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A grieving boy is drawn into a magical land in Wolfgang Petersen’s ambitious fantasy adventure, rereleased for its 40th anniversary

This 1984 family fantasy adventure has been rereleased for its 40th anniversary; it is an ambitious German production in English (with the opening scenes shot in Vancouver) from director Wolfgang Petersen, featuring Spielbergian mop-haired kids and an extravaganza of wondrous beasts and princesses – surely an influence on the Harry Potter movies a generation later. It is freely adapted from one section of the popular German children’s story Die Unendliche Geschichte by Michael Ende. Oddly, given the title, the film does of course provide us with a resoundingly happy ending (although more franchise episodes were to come).

A lonely, bullied boy called Bastian (Barret Oliver) is devastated by the recent death of his mother; his emotionally cold father brusquely tells him not to dwell on his feelings and just get on with things.

Kirk Baily, the actor best known for playing camp counselor Kevin “Ug” Lee on the 1991 Nickelodeon sitcom Salute Your Shorts, has died. He was 59. The news of Baily’s death was confirmed by his domestic partner, Ranjani Brow, who revealed that he passed away on February 27 in Los Angeles after a battle with lung cancer. He is survived by Brow and two children. Baily was born on February 2, 1963, in New York City and began his career as a drama teacher and drama coach. His break into showbusiness came in the early 1980s, providing voices for various anime series. He would later land acting roles in the films Anna and Voodoo Dawn before being cast in Nickelodeon’s Salute Your Shorts, based on the book of the same name by Steve Slavkin and Thomas Hill. Salute Your Shorts ran for two seasons and revolved around the campers and counselors at the fictional Camp Anawanna.

Kirk Baily, the actor best known for his role as dim-witted camp counselor Kevin “Ug” Lee on the early Nickelodeon sitcom “Salute Your Shorts,” died Feb. 27 in Los Angeles. His domestic partner, Ranjani Brow, confirmed that he died after battling lung cancer. He was 59.

Baily got his start as a sound coordinator for the 1988 cult classic “Killer Klowns From Outer Space,” before he was cast in “Salute Your Shorts,” which premiered in 1991. Created by Steve Slavkin and based on a book of the same name he wrote with Thomas Hill, “Salute Your Shorts” premiered July 1991 and ran for two seasons. The series starred Danny Cooksey, Erik MacArthur, Blake Soper, Michael Bower, Trevor Eyster, Venus DeMilo Thomas, Heidi Lucas and Megan Berwick as various campers at the fictional Camp Anawanna. Baily’s character, Ug, acted as an antagonist toward the kids, as well as the most frequent victim of their pranks.

No matter the setting or circumstances, the solution to every dilemma found in Christian Evangelical films is getting closer to God. That certainly holds true with regards to “Overcomer,” the latest bit of bigscreen proselytizing by writer-director-star Alex Kendrick. The story of a high school basketball coach who’s forced to take over a cross-country program with only one runner, it’s Its one-note sermonizing should help it appeal to its target audience, but those not already in the fold will likely be left unmoved.

When economic hard times hit his small-town community, compelling many of his star athletes to relocate, coach John Harrison (Kendrick) watches his expectations for a winning basketball season go down the drain. To add insult to injury, he’s ordered by Principal Brooks (Priscilla Shirer) to take over the cross-country squad — an unwanted assignment made more difficult by the fact that only asthmatic new student...

In his latest interview/podcast, host Stuart Wright talks to BAFTA winning screenwriter Stephen Volk about writing his period ghost story screenplay The Awakening (2011). Directed by Nick Murphy and stars Rebecca Hall, Dominic West, Imelda Staunton and Shaun Dooley, The Awakening is available to watch on Netflix UK at www.netflix.com/gb/title/70208816

In 1921, in London, the arrogant and skeptical Florence Cathcart is famous for exposing hoaxes and helping the police to arrest con artists. The stranger Robert Mallory tells her that the headmaster of a boarding school in Rookford had invited her to travel to Cumbria to investigate a ghost that is frightening the pupils to death. He also tells that many years ago there was a murder in the estate and recently pupil Walter Portman had died. The reluctant Florence finally accepts to go to Cumbria. On arrival, she is welcomed by governess Maud and the boy Thomas Hill.

A substitute teacher has been hailed as a hero for leading her class to safety during a New Mexico high school shooting that claimed the lives of two students this week, according to the Albuquerque Journal.

On Thursday, a former student at Aztec High School gunned down two students on the campus before taking his own life.

In a statement previously obtained by People from the San Juan County Sheriff’s Office, the victims of the shooting were identified as Francisco Fernandez and Casey Marquez, who were reportedly a football player and cheerleader at Aztec, respectively.

According to the Albuquerque Journal,...

So long, Dalton Academy!

According to THR, Grant Gustin, the "Glee" star known for playing the studly Sebastian, has joined the cast of "90210" for a multi-episode arc on the CW series. Gustin will portray Campbell, a hunky college student from a rich background.

Gustin's other TV credits include "A Haunting" and "CSI: Miami."

In other casting news...

Mike Colter has joined "The Following." The "Ringer" actor has joined the Fox thriller starring Kevin Bacon in the recurring role of FBI bureaucrat Nick Donovan. [TVLine]

Chris Klein is headed to Fox. The "Wilfred" actor has been tapped by Fox to play a top Wme agent in a still-untitled Mark Wahlberg-Steve Levinson presentation. [THR]

Fred Willard is stopping by "Hot In Cleveland." Willard is headed to TV Land to play Thomas Hill, Georgia Engel's character's old love interest. [THR]...

So long, Dalton Academy!

According to THR, Grant Gustin, the "Glee" star known for playing the studly Sebastian, has joined the cast of "90210" for a multi-episode arc on the CW series. Gustin will portray Campbell, a hunky college student from a rich background.

Gustin's other TV credits include "A Haunting" and "CSI: Miami."

In other casting news...

Mike Colter has joined "The Following." The "Ringer" actor has joined the Fox thriller starring Kevin Bacon in the recurring role of FBI bureaucrat Nick Donovan. [TVLine]

Chris Klein is headed to Fox. The "Wilfred" actor has been tapped by Fox to play a top Wme agent in a still-untitled Mark Wahlberg-Steve Levinson presentation. [THR]

Fred Willard is stopping by "Hot In Cleveland." Willard is headed to TV Land to play Thomas Hill, Georgia Engel's character's old love interest. [THR]...

The Neverending Story is a 80s classic children.s story that those from the era will fondly remember. However, the film is a bit dark and may have frightened as well as enthralled. Bastian (Barrett Oliver) is running from some bullies and hides in a bookstore. He asks the grumpy bookseller (Thomas Hill) about a book he spies but the old man says that it.s .not safe. and dismisses Bastian. Bastian steals the book and continues on his way to school. He hides in the school.s attic and starts to read the book, The Neverending Story. The book takes place in the fantasy world of Fantasia. A dark force called the Nothing is threatening to destroy the kingdom.