It’s the weekend, and five students have weekend detention. There’s a jock, a princess, a misfit, a nerd, and a lout. Not much in common, except for having to give up their day, sit in the school library, and write an essay for the principal. Being from such widely different backgrounds and having such completely different personalities, it’s inevitable that some frictions and shenanigans develop. Especially when the principal leaves the room… Written by Murray Chapman {muzzle@cs.uq.oz.au}

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I hadn’t read Jennifer Weiner’s book and the trailer didn’t sell me on “In Her Shoes,” so I went in without any expectations. I came away believing I’d seen one of the few movies of 2005 worth watching twice.

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Remember six months ago when that first shaky cam trailer for an untitled JJ Abrams production hit theaters in front of Transformers and then, shortly after, the internet? The buzz was deafening. That first quick teaser trailer opened with a bunch of people at a party and then ended with the Statue of Liberty’s head in the middle of a New York street. That teaser generated an immense amount of interest and a lot of head-scratching. No title, no director, just the release date… What the heck was this thing JJ Abrams created and why the secrecy surrounding even the movie’s title?

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I’m in no way exaggerating when I say “Prime” throws in every single romantic comedy cliché that exists without coming up with one original moment over the course of the film.

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For 400 years, Japan has been home to a secret criminal organization dedicated to its own supremacy in the underworld. Ruled by an ancient, arcane code of honor, the deadly Yakuza have been among the most feared members of society. Even today, they are immediately recognizable by the stunningly ornate tattoos that cover their bodies, telling the terrifying story of their stature and career in a dark order that knows no mercy. Now the Yakuza are coming to Los Angeles. But in America, they’re going to meet their match. Two cops are on their trail. One’s an American raised in Japan. He’s got the mind and spirit of a samurai, and the body of a human fighting machine. The other’s a Japanese-American raised in California’s San Fernando Valley. He’s into malls, pizza and MTV. But he can disarm five gunmen with his bare feet. One’s a warrior. One’s a wise-ass. But together they’ve got what it takes to remove some tattoos from Little Tokyo. “Showdown in Little Tokyo” stars action favorite Dolph Lundgren as Chris Kenner, a man fighting for his adopted heritage and his family’s honor; and Brandon Lee, in his first American film role, as Johnny Murata, a guy whose idea of a good time includes knowing where–and how–to get his kicks. Opposites in attitude, once they get on the streets, they’re a perfect odd couple. And what they have in common is their enemy–the Yakuza who are bringing a lethal new drug trade to Los Angeles, coupled with a macabre taste for violence and cruelty. Written by anonymous

Let me admit right off the bat that the trailers for “Madagascar” did nothing for me. While “Shrek” and its sequel both had me at hello, “Madagascar” was a tough sell. Chris Rock has a decent voice for animated movies, but Ben Stiller, Jada Pinkett-Smith and David Schwimmer aren’t exactly known for their voice work, and the trailers and clips didn’t convince me they should look for more jobs in that particular field. Fortunately for moviegoers, the humor – in large part supplied by four wily, scene-stealing penguins - is strong enough to make up for the film’s lack of enchanting voices.

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The story follows Mirabelle, a disenchanted salesgirl and aspiring artist who sells gloves and accessories at a department store. She has two men in her life: wealthy divorcee Ray Porter (Steve Martin) and struggling musician Jeremy. Mirabelle falls in love with the glamorous Ray, and her life takes a magical turn, but eventually she realizes that she must empower herself and make a choice between them. Written by Anonymous

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