The James Logan Courier

By Diamond Floyd, Courier Staff Writer

Dreamgirls is a fresh, new modern musical, almost like the new Chicago, with songs that really stick. The movie stars Jamie Foxx, Beyoncé Knowles, Eddie Murphy, Jennifer Hudson, Anika Noni Rose, Keith Robinson, Sharon Leal, and Danny Glover.

Dreamgirls tells the story of three aspiring singers on their way to fame and fortune. The road that leads to the promised land, however, gets bumpy along the way. Hudson delivers an awesome performance. She really is crazy-good here, the kind of woman who can knock down a building by singing at it.

By Diamond Floyd, Courier Staff Writer

If you're in the mood for a "when two worlds collide" kind of movie, The Holiday is actually more like a "when the two people from the different worlds switch places" kind of movie. If you're into THAT, then this is the movie for you. It's not only cute, but we actually get to see Jack Black at his sweetest. The movie stars Cameron Diaz, Jude Law, Kate Winslet, Jack Black, Eli Wallach, Rufus Sewell, Edward Burns, and Shannyn Sossamon.

Uptight and unable-to-cry movie trailor auditor Amanda (Diaz) breaks up wit her unfaithful boyfriend, finds Iris' (Winslet) online offer of switching houses for the winter holidays and later hooks up with Iris' brother (Law). Winslet is an emotional wreck who, after finding out that the love of her life is not only playing with her emotions, but is also engaged to be wed, switches houses with Amanda from her cozy cottage in London to L.A. and spends the movie palling around with 100-year-old Wallach until a neutered version of Black shows up.

By Jacqueline Truong, Courier Staff Writer

As we count the days of the new year of 2007, so, too, are we counting down the top ten movies of 2006. In retrospect, most of the movies on my list are actually quite profound if not depressing. From the emergence of a major 9/11 film, such as "World Trade Center," to a tragic tale of a father trying to make ends meet as he and his son face the harsh reality of the world in "Pursuit of Happyness," indeed, this year's indelible movies give a new meaning to an old-fashioned good time at the movies. Without further ado, here begins the count down...

1. X-Men III: The Last Stand
This action film focuses on the battle between Professor Charles Xavier's X-men and Magneto's Brotherhood when a cure is finally discovered to treat these genetic mutations and, eventually, eliminating it entirely.

By Kate Folmar
San Jose Mercury News (MCT)
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — He may have trouble cutting a rug while clutching crutches, but a hobbled Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger plans to christen his second term in inimitable style next week with a lavish, $1 million-plus celebration.

In contrast to his somewhat subdued 2003 swearing-in, the governor's aides are planning a two-day fete this time around. The highlight will be Schwarzenegger's swearing-in at 11 a.m. Friday in front of about 3,000 guests at Sacramento's historic Memorial Auditorium, where guitarist and singer Jose Feliciano will perform the national anthem.

The governor, who broke a thigh bone in a recent ski accident, has made no attempt to scale down the festivities. Schwarzenegger said in a recent statement released by his staff that he is looking forward to the event "even if it means I have to walk into my swearing-in ceremony on crutches."

By Adam Lisberg
New York Daily News (MCT)

NEW YORK — Saddam Hussein may be a devil but in the end religion almost saved him — at least for a few days.

Iraqi authorities were reluctant to hang the deposed strongman during the Eid al-Adha holiday, which begins today and marks the end of the annual hajj (pilgrimage) to Mecca.

Iraqi law — written during Saddam's dictatorship — bars executions during a religious holiday.

So there was some thought on whether to give Saddam a reprieve if the hanging did not take place before the new day dawned.

By Hassina Obaidy, Courier Staff Writer

In the new family comedy,"Night at the Museum," Ben Stiller plays Larry Daley, a divorced father who struggles to find a job so he can impress his son, Nick (Jake Cherry).

When he finally accepts a job as a night guard at the Natural History Museum in New York, he realizes that this is no ordinary job. On his first disastrous night, the giant T-Rex skeleton goes missing, but he finally finds it by the water fountain, eager to play a game of fetch with one of its bones.

Not only did Larry have to deal with the T-Rex, but he had to deal with mischiveous capuchin monkeys, marauding Huns, a rival cowboy played by Owen Wilson, and a Roman General Octavius played by Steve Coogan, not to mention the African wild animals and life-size wax historical figures like Teddy Roosevelt played by Robin Williams.

By Diamond Floyd, Courier Staff Writer

The Good Shepherd, another 3-hour movie epic now available for your viewing pleasure. The movie, which is directed by and co-stars Robert DeNiro, features Matt Damon, Angelina Jolie, Alec Baldwin, Tammy Blanchard, and Michael Gambon.

When I first saw the previews of this movie, I was interested, but at first, I didn't quite get what the movie was all about right off the bat. When I finally went to go see it, it was much longer and more interesting than I had expected. DeNiro has really outdone himself.

Matt Damon plays a CIA agent rather well; he's serious about his work and a little surprising at times. There were times, however, that Damon was downright cold.

By Diamond Floyd, Courier Staff Writer

Charlotte's Web — it's a story that people of all ages know and love. The recent release of the new film had fans (like me!) anticipating it with high hopes. With a star like Dakota Fanning, and voice talents from Julia Roberts, Oprah Winfrey, Steve Buscemi, and Dominic Scott Kay, the movie should really be a crowd-pleaser.

Based on the best-selling childrens' novel written by E.B. White, the film tells the story of a little girl named Fern (Fanning) who saves a runt pig from an untimely death and develops the unlikeliest of frienships. Because of her concerned parents, Fern is then forced to send Wilbur across the street to live on her uncle Zukerman's farm. Wilbur (Kay) is, at first, an unwanted stranger in the barn, but soon makes a friend high up on a rafter, a spider named Charlotte A. Cavatica (Roberts).