Disney has made a mega $4 billion deal to acquire Marvel Entertainment, thus gaining control of over 5,000 individual comic book characters, many of whom have proven to be a goldmine on the silver screen. The modest comic book company that spun into high gear in the 1960s under the TLC of editor Stan Lee and the late artist Jack Kirby has not only made the realm of comics respectable, but the stuff of business empires as well . Marvel stock soared on the announcement. For more click here

By Lee Pfeiffer

Hollywood's obsession with youth has now reached a comical level as evidenced by the American Cinematheque's announcement that it will award its next lifetime achievement award to Matt Damon - despite the fact he is only 38 years-old. Let me say up front that the absurdity of this decision isn't a reflection on Damon, who remains a popular and talented actor. He has been associated with a number of high profile films from Saving Private Ryan and the Oceans Eleven series to his popular Bourne spy movies. He also copped an Oscar for co-writing Good Will Hunting. However, many of his other films have been received with a mediocre response by both critics and the public. There was a time when such awards were granted to elder statesmen and women of the industry - true giants in their fields. However, in recent years, the dearth of such living legends, combined with the mania for obtaining TV ratings, has seen lifetime achievement awards granted to people who are still very much in their prime. When Paul Newman received an honorary Oscar for his life's work in 1984, he joked that he didn't feel like he was ready to move into Forest Lawn Cemetery yet. He was 61 years old at the time and many people thought that was too young for an actor still making films on a regular basis. Indeed, some of Newman's best work was still ahead of him, as evidenced by the fact that he won a competitive Oscar for Best Actor the very next year.