Beneath all those ruffles, flourishes and hoop skirts, the movies keep informing us that hot love affairs existed long before texting, Googling or even stereophonic sound. France in the early 20th century provides a convenient distance and an opulent setting for the love affair between the characters played by Michelle Pfeiffer and Rupert Friend in "Cheri."

Plenty of parties and pyrotechnics will be popping up for Independence Day today. Hampton Roads offers an array of ways to celebrate the nation's birthday. Check it out.

Did you miss out on the opening of Harborfest yesterday? Never fear! We were there to catch all the action. Check our our video to see the sights at Town Point Park on its opening day.

The guessing is over. The fifth annual festival of classic films at the Naro Expanded Cinema will open Monday with "From Here to Eternity" starring Burt Lancaster, Deborah Kerr, Montgomery Clift, Frank Sinatra and Donna Reed - all nominated for Oscars.

Cast: Johnny Depp, Christian Bale, Marion Cotillard, Billy Crudup, Channing Tatum, Lili Taylor, Leelee Sobieski, Stephen Dorff, Stephen Graham
Director:  Michael Mann
Screenplay:  Michael Mann, Ann Biderman, Ronan Bennett
Music:  Elliot Goldenthal
MPAA rating:  R (violence)
Mal’s rating:  2½ stars

---------

There is Donald Duck. Chip and Dale. Bambi. And now, there is Scrat and his beloved acorn. A new star is not so much born in "Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs" as he is established. Scrat, complete with his bulging, often bloodshot and frantic eyes, and his ever-twitching nose may not look like Brad Pitt, but he's a star.

Time to celebrate!
Plenty of parties and pyrotechnics will be popping up for Independence Day. Hampton Roads offers an array of ways to celebrate the nation's birthday. A quiet cookout or neighborhood get-together might sound good - or maybe a big community bash with music, games and fireworks.

Aerosmith has postponed its show scheduled for Sunday with ZZ Top at the Verizon Wireless Virginia Beach Amphitheater. The show has been postponed due to "an artist injury," according to a press release from Live Nation, which manages the venue. Tickets purchased for the show will be honored at a date yet to be scheduled.

VIRGINIA BEACH For locals looking to have some fun this summer, and avoid the tourist traffic and crowds, a quick trip to the nearest city park might be all that's required. A day out at any of the city's 249 parks offers an assortment of recreational possibilities for the family, and since last year the city has seen a huge increase in the number of residents making use of them.

The renovations to Town Point Park pushed back Harborfest this year from its traditional early June date. So, Norfolk is combining three weekends into one big party - Harborfest, Independence Day and the celebration of the park's reopening - or, as we like to call it, Grand Harbor Fourth. Here's what you can expect.