ABANDON (dir: Stephen Gaghan, PG-13) - Everybody's favorite DAWSON'S CREEKer Katie Holmes leaves the small screen behind in this campus-set thriller. She plays a success-driven student who is haunted by the disappearance of her boyfriend, played by neophyte British hunk Charlie Hunnam. Benjamin Bratt is the cop who enlists Katie to help solve the mystery.

ABANDONED (dir: Arpad Sopsits, Unrated) - A young Hungarian boy is sent to live in an orphanage and must contend with the cruelty of the other children and the sadistic headmaster. Will he escape and find his mother before his spirit is broken?

ABOUT A BOY (dir: Paul Weitz & Chris Weitz, PG-13) - Hugh Grant is great portraying a selfish bachelor who theorizes that single mothers will make easy dating targets. He assumes they will be grateful for the attention and too busy for heavy commitment. Complications arise when the child of one the mothers looks to him as a role model and he has to examine the nature of his existence. Based on the novel by Nick Hornby and featuring a great soundtrack by Badly Drawn Boy. (what we think)

ABOUT SCHMIDT (dir: Alexander Payne, R) – Jack Nicholson adds another great performance to his repertoire as Warren Schmidt, a man coming to terms with his wife’s death and his daughter’s impending marriage. He completely disappears into the character, revealing a subtlety not always found in his acting. It’s the third winner from director Alexander Payne, following CITIZEN RUTH and ELECTION.

ADAPTATION (dir: Spike Jonze, R) - From the creators of BEING JOHN MALKOVICH comes one of last year's freshest and most original films. Nicholas Cage plays twin brothers trying to turn Meryl Streep's book into a screenplay. As writer's block sets in, reality begins to dissolve and he writes himself into the story. Chris Cooper rounds out an amazing cast in a role that won him an Oscar.

ADVENTURES OF PLUTO NASH, THE (dir: Ron Underwood, PG-13) - If this is Eddie Murphy's idea of a Christmas present, he has a really disturbing sense of humor.

AIR BUD SPIKES BACK (dir: Mike Southon, G) - What makes Air Bud tick? Why does he move from one sport to another? Why won't he just settle down? Is this all just metaphorical mumbo-jumbo about the transitory state of man and beast? Perhaps we are all alone on this icy rock circling the sun. I am so confused. 

ALIAS BETTY (dir: Claude Miller, NR) - Claude Miller, whose mentor was Francois Truffaut, veers into Hitchcockian territory with this tale of suffocating maternal desire. Can a kidnapped boy take the place of Betty's dead child? The line between right and wrong becomes increasingly blurred in this intricate thriller.

ALL OR NOTHING (dir: Mike Leigh, R) - The characters in Mike Leigh's films may have fallen on hard times but are not depressing. They are downtrodden but not beyond redemption. This tradition continues with ALL OR NOTHING, which revolves around a family stuck in a miserable housing project in South London. The subtleties of his direction allow the characters to creep up on you, until you know them all too well. You can begin to see how they've become entangled in their various predicaments. Only through tragedy will they turn to each other for support and possibly find light on the other side.

AMERICAN MULLET (dir: Jennifer Arnold, Not Rated) - In what has been called "the greatest hair documentary ever made", a crack team of investigative reporters set off across America to shed some light on our most controversial hairstyle. You're guaranteed never to look at "hockey-hair" the same way again.

AMY'S O (dir: Julie Davis, R) - Julie Davis writes, directs and stars in this indie comedy for fans of Kissing Jessica Stein.

ANALYZE THAT (dir: Harold Ramis, R) - In the grand tradition of HOT SHOTS PART DEUX, MEN IN BLACK 2 and JURASSIC PARK 3 comes another grossly unnecessary sequel. Robert DeNiro and Billy Crystal show up to collect their paychecks in this pale walkthrough that hopefully bought them extravagant new summer homes.

ANIMATRIX, THE (dir: Various, Not Rated) – Nine renowned anime and computer animation directors from across the globe each interpret the events preceding the original MATRIX film.

ANOTHER HEAVEN (dir: Joji Iida, R) - The latest addition to the Asian horror genre mixes supernatural and extraterrestrial elements in this hard-boiled tale of a serial killer who likes to stew his victims' brains. The cops assigned to the case will have to contend with a foe who can travel through time and hop from body to body. This should be a big hit for fans of AUDITION and TELL ME SOMETHING.

ANTWONE FISHER (dir: Denzel Washington, PG-13) - Denzel Washington steps behind the camera for his directorial debut with this fact-based drama concerning a troubled young man fighting to overcome his past. As emotionally true as any recent film, Washington certainly knows how to work with actors. I'm sure that's comforting for him to know in case his acting career doesn't pan out.

ASH WEDNESDAY (dir: Edward Burns, R) - Edward Burns departs from the soggy romantic comedies (THE BROTHERS MCMULLEN, SHE'S THE ONE, SIDEWALKS OF NEW YORK) that won him a few admirers and cooks up a rough and tumble tale of two brothers in Hell's Kitchen circa 1980. Elijah Wood, Rosario Dawson and Oliver Platt all co-star.

ATLANTIS (dir: Luc Besson, Not Rated) - French director Luc Besson is best know for gritty thrillers like THE PROFESSIONAL and LA FEMME NIKITA so it's something of a surprise that he decided to make an underwater nature documentary. This is clearly a labor of his love of the ocean, which he also touched upon in THE BIG BLUE. Anyone who is a fan of THE BLUE PLANET series will undoubtedly enjoy this but Besson fans expecting gunfire and explosions would do well to steer clear.

AUTO FOCUS (dir: Paul Schrader, R) - Greg Kinnear and Willem Dafoe turn in excellent performances in this bio-pic of HOGAN'S HEROES star Bob Crane. Although the amateur porn, sexual addiction and murder would seem to make for a sure-fire Hollywood Babylon fall from grace epic, AUTO FOCUS feels almost routine. There's a paint by numbers feeling to the film that is only countered by Greg Kinnear's quietly desperate performance as a man trying to convince those around him, and mostly to himself, that he's simply a normal, red-blooded average joe.

AVALON (dir: Mamoru Oshii, NR) - From the director of the Japanimation classic GHOST IN THE SHELL comes this live-action thriller set in a near future dominated by addictive and illegal video games. A young woman becomes so obsessed with a game that she no longer knows where the boundaries of reality lie. Mamoru Oshii makes the transition from animation to live-action with his visual style intact. A must see for Sci-Fi and Anime fans.

BAADASSSSS CINEMA (dir: Isaac Julien, Not Rated) - Pam Grier, Fred Williamson, Quentin Tarantino and others are interviewed in this concise document of early 70's "Blaxploitation" films. This is a funny and unique look at an important crossroad in American cultural history.

BAD COMPANY (MAUVAISES FREQUENTATIONS) (dir: Jean-Pierre Ameris, Not Rated) - It's finally summer. In France that can only mean one thing... unbridled adolescent sex! Follow Delphine as she falls in love with a boy whom she'd do anything for - including letting him be her pimp. Is there nothing sweeter than young love?

BADGE, THE (dir: Robby Henson, R) - Billy Bob Thornton and Patricia Arquette star in this thriller set in a bayou town. A sheriff and a stripper have to solve a hushed-up murder before they find themselves in danger.

BALLAD OF BERING STRAIT, THE (dir: Nina Gilden Seavey, Not Rated) - What happens when a group of classically-trained Russian musicians sets off to Nashville to become country music superstars?  Check out this engrossing documentary and find out.

BALLISTIC: ECKS VS. SEVER (dir: Wych Kaosayananda, R) - Antonio Banderas and Lucy Liu are rival super-operatives determined to blow up each other...and anything that stands in their way.

BANGER SISTERS, THE (dir: Bob Dolman, R) - Goldie Hawn and Susan Sarandon star as ex-groupies who have traveled down remarkably different paths in life. Geoffrey Rush co-stars.

BANK, THE (dir: Robert Connolly, Not Rated) - In the first of this week's approximately 800 films from Australia, Anthony Lapaglia stars in this thriller set in the cutthroat world of high finance. Now I know you're wondering what Anthony Lapaglia is doing in an Australian movie. People, the simple fact is that although he looks like us and sometimes talks like us, he is one of THEM.

BARBERSHOP (dir: Tim Story, PG-13) - There is an undeniable sweetness at the heart of Barbershop that thaws that uber-present grimace off Ice Cube's face. The story follows a day in the life of several South-Side Chicago head cutters as they navigate their way through various problems. But the film is really just about community and conversation. Both of which ring true with authenticity and spirit.

BATTLE ROYALE (dir: Fukasaku Kinji, Unrated) - Here's the film that's caused uproar in every corner of the planet except America, where it couldn't even get a theatrical release. It's a highly satirical and uber-violent spoof of fascism, media and society at large. In the near future of Japan, teenagers are so out of control that the government has instituted a program wherein a random 9th grade class is selected to take part in the Battle Royale. This involves spending three days on a remote island attempting to kill your classmates in order to be the last kid standing. Each student is given a weapon, food, a comfort item and a map. As adorable schoolgirls rapidly transform into heartless killing machines, the parallels to LORD OF THE FLIES are impossible to ignore (although trying to imagine those fey British schoolboys leveling one another with uzis seems pretty farfetched). What is ultimately unclear about BATTLE ROYALE are its intentions. It's exploitation, but it's also eager to point out society's contradictory attitudes towards violence. It wants the viewer to condemn what they're watching, and at the same time lasciviously lap it up. Hopefully all of this will be further explored in BATTLE ROYALE II, which is now in production.

BELIEVER, THE (dir: Henry Bean, R) – In one of the most controversial films of the year, Ryan Gosling turns in a star-making performance that heralds him as perhaps the finest young actor in America. He stars as Danny, a young Jewish man fully immersed in Neo-Nazi culture. There are no easy answers for why he’s turned his back on his background, and his desire for the escalation of violence is unnerving. The most disturbing thing about Danny is how intelligent and articulate he comes across. The viewer isn’t let off the hook easily by being allowed to dismiss him as a hothead moron. This is easily one of 2002’s best.

BELOW (dir: David Twohy, R) - In this World War II thriller, an American submarine picks up three survivors of a sunken ship and brings them aboard. As eerie things begin to happen, the crew must determine whether there is a saboteur in their midst or if there are supernatural forces at work. Critics liken this to a cross between U-571 and POLTERGEIST.

BENJAMIN SMOKE (dir: Jem Cohen / Peter Sillen, Not Rated)- This is a little seen documentary about a musician living with AIDS but keeping his sense of humor. Features appearances by Patti Smith and Vic Chesnutt.

BIGGIE & TUPAC (dir: Nick Broomfield, R) – Genius British documentarian Nick Broomfield brings his singular style to the investigation of the still unsolved murders of two of rap’s biggest stars. As he methodically bumbles through interviews and irritates people, Broomfield actually manages to sift out vagaries and rumors and come up with glimpses of truth. This is, perhaps, the crowning achievement in a career already glistening with jewels like KURT & COURTNEY, HEIDI FLEISS: HOLLYWOOD MADAME and FETISHES.

BIKER BOYZ (dir: Reggie Rock Bythewood, PG-13) - Most people found THE FAST AND THE FURIOUS to be an impenetrable meditation on man versus machine. Happily, the makers of this motorcycle film simplified their message by leaving out such cumbersome devices as plot, acting and cool special effects.

BLACK MASK 2: CITY OF MASKS (dir: Tsui Hark, R) - Jet Li doesn't return in this bone-breaking action sequel. Luckily, the butt-kicking does. Lots and lots of butt-kicking.

BLOOD WORK (dir: Clint Eastwood, R) - Clint Eastwood now commands the screen with a stately grace theoretically at odds with his tough guy persona. This thriller has him playing a heart transplant recipient tracking down the murderer of his donor.

BLOODY SUNDAY (dir: Paul Greengrass, R) – Here’s another of last year’s best films, the true story of the clash between British troops and marchers protesting for Northern Ireland’s freedom on January 30, 1972. The protesters were unarmed and 14 were killed, a number that still reverberates throughout the UK and Ireland. This film is shot in a gritty, documentary style that lends an unsettling realism throughout and the intensity at some points feels so potent it could melt the screen. Breathtaking.

BLUE CRUSH (dir: John Stockwell, PG-13) - Depending on your perspective, this is either a testimonial to the independent spirit of women or a good opportunity to see some foxy chicks in skimpy bathing attire. Personally, I think it's both. As a tasty side dish there is some of the most breathtaking surfing footage ever filmed. P.S. - The line for the Michelle Rodriguez fan club forms here!

BOB THE BUILDER: BOB SAVES THE DAY! (dir: Sarah Ball / Brian Little, G) - Given his propensity for helping others, porcupine families and sleepy steamrollers alike, why doesn't Bob get his own daytime talk show?

BOUNCE: BEHIND THE VELVET ROPE (dir: Steven Cantor, NR) - This hard-hitting documentary exposes the violent, glamorous lives of nightclub doormen and sets out to prove that there's more fun going on in front of the clubs than inside them. (what we think)

BOURNE IDENTITY, THE (dir: Doug Liman, PG-13) - This might be the best thriller of the year. Matt Damon is an amnesiac assassin trying to discover his identity while criss-crossing Europe. Franka Potente, Lola in RUN LOLA RUN, is the young lady who helps him remember how to love.

BROWN SUGAR (dir: Rick Famuyiwa, PG-13) - Taye Diggs and Sanaa Lathan star in this romantic comedy as two life-long friends who hopefully will realize that they're meant to be together before the movie ends and they're left single and unhappy forever. Our advice: ignore the silly love story and watch for the flashbacks to the early days of hip-hop, featuring interviews with Slick Rick, Doug E. Fresh, Russell Simmons and other Old School luminaries.

BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER: SEASON 4 (dir: Joss Whedon, Not Rated) - Buffy and the gang start their college years, sans Angel the bedroom-eyed vampire. If you're longing for good and evil at their most aesthetically pleasing, this ought to satisfy your, uh, bloodlust. Look out for the return of Spike (the fanged love child of Billy Idol and Sid Vicious), and "Hush", reputably the spookiest episode ever.

BUYING THE COW (dir: Walt Becker, R) - A host of not quite B-list actors explore what it means to be single in today's crazy dating world.

BY HOOK OR BY CROOK (dir: Harry Dodge, Not Rated) - BOYS DON'T CRY is taken one step further with this independent film festival circuit hit.  Two women posing as men meet in San Francisco and have gender-bending adventures on the wrong side of the law.

CAILLOU: CAILLOU'S HOLIDAYS ( ) - As Caillou experiences Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas and Chinese New Year he learns a lot about life and a little about love.

CATCH ME IF YOU CAN (dir: Steven Spielberg, PG-13) - Steven Spielberg is on a roll. After his excursion into History Channel territory with the overrated SCHINDLER'S LIST, AMISTAD and SAVING PRIVATE RYAN, he is finally making interesting films again. He's flirted with cerebral sci-fi in A.I. and MINORITY REPORT, and in CATCH ME IF YOU CAN he cooks up a breezy caper that not only resuscitates Leonardo Dicaprio's career, but also lets Tom Hanks come off as likeable and sympathetic, and that's quite a feat!

CHALLENGE OF THE SUPERFRIENDS (dir: Hanna-Barbera, Not Rated) – It’s like the all-star game of superheroes as Superman, Wonder Woman, Batman & Robin and Aquaman team up to thwart various evil dudes.

CHAOS (dir: Hideo Nakata, Not Rated) - Here's another hypnotic thriller from Japanese director Hideo Nakata, the man responsible for RINGU. This time echoes of VERTIGO abound, as a man finds that the mystery surrounding his wife's kidnapping is more complicated than it first appears.

CHARLOTTE'S WEB 2 (dir: Mario Piluso, G) - The continuing tradition of tarnishing our childhood memories continues with this cheap, straight to video knockoff. E.B. White is not resting easy, I assure you.

CHERISH (dir: Finn Taylor, R) - Robin Tunney plays a woman under house arrest who must prove her innocence and perhaps...fall in love?

CHERRY ORCHARD, THE (dir: Michael Cacoyannis, NR) - An amazing cast headed by Alan Bates and Charlotte Rampling unites in this adaptation of one of Anton Chekhov's best known plays. Legendary Greek director Michael Cocoyannis comes out of semi-retirement to helm this story of a quarreling family set amidst the pre-war tension of the Russian Revolution.

CHILDREN OF DUNE (dir: Greg Yaitanes, NR) - Following the successful Sci-Fi Channel adaptation of Frank Herbert's masterpiece, we now get the next two installments. Filling the Academy Award winner void left by William Hurt is Susan Sarandon.

CHILDREN UNDERGROUND (dir: Edet Belzberg, NR) - The most harrowing film released in the last year. This is the sad true story of Romanian street kids seen without filters and without a silver lining. These are children that have been thrown away by society and Edet Belzberg does not flinch as she captures the drugging, violence and despair that are the result. Highly recommended.

CHINESE CHOCOLATE (dir: Yan Cui / Qi Chang, NR) – This movie follows two young Chinese women immigrating to Canada in the 1980’s. As they explore their personal identities they learn they have more in common than they think.

CINEMA PARADISO: THE NEW VERSION (dir: Giuseppe Tornatore, R) - Everyone's favorite Italian ode to the movies is expanded by nearly an hour in this re-release. Critics that originally accused CINEMA PARADISO of blatant sentimentality will be pleased to find that the bittersweet romance is now more bitter than sweet and we finally understand why the lovers could never be together. All in all, if you love movies, this is a nearly impossible film to resist.

CIRCUIT (dir: Dirk Shafer, Unrated) - This indie film takes a penetrating look into the underworld of sex and drug fuelled "circuit" parties.

CITY BY THE SEA (dir: Michael Caton-Jones, R) - Robert DeNiro walks through this morality tale involving a cop who realizes the murderer he is trying to find is...his own son. The murder takes place in a depressing former seaside resort town that is an easy metaphor for the crumbled relationship between DeNiro and his son, played by James Franco. In fact, Franco is the only reason to watch this undercooked mess. You feel as if the torch is being passed from a great actor whose flame has started to flicker to an ingénue who is just starting to burn brightly.

COCKETTES, THE (dir: Bill Weber & David Weissman, NR) - This documentary about the legendary hippie-drag-queen-dance-troupe has won kudos from Sundance and The Independent Spirit Awards for nostalgically exposing a dusty corner of pop culture history. If it's good enough for John Waters, it's good enough for you.

COUNTRY BEARS, THE (dir: Peter Hastings, G) - Young Beary Barrington has to get his favorite band back together in order to save Country Bear Hall. Featuring the voice talents of Haley Joel Osment and...Christopher Walken.

COWBOY BEBOP: THE MOVIE (dir: Shinichiro Watanabe, R) - Although it doesn't quite live up to the popular anime series, COWBOY BEBOP: THE MOVIE is a must see for all hardcore Spike lovers. The animation is amazing as usual and the story is not just a condensed version of the show. Two hours of Spike's philosophy and kung fu kicks adds up to a beboppin' good time. (review contributed by Kurt Frost)

CRIME OF PADRE AMARO, THE (dir: Carlos Carrera, R) – This film was denounced by the Catholic League before it was even released for its rumored depiction of priests engaging in very non-priestly behavior.  Gael Garcia Bernal, that young hottie from Y TU MAMA TAMBIEN, stars as a young priest sent to a rural outpost where he meets a young girl who becomes romantically obsessed with him. Will he be able to resist the temptations of the flesh and make the cloth proud, or is he all too human?

CROCODILE HUNTER, THE: COLLISION COURSE (dir: John Stainton, PG) - That famous antipodean reptile wrangler stars in his first, and most likely, last film.

CUBE 2: HYPERCUBE (dir: Andrzej Sekula, R) - It's time for more slicing and dicing as eight more people end up in the Kafka-esque cube, fighting to survive. You will discover many interesting new ways to kill people.

DAD ON THE RUN (dir: Dante Desarthe, NR) - This uproarious French comedy follows a new father's dilemma that results from an obscure Jewish custom.

DARK BLUE (dir: Ron Shelton, R) - Thank goodness there are still red-blooded-honest-to-God Americans like Kurt Russell making good old fashioned cop thrillers like DARK BLUE. Set in the days preceding the Los Angeles riots of 1992, this not-Australian-in-any-way film is a studied example of subtlety triumphing over bombast. Mr. Russell captivates as a morally ambivalent LAPD detective.

DARKNESS FALLS (dir: Jonathan Liebsman, PG-13) – The town of Darkness Falls, Maine has been plagued for 150 years by the spirit of a woman wrongly executed for the murder of two children.  She exacts her revenge by doing what any good ghost would do: she posthumously starts killing the town’s children. The most interesting thing about this thriller is that it’s set in Maine but was shot in Australia. Huh?

DEAD OR ALIVE (dir: Takashi Miike, Unrated) - Another week, another Takashi Miike film. Bart & Greg's favorite Japanese madman returns with his follow up to THE HAPPINESS OF THE KATAKURIS and AUDITION, and this time he's taking a stab at a Yakuza action film. Of course, since it's Miike we can rest assured there will be nothing pedestrian or predictable in his take on any genre.

DELIVER US FROM EVA (dir: Gary Hardwick, R) - THE TAMING OF THE SHREW gets an urban spin with the help of LL Cool J. He's hired by Eva's brothers to get her out of their hair. Things go awry when this stud-for-hire finds himself falling for her.

DEVIL'S PLAYGROUND (dir: Lucy Walker, Not Rated) - Wouldn't it be funny if a bunch of Amish teenagers ran around doing drugs, getting drunk and driving fast cars? That's the question posed by this documentary that also aims to seriously examine the decisions these kids face as they choose between their parent's faith and the secular outside world.

DEVIOUS BEINGS (dir: Christopher Mazzei, R) - This movie dares to ask the question, what if a bunch of raver kids got mixed up with drug-dealing mobsters? I dare to pose the answer, who cares?

DIAMOND MEN (dir: Daniel M. Cohen, R) - Robert Forster turns in the performance of his career in this little-seen gem as an aging traveling salesman who is forced to turn over his territory to a brash upstart played by Donnie Wahlberg. The new kid on the block feels that his mentor has turned his back on life and sets about finding him a ladyfriend. The thing that's interesting about this movie is it keeps redefining your expectations. It never fully commits to being a buddy comedy, a romance or a crime picture. It takes elements of all three and comes up with something winningly uncategorizable.

DIE ANOTHER DAY (dir: Lee Tamahori, PG-13) – Everyone’s favorite alcoholic sex addict is back to battle a madman bent on controlling the earth’s weather. As 007 globetrots from North Korea to Cuba to Iceland, we’re treated to a variety of exotic locales, as well as Halle Berry as the requisite hot babe that may be James Bond’s match.

DINNER RUSH (dir: Bob Giraldi, R) - Murder and revenge are the main courses being served by Danny Aiello and an all-star cast in this dramedy set in an Italian restaurant. 

DISCO PIGS (dir: Kirsten Sheridan, Not Rated) – Two Irish teenagers try to sort through their existential angst in this doomed romance that has been compared to A CLOCKWORK ORANGE and HEAVENLY CREATURES. As the world attempts to keep them apart, the lovers will go to any violent length to stay together.

DOOR TO DOOR (dir: Steven Schachter, NR) - William H. Macy co-wrote and stars in this inspirational tale of a man with cerebral palsy who pursues his dream of being a traveling salesman. Kyra Sedgwick and Helen Mirren co-star.

DORA THE EXPLORER: CITY OF LOST TOYS (dir: Various, G) – Dora and her creepy pet monkey search for her lost teddy bear and learn to speak Spanish. Odd, even by Nickelodeon standards.

DOUBLE WHAMMY (dir: Tom DiCillo, R) - The director of Living In Oblivion returns with this satirical take on the detective genre. A great supporting cast includes Steve Buscemi, Luis Guzman and Chris Noth.

DRACULA II: ASCENSION (dir: Patrick Lussier, R) - Roy Scheider turns up in this largely unwanted sequel proving that, contrary to popular opinion, he is still alive.

DREAMING ABOUT YOU (dir: Marisa Sistach, NR) - Bearing a striking resemblance to Y TU MAMA TAMBIEN, this Mexican import carries on the theme of young boys exploring their sexuality via a sexy older woman (something we can ALL relate to).  Luckily, Sistach is less interested in class politics than Y TU MAMA...'s director Alfonso Cuaron, so we can focus on the hot lovemaking and tune out everything else.

DRUMLINE (dir: Charles Stone III, PG-13) - Are you ready for the ROCKY of marching band movies? This triumphant tale of a young man striving to beat the streets (and his drums) will have you cheering the rhythm of life.

EIGHT MILE (dir: Curtis Hanson, R) - There is no longer any point in trying to resist the cultural force that is Eminem. No matter what you think of his music, the fact is he can act and has true screen presence. Shrewdly directed by Curtis Hanson of L.A. CONFIDENTIAL and WONDER BOYS fame as to enhance Eminem's strengths and downplay his weaknesses. It's like a coming-of-age ROCKY with more rap-battles!

EIGHT WOMEN (dir: Francois Ozon, R) - It would take François Ozon, France's most gleefully perverse provocateur, to dream up a spoof of classic Hollywood musicals and cast eight of his country's most revered actresses to sing and dance their way through it. This lighthearted whodunit crosses the board-game CLUE, RASHOMON and one of those Douglas Sirk films that FAR FROM HEAVEN was trying to be. All that and the songs are way better than in MOULIN ROUGE. Parfait!

EMPEROR'S CLUB, THE (dir: Michael Hoffman, PG-13) - If you feel that DEAD POET'S SOCIETY and MR. HOLLAND'S OPUS needed to be a little smarmier and patronizing, I guess your prayers have been answered. I would recommend THE BREAKFAST CLUB or FIGHT CLUB instead.

EMPEROR'S NEW CLOTHES, THE (dir: Alan Taylor, PG, UK) - A whimsical what-if scenario regarding Napoleon Bonaparte starring everyone's favorite Hobbit, Ian Holm.

EMPIRE (dir: Franc. Reyes, R) - John Leguizamo plays a drug dealer looking to expand his reach by hooking up with a Wall Street investor. The film teases you with its moral ambiguities; is it a cautionary tale or a glamorization? Luckily, Leguizamo is such a visceral performer that the results are guaranteed to be interesting.

EQUILIBRIUM (dir: Kurt Wimmer, R) - If you can't say anything else about EQUILIBRIUM, at least you can say it believes in equality. In that it believes in ripping off THE MATRIX, FAHRENHEIT 451, 1984 and BLADE RUNNER in equal portions.

ERASERHEAD (dir: David Lynch, NR) - David Lynch's first film is as brain-cramp inducing as MULHOLLAND DRIVE, but without the semi-coherent narative or swooning Angelo Badalamenti soundtrack. Greg says: "There is a reason this is one of the most famous cult films of all time; I just don't know what it is."

ESTHER KHAN (dir: Arnaud Desplechin, NR) - A young woman in 19th century London breaks away from her family to become an actress. Starring Summer Phoenix (River & Joaquin's little sister) and Ian Holm.

EVELYN (dir: Bruce Beresford, PG) - Pierce Brosnan tries to prove he's more than just a superspy with this typically dreary Irish melodrama about a dad trying to save his kids from the orphanage. Based on a typically dreary Irish true story.

EVENING WITH KEVIN SMITH, AN (dir: J.M. Kenny, NR) - The creator of Clerks, Mallrats and Dogma does a Q & A with fans to help shed some light on why he is the genius he is.

EXTREME OPS (dir: Christian Duguay, PG-13) - Finally, a movie that combines extreme sports with James Bond style action! That movie was called XXX. This is a rip-off of XXX. Do you know what's worse than being XXX? Being a rip-off of XXX.

EYE SEE YOU (dir: Jim Gillespie, R) - Sylvester Stallone must identify a killer at a remote rehab clinic during a blizzard. It's like Seven meets The Shining crossed with Rambo. Tom Berenger, Kris Kristofferson, Jeffrey Wright and Robert Patrick co-star.

FAMILY GUY: SEASONS 1 & 2 (dir: Seth MacFarlane, Not Rated) - The first two seasons of this sarcastic animated sitcom have a nice mean-spirited energy, but a low rate of successful jokes. Teenage boys seem to really like it though.

FAR FROM HEAVEN (dir: Todd Haynes, PG-13) - Julianne Moore stars in what may be the best film of 2002. This story of a 1950's housewife searching for identity as her seemingly perfect world crashes in around her works on a melodramatic level but also as a satire of the period films it achingly recreates. It is a criminal disgrace that this film wasn't showered with Academy Awards but that only illustrates how out of touch the Oscars are with the movies that matter.

FAST RUNNER, THE (dir: Zacharias Kunuk, R) - Probably the best Inuit film you'll see this year, this mythical thriller tells the story of two brothers who try their best to free their community from evil forces.

FAT GIRL (dir: Catherine Breillat, NR) - The latest shock-o-rama from the director of ROMANCE tells the story of a girl fascinated and envious of her more glamorous older sister's increasingly risky sexual escapades. Catherine Breillat, as a director, is interested in the psychology of sex and certainly does not shy away from the ugliness that can spring from adolescent lust. However, does that alone make an entertaining or important film? Not necessarily. Unfortunately, the most interesting aspect of her films is the fact that it's a woman telling stories that would be dismissed as perverse at best, pornographic at worst, if told by a man.

FEAR DOT COM (dir: William Malone, R) - The only spooky thing about this movie is how closely its plot resembles THE RING. Stephen Dorff doesn't embarrass himself too badly but Natasha McElhone presents one of the worst American accents ever committed to celluloid.

FEMME FATALE (dir: Brian De Palma, R) - Brian De Palma masterfully returns to form with this neo-noir thriller that is equal parts clever and absurd. Although his practice of using any trick to pull the rug from underneath the viewers expectations may grate on some people, I personally think De Palma will be remembered for his innovative approach and singular style. FEMME FATALE will stand alongside OBSESSION, DRESSED TO KILL, BLOW OUT and BODY DOUBLE when people finally start to appreciate this one of a kind director.

FIFTEEN AMORE (dir: Maurice Murphy, Not Rated) - More Australian propaganda. Set in the waning days of World War 2, this romantic drama sets out to promote the idea that even during wartime, families in Australia can have a jolly old time on their farms with their Italian P.O.W. and Jewish refugee friends. Subversive.

FLICKERING LIGHTS (dir: Anders Thomas Jensen, NR) - The directorial debut from the screenwriter of notable Danish "Dogme 95" films (MIFUNE, THE KING IS ALIVE) is a gangster comedy that's been favorably compared to the works of the Coen Brothers and Quentin Tarantino.  We could go on, but the tagline for this movie, "De har altid vaeret pa flugt - nu lober de for livet," says it all...

FOOD OF LOVE (dir: Ventura Pons, R) - This gay coming-of-age drama set in the world of classical music has been acclaimed as an elegant and sweeping story.

FOREIGNER, THE (dir: Michael Oblowitz, R) - By my estimation, any week when a new Steven Seagal movie comes out proves the grand order of the universe is working A-OK.

FORMULA 51 (dir: Ronny Yu, R) - Samuel L. Jackson plays a chemist who heads off to England to score a bunch of quid for the new street drug he's just invented. He's followed by the dealers he double-crossed and is given a guided tour of Liverpool by Robert "Begbie" Carlyle, the whole time inexplicably wearing a kilt. Many car chases and gun battles follow but a moral dilemma arises; do you root for the good drug dealers or the bad drug dealers?

FOUR FEATHERS, THE (dir: Shekhar Kapur, PG-13) - The director of ELIZABETH brings us the seventh big-screen adaptation of A.E.W. Mason's novel of desert intrigue and lost love. Heath Ledger plays a young soldier who disgraces himself by abandoning the battlefield. He then sets out to redeem himself and win back Kate Hudson. This sandy epic should delight fans of THE ENGLISH PATIENT and LAWRENCE OF ARABIA alike.

FRIDA (dir: Julie Taymor, R) - Salma Hayek spent eight years attempting to bring the life story of Mexican artist Frida Kahlo to the screen, and the effort paid off. Paired with the unique visual style of director Julie Taymor, Hayek fully inhabits a woman that is obviously close to her heart.

FRIDAY AFTER NEXT (dir: Marcus Raboy, R) - The original FRIDAY was a witty spin on the buddy comedy, seen through a haze of pot smoke. This unfortunately has led to two uninspired sequels that never needed to see the light of day. Ice Cube has shown true promise in FRIDAY and BARBERSHOP; it's too bad he's squandering his talent with dreary retreads.

FULL FRAME DOCUMENTARY SHORTS (dir: Various, Not Rated) - Here's your chance to see some of the documentaries you see nominated at the Academy Awards and then never hear from again. From Bulgaria to India, these shorts cover subjects ranging from foster care to crime-scene clean up crews. 

FULL FRONTAL (dir: Steven Soderbergh, R) - Steven Soderbergh used the clout he had gained with OCEAN'S ELEVEN, ERIN BROCKOVICH and TRAFFIC to assemble a cast of big stars that would be paid virtually no money, shoot an improvised script with no mainstream potential and to do it all in a couple of weeks. Whether it's an ego driven vanity project or a scathing insight into the excesses of Hollywood is to be determined.

FULLTIME KILLER (dir: Johnnie To / Wai Ka Fai, R) - This Hong Kong action epic has been hailed as the revitalization of the entire genre. Any fan of the classic John Woo violent symphony style would do well to check this out.

FUTURAMA: SEASON ONE (dir: Matt Groening, NR) - Some fans of THE SIMPSONS didn't give this show a fair shake when it debuted and that's too bad because it eventually found its rhythm and own unique brand of humor. THE SIMPSONS didn't fully hit it's stride until the third or fourth season so I think it's only right that FUTURAMA be cut a little slack for its freshman year.

GACY (dir: Clive Saunders, R) - Another week, another serial-killer bio-pic. This would go along nicely as a triple feature with DAHMER and TED BUNDY. At first glance it may seem a chilling story, but it's really just a simple tale about a guy who thought it would be a really good idea to bury 30 or so young men in his basement.

GANG TAPES (dir: Adam Ripp, R) - A suburban family's video camera is stolen and the young hoodlums responsible make a document of their hardscrabble existence. It's like Blair Witch meets Boyz N The Hood.

GATHERING STORM, THE (dir: Richard Loncraine, Not Rated) - This look at Winston Churchill's time in office in the days before World War II won The Golden Globes and The Emmys for Best Actor and Best TV Film. Indeed, Albert Finney is in rare form as the beleaguered British leader trying to warn the world of the dark days ahead. 

GHOST SHIP (dir: Steve Beck, R) - After a spooky gross-out of a first scene, GHOST SHIP quickly falls into routine horror schlock mode. Why Gabriel Byrne and Julianna Margulies chose to be involved in this B-grade junk is the truly scary thing.

GOOD GIRL, THE (dir: Miguel Arteta, R) - Jennifer Aniston is a revelation in this quirky comedy from the creators of Chuck & Buck and Star Maps. A fine supporting ensemble includes Jake Gyllenhaal, John C. Reilly, Tim Blake Nelson and Zooey Deschanel.

GREY ZONE, THE (dir: Tim Blake Nelson, R) - If you like your Holocaust films light and frothy, ala LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL, steer clear of THE GREY ZONE, which puts new terms on bleakness. A who's-who of Independent cinema, including Harvey Keitel, Steve Buscemi and Mira Sorvino, star in this riveting tale of the "Sonderkommando", a group of Jewish prisoners at Auschwitz who were given special privileges and allowed to live longer as long as they did the dirty work of cleaning the gas chambers. Although it was never properly released in theaters and quickly hustled onto video, this is a film of true magnitude that deserves to be seen. If you ever felt suspicious of SCHINDLER'S LIST's redemptive third act, here is a film that stands in awe of the truth and is not interested in coddling and comforting the viewer.

GURU, THE (dir: Daisy von Scherler Mayer, R) – The director of PARTY GIRL brings us this charming tale of a young Indian man coming to America in search of fame. Instead of becoming a famous actor, through a string of misunderstandings, he ends up being mistaken for a revered sex expert.

GUY THING, A (dir: Chris Koch, PG-13) - Formerly promising young actor Jason Lee slogs through this dull-as-dirt retread of every romantic comedy ever made. Julia Stiles and Selma Blair join him in his downward spiral.

HALF PAST DEAD (dir: Don Michael Paul, R) - Steven Seagal follows his collaboration with DMX, EXIT WOUNDS, by teaming up with another rapper-turned-actor, Ja Rule. The squinty bone breaker is an undercover FBI agent who has to foil a caper to steal a fortune from the bowels of Alcatraz.

HALLOWEEN RESURRECTION (dir: Rick Rosenthal, R) - Michael Myers returns to his childhood home and meets up with...Busta Rhymes! Hilarity ensues.

HAPPINESS OF THE KATAKURIS (dir: Takashi Miike, R) - Japanese maestro Takashi Miike, the director of creepfests AUDITION and VISITOR Q, continues to freak everyone out with his latest assault on the senses. A genre-bursting story of a family who open an inn where people keep turning up dead, there are musical numbers, animated sequences and gory horror all on display here. If Miike is nothing else, he is undoubtedly the most audacious filmmaker to come out of Asia in many years. 

HAPPY ACCIDENTS (dir: Brad Anderson, R) - Marisa Tomei and Vincent D'Onofrio play young lovers with only one obstacle to get past...he thinks he's from 400 years in the future!

HARRISON'S FLOWERS (dir: Elie Choruraqui, R) - Andie MacDowell stars as a wife who refuses to believe her husband is dead and sets out to find the truth. Also starring David Strathairn, Elias Koteas, Brendan Gleeson and Adrien Brody.

HARRY POTTER AND THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS (dir: Chris Columbus, PG) - The new Harry Potter is 2 hours and 41 minutes long.  That's approximately 4 1/2 martinis until those whiny kids start pestering you again.

HEAVEN (dir: Tom Tykwer, R) - The director of RUN LOLA RUN and THE PRINCESS AND THE WARRIOR returns with his first English language film. Cate Blanchett stars as a vengeful widow searching for the reason behind her husband's death.

HELL HOUSE (dir: George Ratliff, Not Rated) - You might consider this documentary about a Fundamentalist group that tries to scare its members into becoming better Christians the flipside of DEVIL'S PLAYGROUND.  Or you might not.

HERO (dir: Zhang Yimou, NR) - It's RASHOMON meets CROUCHING TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON in this worldwide smash starring Asian superstars Jet Li, Maggie Cheung and Tony Leung. Acclaimed director Zhang Yimou veers away from the understated drama of JU DOU and RAISE THE RED LANTERN for this epic tale of warlords and assassins in pre-unified China.

HEY ARNOLD! THE MOVIE (dir: Tuck Tucker, PG) - The latest Nickelodeon show to make it to the big screen finds Arnold, Helga and Gerald trying to save the neighborhood from evil industrialists who want to tear it down and put up a shopping mall.

HIT ME (dir: Steven Shainberg, R) - Here's another film from the director of SECRETARY that delves into the dark side of human nature. Starring Elias Koteas, William H. Macy and Phillip Baker Hall, this gritty flick is based on a novel by pulp fiction genius Jim Thompson. Also appearing is the late, great Dr. Haing S. Ngor in his last film role.

HOT CHICK (dir: Tom Brady, PG-13) - Speaking of audacity, Rob Schneider continues to make a living as an actor.

HOURS, THE (dir: Stephen Daldry, PG-13) - Although not technically an Australian film, that Antipodean swan-necked interloper Nicole Kidman is the star and she's been known to chow down on a Vegemite sandwich, if you catch my drift. Luckily she's playing the very British Virginia Woolf and it's easy enough to ignore the fact that really she's the descendent of a bunch of criminals.

HUMAN NATURE (dir: Michel Gondry, R) - The writer of Being John Malkovich returns with this wacky parable regarding civilization versus wilderness. Can Patricia Arquette and Rhys Ifans conform to societal standards and keep their clothes on? 

HYSTERICAL BLINDNESS (dir: Mira Nair, Not Rated) - Juliette Lewis and Uma Thurman take us back to 1980's New Jersey in this tale of two single women searching for the kind of love you find in a Bon Jovi song.

I AM TRYING TO BREAK YOUR HEART (dir: Sam Jones, Not Rated) - Whether you're a fan of Wilco, the band at the center of this documentary, or unfamiliar with their emotion-fueled blend of country-tinged rock, you'll be drawn into the story of a band trying to hold it together through personal and business upheavals.

I SPY (dir: Betty Thomas, PG-13) - It's like Rush Hour plus Shanghai Noon minus Jackie Chan! At least that's what the studio execs must have been saying when they teamed up Eddie Murphy and Owen Wilson for this big budget action-comedy silliness. (what we think)

IGBY GOES DOWN (dir: Burr Steers, R) - Igby has problems. His mother is a valium dazed harpy, his father a schizophrenic in a sanitarium and his brother a standard bullying fascist. Is it any wonder he runs away from school and hides out with an older woman? This is a movie full of rich characters, great performances and a stinging wit.

I'M GOING HOME (dir: Manoel de Oliveira, NR) - Portugal's great director Manoel De Oliveira guides France's great actor Michel Piccoli through this meditation on aging and art. With a combined age of 175 years, there is wisdom being doled out onscreen by the bucketful. Catherine Deneuve and John Malkovich are on hand to lend support.

I'M WITH LUCY (dir: Jon Sherman, R) - In the tradition of BRIDGET JONES'S DIARY comes this dating comedy starring Monica Potter as the lucky girl trying to choose between David Boreanaz, Gael Garcia Bernal and Anthony Lapaglia, among others.

INCREDIBLE HULK, THE (animated) (dir: Stan Lee, NR) - Before heading off to the multiplex to check out Ang Lee's interpretation, this cartoon version could be the quick fix to get you through.

INNOCENCE (dir: Paul Cox, R) - Two Australian lovers are reunited after forty years but can they reignite the flame?

INSPECTOR GADGET 2 (dir: Alex Zamm, G) - In this straight to video sequel Matthew Broderick and Rupert Everett are nowhere to be found, but we do get French Stewart taking over the titular role. There is also an all-robot, all-female gadget! 

INTACTO (dir: Juan Carlos Fresnadillo, R) - As a small child, the director of INTACTO and his parents very narrowly missed getting on one of the two 747's that collided in the Canary Islands in the 1970's resulting in the worst air disaster in history. That got him thinking: is luck predetermined? Is it a commodity that can be bartered with and misused? That is the premise of this Spanish thriller that was easily one of our favorites of last year. A secret society of people who have experienced extraordinary feats of luck meet sporadically to determine which of them is the luckiest. This involves having races through forests wearing blindfolds and the ever-popular Russian Roulette. Truly mesmerizing, and not to be missed.

INTERVIEW WITH THE ASSASSIN (dir: Neil Burger, R) - What if there was a second gunman when Kennedy was shot? And what if he came forward forty years later to tell his story? That's the scenario being raised by this tightly crafted thriller.

INVINCIBLE (dir: Jefery Levy, PG-13) - Billy Zane, the coolest man on earth, is a martial arts master who must train a band of misfits in order to save the world. Jet Li was a producer for this movie so, if nothing else, the fight sequences are guaranteed to be awesome.

INVINCIBLE (dir: Werner Herzog, PG-13) – Set in Berlin in the years prior to World War II, a young Jewish carnival strongman believes God has made him the new Samson to protect his people from Hitler. As Werner Herzog’s first feature film in over 10 years, INVINCIBLE is a revelatory return to form.  Klaus Kinski would have been proud. He also would’ve loved to sink his teeth into the role of the sinister ambitious politician, played by Tim Roth.                 

ISLE, THE (dir: Kim Ki-Duk, Not Rated) - From South Korea comes this eerie romance that lulls you with its gentle story and ethereal landscapes, only to turn around and smack you into submission with some of the most disturbing images ever committed to film. While a doomed love affair involving graphically inappropriate usage of fish-hooks may seem challenging, or even repellant, it brings to mind Roger Ebert who once said "to limit ourselves to the familiar is a crime against our minds".

IT ALL STARTS TODAY (dir: Bertrand Tavernier, Not Rated) - Veteran French director Bertrand Tavernier brings us the story of a school teacher's everyday struggles for his students in a small town ravaged by poverty. Phillippe Torreton gives a heartfelt performance in this celebration of small triumphs.

JACKASS THE MOVIE (dir: Jeff Tremaine, R) - Although there is a case to be made that the success of the JACKASS boys is a sign of the coming apocalypse, there is no denying that what they do is funny. There is a purity to the joy they get from humiliating themselves that is somehow refreshing, if not admirable. It may not be everyone's cup of tea, but it might just be that the world needs to lighten up a little.

JANE WHITE IS SICK & TWISTED (dir: David Michael Latt, R) - Jane is an unbalanced young woman who believes a Jerry Springer-like talk show host is her father. She sets out to get on the show so they can be reunited but encounters the usual pitfalls along the way. This has a chance of becoming quite a cult item if it truly "combines BEING THERE with ACE VENTURA".

JERRY SEINFELD: COMEDIAN (dir: Christian Charles, R) - Here's an interesting look into the life of one of America's favorite funny men. This documentary mixes footage of Seinfeld trying out (and sometimes bombing with) new material at open-mic nights, with the story of Orny Adams, a delusional young comedian "on the rise". He's one of the most desperately unfunny people ever committed to celluloid and I can only imagine he was chosen to contrast with the charming ease that Seinfeld carries naturally. 

JIMMY NEUTRON: CONFUSION FUSION (dir: Various, Not Rated) - The Nickelodeon factory continues to pump out their shows onto DVD as part of their grand campaign to own the hearts and minds of America's children.

JIMMY SHOW, THE (dir: Frank Whaley, R) - The new film directed by, written by and starring Frank Whaley explores similar grim working class themes as his debut JOE THE KING (one of my favorites of 1999). He stars as Jimmy, a struggling stand-up comic whose miserable home life starts to work its way into his act. Highly recommended.

JONAH: A VEGGIETALES MOVIE (dir: Phil Vischer / Mike Nawrocki, G) - Are you a little kid? Do you like cartoons? Do you find that most of the cartoons you watch are lacking in hardcore Christian values? Your prayers have been answered.

JUNGLE BOOK 2, THE (dir: Syeve Trenbirth, G) - The Walt Disney Company continues to raid its vault, finding new and creative ways to exploit past glories. I know old Walt was a Nazi sympathizer, but even he had limits.

JUST A KISS (dir: Fisher Stevens, R) - Fisher Stevens, the loveable Indian scientist in the SHORT CIRCUIT films, makes his debut as a director with an Indie romantic comedy revolving around the convoluted love lives of eight young Manhattanites. It's like FRIENDS with more swearing.

JUST MARRIED (dir: Shawn Levy, PG-13) - Ashton Kutcher and Brittany Murphy are charmless in this lazy comedy that crosses AMERICAN PIE with EUROPEAN VACATION.

K-19: THE WIDOWMAKER (dir: Kathryn Bigelow, PG-13) - Harrison Ford tries on a Russian accent in this true life account of a nuclear submarine on the brink of destruction.

KANDAHAR (dir: Mohsen Makhmalbaf, NR) - This fact based drama follows an Afghan-born Canadian journalist as she returns to her homeland with the hope of freeing her sister from the clutches of Taliban oppression. From the director of the brilliant GABBEH, KANDAHAR promises to be an insightful look into the unstable politics of the Middle East that resonates on a human level.

KANGAROO JACK (dir: David McNally, PG) - Here's a dopey family comedy that seeks to legitimize Australia as a haven of cute and fuzzy animals. Sure, kangaroos and koala bears are adorable. However, did you know that 9 of the 10 most lethally poisonous snakes are found in Australia? Still want to pay a visit? How would you feel about waking up with a Southern Death Adder in your sleeping bag? Would you like to go swimming and encounter a Lake Cronin Snake? Oh, and if you want to go for a stroll you might accidentally step on The Taipan, the DEADLIEST snake on earth. Not for me, no sir.

KILLING ME SOFTLY (dir: Chen Kaige, UR) - Heather Graham and Joseph Fiennes heat up the screen in this sex-drenched thriller set in London. This is the first English language film from Chen Kaige, the director responsible for THE EMPEROR AND THE ASSASSIN and FAREWELL MY CONCUBINE.

KNOCKAROUND GUYS (dir: Brian Koppelman / David Levien, R) - The influence of Quentin Tarentino is still helping to churn out trite imitations, I'm afraid to report. This time around, wannabe gangsters Barry Pepper and Vin Diesel must recover a bag full of money that has been misplaced in a small Midwestern town. I guess the filmmakers thought the juxtaposition of New York tough guys and rural hicks would be considered funny, or worse, clever. Seth Green, Dennis Hopper and John Malkovich lend their considerable talents to this undeserving mess.

LAND BEFORE TIME: JOURNEY TO BIG WATER (G) - Why can't these animated dinosaurs stay out of trouble? And why are they singing?

LATE MARRIAGE (dir: Dover Kosashvili, Not Rated) - If you can't get enough of wedding movies, here's an import from Israel that combines all of the standard elements; the disapproving parents, the reluctant bachelor, the cultural rituals, but underscores them with a depth of realism that is missing from other films in the genre. 

LIFE + DEBT (dir: Stephanie Black, Not Rated) - This hard-hitting documentary explores the effects of globalization on a developing nation like Jamaica. As self-serving international moneylenders exploit others under the pretense of enabling them, we must remember one thing: In order for rich and privileged societies like ours to exist, there must be third world cultures for us to feed upon. 

LIKE MIKE (dir: John Schultz, PG) - Lil Bow Wow proves his basketball skills are as adept as his rhyming skillz.

LITTLE BEAR MOVIE, THE (dir: Raymond Jafelice, G) – The new animated film based on Maurice Sendak’s classic book will certainly entertain the kids but leaves a puzzling question: Why would bears go on a camping trip?

LITTLE OTIK (dir: Jan Svankmajer, NR) - If you have yet to experience one of Jan Svankmajer's surreal mergings of animation and live actors, now is your chance. This updating of a Czech legend is sure to strike a chord with parents everywhere.

LIVE FROM BAGHDAD (dir: Mick Jackson, Not Rated) - Did our most recent mission of freedom in Iraq make you sentimental for the days of Stormin' Norman, the Scud Stud and George Bush the senior? If so, here's an award winning docu-drama about the rise to prominence of CNN during the days when Demi Moore was known as a leading film actress rather than as Ashton Kutcher's babysitter. Michael Keaton and Helena Bonham Carter play ballsy producers who stick it out in Baghdad as the bombs fall.

LOST IN LA MANCHA (dir: Keith Fulton / Louis Pepe, R) - This is the sad, true tale of everything that can go wrong during the making of a film. All director Terry Gilliam wanted to do was fulfill his longtime ambition of bringing the tale of Don Quixote to the big screen. Unfortunately, when he went to Spain to make the film, he encountered budget problems, dying actors, and hailstorms of Biblical proportions, and the film was shut down. You will rarely be this entertained by something that makes you feel so sorry for someone.

LOUDER THAN BOMBS (dir: Przemyslaw Wojcieszek, Not Rated) - A young Polish man must contend with his father's death and his James Dean obsession as he decides whether to emigrate to America or lose his girlfriend forever.

LOVE LIZA (dir: Todd Louiso, R) - Philip Seymour Hoffman once again proves himself the best actor of the past decade with this heartbreaking comedy about a web designer who attempts to cope with his wife's suicide by using a dangerous experimental drug.

MAD LOVE (dir: Vincente Aranda, R)- Veteren director Vicente Aranda returns with this impassioned period piece based on true events that occurred in 15th century Spain.

MAID IN MANHATTAN (dir: Wayne Wang, PG-13) - J. Lo cleans house as a spunky maid who steals the aristocratic heart of R. Fi in this absolutely formulaic romantic comedy from formerly notable director Wayne Wang.

MAN FROM ELYSIAN FIELDS, THE (dir: George Hickenlooper, R) - Finally, there comes a movie that dares tackle the unspoken subject of... male escort services. Starring Andy Garcia as the man-whore and Mick Jagger as his pimp.

MARTIN LAWRENCE LIVE: RUNTELDAT (dir: David Raynr, R) - Martin Lawrence returns to stand up comedy with his particularly offensive and unfunny brand of humor. He takes on topics such as terrorists, why girls are mean and what he was doing in that intersection waving a gun at people.

MASLIN BEACH (dir: Wayne Groom, NR) - Well, someone had to do it. The world was lacking an all-nude romantic comedy, so leave it to the Australians to fill the void. Set over the course of a day at a clothing-free beach, several couples explore the ins and outs of their... relationships. Did I mention that Australia was founded as a prison colony?

MASTER OF DISGUISE, THE (dir: Perry Andelin Blake, PG) - Dana Carvey plays multiple characters in this alleged comedy that James Berardinelli calls "puerile rubbish".

MAX (dir: Menno Meyjes, R) - A film offering the historical what-if scenario of Adolf Hitler pursuing a painting career and befriending a Jewish art dealer. Would the 20th Century have been entirely different if Hitler's paintings weren't so laughably awful? We'll never know, I guess. John Cusack and Noah Taylor are both in top form here. 

ME WITHOUT YOU (dir: Sandra Goldbacher, R) - DAWSON'S CREEK-er Michelle Williams and Anna Friel star in this decade-spanning testament to female friendship. Comparisons to BRIDGET JONES' DIARY have been made, but this film has a bit more of a somber tone. And Michelle Williams' British accent is not too shabby!

MENSAKA (dir: Salvador Garcia Ruiz, Not Rated) - This new Spanish coming-of-age drama is set against a backdrop of Madrid's music scene. It is the story of a mensaka (bike messenger) who dreams that his band will make it, but at what cost?

MERCI POUR LE CHOCOLAT (dir: Claude Chabrol, NR) – This is Claude Chabrol’s 48^th feature film and he’s still going strong. The ever-luminescent Isabelle Huppert stars as the head of a chocolate company in Switzerland whose husband’s past is coming back to haunt them. The moral ambiguity, underlying tension and provocative themes are all Chabrol trademarks and that’s why he’s one of Bart & Greg’s fave directors.

MINORITY REPORT (dir: Steven Spielberg, PG-13) - In the future, Tom Cruise plays a cop who has to prove his innocence for a murder that has not yet been committed. Huh?

MIRANDA (dir: Marc Munden, R) -Christina Ricci stars in this sex-saturated tale as a mysterious woman who is being pursued by a lonely librarian. Kyle MacLachlan co-stars as a sleazy millionaire (no doubt inspired by his historic performance in SHOWGIRLS as a sleazy millionaire).

MOCKINGBIRD DON'T SING (dir: Harry Bromley Davenport, Not Rated) - In the early 1970's a teenage girl was found imprisoned by her parents, locked away her entire life. As the media storm brewed, the girl was fought over by doctors eager to further their careers as much as help her. This powerful true story proves that the human spirit can be battered but not broken.

MOONLIGHT MILE (dir: Brad Silberling, R) - Dustin Hoffman, Jake Gyllenhaal and Susan Sarandon all turn in great performances as the parents and fiancé of a murdered girl. The boy moves in with the parents and they carry on as a somewhat uncomfortable and artificial family unit. As they piece things back together the boy must decide whether or not to share a dark secret that could shatter everyone. Recommended. (what we think)

MOSTLY MARTHA (dir: Sandra Nettelbeck, PG) - Fans of BABETTE'S FEAST and BIG NIGHT should take note of this German film that stars Martina Gedeck as a chef whose only passion in life is cooking. She is forced to come out of her shell when her niece is sent to live with her and a troublesome new Italian chef shows up at her restaurant. 

MURDER ON A SUNDAY MORNING (dir: Jean-Xavier De Lestrade, Not Rated) - Here's a film that will do wonders for French-American relations. Documentarian Jean-Xavier De Lestrade travels to Florida to investigate the possibly erroneous murder charges being faced by a young man. Issues of corruption and racism start to emerge and a pulse-quickening chain of events leads to a shocking conclusion. Americans should really love this film because they love to have their faults exposed, especially by French people.

MY BIG FAT GREEK WEDDING (dir: Joel Zwick, PG) - You've heard all the talk and now is the time to decide. Is this the most charming out-of-left-field crowd pleasing smash since PRETTY WOMAN, or a sophomoric, bad sitcom-esque, big fat wet-noodle of a movie? There are no easy answers, I'm afraid.

MY WIFE IS AN ACTRESS (dir: Yvan Attal, R) - Yummy French starlet Charlotte Gainsbourg plays a yummy French starlet who may be under the seductive powers of Terence Stamp on and off the set.

MYSTERIOUS OBJECT AT NOON (dir: Apichatpong Weerasethakul, Not Rated) - If you're in the mood for an experimental Thai quasi-documentary with virtually no structure and, to put it mildly, a very loose narrative, then voilà. 

MYSTIC MASSEUR, THE (dir: Ismail Merchant, PG) - Ismail Merchant, the producer behind A ROOM WITH A VIEW, HOWARD'S END and THE REMAINS OF THE DAY, makes a rare appearance as director with this new comedy of manners. Set amidst the Indian community of Trinidad in the middle of the last century, we follow Ganesh as he pursues his writing career and achieves fame for the healing properties of his massage. He is forced to determine who he really is before his values are distorted and he forgets his roots.

NARC (dir: Joe Carnahan, R) - Jason Patric and Ray Liotta are both amazing in this ultra gritty cop thriller that takes its cues from THE FRENCH CONNECTION rather than DIE HARD. As intense a film experience as you're likely to have had in a while.

NATIONAL SECURITY (dir: Dennis Dugan, PG-13) - Martin Lawrence continues his enduring reign as the least funny human being in the history of the world.

NEVER AGAIN (dir: Eric Schaeffer, R) - Here we have another exercise in ego-gratification from indie auteur Eric Schaeffer (WIREY SPINDELL, IF LUCY FELL). This time he vies for respectability by dragging Jill Clayburgh out of retirement to prove that it takes more than just a middle-aged cast to spice up the tired romantic comedy formula. 

NIJINSKY: THE DIARIES OF VASLAV NIJINSKY (dir: Paul Cox, NR) - Director Paul Cox goes inside the mind of one of the greatest dancers of all time and finds "genius on the outer edge of reason".

OFF THE HOOK (dir: Adam Watstein, NR) - Two best friends navigate their way through the mean streets of the South Bronx.

OLD SCHOOL (dir: Todd Phillips, Unrated) - Will Farrell, Vince Vaughn and Luke Wilson make an unstoppable comedy team in this unapologetically low-brow college caper. In what can only be described as a celebration of male commitment phobias, our three heroes try to recapture the glory of youth, while running away from any controlling female that approaches. You won't be proud of yourself, but you will laugh.

ONE HOUR PHOTO (dir: Mark Romanek, R) - Robin Williams continues his run of dark characters in this thriller in which he plays a photo lab employee who becomes dangerously obsessed with the "perfect" family whose pictures he develops. Far from being an over the top exercise in psycho hysterics, this is a nuanced slow burn of a thriller that lets you into the characters lives as it leads you to a harrowing climax. Michael Vartan and Connie Nielsen also star.

ONE WEEK (dir: Carl Seaton, R) - A young man with a secret must set his past straight before he can move on with his future. Black Cinema Café says it's the film of the year!

ONE-HUNDRED AND ONE DALMATIANS 2: PATCH'S LONDON ADVENTURE (G) - Disney's latest straight to video sequel to one of their classics will probably entertain the kids but probably tarnish your memories.

ONE-O-ONE REYKJAVIK (dir: Baltasar Kormakur, Not Rated) - An aimless young man in Iceland gets a new passion for life when he falls in love with his mother's girlfriend, a sexy Flamenco teacher. This is one of the best imports of the year, full of dark humor and heart. It's been compared to an Arctic Pedro Almodovar film. 

OSBOURNES, THE: THE FIRST SEASON (dir: Ozzy Osbourne, NR) - I think people respond to Ozzy and company so well because underneath all the shouting and cursing there lies genuine affection. On one hand they are a family totally at odds with what passes for normalcy but at the same time they reinvent it. For the 21st century, they are the mold for the new American family. And they're not even American. (what we think)

OUR SONG (dir: Jim McKay, R) - This film set in Brooklyn follows the complicated lives of three teenaged girls and is a true testimonial to the independent spirit of women. It's like Blue Crush without the surfing.

OZ: THE COMPLETE SECOND SEASON (dir: Tom Fontana, Unrated) - HBO's most explicit series returns with more deviant long-timers maiming and killing each other while swearing. 

PAID IN FULL (dir: Charles Stone III, R) - Mekhi Phifer, Eminem's co-star in 8 MILE, takes the lead in this crime drama set in 1980's Harlem. Can a young man resist the temptation of high-rolling street life and retain the morals that his mama taught him?

PATH TO WAR (dir: John Frankenheimer, NR) - John Frankenheimer's last film is a made for cable epic that traces the roots of the Vietnam War and features an all-star cast including Michael Gambon, Donald Sutherland, Alec Baldwin and Bruce McGill.

PERSONAL VELOCITY (dir: Rebecca Miller, R) - Here's an Indie gem that doesn't deserve to get lost in the shuffle. Essentially, it's three short films about three very different women. It's up to the viewer to connect them to one another in larger terms. Kyra Sedgwick, Parker Posey and Fairuza Balk star.

PIANIST, THE (dir: Roman Polanski, R) - One of 2002's best films arrives on the heels of being the big winner at the Academy Awards, getting upset victories in the Best Actor and Best Director category. Adrian Brody and Roman Polanski indeed prove a formidable duo, crafting a movie as stirring and powerful as anything in recent memory.

PICTURE CLAIRE (dir: Bruce McDonald, R) – Juliette Lewis stars as a French-Canadian woman searching for her missing photographer boyfriend in Toronto. She encounters sleazy underworld-types Mickey Rourke and Gina Gershon playing sleazy underworld-types and gets freaked out.  As would you.

PIPE DREAM (dir: John C. Walsh, R) - Martin Donovan stars as a plumber posing as a film director in order to woo Rebecca Gayheart in this winning comedy that teaches us it's not who you are, it's who you pretend to be!

PISTOL OPERA (dir: Seijun Suzuki, NR) - Legendary director Seijun Suzuki angered so many people in the Japanese film industry with his gonzo 1960's crime-thrillers BRANDED TO KILL and TOKYO DRIFTER that he wasn't able to find work for many years. Luckily, he was able to rework BRANDED TO KILL into this tale of a female assassin's rise to the top and see his first U.S. release in 35 years.

POKEMON 4EVER (DIR: JIM MALONE / KUNIHIKO YUYAMA, G) - Let's hope not.

PORN STAR - THE LEGEND OF RON JEREMY (dir: Scott J. Gill, UR) - Ron Jeremy gets the documentary treatment in this light, funny examination of what made a nice Jewish boy from Queens become the biggest star in adult entertainment.

POSSESSION (dir: Neil LaBute, PG-13) - Neil LaBute, the misanthrope behind IN THE COMPANY OF MEN and YOUR FRIENDS & NEIGHBORS, turns over a new leaf with this romantic tale that time-travels between Victorian and modern day England. Most exciting of all, this allows Gwyneth Paltrow to turn on her killer British accent!

POWER AND TERROR: NOAM CHOMSKY IN OUR TIMES (dir: John Junkerman, NR) - Leading political intellectual Noam Chomsky addresses the issues surrounding September 11th in a calm and philosophical manner. 

PUNCH-DRUNK LOVE (dir: Paul Thomas Anderson, R) - If you ever wondered what it would be like if maverick director Paul Thomas Anderson (MAGNOLIA, BOOGIE NIGHTS) made a romantic comedy starring Adam Sandler, here's your chance to find out. The results of this odd combination are unique and funny, and have a manic energy that make PUNCH-DRUNK LOVE a one of a kind experience.

QUITTING (dir: Zhang Yang, R) - This true story of drug addiction, directed by Zhang Yang, features some of the actual people appearing as themselves. Jia Hongsheng is the young actor at the center, retracing his steps through a four-year descent into heroin use and his journey back from the edge.

RABBIT-PROOF FENCE (dir: Phillip Noyce, PG) - Based on the true practice (that existed until the 1970's) of taking Aborigine children from their parents and putting them in government orphanages, this powerful drama follows three young girls as they stage a daring escape and attempt to walk 1,500 miles to return to their families. 

RAIN (dir: Christine Jeffs, R) - At the family vacation home by the sea Janey is growing up fast. She is starting to see her parent's disintegrating marriage without the filters of childhood, while contending with her own rapidly burgeoning sexuality. With a dreamlike intensity rarely found in Hollywood films, this import from New Zealand tells the story of a girl who feels encroaching disaster but is powerless to keep it at bay. Fantastic.

RATS, THE (dir: John J. Lafia, R) - In this thriller straight from cable, New York City is under siege from thousands of bloodthirsty rats who will not rest until they satisfy their ravenous appetites. I don't see what the big deal is. Manhattanites have to deal with people from Long Island every day.

REAL WOMEN HAVE CURVES (dir: Patricia Cardoso, PG-13) – This is the story of Ana, a young woman graduating from high school and on the verge of making some very big life decisions. She is torn between moving across country for college or working in the family business. Will she sacrifice her dreams for the sake of her family? The winner of 3 awards at Sundance, this is a crowd pleaser that doesn’t rely on sentiment and false emotions to get the audience on its side.

RECRUIT, THE (dir: Roger Donaldson, PG-13) - The Lusty Leprechaun, a.k.a. Colin Farrell, turns in a star-making performance in this easygoing action-thriller. He plays a cocky C.I.A. recruit caught up in Al Pacino's spiderweb of deceit. The movie is fairly disposable entertainment, but Farrell makes it highly watchable.

RED DRAGON (dir: Brett Ratner, R) - Thomas Harris's second Hannibal Lector novel, RED DRAGON, had already been made into a film called MANHUNTER by Michael Mann in 1986. Although it seems a bit arbitrary to remake a film that was perfectly good in the first place, there is no denying that this is an effective film in it's own right. The amazing cast assembled features standout performances by Edward Norton, Ralph Fiennes and Emily Watson.

RING, THE (dir: Gore Verbinski, PG-13) - Here's the most talked about thriller since THE SIXTH SENSE, and deservedly so. Thoroughly faithful to the Japanese original RINGU, while establishing it's own lush visual look, THE RING creates a claustrophobic sense of impending doom that is hard to shake. Naomi Watts proves herself a movie star as the reporter tracking down a mysterious videotape that may be responsible for a string of gruesome deaths. Watch it in the dark and hope the phone doesn't ring. (what we think)

RINGU (dir: Hideo Nakata, NR) - As is usually the case, the original is preferable. Although THE RING is admirable, RINGU is nearly flawless and at least 25% creepier. This is the movie that jumpstarted the Asian horror genre and is responsible for movies like AUDITION, TELL ME SOMETHING and ANOTHER HEAVEN. (what we think)

RIVER OF GRASS (dir: Kelly Reichardt, NR) - Part homage, part send-up of lovers-on-the-run films, this overlooked Indie follows a bored housewife as she hits the highways and byways of Florida with a wannabe criminal.

ROAD TO PERDITION (dir: Sam Mendes, R) - The director of AMERICAN BEAUTY attempts to avoid the sophomore slump by gathering an all-star cast of Tom Hanks, Paul Newman and Jude Law for this gangster saga set during The Great Depression. Although this essentially is a crime drama, there's also a father-son bonding story at work here and that's what will resonate after the guns have cooled.

ROAD TO RICHES (dir: Michael Gallagher, R) – Robert Forster, Rose McGowan and Kip Pardue star in this drama dealing with luck and love. Unlucky gamblers, downtrodden strippers and gullible hicks populate this film that has been compared to HARD EIGHT.

ROBIN WILLIAMS LIVE ON BROADWAY (dir: Marty Callner, Not Rated) - Now that Robin Williams seems much more suited play creepy sociopaths than funnymen, can he still summon up the old manic hilarity as a stand-up comedian? Find out in this 2002 sold-out performance.

ROGER DODGER (dir: Dylan Kidd, R) - Campbell Scott won the best actor award from The National Board Of Review for his portrayal of the ultimate cad who thinks he's the ultimate ladies man. When his nephew seeks his advice in the female department, he quickly learns that the boy may have something to teach him as well.

ROSA PARKS STORY, THE (dir: Julie Dash, Not Rated) - Released to coincide with Martin Luther King Day, this docudrama recounts the small act of a woman that ended up having far reaching effects. Angela Bassett stars as the titular heroine and is directed by Julie Dash (DAUGHTERS OF THE DUST). 

RUB & TUG (dir: Soo Lyu, R) - Who's ready for a comedy of manners set in a massage parlor? When Conrad becomes the new manager, he attempts to make the business go legit. Will the girls be able to deliver the same hands-on service but stay out of trouble?

RUGRATS MYSTERIES (dir: Gabor Csupo / Arlene Klasky, Not Rated) - The troublesome toddlers return to interfere with things and exasperate adults.

RULES OF ATTRACTION, THE (dir: Roger Avary, R) - Roger Avary, the co-writer of PULP FICTION, proves that he learned a few things from Quentin Tarentino but has also developed his own unique style. Set at a privileged college where the students seem to major only in drinking, drugging and frequent fornication, the film undermines your expectations at every turn. What could have been a glossed-over morality tale is instead a glossed-over examination of alienation and emptiness. In the three rotating leads, James Van Der Beek, Shannyn Sossamon and Ian Somerhalder all turn in great performances. There is a lot more here than meets the eye.

SADE (dir: Benoit Jacquot, NR) - This is basically the same story as QUILLS, more interestingly told. Think less Geoffrey Rush overacting and more Daniel Auteuil subtle mastery. Think less Phillip Kaufman perviness and more Benoit Jacquot artfulness.

SATIN ROUGE (dir: Raja Amari, Not Rated) - Finally, the Tunisian answer to DIRTY DANCING.

SAVAGE MESSIAH (dir: Mario Azzopardi, R) - This film from our neighbors to the north has been nominated for 7 Genie Awards, the Canadian equivalent of the Oscar. It's the true story of a social worker's attempt to free the children and nine wives of a sadistic cult leader. Filmed on location in Quebec.

SECOND SKIN (dir: Gerardo Vera, UR) – Javier Bardem plays Alberto, a man struggling to balance his marriage to Elena and his affair with Diego. As he tries to keep his life compartmentalized, it becomes increasingly difficult for him to know who the real him is.

SECRET BALLOT (dir: Babak Payami, G) - This Iranian comedy follows a bureaucrat as she tries to get the inhabitants of a tiny island to take part in the voting process. The winner of awards at five international film festivals including best director at the Venice Film Festival.

SECRETARY (dir: Steven Shainberg, R) - Two great performances by Maggie Gyllenhaal and James Spader headline this dark comedy about a slightly disturbed young woman who falls in love with her slightly more disturbed boss. As their relationship veers into masochistic territory she starts to learn who she really is. It's like a coming of age story with lots of spanking.

SERVING SARA (dir: Reginald Hudlin, PG-13) - Matthew Perry and Elizabeth Hurley team up in a cross-country caper that leads to riches, romance and Bruce Campbell's chin.

SEX AND LUCIA (dir: Julio Medem, UR) - From the director of LOVERS OF THE ARCTIC CIRCLE comes what critics are calling the sexiest movie in existence. Ever.

SEX AND THE CITY: SEASON 4 (dir: Darren Star, NR) - Do you find yourself pining for a more vapid and disposable existence? Well settle in and let these "liberated" gals show you how it's done.

SEX: THE ANNABEL CHONG STORY (dir: Gough Lewis, NR) - One of the most harrowing and disturbing films in years. What inspires bright USC student Grace Quek to transform into Annabelle Chong, porn queen? This documentary is not to be missed, or forgotten.

SHAFT, THE (dir: Dick Maas, R) - One of the best European thrillers of the 1980's, Holland's DE LIFT, gets remade by the same director, but is now set in New York City. It was made a few years ago but is being released now to capitalize on the ascendance of star Naomi Watts. If you're looking for a film about a murderous elevator, you could do far worse than this. 

STAR TREK NEMESIS (dir: Stuart Baird, PG-13) - You know your long running franchise is in trouble when even the most devoted fans consider it lame. When Trekkies run screaming from the multiplex you have to wonder how many more installments this series can produce. Not to mention that Patrick Stewart has another Sci-Fi series to tend to now.

SHIELD, THE (dir: Shawn Ryan, Not Rated) - The newest TV series to hit DVD has been racking up awards at The Emmys and The Golden Globes. Isn't it time to see what all the fuss is about?

SIAM SUNSET (dir: John Polson, Not Rated) – In this Australian import, a British paint specialist attempts to track down a sought-after color called Siam Sunset and also escape his troubled past.  Comparable to THE ADVENTURES OF PRISCILLA, QUEEN OF THE DESERT, the usual quirky Australian sense of humor is on display here, as he encounters a cast of colorful characters.  But there is an edginess underneath that hints at something more serious.

SIGNS (dir: M. Night Shyamalan, PG-13) - The director of The Sixth Sense and Unbreakable returns with another slow-burning thriller. Mel Gibson has to hold his family together amidst ominous signals heralding the end of the world.

SIMONE (dir: Andrew Niccol, PG-13) - Al Pacino stars as a frustrated film director who creates a "virtual" actress to complete his film. She becomes a superstar while he tries to hide the truth in this scathing satire of the excesses of Hollywood.

SIX FEET UNDER (dir: Alan Ball, Not Rated) - It's time to forget about THE SOPRANOS, SEX AND THE CITY, BAND OF BROTHERS and all the other pretenders to the crown. This is the best television program out there. Alan Ball, the writer of AMERICAN BEAUTY, has imagined one of the most complicated, interesting and truthful depictions of a family ever to hit the screen. While adhering to the same addictive properties as something like THE SOPRANOS, great acting, great writing, attention to detail etc., SIX FEET UNDER never lapses into caricature or falls back on stereotypes. What we have here is something entirely new.

SKINS (dir: Chris Eyre, R) - Chris Eyre, who previously directed SMOKE SIGNALS, returns to the reservation with a more serious look at the troubles facing Native Americans. The story follows two brothers who have followed radically different paths but still have a bond beneath the skin.

SKY KIDS 2: THE ISLAND OF LOST DREAMS (dir: Robert Rodriguez, PG-13) - Here's the sequel to the coolest kids' movie in years, and some are saying it's even more fun than the first one. The Cortez family returns with gadgets galore to outspy all evil-doers and free the world from Steve Buscemi's fiendish critters.

SLAUGHTER RULE, THE (dir: Andrew Smith, R) - Our favorite young actor Ryan Gosling stars as a high school football star who finds himself at an emotional crossroads. Not a typical sports movie, this is a thought-provoking examination of a boy trying to become a man and not knowing how. David Morse, the best actor no one has heard of, turns in a haunting and enigmatic performance as the coach. In a role that could have been overplayed by many other actors, he leaves things left largely unspoken.

SLEEPING DICTIONARY, THE (dir: Guy Jenkin, R) - A tremendous cast assembles for this story of forbidden love set in colonial South America. Jessica Alba, Brenda Blythyn, Emily Mortimer and Bob Hoskins support newcomer Hugh Dancy in this erotic melodrama.

SLEEPY TIME GAL, THE (dir: Christopher Munch, R) - Jacqueline Bisset and Martha Plimpton play a mother and daughter both trying to come to terms with their love lives.

SNIDE AND PREJUDICE (dir: Philippe Mora, NR) - Here's the story Hitler's rise to power, from foot soldier in the Great War to Der Fuhrer of Nazi Germany, all told within the confines of a California mental institution, as a psychiatrist tests a radical new treatment on a schizophrenic who thinks he's Adolf.  A sharp satire that gives a persuasive peek into the mind of history's most famous madman.

SNIPES (dir: Rich Murray, R) - This smart, twisty thriller set in the music industry tries to make a legitimate actor of Nelly, the way 8 MILE did for Eminem. The dark underbelly of the rap world is exposed as an imposter MC tries to get famous off his dead cousin's demos. When the record company expects him to keep producing new material he is forced to take extreme measures to cover up his fraud.

SNOW QUEEN (dir: David Wu, Not Rated) - A magical adventure for the entire family. Bridget Fonda stars as a mysterious stranger who brings enchantment into the lives of everyone she meets. 

SOL GOODE (dir: Danny Comden, R) - In the spirit of SWINGERS, or maybe just ripping it off, comes SOL GOODE. It's the story of a slacker who glides by on charm and manipulation but faces growing up and getting a job when his luck starts to turn. A large cast of B-grade stars including Carmen Electra, Balthazar Getty, Tori Spelling and Jamie Kennedy star.

SORDID LIVES (dir: Del Shores, R) - Have you been hankering for Delta Burke and Olivia Newton-John to finally share the screen? Do you enjoy humor that earns its laughs by making fun of the downtrodden? Me too. Fans of NOBODY'S BABY and THE SHIPMENT will not want to miss this.

SOUTH PARK: SEASON TWO (dir: Trey Parker, Not Rated) – Now is everyone’s chance to revisit classic episodes such as “Merry Christmas Charlie Manson!”, “Summer Sucks”, and “Conjoined Fetus Lady”.

SOUTHERN COMFORT (dir: Kate Davis, NR) - The winner of awards at nearly twenty film festivals, this insightful documentary takes a probing look at the love affair between two people, one a man born as a woman, the other a woman born as a man.

SPEED OF LIFE (dir: Rob Schmidt, R) - Scott Caan stars in this intense drama about a young man running out of time to make decisions that will affect him and everyone he cares about. Will he make the right ones?

SPEED RACER: COLLECTOR'S EDITION (dir: N/A, NR) – Eleven episodes of the classic Japanimation series are presented here in all their kitsch glory.

SPIRITED AWAY (dir: Hayao Miyazaki, PG) -The most popular film in Japanese history finally makes it to America, and it's not to be missed! Legendary animation genius Hayao Miyazaki, the man behind CASTLE IN THE SKY, KIKI'S DELIVERY SERVICE and PRINCESS MONONOKE, sets a new standard for the genre with this story of a young girl lost in a spirit world who must find a way to free her family and return home. SPIRITED AWAY won the Academy Award for Best Animated Film in March.

SPONGEBOB SQUAREPANTS: LOST AT SEA (dir: Stephen Hillenburg, NR) - As far as I'm concerned SpongeBob is a flagrant rip-off of THE SNORKS and I dare anyone to prove me wrong.

SPONGEBOB SQUAREPANTS: TALES FROM THE DEEP (dir: Stephen Hillenburg, Not Rated) - A new batch SpongeBob episodes in which he throws a party, has a skiing accident and tries to force-feed his friend Krabby Pattys. What's not to love?

STANDING IN THE SHADOWS OF MOTOWN (dir: Paul Justman, PG) – Another of 2002’s top films, this is a documentary about The Funk Brothers, the musicians who played on all of Motown’s biggest hits. As the surviving members recount how the music was made and what happened in the following years, there is nothing displayed but joy at having created something that will live on forever.

STEALING HARVARD (dir: Bruce McCulloch, PG-13) - Two bumbling numbskulls, played by Jason Lee and Tom Green, think they can make crime pay enough to send Lee's niece to Harvard. Even with a Kid In The Hall behind the camera, there are few laughs to be had - and no skateboarding whatsoever.

STICKUP, THE (dir: Rowdy Herrington, R) - James Spader is a bank robber being chased throught the mountains by a small town cop in this gritty action-thriller.

STRANGE PLANET (dir: Emma-Kate Croghan, Not Rated) - From Australia comes this romantic comedy from the director of LOVE & OTHER CATASTROPHES and starring Naomi Watts. Over the course of one year, six young men and women pair off, break up and get together again. Charming.

STUART LITTLE 2 (dir: Rob Minkoff, PG) - Anyone who finds computer animated mice irresistible will be in heaven with this second helping of Stuart!

SWEET HOME ALABAMA (dir: Andy Tennant, PG-13) - The saddest aspect of Reese Witherspoon's newfound A-list career status is that she has been robbed of her zest. In films like FREEWAY and ELECTION she commanded the screen with an energy and wit that has been seriously dulled down here. It's too bad she feels she has to compromise everything that made her appealing to cater to the largest audience possible. SWEET HOME ALABAMA itself is absolute syrupy drivel. It so solidly hits every plot point contrivance you're left recoiling from the blows. I anxiously do not await LEGALLY BLONDE 2.

SWEPT AWAY (dir: Guy Ritchie, R) - Madonna: Hey Honey, now that we’re married wouldn’t it be fun to do a movie together? / Guy Ritchie: Umm, sure. I guess… / Madonna: Cool, I think we should do a remake of this old Italian film that nobody really liked in the first place and take out all of the interesting subtext involving class and gender warfare until it’s nothing but a soppy romantic comedy where I get to be scantily clad and that’ll be, like, totally empowering for women, ya know? / Guy Ritchie: It sounds like a winner to me. How could anything possibly go awry?

SWIMFAN (dir: John Polson, PG-13) - It's FATAL ATTRACTION lite as a young man has his life ripped apart after a casual fling turns to obsession. Although everything about this movie is utterly disposable and is about as tense as an after-school special, there is a place for this film in the annals of Hollywood history. As far as I know it's the first movie to feature Instant Messenger as a plot device. (what we think)

SWIMMING (dir: Robert J. Siegel, R) – Lauren Ambrose, the young star of SIX FEET UNDER, plays a girl discovering the pain and joy of growing up.  The five people in America who saw this movie say her performance is quite impressive.

TADPOLE (dir: Gary Winick, PG-13)- Shades of THE GRADUATE and RUSHMORE color this indie gem. Oscar is an unusual 15 year old boy with cultivated tastes and an unnatural interest in his step-mother. Starring Sigourney Weaver, Bebe Neuwirth and John "Jack Tripper" Ritter. 

TALK TO HER (dir: Pedro Almodovar, R) - Another upset winner at this year's Academy Awards, TALK TO HER snatched the Best Screenplay award from GANGS OF NEW YORK and MY BIG FAT GREEK WEDDING. Of course neither of those films involved matadors or comatose love objects.

TANGLED (dir: Jay Lowi, R) - A love triangle leads to danger in this teen thriller starring Rachel Leigh Cook and Jonathan Rhys-Meyers.

TEARS OF THE SUN (dir: Antoine Fuqua, R) - The director of TRAINING DAY returns with this Bruce Willis starrer that follows a special forces unit sent into a war-torn African country to rescue a doctor, played by Monica Belluci, and some nice natives. Since Mr. Willis is in solemn mode here, expect the one-liners to be kept to a minimum.

THEY (dir: Robert Harmon, PG-13) - Following in the unfortunate footsteps of DARKNESS FALLS, here's another horror flick that features a group of young adults being revisited by the night terrors they experienced as kids.

THINGS BEHIND THE SUN (dir: Allison Anders, R) - Kim Dickens stars as a rocker who pours her pain into her music but cannot escape her demons. This is a semi-autobiographical story from veteren Indie director Allison Anders, and promises to deliver the usual powerhouse performances she is capable of evoking from actors.

THOMAS IN LOVE (dir: Pierre-Paul Renders, R) - Thomas hasn't left his apartment in eight years. Although this would seem to restrict his dating possibilities, he makes due with his computer-generated partner. And his zero-gravity cybersex suit.

TIME OUT (dir: Laurent Cantet, PG-13) - The director of HUMAN RESOURCES returns with this haunting tale of a man live multiple lives and becoming unable to discern the truth from the lies. The winner of major awards at several film festivals including Best Film at the Venice Film Festival. A must see.

TIMOTHY LEARY'S DEAD (dir: Paul Davids, R) - This documentary about the late LSD taking hippie guru-Harvard professor-fugitive has been called subversive by the media, but we promise that if you rent it you won't end up on a government list somewhere. 

TOM GREEN SUBWAY MONKEY HOUR, THE (dir: Tom Green, NR) - Haven't the people of Japan suffered enough? Canada's oddest "comedian" Tom Green travels to the Far East to offend and annoy as many people as possible and ensure that East-West relations will never recover.

TOWN IS QUIET, THE (dir: Robert Guediguian, NR) - If you tend to think of France as a charming country full of chalets and cheese farmers, you will be unpleasantly surprised by this gritty look at the hard luck lives of the emigrants, drug-addicts and cheese farmers that populate Marseilles. Employing a SHORT CUTS-like style of revolving door episodes we are treated to the dark underbelly of a country in transition.

TRANSPORTER, THE (dir: Cory Yuen, PG-13) - British tough guy Jason Statham stars as an illegal delivery specialist who makes a point of not knowing anything about his cargo. When his latest package is a beautiful kidnapped woman, he is forced to rethink his rules. This results in many people being kicked in the head.

TRAPPED (dir: Luis Mandoki, R) - Stuart Townsend was cast to play Aragorn in The Lord of the Rings but was fired and replaced by Viggo Mortensen. The movie poor Stuart made instead was this clunky thriller with Kevin Bacon and Charlize Theron. Ouch.

TREASURE PLANET (dir: Ron Clements / John Musker, PG) – This film may very well be the death of Disney hand-drawn animation. As computer animated features like TOY STORY and MONSTERS INC. have set new standards for what people expect of “cartoons”, traditional animation may end up paying the price. Due to its dismal failure at the box-office, TREASURE PLANET will probably be the catalyst for the revamping of Disney’s entire animation department. So expect a lot more movies like ICE AGE and SHREK and a lot less like SLEEPING BEAUTY and PETER PAN.

TRUTH ABOUT CHARLIE, THE (dir: Jonathan Demme, PG-13) - Speaking of unnecessary remakes, here's the mother of them all. Why would you take a perfect film like Stanley Donen's CHARADE starring Cary Grant and Audrey Hepburn and serve up a pale imitation with Mark Wahlberg and Thandie Newton. I think the collective attitude that went into the making of this film was, "We can't improve upon perfection, so why don't we just not try to make it good at all?"

TUCK EVERLASTING (dir: Jay Russell, PG) - Sissy Spacek, Ben Kingsley and William Hurt all star in this adaptation of the classic children's book by Natalie Babbitt. A young girl falls in love with a boy who has the secret to everlasting life and she is forced to choose between the life she knows and a life that will never end.

TULLY (dir: HIlary Birmingham, R) - One of the year's best kept secrets, TULLY shines with true emotion and great performances. The simple story of people searching for meaning in their lives in a small town was nominated for four prestigious Independent Spirit Awards.

TUXEDO, THE (dir: Kevin Donovan, PG-13) - In this Jackie Chan action-comedy Jennifer Love Hewitt plays a brilliant FBI agent. I guess there's nothing else to say.

TWENTY-FIFTH HOUR (dir: Spike Lee, R) - Edward Norton plays a man spending his last days tying up loose ends before serving a long sentence for selling drugs. He must find a way to close out his previous life while coming to terms with what lies ahead of him. An amazing supporting including Phillip Seymour Hoffman, Brian Cox, Rosario Dawson and Anna Paquin are all featured in one of director Spike Lee's best films yet.

TWENTY-FOUR HOUR PARTY PEOPLE (dir: Michael Winterbottom, R) - One of the most overlooked films of 2002 is also one of its best. The (somewhat) true account of the Manchester, England music scene of the 1980's and early 90's is a feast for the eyes and ears. Funny, propulsive dialogue juxtaposed with raw, urgent musical performances create an unforgettable film experience. An ode to rock and roll and one of the great rock and roll cities of the world.

TWO WEEKS NOTICE (dir: Marc Lawrence, PG-13) – The shockingly original premise of this film is that Sandra Bullock and Hugh Grant can’t stand each other but eventually discover… they can’t live without one another! Although it’s not incompetently made, this drivel is exactly what’s wrong with Hollywood. It’s so toothless and facile you can literally feel your brain melting as you watch it. Hugh Grant, as always, manages to escape unscathed.

ULTIMATE X: THE MOVIE (dir: Bruce Hendricks PG) - This was originally filmed for I-MAX so I hope you have a big screen. There is no plot, just extreme sports athletes doing cool stuff that would cause all of us to break our necks.

UNCHAINED MEMORIES (dir: Ed Bell & Thomas Lennon, Not Rated) - In the 1930's the Federal Writers Project hired journalists to document the stories of some of the last living slaves, in their own words. The resulting Slave Narratives are read here by Samuel L. Jackson, Oprah Winfrey, Whoopi Goldberg and many other prominent actors. A piercing look into a part of American history that needs to always be remembered.

UNDERCOVER BROTHER (dir: Malcolm D. Lee, PG-13) - There are some truly funny gags in this spoof of 70's Blaxploitation flicks. There are also some truly unfunny ones, but its heart is in the right place. It's worth seeing if only for the glorious return to the screen of Billy Dee Williams.

UNDERGROUND RAILROAD (dir: Susan Michaels, Not Rated) - Alfre Woodard narrates this insightful look at an important part of American history. If you think this is about the subway system you probably need to watch it.

UNFAITHFUL (dir: Adrian Lyne, R) - Diane Lane gives a great performance as a wandering wife whose affair has far greater repercussions than she ever imagined. Handsomely coiffed Buddhist Richard Gere co-stars.

VAMPIRE HUNTERS (dir: Wellson Chin, R) - From Hong Kong action maestro Tsui Hark comes this tale of bad blood between rival vampire clans in 19th century China. If a mixture of CROUCHING TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON and BLADE is possible, this is it.

WAKING UP IN RENO (dir: Jordan Brady, R) - Billy Bob Thornton and Patrick Swayze learn a thing or two about wife swapping in this wacky comedy in the tradition of LAST TANGO IN PARIS.

WALKING ON WATER (dir: Tony Ayres, Not Rated) - Two friends promise to assist in the suicide of their terminally ill friend, but it turns out to be a harder job than they expected. This wrenching Australian drama has been called "The Big Chill Down Under".

WARM WATER UNDER A RED BRIDGE (dir: Shohei Imamura, NR) - Shohei Imamura is one of only two directors in the history of the Cannes Film Festival to win the prestigious Palm d'Or award more than once, so if he decides he wants to make a film about a young woman who gushes rivers of water from her nether regions during the physical act of love, you should probably watch it.

WASABI (dir: Gerard Krawczyk, R) - Jean Reno's a French cop with a grudge who goes to Japan to kick some butt and eat some sushi. Written and produced by Luc (THE PROFESSIONAL / THE FIFTH ELEMENT) Besson, so expect some "Was that a joke?"-style comedy between gunshots.

WAY HOME, THE (dir: Jeong-Hyang Lee, PG) - This adorable import from South Korea became one of that nation's most popular films of all time, and it's easy to see why. On the surface it's the simple story of seven-year-old Sang-Woo being sent to the countryside to visit his grandmother for the summer. He is a spoiled city kid who whines ferociously at her lack of modern amenities. He gradually, and begrudgingly, comes to appreciate her way of life, but not before attempting to make misery for her. The more complicated issues arise in the film as it subtly addresses the influence of disposable Western culture on ancient societies. The real treasure of the movie is Eul-Boon Kim who plays the grandmother. She was found in a tiny village and not only had never acted in a film before, she had never seen a film before.

WEIGHT OF WATER, THE (dir: Kathryn Bigelow, R) - This intricate thriller set on islands off the coast of New Hampshire (!) travels between the present and 1873, when a mysterious murder that has puzzled people for over a hundred years took place. As the writer trying to put the pieces together, Catherine McCormack has to also contend with her failing relationship with poet-husband Sean Penn and the endless sunbathing of Elizabeth Hurley. (what we think)

WELCOME TO COLLINWOOD (dir: Anthony & Joe Russo, R) - George Clooney and Steven Soderbergh produced this "delightfully daffy" remake of BIG DEAL ON MADONNA STREET. A high-caliber cast including William H. Macy, Sam Rockwell and Luis Guzman is on hand playing the intelligence-challenged criminals trying to get away with the perfect heist.

WENDIGO (dir: Larry Fessenden, R) - A young family's trip to The Catskills is thrown into chaos by a mythical beast in this creepy indie thriller.

WHITE OLEANDER (dir: Peter Kosminsky, PG-13) - Another week, another of Oprah's Book Club selections makes the transition to filmdom. A girl is shuffled between foster homes after her mother, Michelle Pfeiffer, kills her boyfriend. Renee Zellweger, Robin Wright Penn and Noah Wyle co-star. There will be weeping. (what we think)

WHO IS CLETIS TOUT? (dir: Chris Ver Wiel, R) - Christian Slater, Richard Dreyfuss and Tim Allen star in this unpredictable comic caper that crosses The Usual Suspects with Get Shorty.

WILD THORNBERRYS MOVIE, THE (dir: Jeff McGrath, PG) - The latest Nickelodeon cartoon to make it to the big screen features the vocal talents of Brenda Blethyn, Rupert Everett, Lynn Redgrave, Marisa Tomei, Alfre Woodard, Flea, and Tim Curry, an Oscar-nominated song by Paul Simon, and lots of crazy talking animals.

WISEGIRLS (dir: David Anspaugh, R) - Mariah Carey returns to acting and....wait, come back. This is actually a refreshingly snappy indie also starring Mira Sorvino, set in an Italian restaurant. 

WORD (dir: Tony Greer, Not Rated) - Some of hip-hop's biggest stars propel this tour through the underground scene. MC's on hand include Melle Mel, DJ Honda and Eminem.

WORLD TRAVELER (dir: Bart Freundlich, R) - Many people, myself included, consider Billy Crudup the best American actor of his generation. If you've seen his subtle, nuanced performances in JESUS SON and ALMOST FAMOUS you'll certainly appreciate this tale of a man who seemingly has everything but feels that he has nothing. A meditative road movie that is alive with the spirit of 1970's cinema.

X-MEN: THE LEGEND OF WOLVERINE (dir: Stan Lee, Not Rated) - If you were unable to secure a ticket to X2 and are still jonesing for a little mutant-on-mutant action, here's a slab of adventure animation-style.

XXX (dir: Rob Cohen, PG-13) - Vin Diesel is a bad-boy secret agent who can snowboard faster than an avalanche. What more do you want?

YANA'S FRIENDS (dir: Arik Kaplun, NR) - Set during The Gulf War, a pregnant Russian immigrant and an Israeli wedding photographer are barricaded in a tiny apartment together and share their lives and stories.