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China Bans 'Rush Hour 3' James Hirsen
THE LEFT COAST REPORT
Headlines (Scroll down for complete stories):
1. Thoroughly Modest Michelle Pfeiffer It's back to the big screen for Michelle Pfeiffer. As for her movie roles, it's a villain times two. Story Continues Below
In "Hairspray," Pfeiffer plays mean ex-beauty queen Velma Von Tussle opposite John Travolta, who dresses up as a "big beautiful woman" for his Edna Turnblad role. And in "Stardust," Pfeiffer plays a wicked witch who's on a search for eternal youth. Speaking of eternal youth, Michelle seems to have found it in real life. She's also hung onto something else that in Tinseltown is quite rare — her modesty. It turns out that Pfeiffer passed on the starring role of the film "Basic Instinct." Why? Because she didn't want to bare it all for the camera. Had she taken the movie part, Pfeiffer would have played scheming seductress Catherine Tramell. Instead Sharon Stone took the risqué role and the rest is sordid cinematic history. "I just couldn't do that one, because of the sexual parts, the nudity. My father was still alive. I'm kind of prudish," Pfeiffer is quoted as saying by Contactmusic. The star adds, "I am not that uninhibited about my body. I'm modest." 2. China Puts Choke Hold on 'Rush Hour 3' Apparently, the No. 1 mid-August movie hit in the U.S. is not going to make it to the big screen in China. The communist Chinese government has tagged Jackie Chan's "Rush Hour 3" with a "fundamentally anti-Chinese" label and banned the big box-office hit. Chinese officials claim to be upset with a family that is depicted in the film as having links to organized crime. It could be the real reason the Chi-coms are peeved is the fact that Chan is living proof that dreams really do come true — in a free market, that is. The action movie comic pulled himself out of poverty and overcame his difficulties at school. He apparently still can't read or write but discipline and hard work go a long way when you have liberty lighting your path. Chan's got a huge fan base and is loved the world over — except for the bullies in Beijing. 3. 'Body Snatchers' Invasion Déjà Vu It all started in 1955. Author Jack Finney penned a sci-fi novel called "The Body Snatchers," in which seeds from outer space invade the planet, take folks over while they're asleep and grow evil body doubles in creepy plantlike pods. The tale so captured the public's imagination it's been made into a movie four different times. First it was "Invasion of the Body Snatchers." Then it was "Invasion of the Body Snatchers" for a second time. The third time it was simply "Body Snatchers." Now another cinematic installment is about to hit the theaters. For a change of pace, it's called "The Invasion." It stars Nicole Kidman and Daniel Craig and once again hits on some timeless social and political themes — individualism vs. conformity, personal freedom vs. social control, human compassion vs. callousness. Guess every couple of decades we need a movie reminder to keep us from becoming dreaded "pod people." 4. 'Grey's Anatomy's' Ellen Pompeo Chides the Media Not one to get into the tabloids for her excessive partying, "Grey's Anatomy's" Ellen Pompeo is sharing her thoughts on the topic of fame and responsibility. "I just worry about the girls who look up to me," Pompeo tells Los Angeles Confidential Magazine. Pompeo is concerned on two fronts. With the extreme emphasis being placed on thinness, the actress doesn't want her fans to deprive themselves of nutrition. "I don't want them to think I starve myself or don't eat, and that to be like me that's what they have to do." She explains that she is naturally on the slim side and finds the media to be "irresponsible" on the subject. Pompeo is also concerned about the "famous for being famous" phenomenon. "What are we doing to this younger generation?" Pompeo asks. "We're so focused on the wrong things. We're teaching young girls that this is what they should be focusing on: rich and famous girls who are rich and famous for nothing." After the coverage of young women like Lindsay Lohan, Britney Spears, and Paris Hilton, Pompeo has a succinct message for the tabloid press: "I just think the media should take this country in a different direction." 5. 'No End In Sight' to Left-Wing Documentaries Distributed by artsy indie company Magnolia Pictures, "No End in Sight" is yet another film in a long line of product designed with the far-Left in mind. Most of the flick is selected rehash the likes of President Bush speaking under a "Mission Accomplished" banner. The film's main thrust, though, is to criticize the troops for not doing enough when, after the initial invasion, some looting took place. At the same time, there is a suggestion that the troops are doing too much now. It seems that anyone who claimed to be an expert and had the mandatory amount of antipathy for Bush's policies made the final cut and Bush-bashing interviews in the film abound. Software millionaire and director of the film Charles Ferguson is a former senior fellow of the liberal Brookings Institute. Ferguson claims he used to be a supporter of the war, which automatically gets him credibility with the left-tilting mainstream film critic community. But Ferguson ends up serving up a blander version of what Michael Moore already dished out. The title of the movie seems fitting in that there really is no end in sight to lefty hate on film. Editor's Notes:
The Left Coast Report is put together by James L. Hirsen and the staff of NewsMax — The Left Coast Report Archives Get your FREE copy of James Hirsen's new book 'Hollywood Nation' — Click Here Now.
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