National Treasure: Book of Secrets
2-Disc Collector’s Edition
Directed by Jon Turteltaub
Starring Nicolas Cage, Justin Bartha, Diane Kruger, Jon Voight, Helen Mirren
Walt Disney Video
Release Date: May 20, 2008

Ben Gates (Nicolas Cage) is back for a new treasure hunt. Even though his previous find has brought him fame and wealth, his relationship with Abigail (Diane Kruger) has suffered, and he now lives with his father (Jon Voight) who, ironically enough, is now close with his son after the events of the first film. Gates’ treasure-hunting buddy Riley (Justin Bartha) has found himself unable to make a name for himself and that the luxury taxes in the United States can be as much of a pain as they are on the Monopoly board. But when a missing page from the diary of John Wilkes Booth seems to imply that one of Gates’ ancestors may have been involved with the Lincoln assassination, Gates sets out on another hunt to clear his name, which just happens to involve finding an ancient city made of pure gold.

Interestingly enough, the mystery at the heart of the plot predates the United States and requires a lot of searching outside the country. Though the acknowledgement of Native Americans in the country’s culture is a nice spin on the treasure hunt, it seems like a bit of a token gesture. The book which the film in titled after also barely gets more than 3 minutes of screen time and a half-hearted glance from the main characters. This wouldn’t seem like such a big deal if Riley wasn’t setup to be a character so obsessed with secrets. To find proof of one’s theories and then just as easily let it go without a second glance seems phony. Then again, we are talking about a Disney movie about treasure, aren’t we? I guess we’re expected to keep out eyes on the prize just like the characters do.

Iron Man
Directed by Jon Favreau
Starring Robert Downey Jr., Terrence Howard, Jeff Bridges, Shaun Toub, Leslie Bibb, Gwyneth Paltrow
Rated PG-13
Paramount Pictures
Release date: May 2, 2008

Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.), billionaire-playboy and engineering savant, is hardly what most people consider a hero. Running the family business, a super-sophisticated weapons manufacturer, has made him the center of controversy. After an awe-inspiring demonstration of his latest missile system however, Stark receives a wake-up call as a group of terrorists kidnap him with the aid of his own weapons. But their attempt to force him to build a super-missile backfires when he instead builds a crude suit of armor to escape. Upon returning to America, he realizes his life’s work has been a selfish drive that has hurt millions. His new goal is to create a refined suit of armor and use it to clean up a mess he created. His newfound morality does not go over well with his business partner Obadiah Stane (Jeff Bridges) however, who sees war as the best way to make money.

Downey is absolutely perfect as Stark. The same self-satisfaction and smart-assed disposition that Downey brought to Kiss Kiss Bang Bang is vivid in his portrayal of Stark, an his own battles with personal demons has certainly given him credence beyond any typical character study. Bridges, who looks nothing like himself as Stane, is equally entertaining and believable.

24: The Official Companion Season 6
Contains a bonus DVD
Written by Tara Dilullo Bennett
Titan Books
Release date: Feb. 26, 2008

Whether you’re a fan of over-the top action, ground-breaking TV, or just like to play the drinking game where everyone does a shot when Jack yells “Damn it,” there are plenty of reasons to watch 24.

When 24 debuted, it set a new standard for action shows. The innovative use of real-time was ground-breaking and made the show an instant hit. Five seasons later, the show is still going strong. The sixth season, however, began to show major signs of weariness as the season progressed. Nevertheless, the writers once again proved they weren’t afraid to cross lines and do things the fans thought would never happen to preserve the show’s sense of unpredictability, and there were plenty of jaw-dropping moments.

And there’s more to these moments than some may realize, and for those interested in learning what goes into one of the most popular shows on TV, there’s the 24: The Official Companion Season 6, which includes cast and crew interviews, episode breakdowns, character profiles, script excerpts, and detailed background information and many aspects of the show’s plot and creation.

The Best of Comedy Central Presents Uncensored
Starring Lewis Black, Dane Cook, Jeff Dunham, Jim Gaffigan, Mitch Hedberg, Demtri Martin, Carlos Mencia, Brian Regan
Paramount Home Video
Available Feb. 5, 2008

With humor being so subjective, it’s hard to find a comic who can appeal to any audience. Regardless of your taste in stand-up though, there should be at least one comic in the line-up of The Best of Comedy Central Presents Uncensored that you won’t find funny.

The three-plus hours of stand-up features eight big names in comedy today packing plenty of laughs into one disc. Even though there are plenty of jokes, many of them would be considered “old” now that most of the featured comics have moved on to bigger productions.

The eight stars of the show are Lewis Black, Dane Cook, Jeff Dunham, Jim Gaffigan, Mitch Hedberg, Demtri Martin, Carlos Mencia, and Brian Regan. With the exception of Hedberg, who began to garner a massive cult following before his untimely death, all of the comics now tour with much larger crowds, have their own HBO specials, star in movies, TV shows, or a combination thereof since the time they were featured in Comedy Central Presents.

Superman: Doomsday
DC Universe Animated Original Movie
Starring (voices): Adam Baldwin, Anne Heche, James Marsters
Warner Home Video
Release date: Sept. 18, 2007

The Death of Superman is still, to this day, one of the most memorable moments in comic book history. The event not only sent shockwaves through the entire DC Universe, but attracted even casual fans to begin purchasing comics in huge numbers.

Rumors persisted for years that the story would be made into a film, but never came to fruition. After the release of Superman Returns, it seemed the story would remain in print only. That, however, turned out to be untrue when the story was adapted to an animated feature, Superman: Doomsday. The film is a bit disappointing, taking huge leaps from the original story, but does have some entertainment value.

While digging beneath the Earth’s surface on secret project, LexCorp unearths an alien chamber that houses a nearly unstoppable killing machine, which is not named, but fans will recognize as Doomsday. I say nearly because Superman does succeed in stopping it, at the price of his own life.

In the wake of his death, crime skyrockets, when suddenly a caped-hero emerges to save the day, but not all is well in Metropolis.