U2 3D a Virtual Triumph

Miley Cyrus' uncommon 'poise and presence' elevate concert film

(NEWSER) - Hannah Montana & Miley Cyrus: The Best of Both Worlds may be a vanilla production, and the songs its tween icon belts out during this big-screen 3D version of her concert are "fizzy" and "forgettable," writes Jan Stewart of Newsday. But those shortcomings are trumped by the fact that, at just 15 years old, pop star Cyrus is "insanely likable and talented, with poise and presence beyond her years," says AP's Christy Lemire. More»

But Nicolas Cage seems to get it: critics

(NEWSER) - Critics agree: Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance is ridiculous. But they're divided over whether the silliness of the sequel, once again starring Nicolas Cage as the devilish superhero, is funny or just bad.

• In the Merced Sun-Star , Roger Moore calls the movie "a profoundly silly mash-up of comic book and quasi-religious 'prophecy' about a motorcyclist who sold his soul to the devil." It beats the original: "This time around, Cage and everybody else on board are in on the joke," and that makes it "almost a great bad movie."

Movie reviews: Rachel McAdams, Channing Tatum can't save amnesia romance

(NEWSER) - In The Vow, Rachel McAdams plays a woman who must learn to love her husband again after amnesia wipes her memory. It's no surprise it was released ahead of Valentine's Day: It's pure mushiness, critics say.

• In the New York Daily News , Elizabeth Weitzman calls the film a "down-the-middle, by-the-numbers fantasy, in which no one is too quirky or interesting or challenging in any way." Still, "there’s no shortage of viewers ready to embrace an old-fashioned, guilty-pleasure romance."

Usher rips his pants, Bono sings opera, the usual

(NEWSER) - In perhaps a case of history repeating itself, a blonde bombshell serenaded a notoriously libidinous Democratic president last night: But this time it was Lady Gaga sending up Bill Clinton, so things wouldn't have been complete without some extra raunch and an F-bomb. Appearing at last night's "A Decade of Difference" concert in salute of the William J. Clinton Foundation, Gaga told the crowd, "Tonight I thought we'd all get caught up in a little Bill romance," later telling the former prez, "I love you and your hot wife," before demanding that "Billary" "sit back down where you belong in the Oval Office with those high heels on." Finally: "If someone had told me so many years ago that I'd be doing that right in front of you ... I would have given a good American f**k you." Other highlights from the star-studded show, as per the Hollywood Reporter and E! Online: More»

Action flick less than the sum of its all-star parts

(NEWSER) - Sylvester Stallone directed and co-stars, alongside a Magnificent Seven-style roster of action-film legends—Bruce Willis, Dolph Lundgren, Jet Li, Steve Austin, Mickey Rourke, and Jason Statham—but critics have some issues with The Expendables.

• James Verniere (and a friend), Boston Herald : "Hulk like Expendables. It SMASH. Guns go BANG-BANG. Things go BOOM. Fire EVERYWHERE. Cars crash and make even MORE FIRE. HA-HA-HA. Hulk no like Rourke, though. Rourke NUTS."