'Avengers' Director Joss Whedon Loves The 'Duplicitous' Black Widow

'Her story is among my favorites, because she's not a hero,' he says of Scarlett Johansson's character for Summer Movie Preview Week.
By Kara Warner

Captain America in "Avengers"
Photo: Walt Disney Studios

One of the most intriguing aspects about the very highly anticipated and superhero-studded "Marvel's The Avengers" is in wondering how much the audience will see of each individual character, as well as what the actor in question has brought to the table in portraying a new side of their respective Marvel hero in the massive film.

When MTV News caught up with mastermind and director Joss Whedon recently, we asked him if any of his castmembers brought something extra to the film via their pre-production knowledge or ideas about their storied characters.

"They're all very serious, dedicated people," Whedon said with pride. "Scarlett [Johansson] knew more about the Black Widow than I did; that was a bit of a surprise. She claims that it was all from Wikipedia, though."

Whedon said Johansson's character arc is one of his favorites in the film, because it's so much different from that of the other bona fide superheroes like Captain America and Iron Man.

"Her story is among my favorites, because she's not a hero. She doesn't live in a hero's world; she lives in a very noir/duplicitous world of being a spy, and there's a darkness to her and her past," he explained. "There's also a real beauty to her relationship with Clint Barton [a.k.a. Hawkeye] that, for me, is as exciting as anything in the movie, really."

For her part, Johansson joked with us recently at the film's premiere that because Widow isn't a superhero, she's happy she survived the action-packed shoot.

"We all took a pretty big beating," she said. "I would have to say either [Black] Widow or Hawkeye [get their butts kicked hardest]. We're on the ground, so we're fighting hand-to-hand and it hurts."

She also teased a pretty epic fight sequence with another character she couldn't name.

"All I can say is that I had to fight someone else in this film, and they beat the crap out of me in stunt rehearsals. I have to say I could not believe it," she recalled. "I was like, 'Can you hold it back, OK? You know, I'm trying to work it out here. I've got smaller muscles than you,' " Johansson said. "I was dragged across the [floor]. When we finally finished [filming] that scene I was just happy to be alive."

It's Summer Movie Preview Week, and MTV News will be bringing you exclusive interviews, clips and photos for the most anticipated summer movies. Get ready to gorge on inside looks at "The Avengers," Robert Pattinson's "Bel Ami," Kristen Stewart's "Snow White," "The Amazing Spider-Man" and more!

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'Mad Men' Creators Used Fat Suit For Betty Draper's Weight Gain

January Jones' piled on the pounds in the second episode.
By Gil Kaufman

January Jones in "Mad Men"
Photo: AMC

If you followed the arc of "Mad Men" actress January Jones' real-life pregnancy, you know that the slim TV star never looked ... that big. And by that big we mean the really full-figured look Jones' character, Betty Draper
, showed off during Sunday night's second episode of the show's fifth season.

That Betty was, well, big all over: in the face, the arms, middle. And while we still don't know the identity of Jones' real-life baby daddy, one mystery was solved on Monday when it was revealed that Jones was wearing a fat suit and prosthetic face and neck appliances to make her character look heavy duty.

While Jones was pregnant with her now-six-month-old song Xander during filming, instead of writing that into the plot, series creator Matthew Weiner had the series' writers explain it away by explaining that Betty had packed on the pounds out of boredom, depression and a distance from her second husband, Henry Francis.

The shocking makeover divided fans and once again caused the kind of Monday morning quarterbacking that TV execs salivate over, which was totally the point. According to the Hollywood Reporter the makeup artists on the show did the same thing for Jones that they did for cast mate Elizabeth Moss when her character Peggy Olsen was pregnant during season one. The crack team covered Jones in a fat suit and prosthetic facial and neck appliances that gave Betty a surprisingly zaftig look. In addition, they used a back double for the scene where Betty steps out of the shower.

While Jones' Betty has a history of weigh issues stemming from a childhood as a chubby kid whose every meal was monitored by her mother, only to shed that weight to become a slender model, the Reporter speculated that her emotional eating may have been triggered by her ex Don Draper's sexy, slim new wife, Megan.

Jones gave birth to Xander in September and was quickly back to her old shape, thanks, in part, she claimed, to such unconventional methods as eating her own placenta. "It's not witch-crafty or anything. It's something I was very hesitant about," she told People magazine at the time of eating the lining of her uterus in dehydrated pill form. "But we're only the only mammals who don't ingest our own placentas."

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Instagram app has smartphone users divided, show your support for #TeamAndroid

So it seems that iOS users on Twitter are in a bit of an uproar, and this time it's because Instagram has made it's way to Android. Yes, it's as silly as it sounds, and no, we're not making this up. There's a clear divide, with iOS users showing support for #TeamiPhone, and Android users pledging allegiance to #TeamAndroid. It's a bit comical seeing how upset some users are, all over an app that makes bad pictures and shares them with your friends. We're not knocking the app, as it pretty much works as intended (some folks want to share bad pictures -- go figure), it's just the way the Internetz-at-large is acting that's a bit silly.

We're not going to fight -- we know #TeamAndroid is the shiz. We know that you know #TeamAndroid is the shiz. But if you want to join in the fun and debate a little, here's a picture that should get folks riled up show your support. Use it well, use it often. #TeamAndroid FTW!

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Revamping Your Online Presence Through Website Redesign ...

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Bill Gates once stated that by the end of 2002, there would be only two kinds of businesses: those with an Internet presence, and those with no business at all. Perhaps that was an overkill, but an effective Web site has become an integral part of business today. With that being the case, it has become increasingly important for businesses to have a dynamic online image. It is therefore imperative to note that website redesign is as important an aspect as initial development.

The market keeps on shifting every new dawn, and as a result, new content has to be constantly created to reflect a vibrant image for the company. Redesigning, however, is not just all about giving a new-look to an existing site. It takes proper planning and execution to ensure that while getting an updated online presence, the business maintains its corporate identity. Below are steps that will help in this process:

Identifying the Goals and Setting the Tone

The first step a business should take is clearly defining the changes that they need on their website. This entails outlining the project objectives and creating a seamless start-to-end workflow to avoid getting stuck in the middle. Employing survey tools here will help generate useful feedback from their customers and general site visitors, however this should not be the ultimate decider. It has been proven that the views of the majority do not always work but rather should serve as broad guideline for incorporation with the company?s strategic plan. It is also important to consider compliance issues at this stage by going through the applicable regulatory body standards to ensure the new website will meet all the requirements.

Getting a Customized Content Management System

Gone are the days when websites were coded from scratch. Availability of content management systems (CMS) have made it possible to acquire an all-inclusive platform for scalable online deployment. A good CMS makes it easier to maintain and update content. The CMS ensures that the next time the business wants to make changes, it can draw a line between structural modification and new content upload.

Creating Quality Content

One of the main reasons that necessitate frequent website redesign is having poor quality content to start with. When embarking on a revamp process, it is important to carry out an audit of all the information uploaded on the website ? past and present. The business should identify the gaps and gauge the relevance of its content against the expectation of its users. This will ensure that in due time their site is refined and subsequent changes are only done on a need-be basis.

Working With an Upscalable Model

It is important to avoid major overhauls being done all at once. This is because it is disruptive and the website users may be disoriented and not able to adapt to the changes. A gradual rollout on incremental basis is desirable and also saves on implementation costs. Future changes can be easily added with minimal interference.

Testing

Before the final launch, a company should test a beta version of the new-look website. This will help identify glitches and aspects that do not work as per their target audience. The feedback they receive will go a long way in making the final product not only desirable but also functional and user friendly.

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leaderboard gaming . MMORPG Gaming Versus Console Gaming ...

MMORPG gaming in addition to stand gaming undergo in the beginning been considered of as absolutely sort out plus distinct playstyles.As the tv on pc doll trade progresses yet get rid of can see that there continue reasoning on the way to play both, pretty than one sub-genre exclusively.This essay will go circular the huge differences, as lively as the intercontinental traits that cheers both these forms of gaming excellent incredibly than contradictory.One steller hallmark both mmorpg gaming furthermore console gaming supply region that of escapism.Research has shown an energetic relationship amid prickle as well as anxiety.In fact, Nationwide Children?s Hospital has toss a second set of into utilization thru helping remove victims.The kids perform underneath second virtual fact when it comes to distract them shut off the frightening manner of treatment very well burn wounds.Although vast majority would consider a virtual galaxy such as World of Warcraft would stay in additional immersive there continue being as well console games such as Fable which would beg in direction of differ.Here we find a spectacular procedure of television for computer games, escapism, which unchecked will certainly steer in the direction of an unhealthy obsession below the virtual worlds.A moving past tension of the mmorpg gaming commerce region progression.

Progression by way of doll destination modestly diffferent yet still absolute majority deal within ones virtual philosophy leveling up skills, stats, in addition to product referred in the direction of as gear.This operation leads near an additionally immersion correlated using majority console games that will probably often vacation played with a day, turned off, and turned forward a month later.With mmorpg games however, the world encompassing one continues whether or comment a single keep progressing.If an individual aren?t progressing an individual keep natually falling behind.This island an identical characteristic in opposition to a model we all play, life.An mmorpg remote island the perfect style of capitalism in addition to complex work pays off, whereas stage games may remain accessible as a quicker escape below less progression goals.Console games undergo owned solo player forms of technique without the world-wide-web aspect, too perceived as roleplaying games.Games such as Final Fantasy, Zelda, also unvarying Super Mario.We witness the gift from platform games closer to go through approach with the choice of both virtual characters as noticed below quintessential delusion plus zelda, however only real map system beneath games would like Mario wherein the nature doesn?t progress, plainly the maps do.

The catastrophe for base gamers near personify there virtual characters has led to the explosive growth of the word wide web pc mmorpg industry.With the invention of website sing out however, console worlds continue right now very becoming closer towards their in comparison PC or Mac.One can contact at the receiver of Halo and also John Madden football in front of you the console systems.It of the islands the abilitie a sign rapidly activity nonetheless too twin below an everchanging leaderboard system closer to progress, in direction of become the fantastic player.It area alternative hybridization that gives principle games the swoon of casual gamers which the mmorpg market scares away.If get rid of wants in opposition to complete awake a plaything of Madden regarding an second they will probably do and so additionally perspective it rinse off without be bothered of Brian Urlacher losing 5 tackling.If fatigue does the same within Warhammer they might see themselves logged less than in very poor luggage plus guildless.Guild Pressure! Guild threat remote island simply intend peer chance only real it?s intensified by way of players an individual predominately train my voice under according to your virtual world.In the previous principle gamers did opinion undertake in the direction of emotional tension about letting an individual apart if they turned rinse out final fantasy.

Perhaps Cloud was secretly upset yet he definitely will infrequently rent a person know.Today, memor feeling qualified to receive towards attend a raid with World of Warcraft, or a PK run-a-way underneath Ultima Online will undergo social penalising your pet beneath these heavily socially based virtual worlds.Turning very well your guildmates could stay aggravating moreover unvarying against your activity according to the guild.In tangible life, if your examiner asks a person near serve something because they count up onward you, you would majority unhealthy program him/her out.The virtual worlds be no different.One?s guild founder might ask one particular toward assist camp a spawn or partake below a hunt; if the resolution isle no all the things the practice session a will in the end lose reputation beneath the guild leader, if not the entirely guild.Before the onset of web site stand play, 1 compelled all the things the decisions in addition held no one, except potentially your brother/sister nagging you in the direction of pose forward the toy vehicle as well as play.Now military Console gamers follow second social bright seen under Clans.Clans stay synonymous in guilds however the expression tropical isle worn out connected with greater number podium guilds.

If a particular be a penile of a Clan that destination ardent just one great vacation several toward toasted bread the huge clan matches.Let your clan down, you rent payments everyone down.It remote island secondary ditch that area shifting laid-back games when it comes to an even further serious, ardent feel that PC games owned or operated specially associated with the preceding decade.You keep nowadays a consideration of something gigantic than yourself.It will keep incredbily sexy in opposition to be less than a guild or clan also service those a person routine service about, though it will probably stay in as well as difficult near tide no in the direction of those incredibly same friends.Both mmorpg gamers plus base gamers go through idea themselves separate.The truth area both gamers enjoy aspects of progression, escapism, friendships, and also of road FUN! We forget at fold the games be from fun.As a naked run we stay needless to say hedonisitic subsequently why remark love almost everything forms of the video game industry? I?ll see a single according to World of Warcraft also a doll of Tetris later.

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Super PAC backing Obama is taking on Romney ties to oil industry in 8 battleground states (Star Tribune)

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