Film

Is fiction good for us? We spend huge chunks of our lives immersed in novels, films, TV shows, and other forms of fiction. Some see this as a positive thing, arguing that made-up stories cultivate our mental and moral development. But others have argued that fiction is mentally and ethically corrosive. It's an ancient question: Does fiction build the morality of individuals and societies, or does it break it down? This controversy has been flaring up — sometimes literally, in the form of book burnings — ever since Plato tried to ban fiction from his ideal republic.

A special event in Plymouth centered on a film about bees and beekeepers called "Queen of the Sun" promises to be a honey of an evening. Called "A Night of Food Film" by its collaborators, Plimoth Cinema (the ongoing film series at Plimoth Plantation) and Plymouth Farmers' Market, the evening includes the feature film, inventive tastings of locally sourced cuisine from the market's farmers and food-makers, and a speakers' panel of local beekeepers spiced with the plantation's foodways expert.

Hundreds of New Englanders flocked to a casting call over the weekend for "Grown Ups 2," the "Grown Ups" sequel that will once again film on the North Shore and will star Adam Sandler , Kevin James , Chris Rock , Salma Hayek , David Spade , and Maya Rudolph . Casting directors saw a line of hopeful extras at the Boston Teachers Union building including almost 2-year-old Adam Khaykin , who was accompanied by his mom, Irina ...

There's definitely an Indian vibe at Cannes this year - something Sonam Kapoor is proud of. The Indian actress, and daughter of star Anil Kapoor, has been enjoying the French film festival for several days. Speaking at the L'Oreal and Chopard rooftop party on Wednesday night, Kapoor said: "I love cinema so much and I think most of India does as well, and it's really nice that people around the world are appreciating the Indian community has been growing so much. " The Indian films at the festival include Ashim Ahluwalia's "Miss Lovely," which premiered Thursday in the Un...

LOS ANGELES — A sharp black suit is timeless, yet a decade has passed since Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones last wore theirs in "Men in Black II. " Despite the box office success of that film and its 1997 predecessor, the franchise had gone sufficiently cold that "Men in Black 3" only got the green light after audience research affirmed an abiding interest in it, said director Barry Sonnenfeld. "They also wanted to know what attracted people to the franchise," Sonnenfeld noted at a recent press day for the film at a Beverly Hills hotel.

ORLANDO — The books and movies have long since wrapped up the epic tale, with Voldemort vanquished, Snape lionized, and the young heroes sending their own children off to Hogwarts. But the specter of Harry Potter will continue to dominate the landscape of central Florida for years to come. "The Wizarding World of Harry Potter brought millions of new visitors to Orlando," said Robert Niles, editor of the consumer website Theme Park Insider. "What we're seeing now is a competitive moment, and the Orlando parks are all trying to take advantage of the momentum.

They protect Earth from the dastardly aliens who roam among us, but Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones can only manage mediocre reviews from critics in "Men in Black 3. " The third film in the sci-fi comedy series finds Smith's character traveling back to 1969 to protect his partner from being killed. Josh Brolin does an eerily dead-on impression of Jones as the Young Agent K. AP Movie Critic Christy Lemire gave the movie just one and a half stars out of four, writing that it "shows the glossy style and vague, sporadic glimmers of the kind of energy that made this franchise such an...

The white-shirted missionaries of "The Book of Mormon" are headed to Boston next year, hunting for converts to a brand of musical-comedy lunacy that has made the show a smash hit on Broadway, while Joey, the noble steed of "War Horse," will gallop into town this fall. The slate for the 2012-13 season announced Monday by Broadway in Boston also includes a pre-Broadway world-premiere musical, "Tuck Everlasting," adapted from Natalie Babbitt's beloved children's novel; productions of "Memphis" and "Sister Act"; and return engagements by "Wicked," "Jersey Boys,"...

In Wes Anderson's "Moonrise Kingdom," the famously meticulous director takes his fastidiously fashioned world and flings it into the woods. Even a relatively loose Anderson film is more ornately composed than most dollhouses, so no one should expect cinema verite in his latest fable. But there is — gasp! — actual handheld camera work in "Moonrise Kingdom," a story of pre-adolescent love on a rustic New England island. For Anderson, whose previous film was the animated "The Fantastic Mr. Fox," it's a welcome return to the vagaries of live-action filmmaking.

It's Facebook's big day. The site, which was born in a dorm room eight years ago and has grown into a worldwide network of almost a billion people, is making the most talked-about stock market debut in years. Here's some of what Associated Press reporters are finding. Check back all day for updates. All times EDT. –– 1:47 p.m. UPDATE ON SOCIAL MEDIA STOCKS Facebook stock is trading at about $41.25, a healthy gain of more than $3, but it appears to be disappointing investors in other social media companies, especially those with ties to...

Rebecca Meyers , who has been the director of film programs for ArtsEmerson since 2010, e-mailed friends on Tuesday to tell them that she would be leaving her post. "The organization has decided that, due to financial constraints, it has no alternative but to cut the position of Director of Film Programs," she wrote, adding, "I feel very fortunate to have been offered the rare opportunity to develop a 35mm repertory and art-house cinema in Boston. " ArtsEmerson executive director Rob Orchard explained to us - also via e-mail - on Tuesday: "Rebecca Meyers has done a phenomenal job in establishing...

By Matt Rocheleau, Town Correspondent The 14th annual Roxbury International Film Festival will screen more than 50 films between June 14 and 17. The festival will include the world premiere of the documentary "Paul Goodnight: The Prime Time Image Maker," organizers said. The 40-minute film by Dennis Salumu focuses on African-American artist Paul Goodnight. The former foster child battled through post-traumatic stress, drug abuse and a speech impediment after fighting in the Vietnam War, before eventually...

The American special effects company that brought the "Transformers" movies to life and recently wowed concertgoers with a performing hologram of late rapper Tupac Shakur is setting up a studio in oil-rich Abu Dhabi. The deal signed Monday between Digital Domain Media Group and Abu Dhabi's government-backed twofour54 deepens the Emirati capital's ties to Hollywood as it accelerates its efforts to become a media hub. Port St. Lucie, Fla.-based Digital Domain plans to establish an animation, visual effects and motion-capture studio...

Abbas Kiarostami has found inspiration far from home. The Iranian director's films are routinely banned in his home country, whose Islamist government has arrested or barred several younger filmmakers from working. The 72-year-old auteur has responded by looking abroad for inspiration. His last feature, "Certified Copy," was shot in Italy, and his new Cannes Film Festival entry "Like Someone in Love" was made in Tokyo, in Japanese and with a Japanese cast. "In the past few years for fairly obvious reasons, perhaps, I had to work outside...

The Cannes Film Festival received a dose of theater Monday in the form of French director Alain Resnais' new film. "You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet" is a love letter to the acting profession that shows a troupe of thespians performing a play based on the Greek myth of lovers Orpheus and Eurydice. There are several plays-within-a-play in the drama, which features a who's who of French dramatic talent, including Lambert Wilson, Michel Piccoli and Mathieu Amalric. The 89-year-old Resnais told reporters that he was trying to show the similarities between...

The middle ground Battleship (131 min., PG-13) Almost no graphic injuries are depicted, though it's clear people get killed. The only moments that might be too upsetting for middle schoolers are in a rehab center where real veteran amputees are seen learning to use prosthetic limbs. The film includes occasional strong, partially muffled profanity and mild sexual innuendo. There's brief implied nudity. The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel (124 min., PG-13) The dialogue includes rare profanity, with one use of the F-word.

Douglas Trumbull is nearly 70, but the special effects whiz behind space classics like "2001: A Space Odyssey" says he's launching a new phase in his filmmaking career. Trumbull is being honored with a special achievement Oscar at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences' Scientific and Technical Awards dinner on Saturday, and he was given another lifetime honor by the Visual Effects Society earlier this week. But he says that despite winning Oscars for his work on films like "Close Encounters of the Third Kind," "Blade Runner" and "Star Trek: The Motion Picture," he hasn't...

His passes were hitting receivers in stride and right between the numbers, not skipping off the ground or whizzing behind their heads like so many of Tim Tebow's. The Denver Broncos got their first real taste of Peyton Manning on Monday with a spirited, fast-paced workout in Englewood, Colo., the four-time MVP's first full practice in more than 16 months. "It felt good to be out there," Manning said. "It's been about a year and a half since I've been in uniform, been in an organized practice.

LOS ANGELES — A sharp black suit is timeless, yet a decade has passed since Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones last wore theirs in "Men in Black II. " Despite the box office success of that film and its 1997 predecessor, the franchise had gone sufficiently cold that "Men in Black 3" only got the green light after audience research affirmed an abiding interest in it, said director Barry Sonnenfeld. "They also wanted to know what attracted people to the franchise," Sonnenfeld noted at a recent press day for the film at a Beverly Hills hotel.

Gael Garcia Bernal is selling happiness in Cannes. The Mexican actor stars in "No," directed by Chilean director Pablo Larrain, which shows how television helped Chile overthrow Gen. Augusto Pinochet in 1988. Bernal plays an advertising guy, drawn into the rival referendum TV campaigns — trying to persuade people to vote "No" to eight more years of Pinochet. His character uses adverts to sell Chileans the idea of happiness and positive change. Bernal is also in a good mood.