Plausibility isn’t often found in some movies. One place I found it was in the characterization of a ‘fire sale.’ Matthew Farrell (Justin Long) uses this term to describe the plan by Thomas Gabriel (Timothy Olyphant) to systematically shut down the United States infrastructure. It consists of (1) disable all traffic and transportation hubs/systems; (2) disrupt financial sectors and telecommunications and (3) disable water/electric utilities, nuclear systems, and anything else tied into computers. The term comes from the phrase where ‘everything must go.’

Director:  Len Wiseman Writer:  Mark Bomback; David Marconi; John Carlin; Roderick Thorp Cast:
Bruce Willis -  Det. John McClane Timothy Olyphant -  Thomas Gabriel Justin Long -  Matthew Farrell Maggie Q -  Mai Lihn Cliff Curtis -  Deputy Director Miguel Bowman Jonathan Sadowski -  Trey Andrew Friedman -  Casper Kevin Smith -  Frederick Kaludis – ‘Warlock’		Yorgo Constantine -  Robert Russo Cyril Raffaelli -  Rand Chris Palermo -  Del Mary Elizabeth Winstead -  Lucy McClane Sung Kang -  Raj Zeljko Ivanek -  Molina Christina Chang -  Taylor Jake McDorman -  Jim

Sadie Jones (Mandy Moore) is slated to marry Ben Murphy (John Krasinski) and she wants to be wed in the family church, St. Augustine’s, which is run by Reverend Frank (Robin Williams). He’ll do it if they pass his patented “marriage preparation” course which involves a number of trials to determine whether the pair are suitable for one another. One involves Sadie driving blindfolded down a street while following Ben’s instructions in order to see how well they trust one another. Does anyone beside me see the foolishness in thinking this is about trust?

Director:  Ken Kwapis Writer:  Kim Barker; Tim Rasmussen; Vince Di Meglio; Wayne Lloyd Cast:
Robin Williams -  Reverend Frank Mandy Moore -  Sadie Jones John Krasinski -  Ben Murphy Eric Christian Olsen -  Carlisle Christine Taylor -  Lindsey Jones Josh Flitter -  Choir Boy DeRay Davis -  Joel Peter Strauss -  Mr. Jones		Grace Zabriskie -  Grandma Jones Roxanne Hart -  Mrs. Jones Mindy Kaling -  Shelley Angela Kinsey -  Judith the Jewelry Clerk Rachael Harris -  Janine Brian Baumgartner -  Jim Jess Rosenthal -  Jewelry Clerk Val Almendarez -  Jewelry Store Customer

Have you ever done an Elvis impersonation? Did you try doing the voice? Or maybe got gussied up in a similar jumpsuit? The sneer is something most try. Well, Chelsea Turner (Bridgette Wilson) does a great Elvis impersonation of one of The King’s numbers from Viva Las Vegas. And it isn’t just the singing. She has the dance steps to match. But she has something more than Elvis was ever able to give to his fans when she pulls open her top.

Director:  Jeff Franklin Writer:  Jeff Franklin Cast:
French Stewart -  Seth Winnick Bridgette Wilson -  Chelsea Turner Bill Bellamy -  Larry Garnett Tyra Banks -  Holly Garnett Steve Hytner -  Marty Mark Jason Bateman -  Jesse Travis/Ronnie Tiffani-Amber Thiessen -  Rebecca Melini/Juliette Ellis E. Williams -  Minister		Ivana Milavich -  Amber Montrose Hagins -  Nana Renata Scott -  Mrs. Littlejohn Warren Littlefield -  Peter Bloomstein Lisa Amsterdam -  Writer Tom Gammill -  Writer Tim Hightower -  Writer Hal Spear -  Writer

Stacy (Brittany Murphy), a newly minted associate producer of a popular daytime syndicated talk show starring Kippie Kann (Kathy Bates), wonders why her boyfriend Derek (Ron Livingston) is having difficulty committing to their relationship. She decides to interview his past girlfriends under the guise of the TV show. She cracks the password on Derek’s Palm handheld for their addresses and find info she’d rather not have known about him and his past. Unbeknownst to Stacy, her erstwhile friend and boss Barb (Holly Hunter) has pitched Stacy’s search through Derek’s past as a live show. It isn’t until she finds herself in front of the cameras on stage that she realizes maybe Derek isn’t the guy for her and she isn’t the one for him. But, then again, trust is in rather short supply.

Director:  Nick Hurran Writer:  Melissa Carter; Elisa Bell Cast:
Brittany Murphy -  Stacy Holly Hunter -  Barb Kathy Bates -  Kippie Kann Ron Livingston -  Derek Julianne Nicholson -  Joyce Stephen Tobolowsky -  Carl Kevin Sussman -  Ira Rashida Jones -  Dr. Rachel Keyes		Josie Maran -  Lulu Fritz Jason Antoon -  Larry Sharon Lawrence -  Mom Gavin Rossdale -  Random Cress Williams -  Phil Dave Annable -  Bean Yvette Nicole Brown -  Production Assistant Vivian Bang -  Katie

Betrayal. It is always a shock to find out that our trust has been breached and it makes you tentative in who you will vest an interest. Lara Croft (Angelina Jolie) attends an auction to meet an old family friend and runs into a rival, Alex West (Daniel Craig) who swiped a prayer wheel or two out from under her. He’s still upset and doesn’t know how to reconcile the situation (I suppose they could start by swapping tips on how to do accents). She follows Wilson (Leslie Phillips) to his office, explaining how the clockwork device came into her possession, what she has found so far and asking how she can learn more. It is apparent to anyone watching that he is lying when he tells her that he knows nothing about the mechanism. Later, he calls Lara with a tip on who might know more as a slight attempt to salvage the shame he feels for deceiving her.

Director:  Simon West Writer:  Sara B. Cooper; Mike Werb; Michael Colleary; Simon West; Patrick Massett; John Zinman Cast:
Angelina Jolie -  Lara Croft Jon Voight -  Lord Richard Croft Iain Glen -  Manfred Powell Noah Taylor -  Bryce Daniel Craig -  Alex West Richard Johnson -  Distinguished Gentleman Christopher Barrie -  Hillary Julian Rhind-Tutt -  Mr. Pimms		Leslie Phillips -  Wilson Robert Phillips -  Julius, Assault Team Leader Rachel Appleton -  Young Lara Henry Wyndham -  Boothby’s Auctioneer David Y. Cheung -  Head Laborer David K.S. Tse -  Head Laborer Ozzie Yue -  Aged Buddhist Monk Wai-Keat Lau -  Young Buddhist Monk

The Mormon (Sam Elliott) is having a bad day. The events that he has been orchestrating have blown to hell and gone. Walking down the hotel corridor he sees a chance to save himself when he pulls a gun on Detective Bryce (Debi Mazar), not knowing she’s a cop. Dragging her back to her hotel room as a hostage, he pushes in to the room only to find it full of cops with their guns drawn and pointed at him. Discretion being the better part of valour, he surrenders gracefully.

Director:  Matt Checkowski; Kurt Mattila Writer:  Noah Hawley Cast:
Jerry O’Connell -  Businessman Jon Polito -  Jimmy the Photographer Deborah Kara Unger -  Dorothy Steve Coogan -  Ray Elliot Rebecca Romijn -  Lola Henry Rollins -  Putty Selma Blair -  Adelle Jim Cody Williams -  BoBo		Sam Elliott -  The Mormon James Brolin -  Robert Hatch Sharon Lawrence -  Judith Hatch John Leguizamo -  Hannibal James Marsden -  Wendell Hatch Debi Mazar -  Detective Bryce Aimee Garcia -  Operator #1 Yasmine Delawari -  Operator #2

Suppose a crime lord asks you to kill the gay son of a rival gangster to pay off a $96,000 debt that belongs to a friend in whose place you’re staying as a result of losing your job, your apartment and finding your girlfriend in bed with another guy? How’s that for luck? Just ask Slevin Kelevra (Josh Hartnett). It is how Lindsay (Lucy Liu) describes his life.

Director:  Paul McGuigan Writer:  Jason Smilovic Cast:
Josh Hartnett -  Slevin Kelevra Bruce Willis -  Goodkat Lucy Liu -  Lindsey Morgan Freeman -  The Boss Ben Kingsley -  The Rabbi Michael Rubenfeld -  Yitzchok ‘the Fairy’ Peter Outerbridge -  Dumbrowski Stanley Tucci -  Detective Brikowski		Kevin Chamberlin -  Marty Dorian Missick -  Elvis Mykelti Williamson -  Sloe Scott Gibson -  Max Daniel Kash -  Bodyguard #1 Dmitry Chepovetsky -  Bodyguard Danny Aiello -  Roth, the Bookie Sam Jaeger -  Nick Fisher

Stitch (voice of Chris Sanders) finds himself a resident of the local pound and seems to be enjoying himself. All of the other denizens are hiding in the rafters and behind the feed bins as he decides it is time to walkabout. Lilo (voice of Daveigh Chase) drops by for a visit as she is in the market for a dog to keep her company. She’s quite surprised to find the dog run deserted but for a fuzzy blue creature which sorta looks like a dog. She falls for him at first sight and there is no prying the two of them apart.

Director:  Chris Sanders; Dean DeBlois   Cast:
Daveigh Chase -  Lilo [Voice] Chris Sanders -  Stitch [Voice] Tia Carrere -  Nani [Voice] David Ogden Stiers -  Jumba [Voice] Kevin McDonald -  Pleakley [Voice] Ving Rhames -  Cobra Bubbles [Voice]		Zoe Caldwell -  Grand Councilwoman [Voice] Jason Scott Lee -  David Kawena [Voice] Kevin Richardson -  Captain Gantu [Voice] Susan Hegarty -  Rescue Lady [Voice] Amy Hill -  Mrs. Hasagawa [Voice]

I remember meeting a fellow who seemed to be a about a mile wide and an inch deep. He knew a little about a lot of things but not very much about any one topic. I thought he’d last about 10 minutes in his job and flit off to something else in the blink of an eye. But he seemed to careen from place to another, starting with working for me to being my boss’s boss in less time than it takes to get a legislative change made. It made me wonder at the purpose of management and whether I wanted to join their ranks. Elle Woods (Reese Witherspoon) shows many of the same skills. Displaying a capacity to absorb information and knowledge not expected of someone with her demeanour, she accomplishes her goals with the skills of a veteran and still looks good with her French manicure. I guess it pays never to underestimate someone with a law degree from Harvard no matter how blonde she may be.

Director:  Charles Herman-Wurmfeld; Charles Herman-Wurmfield Writer:  Kate Kondell Cast:
Reese Witherspoon -  Elle Woods Sally Field -  Congresswoman Rudd Regina King -  Grace Stoteraux Jennifer Coolidge -  Paulette Parcelle Bruce McGill -  Stanford Marks Dana Ivey -  Libby Hauser Mary Lynn Rajskub -  Reena Giuliani Jessica Cauffiel -  Margot		Alanna Ubach -  Serena McGuire J. Barton -  Timothy McGinn Bob Newhart -  Sidney Post Luke Wilson -  Emmett Richmond Matthew Price -  Cole’s Aide Juliet Pinto -  Intern Dancer Robert Peters -  Guard Caroline A. Rice -  Intern Dancer

It is a source of constant wonder to me to discover what might lure a woman into thinking that she wants to have her way with me. It doesn’t happen often but if the verbal skill of Fletcher Reede (Jim Carrey) is anything to go by, I should have gone to law school. Miranda’s (Amanda Donohoe) look of amazement and mirth as Fletcher stretches to story of Samantha Cole’s (Jennifer Tilly) circumstances and estrangement from her husband culminates in her seduction, biting Fletcher’s lower lip and leading him away.

Director:  Tom Shadyac Writer:  Paul Guay; Stephen Mazur Cast:
Jim Carrey -  Fletcher Reede Maura Tierney -  Audrey Reede Justin Cooper -  Max Reede Cary Elwes -  Jerry Anne Haney -  Greta Jennifer Tilly -  Samantha Cole Amanda Donohoe -  Miranda Jason Bernard -  Judge Marshall Stevens		Swoosie Kurtz -  Dana Appleton Mitchell Ryan -  Mr. Allan Chip Mayer -  Kenneth Falk Eric Pierpoint -  Richard Cole Cheri Oteri -  Jane SW Fisher -  Pete Ben Lemon -  Randy Jarrad Paul -  Zit Boy

It is always a struggle to convince other people that there is more to you than just what they see on the surface. How you dress, how you groom, who you hang out with only reflect what you want others to see. It may bear no connection to what you think, what you believe and where your life is going. Think of it as a disguise to distract people from finding out who the real you is or trying to become. Elle Woods (Reese Witherspoon) may be a Miss Hawaiian Tropic, a calendar girl and a sorority president. But she is bright enough to figure out how to get into Harvard Law, how to intern at a good firm and how to defend a client in a court case. Rather than worry about what she can’t do, Elle spends her time figuring out how she can successfully accomplish what she knows needs to be done and to continue to look good doing it.

Director:  Robert Luketic Writer:  Amanda Brown; Karen McCullah Lutz; Kirsten Smith Cast:
Reese Witherspoon -  Elle Woods Luke Wilson -  Emmett Richmond Selma Blair -  Vivian Kensington Matthew Davis -  Warner Huntington III Victor Garber -  Professor Callahan Jennifer Coolidge -  Paulette Bonafonté Holland Taylor -  Professor Stromwell Ali Larter -  Brooke Taylor Windham		Jessica Cauffiel -  Margot Alanna Ubach -  Serena Oz Perkins -  ‘Dorky’ David Kidney Linda Cardellini -  Chutney Windham Bruce Thomas -  UPS Guy Meredith Scott Lynn -  Enid Wexler Raquel Welch -  Mrs. Windham Vandermark Samantha Lemole -  Claire

How does one decide when your time is over? Do you follow your heart or your head?

In Rivendell, Arwen (Liv Tyler) knows her heart belongs to Aragorn (Viggo Mortensen). She also knows she will live on as he ages, grows old and dies. Should she give up her immortality and be with the man she loves or follow her family into exile? She is convinced by Elrond (Hugo Weaving) that the age of Elves is ending and leaves for the West.

Director:  Peter Jackson Writer:  J.R.R. Tolkien; Frances Walsh; Philippa Boyens; Stephen Sinclair; Peter Jackson Cast:
Elijah Wood -  Frodo Baggins Ian McKellen -  Gandalf the Grey/Gandalf the White Liv Tyler -  Arwen Viggo Mortensen -  Aragorn Sean Astin -  Samwise ‘Sam’ Gamgee Cate Blanchett -  Galadriel John Rhys-Davies -  Gimli/Voice of Treebeard Bernard Hill -  Theoden		Christopher Lee -  Saruman the White Billy Boyd -  Peregrin ‘Pippin’ Took Dominic Monaghan -  Meriadoc ‘Merry’ Brandybuck Orlando Bloom -  Legolas Greenleaf Hugo Weaving -  Elrond Miranda Otto -  Eowyn David Wenham -  Faramir Brad Dourif -  Grima Wormtongue

What is it about temptation that leads us so easily astray? We work hard, we lead a staid life and, all of a sudden, a chance to experience something new presents itself. We ignore our moral compass and begin to sway towards the dark side. Sometimes we realize what we could lose and sometimes we don’t. It’s all about the lure.

Harry (Alan Rickman) is teased in an ever-increasing fashion by Mia (Heike Makatsch), his assistant. She begins the spiral of seduction with first the alluring look, later the exotic move of spreading her legs, then the erotic whisper in his ear that she’s all his should he want it. He’s hooked and about to be reeled in when his wife Karen (Emma Thompson) discovers the expensive Christmas gift she thinks is for her. When she doesn’t get it, Harry has to decide between his wife and two children and the prospect of a passionate office affair.

Director:  Richard Curtis Writer:  Richard Curtis Cast:
Bill Nighy -  Billy Mack Colin Firth -  Jamie Bennett Liam Neeson -  Daniel Emma Thompson -  Karen Alan Rickman -  Harry Kris Marshall -  Colin Frissell Heike Makatsch -  Mia Martin Freeman -  John		Thomas Sangster -  Sam Joanna Page -  Just Judy Chiwetel Ejiofor -  Peter Andrew Lincoln -  Mark Keira Knightley -  Juliet Hugh Grant -  The Prime Minister Martine McCutcheon -  Natalie Laura Linney -  Sarah

There have been times when I’ve found myself sharing a table in a restaurant with people I barely know. The chatter about the table has been boisterous, raucous, intense and unnerving. But talk of bodily fluids has always remained in the context of humour. Emily French (Toni Collette) is so excited to get the movie part of Charlotte when Joe Devine (Alec Baldwin) and Steve Schats (Matthew Broderick) offer it to her that she grabs a glass off the table. She slips it under her skirt to fill it for a drug test, should they want her to take one, and plunks it back onto the table, spattering her dinner companions. Eeeuuuwww…

Director:  Jeff Nathanson Writer:  Steve Fishman; Jeff Nathanson Cast:
Matthew Broderick -  Steven Schats Alec Baldwin -  Joe Devine Toni Collette -  Emily French Tony Shalhoub -  Tommy Sanz Calista Flockhart -  Valerie Weston Tim Blake Nelson -  Marshal Paris Buck Henry -  Lonnie Bosco Ray Liotta -  Jack Devine		Ian Gomez -  Agent Nance Troy Winbush -  Agent Ray Dawson Tom McCarthy -  Agent Pike W. Earl Brown -  Willie Gratzo Evan Jones -  Troy Haines Glenn Morshower -  Agent McCaffrey James Rebhorn -  Abe White Amy Smallman -  Heidi Katz

It is easy to get lost. All it takes is a wrong turn and you find yourself looking around and wondering what happened and how you got to this point. Just as Steven Goodson (Fred Savage). He took the advice of his friend Jack Manning (Steven Pasquale), went on a tear after dumping his cheating girlfriend Chloe (Andrea Bogart) and turned into a hound of the first stripe. Now he’s broke, fired from his job and sniffing around any girl that will give him the time of day. One night, he runs into Amelia (Erinn Bartlett), an old high school chum he was too shy to date, and finds himself ambivalent over whether he wants to see her again or seduce her on the spot. Maybe he has run out of steam.

Director:  Jonathan Segal; Anthony Hickox Writer:  Todd M. Camhe; Jonathan Segal Cast:
Fred Savage -  Steven Goodson Amy Adams -  Alexis Steven Pasquale -  Jack Manning Andrea Bogart -  Chloe Erinn Bartlett -  Amelia Vyto Ruginis -  Clancy Robert Romanus -  Steven’s Boss Ray Baker -  Mr. Powers		Abby Brammell -  Bar-Back Chick Amanda Swisten -  Sage Lisa Arturo -  Ginger Jillian Bach -  Felicia Ina Barron -  Stunning Brunette Judith Benezra -  Bridget Art Bonilla -  Landscaping Co-Worker Sharon Brathwaite -  Renee

I was idling away an evening watching this movie again when the bad guys had forced the good guys to lead them to the Cradle of Life to find Pandora’s box. They were headed into the are of the shadows and we see a portion of the country that looks like it has been swept through by a forest fire when Cthulhu Mythos popped into my head. Geez, where did that come from? Then the bad guys get picked off one by one and thoughts of the minions of the Elder Gods surfaced. Then Lara Croft (Angelina Jolie) drops the glowing bowling ball map down into what looks like a hole in a pinball table and I wondered whether we were in the middle of a H.P. Lovecraft shooter game. The unseen horror of Doom arises made me smirk.

Director:  Jan de Bont Writer:  Steven E. de Souza; James V. Hart; Dean Georgaris Cast:
Angelina Jolie -  Lara Croft Gerard Butler -  Terry Sheridan Ciarán Hinds -  Jonathan Reiss Christopher Barrie -  Hillary Noah Taylor -  Bryce Djimon Hounsou -  Kosa Til Schweiger -  Sean Simon Yam -  Chen Lo		Terence Yin -  Xien Daniel Caltagirone -  Nicholas Petraki Fabiano Martell -  Jimmy Petraki Jonathan Coyne -  Gus Petraki Robert Cavanah -  MI6 Agent Stevens Ronan Vibert -  MI6 Agent Calloway Lenny Juma -  Village Leader Raymond Offula -  Village Leader

The relationship between fathers and daughters is complicated. How does a girl show her dad that she is ready to be an adult? How does a father transform that image of his little girl and replace it with one in whom he can be proud, ready to stand beside him to face the world?

King Théoden (Bernard Hill) has shaken off the effects of the mental and physical weakness placed upon him by enchantments of his steward, Gríma Wormtongue (Brad Dourif), a toady of Saruman. Théoden raises an army rides off to war with some 6,000 Riders of Rohan, unaware that Éowyn (Miranda Otto), along with Merry (Dominic Monaghan), as part of the army. She knows that this will be her one chance to prove that she is truly a heir to the throne of Rohan.

Director:  Peter Jackson; Bret Robbins; Chris Tremmel Writer:  Nuno Miranda; J.R.R. Tolkien; Michael Becker Cast:
Elijah Wood -  Frodo Baggins Ian McKellen -  Gandalf Viggo Mortensen -  Aragorn Sean Astin -  Samwise Gamgee John Rhys-Davies -  Gimli Miranda Otto -  Eowyn Orlando Bloom -  Legolas Greenleaf Liv Tyler -  Arwen		Andy Serkis -  Gollum / The Witch King of Angmar Billy Boyd -  Peregrin ‘Pippin’ Took Dominic Monaghan -  Merry Christopher Lee -  Saruman Ian Holm -  Bilbo Baggins David Wenham -  Faramir Andrew Chaikin -  Shagrat Tom Chantler -  Rangers of Gondor