Roland Emmerich The filmmaker who launched a UFO invasion in Independence Day and unleashed the forces of global warming in The Day After Tomorrow now unveils a new day of adventure a time when mammoths shake the earth and mystical spirits shape human fates. Roland Emmerich directs 10000 BC the eye-filling tale of the first hero. That hero is young hunter D Leh (Steven Strait) set out on a bold trek to rescue his kidnapped beloved (Camilla Belle) and fulfill his prophetic destiny. He ll face an awesome saber-toothed tiger. Cross uncharted realms. Form an army. And uncover an advanced but corrupt Lost Civilization. There he will lead a fight for liberation and become the champion of the time when legend began.Format: BLU-RAY DISC Genre: ACTION/ADVENTURE/HEROES Rating: PG-13 UPC: 085391139676 Manufacturer No: 1000023985

Fully recovering from the wretched flop Timeline, director Richard Donner brings seasoned skill to 16 Blocks, a satisfying thriller boosted by intelligent plotting and the stellar pairing of Bruce Willis and Mos Def in quirky, well-written roles. Making the most of minimal dialogue, Willis plays Jack Mosley, a boozy, disillusioned New York City detective who reluctantly accepts an assignment to transport squeaky-voiced chatterbox Eddie Bunker (Mos Def) to a grand jury hearing where he's scheduled to testify against a group of corrupt, drug-dealing cops. They've got two hours to travel 16 blocks, but the dirtiest cop (David Morse) is determined to kill Eddie before he can testify; what he doesn't know is that Jack senses something in Eddie's seemingly innocent, optimistic demeanor that he wants to protect. Working from a tight, twisting screenplay by Richard Wenk, Donner turns familiar material into an efficient potboiler that delivers tense urban action (like Donner's earlier Mel Gibson hit Conspiracy Theory) while leaving plenty of room for Willis and especially Mos Def (in a critically acclaimed performance) to develop their flawed yet admirable characters. 16 Blocks may be a standard-issue thriller in many respects, but as a showcase for its appealing cast, it quickly rises above its generic limitations. —Jeff Shannon

Zack Snyder Like Sin City before it, 300 brings Frank Miller and Lynn Varley's graphic novel vividly to life. Gerard Butler (Beowulf and Grendel, The Phantom of the Opera) radiates pure power and charisma as Leonidas, the Grecian king who leads 300 of his fellow Spartans (including David Wenham of The Lord of the Rings, Michael Fassbender, and Andrew Pleavin) into a battle against the overwhelming force of Persian invaders. Their only hope is to neutralize the numerical advantage by confronting the Persians, led by King Xerxes (Rodrigo Santoro), at the narrow strait of Thermopylae. More engaging than Troy, the tepid and somewhat similar epic of ancient Greece, 300 is also comparable to Sin City in that the actors were shot on green screen, then added to digitally created backgrounds. The effort pays off in a strikingly stylized look and huge, sweeping battle scenes. However, it's not as to-the-letter faithful to Miller's source material as Sin City was. The plot is the same, and many of the book's images are represented just about perfectly. But some extra material has been added, including new villains (who would be considered "bosses" if this were a video game, and it often feels like one) and a political subplot involving new characters and a significantly expanded role for the Queen of Sparta (Lena Headey). While this subplot by director Zack Snyder (Dawn of the Dead) and his fellow co-writers does break up the violence, most fans would probably dismiss it as filler if it didn't involve the sexy Headey. Other viewers, of course, will be turned off by the waves of spurting blood, flying body parts, and surging testosterone. (The six-pack abs are also relentless, and the movie has more and less nudity—more female, less male—than the graphic novel.) Still, as a representation of Miller's work and as an ancient-themed action flick with a modern edge, 300 delivers. —David Horiuchi

When Stanley Kubrick recruited Arthur C. Clarke to collaborate on "the proverbial intelligent science fiction film," it's a safe bet neither the maverick auteur nor the great science fiction writer knew they would virtually redefine the parameters of the cinema experience. A daring experiment in unconventional narrative inspired by Clarke's short story "The Sentinel," 2001 is a visual tone poem (barely 40 minutes of dialogue in a 139-minute film) that charts a phenomenal history of human evolution. From the dawn-of-man discovery of crude but deadly tools in the film's opening sequence to the journey of the spaceship Discovery and metaphysical birth of the "star child" at film's end, Kubrick's vision is meticulous and precise. In keeping with the director's underlying theme of dehumanization by technology, the notorious, seemingly omniscient computer HAL 9000 has more warmth and personality than the human astronauts it supposedly is serving. (The director also leaves the meaning of the black, rectangular alien monoliths open for discussion.) This theme, in part, is what makes 2001 a film like no other, though dated now that its postmillennial space exploration has proven optimistic compared to reality. Still, the film is timelessly provocative in its pioneering exploration of inner- and outer-space consciousness. With spectacular, painstakingly authentic special effects that have stood the test of time, Kubrick's film is nothing less than a cinematic milestone—puzzling, provocative, and perfect. —Jeff Shannon

An epic biopic depicting the early years of legendary director and aviator Howard Hughes' career from the late 1920's to the mid-1940's.Running Time: 170 min.Format: BLU-RAY DISC Genre: DRAMA/TRUE STORY UPC: 085391186281 Manufacturer No: 118628

Tim Burton, Joel Schumacher CONTAINS: BATMAN, BATMAN RETURNS, BATMAN FOREVER, BATMAN & ROBIN

Christopher Nolan Warner Brothers Batman Begins (Blu-ray)"Batman Begins" explores the origins of the "Batman" legend and the Dark Knight's emergence as a force for good in Gotham. In the wake of his parents' murder, disillusioned industrial heir Bruce Wayne (Christian Bale) travels the world seeking the means to fight injustice and turn fear against those who prey on the fearful. He returns to Gotham and unveils his alter-ego:'Batman', a masked crusader who uses his strength, intellect and an array of high tech deceptions to fight the sinister forces that threaten the city.

Ray Winstone, Angelina Jolie, Robert Zemeckis Ray Winstone, Angelina Jolie, Anthony Hopkins, John Malkovich, Brendan Gleeson, Robin Wright-Penn Director: Robert Zemeckis

Ridley Scott

Studio: Warner Home Video Release Date: 06/05/2007 Run time: 131 minutes Rating: Pg

Studio: Warner Home Video Release Date: 11/11/2008 Rating: Nr

Stanley Kubrick Studio: Warner Home Video Release Date: 10/23/2007 Run time: 111 minutes Rating: R

The follow-up to Batman Begins, The Dark Knight reunites director Christopher Nolan and star Christian Bale, who reprises the role of Batman/Bruce Wayne in his continuing war on crime. With the help of Lt. Jim Gordon and District Attorney Harvey Dent, Batman sets out to destroy organized crime in Gotham for good. The triumvirate proves effective, but soon find themselves prey to a rising criminal mastermind known as The Joker, who thrusts Gotham into anarchy and forces Batman closer to crossing the fine line between hero and vigilante. Heath Ledger stars as archvillain The Joker, and Aaron Eckhart plays Dent. Maggie Gyllenhaal joins the cast as Rachel Dawes. Returning from Batman Begins are Gary Oldman as Gordon, Michael Caine as Alfred and Morgan Freeman as Lucius Fox.

Martin Scorsese Two men from opposite sides of the law are undercover within the massachusetts state police & the irish mafia but violence & bloodshed boil when discoveries are made & the moles are dispatched to find out their enemys identities. Studio: Warner Home Video Release Date: 02/13/2007 Starring: Leonardo Dicaprio Jack Nicholson Run time: 151 minutes Rating: R

Studio: Warner Home Video Release Date: 06/03/2008 Rating: R

Chuck Russell Studio: Warner Home Video Release Date: 09/02/2008 Rating: R

Richard Loncraine Studio: Warner Home Video Release Date: 09/05/2006 Run time: 102 minutes Rating: Pg13

Jay Rabinowitz, Darren Aronofsky Warner 1PK 4MM DDS3 125M 12GB TAPE CART pn: 11737

Andrew Davis

Studio: Warner Home Video Release Date: 10/23/2007 Run time: 170 minutes Rating: Pg13

Peter Segal BATMAN, GORDON AND HARVEY DENT ARE FORCED TO DEAL WITH THE CHAOS UNLEASHED BY AN ANARCHIST MASTERMIND KNOWN ONLY AS THE JOKER, AS IT DRIVES EACH OF THEM TO THEIR LIMITS.

Studio: Warner Home Video Release Date: 03/18/2008 Rating: Pg13

Oliver Hirschbiegel, James McTeigue The Invasion tells the story of a mysterious epidemic that alters the behavior of human beings. When a Washington D.C. psychiatrist (Nicole Kidman) discovers the epidemics origins are extraterrestrial she must fight to protect her son who may hold the key to stopping the escalating invasion.Format: BLU-RAY DISC Genre: SCI-FI/FANTASY/MONSTERS & MUTANTS UPC: 085391176183 Manufacturer No: 117618

Ewan McGregor, Scarlett Johansson, Michael Bay Ewan McGregor, Scarlett Johansson, Djimon Hounsou, Sean Bean, Steve Buscemi Director: Michael Bay

Edward Zwick

Joel Schumacher

Steven Soderbergh Studio: Warner Home Video Release Date: 11/13/2007

Wolfgang Petersen When Warner Brothers was unable to secure the rights to Richard Preston's terrifying nonfiction book The Hot Zone (purchased by a rival studio), they took the basic idea of a fatal virus on the loose in the U.S., added Dustin Hoffman and director Wolfgang Petersen (Das Boot), and produced an unusual thriller—a surprise hit—called Outbreak. The other picture, slated to star Robert Redford and Jodie Foster, fell through. The premise of Outbreak, which owes something to Elia Kazan's 1950 plague-scare movie, Panic in the Streets, is as terrifying as it is timely. As developers slash their way deeper into the previously unexplored tropical rainforests, they are exposed to radically new forms of life, including diseases, that in these days of commonplace international travel could turn into deadly epidemics almost before we know it. Hoffman's character and his estranged wife (Rene Russo) are disease experts called in to identify the unknown killer, which was carried into the country by an illegally smuggled monkey. The best sequence shows the disease spreading—through recycled air on a passenger jet, or a sneeze in a crowded movie theater. The final chase is pretty conventional, but the cast is terrific, including Morgan Freeman, Kevin Spacey, Donald Sutherland, Cuba Gooding Jr., J.T. Walsh, and Zakes Mokae. —Jim Emerson

Joel Schumacher Studio: Warner Home Video Release Date: 10/31/2006 Run time: 142 minutes Rating: Pg13

Actors: David AttenboroughFormat: Color, WidescreenLanguage: EnglishRegion: All RegionsAspect Ratio: 1.78:1Number of discs: 4RatingStudio: BBC WarnerDVD Release Date: April 24, 2007Run Time: 550 minutes

Studio: Warner Home Video Release Date: 09/16/2008 Run time: 99 minutes

George Miller (II) Studio: Warner Home Video Release Date: 05/15/2007 Run time: 219 minutes Rating: Pg13

Richard Linklater Studio: Warner Home Video Release Date: 04/10/2007 Run time: 100 minutes Rating: R

Frank Darabont When this popular prison drama was released in 1994, some critics complained that the movie was too long (142 minutes) to sustain its story. Those complaints miss the point, because the passage of time is crucial to this story about patience, the squeaky wheels of justice, and the growth of a life-long friendship. Only when the film reaches its final, emotionally satisfying scene do you fully understand why writer-director Frank Darabont (adapting a novella by Stephen King) allows the story to unfold at its necessary pace, and the effect is dramatically rewarding. Tim Robbins plays a banker named Andy who's sent to Shawshank Prison on a murder charge, but as he gets to know a life-term prisoner named Red (Morgan Freeman), we realize there's reason to believe the banker's crime was justifiable. We also realize that Andy's calm, quiet exterior hides a great reserve of patience and fortitude, and Red comes to admire this mild-mannered man who first struck him as weak and unfit for prison life. So it is that The Shawshank Redemption builds considerable impact as a prison drama that defies the conventions of the genre (violence, brutality, riots) to illustrate its theme of faith, friendship, and survival. Nominated for seven Academy Awards including Best Picture, Actor, and Screenplay, it's a remarkable film that signaled the arrival of a promising new filmmaker—a film that many movie lovers count among their all-time favorites. —Jeff Shannon

Andy Wachowski, Larry Wachowski Warner Brothers Speed Racer (Blu-ray) Start your engines and fasten your seatbelts for the high-octane adventure "Speed Racer", combining heartfelt family humor and groundbreaking visual effects. "Speed Racer" (Emile Hirsch) is a natural behind the wheel of his thunderous Mach 5. With support from Pops and Mom Racer (John Goodman and Susan Sarandon), girlfriendTrixie (Christina Ricci), younger brother Spritle(Paulie Litt) and the mysterious Racer X (MatthewFox), Speed takes on fierce competitors to save his family's business and protect the sport he loves. When Speed steps onto the track, it's not just a race. It's an adrenaline-fueled, high-speed charge to the finish. "Go, Speed Racer, go".

Richard Donner, Richard Lester Studio: Warner Home Video Release Date: 11/28/2006 Run time: 116 minutes

Bryan Singer Studio: Warner Home Video Release Date: 11/28/2006 Run time: 100 minutes Rating: R

Studio: Warner Home Video Release Date: 11/28/2006 Run time: 116 minutes

Stephen E. Rivkin, Dominic Sena Studio: Warner Home Video Release Date: 09/26/2006 Run time: 117 minutes Rating: R

Jonathan Mostow With a reported budget of $172 million, Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines starts in high gear and never slows down. The apocalyptic "Judgment Day" of T2 was never prevented, only postponed: John Connor (Nick Stahl, replacing T2's Edward Furlong), now 22 and disconnected from society, is being pursued yet again, this time by the advanced T-X, a sleek "Terminatrix" (coldly expressionless Kristanna Loken) programmed to stop Connor from becoming the savior of humankind. Originally programmed as an assassin, a disadvantaged T-101 cyborg (Arnold Schwarzenegger, bidding fond farewell to his signature role) arrives from the future to join Connor and his old acquaintance Kate (Claire Danes) in thwarting the T-X's relentless pursuit. The plot presents a logical fulfillment of T2 prophesy, disposing of Connor's mother (Linda Hamilton is sorely missed) while computer-driven machines assume control, launching a nuclear nightmare that Connor must survive. With Breakdown and U-571 serving as worthy rehearsals for this cautionary epic of mass destruction, director Jonathan Mostow wisely avoids any stylistic connection to James Cameron's Terminator classics; instead he's crafted a fun, exciting popcorn thriller, humorous and yet still effectively nihilistic, and comparable to Jurassic Park III in returning the Terminator franchise to its potent B-movie roots. —Jeff Shannon

Bill Eagles, Bryan Spicer, Charles Beeson, David Nutter, Félix Enríquez Alcalá Studio: Warner Home Video Release Date: 09/22/2009 Run time: 1012 minutes Rating: Nr

Andy Wachowski, Larry Wachowski Studio: Warner Home Video Release Date: 10/14/2008 Rating: R

James McTeigue Studio: Warner Home Video Release Date: 05/20/2008 Rating: R

Everybody's favorite graphic novel comes to the screen (after years of rumors and false starts), less a roaring work of adaptation than a respectful and faithful take on a radical original. Watchmen is set in the mid-1980s, a time of increased nuclear tension between the United States and the Soviet Union, as Richard Nixon is enjoying his fifth term as president and the world's superheroes have been forcibly retired. (As you can probably tell, the mix of authentic history and alternate reality is heady.) Things begin with a bang: the mysterious high-rise murder of the Comedian (Jeffrey Dean Morgan), a masked hero with a checkered past, puts the rest of the retired superhero community on alert. The credits sequence, a series of tableaux that wittily catches us up on crime-fighting backstory, actually turns out to be the high point of the movie. Thereafter we meet the other caped and hooded avengers: the furious Rorschach (Jackie Earle Haley), the inexplicably naked Dr. Manhattan (Billy Crudup, amidst much blue-skinned, genital-swinging digital work), Silk Spectre II (Malin Akerman), Nite Owl II (Patrick Wilson), and Ozymandias (Matthew Goode). The corkscrewing storytelling, which worked well in the comic book, gives the movie the strange sense of never quite getting in gear, even as some of the episodes are arresting. Director Zack Snyder (300) doesn't try to approximate the electric impact of the original (written by Alan Moore—who declined to be credited on the movie—and illustrated by Dave Gibbons) but retains careful fidelity to his source material. That doesn't feel right, even with the generally enjoyable roll-out of anecdotes. Even less forgivable is the blah acting, excepting Jeffrey Dean Morgan (lusty) and Patrick Wilson (mellow). Watchmen certainly fills the eyes, although less so the ears: the song choices are regrettable, especially during an embarrassing mid-air coupling between Nite Owl II and Silk Spectre II as they unite their—ah—Roman numerals. In the end it feels as though a huge work of transcription has been successfully completed, which isn't the same as making a full-blooded movie experience. —Robert Horton

Studio: Warner Home Video Release Date: 09/18/2007 Run time: 131 minutes Rating: Pg

David Dobkin Studio: New Line Home Video Release Date: 12/30/2008

Neil LaBute Studio: Warner Home Video Release Date: 01/30/2007 Run time: 160 minutes Rating: R