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Life & Arts

Jesus returns; so do Van Wilder, Superman

by ROBYN MORROW
The Daily Cougar

 What would Christmas be without Christ? Jesus hits the big screen again in The Nativity Story, starring Whale Rider's Keisha Castle-Hughes as Mary and Oscar Isaac as Joseph.
 The Nativity Story follows Mary and Joseph on their 100-mile journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem for the birth of Jesus. With a PG rating, everyone can enjoy learning about one of the most influential births in history.

 Danny DeVito and Matthew Broderick contribute to the holiday spirit in their new film Deck The Halls. DeVito plays Buddy, a man on a mission to create a light display visible from outer space. When Buddy's neighbor Steve (Broderick) hears of Buddy's plan, the Christmas fanatic starts scheming on how to beat him. 

 If Christmas isn't your holiday of choice, check out the non-holiday-related National Lampoon's Van Wilder: The Rise of Taj. This addition to the comedic series follows Taj Badalandabad, Van Wilder's diligent assistant, on his journey to England. Taj gains admission to Camford University and hopes to join the exclusive campus fraternal guild, the Fox and Hounds. 

 When the elitist group rejects Taj, he must find a new place of residence. Suddenly, he's elected "head of house" of a group of outcasts. The highly entertaining Kal Penn of Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle plays Taj.

 Unfortunately, the laughter stops for the crew in Turistas, which tells the story of a group of young people who encounter anything but fun on a harrowing trip to Brazil. 
 Alex (Josh Duhamel, Las Vegas) finds himself stranded with his sister Bea and her friend Amy after their bus crashes in the middle of nowhere. While waiting for another bus to save them, the group discovers a secluded beach and bar and does what any normal 20-somethings would do in this situation: get drunk. 

 Unfortunately, they don't have too much time to nurse a hangover when they wake up sprawled across the sand, drugged and robbed. Maybe Duhamel wishes he'd stayed in Vegas.

   If you'd rather stay inside this holiday season, rent Superman Returns, which hits shelves Tuesday. In the newest installment of the Superman series, we find our hero has been slacking on his duties for five years. In Superman's absence, Lois Lane (Kate Bosworth) writes a Pulitzer Prize-winning article titled "Why the world doesn't need Superman." But when the plane she's a passenger on starts heading for the ground unexpectedly, she changes her tune.

 Superman, of course, comes to the rescue and saves his lady love only to find out she has married another man. Leaving the planet tends to put a little strain on a relationship; not everyone can handle long distance.

 With his return, Superman must now face his failed relationship and battle Lex Luthor to once again save the world.

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