"2012" — The end is not near enough for this latest nihilistic disaster flick, directed by end-of-the-world specialist Roland Emmerich ("The Day After Tomorrow,"

Happy Birthday to:

"Hercules" star Kevin Sorbo (1958)

PARIS (AP) - The 62nd edition of the Cannes film festival this year brings works by Pedro Almodovar, Jane Campion and Ang Lee to compete with films by lesser-known directors for the top award, the Palme d'Or.

Happy Birthday to Olympic gymnasts Paul and Morgan Hamm (1982), Knight Rider star Justin Bruening (1979), Slipknot percussionist Shawn "Clown" Crahan (1969), "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" star Nia Vardalos (1962), "Hercules" star Kevin Sorbo (1958),

Spanish director Pedro Almodovar has slammed contemporary U.S. cinema - because of its "infantile" approach to filming. The movie maker insists the quality of new movies across the world is diminishing, but singles out America for criticism over its reliance on computer game-like sensibilities.

PARIS (AP) - Paris designers looked to Hollywood on Wednesday with haute couture collections that could vie for ''best dressed'' on the red carpet.

Emmy-award winning actress Diana Rigg has landed one of the main roles in the U.K. stage adaptation of Spanish director Pedro Almodovar's film All About My Mother. The former The Avengers star will play Huma Roto, a famous actress who is responsible for the death of a 17-year-old boy, at London's Old Vic. And the casting has met with the approval of Almodovar.

Spaniards would prefer to watch Hollywood movies than films made in Spain, according to a revealing new survey. Almost 60 per cent of Spanish film fans polled by media group Sigma Dos confessed they'd turn their backs on movies by homegrown directors Pedro Almodovar and Bigas Luna if a blockbuster U.S. film was showing at their local cinema.

Celebrated Spanish movie maker Pedro Almodovar and actor Martin Sheen were among the celebrities taking part in peace rallies around the world on Saturday. Volver director Almodovar joined tens of thousands of people to protest the war in Iraq in Madrid, Spain, while Sheen took a break from his studies in Ireland to march in Los Angeles.