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  • Tearful Lauren Alaina sings through the pain after injuring vocal chords as she vies for American Idol crown

    Tearful Lauren Alaina sings through the pain after injuring vocal chords as she vies for American Idol crown
    By DAILY MAIL REPORTER
    ©
    Singing on: Lauren Alaina took to the American Idol stage tonight for the final showdown, despite having injured her vocal chords during rehearsals
    Lauren Alaina managed to make it on to the American Idol stage tonight for the final showdown - despite fears she may have had to bow out of the contest.
    The 16-year-old hopeful had earlier 'blew out her vocal chords' in rehearsals, the show's doctor explained.
    But after receiving medical attention and medication she was declared fit to do battle with fellow finalist Scotty McCreery.
    ©Emotional night: The 16-year-old hopeful became tearful after singing her last song of the night
    Lauren soldiered on without any audible hiccups, becoming tearful during her last song, with both her and Scotty, 17, receiving high praise from the judges for their performances.
    However, despite her setback, Lauren appeared to get the edge over Scotty, with the judges being slightly more impressed by her efforts.
    After the final song, all three judges said Lauren would get their vote over Scotty - although it is the public who get to decide the winner.
    Steven Tyler even went as far to say: 'Lauren gets it hands down.'
    ©Graceful: Host Ryan Seacrest escorts the Georgia native into the audience at LA's Nokia Theatre as she sings Like My Mother Does
    ©Proud: Lauren shares a hug with her mother as her father watches on during the performance
    The show began with the drama over Lauren's voice being discussed.
    She reassured host Ryan Seacrest: 'I'm fine,' after the programme's doctor explained how she had received medical treatment for her vocal chords.
    Tonight saw the boy next door versus the southern belle as Scotty and Lauren put in their final performances ahead of tomorrow's finale.
    Each contestant sung three songs for judges Jennifer Lopez, Randy Jackson and Tyler.
    ©Let the battle commence: Lauren with fellow finalist Scotty McCreery and host Seacrest
    Round one was their favourite song from the season, round two was a song picked by their mentors and round three was the single that each contestant will release if they win the competition.
    Scotty's final song was the slow track, I love You This Big.
    'When you hit that end note I was like "woah, dude". Scotty you are in it to win it. That was a brilliant vocal,' Jackson told him.
    'You are a storyteller, you did an amazing job with that song,' said Lopez.
    ©
    Southern belle: She started the night off in a gold, sparkly dress
    ©Musician: Scotty performs with his guitar in hand. He also received high praise from the judges although they said Lauren had a slight edge over him
    Lauren's final track was It's Like My Mother Does, which led her to hug her mother during the performance.
    'Lauren Alaina has arrived America, that was amazing,' shouted Jackson.
    'There was heart, emotion, feeling and a beautiful, beautiful voice,' said Lopez.
    'It's been a tight race,' Lopez added. 'America has their job cut out for them.'
    ©Here come the judges: Steven Tyler, Jennifer Lopez and Randy Jackson
    ©In position: All judges agreed it was a close race, but called if for Lauren at the end of the night. The voting public will decide the winner, which will be announced in tomorrow's show
    The songs were performed in LA's Nokia Theatre in front of seven thousand fans.
    The public will vote for the winner with the result being announced tomorrow.
    Tonight also saw a guest performance from Taio Cruz and American Idol winner David Cook from season seven.
    This year marks Idol's youngest-ever, and first all-country music finale.
    Alaina from Georgia, who has dreamed of appearing on the show since age six, is the youngest person to reach the finale.
    McCreery, from North Carolina, has a deep voice that belies his youth and has barely put a foot wrong.
    ©Guest performer: Taio Cruz took to the American Idol stage to entertain the 7,000-strong crowd
    But whichever contestant prevails when the votes are announced on Wednesday - and predictions as usual are for a close race - country music may end up the real winner, some experts say.
    'Either way they have two people who could do very well in country music,' said Yahoo! Music managing editor Lyndsey Parker.
    'If you look at some of the biggest sellers of the past couple of years they have been Taylor Swift, Lady Antebellum and Miranda Lambert.'
    ©Look who's back: Fellow American Idol winner David Cook closed the show
    Swift has sold more than three million copies in the United States alone of her November 2010 album Speak Now.
    Searches on Yahoo! for American Idol finalists have spiked 949 percent this week ahead of 10th season climax of the most-watched TV show in the United States.
    Alaina is getting nearly nine times as many searches as McCreery, according to Yahoo! data.
    American Idol 2011 Top 2 Finale - Lauren Alaina (Like My Mother Does)

    Lauren Alaina - Flat on the Floor - American Idol Season Finale Top 2 Performances May 24,2011

    American Idol 2011 Top 2 Finale - Scotty McCreery (Gone)

    Scotty McCreery - Check Yes or No - Top 2 - American Idol 2011 Finale (2nd Song) - 05/24/11

    source: dailymail

    VIA Tearful Lauren Alaina sings through the pain after injuring vocal chords as she vies for American Idol crown

  • Lauren Alaina and Scotty McCreery to battle it out in American Idol final... as Haley Reinhart is eliminated

    Lauren Alaina and Scotty McCreery to battle it out in American Idol final... as Haley Reinhart is eliminated
    By DAILY MAIL REPORTER
    ©Life-changing: The next American Idol will be Lauren Alaina or Scotty McCreery as the two made it through to next week's final
    Record 95 million votes put teenagers through
    The next American Idol will be Lauren Alaina or Scotty McCreery - after Haley Reinhart was eliminated from the show.
    Alaina, 16, and McCreery, 17, will go head to head for the tenth American Idol title next Tuesday.
    A record 95m votes were recorded after the semi-final show last night.
    Country crooner Scotty McCreery was the first to find out he had made it through followed by Lauren Alaina.
    ©In... and out: Alaina celebrates as Haley Reinhart learns she has been eliminated from the show
    Haley Reinhart, 20, kept her cool belting out Bennie And The Jets, without shedding a tear.
    At the end of the song Haley said: 'You'll be seeing me, this ain't the end of this, this ain't the end of this thing - see you later!'
    She then embraced her mother and father in the audience.
    Reinhart had always seemed doomed on Idol. Unlike her remaining rivals the wavy-haired singer had been less definable and garnered fewer votes, landing at the bottom as one of the show's low vote-getters four times after weak performances of such songs as LeAnn Rimes' Blue and Blondie's Call Me.
    ©No tears: Haley Reinhart, 20, kept her cool belting out Bennie And The Jets, without shedding a tear
    This season's femme fatale found recent success by boldly tackling classic rock tunes.
    She earned a standing ovation from the judges two weeks ago for a rousing rendition of The Animals' version of The House of the Rising Sun, and she was lauded again Wednesday for her performances of Fleetwood Mac's Rhiannon and Led Zeppelin's What Is and What Should Never Be.
    It was apparently too little, too late for Reinhart after 95 million viewer votes were cast Wednesday.
    ©Well done: After her performance Haley ran to embrace her parents in the audience
    While she was finding her groove throughout the finals, McCreery and Alaina had been delivering consistent country and pop performances since their attention-grabbing auditions.
    McCreery never appeared at the bottom, and Alaina only did once two weeks ago.
    Earlier in the evening as each of the three finalists were filmed visiting their hometowns.
    ©I'll be back: Haley vowed that viewers hadn't seen the last of her
    The show also featured a sizzling live performance by Nicole Scherzinger and 50 Cent and the U.S. debut of Italian boy-band and tenor trio Il Volo.
    Haley Reinhart made a tearful return to her hometown of Wheeling, Illinois a village 30 miles north of Chicago where she was overwhelmed by the number of fans who came out to see her despite a downpour.
    Scotty McCreery returned to his hometown of Garner, North Carolina for an all out concert performance - crying on camera as he was pictured leaving in his limousine.
    ©Homecoming: Scotty McCreery sobs as he makes his triumphant return to him hometown
    ©Emotional: McReery sobbed as he prepared for an all out concert performance in Garner, North Carolina
    But the perhaps the most emotional return was for Southern belle Lauren Alaina returned to Rossville, Georgia to visit her old high-school before taking a tour of the nearby area, which was devastated by recent storms and tornadoes.
    She wept as she past through the devastated communities meeting with some of the families whose lives had been torn apart by the disaster.
    'I'm doing this for you guys,' she told the crowd.
    ©Disbelief: Lauren Alaina returned to Rossville, Georgia to visit her old high-school before taking a tour of the nearby area, which was devastated by recent storms and tornadoes
    ©I'm doing this for you: She wept as she past through the devastated communities meeting with some of the families whose lives had been torn apart by the disaster
    McCreery and Alaina will face off Tuesday, with the 10th season Idol champion crowned on Wednesday.
    It will mark the youngest finale matchup in Idol history.
    Producers lowered the minimum age requirement to 15 years old this season, which allowed Alaina, who's been compared to fourth season Idol winner Carrie Underwood, the chance to audition last year.
    ©Success: The judges are also winners, with a record 95-million votes were recorded after the semi-final show last night
    ©The show featured a sizzling live performance by Nicole Scherzinger, she will co-host the U.S. X Factor
    source: dailymail

    VIA Lauren Alaina and Scotty McCreery to battle it out in American Idol final... as Haley Reinhart is eliminated

  • North America: NY authorities seek custody of stolen artifacts worth over $100 million

    North America: NY authorities seek custody of stolen artifacts worth over $100 million
    The Manhattan district attorney’s office on Tuesday made public the largest antiquities seizure in American history and asked a judge to grant it custody of a startling 2,622 artifacts recovered from storage rooms affiliated with an imprisoned Madison Avenue art dealer.

    NY authorities seek custody of stolen artifacts worth over $100 million
    The recovered artifacts are from India and other places in southern 
    Asia. Prosecutors said the dealer had cached the items in an 
    assortment of hideaways in Manhattan and Queens 
    [Credit: Michael Kirby Smith/The New York Times]

    The artifacts, valued by the authorities at $107.6 million, were described in papers filed in State Supreme Court in Manhattan as having been looted from India and other places in southern Asia and smuggled into the United States by the dealer, Subhash Kapoor.

    In their complaint, prosecutors said Mr. Kapoor, 65, had cached the items in an assortment of hideaways in Manhattan and Queens. They were confiscated during raids that began in 2012 and continued through last year.

    The seized items included bronze and stone statues of Hindu deities, many of them ancient masterworks worth several million dollars each.

    The authorities said their goal in gaining custody of the items was to set in motion the return of the stolen objects to India and their other countries of origin. Officials also hope to prosecute Mr. Kapoor, an American citizen, in the United States. Currently he is awaiting trial in India on charges of plundering archaeological sites and conspiring with black market traders to send illicit artifacts overseas. American officials are planning to extradite him after his case is settled.

    Mr. Kapoor, whose defunct gallery, Art of the Past, sold hundreds of objects to prominent American museums and collectors, has denied any wrongdoing.

    NY authorities seek custody of stolen artifacts worth over $100 million
    Federal agents recovered looted artifacts from public storage rooms in Queens in March. 
    The rooms were affiliated with an imprisoned Madison Avenue art dealer
    [Credit: Michael Kirby Smith/The New York Times]

    “At the present time we are at a distinct disadvantage because Mr. Kapoor is in an Indian jail and all the facts in this matter are known by him,” said Kenneth J. Kaplan, a lawyer for Mr. Kapoor. Manhattan prosecutors declined to comment on the case.

    Since an initial raid on Mr. Kapoor’s gallery by Homeland Security Investigations agents in 2012, three of his associates have agreed to criminal penalties in exchange for cooperating with investigators, according to officials and lawyers. The case, which now extends to four continents and is being pursued in conjunction with Indian officials, has been named Operation Hidden Idol.

    Mr. Kapoor’s office manager, Aaron M. Freedman, 43, of Princeton, N.J., pleaded guilty in 2013 to six counts of criminal possession of stolen property valued at $35 million and, according to his lawyer, helped officials track down some of Mr. Kapoor’s hidden storage locations.

    In addition, Mr. Kapoor’s sister, Sushma Sareen, a 61-year-old Queens resident, pleaded guilty in November to a misdemeanor charge of obstructing justice and was sentenced to conditional release. In 2013, she had been charged with receiving and possessing several million dollars’ worth of ancient bronze statues, which remain missing. She is also cooperating, according to investigators.

    Federal authorities have identified 18 American museums as owning a total of 500 items sold or donated by Mr. Kapoor. Several museums have recently turned in objects judged to be illicit, while others have said they are satisfied that their Kapoor items were legally acquired.

    Author: Tom Mashberg | Source: The New York Times [April 14, 2015]

  • The perils of a Lo-cut dress: Jennifer Lopez suffers embarrassing wardrobe malfunction live on German TV

    The perils of a Lo-cut dress: Jennifer Lopez suffers embarrassing wardrobe malfunction live on German TV
    By PAMELA OWEN
    ©Diva: Lopez has been touring Europe to promote her latest album 'Love?' and has done a number of TV interviews
    As far as wardrobe malfunctions go, Jennifer Lopez could probably count this one as her worst ever.
    The 42-year-old singer managed to fully expose her ample bosom during an interview with German television.
    Lopez has fiercely been promoting her latest album, 'Love?' across Europe but the recent appearance left her a little over exposed and will, no doubt, make her blush.

    ©
    Unsuspecting: Jennifer is in a jovial mood as she is greeted by the show's presenter Thomas Gottschalk
    ©Windy: TV presenter Thomas Gottschalk runs to Jennifer's rescue but little do they know she's about to reveal even more flesh
    It all started when the signer arrived on a horse drawn carriage for the live filming of 'Wetten das...?' - German for 'wanna bet that' - at the Coliseo Balear bull fighting arena in Palma de Mallorca, Spain.
    The singer looked gorgeous in a floor-length beige and black dress with a matching head band and the crowds screamed as she waved.
    ©Superstar: Fans at the bull fighting arena went crazy as Jennifer performed her hit On the Floor
    But her flowing outfit, which was barely held together with a large brown belt, was probably not suited and kept whipping up in the windy weather.
    As she greeted the show's presenter Thomas Gottschalk and Formula One champion Sebastian Vettel a huge gust of wind started to blow her flowing dress up.
    Almost immediately Gottschalk can be seen scuttling over to her in a bid to try and keep the ensemble down.
    And Lopez sighs with relief as she manages to escape showing too much flesh.
    But she didn't suspect she was about to commit an even greater faux pas
    ©Glamorous: The singer talks to host Gottschalk and Formula One World Champion Sebastian Vettel
    As she sits down the singer's entire breast pops out, leaving her completely exposed.
    Completely oblivious to what just happened, the singer carries on with the interview unaware that she has just given Gottschalk and Vettel an eyeful.
    After discussing her latest album and revealing a bit about her personal life, she then went on to sing her hit song, On The Floor.
    The interview was just one of many that she has been doing in Europe and was recently spotted with her mum Guadaulpe in Paris.
    Last year Lopez spoke about how having her own children helped the pair mend their own troubled relationship.
    Dressed casually in a grey cardigan and jeans, J-Lo didn't let the rain dampen her spirits as she did a bit of shopping with her mum.
    ©Hollywood royalty: Jennifer made a grand entrance and was brought into the arena on a horse-drawn carriage
    The Diva, who is married to Marc Anthony, also recently revealed in an interview with the BBC that she might not be returning American Idol.
    Lopez, who judged alongside Steven Tyler and Randy Jackson, announced in April that she was keen to start a new show to try and find undiscovered talent in Latin American countries with her husband.
    The show, called Que Viva!, means that Lopez, who has two children, will be able to spend more time with her family.
    ©
    Motherly love: J-Lo's mother Guadalupe with her daughter in Paris while she promotes her new album in Europe

    source: dailymail

    VIA The perils of a Lo-cut dress: Jennifer Lopez suffers embarrassing wardrobe malfunction live on German TV

  • Adoring Justin Bieber wraps a protective arm around Selena Gomez on her first public appearance since hospitalisation

    Adoring Justin Bieber wraps a protective arm around Selena Gomez on her first public appearance since hospitalisation
    By DAILY MAIL REPORTER
    ©
    Bieber gets a fever: Justin appeared to enjoy the view as he joined his leggy girlfriend Selena Gomez on stage at the MuchMusic Video Awards in Toronto, Canada last night
    Justin Bieber looked totally smitten with Selena Gomez on stage at the MuchMusic Video Awards last night.
    The 17-year-old singer wrapped an arm around his stunning girlfriend as she hosted the awards ceremony.
    The event was Selena's first public appearance since her hospitalisation for malnutrition last week.
    ©Adored: Fans in the crowd reach out to Justin in the hope of touching his hand
    ©Cute couple: The duo teamed up on stage at the awards bash
    Bieber took to the stage to accept an award, which he shared with hip hop star Drake, after they were named joint winners of best international Canadian video.
    While 18-year-old Gomez slipped into an array of revealing outfits during the course of the evening, Justin stuck to his guns, donning a retro T-shirt with a printed picture of Saved By The Bell Nineties pin-up Tiffani Thiessen.
    ©Double win: The teen singer also picked the favourite artist gong for his his hit Somebody to Love
    You'd have thought the 17-year-old would have been too young to be a fan of the American teen sitcom - but that didn't stop him wearing the top, which showed Thiessen in character as high school student Kelly Kapowski.
    Justin also scooped the honour for favourite artist by ordinary Canadians, adding yet more awards to his growing trophy collection.
    ©Outfits galore: Selena made a series of wardrobe changes throughout the evening, seen right getting speaking to axed 90210 star Trevor Donovan
    ©
    Bad boy: Irish heartthrob Colin Farrell also joined the former Disney star on stage to present an award
    ©Joint winners: Justin and Drake, who was look a little fuller in the face than usual, both shared the award for International Video of the Year by a Canadian
    Lady Gaga was the other big winner of the night, opening the show with a performance of Edge of Glory and closing out with Born This Way - in which she 'hatched' from a cocoon.
    The singer was voted the most popular international artist in the fan category, while also taking home the best international video for Judas.
    However, she put in a relatively low-key claim for the fashion crown, wearing outfits which by her standards were somewhat conservative.
    ©Host turned performer: Selena took a break from her presenting duties to sing her hit Who Says
    ©Crowd mania: The fans in the audience loved the performance and scrambled for their cameras as she sang
    The 25-year-old skipped the red carpet as she turned up to the event in Toronto, Canada, but was pictured showing off what appeared to be a slightly fuller figure in a form-fitting LBD.
    She completed the look with her now trademark turquoise wig and a pair of bondage-style knee-high boots.
    The Telephone singer later posed for photographers, adding to her ensemble a towering pair of platforms, a blue blazer and a colourful pair of tights.
    ©
    Legs Eleven: The singer and actress stood firmly in the spotlight as she made her red carpet arrival
    ©
    Turning heads: Selena turned up in a stunning backless beige dress teamed with purple heels
    ©Cheeky: Gomez's boyfriend Justin arrived wearing a retro Saved By The Bell T-shirt with a printed image of Nineties pin-up Tiffani Thiessen with her toned torso on show
    Shawn Desman won the MMVA video of the year for Electric/Night Like This, while Far East Movement took home the international group video trophy for Like a G6.
    Other winners included Toronto-based six-man rap rock band Down With Webster, which won for best pop video for Whoa is Me.
    The best indie video went to JDiggz for This Time, and the rock video of the year was awarded to Abandon All Ships for Geeving.
    ©Canadian singer-songwriter Fefe Dobson won the fan’s favourite video for Stuttering and the hip hop video of the year going to Classified for That Ain’t Classy.
    Gomez proved a successful host for the night, having bounced back to health following her recent hospital dash, which she later revealed was down to malnutrition.
    The MuchMusic Video Awards is the biggest music awards ceremony in Canada and have been running since 1990.
    Irish heartthrob actor Colin Farrell joined Selena on stage to help with hosting duties, as did axed 90210 star Trevor Donovan.
    ©Greeting fans: The 25-year-old singer had her photo taken with her supporters, but avoided the red carpet
    ©Nappy couple: Twilight star Nikki Reed with her American Idol fiance Paul McDonald
    ©
    Legs on show: Nikki wore a strapless dress which gathered at then waist while Pretty Little Liars star Shay Mitchell dazzled in a sexy black ensemble
    ©Gothic style: Canadian singer-songwriter Fefe Dobson opted for a long black dress split to the thigh with a dramatic plunging back
    ©Sk8ter Girl: Canadian-born singer Avril Lavigne performs during the event with her electric guitar in hand
    Farrell is currently in Canada shooting the remake of the 1990 movie, Total Recall but found time to attend the ceremony, which also featured performances from Bruno Mars and Canadian-born singer, Avril Lavigne.
    On accepting her prestigious role as the event's co-host, Selena recently told the Toronto Herald: 'It's exciting and scary at the same time because (Wizards) was my safety net.
    'That's all I really know so it'll be interesting to detach from that and be on my own.'
    Selena has had a rocky few weeks after she fell ill and was admitted into hospital for 24 hours with malnutrition last week.
    ©Making some noise: Rapper Snoop Dog performs with Far East Movement during the ceremony
    ©Too cool for school: Irish actor Colin Farrell and rock chick Avril Lavigne pose on the red carpet
    ©
    Warm-up: Selena Gomez takes a break from rehearsals in slightly less glamorous attire
    Selena Gomez presenting Justin Bieber & Drake win International Video of the year! MMVA 2011

    Lady Gaga - Born This Way Live Performance at: MMVAs 2011

    Selena Gomez & The Scene - Who Says Live Performance Much Music Video Awards MMVA 2011

    source :dailymail

    VIA Adoring Justin Bieber wraps a protective arm around Selena Gomez on her first public appearance since hospitalisation

  • Dressed down Doll: Nicole Scherzinger makes the most of comfy clothing but still makes to flash some flesh

    Dressed down Doll: Nicole Scherzinger makes the most of comfy clothing but still makes to flash some flesh
    By SARAH FITZMAURICE
    ©New job: The 32-year-old singer who is hosting X Factor USA alongside Steve Jones wrapped up in a grey and black scarf
    She will be glamming up every week as the host of X Factor USA so who can blame Nicole Scherzinger for making the most of the opportunity to dress down.
    The singer opted for a comfy travelling outfit yesterday as she jetted out of LAX in a pair of grey lame baggy trousers and a black top.
    ©Comfy clothes: Nicole Scherzing jetted out of LAX in a pair grey of hareem trousers and a baggy black top but flashed some flesh with the cut out back
    But Nicole still managed to keep things racy with her baggy top from the front cut out to reveal a lot of flesh at the back.
    The Poison singer also liberated her feet from high heels and strutted in a pair of flat strappy sandals and wrapped a black and grey scarf around her neck.
    The former Pussycat had performed on Ellen DeGeneres’ show which aired yesterday and was seen having a dance off with Oscar-winner Tom hanks,
    ©Luggage free? The Poison singer strolled through the airport in her sunglasses
    Nicole had performed her latest single Right There in a low cut tangerine dress.
    Tom, who attended the Queen’s state dinner in London last night was seen taking to the stage to dance with Nicole on the show which had been recorded prior to be aired yesterday.
    As well as performing her latest hit Nicole also discussed her new role as host of the U.S. X Factor.
    'It's good,' she said. 'We just started the audition process. Simon Cowell gets kind of out there. It's fun and spontaneous.'
    The 32-year-old singer is co-hosting the show alongside British TV presenter Steve Jones.
    ©New dance troupe? Nicole appeared on the Ellen DeGeneres show which aired yesterday with 50 cent and Tom Hanks challenged her to a dance off
    ©Get down low: Tom tried to mimic Nicole's moves but couldn't get down as low as she could
    Last week the singer performed on rival show American Idol in a barely-there white bra-style dress.
    Right There is the latest single from the former Pussycat Doll's solo album Killer Love.
    [HD] Nicole Scherzinger ft. 50 Cent - Right There (The Ellen DeGeneres Show - 24th May 2011)

    source: dailymail

    VIA Dressed down Doll: Nicole Scherzinger makes the most of comfy clothing but still makes to flash some flesh

  • One thumb up

    One thumb up
    ©There are few people who haven't heard of Bethany Hamilton. She was the 13-year-old amateur professional surfer who had her arm bitten off by 4.3 m tiger shark while surfing off the coast of Hawaii. She lost 60 per cent of her blood, but miraculously survived and returned to the world of professional surfing a champion. Her inspirational tale is the subject ofSoul Surfer; a film that follows her personal struggle to overcome her debilitating injury.
    Directed by Sean McNamara (Raise Your Voice, Bratz), this is notJawsmeetsBlue Crush, but rather a Disney-esque version of events. Sure, this is a fairytale, so heart warming sentiments and inspirational monologues are to be expected. But somewhere between lines like “love is bigger than any tidal wave or fear” the film succumbs to family movie cheesiness. Written, produced and directed by McNamara,Soul Surferis elevated by a trio of strong performances from AnnaSophia Robb as Bethany and Dennis Quaid and Helen Hunt as her parents. Robb is beyond convincing and beautifully balances Bethany's vulnerability and inner-strength. Quaid and Hunt are fantastic as the supportive and highly likable parents. Their love for each other and their family has a tangible presence and one of the best scenes is when the Hollywood veterans take to the waves for a surfing/bonding session. Plus, Hunt is undoubtedly one of the most naturally beautiful women in the bizz. At 47 she rocks a bikini and in close-ups it’s clear to see she hasn’t had a spot of work done; she’s aging gracefully and looking all the better for it.
    Also good is Jack Nicholson's daughter Lorraine Nicholson as Bethany's best friend Alana Blanchard and formerHerculesstar Kevin Sorbo in a meaty role as her dad Holt Blanchard. The Blanchard’s were close friends of the Hamilton family and responsible for saving Bethany's life that day when they dragged her to shore and used a leg rope as a tourniquet. These days Alana is better known for having thebest assin international surfing.©Based on Bethany's autobiography of the same name, the surfer has always attributed God and her faith for getting her through the traumatic ideal and back on the board. The Christian elements of Bethany's life are certainly not skipped over. In fact, they're perhaps covered too extensively and the powerful Christian themes are likely to ostracise some viewers. American Idol winner Carrie Underwood's performance as a Christian councillor doesn't help. Her big screen debut is so terrible, you would be happy to throw yourself into the mouth of a tiger shark to escape her wooden and preachy portrayal. Her sense of superiority and righteousness would be excruciating enough, but Underwood sports heavy makeup throughout the film which seems especially ridiculous when she's working in the slums of Indonesian in the aftermath of the Boxing Day tsunami. A Christian missionary with more eye shadow than Hedwig from the Angry Inch strips any sort of believability from the situation.
    Despite its shortcomings,Soul Surferisn't a wipe out. It's an inspirational, family-friendly film that might over-do the cheese, but that doesn't mean it can't please.
    Soul Surferis out Thursday, May 26.

    VIA One thumb up