Mark Christopher Studio: Buena Vista Home Video Release Date: 07/06/2004 Rating: R

Christopher Greenbury, Tariq Anwar, Sam Mendes From its first gliding aerial shot of a generic suburban street, American Beauty moves with a mesmerizing confidence and acuity epitomized by Kevin Spacey's calm narration. Spacey is Lester Burnham, a harried Everyman whose midlife awakening is the spine of the story, and his very first lines hook us with their teasing fatalism—like Sunset Boulevard's Joe Gillis, Burnham tells us his story from beyond the grave.

It's an audacious start for a film that justifies that audacity. Weaving social satire, domestic tragedy, and whodunit into a single package, Alan Ball's first theatrical script dares to blur generic lines and keep us off balance, winking seamlessly from dark, scabrous comedy to deeply moving drama. The Burnham family joins the cinematic short list of great dysfunctional American families, as Lester is pitted against his manic, materialistic realtor wife, Carolyn (Annette Bening, making the most of a mostly unsympathetic role) and his sullen, contemptuous teenaged daughter, Jane (Thora Birch, utterly convincing in her edgy balance of self-absorption and wistful longing). Into their lives come two catalytic outsiders. A young cheerleader (Mena Suvari) jolts Lester into a sexual epiphany that blooms into a second adolescence. And an eerily calm young neighbor (Wes Bentley) transforms both Lester and Jane with his canny influence.

Credit another big-screen newcomer, English theatrical director Sam Mendes, with expertly juggling these potentially disjunctive elements into a superb ensemble piece that achieves a stylized pace without lapsing into transparent self-indulgence. Mendes has shrewdly insured his success with a solid crew of stage veterans, yet he's also made an inspired discovery in Bentley, whose Ricky Fitts becomes a fulcrum for both plot and theme. Cinematographer Conrad Hall's sumptuous visual design further elevates the film, infusing the beige interiors of the Burnhams' lives with vivid bursts of deep crimson, the color of roses—and of blood. —Sam Sutherland

Phillippe, Ryan, Robbins, Tim In this taut sexy thriller a young computer whiz knows he can trust no one when he goes up against a powerful software giant who will stop at nothing to control the worlds information systems. Studio: Tcfhe/mgm Release Date: 11/16/2004 Starring: Ryan Phillippe Claire Forlani Run time: 98 minutes Rating: Pg13 Director: Peter Howitt

Christopher Nolan Studio: Warner Home Video Release Date: 07/08/2008 Run time: 102 minutes Rating: R

The follow-up to Batman Begins, The Dark Knight reunites director Christopher Nolan and star Christian Bale, who reprises the role of Batman/Bruce Wayne in his continuing war on crime. With the help of Lt. Jim Gordon and District Attorney Harvey Dent, Batman sets out to destroy organized crime in Gotham for good. The triumvirate proves effective, but soon find themselves prey to a rising criminal mastermind known as The Joker, who thrusts Gotham into anarchy and forces Batman closer to crossing the fine line between hero and vigilante. Heath Ledger stars as archvillain The Joker, and Aaron Eckhart plays Dent. Maggie Gyllenhaal joins the cast as Rachel Dawes. Returning from Batman Begins are Gary Oldman as Gordon, Michael Caine as Alfred and Morgan Freeman as Lucius Fox.

Sometimes to follow your dreams.. Youve got to bend the rules the daughter of orthodox sikh rebels against her parents traditionalism by running off to germany with a football team Studio: Tcfhe Release Date: 06/06/2006 Starring: Parminder K Magra Jonathan Rhys-meyers Run time: 112 minutes Rating: Pg13

Studio: Sony Pictures Home Ent Release Date: 03/20/2007 Run time: 164 minutes Rating: Pg

Doug Liman Freely adapted from Robert Ludlum's 1980 bestseller, The Bourne Identity starts fast and never slows down. The twisting plot revs up in Zurich, where amnesiac CIA assassin Jason Bourne (Matt Damon), with no memory of his name, profession, or recent activities, recruits a penniless German traveler (Run Lola Run's Franka Potente) to assist in solving the puzzle of his missing identity. While his CIA superior (Chris Cooper) dispatches assassins to kill Bourne and thus cover up his failed mission, Bourne exercises his lethal training to leave a trail of bodies from Switzerland to Paris. Director Doug Liman (Go) infuses Ludlum's intricate plotting with a maverick's eye for character detail, matching breathtaking action with the humorous, thrill-seeking chemistry of Damon and Potente. Previously made as a 1988 TV movie starring Richard Chamberlain, The Bourne Identity benefits from the sharp talent of rising stars, offering intelligent, crowd-pleasing excitement from start to finish. —Jeff Shannon

Geraldine Peroni, Dylan Tichenor, Ang Lee A sad, melancholy ache pervades Brokeback Mountain, Ang Lee's haunting, moving film that, like his other movies, explores societal constraints and the passions that lurk underneath. This time, however, instead of taking on ancient China, 19th-century England, or '70s suburbia, Lee uses the tableau of the American West in the early '60s to show how two lovers are bound by their expected roles, how they rebel against them, and the repercussions for each of doing so—but the romance here is between two men. Ennis Del Mar (Heath Ledger) and Jack Twist (Jake Gyllenhaal) are two itinerant ranchers looking for work in Wyoming when they meet and embark on a summer sheepherding job in the shadow of titular Brokeback Mountain. The taciturn Ennis, uncommunicative in the extreme, finds himself opening up around the gregarious Jack, and the two form a bond that surprisingly catches fire one cold night out in the wilderness. Separating at the end of the summer, each goes on to marry and have children, but a reunion years later proves that, if anything, their passion for each other has grown significantly. And while Jack harbors dreams of a life together, the tight-lipped Ennis is unable to bring himself to even consider something so revolutionary.

Its open, unforced depiction of love between two men made Brokeback an instant cultural touchstone, for both good and bad, as it was tagged derisively as the "gay cowboy movie," but also heralded as a breakthrough for mainstream cinema. Amidst all the hoopla of various agendas, though, was a quiet, heartbreaking love story that was both of its time and universal—it was the quintessential tale of star-crossed lovers, but grounded in an ever-changing America that promised both hope and despair. Adapted by Larry McMurtry and Diana Ossana from Annie Proulx's short story, the movie echoes the sparse bleakness of McMurtry's The Last Picture Show with its fading of the once-glorious West; but with Lee at the helm, it also resembles The Ice Storm, as it showed the ripple effects of a singular event over a number of people. As always, Lee's work with actors is unparalleled, as he elicits graceful, nuanced performances from Michelle Williams and Anne Hathaway as the wives affected overtly and subliminally by their husbands' affair, and Gyllenhaal brings surprising dimensions to a character that could have easily just been a puppy dog of a boy. It's Ledger, however, who's the breakthrough in the film, and his portrait of an emotionally repressed man both undone and liberated by his feelings is mesmerizing and devastating. Spare in style but rich with emotion, Brokeback Mountain earns its place as a classic modern love story. —Mark Englehart

Brian Johnson, Wim Wenders Take a spellbinding journey into the fascinating lives and passionate musical power of the buean vista social club the legendary cuban musicians whose grammy award-winning album sparked an international musical phenomenon. Additional concert footage. Studio: Lions Gate Home Ent. Release Date: 03/11/2008 Starring: Ry Cooder Ruben Gonzalez Run time: 105 minutes Rating: G Director: Wim Wenders

There's an extra coat of hot wax on Pixar's vibrant, NASCAR-influenced comedy about a world populated entirely by cars. Lightning McQueen (voiced by Owen Wilson) is the slick rookie taking the Piston Cup series by storm when the last race of the season (the film's high-octane opening) ends in a three-way tie. On the way to the tie-breaker race in California, Lightning loses his way off Route 66 in the Southwest desert and is taught to stop and smell the roses by the forgotten citizens of Radiator Springs. It's odd to have such a slim story from the whizzes of Pixar, and the film pales a bit from their other films (though can that be a fair comparison?). Nonetheless, Cars is another gleaming ride with Pixar founder John Lasseter, who's directing for the first time since Toy Story 2. There's the usual spectrum of excellent characters teamed with appropriate voice talent, loads of smooth humor for kids and parents alike, knockout visuals, and a colorful array of sidekicks, including a scene-stealing baby blue forklift named Guido. Lightning's plight is changed with the help of former big-city lawyer Sally Carrera (Pixar veteran Bonnie Hunt), the town's patriarch Doc Hudson (Paul Newman), and kooky tow truck Mater (Larry the Cable Guy). The Incredibles was the first Pixar film to break the 100-minute barrier, but had enough story not to suffer; Cars, at 116 minutes (including some must-see end credit footage), is not as fortunate, plus it never pierces the heart. Trivia fans should have bonanza with the frame-by-frame DVD function; the movie is stuffed with in-jokes, some appearing only for an instant. Ages 5 and up. —Doug Thomas

While the chickens on evil mrs. Tweedys farm dream of a better life a clever hen named ginger is hatching plans to fly the coop for good. The only problem is chickens cant fly or can they? every escape attempt goes fowl until rocky a smooth talking all-american rooster crash-lands into the coop. Studio: Paramount Home Video Release Date: 08/21/2007 Starring: Animated Run time: 84 minutes Rating: G Director: Peter Lord/nick Park

Robert Zemeckis The opening and closing moments of Robert (Forrest Gump) Zemeckis's Contact astonish viewers with the sort of breathtaking conceptual imagery one hardly ever sees in movies these day—each is an expression of the heroine's lifelong quest (both spiritual and scientific) to explore the meaning of human existence through contact with extraterrestrial life. The movie begins by soaring far out into space, then returns dizzyingly to earth until all the stars in the heavens condense into the sparkle in one little girl's eye. It ends with that same girl as an adult (Jodie Foster)—her search having taken her to places beyond her imagination—turning her gaze inward and seeing the universe in a handful of sand. Contact traces the journey between those two visual epiphanies. Based on Carl Sagan's novel, Contact is exceptionally thoughtful and provocative for a big-budget Hollywood science fiction picture, with elements that recall everything from 2001 to The Right Stuff. Foster's solid performance (and some really incredible alien hardware) keep viewers interested, even when the story skips and meanders, or when the halo around the golden locks of rising-star-of-a-different-kind Matthew McConaughey (as the pure-Hollywood-hokum love interest) reaches Milky Way-level wattage. Ambitious, ambiguous, pretentious, unpredictable—Contact is all of these things and more. Much of it remains open to speculation and interpretation, but whatever conclusions one eventually draws, Contact deserves recognition as a rare piece of big-budget studio filmmaking on a personal scale. —Jim Emerson

Mark Steven Johnson Story of matthew murdock who is struck blind by a radioactive isotope. He gains a super radar ability & uses his powers to fight crime in new york. Studio: Tcfhe Release Date: 05/13/2008 Starring: Jennifer Garner Colin Farrell Run time: 103 minutes Rating: R Director: Mark Steven Johnson

Matthew Yagle, John Keitel Popular frat guy Griff "the ultimate boy next door" has a great big secret Pete. Given an ultimatum by Pete Griff goes the straight route until things get rough. Ultimately defying "reality" is harder than he had ever imagined.System Requirements:Running Time: 93 minutesFormat: DVD MOVIE Genre: DRAMA Rating: NR UPC: 754703761538 Manufacturer No: 3238D

Lee Tamahori The 20th James Bond adventure, Die Another Day succeeds on three important fronts: it avoids comparison to Austin Powers by keeping its cheesy humor in check, allows Halle Berry to be sexy and worthy of a spinoff franchise, and keeps pace with the technical wizardry that modern action films demand. Pierce Brosnan's got style and staying power as James Bond, now bearing little resemblance to Ian Fleming's original British super-spy, but able to hold his own at the box office. He's paired with American agent Jinx (Berry) in chasing a genetically altered North Korean villain (Rick Yune) armed with a satellite capable of destroying just about anything. John Cleese and Judi Dench reprise their recurring roles (as "Q" and "M," respectively); they're accompanied by weapons-laden sports cars, a hokey cameo by Madonna (who sings the techno-pulsed theme song), and enough double-entendres to keep Bond-philes adequately shaken and stirred. With clever nods to 007's cinematic legacy, Die Another Day makes you welcome the familiar end-credits promise: James Bond will return. —Jeff Shannon

Dee Austin Robertson, Richard Kelly During the presidential election campaign of 1988 a teenager sleepwalks out of his house and sees a giant demonic-looking rabbit who tells him exactly when the world will end. As he tries to deal with life and continued visits from the rabbit he begins committing acts of vandalism and worse. Studio: Tcfhe Release Date: 09/05/2006 Run time: 253 minutes Rating: R

Ate de Jong This not-quite-black comedy was probably a laugh riot on paper. The translation almost works, but the execution is flawed. Phoebe Cates is a recently separated young woman who suddenly begins to see her supposedly imagined childhood friend (Drop Dead Fred) after moving back into her mother's home. Is he a manifestation of her secret desires to ditch the boorish spouse? Or was he real all along? Rik Mayall is a limber, carrot-topped Brit with the lamentable assignment of trying to make us laugh with vulgar, sophomoric trickery. He is supposedly the repository of Cates's fastidious repression but is more annoying than cathartic. —Rochelle O'Gorman

Tim Story Marvel Comics' first family of superherodom, the Fantastic Four, hits the big screen in a light-hearted and funny adventure. It begins when down-on-his-luck genius Reed Richards (Ioan Gruffudd, Horatio Hornblower) has to enlist the financial and intellectual help from former schoolmate and rival Victor Von Doom (Julian McMahon, Nip/Tuck) in order to pursue outer-space research into human DNA. Also on the trip are Reed's best friend, Ben Grimm (Michael Chiklis, The Shield); his former lover, Sue Storm (Jessica Alba, Dark Angel, Sin City), who's now Doom's employee and love interest; and her hotshot-pilot brother, Johnny Storm (Chris Evans, Cellular). Things don't go as planned, of course, and the quartet becomes blessed—or is it cursed?—with superhuman powers: flexibility, brute strength, invisibility and projecting force fields, and bursting into flame. Meanwhile, Doom himself is undergoing a transformation.

Among the many entries in the comic-book-movie frenzy, Fantastic Four is refreshing because it doesn't take itself too seriously. Characterization isn't too deep, and the action is a bit sparse until the final reel (like most "first" superhero movies, it has to go through the "how did we get these powers and what we will do with them" churn). But it's a good-looking cast, and original comic-book cocreator Stan Lee makes his most significant Marvel-movie cameo yet, in a speaking role as the FF's steadfast postal carrier, Willie Lumpkin. Newcomers to superhero movies might find the idea of a family with flexibility, strength, invisibility, and force fields a retread of The Incredibles, but Pixar's animated film was very much a tribute to the FF and other heroes of the last 40 years. The irony is that while Fantastic Four is an enjoyable B-grade movie, it's the tribute, The Incredibles, that turned out to be a film for the ages. —David Horiuchi

The Fantastic Four at Amazon.com
Comics and Graphic Novels
Disney animated series
The classic comic book
Movie tie-in graphic novel
The Xbox game
Fantastic Four Soundtrack

The Fantastic Cast

Jessica Alba as Sue Storm
Michael Chiklis as The Thing
Ioan Gruffudd as Reed Richards
Chris Evans as Johnny Storm

Stills from Fantastic Four (click for larger images)

Walker, Paul Studio: Uni Dist Corp. (mca) Release Date: 02/05/2008 Run time: 107 minutes Rating: Pg13

Luc Besson Studio: Sony Pictures Home Ent Release Date: 07/17/2007 Run time: 123 minutes Rating: Pg13

Stanton, Andrew Studio: Buena Vista Home Video Release Date: 05/16/2008 Run time: 100 minutes Rating: G

Andrew Niccol Studio: Sony Pictures Home Ent Release Date: 03/11/2008 Run time: 106 minutes Rating: Pg13

Doug Liman Katie holmes scott wolf jay mohr taye diggs and sarah polley take a wild romp on the wicked side of fun in this edgy and thrilling comedy. Special features: full screen and widescreen versions subtitles: english director and editor commentary talent files three music videos deleted scenes and much more. Studio: Sony Pictures Home Ent Release Date: 08/31/2004 Run time: 102 minutes Rating: R

Gus Van Sant Matt damon is will hunting a working class kid with a genius iq who cant muster a passing score in his personal life. Unable to talk his way out of a pending jail sentence wills only hope is professor and therapist sean mcguire the one man who can change his life will has called the shots now hes met his match. Studio: Buena Vista Home Video Release Date: 06/06/2006 Starring: Matt Damon Minnie Driver Run time: 126 minutes Rating: R Director: Gus Van Sant

Chris Columbus Harry ignores warnings not to return to hogwarts only to find the school plagued by a series of mysterious attacks and a strange voice haunting him. Studio: Warner Home Video Release Date: 11/14/2006 Starring: Daniel Radcliffe Emma Watson Run time: 161 minutes Rating: Pg Director: Chris Columbus

Mike Newell The fourth entry in the Harry Potter saga could be retitled Fast Times at Hogwarts, where finding a date to the winter ball is nearly as terrifying as worrying about Lord Voldemort's return. Thus, the young wizards' entry into puberty (and discovery of the opposite sex) opens up a rich mining field to balance out the dark content in the fourth movie (and the stories are only going to get darker). Mike Newell (Four Weddings and a Funeral) handily takes the directing reins and eases his young cast through awkward growth spurts into true young actors. Harry (Daniel Radcliffe, more sure of himself) has his first girl crush on fellow student Cho Chang (Katie Leung), and has his first big fight with best bud Ron (Rupert Grint). Meanwhile, Ron's underlying romantic tension with Hermione (Emma Watson) comes to a head over the winter ball, and when she makes one of those girl-into-woman Cinderella entrances, the boys' reactions indicate they've all crossed a threshold.

But don't worry, there's plenty of wizardry and action in Goblet of Fire. When the deadly Triwizard Tournament is hosted by Hogwarts, Harry finds his name mysteriously submitted (and chosen) to compete against wizards from two neighboring academies, as well as another Hogwarts student. The competition scenes are magnificently shot, with much-improved CGI effects (particularly the underwater challenge). And the climactic confrontation with Lord Voldemort (Ralph Fiennes, in a brilliant bit of casting) is the most thrilling yet. Goblet, the first installment to get a PG-13 rating, contains some violence as well as disturbing images for kids and some barely shrouded references at sexual awakening (Harry's bath scene in particular). The 2 1/2-hour film, lean considering it came from a 734-page book, trims out subplots about house-elves (they're not missed) and gives little screen time to the standard crew of the other Potter films, but adds in more of Britain's finest actors to the cast, such as Brendan Gleeson as Mad-Eye Moody and Miranda Richardson as Rita Skeeter. Michael Gambon, in his second round as Professor Dumbledore, still hasn't brought audiences around to his interpretation of the role he took over after Richard Harris died, but it's a small smudge in an otherwise spotless adaptation. —Ellen A. Kim

On the DVD
The highlight of the two-disc set is a half-hour conversation with actors Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, and Rupert Grint. They discuss their reactions to the film and other topics with British writer Richard Curtis . Then they answer questions from contest-winning fans, such as what are their favorite kids' books (Watson bypasses the obvious answer in favor of Roald Dahl and Philip Pullman) and what scenes are they looking forward to in upcoming films. More routine extras include the "Reflections on the Fourth Film" featurette (14 min.), though it has comments from some of the other young cast members, and "Preparing for the Yule Ball" (9 min.). The 10 minutes of additional scenes are mostly skulking and skullduggery, plus a long musical number from the ball. The remaining material is grouped along the lines of the Triwizard Tournament, with behind-the-scenes looks at each of the competitions (about 22 min. total), two longer featurettes on He Who Must Not Be Named (11 min.) and the workday of the other contestants (Robert Pattinson, Stanislav Ianevski, and Clémence Poésy, 13 min.), and four games, playable with the directional arrows on the remote control, that can be frustrating to figure out. —David Horiuchi

Steven Weisberg, Alfonso Cuarón Some movie-loving wizards must have cast a magic spell on Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, because it's another grand slam for the Harry Potter franchise. Demonstrating remarkable versatility after the arthouse success of Y Tu Mamá También, director Alfonso Cuarón proves a perfect choice to guide Harry, Hermione, and Ron into treacherous puberty as the now 13-year-old students at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry face a new and daunting challenge: Sirius Black (Gary Oldman) has escaped from Azkaban prison, and for reasons yet unknown (unless, of course, you've read J.K. Rowling's book, considered by many to be the best in the series), he's after Harry in a bid for revenge. This dark and dangerous mystery drives the action while Harry (the fast-growing Daniel Radcliffe) and his third-year Hogwarts classmates discover the flying hippogriff Buckbeak (a marvelous CGI creature), the benevolent but enigmatic Professor Lupin (David Thewlis), horrifying black-robed Dementors, sneaky Peter Pettigrew (Timothy Spall), and the wonderful advantage of having a Time-Turner just when you need one. The familiar Hogwarts staff returns in fine form (including the delightful Michael Gambon, replacing the late Richard Harris as Dumbledore, and Emma Thompson as the goggle-eyed Sybil Trelawney), and even Julie Christie joins this prestigious production for a brief but welcome cameo. Technically dazzling, fast-paced, and chock-full of Rowling's boundless imagination (loyally adapted by ace screenwriter Steve Kloves), The Prisoner of Azkaban is a Potter-movie classic. —Jeff Shannon

Richard Francis-Bruce, Chris Columbus Rescued from the outrageous neglect of his aunt and uncle a young boy with a great destiny proves his worth while attending hogwarts school of witchcraft and wizardry. Subtitles in english and spanish self-guided tour of hogwarts new interviews with the director and the producer and much more. Studio: Warner Home Video Release Date: 11/14/2006 Starring: Daniel Radcliffe Emma Watson Run time: 152 minutes Rating: Pg Director: Chris Columbus

Tommy Stovall Nice guy accountant robbie lives an idyllic life with his partner trey in a quiet suburban neighborhood. But when a venomous neighbor moves in and starts harassing them hate sparks violence. Studio: Image Entertainment Release Date: 05/27/2008 Director: Tommy Stovall

Nicholas Hytner A delightfully witty comedy about 8 boisterous-yet-talented schoolboys hoping to gain admittance to englands most prestigious universities. Studio: Tcfhe Release Date: 02/05/2008 Starring: Richard Griffiths Stephen Campbell Moore Run time: 112 minutes Rating: R

Studio: Warner Home Video Release Date: 05/17/2005 Run time: 180 minutes Rating: Nr

Garth Jennings Arthur dent is having a really bad day! when he learns that a friend is actually an alien with knowledge of earths impending destruction he is transported off the planet. And if thats not enough throw in being wanted by the police & a chronically depressed robot & youve got the greatest adventure off earth. Studio: Buena Vista Home Video Release Date: 08/10/2007 Starring: Martin Freeman Zooey Deschanel Run time: 109 minutes Rating: Pg

Alex Proyas As paranoid cop Del Spooner, Will Smith (Independence Day, Men in Black) displays both his trademark quips and some impressive pectoral muscles in I, Robot. Only Spooner suspects that the robots that provide the near future with menial labor are going to turn on mankind—he—he's just not sure how. When a leading roboticist dies suspiciously, Spooner pursues a trail that may prove his suspicions. Don't expect much of a connection to Isaac Asimov's classic science fiction stories; I, Robot, the action movie, isn't prepared for any ruminations on the significance of artificial intelligence. This likable, efficient movie won't break any new ground, but it does have an idea or two to accompany its jolts and thrills, which puts it ahead of most recent action flicks. Also featuring Bridget Moynahan (The Sum of All Fears), Bruce Greenwood (The Sweet Hereafter), and James Cromwell (Babe, LA Confidential). —Bret Fetzer

Chris Wedge Just as A Bug's Life was a computer-animated comedy inspired by Akira Kurosawa's The Seven Samurai, the funny and often enthralling Ice Age is a digital re-imagining of the Western Three Godfathers. The heroes of this unofficial remake (set 20,000 years ago, during the titular Paleolithic era) are a taciturn mastodon named Manfred (voiced by Ray Romano), an annoying sloth named Sid (John Leguizamo), and a duplicitous saber-toothed tiger, Diego (Denis Leary). The unlikely team encounters a dying, human mother who relinquishes her chirpy toddler to the care of these critters. Hoping, against all odds, to return the little guy to his migrating tribe, Manfred and his associates need to establish trust among themselves, not an easy thing in a harsh world of predators, prey, and pushy glaciers. Audiences that have become accustomed to the rounded, polished, storybook look of Pixar's house brand of computer animation (Monsters, Inc.) will find the blunt edges and chilly brilliance of Ice Age—evoking the harsh, dangerous environment of a frozen world—a wholly different, and equally pleasing, trip. Recommended for ages 4 and up. —Tom Keogh

Bob parr and his wife used to be among the worlds greatest crime fighters. 15 years later they are living normal suburban lives with civilian identities. Bob gets his chance to get back into action with a top-secret assignment. He soon discovers it will take a super family effort to save the world. Studio: Buena Vista Home Video Release Date: 05/16/2008 Starring: Voices Of Craig T Nelson Samuel L Jackson Run time: 115 minutes Rating: Pg

Joke van Wijk, Mick Audsley, Neil Jordan After 200 years of immortality a morose vampire named louis decides to tell a young reporter his story a tale that leaves a trail of blood and death through history from the 18th century creole country to modern day san francisco. Special features: subtitles in english french and spanish and much more. Studio: Warner Home Video Release Date: 11/11/2008 Starring: Tom Cruise Brad Pitt Run time: 123 minutes Rating: R Director: Neil Jordan

F. Gary Gray After a master thief loses his heist in a double-cross he & his team set out to re-steal the loot by creating the largest traffic jam in la history. Studio: Paramount Home Video Release Date: 05/23/2006 Starring: Mark Wahlberg Donald Sutherland Run time: 111 minutes Rating: Pg13 Director: F Gary Gray

Christopher Ashley From the witty whimsical mind of acclaimed writer Paul Rudnick (In & Out Addams Family Values) and celebrated stage director Christopher Ashley comes a hilarious star-studded boy-meets-boy romantic comedy! Steven Weber Patrick Stewart Michael T. Weiss Bryan Batt Oscar® nominee* Sigourney Weaver Golden Globe® nominee** Nathan Lane and Oscar® winner*** Olympia Dukakis star in this "warm and humorous exploration of all-too-human relationships" (Boxoffice) in the age of AIDS.Disenchanted with the not-so-romantic side of safe sex sweet single and obsessive Jeffrey (Weber) vows to become completely celibate! No sooner has he sworn off sex than he meets hunky sensitive Steve (Weiss). But just as passion starts to ignite Steve reveals some earth-shattering information leaving Jeffrey to choose between losing the man of his dreams or taking a risk on what just might be true love!*1988: Actress Gorillas in the Mist; 1988: Supporting Actress Working Girl; 1986: Actress Aliens**1996: Actor - Musical or Comedy The Birdcage***1987: Supporting Actress MoonstruckSystem Requirements:Running Time: 94 Min.Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: COMEDY Rating: R UPC: 027616878908 Manufacturer No: M101884

John Mayer On this limited edition DVD, fans of John Mayer get an inside view of this rising young star. Currently riding the success of his platinum album ROOM FOR SQUARES, John Mayer has watched his underground fan base become a national phenomenon, as he continues performing ro sold-out venues from coast-to-coast. This DVD is for collectors only as it only runs seven minutes.

John Mayer John Mayer: Inside The Square is a snapshot documentary into the mind of John Mayer, a young 21st century troubadour whose infectious melodies and skillfully crafted words have been winning him fans where ever he plays. This short documentary running 9:17, provides a unique glimpse into the shows of John Mayer where the viewer connects with the intimacy of his shows and the thrill of discovery of his fans

Greg Le Duc, Mick Jackson Steve Martin wrote this film as a meditation on both love and Los Angeles (and then-wife Victoria Tennant). He plays a L.A. TV weatherman who finds himself conflicted about what to do with his life, both professionally and personally. As he works his way through a couple of relationships (including a very funny one with a frisky Sarah Jessica Parker, who talks him into colonic therapy), he discovers a L.A. freeway sign that gives him romantic advice. It helps him realize what he knows intuitively: that the British woman he is attracted to (Tennant) is the one he should pursue. A big cast (and lots of cameos) have fun with this witty (if slight) material and director Mick Jackson adds visual pizzazz. —Marshall Fine

Jim Henson A fantasy feature film which weaves together music adventure and comedy. A story of a young girl who enters a world of her own creation and experiences her first awareness of love responsibility and danger. Special features: talent files subtitles: english and spanish and much more. Studio: Sony Pictures Home Ent Release Date: 03/27/2007 Starring: David Bowie Jennifer Connelly Run time: 106 minutes Rating: Pg

Stephen Norrington 20th Century League of Extraordinary Gentlemen (Blu-ray) A hunter, a scientist, a vampire, an invisible man, an immortal, a spy, a beastwhen a masked madman known as "The Fantom" threatens to launch global Armageddon, legendary adventurer Allan Quatermain (Sean Connery) commands a legion of superheroes, the likes of which mankind has never seen.

In just two days, Roger Corman directed this funny cult horror classic that chronicles a skid row flower shop assistant's dilemma with a demanding, vociferous carnivorous plant. (Features Jack Nicholson in his first screen role, as a masochistic dental patient!).

Michael Anderson, Ronald Saland If you can stifle the urge to laugh at its pastel unisex costumes and futuristic shopping-mall décor, this extravagant science fiction film from 1976 is still visually fascinating and provocatively entertaining. Set in the year 2274, when ecological disaster has driven civilization to the protection of domed cities, the story revolves around a society that holds a ceremonial death ritual for all citizens who reach the age of 30. In a diseaseless city where free sex is encouraged and old age is virtually unknown, Logan (Michael York) is a "sandman," one who enforces this radical method of population control (but he's about to turn 30 and he doesn't want to die). Escaping from the domed city via a network of underground passages, Logan is joined by another "runner" named Jessica (Jenny Agutter), while his former sandman partner (Richard Jordan) is determined to terminate Logan's rebellion. Using a variety of splendid matte paintings and miniatures, Logan's Run earned a special Oscar for visual effects (images of a long-abandoned Washington, D.C., are particularly impressive), and in addition to fine performances by Jordan and Peter Ustinov, the film features '70s poster babe Farrah Fawcett in a cheesy supporting role. Jerry Goldsmith's semi-electronic score is still one of the prolific composer's best, and Logan's Run remains an interesting example of '70s sci-fi that preceded Star Wars by less than a year. —Jeff Shannon

Peter Jackson This critically acclaimed epic trilogy follows the quest undertaken by the hobbit Frodo Baggins and his fellowship of companions to save Middle-earth by destroying the One Ring and defeating the evil forces of the Dark Lord Sauron. With new and extended scenes carefully added back into the film the 12-disc set also includes hours of bonus features.Running Time: 785 min.Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: SCI-FI/FANTASY UPC: 794043734724

Nicolas Roeg While other films directed by Nicolas Roeg have attained similar cult status (including Walkabout and Don't Look Now), none has been as hotly debated as this languid but oddly fascinating adaptation of the science fiction novel by Walter Tevis. David Bowie plays the alien of the title, who arrives on Earth with hopes of finding a way to save his own planet from turning into an arid wasteland. He funds this effort by capitalizing on several highly lucrative inventions, and in so doing becomes the powerful leader of an international corporate conglomerate. But his success has negative consequences as well—his contact with Earth has a disintegrating effect that sends him into a tailspin of disorientation and metaphysical despair. The sexual attention of a cheerful young woman (Candy Clark) doesn't do much to change his outlook, and his introduction to liquor proves even more devastating, until, finally, it looks as though his visit to Earth may be a permanent one. The Man Who Fell to Earth is definitely not for every taste—it—it's a highly contemplative, primarily visual experience that Roeg directs as an abstract treatise on (among other things) the alienating effects of an over-commercialized society. Stimulating and hypnotic or frightfully dull, depending on your receptiveness to its loosely knit ideas, it's at least in part about not belonging, about being disconnected from the world—about being a stranger in a strange land when there's really no place like home. —Jeff Shannon.

Men in Black follows the exploits of agents Kay (Jones) and Jay (Smith) members of a top-secret organization established to monitor alien activity on Earth. The two MiB find themselves in the middleof the deadly plot by an intergalactic terrorist (Vincent D'Onofrio) who has arrived on Earth to assassinate two ambassadors from opposing galaxies.

Its been four years since the alien-seeking agents averted an intergalactic disaster of epic proportions kay has since returned to the comforts of civilian life while jay continues to work for the men in black who face the toughest challenge yet the mibs untarnished mission statement. Studio: Sony Pictures Home Ent Release Date: 06/24/2008 Starring: Tommy Lee Jones Lara Flynn Boyle Run time: 88 minutes Rating: Pg13

Baz Luhrmann A dazzling and yet frequently maddening bid to bring the movie musical kicking and screaming into the 21st century, Baz Luhrmann's Moulin Rouge bears no relation to the many previous films set in the famous Parisian nightclub. This may appear to be Paris in the 1890s, with can-can dancers, bohemian denizens like Toulouse-Lautrec (John Leguizamo), and ribaldry at every turn, but it's really Luhrmann's pop-cultural wonderland. Everyone and everything is encouraged to shatter boundaries of time and texture, colliding and careening in a fast-cutting frenzy that thinks nothing of casting Elton John's "Your Song" 80 years before its time. Nothing is original in this kaleidoscopic, absinthe-inspired love tragedy—the words, the music, it's all been heard before. But when filtered through Luhrmann's love for pop songs and timeless showmanship, you're reminded of the cinema's power to renew itself while paying homage to its past.

Luhrmann's overall success with his third "red-curtain" extravaganza (following Strictly Ballroom and William Shakespeare's Romeo & Juliet) is wildly debatable: the scenario is simple to the point of silliness, and how can you appreciate choreography when it's been diced into hash by attention-deficit editing? Still, there's something genuine brewing between costars Ewan McGregor and Nicole Kidman (as, respectively, a poor writer and his unobtainable object of desire), and their vocal talents are impressive enough to match Luhrmann's orgy of extraordinary sets, costumes, and digital wizardry. The movie's novelty may wear thin, along with its shallow indulgence of a marketable soundtrack, but Luhrmann's inventiveness yields moments that border on ecstasy, when sound and vision point the way to a moribund genre's joyously welcomed revival. —Jeff Shannon

Lisa Kors The connection between National Geographic and The Lord of the Rings may seem tentative, but this illuminating TV special proves otherwise. While incorporating cast and crew interviews and film clips from director Peter Jackson's 2001 blockbuster The Fellowship of the Ring, this hourlong documentary transcends timely opportunism to explore the myriad inspirations for J.R.R. Tolkien's Middle-earth fantasy classic, beginning with the influence of Tolkien's idyllic childhood in rural England, which served as the model for Tolkien's threatened Hobbit paradise. Equally fascinating are the influence of Tolkien's experience in World War I, the "evil" of industrial development, and especially the influence of Anglo-Saxon poetry (notably Beowulf) and the mythology of the Finnish Kalevala, which formed the basis of Tolkien's elfish culture. Tolkien's passion for nature conservancy and cultural preservation is what ultimately serves the National Geographic agenda, but eloquent testimonials by archaeologists, anthropologists, and filmmakers make this a most agreeable hour of justified propaganda. —Jeff Shannon

Tim Blake Nelson O is odin james the schools star basketball player and future nba hopeful. Even though hes the only black student at the elite palmetto grove academy he has the adoration of all including the teams coach and the deans beautiful daughter desi. Studio: Lions Gate Home Ent. Release Date: 09/17/2002 Starring: Julia Stiles Mekhi Phifer Run time: 94 minutes Rating: R

Rob Reiner Studio: Tcfhe/mgm Release Date: 03/17/2009 Run time: 98 minutes Rating: Pg

Michael Rymer After years of slumber the legendary vampire has awakened and found acceptance in a tattooed pierced and black-clad world. Hes a rock star. And his awesome punk-chic sound has echoed around the globe and stirred to life the fearsome mother of all vampires. Studio: Warner Home Video Release Date: 04/03/2007 Starring: Aaliyah Marguerite Moreau Run time: 101 minutes Rating: R Director: Michael Rymer

Alex Chapple, Bruce McDonald, David Wellington, Jeremy Podeswa, John Fawcett Studio: Paramount Home Video Release Date: 08/23/2005 Run time: 1320 minutes

Alex Chapple, Bruce McDonald, David Wellington, Jeremy Podeswa, Chris Grismer Studio: Paramount Home Video Release Date: 09/19/2006

Five friends receive invitations to an underground sex party.However to qualify for attendance each invitee must submit revealing photos as there is a "screening process." As the party draws near issues of monogamy weight & appearance discrimination drug use and promiscuity arise. Friendships are tested and pushed to their boundaries personalities collide sexual histories are revealed and relationship survival is in question.Shot in Texarkana Texas "R U Invited?" takes on the subject of the camaraderie of friendship and the ability to survive off-the-wall challenges that at times come along in totally unexpected manners.System Requirements:Running Time; 85 minutesFormat: DVD MOVIE Genre: COMEDY/GAY & LESBIAN UPC: 631008067599 Manufacturer No: CQC675

Brad Bird Studio: Buena Vista Home Video Release Date: 11/06/2007 Run time: 111 minutes Rating: G

Ed Bye Studio: Warner Home Video Release Date: 05/02/2006 Run time: 165 minutes Rating: Nr

Ed Bye, Paul Jackson Studio: Warner Home Video Release Date: 05/02/2006 Run time: 165 minutes

Ed Wooden, Ed Bye Studio: Warner Home Video Release Date: 05/02/2006 Run time: 176 minutes Rating: Nr

Ed Wooden, Ed Bye The second series of Red Dwarf was, as Danny John-Jules says in the accompanying DVD commentary, "the one where it really went good." First broadcast in the autumn of 1988, these six episodes showcase Rob Grant and Doug Naylor's sardonic, sarcastic humor to perfection. The cast had gelled and the occasionally erratic tone of the first series—which was made a little too much in the shadow of Dark Star and The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy—is replaced by a confident assurance that the show's mix of sci-fi in-jokes and gags about bodily functions really does work. There's more color this year, too, as the drab sets are spiced up, a little more money has been assigned to models and special effects, and the crew even goes on location once in a while.

"Kryten" introduces us to the eponymous house robot (here played by David Ross), although after this first episode he was not to reappear until series 3, when Robert Llewellyn made the role his own. Then in "Better Than Life" the show produced one of its all-time classic episodes, as the boys from the Dwarf take part in a virtual reality game that's ruined by Rimmer's tortured psyche. Other highlights include "Queeg," in which Holly is replaced by a domineering computer personality; the baffling time-travel paradox of "Stasis Leak"; the puzzling conundrum of "Thanks for the Memory"; and the astonishingly feminine "Parallel Universe." —Mark Walker

Joe Johnston Campbell is perfect as a devil-may-care pilot when he discovers a top-secret jetpack that hurls him into the ultimate adventure. Studio: Buena Vista Home Video Release Date: 09/03/2002 Starring: Bill Campbell Jennifer Connelly Rating: Pg

John Madden One of the most endearing and intelligent romantic comedies of the '90s, the Oscar-winning Shakespeare in Love is filled with such good will, sunny romance, snappy one-liners, and devilish cleverness that it's absolutely irresistible. With tongue placed firmly in cheek, at its outset the film tracks young Will Shakespeare's overwrought battle with writer's block and the efforts of theater owner Philip Henslowe (Geoffrey Rush, in rare form) to stage Will's latest comedy, Romeo and Ethel, the Pirate's Daughter. Jokey comedy, though, soon takes a backseat to ravishing romance when the beautiful Viola De Lesseps (Gwyneth Paltrow) disguises herself as a young man to wangle herself an audition in the all-male cast, and wins both the part of Romeo and, after much misunderstanding, the playwright's heart. Soon enough, Will's pirate comedy becomes the beautiful, tragic Romeo and Juliet, reflecting the agony and ecstasy of Will and Viola's romance—he—he's married and she's set to marry the slimy Lord Wessex (Colin Firth) in the near future.

The way that Oscar-winning screenwriters Marc Norman and Tom Stoppard enfold their story within the parameters of Romeo and Juliet (and even Twelfth Night) is nothing short of brilliant—it would take a Shakespearean scholar to dissect the innumerable parallels, oft-quoted lines, plot developments, and thematic borrowings. And most amazingly, Norman and Stoppard haven't forgotten to entertain their audience in addition to riding a Shakespearean roller coaster, with director John Madden (Mrs. Brown) reigning in his huge ensemble with rollicking energy. Along the way there are small gems to be found, including Judi Dench's eight-minute, Oscar-winning turn as a truly regal Queen Elizabeth, but the key element of Shakespeare in Love's success rests on the milky-white shoulders of its two stars. Fiennes, inexplicably overlooked at Oscar time, is a dashing, heartfelt Will, and as for Best Actress winner Paltrow, well, nothing she'd done before could have prepared viewers for how amazing she is here. Breathtakingly beautiful, fiercely intelligent, strong-willed, and lovestruck—it—it's a performance worthy of Shakespeare in more ways than one. By the film's end, you'll be thoroughly won over—and brushing up your Shakespeare with newfound ardor. —Mark Englehart

John Cameron Mitchell Follows the lives of several individuals and couples as the struggle with various sexual issues.
Genre: Feature Film-Drama
Rating: UN
Release Date: 13-MAR-2007
Media Type: DVD

Andrew Adamson, Vicky Jenson Studio: Paramount Home Video Release Date: 05/21/2002 Run time: 93 minutes Rating: Pg

Willis, Bruce, M. Night Shyamalan Malcolm crowe is a dedicated child psychologist who faces his greatest challenge when he meets a young boy who lives in a world populated by ghosts. Paralyzed by fear the boy claims to be tormented by ghosts who demand his help from their otherworldly pain. Crowe may be the boys only hope. Studio: Buena Vista Home Video Release Date: 06/06/2006 Starring: Bruce Willis Olivia Williams Run time: 107 minutes Rating: Pg13

Andy Wachowski, Larry Wachowski Studio: Warner Home Video Release Date: 09/16/2008 Rating: Pg

Hiroshi Sasagawa The world's favorite high-octane animated hero is back!Roaring into action aboard his trusty Mach-5 it's the intrepid young race car driver who sparked an international cult phenomenon: the one-and-only Speed Racer!Now for the first time ever the first eleven episodes of this classic hugely popular "Japanimation" series are brought together in this special limited edition DVD. Turbo-charged with all of Speed Racer's trademark animated thrills offbeat humor unforgettable characters and cliff-hanger action these collectible specially rematsered episodes are the stuff of every fan's dreams.So fasten your seatbelts-and join Speed girlfriend Trixie Speed's two brothers one mischievous monkey and an outrageous assortment of villains for one fast-lane no-brakes nonstop adventure after another! Ready...Set...Go Speed Racer Go!Includes: The Great Plan Part 1 The Great Plan Part 2Challenge of theiMasked Racer Part 1Challenge of theiMasked Racer Part 2The Secret Engine Part 1The Secret Engine Part 2The Race Against theiMammoth Car Part 1The Race Against theiMammoth Car Part 2The Most Dangerous Race Part 1The Most Dangerous Race Part 2The Most Dangerous Race Part 3System Requirements:Running Time: 120 Minutes. Copyright 2003 Artisan Entertainment.Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: TELEVISION/SERIES & SEQUELS Rating: NR UPC: 012236116509 Manufacturer No: 14591

Hiroshi Sasagawa Studio: Lions Gate Home Ent. Release Date: 02/28/2005 Run time: 300 minutes Rating: Ur

Hiroshi Sasagawa Thirteen episodes from the Original TV Series never before released on DVD. Speed Racer wants you to GO, GO, GO on thirteen high-octane adventures! Jump into the Mach-5 with Speed's gang, Trixie, Sparky, Spritle and Chim Chim, as they battle assassins, monsters and the infamous Racer X. For the first time on DVD, these original episodes put you in the driver's seat! Enjoy episodes 24 - 36 (Royal Racer, Car Hater, Race Against Time, Snake Track, Man on the Lam, Gang of Assassins, Race for Life, Supersonic Car, and Crash in the Jungle).

Ridley Scott Thelma & Louise is a feminist manifesto writ large on the big screen, a smart and funny gender reversal of the standard Hollywood buddy formula, a road movie extraordinaire, with characters who became instant cultural icons. No matter how you define it, Ridley Scott's 1991 box-office hit pinched a nerve and made the cover of national news magazines for tweaking gender politics like no movie before or since. Callie Khouri's screenplay overhauls the buddy formula with its story about two best friends (Susan Sarandon and Geena Davis) who embark on a liberating adventure that turns into an interstate police chase after a traumatic incident makes both women into fugitives; they are en route to a destiny they could never have imagined. The perfect casting of Sarandon and Davis makes Thelma & Louise a movie for the ages, and Brad Pitt became an overnight star after his appearance as the con-artist cowboy who gives Davis a memorable (but costly) night in a roadside motel. —Jeff Shannon

Toy Story
There is greatness in film that can be discussed, dissected, and talked about late into the night. Then there is genius that is right in front of our faces—we smile at the spell it puts us into and are refreshed, and nary a word needs to be spoken. This kind of entertainment is what they used to call "movie magic," and there is loads of it in this irresistible computer animation feature. Just a picture of these bright toys on the cover of Toy Story looks intriguing, reawakening the kid in us. Filmmaker John Lasseter's shorts (namely Knickknack and Tin Toy, which can be found on the Pixar video Tiny Toy Stories) illustrate not only a technical brilliance but also a great sense of humor—one in which the pun is always intended. Lasseter thinks of himself as a storyteller first and an animator second, much like another film innovator, Walt Disney.

Lasseter's story is universal and magical: what do toys do when they're not played with? Cowboy Woody (voiced by Tom Hanks), Andy's favorite bedroom toy, tries to calm the other toys (some original, some classic) during a wrenching time of year—the birthday party, when newer toys may replace them. Sure enough, Space Ranger Buzz Lightyear (Tim Allen) is the new toy that takes over the throne. Buzz has a crucial flaw, though—he believes he's the real Buzz Lightyear, not a toy. Bright and cheerful, Toy Story is much more than a 90-minute commercial for the inevitable bonanza of Woody and Buzz toys. Lasseter further scores with perfect voice casting, including Don Rickles as Mr. Potato Head and Wallace Shawn as a meek dinosaur. The director-animator won a special Oscar for "the development and inspired application of techniques that have made possible the first feature-length computer-animated film." In other words, the movie is great. —Doug Thomas

Toy Story 2
John Lasseter and his gang of high-tech creators at Pixar create another entertainment for the ages. Like the few great movie sequels, Toy Story 2 comments on why the first one was so wonderful while finding a fresh angle worthy of a new film. The craze of toy collecting becomes the focus here, as we find out Woody (voiced by Tom Hanks) is not only a beloved toy to Andy but also a rare doll from a popular '60s children's show. When a greedy collector takes Woody, Buzz Lightyear (Tim Allen) launches a rescue mission with Andy's other toys. To say more would be a crime because this is one of the most creative and smile-inducing films since, well, the first Toy Story.

Although the toys look the same as in the 1994 feature, Pixar shows how much technology has advanced: the human characters look more human, backgrounds are superior, and two action sequences that book-end the film are dazzling. And it's a hoot for kids and adults. The film is packed with spoofs, easily accessible in-jokes, and inspired voice casting (with newcomer Joan Cusack especially a delight as Cowgirl Jessie). But as the Pixar canon of films illustrates, the filmmakers are storytellers first. Woody's heart-tugging predicament can easily be translated into the eternal debate of living a good life versus living forever. Toy Story 2 also achieved something in the U.S. two other outstanding 1999 animated features (The Iron Giant, Princess Mononoke) could not: it became a huge box-office hit. —Doug Thomas

Barry Levinson There are two reasons to see Toys: some phenomenal visual spectacle and the utterly adorable performance of Joan Cusack. The story: When the founder of the Zevo toy factory dies, he leaves it to his militaristic brother Leland (Michael Gambon) instead of to his whimsical son Leslie (Robin Williams). When Leland starts making war toys (and worse, actual weapons masquerading as toys), Leslie is forced to stop being capricious and take on some authority. Toys is supposedly about innocence and peace, but really it's director Barry Levinson's cry of anxiety about modern-day playthings, particularly video games—which is almost psychic of him, given how video games have started to devour the entertainment market. Fans of Williams will enjoy his performance; the visual design really is gorgeous; and Cusack, as Leslie's sister Alsatia, is so lovely she almost carries the film through its muddled themes. Almost. —Bret Fetzer

Michael Bay Studio: Paramount Home Video Release Date: 09/02/2008 Run time: 143 minutes Rating: Pg13

Nelson Shin During the 1980s, one cartoon series ruled the airwaves... The Transformers. This paragon of consumerism was created with a dual purpose—to entertain and to galvanize children to buy the toys. Somewhere along the line, the show became a cult favorite, so in 1986 they fashioned an epic tale of good versus evil specifically for the big screen. The result looked vaguely like an animated remake of Star Wars. Who are the Transformers? The good guys are the Autobots: Optimus Prime, SoundWave, Jazz, Ultra Magnus, and many more. Their mortal enemies are the evil Decepticons, led by Megatron and StarScream. The Autobots must save their home planet from an evil entity known as Unicron (voiced by Orson Welles). At the same time, they must defend themselves from an all-out attack from the Decepticons. Along the way, lives are lost, battles are fought, and a new Autobot leader is born as another dies. The story and action never stop in a thrilling ride that often makes you forget that you're watching an '80s cartoon with inferior graphics. The violence will also come as a mild shock to those who haven't seen this film for a while—definitely a movie for the 8 and over audience. For those who grew up on this series, this is a movie that must be watched. Unlike cartoon serials before and after, The Transformers relied on solid stories and interesting characters, a manifesto the film itself upholds with gusto and grace while also being morally responsible. Don't underestimate this movie; there is definitely more to it than meets the eye. —Jeremy Storey

Andy Jones, Andy Wachowski, Josh Oreck, Kôji Morimoto, Larry Wachowski Studio: Warner Home Video Release Date: 11/01/2005

Andrew Stanton Disney WALL-E (Blu-ray) Even for Pixar, this might be a first: an animated film that contains not only afully realized world as photorealistic as it is full of wonder, but also the Gargantuan themes and visuals of 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY, the stripped-down sad-clown pathos found in classic Buster Keaton comedies, and one of the most moving and simply unique love stories in a long time. Director Andrew Stanton kicked up the visual acuity of an already-stellar Pixar Animation Studios in 2003 with a reflective, refractive, color-shimmery realization ofthe oceanic world of FINDING NEMO, which genuinely felt as though it spanned the entire earth. WithWALL-E, Stanton replaces an apprehensively fishy estranged journeyer with a love-struck and curiousrobotic one, allowing the quest for eternal love to expand from a desolate, dust-covered, palpably polluted future Earth and into an even more mysterious abyss: the far reaches of outer space.

Ridley Scott It's a pity this oceangoing adventure wasn't fully appreciated during its theatrical release in 1996, if only because its climactic storm sequence (hence the movie's title) was awesome on the big screen and inevitably less impressive on video. Mixed reviews also curtailed its box-office potential, but as you might expect from Ridley Scott—the director of Blade Runner and Thelma & Louise—this is a beautifully photographed movie that will thrill anyone who is drawn to the romance and danger of the open sea. The story is a rite-of-passage adventure for a group of high school boys who spend their senior year as the crew-in-training on the Albatross, a sailing vessel skippered by an experienced sailor and schoolmaster (Jeff Bridges) who teaches hard lessons of teamwork and individual responsibility. As they sail to the tip of South America and back, the young men face many challenges that will shape their character, in addition to the carnal pleasures of shore leave in exotic ports of call. It's a traditional story, and Scott doesn't bring anything particularly new to this sailboat variation of Dead Poets Society and Scent of a Woman. But as a coming-of-age drama White Squall is professionally crafted and filled with vital energy, featuring a talented cast of newcomers (led by Scott Wolf of TV's Party of Five) who rise to the demands of this rousing and life-changing adventure. —Jeff Shannon

Mel Stuart Having proven itself as a favorite film of children around the world, Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory is every bit as entertaining now as it was when originally released in 1971. There's a timeless appeal to Roald Dahl's classic children's novel, which was playfully preserved in this charming musical, from the colorful carnival-like splendor of its production design to the infectious melody of the "Oompah-Loompah" songs that punctuate the story. Who can forget those diminutive Oompah-Loompah workers who recite rhyming parental warnings ("Oompah-Loompah, doopity do...") whenever some mischievous child has disobeyed Willy Wonka's orders to remain orderly? Oh, but we're getting ahead of ourselves ... it's really the story of the impoverished Charlie Bucket, who, along with four other kids and their parental guests, wins a coveted golden ticket to enter the fantastic realm of Wonka's mysterious confectionery. After the other kids have proven themselves to be irresponsible brats, it's Charlie who impresses Wonka and wins a reward beyond his wildest dreams. But before that, the tour of Wonka's factory provides a dazzling parade of delights, and with Gene Wilder giving a brilliant performance as the eccentric candyman, Wonka gains an edge of menace and madness that nicely counterbalances the movie's sentimental sweetness. It's that willingness to risk a darker tone—to show that even a wonderland like Wonka's can be a weird and dangerous place if you're a bad kid—that makes this an enduring family classic. —Jeff Shannon

Blanche Sewell, Victor Fleming, Mervyn LeRoy, Richard Thorpe, King Vidor When it was released during Hollywood's golden year of 1939, The Wizard of Oz didn't start out as the perennial classic it has since become. The film did respectable business, but it wasn't until its debut on television that this family favorite saw its popularity soar. And while Oz's TV broadcasts are now controlled by media mogul Ted Turner (who owns the rights), the advent of home video has made this lively musical a mainstay in the staple diet of great American films. Young Dorothy Gale (Judy Garland), her dog, Toto, and her three companions on the Yellow Brick Road to Oz—the Tin Man (Jack Haley), the Cowardly Lion (Bert Lahr), and the Scarecrow (Ray Bolger)—have become pop-culture icons and central figures in the legacy of fantasy for children. As the Wicked Witch who covets Dorothy's enchanted ruby slippers, Margaret Hamilton has had the singular honor of scaring the wits out of children for more than six decades. The film's still as fresh, frightening, and funny as it was when first released. It may take some liberal detours from the original story by L. Frank Baum, but it's loyal to the Baum legacy while charting its own course as a spectacular film. Shot in glorious Technicolor, befitting its dynamic production design (Munchkinland alone is a psychedelic explosion of color and décor), The Wizard of Oz may not appeal to every taste as the years go by, but it's required viewing for kids of all ages. —Jeff Shannon

X2 does a fine job of picking up where X-Men left off, giving fans more of what they liked the first time around. Under the serious-minded custody of returning director Bryan Singer, the second film of this Marvel comics franchise ups the ante on Professor Xavier (Patrick Stewart) and the superhero mutants from the first film, pitting them against a mutant-hating scientist (Brian Cox) who's determined to wipe out the mutant race by tricking Xavier into abusing his telepathic powers. More a series of spectacles than a truly satisfying thriller, X2 introduces new mutant allies while giving each of the X-Men alumni—notably the temporarily helpful Magneto (Ian McKellen)—their own time in the spotlight. Well aware of the parallels between "mutantism" and virulent intolerance in the real world, Singer lends real gravity to the proceedings, injecting dramatic urgency into a continuing franchise that, in lesser hands, might've grown patently absurd. —Jeff Shannon