The New "It" Boy?

Meet Freddie Stroma. You may have seen him in theaters portraying Cormac McLaggen in the record-breaking sixth installment of the Harry Potter franchise. He's also currently starring in my fantasies. Smokin'. Charming, too. Are we witnessing the birth of the next "it" boy?

From where I'm standing, the title of Hollywood's hottest up-and-coming bundle of muscles and testosterone is up for grabs. The fervor around Chace Crawford, who recently celebrated his 24th birthday, has died down to a quiet simmer. Zefron is now too good for musicals (Footloose would have been awesome), too dumb to drop Vanessa Hudgens, and, frankly, too boring to garner much attention. Reigning hottie Robert Pattinson is still really hot in the Twilight movie and he does have a second one on the way. But as for the in-between time, while RPattz is still as pale and broody as Edward Cullen, he's pale and broody without lighting. Lighting is key. Recent photos of him strolling around NYC kinda kill the magic.

And, let's not forget that RPattz got his big break starring in the fourth Harry Potter film. If Freddie can land himself another prominent role, he can rise up the ranks fairly quickly. I, for one, humbly suggest that he do it wearing as little clothing as possible. Like this: check out his new Acne underwear advertisement.

Twilight: New Moon Trailer

Not bad. My interest isn't necessarily piqued, but it's sustained. Taylor's still not tall enough...

Edward or Jacob? - First Official 'New Moon' Poster

Someone saw the dollar signs and wasted no time in churning out these Twilight films. The second project, New Moon, will see its release just two days after my birthday, only a year after the first movie's release. Here we have the first official poster. Meh. I'm still a tad upset that Taylor Lautner is reprising his role as Jacob (instead of the drastically more attractive Michael Copon) and I'm harboring doubts that he can pull off the role convincingly. Judging by this poster alone he's not looking nearly as tall as he should. R-Pattz is looking as scrumptious as ever though, while mindless twat Kristen Stewart looks just as drab as she wants to be. With the second installment of the franchise approaching, brace yourself to hear much "Team Edward or Team Jacob" chatter amongst 'fanpires' (as if there's any contest). And if you are a fanpire, be sure to watch the 2009 MTV Movie Awards for your first peek at New Moon.

Zac "Lord of the Tweenyboppers" Efron Does GQ

Not to be outdone by Robert Pattinson, Zac Efron does his own spread for GQ. I'm not that crazy about Zac, but the boy is pretty, isn't he? Click here to check out the other photos. (I especially like the one where he rocks the Gucci jeans and nothing else...)

Prefer your heartthrob with a little more 'bite?' Check out Robert Pattinson's GQ spread.

Dear. God. - Robert Pattinson Covers GQ

Click here for more. You KNOW you want to.

Oh, silly child. Leona will do it for you! - Leona Lewis I Will Be Video & Perf

Leona is on a mission to re-sing every song ever sung. Correctly. Kidding, but she does enjoy the covers, doesn't she? Leona and her team are pushing I Will Be as her next single in the US instead of Run, something I've only recently come to terms with. She enlisted the aid of ex It-Boy, Chace Crawford (dethroned, of course, by Robert Pattinson -- requisite swoon) for the video, which quite frankly, I don't understand. But, when presented with eye candy, I find it best to simply drool. You can pretty much peg the nature of the song by its title; I will be all that you aren't, yada yada. But, for a former Avril Lavigne song (former because it's totally Leona's now), it's very pretty and, like I've mentioned before, Leona can sing the phone book brilliantly. It's not as fabulous as Run, but not as slow either and considering the average American attention span, perhaps she's made the right single choice. Check out the video and a live performance below.

Robert Pattinson Overload - Twilight Movie Review

So, I just got back from a midnight showing of Twilight. (Yes, I'm embarrassed). The movie, surprise, surprise, didn't get the most favorable of reviews, currently at a 43% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. I, myself, have mixed feelings.

First off, if you were already a 'fanpire,' you're gonna love this movie. You'll forgive all of its missteps, swoon every single time Edward Cullen is on screen, and won't want to get up when the lights come back on. Saying the film is faithful to the book makes all of the fans of the series look bad, but perhaps deservedly so, as I really think everything important in the book was included in the movie, including the unabashedly cheesy, lame, and campy parts. The movie, like the series, is somewhere between succeeding and failing, but the series is earnest enough and the film had Robert Pattinson, so we forgive, and in most cases, allow ourselves to become obsessed.

Bella, Edward, and Alice especially are all well-cast. No one else looks the way they're supposed to (except maybe the enemy vamps) but it doesn't really matter. Well, it's a tad disappointing when it comes to the rest of Edward's family, but we move on. There are a few good laughs, some intended and others, not so much. Robert Pattinson is so ridiculously gorgeous that it makes you uncomfortable. I've never been affected by an actor that way before. It's insane. If the movie translated anything accurately from the books, it's Edward and his beauty.

If you weren't already into the books, I highly doubt the movie will draw you in. If you're a gay male or straight female you'll be entertained at least, but you won't necessarily like it. Either way, the film is on its way to making a bumload of money, so the sequels are inevitable. I think the reviews are accurate, but, like any cult following, it's defiant of logic and reason. Mythology and hot boys just work. Gratuitous Robert, below.

Robert Pattinson, take me now... - Twilight Trailer

Uh, there's no keeping me away from the movie theater that Friday.

Guilty, Embarrassing, Humiliating Pleasure - Twilight

Yeah, I read the Twilight series! So what?!

I won’t say I loved it, because that’s almost certainly an overstatement. However, I am most definitely in love with Edward Cullen. Since the majority of the series is an ode to his beauty, it’s easy to be tricked into believing that you loved the books. Ah, Meyer, how crafty and clever you are. No, the story and the characters are static, protagonist Bella Swan is nearly unbearable until the last installment, and you get the overwhelming feeling at the end of the series that nothing actually happened. It’s all very unrealistic, even by the standards of a vampire/romance novel. The best part about the series is that Meyer effectively transforms you into a 13-year-old girl and you have not one, but two amazingly hot superhuman boys to drool over. The worst part is reading about how Bella handled the situation, and knowing that if it were you, you would have milked it for all its worth. Screw the hot, tall, buff Native American boy? Check.

The most humiliating part, unfortunately, is yet to come. The Twilight movie drops next month. Will I be at my local cinema? Yes, indeed. But, at least this is more straightforward. Robert “Gorgeous” Pattinson is playing Edward. Duh, no-brainer. Though, I suspect even he will have trouble living up to the perfection that is Edward Cullen. If Meyer stressed anything, it’s that Edward Cullen is the finest young thang to ever walk the planet, living, dead, or in between. I’m fully prepared to watch him try, though. Oh, yes.