Entertainment hourly.
The His Dark Materials fantasy books by Philip Pullman may be well-written and mesmerizing, but as a cinematic experience, the movie version of the first book doesn't really have two CGI legs to stand on. I've never read the books, in part because I wanted to critique The Golden Compass for what it is: a film. I don't think allowances should be made for the movie based on the quality of the books Read more
Today's holiday gift guide has some ideas for the too-cool-for-school teen guys on your list. For the guy who owns countless Spider-Man comics, has his figurines poised for action around his bedroom and breathlessly awaited this summer's third installment of the series, check out this DVD triology which includes Spider-Man, Spider-Man 2 and Spider-Man 3. Though The Golden Compass comes out right Read more
Many thanks to all of you who participated in this week's Buzzworthy challenge to bookmark your favorite young adult novels! I now have a super long list of titles I can turn to when I need that special brand of teen angst, raw emotion and fluttery first love that always manages to comfort me and cut me to the quick at the same time. Most notably, it looks like our resident YA librarian, smart Read more
After posting the gorgeous-looking trailer for The Golden Compass — which stars Nicole Kidman, Daniel Craig and Eva Green, among others — I've been on the lookout for more news about the film. Now, HisDarkMaterials.org has posted a behind-the-scenes clip show from the making of The Golden Compass and it's pretty interesting. Of course, it mostly consists of Eva Green swooping around on Read more
This month the American Library Association updated its list of frequently challenged books for the 2011 year, and one wildly popular novel is making its way up the rankings of this infamous list. The Hunger Games trilogy by Suzanne Collins, which first appeared at number five of Top 10 Most Frequently Challenged Books in 2010, is now third on the list for attempts to remove its contents from Read more
James Franco plays the swashbuckling and sexy Prince Fabius in the upcoming Your Highness. When his lady love is kidnapped by an evil wizard, he and his ne'er-do-well brother, played by his former Pineapple Express costar Danny McBride, set out on a quest to rescue her. Hijinks, sword fights, and stoner humor ensue. James was on hand for the movie's recent press day in Beverly Hills, where he Read more
Beyond being a professional triathlon competitor, Brendan Brazier has covered his nutritional bases. Brendan's the creator of the "Thrive Diet," a nutritional plan to improve performance and recovery and has developed Vega shakes, a line of nutrient rich vegan protein shakes. He regularly tours the US to give speeches about how to have optimal health. The author of two books, Brendan will Read more
Guillermo del Toro is the force behind this weekend's Don't Be Afraid of the Dark, and he recently spoke about his involvement with the Katie Holmes and Guy Pearce film during a NYC press day. Troy Nixey directed the scary movie, with del Toro operating behind the scenes as a producer and "presenter." Del Toro discussed what his duties included and how he stuck to his original vision for the Read more
Today's group of new DVDs is a pretty diverse bunch. There's heart-pounding entertainment, romance, and a powerful documentary. If you're keeping track of the Oscar-nominated films you've seen, then one of these releases will help you out with your task. Unstoppable An expert engineer (Denzel Washington) and a rookie conductor (Chris Pine) band together to stop a runaway train carrying Read more
