Madagascar

Madagascar's opposition chief emerged from two weeks of hiding to declare himself president on Saturday, setting up another showdown with the country's increasingly isolated leader, who defied demands to resign. Embattled President Marc Ravalomanana prevailed the first time the two men tangled, but now his power base has disappeared against an opposition that is promising elections within two years on this island off Africa's southeast coast.

The army gave feuding leaders 72 hours to resolve a political crisis that has killed about 135 people or face a military intervention. At least some of the military has mutinied because of a crackdown by President Marc Ravalomanana's government on demonstrations spearheaded by Andry Rajoelina.

Zack and Miri Make a Porno Weinstein, $29.95; Blu-ray, $34.99 Anyone who's given up on writer-director Kevin Smith's clunky style and unyielding raunch should consider taking a chance on "Zack and Miri Make a Porno," a surprisingly sweet comedy. Seth Rogen and Elizabeth Banks play friends who decide to pay their bills -- and deal with their unspoken affection for each other -- by making a dirty movie.

Following up a half-billion-dollar-grossing movie is a problem a lot of filmmakers would like to have. Producer Mireille Soria said those behind the Oscar-submitted "Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa" relied on two things: the cast and the continent. "Casting-wise, we were very lucky that everyone wanted to come back, and we added great people -- Bernie Mac, will.i.am, Alec Baldwin," Soria says.

Stephen Kearin grew up wanting to be a vet, but he now works with animals in an entirely different capacity. For "Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa," Kearin read lines opposite members of the all-star cast, which includes Ben Stiller, Chris Rock and David Schwimmer, most of whom would record their dialogue alone in a sound booth. During those sessions, Kearin was there, working off-microphone, to give the performers a real-world counterpart with whom to engage. "I'm there to make them look good," he says, "which is what my original training in improv is about.