Liam Neeson

Liam Neeson is to have an out-of-body experience in an out-of-this world tale. The actor is slated to narrate a touring musical version of "War of the Worlds," appearing onstage as a hologram. The musical is adapted from composer Jeff Wayne's 1978 album, which featured the late Richard Burton narrating the tale of a Martian invasion based on H.G. Wells' novel. Wayne plans to release a new version with updated music next year, followed by a British arena tour starting in December 2012.

The titles of Liam Neeson's recent solo vehicles - "Taken," "Unknown," and now "The Grey" - have been as economical as his acting in them. They're variations on the same idea. He's on his own. He wants back what has been stolen from him: respectively, his daughter, his identity, his marriage. The last one should explain what we and Neeson are up against in "The Grey. " It's the most philosophical of these movies. It's also the most ambiguous. Neeson is John Ottway, a sharpshooter doing security work at an Alaskan oil refinery.

The titles of Liam Neeson's recent solo vehicles - "Taken," "Unknown," and now "The Grey" - have been as economical as his acting in them. They're variations on the same idea. He's on his own. He wants back what has been stolen from him: respectively, his daughter, his identity, his marriage. The last one should explain what we and Neeson are up against in "The Grey. " It's the most philosophical of these movies. It's also the most ambiguous. Neeson is John Ottway, a sharpshooter doing security work at an Alaskan oil refinery.

** THE GREY Directed by: Joe Carnahan Written by: Carnahan and Ian Mackenzie Jeffers, based on his story "Ghost Walkers"" Starring: Liam Neeson, Frank Grillo, Dallas Roberts, and Dermot Mulroney At: Boston Common, Fenway, suburbs Running time: 117 minutes Rated: R (language, violence, and disturbing content, including bloody images resulting from a plane crash and animatronic wolves) The titles of Liam Neeson's recent solo vehicles - "Taken," "Unknown," and now "The Grey" - have been as economical as his acting in them.

** THE GREY Directed by: Joe Carnahan Written by: Carnahan and Ian Mackenzie Jeffers, based on his story "Ghost Walkers"" Starring: Liam Neeson, Frank Grillo, Dallas Roberts, and Dermot Mulroney At: Boston Common, Fenway, suburbs Running time: 117 minutes Rated: R (language, violence, and disturbing content, including bloody images resulting from a plane crash and animatronic wolves) The titles of Liam Neeson's recent solo vehicles - "Taken," "Unknown," and now "The Grey" - have been as economical as his acting in them.

LUCKY YOU . ½ (Comcast Movies: All Movies) A very good Las Vegas poker player (Eric Bana) uses an aspiring singer (Drew Barrymore) for affection and what little money she has. This could have been a terrific screwball comedy or strong dark drama, but director and co-writer Curtis Hanson has sterilized the movie and boxed in all the human contours. Everyone is playing it too close to the vest. (PG-13; runs through July 11) DARKMAN . ½ (HBO on Comcast) The Phantom of the Opera turned into the Phantom of the Laboratory as scientist Liam Neeson, mutilated by sadistic thugs, slips a...

LOS ANGELES - Character actor and Hollywood dialect coach Robert Easton, whose successes include teaching Forest Whitaker to speak like Idi Amin in the 2006 movie "The Last King of Scotland," has died in Los Angeles. He was 81. His daughter, Heather Woodruff Perry, said that Mr. Easton died of natural causes Monday at his home in the San Fernando Valley. Born Robert Easton Burke in Milwaukee, he developed an awareness of speech as a child struggling to tame a stutter. When he was 7, his parents split up and he moved with his mother to San Antonio.

How wonderfully unpredictable the movies can be. Who would have thought that, at nearly 60, Liam Neeson would be one of the top action stars around? It's the same, counterintuitive formula that made Michael Keaton a good Batman and the Rock a believable Tooth Fairy. But here he is again. After the thrillers "Taken" and "Unknown," Neeson, that burly Irishman of such rock-‘em, sock 'em films as "Kinsey" and "Schindler's List," is back in his new genre of choice, looking quite at home punching a wolf.

'Taken"? You bet. Eurobaddies abduct Liam Neeson's teen daughter, and Neeson, playing a one-man gang called Bryan Mills, moves heaven and earth - OK, he just destroys a lot of property - to get her back. But that title is more about abducted movie plots. The prurient underworld shock of "Hardcore"? Taken. The Parisian pot-boiling of "Frantic"? Taken. The comical seriousness of "The Bodyguard"? Taken. The overall Van Dammage? Taken. Perhaps Neeson is eager to add his name to the list of men who pummel.

How wonderfully unpredictable the movies can be. Who would have thought that, at nearly 60, Liam Neeson would be one of the top action stars around? It's the same, counterintuitive formula that made Michael Keaton a good Batman and the Rock a believable Tooth Fairy. But here he is again. After the thrillers "Taken" and "Unknown," Neeson, that burly Irishman of such rock-‘em, sock 'em films as "Kinsey" and "Schindler's List," is back in his new genre of choice, looking quite at home punching a wolf.

LOS ANGELES - Character actor and Hollywood dialect coach Robert Easton, whose successes include teaching Forest Whitaker to speak like Idi Amin in the 2006 movie "The Last King of Scotland," has died in Los Angeles. He was 81. His daughter, Heather Woodruff Perry, said that Mr. Easton died of natural causes Monday at his home in the San Fernando Valley. Born Robert Easton Burke in Milwaukee, he developed an awareness of speech as a child struggling to tame a stutter. When he was 7, his parents split up and he moved with his mother to San...

HOME ALONE **½ (Comcast Movie Collections: Holiday Films) As the boy accidentally left home alone by his vacationing parents, Macaulay Culkin is better than cute - he's clever and laconic. Kids will like watching him defend his house from a pair of bumbling crooks, but adults may tire of seeing the same joke replayed endlessly. (PG; runs through Jan. 4) MATTHEW GILBERT LOVE ACTUALLY **½ (Comcast Movie Collections: Holiday Films) Writer Richard Curtis ("Four Weddings and a Funeral," "Notting Hill")

Liam Neeson is to have an out-of-body experience in an out-of-this world tale. The actor is slated to narrate a touring musical version of "War of the Worlds," appearing onstage as a hologram. The musical is adapted from composer Jeff Wayne's 1978 album, which featured the late Richard Burton narrating the tale of a Martian invasion based on H.G. Wells' novel. Wayne plans to release a new version with updated music next year, followed by a British arena tour starting in December 2012.

As lifeless and unneeded as “The A-Team’’ is, it might have been worse. Bradley Cooper could have kept his shirt on. He plays a wanted Army Ranger named Face. But I’m sure he’d answer to Pecs, Teeth, or Fake Tan. Cooper spends a lot of the movie promoting the upside of a personal trainer and good dental work. He’s not completely interesting enough to be the upside of this remake of the mid-1980s TV show. Like Chris Evans, Gerard Butler, and Ashton Kutcher, Cooper doesn’t take himself seriously enough for us to. He slides along the surface of his movies.