Australia: Land Beyond Time (PG) The film takes us Down Under to the flattest, driest continent on earth, immerses us in parched, otherworldly landscapes and introduces us to tons of incredibly odd and supremely adaptable animals — from cute koalas and feisty dingoes, to an endless variety of bizarrely shaped lizards, to the amazing and little-understood kangaroo. Animal lovers will want to pounce on this one. 
Bad Company (PG-13) More a failed genetic experiment than an actual motion picture, Bad Company is a pathetically clumsy attempt to graft not just two completely different genres, but two actors who should never have appeared in the same film. The wisp of a plot of this lazily scripted sub-generic spy movie — something about terrorists attempting to detonate a nuclear weapon in the U.S. — is really just an excuse to allow Anthony Hopkins and Chris Rock to share screen time. Also stars Gabriel Macht and John Slattery.
The Bourne Identity (PG-13) Matt Damon plays an amnesiac who also just happens to be a world-class fighter, linguist, escape artist — in fact, he pretty much possesses all the skills of a top-notch spy/sleuth/assassin. Complicating matters is the fact that, even as he tries to reclaim his memory, Damon's being hunted by the ultimate bad guys who appear to be his old bosses — our old pals, the CIA. Bourne Identity is basically an action movie, but it's an overly murky one that lacks a real sense of urgency or purpose. 
Crocodile Hunter: Collision Course (PG) An extremely (and probably unintentionally) bizarre hybrid of a movie in which documentary-like sequences featuring cable TV personality Steve Crocodile Hunter Irwin uncomfortably coexist with a brainless Hollywood comedy about bumbling CIA agents trying to retrieve a fallen satellite in Australia. 
Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood (PG-13) Written and directed by Callie Khouri (Thelma and Louise), produced by Bonnie Bruckheimer (Beaches) and adapted from a couple of Rebecca Wells novels much cherished by a sizable, almost exclusively female audience, Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood is a consummate chick flick, but not a particularly good movie. The movie spends the better part of two hours alternately skewering and romanticizing its central character — a self-centered, substance-abusing mother played as a young woman by Ashley Judd and as an aging matron by Ellen Burstyn — and then resolves all the complicated issues between the woman and her daughter in a final rush of unrepentant mush. 
Enough (R) This film completely screws up a premise that cries out for a serious celluloid treatment. Director Michael Apted and screenwriter Nicholas Kazan (who penned Reversal of Fortune in another lifetime) aren't interested in exploring such an explosive topic as wife-beating; they're more interested in dolling up star Jennifer Lopez and letting her kick ass in an obvious finale that can be predicted even by those who haven't seen the tell-all trailer.
—Matt Brunson
The Fluffer (R) A gay porn star who's actually straight finds himself in the middle of a lopsided sex triangle that consists of his stripper girlfriend and the obsessed young man who lands a gig as the porn star's fluffer. If you're not sure what a fluffer actually is, it's probably better not to ask. Stars Scott Gurney, Michael Cunio and Roxanne Day.
(Not Reviewed)
Halloween Resurrection (R) The studio decided not to have any advance screenings of this eighth and latest edition of the Halloween horror franchise, and that's not good news for anyone hoping that this movie is going to be anything other than sheer crap. Stars Jamie Lee Curtis, Busta Rhymes and Tyra Banks. Opens July 12 at local theaters.
(Not Reviewed)
Hey Arnold! The Movie (PG) The nice little kid with the big, football-shaped head from the Nickelodeon cartoon gets his very first feature-length movie — and with any luck, it'll be his last. Hey Arnold! The Movie is bland, lifeless stuff about a couple of kids playing spy games in order to save their neighborhood from being bulldozed to make way for a new megamall.
Insomnia (R) Unlike Memento, the movie that unfolded in reverse and put director Christopher Nolan on the map, the filmmaker's new project propels its story forward in a relentlessly linear manner. Insomnia is one of the darker films you'll see this year, but it's also one of the brightest, with the movie taking place in Alaska during that time of year when the sun hovers in the sky for 24 hours a day. Al Pacino stars as a cop who makes some very bad decisions and then becomes so sleep-deprived that he is unable to tell when he's crossed the line from good guy to bad guy. Even at his most dislikable, Pacino's character is just a little too easy to like, and never quite makes the transformation from wise, folksy hero cop to the reptilian Anti-Serpico that would have made this a much creepier and more interesting movie. Also stars Hilary Swank, Robin Williams, Maura Tierney and Martin Donovan.
Juwanna Mann (PG-13) Dull-witted, low-brow comedy about a selfish, arrogant pro basketball star who gets suspended for his nasty ways, only to resurface in drag as a player in the women's league. Tootsie it ain't. Every move the film makes is telegraphed from a mile away, the plot holes are the size of Montana, the humor is mostly crude and stupid, and the obligatory love angle (our hero/heroine falls for a beautiful teammate) is as predictable and insipid as just about everything else about the movie. Only Tommy Davidson as a lovesick, silver-toothed rapper is worth watching. Also stars Miguel A. Nunez Jr, Vivica A. Fox, Kim Wayans and Kevin Pollak.
Lilo and Stitch (PG) Another hit from the Disney team, although not quite out of the ballpark. Lilo and Stitch is basically a brightened-up, kid-friendly reinvention of the Frankenstein story, in which a manmade monster (or, in this case, alien-created critter) comes to grips with his own, um, uniqueness and, in the process, finds something not unlike a soul. Disney's extraterrestrial Frankenstein is Stitch, a big-eyed, genetically altered experiment who crash lands on earth and hooks up with a lonely little Hawaiian girl named Lilo. Even though neither character ranks among the studio's most memorable, there's more than enough here to keep most viewers perfectly happy for the better part of 90 minutes.
Like Mike (PG) Hip hop mini-icon Lil' Bow Wow makes his, um, acting debut as a tiny teen who dons a pair of magical sneakers to become a great NBA star. Also stars old-timer Morris Chestnut and Jonathan Lipnicki.
(Not Reviewed)
Men in Black II (PG-13) Although it might just have well been titled Men in Black I, Slight Return, this briskly paced 80-some minute romp offers considerable fun, particularly for the undiscriminating summer viewer. There are no real surprises here to speak of, with the movie's main characters and wisp of a plot basically just reprising themselves. The chemistry between stars Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones still works, although it's a bit more labored and even more minimalist than in the original. The nasty little talking dog steals the show. Also stars Johnny Knoxville, Rosario Dawson and Rip Torn.
Minority Report (PG-13) The best movie of the summer, and one of the best movies of recent years, Steven Spielberg's sci-fi noir boasts a fascinating premise beautifully expanded into a provocative and consistently gripping feature-length film. Based on a story by Philip K. Dick, Minority Report takes place in a not-so-distant future where crimes are predicted and criminals arrested before they actually commit their offense. Tom Cruise plays the top cop who becomes the glitch in a perfect system when he finds himself falsely accused and on the run. Minority Report is an exciting movie and, dare I say it, an important movie, made timelier than ever in the preemptive political environment of today. Although there's plenty of action, Minority Report is anything but an action movie; it's a smart, tough and tantalizing remapping of the familiar territory known as the crime thriller. The closest comparisons that come to mind are Blade Runner (also inspired by Philip K. Dick) and Chinatown — Spielberg's latest is right in that league. Also stars Colin Farrell, Samantha Morton and Max Von Sydow. 
Mr. Deeds (PG-13) Adam Sandler's latest is a remake of Frank Capra's classic populist comedy from 1936, Mr. Deeds Goes to Town, in which a sweetly eccentric but basically ordinary guy suddenly comes into a huge amount of money, resulting in a close encounter with all the worldly garbage that comes with great wealth. In many ways, the remake is surprisingly faithful to Capra's original. What really separates the two versions, though, is the great divide between original star Gary Cooper and Adam Sandler. The 66-year slide from Cooper to Sandler is a little like confronting an evolutionary schematic charting the journey from amoebae to monkey to man, only in reverse. Also stars Winona Ryder, John Turturro, Peter Gallagher, Jared Harris and Steve Buscemi.
My Big Fat Greek Wedding (PG) Nia Vardalos stars in this sweet-natured, sporadically amusing adaptation of her one-woman show about a plain Greek-American woman who transforms herself into a babe and hooks up with her Prince Charming — who, much to the chagrin of her loud and proud Greek family, turns out to be as WASP-y as they come. In all, Greek Wedding probably worked better on stage than on the big screen. Also stars John Corbett, Michael Constantine, Lainie Kazan and Andrea Martin.
Nine Queens (R) Sly, twisty heist movie about a pair of small time Argentine scam artists who hook up for a day and become involved in a half-million dollar con involving a sheet of priceless stamps. Just about everybody in Nine Queens is working an angle, so that the film keeps us engaged both in what's actually happening on screen and in what we sense may be happening under the surface and behind the scenes. It's all playful enough, elegantly shot and quite enjoyable, even when the plot points come off as a touch contrived. Opens July 12 at Tampa Theater. Call to confirm. 
North by Northwest (NR) Perhaps the single film that best summed up everything that was most intriguing about Alfred Hitchcock, North by Northwest nearly defies description. The movie boils down to a feature-length case of mistaken identity in which suave, cynical ad man Roger Thornhill (Cary Grant at his most impossibly cool) is assumed to be someone named George Kaplan and whisked off by a couple of dangerous thugs. The movie becomes one long, elaborate chase, a madcap adventure that keeps the audience guessing right along with Grant up until the very last frame. All of Hitch's favorite elements, images, themes and neurotic bugaboos are here, from the hot-cool blonde (Eva Marie Saint) who may or may not be in on the conspiracy, to the sublimely droll mix of near-horror and humor, to the great set pieces, to the outrageously Freudian winks and nudges that include a castrating mother figure looming over Grant just off screen. And need we remind you that his is the one with the famous crop-dusting sequence and the immortal climax on Mount Rushmore? As successful a fantasy as it is a thriller, North by Northwest is a treat. Also stars James Mason and Martin Landau. Plays once only, 3 p.m. July 14 at Tampa Theatre.
Ocean Men (PG) As beautiful and bombastic as a Wagner opera, this latest IMAX documentary tells the story of the friendly (and sometimes not-so-friendly) competition between two world-class athletes, each striving to dive to unimaginable depths without the aid of any sort of breathing apparatus. At IMAX Channelside. Call theater to confirm.
The Powerpuff Girls Movie (PG) Animation iconoclast Craig McCracken's Powerpuff Girls is one of the coolest cartoons currently on TV, which is only one of the reasons that this big-screen version is so disappointing. The Powerpuff Girls Movie shares the same stylishly minimalist design sense of its small-screen counterpart, but that's where the resemblance ends. Whereas the television episodes are generally smart, snappy and just edgy enough to keep us watching, the big-screen version feels strangely conventional and padded with a formulaic mix of sentimentality and straightforward action sequences. Featuring the voices of Catherine Cavadini, Tara Strong and E.G. Daily.
Reign of Fire (PG-13) A ragtag band of humans square off against a deadly species of fire-breathing dragons in the decimated future of 2020. Director Rob Bowman's movie looks good, if you go in for tons of grubby, post-apocalyptic atmosphere, but the plot arc here is just short of by-the-numbers, the action scenes are far too murky to generate much excitement, and the characters are uniformly underwritten or annoying. Christian Bale stars as the ferret-like leader of a community of bedraggled Brits holed up in a medieval fortress besieged by beasties. Matthew McConaughey is the chrome-domed, cigar-chompin' Yank who drops in to save the day. It all leads to the inevitable battle-of-battles with a big, mean alpha male dragon and lots of digitally generated fire. Also stars Izabella Scorupco. Opens July 12 at local theaters. 
Scooby Doo (PG) A big-screen experience pretty similar to watching an old Scooby Doo cartoon on TV, only longer. Outside a very small handful of semi-hip inside jokes (including a drug reference or two), the live action movie of Scooby Doo is a pretty bland affair, whose target audience consists of kids ages 3 to 7.
Space Station (PG) New IMAX featurette documenting a pair of voyages to the international space station floating high above planet Earth. The multinational crews include a mix of American astronauts and Russian cosmonauts. At IMAX Dome Theater.
(Not Reviewed)
Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron (G) An animated, all-American tale of freedom and bravery that's very nearly a kid-friendly remake of Little Big Man with Dustin Hoffman's role being taken by a talking horse. The movie's equine protagonist is actually far more heroic than Hoffman's chameleon-like survivor, but both characters wind up serving as virtual tour guides on a condensed history of the Old West by passing back and forth between the Native American and white man's civilizations that defined the era.
Spider-Man (PG) Sam Raimi's big screen adaptation of Spider-Man is surprisingly faithful to Spidey's origins as an outsider superhero, even if the edges have been smoothed out a touch. The movie's first half lays the story out in a manner that has all the symmetry and primal oomph of modern myth, with Peter Parker spending most of the movie simply adjusting to his new powers (we don't even see Spidey in full costume until a full hour into the movie). Even though the second half of Spider-Man is infinitely more action-packed than the setup, the movie gives the distinct impression of slowing down as it progresses. The main reason the movie's second half suffers is due to the fundamental shift from characters to CGI-dominated action — and, frankly, some of the digital effects aren't quite up to the task. Also stars Kirsten Dunst and James Franco.
Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones (PG) As enticing as anything George Lucas has ever done, Episode II is good enough to not only ease the pain of the fiasco otherwise known as Episode I, it quite nearly redeems it. The middle installment of Lucas' new trilogy is a big, juicy entertainment that manages to put into perspective everything that's come before and neatly set up what's to follow. The action sequences are among Lucas' most muscular and exciting to date, but the movie's narrative is surprisingly intriguing as well. Stars Ewan McGregor, Natalie Portman, Hayden Christensen, Samuel L. Jackson and Christopher Lee.
The Sum of All Fears (PG-13) An expertly crafted thriller that delivers a terrifyingly believable account of the doomsday scenario so many of us now consider inevitable — terrorists smuggle in a nuclear device and detonate it on U.S. soil. The Sum of All Fears will be a little too real for many. A nutty neo-Nazi plans to play the U.S. and Russia against each other, orchestrating attacks in each country for which the other will be blamed and consequently triggering Armageddon — causing the movie to play out a little like Dr. Strangelove redone as a Hollywood thriller.
Ultimate X (PG) Not your standard IMAX movie by a long shot, Ultimate X cops an attitude that's almost as edgy and irreverent as its subject matter — those Extreme Sports featured in ESPN's popular X Games, like BMX biking, skateboarding, street luge, wakeboarding, speed climbing and all other manner of daredevil events. The stunts and tricks are spectacular, and so are the wipeouts. Featured are skaters Tony Hawk, Bob Burnquist and Bucky Lasek, BMX stunt riders Ryan Nyquist and Cory Nasty Nastazio and Moto X rider Carey Hart. At Channelside IMAX. Call theater to confirm.
Unfaithful (R) A tale of marital deception that starts out as a fairly standard erotic thriller but becomes much more interesting in its later stages, when it tackles the aftermath of the affair. Diane Lane stars as a more-or-less happy suburban housewife who enters into a steamy affair with a sexy French bohemian (Olivier Martinez). Lane (who's quite convincing as a woman both thrilled and repelled by what she's doing) and hubby Richard Gere sink gradually into an abyss of secrets and lies, with the movie's real strength being the unflinching detailing of that unhappy process.
Windtalkers (R) A different sort of film for John Woo, the Hong Kong action auteur who came to Hollywood and went on to break the bank with stylish mayhem like Mission: Impossible II. Woo's latest is a traditional, even old fashioned war movie, starring Nicolas Cage as brooding, traumatized marine charged with protecting a Navajo code talker during World War II. Windtalkers is a fairly conventional tale of men in combat, with each scene of quiet reflection and manly camaraderie being inevitably followed by one of tremendous bombast and flying body parts.
—Reviewed entries by Lance Goldenberg unless otherwise noted
This article appears in Jul 10-16, 2002.