STAGE

Method directing

Don't flay feminism, love is a many-splintered thing

It has been 50 years since Walt Disney released his last, cherished film: Sleeping Beauty. Princess Aurora was a rather passive, sighing creature who was very taken with the tall, handsome prince who was to wake her from her slumber: ��Oh, we walk together, and talk together, and just before we say goodbye, he takes me in his arms, and then ... I wake up. Yes, it's only in my dreams. But they say if you dream a thing more than once, it's sure to come true, and I've seen him so many times.�� Walt didn't live to see the feisty feminists who burst on to the global political scene a decade later, puncturing holes in princessy stereotypes, insisting women not be valued for their decorative function and demanding to be taken seriously.

It's the way he makes me feel, say Jackson fans

A PASSER-BY on George Street had the best line about last night's Australian premiere of This Is It. "Michael Jackson's not coming," he muttered.

Pep Focuses On Big Picture With More Imax Theatres

PACIFIC Equity Partners, the private equity owner of Hoyts cinemas, plans to open four Imax theatres in Australia over the next 18 months - its first big investment since buying the business from James Packer's Publishing & Broadcasting and West Australian Newspapers last year.

Robertson Up In Lights

ROBERTSON has been showcased in movie theatres across the world thanks to a little pig called Babe.

Rings Box Office Record

THE final instalment in the Lord of the Rings movie trilogy set a new US box office record for a Wednesday launch, its distributor said.

Bombs Rip Lives Apart

DHAKA: Bombs have torn through four movie theatres packed with Muslims celebrating the end of Ramadan, killing at least 15 people and wounding 200.

Aniston Takes On Sex Role

IN news that should have Friends addicts queuing up outside movie theatres, Hollywood's favourite haircut, Jennifer Aniston, is poised to appear in her first on-screen sex scene.

Harry Potter Adds Magic To Aol-time Warner Shares

Wall Street is falling under the Harry Potter spell and revising its outlook for AOL-Time Warner's future as rapidly as the queues are lengthening outside movie theatres.

Carrey's Grinch Steals Show

THE Grinch is having a green Christmas. Jim Carrey's live-action version of Dr Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas took in a whopping $US55.1million ($A106.54million) in its first three days in US movie theatres. It was a record for a non-sequel or prequel, and if the figures are confirmed

Is Yours A Mini?

An advertisement-apparently inspired by the movie The Full Monty-designed to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Mini, has been banned after complaints by Porsche and Ferrari, according to Autocar. The ad features a game show with a female contestant and a number of naked men. The challenge for t

Let The Bourse Be With You, George

Forget the lines outside movie theatres for The Phantom Menace. As the reels of the long-awaited Star Wars prequel roll today, corporate America is forming its own queue of galactic winners. Global toy retailing giant Toys 'R Us yesterday became the first company to actually pin Phantom's undoubt