tuesday.

The naming ceremony for the $87 million, 575-seat Heath Ledger Theatre was attended by Western Australia premier Alan Carpenter and Ledger’s father Kim, among others.

“Heath Ledger was totally dedicated to the craft of being an actor and that’s what made him successful,” said Carpenter.

“I think what we’re doing is continuing that support for young people who want to make a career in the arts and acting, stage and in film, whatever it happens to be.”

Kim Ledger said he was pleasantly surprised when told several weeks ago of the upcoming tribute to his son.

“He was such a giver to the arts right across the board. I really feel that there’s not a lot of things he’d put his name to, but he’d put his name to that,” he said.

Ledger, who was nominated for a best actor Oscar for his role in 2005′s “Brokeback Mountain,” died in January at the age of 28 of an accidental prescription drug overdose.

He can be seen as The Joker in the upcoming Batman movie “The Dark Knight,” his final completed film performance. The movie opens July 18.

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Heath Ledger continues to make his mark on Hollywood—with critics already stating the late actor deserves an Oscar for his upcoming film role, reports TMZ.com.

Rolling Stone’s critic Peter Travers says that Ledger’s performance of the Joker in the much-anticipated movie “The Dark Knight” is worth an Academy Award.

“If there’s a movement to get him the first posthumous Oscar since Peter Finch won for 1976′s Network, sign me up,” Travers reportedly told Usmagazine. “I can only speak superlatives of Ledger, who is mad-crazy-blazing brilliant as the Joker,”

Travers goes on to say: “It’s typical of Ledger’s total commitment to films as diverse as Brokeback Mountain and I’m Not There that he does nothing out of vanity or the need to be liked.”

“The Dark Knight” is set to be released July 18th.

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Michelle Williams is feuding with the late Heath Ledger’s family, reports gossip columnist Perez Hilton.

According to new reports, Williams is concerned that her daughter Matilda—who is also Heath’s child and the beneficiary to the actor’s estate—will be screwed over by Heath’s father, Kim.

Kim Ledger was identified in Heath’s will as the executor of the estate and, according to reports, Williams has a right to be worried.

Reports state that Heath’s father has mishandled his own inheritance after the passing of his father and lost a substantial amount of money. PerezHilton.com even reports that Kim Ledger’s siblings took him to court over the matter.

Hopefully, Kim Ledger has learned from his previous mistake.

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Heath Ledger’s memory will continue to live on.

The late actor’s relatives, friends and ex-fiancée Michelle Williams revealed the Heath Ledger Scholarship Fund at the AiF Breathrough Awards ceremony in Beverly Hills. The fund will provide financial aide for Australian actors struggling to break into Hollywood.

Although the amount of the award has yet to be finalized, the scholarship will cover the costs of acting classes and rent and will be given out annually starting in 2009.

Ledger’s father Kim, was unable to attend the event, but sent a note:

“We know that Heath would be proud of his attachment to this scholarship,” the elder Ledger wrote. “[It] does what Heath has done personally during the last 10 years…[supporting] Australian actors, singers, directors or writers who seek to supply their talents to the USA.”

Ledger died Jan 22 from an accidental overdose to prescription medicine.

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Michelle Williams took her first red carpet walk since Heath Ledger’s death Thursday evening.

Williams, wearing a Chanel lace number, was promoting her new film “Wendy and Lucy” at the Cannes Film Festival. “She came in and had a long nap and then came to the screening,” said the actress’ rep.

Williams also appears in Charlie Kaufman’s directorial debut, “Synecdoche, New York” which is also screening in Cannes. The actress also told reporters that it felt special to have two films out at the same time.

“The experience is something you can look back on at the end of your life and think, “That was a cool thing I did when I was 27,’ ” she said.

Ledger died last January at the age 28 of an accidental overdose. The couple have a two-year-old daughter named Matilda.

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An unidentified woman is launching a lawsuit against a celebrity photo agency and two of its photographers after a video depicting Heath Ledger in a hotel room surrounded by illegal narcotics surfaced online.

The disturbing video made its way around gossip blogs, celebrity TV shows and Youtube just days after the actor’s death.

The woman claims she was deceived by the two paparazzi who allegedly tricked Ledger into her room at the Chateau Marmont Hotel in Hollywood over two years ago and secretly filmed the actor with cocaine.

“She’s seeking damages for the invasion of her privacy,” The woman’s lawyer told the Associated Press, according to CBC.ca.

The woman says she was freelancing for People magazine and while she was dating one of the defendants at the time of the incident, she tried to “physically throw [the paparazzi] out of the room.”

According to the suit, the video has earned more than $1 million US in revenues. A California state law requires paparazzi to forfeit any profits made through illegal activity, consequently the woman is asking that all the money be forfeited.

The video caused quite the stir in Hollywood as many of Ledger’s celebrity peers threatened to boycott any television shows that showed the footage.

Ledger died from an overdose of six types of painkillers and sedatives on January 22 in his apartment. He was 28.

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Michelle Williams is finally speaking out after the untimely death of her ex-fiance, Heath Ledger.

The actress breaks silence in the new issue of Interview magazine:

“I think the interesting thing about Heath, which maybe people have only really fully discovered in his death, is how vulnerable he was. You can pick it up on it in his performances, but it’s easy to overlook because he was so physical and beautiful and strong and masculine.

“But there was always that underlying sensitivity. That’s who he was. He had a talent for everything that he put his mind to. He didn’t know limits.”

Ledger was found naked and surrounded by sleeping pills in his Manhattan apartment on Jan. 22. An autopsy showed he died of an accidental prescription drug overdose.

“For as long as I’d known him, he had bouts with insomnia,” Williams says. “He had too much energy. His mind was turning, turning turning–always turning.”

Ledger and Williams have a two-year-old daughter, Matilda Rose.

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Heath Ledger’s daughter Matilda and ex-fiancee Michelle Williams are not in the late actor’s will.

Ledger drafted the will in 2003, before he even met Williams and long before the birth of his daughter. In the will, the Brokeback Mountain star left everything he owned to his parents and three sisters, the New York Daily News reports, according to E! Online.

Ledger’s father, Kim, quickly released a statement after the news broke assuring the public that Williams and Matilda will have access to the late actor’s estate.

“Matilda is our absolute priority and Michelle is an integral part of our family,” Kim Ledger said to People. “They will be taken care of and that’s how Heath would want it to be.”

Ledger’s rep also reiterated the sentiment and cleared up recent rumours.

The story is getting taken out of context and media is speculating that this means Matilda and Michelle will not be taken care of. I want to make it very clear nothing could be farther from the truth,” she said.

The value of Ledger’s estate is unknown at this time but according to the Daily News, the legalities will be handled in his native country Australia.

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A portrait of Heath Ledger has been submitted for the 2008 Archibald Prize, Australia’s most prestigious award for portraiture.

The CBC reports that Vincent Fantauzzo painted Ledger just two months before his death. The painting features two mischievous versions of Ledger whispering in either ear of a more sombre version of himself.

Fantauzzo will find out if he won on Friday, but he already knows what he’ll be doing with the painting – he’s giving it to Ledger’s family.

“It seems only right, as we did the sitting at his mom’s house in Perth and she was very much a part of the process, making us tea and crumpets and watching from the sideline,” he told The Art Newspaper.

Fantauzzo described Ledger as “charismatic, witty, sarcastic and a lot of fun; very positive about the future.”

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As the investigation into Heath Ledger’s death tumbles on, there seems to be more questions arising than answers.

Two doctors who were under investigation for information on how Ledger acquired the powerful narcotics that ultimately led to the actor’s untimely death have been cleared by the federal Drug Enforcement Agency.

The doctors are no longer suspected of providing the Oscar nominee with the narcotics Oxycontin and Vicodin that are said to be an extreme cause of Ledger’s accidental overdose.

E! Online reports that according to the New York Post, the doctors met with the 28-year-old actor but they did not give him the deadly medication.

Since both drugs are considerably potent and contain high risk for abuse, the DEA is still unsure how the actor legally obtained such powerful narcotics. Oxycontin, specifically, must be prescribed and approved by the DEA and because of the dangers of dependency, no refills can be given passed 30 days of the initial prescription.

It has been reported that Ledger had been battling a prescription medication addiction for months prior to his death.

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