Tag Archives: films

Liam Neeson Angers Narnia Fans By Comparing Aslan to Buddha and Mohamed

Liam Neeson, who voices Aslan the Christ-like lion throughout the Chronicles of Narnia film series has just caused a controversy of sorts among Christian fans of the series with some comments during Voyage of the Dawn Treader press. To point, he says that, to him, the lion symbolizes all great prophets including Buddha and Mohamed. I’m guessing this would have gone unnoticed if not for that Mohamed part, but let’s take a closer look at these supposedly misguided, controversial statements and the ensuing criticism.

See the original post here:
Liam Neeson Angers Narnia Fans By Comparing Aslan to Buddha and Mohamed

Saturday Night Live Scorecard: Was the Third Time a Charm for Host Robert De Niro?

Robert De Niro returned for his third Saturday Night Live hosting gig last night, and the usually befuddled host was, this time, surprisingly… OK. Look, the guy is never going to be considered one of the great hosts — a screen legend always seeming to be a little bit out of his element. For starters, De Niro, more than almost any other recurring host, doesn’t really hide the fact that he reads off of cue cards (of course, because of so many last-minute changes, everyone on SNL reads off of cue cards, but some work harder than than others at hiding this). But, dammit, there’s something endearing about the fact that he keeps trying. It would be going a little far to say that the third time was a charm — but his third time was, let’s say, serviceable (with some help from Ben Stiller). On to the scorecard!

Read more:
Saturday Night Live Scorecard: Was the Third Time a Charm for Host Robert De Niro?

REVIEW: Udon Western The Warrior’s Way Mingles Genres to Great Effect

A pain in the ass for someone with a job to do, films that open without screening for critics usually draw one of two responses: 1. Yes, that was probably a wise decision; or 2. Have a little faith, studio chickens! I’m not sure how a system that’s pushing Daniel Craig and Harrison Ford’s upcoming Cowboys and Aliens would assume that critics won’t get a film like The Warrior’s Way ; it’s been a mad, mixed-up genre world for some time now. Yet if writer/director Sngmoo Lee’s feature debut isn’t the first revisionist udon western, surely it will wind up being close to the only one. A shame, in a way, because I suspect a little company would only confirm that it’s also one of the best.

Originally posted here:
REVIEW: Udon Western The Warrior’s Way Mingles Genres to Great Effect

On DVD: Frank Capra’s Other Christmas Classic Turns 70

Once Thanksgiving is over, It’s a Wonderful Life season officially begins. But by the time director Frank Capra ventured to Bedford Falls, he had already made one of the greatest Christmas movies ever: Meet John Doe , which gets a “70th Anniversary Ultimate Collectors Edition” release this week from VCI Entertainment. And like many of Capra’s little-guy-against-the-corporations movies, it feels more relevant than ever.

Go here to read the rest:
On DVD: Frank Capra’s Other Christmas Classic Turns 70

Late Night Highlights: James Franco’s Oscar Host Duties Inspired by Robert Pattinson

Last night, new Oscar co-host James Franco stopped by Jimmy Kimmel Live to explain how that fantasy gig came to be. And spoiler alert: It began with a simple dream of parodying his Twilight idol Robert Pattinson. Meanwhile, the Kardashians horrified Conan O’B rien with a story about mayonnaise and vaginas, Jon Stewart attacked Sarah Palin’s Twitter personality, Stephen Colbert defended Christmas and Craig Ferguson continued the war on his French copycat.

More:
Late Night Highlights: James Franco’s Oscar Host Duties Inspired by Robert Pattinson

De Niro, Diddy SNL Promo Photo: Meet the Fakers

Watch Kevin Bacon Play Nerd Version of Kevin Bacon in TV Ad

Helena Bonham Carter on King’s Speech, Fight Club and Why She Doesn’t Belong to Tim Burton

Considering the intense security I had to wade my way through recently to visit Helena Bonham Carter at her Manhattan hotel, for a few moments it actually did feel like I might be visiting the Queen of England. (As it turned out, it was just the Israeli Prime Minister’s security detail.) Alas, no — just screen royalty, as proven in her latest effort, The King’s Speech .

Read more:
Helena Bonham Carter on King’s Speech, Fight Club and Why She Doesn’t Belong to Tim Burton

Jethro Tull, New Vaudeville Band and Katy Perry: A Historical Tribute to the Worthlessness of the Grammys

On Wednesday night CBS aired the Grammy nominations in the form of a big concert, but the music died sometime in the first hour: Katy Perry earned an Album of the Year nomination, Glee garnered one for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group With Vocals (come on ), and typically tepid Grammy bait like Lady Antebellum picked up six noms. While the Grammys are supposed to represent music’s biggest night on television, the ceremony remains what it has always been: a valentine to the recording industry, where popularity and obligation supersede quality. We’ve lined up our favorite reasons to loathe the Grammys (which is saying a lot coming from award-show junkies like us), and we hope you’re dragging the needle onto your prized Jethro Tull LP as you read along.

Read the original here:
Jethro Tull, New Vaudeville Band and Katy Perry: A Historical Tribute to the Worthlessness of the Grammys

Late Night Highlights: Stephen Colbert’s Strangers with Candy Reunion Ends with Bullet

Last night, Stephen Colbert brilliantly paid tribute to Days of Our Lives ‘ hilarious product placement with help from Strangers with Candy partner Paul Dinello and a box of Cheerios. Meanwhile, Chelsea Handler roasted Jay Leno, Kristen Schaal raised money for the Playboy Mansion and Conan monologue-d with Slash.

Read this article:
Late Night Highlights: Stephen Colbert’s Strangers with Candy Reunion Ends with Bullet