Biblical Movie

A Jewish rights group has urged Hollywood studio bosses to axe actor Mel Gibson from a proposed biblical drama about Jewish hero Judah Maccabee.
Contactmusic.com reports that the Anti-Defamation League feels Gibson does not have 'respect and sensitivity for other people's religious views'.
'As a hero of the Jewish people and a universal hero in the struggle for religious liberty, Judah Maccabee deserves better,' the group said.
'It would be a travesty to have the story of the Maccabees told by one who has no respect and sensitivity for other people's religious views.'
Gibson, 55, is collaborating with screenwriter Joe Eszterhas to tell the story of the Jewish warrior who defeated the Greek-Syrian armies in the 2nd century BC and inspired the Hanukkah celebration.

Catches Box Bffice Lead

"Contagion" gripped filmgoers as the thriller about the race to contain a deadly virus took hold of the top spot at the domestic box office and knocked hit drama "The Help" to second place.

"Contagion" brought in an estimated $23.1 million at U.S. and Canadian theaters over its first three days, distributor Warner Bros. said on Sunday. Six international markets added another $2.1 million.
Directed by Steven Soderbergh, the film tells the story of a fast-spreading killer virus and scientists' efforts to stop it as the body count rises. The movie features an all-star cast that includes Matt Damon, Gwyneth Paltrow, Kate Winslet, Laurence Fishburne and Jude Law.
The film beat studio expectations by telling "a tough story in a provocative way. There is nothing more icky than this," said Jeff Goldstein, executive vice president of domestic distribution for Warner Bros.
Audiences polled by CinemaScore gave the movie a B- rating on average.
"The Help," a critics and audience favorite about black maids who speak out about white employers in civil rights-era Mississippi, slipped to second place after three straight weeks as the box-office leader. The film soaked up $8.7 million, pushing up its domestic receipts to $137.1 million since the book adaptation hit theaters five weeks ago.
"Warrior," a new drama about two brothers who battle for victory and redemption in a mixed-martial arts tournament, finished third with a disappointing $5.6 million. The brothers, a war veteran played by Tom Hardy and a high-school teacher and father played by Joel Edgerton, face wounds from the past as their estranged father, portrayed Nick Nolte, works as one of their coaches.
The film earned an A from audiences polled by CinemaScore and positive reviews from critics.
"We're going to continue to fight. The film is an underdog story and this is an underdog movie," said David Spitz, head of domestic distribution for Lionsgate, the studio that released the film.
'BUCKY LARSON' FLOPS
The No. 4 movie domestically was spy thriller "The Debt" with $4.9 million over its second weekend. Action movie "Colombiana," starring Zoe Saldana as an assassin seeking revenge, landed fifth with $4.0 million.
Comedy "Bucky Larson: Born to Be a Star" was a box-office bomb. Panned by critics, the film about a Midwestern kid who moves to Hollywood to become a porn star brought in $1.5 million in North American receipts and failed to crack the weekend's top 10. "While the movie was made on a very modest budget, it didn't work out the way we hoped," Sony spokesman Steve Elzer said.
Warner Bros., a unit of Time Warner Inc, released "Contagion." Sony Corp unit Columbia Pictures released "Colombiana" and "Bucky Larson."
"The Help" was produced by DreamWorks and distributed by Walt Disney Co. Focus Features, a unit of Comcast Corp's Universal Pictures, released "The Debt."

Aarakshan

The governments of three states have banned the screening of the film 'Aarakshan' for two months and this has saddened Amitabh Bachchan, who is playing an important role in it. He is wondering how this restriction will solve the problem after two months.
'UP (Uttar Pradesh), Punjab and today Andhra Pradesh have given notice to ban the film and not allow it to be projected for another two months - a provision given administratively to each government,' Big B posted on his blog bigb.bigadda.com.
'After that period is over, the film can have exhibition and ... the producer is not obliged to carry out any changes that the administration in governance may have found, because the film technically and legally has found certification without a single cut,' Big B posted on his blog bigb.bigadda.com.
'What good will two months do then in the law and order situation - the reason given for the non-showing of this product ! So the same film is a law and order problem now and today, but shall not be a problem after two months?
'You will destroy the commerce of the producer and all those that have invested time, blood, tears and money into this film, when even after waiting for 2 months there cannot be any change that will be accepted to be done!,' he added.
The film, also starring Deepika Padukone, Saif Ali Khan, Manoj Bajpayee and Prateik in pivotal roles, released in the rest of the country Friday.
'Aarakshan' deals with the sensitive issue of reservation and it landed in trouble after facing protests from the Republican Party of India (RPI) and several groups expressing concern over its content in anticipation of anti-Dalit comment.
Even though Prakash Jha, the director, agreed to make 'appropriate cuts' in the movie, the two-month ban still continues on the film in the three states.
The Supreme Court Friday will also hear a petition by Jha seeking the lifting of the ban on his film in Punjab, Uttar Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh.
The series of events has also put a question mark on the clearance given by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) to any movie and the 68-year-old megastar feels such bans bring only disrespect to the body.
'What is the need then of the Censor Board, a statutory body instituted by you, the legislatures and Parliamentarians that govern this land. You nominate what you believe, to disbelieve what you nominate!! Better to remove it altogether then rather than give it disrespect,' he posted.