Katie Holmes

The origins of the Caped Crusader of Gotham City are finally brought to the big screen in this new adaptation of the perennially popular comic-book series. The young Bruce Wayne (Gus Lewis) leads a privileged life as the son of wealthy, philanthropist parents, both of whom stress their commitment to improving the lives of the citizens of crime-ridden Gotham City. After his mother and father are murdered by a mugger, however, Wayne grows into an impudent young man (Christian Bale), full of rage and bent on retribution until encouraged by his childhood sweetheart, Rachel Dawes (Katie Holmes), to search for answers beyond his own personal vendettas. Wayne eventually finds discipline in the Far East under the tutelage of Henri Ducard (Liam Neeson), a member of the mysterious League of Shadows who guides him in the study of martial arts -- and the ways in which an ordinary man can hone his senses to an almost superhuman acuity. After seven years away from Gotham, Wayne returns, determined to bring peace and safety back to the city. With the help of his faithful manservant, Alfred Pennyworth (Michael Caine), and Lucius Fox (Morgan Freeman), a scientist at his late father's corporation, Wayne develops a secret identity as Batman, a masked fighter for justice. But when a shady psychiatrist (Cillian Murphy) joins forces with the criminal underworld, Wayne realizes that putting an end to their nefarious plans will be very difficult indeed. Batman Begins also features Gary Oldman as Lt. James Gordon and Tom Wilkinson as the crime boss Carmine Falcone. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

Joey (Katie Holmes), needing money for college, and Pacey, (Joshua Jackson) desperate for a place of his own to live, both enter a beauty contest that offers 5,000 dollars to the winner. Joey's appearance in the contest alters Dawson's (James Van Der Beek) perception of her. This makes Jen (Michelle Williams), already second-guessing herself about her decision to break up with Dawson, jealous. ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide

Dawson (James Van Der Beek) decides to make Jen (Michelle Williams) the lead in the no-budget horror film he is making for a film festival. Jealousy rears its ugly head when Joey (Katie Holmes) sees that Dawson and Jen's relationship might be more than director/actress. Dawson is in for his own battle with the green monster when Jen accepts an offer to attend a dance with football player Cliff (Scott Foley). Tamara (Leann Hunley) instructs Pacey (Joshua Jackson) that she does not appreciate his continued advances to her. Joey confronts Gail (Mary-Margaret Humes) about her possibly cheating on Mitch (John Wesley Shipp). ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide

In an obvious homage to The Breakfast Club, this episode of Dawson's Creek finds Dawson (James Van Der Beek), Joey (Katie Holmes), Pacey (Joshua Jackson), and Jen (Michelle Williams) serving an eight-hour Saturday detention along with class bad girl Abby (Monica Keena). After tensions between Pacey and Dawson, as well as Jen and Joey, heat up for a variety of reasons, a game of truth or dare ends in a kiss that may cause all kinds of emotional ramifications. ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide

Still upset about his breakup with Jen (Michelle Williams), Dawson (James Van Der Beek) lies to Mary Beth (Megahn Perry) so that she will join him on a double date with Jen and Cliff (Scott Foley). His jealousy reveals itself over the course of the evening. Meanwhile, the relationship between Pacey (Joshua Jackson) and Joey (Katie Holmes) goes through some subtle changes as they work together on a school science project. ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide

Dawson (James Van Der Beek) plots the perfect location to share his first kiss with Jen (Michelle Williams), but his plans are threatened when he is forced to take part in a class film project. Joey (Katie Holmes) lies about herself in order to impress a new boy in town. Tamara (Leann Hunley) begins to weaken due to Pacey's (Joshua Jackson) incessant and charming flirtations. ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide

After Jen (Michelle Williams) breaks up with him, Dawson (James Van Der Beek) sets out on a road trip with Pacey (Joshua Jackson) and Billy (Eion Bailey). They end up at a college bar where Dawson finds some success with a female film student. After football player Warren Goering (Eric Balfour) begins a rumor that Joey (Katie Holmes) had sex with him, Jen hatches an elaborate plot to humiliate Warren. But the plan leads to some unexpected complications. ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide

Season two of Dawson's Creek picks up where season one left off, with the passionate kiss between 15-year-old aspiring filmmaker Dawson Leery (James Van Der Beek) and his lifelong friend Josephine "Joey" Potter (Katie Holmes). Still, it will be some time before Dawson and Joey surrender to the obvious fact that they are destined to be together forever. This season marks the first appearance of Andie McPhee (Meredith Monroe) and Andie's brother Jack (Kerr Smith), not to mention the manipulative Abby Morgan (Monica Keena), who wastes no time exerting her bad influence over Dawson's sexy next-door neighbor Jen Lindley (Michelle Williams). Meanwhile, Dawson's pal Pacey (Joshua Jackson) has an uncomfortable reunion with Tamara Jacobs (Leann Hunley), the English teacher to whom he had given up his virginity in the previous season. With Joey apparently interested only in newcomer Jack, Dawson goes back to Jen on the rebound, which turns out to be a really bad move. As it turns out, however, Jack is gay, and thus hardly a rival to Dawson. As for his sister Andie, she has a brief fling with the ever-willing Pacey -- and as a result of her parent's marital problems, Andie also suffers a nervous breakdown, which may force her to move out of Jack's life forever. Things aren't much more pleasant in the Leery home, as Dawson's parents, Gail (Mary-Margaret Humes) and Brian (John Wesley Shipp), decide to get a divorce. Using his "art" to release his emotions, Dawson starts filming a movie of his life, upsetting his friends and family -- and himself, when the finished product is roundly panned by a professional filmmaker. Just before the season closer, Jen joins Abby in a drinking binge, which ends disastrously when Abby falls off a bridge and drowns in the river. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Season four of Dawson's Creek finds teenagers Joey Potter (Katie Holmes) and Pacey Witter (Joshua Jackson) still very much in love, albeit racked with guilt because of the pain they've inflicted upon their lifelong friend, budding filmmaker Dawson Leery (James Van Der Beek). The couple's relationship intensifies when circumstances force Pacey to move into Joey's house. Even so, they still haven't had sex: Joey remains a virgin, and Pacey is just plain nervous. As for Dawson, he is startled to learn that his mother, Gail (Mary-Margaret Humes), divorced for over a year from his dad, Mitch (John Wesley Shipp), is pregnant again. Over at the McPhee household, Jack (Kerr Smith) continues to agonize over his homosexuality, while his sister Andie (Meredith Monroe) has attained early acceptance at Harvard University. Alas, Andie places her future in the gravest jeopardy when she overdoses on "ecstasy" at a rave party, a calamity for which Jack holds Andie's friend Jen (Michelle Williams) responsible. Elsewhere, Dawson and Pacey decide to patch up their differences and become friends again after Dawson rescues Pacey and Jen from a storm at sea, but this resolve is nearly dashed to bits when Pacey finds out that his older sister Gretchen (Sasha Alexander) has been smooching with Dawson. Also, Mark Matkevich joins the cast as natural-born troublemaker Drue Valentine, who moves in with Jen and her grandmother Evelyn (Mary Beth Piel). And halfway through the season, Pacey and Joey finally "do it"! The season finale is pepped up with a deus ex machina when Dawson unexpectedly receives a huge financial legacy from the late Arthur Brooks (Harve Presnell), a crotchety old movie director who had served as the subject of one of Dawson's class film projects. The money enables Dawson to enroll at USC, while Joey prepares for her freshman year at Worthington College. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

The sixth and final season of Dawson's Creek begins just as summer of Dawson Leery's 19th year is drawing to a close. Having spent the summer in Hollywood as an assistant film director, Dawson returns to his native Massachusetts, there to work on a location shoot of the horror epic "Wicked Dead" under the tutelage of bombastic moviemaker Todd Carr (Hal Ozsan). This will be quite an experience for Dawson, especially when he hooks up with the film's tempestuous star Natasha Kelly (Bianca Kajlich); and when Todd storms off the set in disgust, Dawson is afforded his first opportunity to be a full-fledged director. Likewise back from L.A. are Dawson's pal Pacey (Joshua Jackson) -- who will soon take a job at brokerage firm run by slickster Rich Rinaldi (Dana Ashbrook) -- and Pacey's latest tootsie Audrey Lidell (Busy Philipps), who happens to be the extremely unstable college roommate of Dawson's off-and-on girlfriend Joey (Katie Holmes). As for Jen (Michelle Williams), the girl to whom Dawson finally "gave it up" during the previous season, she has returned to Boston Bay College, doing her best to deal with the fact that her fun-loving grandmother Evelyn (Mary Beth Piel) has decided to enroll as well. Additionally, the beleaguered Jack McPhee (Kerr Smith), having come to terms with his own homosexuality, has a new boyfriend named David (Greg Rikaart). As the season rolls on, Jen is attracted to college peer counselor CJ (Jensen Ackles), Joey begins going out with a bartender named Eddie Dooling (Oliver Hudson), and Audrey lands a job as a rock singer, breaking up with Pacey and developing a dangerous dependency on booze in the process. Several more plot twists and turns later, the series arrives at its final two-hour episode, set five years in the future. Dawson is now a major TV producer, turning out a semi-autobiographical series called "The Creek" (which, like Dawson's Creek, is seen on Wednesday nights!); Pacey owns a restaurant, and Jack is a teacher, dating Pacey's brother Doug; Audrey has straightened out her personal problems and is touring with a big-name band; Joey has a thriving career as a book editor in Manhattan; and Jen is now a single mom and the manager of an art gallery. A happy ending? Not quite...not with the tragic pall hanging over the familiar characters, due to Jen's very fragile health. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

David Nutter made his directorial debut with this fantasy thriller, attempting a switch on The Stepford Wives premise. The Clark family moves from Chicago to Cradle Bay, and Steve Clark (James Marsden) is cautioned by Gavin Strick (Nick Stahl) about the separating factions at the local high school, where the Blue Ribbons, a club of robotic perfect students, rule. Gavin claims a conspiracy is afoot, and sure enough, he turns into an ultra-perfect himself. Rachel Wagner (Katie Holmes) joins Steve in investigating, and they soon suspect school psychiatrist Dr. Caldicott (Bruce Greenwood), a neuropharmacology specialist. The soundtrack contrasts alternative rock with tunes by Barry Manilow, Wayne Newton, and Olivia Newton-John. ~ Bhob Stewart, All Movie Guide

Director/cinematographer Doug Liman's third feature links together three edgy stories, all beginning in the same Los Angeles supermarket with an interconnected group of characters. Ronna (Sarah Polley) is a down-on-her-luck checkout girl who is sweet talked into taking an extra shift from her friend Simon (Desmond Askew) so he can go to Las Vegas. Ronna is then approached by two good-looking actors, Adam (Scott Wolf) and Zack (Jay Mohr), who want to buy drugs. Ronna, who needs money, plans to act as a go-between between the actors and a dealer friend of Simon's, Todd (Timothy Olyphant), until a cop named Burke (William Fichtner) enters the picture. Meanwhile, Simon is living it up in Vegas; in the course of a very wild night on the town, he manages to bed two women, accidentally steal a car with his good friend Marcus (Taye Diggs), and get thrown out of the best strip club in town, with more than a few people after him, especially when he leaves behind a credit card he borrowed from Todd. Once again back at the supermarket, Adam and Zack turn out to not be quite what they seemed, and their relationship with Burke and his wife Irene (Jane Krakowski) takes an unexpected turn as their evening becomes very, very complicated. Go, Liman's long-awaited follow-up to his indie hit Swingers, received its World Premiere at the 1999 Sundance Film Festival. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide