Malaysia has joined other Islamic countries in banning the Hollywood biblical epic "Noah" starring Russell Crowe, decrying it as irreligious and saying it violates Islamic law against depicting prophets.

A home ministry official Saturday confirmed that Paramount's latest big budget film, which has sparked an outcry among Muslim groups worldwide, will not be screened in predominantly Muslim Malaysia.

First came critical acclaim, then Hollywood A-list status and a best supporting actress Oscar for her portrayal of an abused plantation worker in the film "12 Years A Slave".

Now, Kenyan actress Lupita Nyong'o can add that other must-have role for any modern actress -- brand ambassador -- to her repertoire.

Written by Anthony Sargon

Like most people, I had big doubts about Darren Aronofsky’s “Noah”. This is his first big-budget film, and for him to choose the tale of Noah’s ark seemed a bit strange to me. The trailers had done nothing to get me excited, and I’m not exactly what you’d call religious, so my expectations were pretty low, regardless of how fond I am of Aronofsky’s previous work. Well, it’s with a sense of relief and great surprise that I report that “Noah” is actually a pretty strong effort. It’s visually beautiful, and does enough to appeal to non-religous folks, and certainly does a lot to please religious groups, so I’m not sure what the big hoopla is all about. At the end of the day it’s the story about a dude who fills a boat with every species of animal on the planet and sails off into the sunset. In other words, I think it’s OKAY for someone to take a bit of creative liberty with a concept like that. It’s also nice to see Russell Crowe doing something good for a change; its been a while.

Celebrity chef Nigella Lawson, who acknowledged last year that she had occasionally used cocaine, was denied permission to board a flight to the United States over the weekend, the U.S. Embassy said.

The embassy did not disclose the reason for refusing Lawson entry into the United States.

The Rolling Stones on Friday announced their tour of Australia and New Zealand, which was postponed after the suicide of Mick Jagger's girlfriend, has been rescheduled for October and November.

"The rescheduled Australia/New Zealand tour will take place between 25 October to 22 November 2014," the veteran British rockers said on the band's website, with exact dates for each city to be released soon.

There will be blood. And nudity. And dragons.

Millions worldwide will tune in for the fourth season of medieval fantasy drama "Game of Thrones" from Sunday as the hit show returns to television screens, promising to deliver its usual jaw-dropping mix of sex, violence and vengeance.

David Letterman's departure from the late-night realm won't just end an unmatched run on television. It also will close the book on an era reaching almost to the birth of TV.

During a taping of Thursday's edition of "Late Show," Letterman startled his audience with the news that he will step down in 2015, when his current contract with CBS expires.

Like every "Game of Thrones" fan, Charles Dance was gobsmacked by last season's next-to-last installment.

That episode floored viewers with its ritualistic "red wedding," a massacre staged by Lord Walder Frey, the bride's father, who meant to settle a score with his hall of guests, and did.

Family, friends and fans of Marvin Gaye came together Wednesday to pay joyful hommage the late Motown legend and native Washingtonian on what would have been his 75th birthday.

Gaye was shot and killed by his father on the eve of his 45th birthday in 1984, leaving behind a remarkable string of hits -- led by "Let's Get It On," "I Heard It Through the Grapevine" and "Sexual Healing" -- that remain pop, funk and soul classics.

An artist is making it difficult to believe there's actually a copy of Justin Bieber's latest album for sale in Los Angeles.

Paz Dylan, a 25-year-old electronic musician and artist known only as Paz, says he planted 5,000 copies of an album that appears to be Bieber's "Believe" but actually contains a copy of Dylan's own CD.