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Director Hayao Miyazaki is considered a master of animation in his native Japan, and when Disney releases his latest movie "Ponyo" on Friday the studio hopes to score with an entirely different audience -- mainstream U.S. movie fans....

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Director Hayao Miyazaki is considered a master of animation in his native Japan, and when Disney releases his latest movie 'Ponyo' on Friday the studio hopes to score with an entirely different audience -- mainstream U.S. movie fans.

Capsule reviews of films opening this week: 'Ponyo' -- If you're 5 years old, or under the influence of some hallucinogenic drug, this movie is probably awesome. Clearly, these are the ideal scenarios in which to watch the latest animated fantasy from Japanese writer-director Hayao Miyazaki. For everyone else, though, 'Ponyo' will seem beautiful but surprisingly boring: a children's film ...

The French government has bestowed the prestigious award of Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres (Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters) on Chicago Shakespeare Theater Executive Director Criss Henderson. The award is in recognition of Henderson's instrumental role in presenting premier French performing arts groups in Chicago.

Matthew Broderick, Vince Vaughn, and Ben Stein were among the mourners who attended the private funeral of film director John Hughes. The Associated Press reports that the renowned director of 'Ferris Bueller's Day Off' and 'The Breakfast Club,' was remembered by family and friends on Tuesday at a private ceremony at Wenban Funeral Home in Lake Forest, IL. Ben Stein, who played the infamous teacher in 'Ferris Bueller's Day Off,' was a speaker during the memorial -- calling the service "very touching," according to the AP. Following the service, mourners proceeded to a nearby cemetery, where the late director was to be laid to rest.

International News: 240-film slate heavy on first-time directors -- The lineup for the 33rd Montreal World Film Festival was unveiled Tuesday, a 240-pic slate heavy on first-time helmers and off-the-beaten-track movies from 78 countries.

Quentin Tarantino's new movie 'Inglourious Basterds' comes with a film inside the film, a Nazi propaganda movie promoting the glory of Germany's Third Reich.

As if there wasn't enough drama in the 'Twilight' world already! Now Director Catherine Hardwicke is stirring up even more controversy, pitting vampire against vampire.

The Directors Studios is opening its doors (and floors) in September 2009 as the newest Twin Cities rehearsal home for the arts and entertainment community!

Guardian columnist Jeff Jarvis to have surgery for prostate cancer next monthGuardian columnist Jeff Jarvis has revealed that he has been diagnosed with prostate cancer.Jarvis, who is associate professor and director of the interactive journalism programme at the City University of new york's graduate school of journalism and author of What Would Google Do?, said on his BuzzMachine blog that he will have surgery in September.'Fear not, I'm not going to turn this into a disease journal,' said Jarvis, who writes a fortnightly column for MediaGuardian. 'I don't expect you to be consumed with my problems when others have theirs, far worse.'Or perhaps you should fear, for instead I will keep on writing about media wonkishness: about the rise of the next media and the fall of the last. Except now, I'll be in a worse mood.'. To contact the MediaGuardian news desk email editor@mediaguardian.co.uk or phone 020 3353 3857. For all other inquiries please call the main Guardian switchboard on 020 3