Capsule reviews: `Pirates,' `Midnight in Paris'

"The First Grader" — Based on the true story of a Kenyan man who goes to school for the first time at age 84, this drama hits all the feel-good notes you expect it to hit. Adversity is overcome and forgiveness is granted, lessons are learned and hearts are warmed. But strong performances and a stripped-down visual aesthetic help mitigate some of the movie's potential mawkishness. Director Justin Chadwick's film, based on a script by Ann Peacock, follows the unlikely challenge Kimani N'gan'ga Maruge (Oliver Litondo) chooses for himself toward the end of his life. When he hears on the radio that the Kenyan government is offering free primary education, he walks to the tiny, rural schoolhouse near his remote village home to enroll. He's initially turned away but, quietly

Depp sails fresh waters on 'Pirates' reboot

 BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. – New pirates, new ship, new treasure — same old Jack Sparrow.

After a trilogy that hauled in $2.7 billion worldwide, "Pirates of the Caribbean" relaunches with "On Stranger Tides," a fresh start for the buccaneer-blockbuster franchise starring the franchise's one indispensable ingredient — Johnny Depp as Capt. Jack.

The new movie jettisons some characters — the trilogy's co-stars, Keira Knightley and Orlando Bloom, whose story wrapped up at the end of 2007's "Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End." It brings back some in new guises — Geoffrey Rush as Jack's foil Barbossa, trading in his pirate garb to sail on behalf of the king. And it introduces new ones — Penelope Cruz as Jack's old flame, daughter of the dread pirate Blackbeard (Ian McShane).

"Pirates of Caribbean" turns 4, seek fountain of youth

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – For the past four years, "Pirates" fans everywhere have been languishing in the doldrums. But relief is finally on the horizon.

"Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides," the fourth movie in the lucrative Disney franchise, sets sail in U.S. theaters on Friday as one of the most eagerly anticipated releases of the summer.

'Thor' nails top box office spot

Thor" stole the thunder from "Bridesmaids" by securing the No. 1 spot at the box office with $34.7 million.

The final figure Monday for Paramount's 3-D superhero film starring Chris Hemsworth as Marvel's god of thunder is slightly up from the original studio estimate of $34.5 million over the weekend. Universal's "Bridesmaids," which features Kristen Wiig as a down-on-her-luck maid of honor, was also above Sunday's $24.4 million estimate to $26.2 million.

William and wife now duke, duchess of Cambridge

LONDON – Prince William and Kate Middleton got their first royal wedding present from the queen on Friday: the titles Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.

Buckingham Palace said William is now His Royal Highness The Duke of Cambridge, and that Miss Catherine Middleton is now Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cambridge.

There's more: The palace statement said William was also named the Earl of Strathearn and Baron Carrickfergus. Middleton took those titles when she said "I will," becoming Countess of Strathearn and Baroness Carrickfergus.

Television brings wedding pageantry to world

NEW YORK – Like guests who whisper asides to their friends from the back pews, the commoners in the media kept the mood lighthearted Friday as cameras captured every angle of the royal wedding of Britain's Prince William and Kate Middleton.

Millions followed the event throughout the world on television, their computers and hand-held devices. The media enabled anyone who cared to become a wedding guest.

'American Idol' eliminates another finalist

LOS ANGELES – Casey Abrams was given the heave-ho on "American Idol."

The eccentric 20-year-old musician-singer from Idyllwild, Calif., received the fewest viewer votes on the Fox talent contest Thursday after his growl-filled interpretation of "Hi-De-Ho" on Wednesday's evening of Carole King tunes.

Abrams was previously rescued by the show's judges with their one-time-only power, but there was no helping the jazz-lover this time.

Golden Globes pick mid-January date for award show

LOS ANGELES – The 2012 Golden Globe Awards will be presented on Jan. 15, but which network will air the star-studded presentation is still an open question for a federal judge to decide.

The Hollywood Foreign Press Association announced the date on Thursday without mentioning a specific broadcaster.

Box Office Preview: 'Fast Five' will race to No. 1

LOS ANGELES – Universal's "Fast Five," the fifth installment of the massively successful "Fast and Furious" franchise, is about to hit the streets with the biggest domestic opening of the year thus far. An expected IMAX-fueled $70 million-plus haul will easily give the film pole position on the weekend box office chart.

This latest "Fast and Furious" takes its classic street-racing formula and turns it into a relentless heist-and-drive thriller with a reunited cast and the addition of Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson. The film has already shot to No. 2 overseas after only one weekend in a little more than 400 theaters.

Three Great Movies That Celebrate the Royal Wedding Spirit

Millions around the world are expected to watch at least part of the royal wedding on TV or the internet tomorrow. If you want some alternative royal wedding related entertainment, here's a look at the best movies to watch to celebrate the royal wedding.

"Royal Wedding"

How could I not include a movie fittingly called " Royal Wedding "? I absolutely love Fred Astaire, and although Jane Powell costars rather than Ginger Rogers, "Royal Wedding" is still one of his classics. In this movie London

'Rio' stays perched atop foreign box office chart

LOS ANGELES – "Rio" topped the international box office chart for the third consecutive weekend with $32.1 million in 41 territories and a worldwide total of $239.3 million, but "Fast Five" is coming on quickly with a tally of $12.6 million in just three territories in advance of its turbocharged U.S. debut this weekend.

As the most action-packed and visually stunning film of the "Fast" franchise, look for Vin Diesel and Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson to dominate the worldwide market in the weeks to come.

Prince William, Kate at final wedding rehearsal

LONDON – Prince William and Kate Middleton have arrived at Westminster Abbey for a final wedding rehearsal.

St. James's Palace says that the couple, the bride's parents and Prince Harry are at the abbey with senior clergy for the private rehearsal.

Royal wedding guests face strict security sweeps

LONDON – It's not the type of welcome most wedding guests expect before they get into church — background checks, ID verification and a security sweep.

But then again, Prince William and Kate Middleton's wedding on Friday is no ordinary affair.

Britain hasn't seen a royal wedding of this size since Prince Charles married Diana in 1981 — there were actually 200 more police on duty for that wedding, which had a longer procession route and a guest list of some 3,500 people, including foreign royals and heads of state.

'American Idol' finalists sing Carole King tunes

LOS ANGELES – Scotty McCreery won back some friends on "American Idol."

After receiving lukewarm criticism from the show's judges last week, the 17-year-old country crooner of Garner, N.C., pleased the panel with his buttery rendition of "You've Got a Friend" on the Fox talent competition's evening of Carole King tunes Wednesday, but it was 22-year-old rocker James Durbin of Santa Cruz., Calif., who was dubbed the front-runner.

Broadway expands its stage with movie theater shows

NEW YORK (Reuters) – If you can't come to Broadway, Broadway is going to come to you.

That's the philosophy behind the upcoming nationwide movie theater showings of two current Broadway shows -- Tony Award-winning musical "Memphis," and "The Importance of Being Earnest," the Roundabout Theater Company's acclaimed revival of the Oscar Wilde classic play starring British actor Brian Bedford.

Rap music inspires Libyan rebels to defeat Gadhafi

AJDABIYA, Libya – Libyan rebel fighter Jaad Jumaa Hashmi cranks up the volume on his pickup truck's stereo when he heads into battle against Moammar Gadhafi's forces.

He looks for inspiration from a growing cadre of amateur rappers whose powerful songs have helped define the revolution.

The music captures the anger and frustration young Libyans feel at decades of repressive rule under Gadhafi, driving the 27-year-old Hashmi forward even though the heavy machine gun bolted on the back of his truck — and other weapons in the rebel arsenal — are no match for Gadhafi's heavy artillery.

Eminem to release EP with rapper Royce da 5'9"

DETROIT – Eminem and Royce da 5'9" are back recording together more than a decade after the Detroit rappers first joined forces.

The pair, who met at a concert in their home city in 1997 and worked together under the name Bad Meets Evil, announced Monday that they're coming out with an EP of new material in June.

Injured Broadway 'Spider-Man' actor rejoins show

NEW YORK – An actor seriously injured at the Broadway musical "Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark" returned to work Monday, only four months after he plummeted 35 feet from an onstage platform.

"I feel amazing," said Christopher Tierney before reporting for rehearsals at the Foxwoods Theatre. He said the accident in December didn't give him second-thoughts about rejoining the stunt heavy show: "I'm ready to put on the harness right now and fly around."

'Rio' nests at No. 1 with $26.3M second weekend

LOS ANGELES – Anne Hathaway and Jesse Eisenberg's animated hit "Rio" remains perched at No. 1 with a $26.3 million second weekend, coming in just ahead of the $25.1 million debut for "Tyler Perry's Madea's Big Happy Family."

The top 20 movies at U.S. and Canadian theaters Friday through Sunday, followed by distribution studio, gross, number of theater locations, average receipts per location, total gross and number of weeks in release, as compiled Monday by Hollywood.com are:

Indian spiritual guru Sai Baba dies

NEW DELHI (Reuters) – Indian spiritual guru Sri Sathya Sai Baba, revered by millions of followers as a living god, died Sunday in a hospital in southern India. He was 86.

Sai Baba, who was admitted to hospital in his hometown of Puttaparti a month ago, died of multiple organ failure, media said.