Action & Adventure

Fresh Air's film critic says the set-up is smart — but the setups are wittier than the payoffs, and oh, what lackluster tasks await the aging adventurer and his spawn.

Think of Sam Raimi's Spider-Man 3 as a kind of Ben-Hur for our time — it delivers state-of-the-art spectacle, but it also yearns to throw a spotlight on the struggle between good and evil. It ends in deathbed conversions and churchy epiphanies, and it offers more homilies than the average Sunday sermon.

The new movie 300 is adapted from a graphic novel by Frank Miller and Lynn Varley. The movie centers on an ancient battle between the Spartans and the Persians.

Our film critic reviews Superman Returns. The new feature is directed by Bryan Singer, who made The Usual Suspects and X-Men. Newcomer Brandon Routh plays the man of steel, and Kevin Spacey is archenemy Lex Luthor.

He plays Bruce Wayne -- and his alter ego, Batman -- in the new film Batman Begins. Bale's other films include American Psycho, Laurel Canyon, Captain Corelli's Mandolin and The Machinist. He is also the voice of Howl in the new Japanese animated film Howl's Moving Castle.

His new film is Baadasssss! It's the story of the making of 1971 classic Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song. In the film, Mario Van Peebles plays his father, director Melvin Van Peebles. Mario got his start directing and starring in the film New Jack City. Other acting credits include the role of Malcolm X in the film Ali, and a role in Ten Thousand Black Men Named George, about the unionization of Pullman train porters.

Film critic David Edelstein reviews Spiderman 2, with Tobey Maguire revisiting the superhero based on the Marvel Comics series. Kirsten Dunst returns as Mary Jane Watson, Peter Parker's love interest, and Alfred Molina stars as the villain Doc Ock.

Pop icon Tom Jones first gained fame with the 1960s hits "It's Not Unusual," "What's New Pussycat?" and "Delilah." In the last 40 years, he has released more than 30 hit singles and several gold and multi-platinum records. In his heyday, he was famous for live performances and the frenzy he caused among his female fans — many threw their underwear onstage and rushed the stage. Jones' name today connotes hipness and romance. His newest release, Reloaded: Greatest Hits, is made up of 19 new and re-mastered tunes.

Film critic David Edelstein reviews City of God.

Film critic John Powers reviews "Minority Report," the new Steven Spielberg film starring Tom Cruise.

Writer John Ridley wrote the screenplay for the new film Undercover Brother, which began life as a Web site animation. The film is an action comedy replete with 1970s fashions. Ridley has also just published a novel, A Conversation with the Mann, about a black comic in the civil rights era of the early 1960s.

Film critic Henry Sheehan reviews Spider-man.

Jazz trumpeter Steven Bernstein. With his quartet, Sex Mob, hes just released a new CD which pays homage to the music of James Bond films. Its called Sex Mob Does Bond (ropeadope records) and is the sextets third album. Bernstein also heads two other groups: Diaspora Soul which specializes in performing versions of ancient Jewish melodies, and Millennial Territory Orchestra with which he explores jazz from the 1920s and 1930s.

Film critic Henry Sheehan reviews Swordfish, starring John Travolta.

Film critic Henry Sheehan reviews the new movie “Proof of Life” starring Meg Ryan and Russell Crowe.

Guest film critic Henry Sheehan reviews “The Perfect Storm” starring George Clooney and Mark Whalberg. Sheehan is the film critic for the Orange County Register.

Film critic John Powers reviews the new film Gone in 60 Seconds, starring Nicolas Cage and Angelina Jolie.

Composer John Barry. He's best known for his 11 James Bond scores, including "Goldfinger," and "Thunderball." Barry has won five Oscars: for the song and score of "Born Free," and for scores for "Lion in Winter," "Out of Africa," and "Dances with Wolves." He has a new CD compilation of his work, "John Barry: The Hits & The Misses" (Play it Again label).

John Powers reviews "The Peacemaker," the new action film starring George Clooney and Nicole Kidman.