Shrek 2 ***
Cast (voices): Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy, Cameron Diaz, Julie Andrews, Antonio Banderas, John Cleese, Rupert Everett, Jennifer Saunders
Directors: Andrew Adamson, Kelly Asbury, Conrad Vernon

Newlyweds Shrek (Myers) and Fiona (Diaz) are summoned to meet Fiona's parents (Cleese and Andrews) in the kingdom of Far, Far Away. This causes some unease in Shrek, who worries about what they will think of him and their now-ogre daughter. Compounding the problems is Prince Charming (Everett), who wants Fiona as his wife. Back are the voices from the previous movie, with a few extra stars added to the mix. The most noticeable new addition is Puss in Boots, voiced by Antonio Banderas. He is a Zorro-like assassin sent by Charming's mother to do away with Shrek, but eventually comes over to the good side. And he is just so adorable with his big eyes.

"Shrek 2" is about as good as its predecessor. The writer find a way to continue a story that was really complete in one movie, and it doesn't feel unnecessary. Kids and adults will find humor and enjoyment in the misadventures of Shrek and his gang. This is much better than Disney's "Home on the Range" and a good destination for a family night out.

Here are some very cool and new "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban" movie posters:

Everything Will Change

Character Will Be Tested

Darkness Will Descend

Mysteries Will Unfold

Secrets Will Be Revealed

Godsend **
Cast: Greg Kinnear, Rebecca Romijn-Stamos, Robert De Niro, Cameron Bright
Director: Nick Hamm

When the Duncan's son is killed in a car accident, Paul (Kinnear) and Jessie (Romijn-Stamos) are approached by Dr. Richard Wells (DeNiro). It seems that he has perfected the ability to clone someone by using just a single cell. He is interested in doing that for the Duncans, giving them a second chance with a genetically identical child. After some initial unease, the Duncans agree, and Adam #2 is born nine months later. The first eight years are great, with both Paul and Jessie feeling like they did the right thing to get that second chance. But, when Adam reaches the age the he had originally died at, he begins having night terrors and acting strangely.

At first glance, "Godsend" seems like it will be a movie that looks at the issue of cloning, but in the end, the movie side-steps the issue all together, opting for essentially what is an "outside" explanation. And that is disappointing, to say the least.

Troy **1/2
Cast: Brad Pitt, Eric Bana, Orlando Bloom, Diane Kruger, Sean Bean, Peter O'Toole, Brendan Gleeson, Brian Cox, Julie Christie, Saffron Burrows, Julian Glover, Rose Byrne
Director: Wolfgang Petersen

Homer's "The Illiad" comes to life in this epic reenactment of the fall of Troy. Banished are the Greek gods, who are referred to a lot, but never seen. And that is probably for the best, although that is probably the most noticeable change from the source material.

Hector (Bana) and Paris (Bloom) from Troy are on a peaceful mission to Sparta, when Paris falls for the beautiful Helen (Kruger). Paris takes her back to Troy, enraging her husband Menelaus. Menelaus enlists the help of his brother, King Agamemnon (Cox), and his army to retrieve her. Agamemnon sees this as a opportunity to increase his empire, and is more than willing to help, summoning his prized warrior Achilles (Pitt). Achilles, we find out, will fight for Agamemnon, but only when it suits him.

The battle scenes are grand in detail and the special effects mesh seamlessly with the live actors, and one has come to expect in movies these days. The problem lies more in the characters. With the exception of Hector, the characters seem rather flat and unlikeable. One could argue that Hector is the most noble character in the whole movie, and that is something that really gets him nowhere in the end. All in all, "Troy" is enjoyable, but not as good as it could have been.

Home on the Range **1/2
Cast: Roseanne Barr, Judi Dench, Jennifer Tilly, Cuba Gooding Jr., Randy Quaid, Charles Dennis, Steve Buscemi
Directors: Will Finn, John Sanford

"Home on the Range" may be the last hand-drawn Disney feature for the foreseeable future. Disney is going the way of computer animation and forsaking the old ways. That being said, "Home on the Range" represents Disney's animated films going out with a whimper. Well not a bad movie, it is not a great one either. It falls somewhere in the "who cares?" range, and will probably be easily forgotten.

The Patch of Heaven ranch is facing foreclosing, and the owner will not sell her cows because they are like family. The cows get the bright idea to track down Alameda Slim, a wanted outlaw, and collect the reward that just so happens to match the amount needed for the ranch.

The voices are middle of the road too. Roseanne Barr voices the main cow, and she is just as obnoxious sounding as ever. Judi Dench gives us a British sounding cow, and Randy Quaid voices the bad guy. The songs are average as well.

In the end, kids will probably enjoy it, but it may wear on adults patience. Some adult humor is sprinkled in (giving the film a PG rating), but it actually seems out of place. The best bet on this one would be to wait until it comes out on video.

Mean Girls ***
Cast: Lindsay Lohan, Tina Fey, Lizzy Caplan, Rachel McAdams, Lacey Chabert, Daniel Franzese, Tim Meadows, Jonathan Bennett, Amanda Seyfried
Director: Mark S. Waters

Cady Heron (Lohan) has traveled all around the world and has been home schooled for most of her life by her parents. But, when her parents finally settle down, she is introduced to the harsh world of high school. Janis and Damian, two of the less cool kids, befriend her and teach her the ways of the school and explain the various groupings of students. One group, the "plastics" is the prettiest, most popular, and bitchiest in the whole school. When Cady gets invited into this group, she decides to bring them down from within, with the help of Janis and Damian. And while most of their schemes backfire, the plastics eventually suck Cady in and make her truly one of them.

Although not based on a "Saturday Night Live" skit, this movie is swarming with SNL players. Lorne Michaels produced it and Tina Fey wrote and stars in it as Cady's math teacher. And unlike most SNL movies, this one is actually quite good and funny. My one complaint is that instead of having a bit more edgy ending, they opt to take a more "happy" route. I think that this movie will appeal most to teens, who will definitely be able to relate to the high school atmosphere in the movie, but adults can enjoy it as well. In fact, they might even come to understand their kids a bit more, for good or for bad.

Spider-Man 2 posters

Here are some fairly new movie posters for the new Spider-Man movie that comes out at the end of June. They are all very cool, but it think "Destiny" is my favorite. Check them out!

Sacrifice

Choice

Destiny

Van Helsing ***
Cast: Hugh Jackman, Kate Beckinsale, Richard Roxburgh, David Wenham, Shuler Hensley, Elena Anaya, Will Kemp, Kevin J. O'Connor
Director: Stephen Sommers

With the Success of "The Mummy" and "The Mummy Returns", it was no surprise that Universal Pictures gave writer/director Stephen Sommers the green light to use the big three: Dracula, the Wolfman, and Frankenstein's monster, in a big budget action/horror movie. And while "Van Helsing" is more action and less horror, it is still an entertaining ride.

Van Helsing (Jackman) is a monster hunter that secretly works for a religious organization that polices the supernatural. He is sent to Transylvania to stop Count Dracula (Roxburgh). Dracula is searching for Frankenstein's monster, because he holds the key to bringing Dracula's evil spawn to life. Aided by a local vampire hunter by the name of Anna (Beckinsale), they venture forth to stop the evil blood sucker.

"Van Helsing" is a very loud movie that is relentless in its action. There is very little down time for the viewer to catch his breath. While that would be good in a shorter movie, at 135 minutes it is a bit tiring. The special effects are on par with the Mummy movies, that is to say, good but not great, and that suits the tone of the movie just fine. "Van Helsing" is a great start to the summer blockbuster season.

13 Going on 30 ***
Cast: Jennifer Garner, Mark Ruffalo, Christa B. Allen, Jack Salvatore Jr., Kathy Baker, Phil Reeves, Judy Greer
Director: Gary Winick

In 1987, after a disasterous thirteenth birthday party, Jenna Rink wishes she could just be 30 years old and skip the next seventeen years. A sprinkle of pixie dust gives her that wish, and when she awakens, she quickly finds out that her with has come true. The year is 2004, and Jenna (Garner) is an editor for Poise magazine and best friends with Lucy (Greer), the popular girl from her teenage years. In a panic, she seeks out her childhood best friend Matt (Ruffalo). Unfortunately for her, their friendship ended badly years ago. Reluctantly, he agrees to help her, and Jenna soon discovers feelings for him that she never had before.

Yes, we have seen this movie before. Big, anyone? But what this movie has that really makes it enjoyable is Jennifer Garner. She imbues thirty year old Jenna with the spirit of a thirteen year old. Her channelling of her inner child is what really makes this movie work. Also, the movie doesn't take itself too seriously. After all, the "time travel" is accomplished with pixie dust. This is a sweet and funny movie that shows Jennifer Garner can do comedy as well as action.

The Punisher ***
Cast: Thomas Jane, John Travolta, Will Patton, Laura Harring, Rebecca Romijn-Stamos, Ben Foster, John Pinette, Samantha Mathis, Roy Scheider
Director: Jonathan Hensleigh

Federal agent Frank Castle's (Jane) last mission before retirement goes wrong, and the son of local mob boss Howard Saint (Travolta) is killed. Saint is not above revenge, and on the advice of his wife, targets Castle's entire family. The massacre at a family reunion leaves everyone dead, or at least presumed dead. The sole survivor, of course, is Castle, who embarks on a quest to deliver punishment to Saint and his lackeys. Yet another movie that is based on a comic book, The Punisher manages to be depressing and horrifying in parts, and humorous in others. The lighter moments make the heavier ones easier to take and provide some relief. Thomas Jane, a relatively new face in movies, does an excellent job as a man bent on revenge...make that punishment.

Kill Bill: Volume 2 ***
Cast: Uma Thurman, Daryl Hannah, Michael Madsen, David Carradine, Lucy Liu, Vivica A. Fox, Gordon Liu (Pai Mei)
Director: Quentin Tarantino

The Bride (Thurnman) is back, and set to continue her revenge streak in Volume 2. Her targets: Elle (Hannah), Budd (Madsen), and of course, Bill (Carradine). Along the way, we get flashbacks of her training and the wedding massacre that would set her on her course of revenge. This is a better movie than Volume 1, focusing more on characters than action. Volume 2 is also a (marginally) better film than Volume 1. It can stand on its own, and feels more like a Tarantino film, despite being essentially a love story. To me, David Carradine was the scene stealer as the titular Bill. Whereas in Volume 1, he was a mysterious figure, he is probably the most developed character in Volume 2. Tarantino has made two interesting films that really could have been shortened down into one that might have been better than the sum of its parts.

Walking Tall ***
Cast: The Rock, Neal McDonough, Johnny Knoxville, John Beasley, Barbara Tarbuck, Kristen Wilson, Khleo Thomas, Ashley Scott, Michael Bowen
Director: Kevin Bray

Special Ops veteran Chris Vaughn (The Rock) returns home with hopes of working at the local sawmill, but soon discovers that his hometown has changed quite a bit in his absence. The sawmill has closed, and the main business in town is a casino that is run by his old friend Jay Hamilton (McDonough). They quickly become enemies, with Hamilton's casino being trashed, and Vaughn being beaten and left for dead. Vaughn is able to clear himself and then runs for sheriff. His victory over the old sheriff all but ensures another showdown with Hamilton.

"Inspired" by a true story, Walking Tall is a remake of a movie of the same name that fictionalizes the true story more than the original did. This is a movie that really did not need to be made, but The Rock once again steps up and salvages some enjoyment out of it. He has the charisma and presence to be the next big action star. He is really the only reason to see this movie, and one can easilly see this as another stepping stone in the movie career of The Rock.

The Ladykillers ***1/2
Cast: Tom Hanks, Irma P. Hall, Marlon Wayans, J.K. Simmons, Tzi Ma, Ryan Hurst, Diane Delano
Director: Joel Coen & Ethan Coen

Professor G. H. Dorr (Hanks) arrives in the southern town of Saucier with the intent of robbing a riverboat casino. He makes arrangements to stay with a elderly widow named Marva Munson (Hall), whose house just happens to be close to the casino's vault. Under the guise of practicing their music, his "band" members begin holding practice sessions in the basement. Little does Marva know, they are tunnelling their way to a fortune. The characters alone are pure Coen brothers, each imbued with their own wacky traits. And everything seems to be going well for the team of crooks, but the best laid plains often go awry. This is one of the Coen brothers' funnier efforts, even though it is a remake of a 1955 British film. The are able to make it their own with the character s and the execution. I would highly recommend this movie.

Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed **

Cast: Freddie Prinze Jr., Sarah Michelle Gellar, Matthew Lillard, Linda Cardellini, Seth Green, Peter Boyle, Alicia Silverstone
Director: Raja Gosnell

When real monsters start coming to life and terrorizing Coolsville, the Scooby gang must come to the rescue and stop the madman behind the scheme. The mastermind behind this terror is also tarnishing the gang's image as well, making them doubt themselves. All of this in a movie that probably did not need to be made, but was inevitable after the success of the original. The whole cast returns for this sequel, but this series is starting to feel tired already. True, younger audiences will probably enjoy it, but unless adults are big Scooby-Doo fans, there will be some disappointment. If you want to see it, wait for DVD.

Taking Lives ***

Cast: Angelina Jolie, Ethan Hawke, Kiefer Sutherland, Gena Rowlands, Olivier Martinez, Tchéky Karyo, Jean-Hughes Anglade
Director: D. J. Caruso

On special assignment, Special Agent Scott (Jolie) heads to Montreal to help an old friend, who happens to be a police captain, catch a serial killer. Her arrival produces mixed feelings within the department, but she is able to immediately get results. Murder witness James Costa (Hawke) is able to provide her with a picture of the murderer, Martin Asher (Sutherland), a man thought dead for 20 years. Asher's mother has also claimed to see her son in Montreal. And then, the hunt is on. The "twist" near the end of the movie wasn't overly surprising (I had guessed it early on), but that doesn't take away from the movie's effectiveness as a thriller/murder mystery. What does detract from the movie is the tacked on "happy ending" of sorts that was probably only added to provide clusure. There was a shocking scene in these final minutes that drew gasps from the audience though. In the end, this is a good movie that could have been a lot better without the added on ending. Credible performances all around, although some of the actors do not get as much screen time as one might expect.

Hellboy ***

Cast: Ron Perlman, Selma Blair, Jeffrey Tambor, Karel Roden, Rupert Evans, John Hurt, Doug Jones, David Hyde Pierce (voice)
Director: Guillermo del Toro

The latest comic book adaptation to hit theaters is Hellboy, a non-conventional super hero played with gusto by the great Ron Pearlman, best known for his role as Beast in the Beauty and the Beast TV show. This time he is the headliner, thanks to del Toro who only wanted him.

Hellboy came to this world as a result of a Nazi plan that was thwarted by the Allies. Raised by American scientist Professor Bruttenholm (Hurt), Hellboy grows up as an agent of the FBI's Bureau of Paranormal Research and Defense, bumping back against the things that go bump in the night. When the bad guys return to bring evil gods to Earth and start armageddon, Hellboy and his band of "freaks" jump into action.

Filled with action, humor, and special effects, Hellboy is an entertaining experience, even for those who never heard of him before (like me). Great excapist entertainment.

Dawn of the Dead ***1/2

Cast: Sarah Polley, Ving Rhames, Jake Weber, Mekhi Phifer, Ty Burrell, Michael Kelly, Kevin Zegers, Lindy Booth
Director: Zack Snyder

"When there's no more room in hell, the dead will walk the earth." And that is just the problem facing a handful of the living in the remake of this horror classic. They take refuge in a mall, and baracade themselves in as the world around them becomes more and more zombie-filled. I have not seen the original, so I cannot offer an opion as to which is better, but I do know that I never expected to enjoy a zombie movie as much as I did with this one. The fast moving (and hungry) undead are exceptionally creepy as they strive for just a bite of the survivors. And that is all it takes to set about changing someone from a happy-go-lucky human to flesh-eating zombie. The bigger the bite, the quicker the change. Soon the survivors, led by Ana (Polley) and Kenneth (Rhames), decide they need to make a break for a (hopefully) uninhabited island in the lake. Will they make it? I'm not saying, but be sure to stay through the closing credits where the real end of the story takes place. Filled with horror, action, and even humor, "Dawn of the Dead" is a great escape for those craving a horror-fix.

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind ***

Cast: Jim Carrey, Kate Winslet, Kirsten Dunst, Tom Wilkinson, Elijah Wood, Mark Ruffalo
Director: Michel Gondry

When introverted Joel (Carrey) meets extroverted Clementine (Winslet), sparks fly and romance blooms quickly. But their differences eventually divide them and the relationship ends abruptly in an explosion of meanness. Clementine decides to have Joel removed from her memory, and seeks the assistance of Dr. Mierzqwiak (Wilkinson) and his less than professional assistants (Wood and Ruffalo). When Joel discovers this, he decides to follow suit and remove Clementine from his mind. But Joel's memory is a tangled place, and soon he discovers that he does not want to lose the memories that he has. What follows is a foreword and backward journey through Joel's mind as he tries to hide his memories of Clementine from the "erasers". As usual, screenwriter Charlie Kaufman has produced an offbeat movie. Those looking for a typical Jim Carrey movie will be sorely disappointed. If you are looking for an off the wall romance in which almost anything can happen (after all, a good portion of the movie takes place in Joel's head), you will walk away with a smile on your face and the realization that all memories are a part of who we are and should never be forgotten.

Spartan ***

Cast: Val Kilmer, Derek Luke, Tia Texada, William H. Macy, Ed O'Neill, Kristen Bell
Director: David Mamet

Marine operative Scott (Kilmer) is selected to help find the kidnapped daughter of a politician. He is given 48 hours to do this before the media gets wind of the story and runs with it. Aided by Curtis (Luke), he dives into an investigation that takes new twists and turns with each new bit of data they recover. It seems that the reason for the kidnapping might not be what everyone thinks, but that doesn't mean the the girl is not in danger. And as he draws closer to finding her, other forces begin to work against him to actively prevent him from succeeding. Director David Mamet has constructed an interesting tale with motivations that are sadly believeable in today's age. Spartan is an interesting film that is not afraid to slam the politics of today's world.

Secret Window ***1/2

Cast: Johnny Depp, John Turturro, Maria Bello, Timothy Hutton, Charles S. Dutton
Director: David Koepp

Author Mort Rainey (Depp) is on the brink of a divorce and living a deeply depressed life in his cabin in the woods, trading everyday interaction with people for a comfy sleeping spot on his sofa. Every once and a while he might even write something. One day, his life is disrupted by the appearance of a stranger, John Shooter (Turturro), who claims that Rainey stole his story, and he wants Rainey to "make it right". Initially dismissing this claim, Rainey soon finds that his story and Shooter's story are almost identical, and Shooter will not be ignored. Shooter begins to turn up the heat, and Rainey finds himself racing against time to prove himself. Depp, fresh off of Pirates of the Caribbean, is back in a Johnny Depp-like role in the quirky, unkempt Mort Rainey. Turturro, who is always good playing the weirdo does an excellent job as the mysterious Shooter. Well directed by Koepp, with subtle clues as to the answer of Rainey's delimna, this adaptation of a Stephen King story is very well done. And for those who have read the story, the movie actually improves (in my opinion) on the ending.