Cinched at the waist, with soft rounded shoulders and a swirling skirt, Christian Dior's famous "Bonbon" dress today appears the epitome of modesty and restraint.

But in 1947 -- after years of clothing coupons and wartime austerity -- this simple dusty-pink wool dress with a brown belt was nothing short of scandalous.

Country superstar Shania Twain says she'll end her residency in Las Vegas with a final show Dec. 13, two years after she began performing at Caesars Palace.

Twain announced 16 "Shania: Still the One" shows in October and December, in addition to summer performances running through July 26 at the Colosseum.

Five Paris hotels on Monday launched a scheme allowing guests to "pay what you want" in an experiment that may be extended if successful.

The three- and four-star hotels taking part in the scheme are located in the city's 9th and 11th districts -- a little away from the city's tourist centres. The owners are bullish about the prospects and confident that clients will not abuse the scheme.

"Dawn of the Planet of the Apes" clung tight to the top of the North American box office for a second week in a row, final figures showed Monday.

The "Apes" saga, based on the Pierre Boulle sci-fi tale of humans and primates clashing to survive, earned $36.3 million in its second week out, for a total of $139 million during its two weeks in theaters so far, according to box office tracker Exhibitor Relations.

Britain's Prince George was to celebrate his first birthday on Tuesday with a party fit for a future king as his parents thanked well-wishers the world over for their support.

Prince William and his wife Catherine were to throw a private bash at their Kensington Palace home in London to mark the occasion, with royalty and close friends in attendance.

Turkey's state television channel stopped broadcasting an ambitious TV drama series about the country's spy agency following warnings from police about a possible jihadist threat, local media reported on Monday. 

TRT stopped airing the "Kizilelma" ("The Red Apple") just three weeks after Turkish national police urged the company to take measures against the threats the drama could pose by drawing the wrath of Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) militants, the Milliyet daily reported on its website. 

Written by Anthony Sargon

What started out as a great summer for R-rated comedies is quickly turning into a mixed bag. While flicks like 22 Jump Street and Neighbors have been embraced by the general public, others like Tammy and A Million Ways to Die in the West have been less reliable. Sex Tape, I’m sad to say, is largely devoid of any laughs, and wastes a mostly talented cast (I say mostly because I quite dislike Cameron Diaz) and a clever premise on lazy, unfunny, and obnoxious jokes.

Written by Anthony Sargon

It’s simple: you have never seen a movie like Boyhood before, and you likely never will again. Shot over a 12-year period with the same cast, Richard Linklater’s latest is the definition of a masterpiece, and it’s hands down the best movie of the year, and one of the most memorable cinematic experiences you will ever have.

Catherine, the wife of Britain's Prince William, is to make her first official solo trip abroad with a visit to Malta in September, Kensington Palace announced Monday.

Written by Anthony Sargon

I didn’t get a chance to watch 2013′s The Purge in theaters, but caught in on home video a few weeks ago with some friends. While I wasn’t all that impressed with the film itself, the concept was certainly intriguing, especially for someone like me who absolutely hates the United States’ gun culture. While certainly flawed, The Purge: Anarchy is a significant improvement over its predecessor, and is one of this summer’s most pleasant (well, kind of) surprises.