Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events ***
Cast: Jim Carrey, Meryl Streep, Jude Law, Emily Browning, Liam Aiken, Kara & Shelby Hoffman, Billy Connolly, Timothy Spall, Catherine O'Hara
Director: Brad Silberling
Running Length: 1:50
MPAA Classification: PG

Yet another popular children's book series has now been made into a movie. The subject of the first movie in this series are the first three "Lemony Snicket" novels. The movie opens with the Baudelaire children, Violet (Browning), Klaus (Aiken), and Sunny (Hoffman twins), finding out that their parents were killed in a fire that also destroyed their house. Now, they are being sent to live with their nearest relative, Count Olaf (Carrey). Unfortunately for them, all Olaf wants is The Baudelaire fortune, and he makes the children's lives a living hell as he works out a scheme to get the money.

Jim Carrey plays Count Olaf with a maniacal glee. His goofyness extends far beyond that of the source material, but that suits Jim Carrey just fine. The child actors are all excellent in their respective roles, and are about what I imagined when reading the books. The adaptation is a bit jumbled for the movie's sake, but works fairly well. There are also "additions" to the movie that are not in the first three books, and one has to wonder if they were let in on some future secrets of the novel series or if the director was just filling in the story points with items of his own choosing.

"Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events" is an entertaining family movie that can be enjoyed by all. It is not a great movie, but it shows potential that could be realized in future installments. Let's just hope that they make more movies before the kids grow up!

Finding Neverland ***
Cast: Johnny Depp, Kate Winslet, Julie Christie, Nick Roud, Radha Mitchell, Joe Prospero, Freddie Highmore, Dustin Hoffman, Luke Spill, Kelly Macdonald
Director: Marc Foster
Running Length: 1:41
MPAA Classification: PG

"Finding Neverland" is the story of playwright J.M. Barrie (Depp) attempting to find his muse and create a successful play after a bomb. He finds that muse in the Davies boys, Peter (highmore), George (Roud), Jack (Prospero), and Michael (Spill), one day in the park when he comes across them and their mother, Sylvia (Winslet) enjoying the day. They quickly form a close friendship mush to the dismay of Barrie's wife and Sylvia's mother. While playing make-believe with the kids, ideas start to form in his mind for the story that he will be best known for, "Peter Pan".

This fictional biography is a very entertaining movie to watch. The director has chosen to incorporate the imagination of the characters into the movie, and as viewers we see the world change back and forth between England and Neverland. This is used just the right amount, and never becomes distracting.

Depp is his usual excellent self, portraying Barrie as a slightly quirky individual who makes a connection with the Davies family. The children do decent jobs as the source of his inspiration as well. The greatest treat for fans of "Peter Pan" will be in how story points take shape, and what outside factors influence the story in progress. "Finding Neverland" is well worth checking out, although it may be difficult to find as it is currently in limited release.

Ocean's Twelve ***
Cast: George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Julia Roberts, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Casey Affleck, Scott Caan, Don Cheadle, Matt Damon, Andy Garcia, Elliott Gould, Carl Reiner, Shaobo Qin, Eddie Jemison, Bernie Mac, Vincent Cassel
Director: Steven Soderbergh
Running Length: 2:10
MPAA Classification: PG-13

The Eleven are back with a few extras in Steven Soderbergh's s "Ocean's Twelve". The Eleven from the first film find themselves tracked down by a very irate Terry Benedict (Garcia). He wants his money back ($160 million to be exact), and if that means the Eleven have to come out of "retirement" to do it, then so be it. They have two weeks before he enacts his revenge. That is enough to get the gang back together to plan a couple of heists to return Benedict's money to him. As the capers progress, they find that another thief, by the name of the Night Fox, is out to prove that he is better than them. Of course, this throws a wrench into their plans, and they must make a deal with him if they want any hope of getting the money they so desperately need. Also on their trail is Europol agent Isabel Lahiri (Zeta-Jones), who has a history with Rusty (Pitt) that may prove his downfall.

"Ocean's Twelve" is almost everything its predacessor was. Plot is secondary to the interaction of all the big names who seem to be having the time of their lives making this fun film. And it is a fun film to watch. Pitt, Zeta-Jones, Clooney, Damon, and Roberts are the "stars" of the film, hogging the majority of the screen time. Also, there are some surprise cameos that work very well. Some of the best jokes come at Julia Roberts' expense, and she is a trooper for going along with a story point that some viewers might not truly appreciate. I think it works.

All in all, "Ocean's Twelve" is an enjoyable film that falls just short of its predacessor. It is an entertaining heist movie that works really well. And of course, the end gives them the opportunity to have thirteen the next time around.

2004 Golden Globe Awards nominees

MOVIES:
Picture, Drama: The Aviator, Closer, Finding Neverland, Hotel Rwanda, Kinsey, Million Dollar Baby.

Actress, Drama: Scarlett Johansson, A Love Song for Bobby Long ; Nicole Kidman, Birth, Imelda Staunton, Vera Drake ; Hilary Swank, Million Dollar Baby ; Uma Thurman, Kill Bill: Vol. 2.

Actor, Drama: Javier Bardem, The Sea Inside ; Don Cheadle, Hotel Rwanda ; Johnny Depp, Finding Neverland ; Leonardo DiCaprio, The Aviator ; Liam Neeson, Kinsey.

Picture, Musical or Comedy:Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind,The Incredibles,Andrew Lloyd Webber's The Phantom of the Opera,Ray,Sideways.

Actress, Musical or Comedy: Annette Bening, Being Julia ; Ashley Judd, De-Lovely ; Emmy Rossum, Andrew Lloyd Webber's The Phantom of the Opera, Kate Winslet, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Renee Zellweger, Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason.

Actor, Musical or Comedy: Jim Carrey, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind ; Jamie Foxx, Ray ; Paul Giamatti, Sideways ; Kevin Kline, De-Lovely ; Kevin Spacey, Beyond the Sea.

Foreign Language:The Chorus, France; House of Flying Daggers, China; The Motorcycle Diaries, Brazil; The Sea Inside, Spain; A Very Long Engagement, France.

Supporting Actress: Cate Blanchett, The Aviator ; Laura Linney, Kinsey ; Virginia Madsen, Sideways ; Natalie Portman, Closer ; Meryl Streep, The Manchurian Candidate.

Supporting Actor: David Carradine, Kill Bill: Vol. 2 ; Thomas Haden Church, Sideways ; Jamie Foxx, Collateral ; Morgan Freeman, Million Dollar Baby ; Clive Owen, Closer.

Director: Clint Eastwood, Million Dollar Baby ; Marc Forster, Finding Neverland ; Mike Nichols, Closer ; Alexander Payne, Sideways ; Martin Scorsese, The Aviator.

Screenplay: Charlie Kaufman, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind ; John Logan, The Aviator ; David Magee, Finding Neverland ; Patrick Marber, Closer ; Alexander Payne and Jim Taylor, Sideways.

Original Score: Clint Eastwood, Million Dollar Baby ; Jan A.P. Kaczmarek, Finding Neverland ; Rolfe Kent, Sideways ; Howard Shore, The Aviator ; Hans Zimmer, Spanglish.

Original Song:Accidentally in Love from Shrek 2 ; Believe from The Polar Express ; Learn to be Lonely from Andrew Lloyd Webber's The Phantom of the Opera ; Million Voices from Hotel Rwanda ; Old Habits Die Hard from Alfie.

Blade: Trinity ***
Cast: Wesley Snipes, Kris Kristofferson, Ryan Reynolds, Jessica Biel, Parker Posey, Cascy Beddow, Natasha Lyonne, Dominic Purcell, Callum Keith Rennie
Director: David S. Goyer
Running Length: 1:45
MPAA Classification: R

Those pesky vanpires are at it again in "Blade: Trinity". This time they are trying to frame Blade (Snipes) for the murder of a human, as well as trying to resurrect an ancient enemy named Drake (Purcell). The two schemes are related, and Blade soon finds himself alone and on the run until he meets up with Whistler's daughter Abigail (Biel) and a former vampire named Hannibal (Reynolds). Together, they will try to stop the vampires once and for all. But, their plan could also spell the end for Blade because of his mixed heritage.

"Blade: Trinity", while entertaining, is certainly a step down after Guillermo Del Toro's "Blade II". That movie was stylish and well made. "Trinity" is filled with the choppy editing and loud music that has become popular in movies as of late. And while Del Toro had established himself as a good director, Goyer is in the director's seat for the first time - and it shows. Jessica Biel is good as the tough chick who enjoys hunting vampires, and Ryan Reynolds adds humor to the movie with almost everything he says and does. Wesley Snipes slips easily back into the role of Blade, the vampire hunting bad-ass. While not as good as "II", "Trinity" will appeal to fans of the series, or anyone who likes action movies. It's not Shakespeare, but it doesn't try to be.

Ray ***
Cast: Jaime Foxx, Kerry Washington, Regina King, Clifton Powell, Harry J. Lennis, Bokeem Woodbine, Aunjanue Ellis, Sharon Warren, C.J. Sanders, Curtis Armstrong, Richard Schiff, Larenz Tate
Director: Taylor Hackford
Running Length: 2:32
MPAA Classification: PG-13

"Ray" is the story of Ray Charles from when, at the age of 21, he left home for Seattle to play in a lounge club to the time he gives up drugs for good about two decades later. He starts out small, but clearly gifted. People try to take advantage of his blindness, but he always finds a way around this, including demanding to be paid in singles. As his star begins to rise, he finds love, drugs, and a mistress. He even gets banned from playing in Georgia. I knew very little about Ray Charles, and I found the details of his life (although tweaked for the movie) to be fascinating.

Jamie Foxx disappears into the character of Ray Charles. He looks, sounds, and moves like Ray to the point where he is almost indistinguishable from the real deal. This is his second solid performance of the year (see also "Collateral"), and he is almost certainly guaranteed a Best Actor nomination. His performance is what makes this movie worth seeing. It is far superior to the movie itself, which is lacking and feels somewhat incomplete and choppy, not to mention long. That's not to say "Ray" is a bad movie - it isn't. It is just not as good as it could be, and given Foxx's performance, that is a shame.

Sideways ****
Cast: Paul Giamatti, Thomas Hayden Church, Virginia Madsen, Sandra Oh
Director: Alexander Payne .
Running Length: 2:03
MPAA Classification: R

A week before Jack's (Church) wedding, his best friend Miles (Giamatti) takes him on a road trip to northern California for a week of wine tasting and fun. While Miles is looking forward to teaching Jack the subtleties of wine tasting, Jack is looking for one last chance to sow his wild oats. If he can help Miles find some action as well, more the better. Enter Maya (Madsen) and Stephanie (Oh). Jack quickly hooks up with Stephanie (not telling her he is engaged), and Miles gravitates toward Maya, who he has met before and has a crush on. The ladies share a love for wine tasting too, and as they hit the vineyards, one cannot help but notice that as Miles describes the wine, he is also describing himself.

Both Jack and Miles are going through a mid-life crisis, just in different ways. The movie really is about Miles, who somewhat poorly masks is alcohol problem under the guise of wine tasting. He is a divorced writer who cannot seem to get his large book published, and feels sorry for himself. Maya is the chance for something better, if only he can get the courage to take a chance again.

"Sideways" is an excellent buddy movie. Both Miles and Jack are likeable and unlikeable at the same time, and the whole time feel real. Paul Giamatti is his usual excellent best as sad sack Miles, and Thomas Hayden Church gives a surprisingly good performance as the randy Jack. Alexander Payne has crafted another funny, touching movie, and is easily one of the best directors around today. I highly recommend this movie.

The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie ***
Cast (voices): Tom Kenny, Alec Baldwin, Rodger Bumpass, Mr. Lawrence, Bill Fagerbakke, Carolyn Lawrence, Scarlett Johansson
Directors: Stephen Hillenburg, Sherm Cohen, Mark Osborne
Running Length: 1:30
MPAA Classification: PG

SpongeBob finally hits the big screen in this highly enjoyable story. When SpongeBob is passed over for a promotion to manager of the Krusty Krab II, things start to go bad for the gang. When King Neptune's crown disappears, and Mr. Krabs is framed all looks dark for Bikini Bottom. Everyone's favorite sponge, SpongeBob SquarePants (Kenny) must embark upon a quest to find King Neptune's crown, save Mr. Krabs, and defeat Plankton's evil plan for world domination. That sounds like a lot of work for a simple sponge, but he is aided by his sidekick, Patrick Star (Fagerbakke).

If you like the television show, you will not be disappointed by this big screen adventure. SpongeBob comes to life with bright, vivid colors and a story that will provide laughs for both children and adults alike. There is a mix of animation and live action sequences, and they work well together and fit the story perfectly. "The SpongeBob SquarePants" is as good as any animated movie currently in theaters, and is well worth checking out.

National Treasure ***
Cast: Nicolas Cage, Diane Kruger, Justin Bartha, Sean Bean, Jon Voight, Harvey Keitel, Christopher Plummer
Director: Jon Turteltaub
Running Length: 2:10
MPAA Classification: PG

"National Treasure" is a blatant rip-off of books by Dan Brown like "Angels and Demons" and the more recognizable "The Da Vinci Code". The only real change instead of the controversial religious themes of the books, "National Treasure" centers around a treasure hunt. Considering that this movie comes from the unholy duo of Jerry Bruckheimer and Walt Disney Pictures, it is no surprise. Bruckheimer has been turning out crap for years, and Disney's glory days are well behind it.

That being said, "National Treasure" is an entertaining (but unbelievealbe) movie. Ben Gates (Cage) believes that the founding fathers have buries a treasure somewhere and have laid out clues to finding it. In fact, his family for generations have believed it. When Gates finally figures out a key clue, he is off to the Arctic in search of the treasure. A double cross by one of his team (Bean) leaves him for dead and the bad guy after the treasure. From then on, it is a race from clue to clue to find the hidden treasure. Along the way, they even steal the Declaration of Independence.

The action is fast paced and engaging, and the clues are woven into real world items. Nicholas Cage does nothing special with Ben Gates, lapsing into standard Nicholas Cage mode. Fortunately for him, that works (as it does in most of his movies). The supporting cast also does a good job, but nothing spectacular. "National Treasure" is an entertaining movie that most will like despite the Bruckheimer connection.

The Polar Express **1/2
Cast: Tom Hanks, Leslie Zemeckis, Eddie Deezen, Nona Gaye, Peter Scolari, Michael Jeter
Director: Robert Zemeckis
Running Length: 1:30
MPAA Classification: G

"The Polar Express" is the story of an unnamed boy who does not believe in Santa anymore. On Christmas Eve night, while lying in bed, hears a train outside his window. When goes outside to see what it is, he finds the Polar Express, which is on its way to the North Pole. So begins his adventure. Along the way, he will meet other children, a mysterious hobo, and have some amazing adventures, before arriving at the North Pole in time to see Santa off on the busiest night of his year.

"The Polar Express" is both impressive and disappointing at the same time. The characters are animated using motion capture performance, mostly done by Tom Hanks. The characters look somewhat real, but are just enough off to look creepy at times (specifically the little girl, the elves, and the waiters). The movements seem a little odd at times, and that is difficult to explain because they are based on real movements. Perhaps it is just the animation. The overall animation is impressive though. The Polar Express and North Pole are fully realized in all their glorious detail.

The songs are unmemorable, but the performances by Tom Hanks are good. He gives life to numerous characters, some of them children, in such a way that you believe that they seem real and true to their age. The story has been modified from the book in order to accomidate a longer running time, and it works to some extent. The movie moves swiftly for the most part.

In the end, "The Polar Express" will probably become a childrens' holiday classic. I would not call it the best Christmas movie ever, but more likely than not, children will find enjoyment in the story of a child who learns to believe again.

Birth ***1/2
Cast: Nicole Kidman, Cameron Bright, Danny Huston, Lauren Bacall, Alison Elliot, Arliss Howard, Anne Heche, Peter Stormare
Director: Jonathan Glazer
Running Length: 1:40
MPAA Classification: R

Ten years after her husband's death, Anna (Kidman) is engaged again, and her life is going well. She has gotten over the husband she has lost and found another man, named Danny (Huston), that she loves. Then, in walks 10-year old Sean (Bright), throwing her world upside down. He claims to be her dead husband. Skeptical at first, Anna blows him off, but before long she realizes that young Sean knows way too much to be making things up. Or does he? Anna's family takes turns trying to get to the bottom of the mystery, and through it all, Anna and Danny's relationship suffers. Just what will Anna do, especially if Sean is who he claims to be?

I really liked this movie. Though not perfect, "Birth" is highly compelling as it explores the possibility of reincarnation. (The dead husband Sean ironically did not believe in it.) Nicole Kidman gives an excellent performance as the woman torn between loves. If there is any doubt that Nicole Kidman can act, all you have to do is view the three minute long close up in which her face goes through a wide range of emotions. Director Jonathan Glazer does an excellent job, filling the film with nuances that give the characters great depth. "Birth" is a very good movie, but one that will not appeal to all. In fact, I think that this is a movie that will be loved or hated. That being said, it is worth taking the chance that you will love it. I highly recommend.

The Incredibles ***
Cast (voices): Craig T. Nelson, Holly Hunter, Samuel L. Jackson, Jason Lee, Wallace Shawn, Spencer Fox, Lou Romano, Sarah Vowell, Elizabeth Peña
Director: Brad Bird
Running Length: 1:55
MPAA Classification: PG

Times change, and superheros begin to have lawsuits filed against them. When the burden is too much for the government to bear, the Incredibles are forced into retirement and into normal life through the "Superhero Relocation Program". But, working as an insurance salesman doesn't hold the same thrill for Mr. Incredible/Bob Parr (Nelson), and he finds himself listening to the police scanner with another former superhero by the name of Frozone (Jackson). That way they can still offer their help to the police. When a mysterious stranger enters his life, Mr. Incredible finds himself presented with an opportunity to regain some of his lost glory. Now, he is working on the sly with his wife (Hunter) unaware of what is going on, but a secret like that cannot be kept forever.

With "The Incredibles", Pixar goes the way of the big studios by making a superhero movie. Despite some similarity to the Fantastic Four, this idea works pretty well. It is fun to see the out of shape Mr. Incredible stuff himself into his costume and fight the bad guys. The cartoon violence ups the rating to PG (a first for a Pixar movie), but there is nothing too over the top here. "The Incredibles" is not as good as "Toy Story" 1 or 2 or "Finding Nemo", but kids and adults alike are sure to enjoy the majic that Pixar brings to the screen.

The Final Cut ***1/2
Cast: Robin Williams, Mira Sorvino, Genevieve Buechner, Stephanie Romanov, Leanne Adachi, James Caviezel, Thom Bishops, Mimi Kuzyk
Director: Omar Naim
Running Length: 1:45
MPAA Classification: PG-13

In the indeterminate future, people can choose to have a chip, called a Zoe implant, embedded in their brain that will record their memories. Upon their death, a cutter will edit those memories down to a two hour movie called a Rememory for loved ones to view. Alan Hackman (Williams) is not only a cutter, but he is one of the best. He can make a low life criminal look like a saint, and there is no job he will not take. He is a sort of Sin Eater, taking all the bad events of a person's life upon himself. He is somewhat antisocial, with a kind of-girlfriend named Della (Sorvino). Their relationship suffers because of his dedication to his job, and while she is not happy, he seems somewhat content.

Hackman is hired to do a Rememory for a wealthy man with a shady past. His widow wants the Rememory to make him look good, and knows that he can do it based on his reputation. Enter Fletcher (Caviezel), a former cutter who now is a leader of a group opposed to Remories. He wants to take the rich man's Zoe implant and use it for his own purposes. Hackman naturally refuses, and so begins a cat and mouse game to see who will end up with the implant.

Finally, interspersed with the story is a memory from Hackman's childhood that may have shaped his career path and the person he is today.

This is an interesting and entertaining movie. Once again, Robin Williams shows that he is excellent in more serious roles. Cabiezel is good as the bad guy, and Sorvino does her best with the small part that she has. This is an intelligent science fiction story that will make you question the nature and truthfulness of your memories. "The Final Cut" is a pleasant surprise that is in very limited release, so search it out and see it.

Saw ***1/2
Cast: Cary Elwes, Leigh Whannell, Danny Glover, Ken Leung, Dina Meyer, Michael Emerson, Monica Potter, Makenzie Vega
Director: James Wan
Running Length: 1:40
MPAA Classification: R

Lawrence (Elwes) and Adam (Whannell) wake up chained to pipes in the world's filthiest bathroom. They have little freedom of movement and cannot even come close to reaching each other. They do not remember how they got there or know each other. Their captor (presumably) has left them two saws, an unloaded gun, a tape recorder, two cigarettes, and a dead body in the middle of the room. They are victims of the Jigsaw Killer, and that same killer is holding Lawrence's wife and daughter hostage. At the same time, an ex-cop (Glover) is hunting down the killer, bent on revenge for the murder of his partner.

"Saw" is an intense, twisted movie. It is reminiscent of "Seven" in both mood and atmosphere, and leaves you with about the same feeling when it is all over. For me, that is good, because I believe "Seven" to be an excellent movie. "Saw", however, is not at that level...but it is close. Director James Wan ratchets up the tension with each passing moment until the final scene. And while the explanation might not hold up as well as the the viewer might like, it was still a hell of a ride. Elwes especially does an excellent job as a man first confused by his situation, then terrified for his family, then resolute in what needs to be done.

"Saw" is a great Halloween movie, and if you are looking for a good scary movie at this time of the year, "Saw" is your best bet. Highly recommended for horror fans.

Surviving Christman **1/2
Cast: Ben Affleck, James Gandolfini, Christina Applegate, Catherine O'Hara, Josh Zuckerman, Bill Macy, Jennifer Morrison
Director: Mike Mitchell
Running Length: 1:32
MPAA Classification: PG-13

Drew (Affleck), after being dumped by his girlfriend, finds himself in the position of being alone for Christmas. Having some money, he returns to his childhood home, and ends up offering the family that lives there, the Valcos, a healthy paycheck to play his "family" for Christmas. Although reluctant at first, they reluctantly agree when the amount of money offered gets to be pretty insane. At first, he rubs them the wrong way at almost every turn, but eventually they settle into a somewhat peaceful coexistence. That is, until Alicia, his "sister", arrives.

Ben Affleck has not had a good movie in a while, and while this is an entertaining movie, it will not be setting him back on the blockbuster path. Affleck plays Drew with, at times, a maniacal glee, forcing the holiday cheer upon the Valcos with reckless abandon. These are the funniest scenes, but are not enough to carry this movie. James Gandolfini is good as Tom, the father that gets his family into this mess and cannot seem to get them out.

Given that this was released before Halloween, one can't help but think that the studio is writing this one off. And while it is not a great movie, it does provide enough laughs for me to give it a very marginal recommendation. If the previews look good to you, you will probably enjoy it.

The Grudge ***
Cast: Sarah Michelle Gellar, Jason Behr, Clea DuVall, William Mapother, KaDee Strickland, Bill Pullman, Grace Zabriskie
Director: Takashi Shimizu
Running Length: 1:36
MPAA Classification: PG-13

Karen (Gellar), an American exchange student in Japan, is asked to fill in for a caretaker that did not show up for work. Arriving at the house, she begins to take care of the lady that lives there only to find that they might not be the only ones in the house. Footsteps can be heard running around upstairs, a cat can be heard meowing, and something does not seem right. It seems that the house may be haunted. A discovery in the attic sends Karen on an investigation to discover the story behind the mysterious goings on.

This movie was creepier than I anticipated when I saw the PG-13 rating. With no blood or gore, director Takashi Shimizu has crafted a eerie movie that will be scary for most. Shimizu should know what he is doing here though, having directed the Japanese version of "The Grudge" right before starting up on this American version. Sarah Michelle Gellar does nothing remarkable in a role that could have been played by anyone. The biggest surprise for me was Bill Pullman, who at first glance seems to have a very minor part. The "ghosts" are also effective, appearing from nowhere and looking suitably creepy (the actors are also holdovers from the Japanese version).

This is not a great horror movie, but it is a solidly good one. If you are looking for a few scares this Halloween, go and check out "The Grudge".

Friday Night Lights ***1/2
Cast: Billy Bob Thornton, Lucas Black, Garrett Hedlund, Derek Luke, Jay Hernandez, Lee Jackson, Lee Thomspson Young, Tim McGraw
Director: Peter Berg
Running Length: 1:57
MPAA Classification: PG-13

"Friday Night Lights" is the true story of the 1988 Odessa-Permian high school football team and their quest for the state championship. They are one of the best teams in West Texas, and Friday nights are for high school football. Everything in town stops so that all can go to the game. Tremendous pressure is put on the kids and the coaches to win. The star of the team is James "Boobie" Miles (Luke), a cocky kid who definately believes all the hype about him until a early season knee injury turns his world on end. Stepping up to fill the void are quarterback Mike Winchell (Black) and running backs Don Billingsley (Hedlund) and Chris Comer (Young). But will they have what it takes to fill that void? Coach Gary Gaines (Thornton) thinks so, and as the season moves on, he finds himself receiving both the love and the hatred of the town depending on whether they are winning or losing.

There is a lot going on in this movie, both on and off the field, and the story flows smoothly back and forth. After all, everything going on off the field is still football related, and plays into the story quite prominently. Running through it all is the immense pressure to win. This is not your typical sports movie, and the final game drives home the point of the whole movie. This is a very good movie, with solid performances all around, expecially by the mostly unknow actors playing the kids. This movie is for anyone who has ever been involved in the phenomenon of high school football. For those people, it will strike a real chord. For everyone else, it will still be an enjoyable, emotional experience that should not be missed.

Wimbledon ***
Cast: Kirsten Dunst, Paul Bettany, Sam Neill, Jon Favreau, Bernard Hill, Eleanor Bron, Austin Nichols
Director: Richard Loncraine
Running Length: 1:38
MPAA Classification: PG-13

Peter Colt (Bettany) is a professional tennis player whose career is winding down. He is ranked #119 in the world, but that is nowhere near the #11 he was ranked in 1996. He has decided to announce he will retire after Wimbledon, in which he is a wild card. While at Wimbledon, he meets Lizzy Bradbury (Dunst), an up and coming tennis star, and a whirlwind romance begins. Of course, she has to hide this from the watchful eye of her father (Neill), who wants her focused on the task at hand. Of course, the romance lifts him up, and soon he is advancing through the tournament. But, Lizzy begins to be distracted, and her game suffers. Will things work out for the couple? What do you think? This a romantic comedy after all.

Bettany and Dunst have good chemistry together, and you do root for things to work out between them. Neill does a credible job as the father who is just looking out for his daughter's interests. The tennis matches are well crafted, employing some really cool point-of-view shots from the ball's perspective as it soars across the net. All in all, this is a really likeable movie, wheather you are looking for romance, comedy, or even a little sports.

Shark Tale **1/2
Cast (voices): Will Smith, Robert De Niro, Renée Zellweger, Jack Black, Angelena Jolie, Martin Scorsese
Directors: Bibo Bergeron, Vicky Jenson, Rob Letterman
Running Length: 1:30
MPAA Classification: PG

Oscar (Smith) the fish leads a normal life. He is just an average guy working at the Whale Wash. One day, he wanders into shark territory and is chased by Frankie. Unfortunately for Frankie, the chase ends in his death, not at Oscar's hands, but by pure accident. Oscar sees as an opportunity to "be someone", and quickly takes the credit. The fish world begins to call him the "Shark Slayer", two female fish begin to show their interest, and the shark godfather (DeNiro) makes it his business to find the murderer of Frankie...his son.

"Shark Tale" is yet another animated movie that will appeal to both children and adults. The difference is, this time it almost seems made for adults first and kids second. The most obvious references are to "The Godfather" and "Goodfellas", two movies that no kids should have seen. Also, advertising placement has run amok in this movie. Every way you turn in the city, there are obvious "fake ads" for real products that is very distracting. Most everything in this movie is overkill, in fact.

The voice talents are credible and the animation is good, although I found Oscar to look kind of creepy with his near human-looking face. "Shark Tale" also is nothing like "Finding Nemo", which is both good and bad. Good, because it is not retreading material that is not too old yet. Bad, because "Finding Nemo" was so much better. "Shark Tale" is a decent movie that will be enjoyed by most, and I did laugh a number of times while viewing it, but my advice is to wait for DVD.

Napoleon Dynamite ***
Cast: Jon Heder, Efren Ramirez, Jon Gries, Aaron Ruell, Tina Majorino, Haylie Duff
Director: Jared Hess
Running Length: 1:26
MPAA Classification: PG-13

Napoleon Dynamite (Heder) is a nerdy, antisocial teenager who lives with his brother Kip (Ruell) and his grandma. That is, until grandma gets hurt and Uncle Rico (Gries) steps up to take care of them. They are a bunch of weirdos...Uncle Rico is living in the past, vidoetaping himself playing football; Kip spends most of his time in internet chat rooms. Napoleon himself is on the bottom rung of the food chain at school. His only friend is Pedro (Ramirez), a student that just moved to town.

There is no real plot to this movie. It is more of a slice of Napoleon's life, jumping right in at the beginning of the movie, and jumping right out at the end. A lot of things happen in the movie, a school dance and a class election chief among them, but it is all just part of his life and not really the focus of the film.

Jon Heder plays Napoleon with a low-key nerdiness. He is both funny and sad at the same time, and Napoleon isn't always the most likeable. That's ok though, because you still want to root for him. "Napoleon Dynamite" is a very interesting and hilarious (at times) movie. If you are looking for something a little different, something a little off-center, this is definately the movie for you.