Movies : NPR

'Guardians Of The Galaxy': Let's Hear It For F.U.N.

Gamora (Zoe Saldana) and Peter Quill (Chris Pratt) have some adventures together in the terrific new Guardians Of The Galaxy. Jay Maidment/Marvel hide caption

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Jay Maidment/Marvel

Review

Pop Culture Happy Hour

'Guardians Of The Galaxy': Let's Hear It For F.U.N.

July 31, 2014 • The most surprising thing about the latest film in the Marvel Universe may be as simple as its genre: while it certainly has your space battles and big fights, it's a straight-up comedy.

Kids' Films And Stories Share A Dark Theme: Dead Mothers

Bambi, Disney's 1942 animated feature about a fawn's life in the woods, has a heartbreaking scene many young viewers never forget: the death of Bambi's mother. Sarah Boxer wrote about the pervasive theme of dead mothers in animated films and children's stories for this month's issue of The Atlantic. Disney Junior/Disney Channel via Getty Images hide caption

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Disney Junior/Disney Channel via Getty Images

Movies

Kids' Films And Stories Share A Dark Theme: Dead Mothers

July 13, 2014 • Why do so many animated movies star motherless kids? Sarah Boxer, a graphic novelist, cartoon-lover and mother, talks to NPR's Kelly McEvers about the phenomenon and the message it sends to children.

Kids' Films And Stories Share A Dark Theme: Dead Mothers

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Actor Eli Wallach, Who Brought Hint Of Humanity To Villainous Roles, Dies

Actor Eli Wallach, seen here in "For Whom the Bell Tolls" on the CBS show Playhouse 90 in 1959, has died at the age of 98. CBS/Landov hide caption

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CBS/Landov

The Two-Way

Actor Eli Wallach, Who Brought Hint Of Humanity To Villainous Roles, Dies

June 25, 2014 • For decades, Eli Wallach won fans by bringing humanity and humor to roles that pitted him as a villain against titans such as Clint Eastwood and Steve McQueen. Wallach was 98.

Cancer When You're Young Isn't Always 'The Fault In Our Stars'

In The Fault in Our Stars, Gus and Hazel, played by Ansel Elgort and Shailene Woodley, play two teenagers with cancer. James Bridges/AP hide caption

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James Bridges/AP

Shots - Health News

Cancer When You're Young Isn't Always 'The Fault In Our Stars'

June 13, 2014 • We asked teenagers and young adults if the movie gets close to the reality of living through cancer. They said the loneliness, yes. The Hollywood hair, not so much.

Oscar-Winning Director Malik Bendjelloul Dies At 36

An Aug. 20, 2012 photo of documentary filmmaker Malik Bendjelloul. Police in Sweden say the director behind the Oscar-awarded music documentary Searching for Sugar Man, died on Tuesday. Anders Wiklund/AP hide caption

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Anders Wiklund/AP

The Two-Way

Oscar-Winning Director Malik Bendjelloul Dies At 36

May 13, 2014 • Swede Bendjelloul's Searching for Sugar Man, won a Best Documentary Feature Oscar in 2013. He died in Stockholm.

Why Physicists Are In A Film Promoting An Earth-Centered Universe

Lawrence Krauss is among the scientists featured in the pseudoscience documentary. He says interviews of him were taken out of context for the film. Monika Graff/UPI/Landov hide caption

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Monika Graff/UPI/Landov

The Two-Way

Why Physicists Are In A Film Promoting An Earth-Centered Universe

April 8, 2014 • Scientist Lawrence Krauss says clips of him were "mined" to lend credibility to The Principle, a film he describes as "stupid" and "unbelievable."

Science And Fiction Without Science Fiction

The 2011 film Another Earth, directed by Mike Cahill, explores very human questions against an improbable backdrop. Artists Public Domain/The Kobal Collection hide caption

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Artists Public Domain/The Kobal Collection

Opinion

13.7: Cosmos And Culture

Science And Fiction Without Science Fiction

March 25, 2014 • Once in a while Hollywood produces a gem, says physicist Adam Frank. He cherishes movies that fold together science and humanity in a way that allows us to look at ourselves and our society anew.

'12 Years A Slave,' 'Gravity' Win Big At The Oscars

Red carpet's ready: The rope line awaits at Hollywood & Highland Center. Christopher Polk/Getty Images hide caption

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Christopher Polk/Getty Images

The Two-Way

'12 Years A Slave,' 'Gravity' Win Big At The Oscars

March 2, 2014 • The film 12 Years a Slave won Best Picture, while Gravity won seven awards, including for director Alfonso Cuaron. Matthew McConaughey and Cate Blanchett also took home Oscars.

Maximilian Schell, Oscar-Winning Austrian Actor, Dies At 83

Maximilian Schell, in a photo taken in 2009. Schell, who died Saturday at the age of 83, won an best actor Oscar for his role as a defense attorney in the 1961 film Judgment at Nuremberg. Volker Hartmann/dapd hide caption

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Volker Hartmann/dapd

The Two-Way

Maximilian Schell, Oscar-Winning Austrian Actor, Dies At 83

February 1, 2014 • He won a best actor Oscar for his role as a defense attorney in the 1961 film Judgment at Nuremberg, died after what doctors describe as a sudden illness.

Oscar Nominees For Best Picture Include 'Captain Phillips,' 'Gravity'

Tom Hanks in Captain Phillips. Hopper Stone, SMPSP hide caption

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Hopper Stone, SMPSP

The Two-Way

Oscar Nominees For Best Picture Include 'Captain Phillips,' 'Gravity'

January 16, 2014 • The latest nominees for the movie industry's highest awards are out. Nine films have also been nominated for the "best picture" award. The others: American Hustle, Dallas Buyers Club, Her, Nebraska, Philomena, 12 Years a Slave and The Wolf of Wall Street.

Run Run Shaw, Kung Fu Movie Pioneer, Dies

Sir Run Run Shaw in 2010. Bobby Yip/Reuters/Landov hide caption

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Bobby Yip/Reuters/Landov

The Two-Way

Run Run Shaw, Kung Fu Movie Pioneer, Dies

January 7, 2014 • The Hong Kong movie mogul's films included 1972's Five Fingers of Death, which was a kung fu classic. With his brother Ronnie, Shaw produced more than 1,000 films over five decades. He also helped produce some American films, including Blade Runner. Later, he became a prominent philanthropist.

On 'Morning Edition': NPR's David Greene talks about Run Run Shaw

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Juanita Moore, Groundbreaking Actress, Dies

Actress Juanita Moore in 1960. She died Wednesday at the age of 99. AP hide caption

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AP

The Two-Way

Juanita Moore, Groundbreaking Actress, Dies

January 2, 2014 • Her role as Annie Johnson in the 1959 film Imitation of Life led to an Oscar nomination — just the fifth at that time for a black actor or actress. Moore was 99 when she died on Wednesday.

From the NPR Newscast: NPR's Kat Chow on the life of actress Juanita Moore

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Screen Time: Bob Mondello's Favorite Films Of 2013

Lea Seydoux plays Emma in the film Blue Is the Warmest Color, directed by Abdellatif Kechiche. AP hide caption

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AP

Pop Culture Happy Hour

Screen Time: Bob Mondello's Favorite Films Of 2013

December 30, 2013 • TV may have been great this year, but don't roll the credits on 2013 films just yet. The film critic lists his annual best of the best for your pleasure.

Screen Time: Bob Mondello's Favorite Films Of 2013

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