If the chase through the Madagascar market by James Bond (Daniel Craig) in pursuit of the bomb maker as they go into and out of buildings, over scaffolding, up and down cranes, through packs of bad guys and local soldiers doesn’t get your heart racing, your blood steaming, your pulse pounding, your throat constricting and your eyeballs popping, then Bond movies just aren’t for you.

Director:  Martin Campbell Writer:  Ian Fleming; Neal Purvis Cast:
Daniel Craig -  James Bond Eva Green -  Vesper Lynd Mads Mikkelsen -  Le Chiffre Judi Dench -  M Jeffrey Wright -  Felix Leiter Giancarlo Giannini -  Mathis Caterina Murino -  Solange Simon Abkarian -  Alex Dimitrios		Isaach De Bankolé -  Steven Obanno Jesper Christensen -  Mr. White Ivana Milicevic -  Valenka Tobias Menzies -  Villiers Claudio Santamaria -  Carlos Sebastien Foucan -  Mollaka Malcolm Sinclair -  Dryden Richard Sammel -  Gettler

It is always a surprise when you find out that someone close is not the person you thought they were. You sorta know that they do something dangerous but it is all rather vague. Until the day comes when they tell you what it is they do and why they do it. Eve (Amy Smart) is freaked when she finds out what it is that her boyfriend, Chev Chelios (Jason Statham), does for a living and finds herself a target as the bad guys chase the two of them through a sweat shop factory, over a roof, down a fire escape and into a stoled car speeding away. Rather than being aghast at what is going on, she finds herself turned on as they race down the side streets. To satisfy her urges, she figures what Chev needs is a good wank but she refuses to finish him off for fear that he’ll roll over and fall asleep like he usually does.

Director:  Mark Neveldine; Brian Taylor Writer:  Mark Neveldine; Brian Taylor Cast:
Jason Statham -  Chev Amy Smart -  Eve Jose Pablo Cantillo -  Verona Efren Ramirez -  Kaylo Dwight Yoakam -  Doc Miles Carlos Sanz -  Carlito Reno Wilson -  Orlando Edi Gathegi -  Haitian Cabbie		Glenn Howerton -  Hospital Doctor Jay Xcala -  Alex Keone Young -  Don Kim Valarie Rae Miller -  Chocolate Yousuf Azami -  Arab Cabbie Laurent Schwaar -  Man in Garage David Brown -  Sin City Brother Dorian Kingi -  Convenience Store Clerk

Gray Wheeler (Jennifer Garner) is so distraught at the death of her fiance that she flees to a bathroom to hide in the tub and mourn in peace. His best friend Fritz (Timothy Olyphant) needs some privacy as well. But his reason is more basic. He ends up in the bathroom too but his need is more carnal. He’s trying to find someplace so he and the caterer (Sonja Bennett) can have a quickie. Their passion is quickly interrupted but what else should she expect? He is a guy after all.

Director:  Susannah Grant Writer:  Susannah Grant Cast:
Jennifer Garner -  Gray Wheeler Timothy Olyphant -  Fritz Sam Jaeger -  Dennis Kevin Smith -  Sam Juliette Lewis -  Maureen Joshua Friesen -  Mattie Fiona Shaw -  Mrs. Douglas Tina Lifford -  Eve		Georgia Craig -  Persephone Christopher Redman -  Flower Delivery Guy Joyce Krenz -  Housekeeper Sonja Bennett -  Caterer Yorgo Constantine -  Co-Worker Daniel A. Parker -  Deadhead Singer Nancy Hower -  Deadhead Singer Jennifer Spence -  Comforting Friend

Nine times out of ten, I find that topics of discussion devolve into arguments. It seems most people I run into pick a side of a topic and treat it like it is the coming of the apocalypse. Either or, left or right, up or down, in or out. While many of life’s challenges have but two sides, they are many more where one can take a position out of many. But it seems that striking hard, early and loud, gives many the belief that their side is the only one. Even for lawyers like father and daughter, Jedediah Tucker Ward (Gene Hackman) and Maggie (Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio), who don’t, can’t or won’t discuss the vagaries of life even at Jed and Estelle’s (Joanna Merlin) anniversary party. All their rancor does is to further embed the wedge already driven between them.

Director:  Michael Apted Writer:  Carolyn Shelby; Christopher Ames; Samantha Shad Cast:
Gene Hackman -  Jedediah Tucker Ward Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio -  Maggie Ward Colin Friels -  Michael Grazier Joanna Merlin -  Estelle Ward Laurence Fishburne -  Nick Holbrook Donald Moffat -  Fred Quinn Jan Rubes -  Alexander Pavel Matt Clark -  Judge R. Symes		Fred Dalton Thompson -  Dr. George Getchell Jonathan Silverman -  Brian Joan McMurtrey -  Ann Anne Ramsay -  Deborah David Byron -  Carl Tim Hopper -  Howard ‘Howie’ Crayhill Robert David Hall -  Steven Kellen Wood Moy -  Mr. Minh

Morality tales masquerading as teen comedies. Can happen, eh? High school graduation sees the jocks as having their last hurrah (especially if they don’t have an athletic scholarship), keen vixens trolling for that one who’ll set them up for life, geeks hoping to lose their virginity any way possible and wasters hoping to last the night until tomorrow when they can do it all again. So it goes at the party when Amanda Beckett (Jennifer Love Hewitt) shows up. She’s blossoming into the woman she hopes to be, Mike Dexter (Peter Facinelli) is hoping he can shed the rep he has spent years cultivating, Kenny Fisher (Seth Green) is trying to be anyone but whom he is, Denise Fleming (Lauren Ambrose) is trying to knock some sense into anyone who’ll listen.

Director:  Harry Elfont; Deborah Kaplan Writer:  Deborah Kaplan; Harry Elfont Cast:
Jennifer Love Hewitt -  Amanda Beckett Ethan Embry -  Preston Meyers Charlie Korsmo -  William Lichter Lauren Ambrose -  Denise Fleming Peter Facinelli -  Mike Dexter Seth Green -  Kenny Fisher Michelle Brookhurst -  Molly, Girl Whose Party It Is Alexander Martin -  Olaf, Exchange Student		Erik Palladino -  Cousin Ron Channon Roe -  Jake, Jock #1 Sean Patrick Thomas -  Ben, Jock #2 Freddy Rodríguez -  T.J., Jock #3 Joel Michaely -  Geoff, X-Phile #1 Jay Paulson -  Murphy, X-Phile #2 Brian Hall -  Real Homeboy Brandon Williams -  DJ Sammy, Homeboy #1

Christmas is a time of tradition. What we did last year, we do this year. Or at least we do what we remember as being in the spirit of the season and not yucky (which is deep-sixed from memory). Try to stray from it and watch out. The noble season police pop out of woodwork and grind your guilt into a paste that absorbs any thought of changing family traditions. Just ask Luther Krank (Tim Allen) and his wife Nora (Jamie Lee Curtis) who decide to skip Christmas and go on a cruise since their daughter Blair (Julie Gonzalo) is heading off to Peru with the Peace Corps. Telling the neighbours proves to be a bit of a mistake. Vic Frohmeyer (Dan Aykroyd), the neighbourhood’s self-elected Christmas conscience is irate and starts up a group to harass the Kranks for their lack of holiday spirit, causing Luther and Nora to take refuge behind their curtains and sofa.

Director:  Joe Roth Writer:  John Grisham; Chris Columbus Cast:
Tim Allen -  Luther Krank Jamie Lee Curtis -  Nora Krank Dan Aykroyd -  Vic Frohmeyer M. Emmet Walsh -  Walt Scheel Elizabeth Franz -  Bev Scheel Erik Per Sullivan -  Spike Frohmeyer Cheech Marin -  Officer Salino Jake Busey -  Officer Treen		Austin Pendleton -  Umbrella Santa/Marty Tom Poston -  Father Zabriskie Julie Gonzalo -  Blair Krank René Lavan -  Enrique DeCardenal Caroline Rhea -  Candi Felicity Huffman -  Merry Patrick Breen -  Aubie John Short -  Ned Becker