Off The Record...
Halford
Resurrection
Roy Z., who has produced much of the solo work of Rob Halford's kindred spirit Bruce Dickinson, spins the knobs here, eschewing modern metal's mechanical cut-n-paste sound in favor of a late-'80s detonation of explosive stereo guitars, real-time drumming, and throat-ripping singing. The guitar parts cut hard, the rhythms parts and riffs are solid and impenetrable. The leads will make your head spin, and the harmony leads will break your face in a smile, recalling the glory days of Priest and Maiden, when solid lead guitar musicianship was the norm and not the exception. Unequivocal, unabashed heavy metal.
 

At The Movies...
Bless the Child
If you enjoy supernatural thrills, then Bless the Child might be your godsend. Kim Basinger stars as Maggie, whose sister Jenna, dumps her newborn babe with her and flees. Maggie raises the girl, who appears to be autistic, but who is powerfully psychic, and who may be the Messiah. Seven years later, Jenna arrives to claim the child. She's accompanied by a suave TV guru who just might be the devil. An FBI agent (Jimmy Smits) investigating serial murders of children who just happen to be the child’s age tries to help Maggie. Keep an eye out for a cameo by Christina Ricci.
 

On DVD...
The Stand
Based on Stephen King's epic novel, this lengthy film tells of a plague that wipes out 99 per cent of Earth's population, leaving the scattered survivors to choose and organize with the sides of good or evil, meeting for a destiny of apocalyptic proportions. The Stand is epic storytelling at its finest. It may take a couple of days for you to watch the entire film, but you will find it just as captivating as the original text. The Stand is scary, densely plotted, exciting and unpredictable. lots of good special features pack this DVD, including a making of featurette, storyboard comparisons, make-up effects, interactive menus, scene access, production notes and cast & crew
information.

The Buzz...
James Cameron has his eyes on returning to the Aliens franchise. Cameron wants to resurrect the often-delayed Aliens vs Predator and has his eye on Harrison Ford to star. Word has it that this project would be fast tracked for a late 2001 release.

Survivor castaway Kelly Wiglesworth sure picked the wrong place to hide from the law. Police in North Carolina have a warrant out for the arrest of the river guide and contestant on CBS' reality smash, saying she's wanted for using a stolen credit card.

Even though the Jim Carrey comedy How the Grinch Stole Christmas! isn't in theaters yet, Universal and Imagine are confident enough of its success to start planning another film based on the works of late children's author Theodor Geisel (AKA Dr. Suess). The studios are in advanced negotiations with Tim Allen to star in a live-action version of The Cat in the Hat.

It's official. Despite the fact that he was decapitated in Halloween H2O, celluloid slasher Michael Myers will be returning for an eighth Halloween motion picture. Series star Jamie Lee Curtis is currently in negotiations to make a cameo appearance in the feature that is slated to open October 31, 2001.

Seth Green will be returning to TV this fall. However, he will not be reprising his role as the quiet werewolf Oz. Instead, Green has agreed to appear in three episodes of the NBC comedy series Tucker.

Glenn Close's sizzling sexual past is about to catch up with her - when a new book dishing the X-rated details of her affair with Woody Harrelson hits the shelves.

Kurt Russell's eye-patched movie tough guy Snake Plissken is set for his television debut in a syndicated action series from Tribune Entertainment, Escape From New York, to be executive produced by Debra Hill, John Carpenter and Russell, who has no plans to take an acting role in the series.

Just one week after his release from prison, Robert Downey Jr. has landed an acting gig. Downey has signed on for a recurring role on Ally McBeal, playing a mysterious stranger who becomes the title character's love interest.

Stone Temple Pilots have ditched plans for a proposed greatest hits collection while they make the transition from longtime manager Steve Stewart to new managers Q Prime.

Creed have booted bassist and founding member Brian Marshall. A spokesperson for the band described the split a friendly one due to personal and professional differences.

Actor-humorist Charles Grodin has been named a commentator for 60 Minutes II starting this fall.

Graveside ceremonies are usually somber and private affairs, but that's not necessarily true when it comes to the King of Rock 'n' Roll. The annual candlelight pilgrimage past Elvis Presley's grave made its worldwide streaming video debut Tuesday on the Presley estate's Web page at elvis-presley.com.

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