‘Ninja Assassin' sports a dull blade

By GLENN WHIPP, for The Associated Press

When considering the meager merits of the bone-snapping, blood-splattered "Ninja Assassin," it's best to remember the words of John Goodman's PC-challenged character in "The Big Lebowski" - "The man in the black pajamas, Dude. Worthy ... adversary."

Nov 26, 2009 | 4:00 pm | (0) Comments

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Polanski prepares for luxury Alpine house arrest

By FRANK JORDANS

After two months in a Swiss jail, Roman Polanski prepared Thursday for the splendid captivity of his $1.6 million chalet in one of world's most luxurious winter resorts.

Nov 26, 2009 | 3:10 pm

Platinum performance: Blonde Bullock at her best in ‘The Blind Side'

By ALAN SIMMER, alan.simmer@wcfcourier.com

I dislike terms like "feel-good" and "heart-warming" in movie descriptions. It usually means 90 minutes of treacly tripe where a lot of unbelievable shlock somehow leads to everything magically turning out OK in the end.

Nov 26, 2009 | 2:00 pm | (0) Comments

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Talking turkey: Which Thanksgiving dish are you?

By COURIER STAFF, newsroom@wcfcourier.com

It's Turkey Day, and there's nothing better than a nap after gorging yourself on Mom's home cooking. While you're waiting for that tryptophan to kick in, take this quiz to see which of the Thanksgiving dishes you ate best suits your personality.

Nov 26, 2009 | 11:45 am | (0) Comments

Swiss Justice Ministry says it will release Roman Polanski on bail to house arrest in Gstaad.

Nov 26, 2009 | 7:50 am

Ex-CNN host Lou Dobbs weighs Senate run in NJ

By ANGELA DELLI SANTI

Former CNN host Lou Dobbs is seriously considering running for U.S. Senate in New Jersey in 2012 as a stepping stone to a possible White House bid _ a congressional matchup that would pit one of illegal immigration's biggest critics against a champion for immigrant rights.

Nov 26, 2009 | 5:20 am

Art-house films top contenders at Chinese Oscars

By MIN LEE

An Australia-based director's romance, a Taiwanese family drama and the story of a Chinese peasant guarding a cow are the unlikely trio of top contenders at the Chinese-language equivalent of the Oscars to be announced on Saturday.

Nov 26, 2009 | 12:50 am

A list of nominees at Taiwan's Golden Horse Awards

A list of nominees in the top categories at Taiwan's Golden Horse Awards, which will be announced this Saturday in Taipei:

Nov 26, 2009 | 12:15 am

Vicki Kennedy describes husband's cancer battle

By DON BABWIN

The widow of Sen. Edward M. Kennedy told Oprah Winfrey in an interview broadcast Wednesday that even as her husband knew he was dying of brain cancer he had been "in training" to make sure he had enough strength to attend President Barack Obama's inauguration.

Nov 25, 2009 | 6:05 pm

Lambert says he got carried away, but not sorry

By DAVID BAUDER

Adam Lambert admits he got carried away with his sexually charged American Music Awards performance, but he's offering no apology.

Nov 25, 2009 | 4:05 pm

In recession, `Up in the Air' touches down on time

By JAKE COYLE

"Up in the Air" has undergone the rarest of flights: It was delayed for a long time and its course was altered, yet it has arrived right on time.

Nov 25, 2009 | 2:05 pm

Nude photo of Polanski, Tate to be auctioned in NY

A nude photo of filmmaker Roman Polanski and Sharon Tate taken just months before her death will be sold at auction next month.

Nov 25, 2009 | 1:45 pm

Haydn expert HC Robbins Landon dies at 83

By ROBERT BARR

H.C. Robbins Landon, a musicologist noted for his pioneering research on Franz Joseph Haydn and for writing popular works on Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, has died at age 83.

Nov 25, 2009 | 12:30 pm

Top cable programs for Nov. 16-22

By The Associated Press

Rankings for the top 15 programs on cable networks as compiled by the Nielsen Co. for the week of Nov. 16-22. Day and start time (EST) are in parentheses:

Nov 25, 2009 | 12:05 pm

19.2 million people watch Donny Osmond win

By SANDY COHEN

An estimated 19.2 million people watched Donny Osmond win "Dancing With the Stars" _ the smallest audience for the show's finale since the first season.

Nov 25, 2009 | 11:50 am

Disney names new head of worldwide channels

Walt Disney Co. has named Carolina Lightcap as president of Disney Channels Worldwide.

Nov 25, 2009 | 8:00 am

Sting offers a 'spooky, ghostly' seasonal album

By NEKESA MUMBI MOODY

Sting and his wife Trudie keep with tradition on Christmas Eve: They go to a local church, sing along to carols, then head back home to their English estate to open presents with their family.

Nov 25, 2009 | 8:00 am

Julie Andrews to sing in London, first in decades

Julie Andrews is to perform in London, 30 years after her last appearance on the British stage.

Nov 25, 2009 | 7:05 am

Students get schooled on hip-hop at Minn. college

By JEFF BAENEN

DJ Freddy Fresh slaps a vinyl record on the turntable, cues it up and tells a student, "Remember, the top of the note was there, right? Grab it."

Nov 25, 2009 | 6:10 am