Erick Avari Movies

A thought-provoking sci-fi drama headed up by a stellar cast, InAlienable tells the tale of a successful researcher who gives birth to an extraterrestrial child, and wages a passionate fight to defend his offspring from society and government scientists. On the heels of a devastating family tragedy, Dr. Eric Norris (Richard Hatch) becomes infected with an alien parasite. When the gestation period is over, Dr. Norris conceives a half-human, half-alien hybrid baby. In the aftermath of this unusual development, the man who devoted his life to science finds his compassion reawakened, and vows to protect his child at all costs. Walter Koenig, Courtney Peldon, Marina Sirtis, and Erick Avari co-star. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

Inspired by actual events, director Chen Shi-Zheng's socially conscious psychological drama follows the journey of an ambitious Chinese scientist working towards his Ph.D. in America, only to be marginalized to the extent that he ultimately loses his way. All Liu Xing (Liu Ye) ever wanted was to study the origins of the universe at a Western university. Upon arriving at the school, Liu immediately rents a modest apartment with a few other Chinese students and begins flirting with the pretty American who works at the local coffee shop. Personally welcomed into Department Head Jacob Reiser's (Aidan Quinn) select cosmology group, Liu remains dedicated to his studies and optimistic about the future. Things continue to look up as Liu becomes close with wealthy university patron Johanna Silver (Meryl Streep) after the two become acquainted at an orientation for foreigners sponsored by a local church.

Eventually, Liu becomes Reiser's protégé, and makes a sizable impression at a prestigious conference attended by the pair. But attitudes start to shift when Liu's studies in dark matter come into direct conflict with his mentor's prominent theories and well-established studies. His excitement about a potential breakthrough causes him to ignore repeated warnings that he must pay his dues, and Liu's findings are eventually eclipsed by that of more studious fellow student Laurence. Determined to have his studies published, Liu goes behind Reiser's back, but he ultimately becomes the target of ire rather than accolades, with Johanna's naïve encouragement prompting him along a dangerous collision course. While Liu remains enamored with the concept of the American dream and optimistic about American science being a free market of ideas, he begins to grow dejected after his dissertation is rejected, the girl at the coffee shop blows him off, and his roommates all find lucrative jobs. Essentially left behind at the university, Liu rejects Johanna's offer for help and vows not to return home to disappointed parents. Now, as he coasts on the fumes of his unrealized dreams, the dishonored student prepares to lash out with one final act of devastating annihilation. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

What was to be a simple flight from L.A. to Paris turns deadly when a genetically engineered zombie virus breaks out within the cabin of a fateful 747 jumbo jet in Flight of the Living Dead. Unbeknownst to the passengers and crew, a CIA scientist has stowed away a package on the flight that will endanger the lives of everyone onboard. As the plane makes its way through some heavy storm clouds, the package is jostled and a secret government zombie experiment is unleashed on the plane, infecting everything in its wake. Soon, every living being on the jet is fighting for their lives as the ravenous, gut-munching monsters give them little places to hide aboard this dreaded flight. ~ Jeremy Wheeler, Rovi

One of Marvel Comics' most popular characters comes to the screen for the first time in this sci-fi action-thriller. Matthew Murdock (Ben Affleck) is a lawyer whose father, a prizefighter, was killed by gangsters when Murdock was just a boy. Since then, Murdock has devoted his life to bringing wrongdoers to justice and is willing to help others by taking on cases no other attorney will touch. Murdock is also blind, after being struck down by a truck while trying to save a man from being hit. What no one knows is that Murdock was also doused with an unusual radioactive isotope which had a strange effect on him -- while Murdock's sight may be gone, his other senses have been raised to such a keen pitch that they act like radar, allowing him to tell where he's going and what happens around him, both near and far away. Murdock puts his gifts to use at night as the costumed crime-fighter Daredevil, whose pursuit of justice has earned him the wrath of underworld leader Kingpin (Michael Clarke Duncan). Kingpin wants Daredevil out of his way once and for all, and hires Bullseye (Colin Farrell), a super-assassin with an uncanny ability to throw blades, to do the job. Daredevil also makes the acquaintance of Elektra Natchios (Jennifer Garner), a woman with super-heroic talents who is also on Kingpin's bad side, though it remains to be seen if she has aligned herself with the forces of good as Daredevil has done. Jon Favreau, Joe Pantoliano, and David Keith highlight Daredevil's supporting cast. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Macaulay Culkin lookalike (and soundalike) Mike Weinberg steps into the role of resourceful youngster Kevin McAllister in this made-for-TV sequel to the immensely popular theatrical Home Alone trilogy. On this occasion, young Kevin finds himself stranded in the computerized "safe house" owned by Natalie (Joanna Going), the predatory new girlfriend of Kevin's recently divorced dad Peter (Jason Beghe). Combining the technology of the house with his own improvisational brilliance, Kevin endeavors to save a royal heir from a trio of kidnappers, one of whom is the boy's old burglar nemesis Marv Merchants (French Stewart, replacing the first two films' Daniel Stern). Needless to say, Kevin also finds time to befriend an adult "outcast" and to bring his parents back together. Home Alone 4 originally aired November 3, 2002, as an episode of the ABC anthology The Wonderful World of Disney. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Dana Carvey ventures into the world of PG-rated, family-oriented entertainment as star and co-writer of this light adventure comedy, which requires the actor to assume more than three dozen different identities. Carvey's primary role in Master of Disguise, however, is that of Pistachio Disguisey, an ordinary waiter with a hidden, mostly untapped talent for transforming himself into any persona he wishes. When his kindly parents, Mama (Edie McClurg) and Frabbrizio (James Brolin), are kidnapped by the evil thief Devlin (Brent Spiner), the usually meek Pistachio is forced to rescue them. Enlisting the help of his grandfather (Harold Gould), Pistachio learns that he is one of a long line of family members to have the power of "Energico," a mystical means of changing one's identity to suit any given situation, and Pistachio learns to use these powers to their fullest to defeat Devlin and win back his folks. Carvey's original idea for Master of Disguise was helped to the screen by executive producer Adam Sandler, a buddy of his from their time on NBC's Saturday Night Live. ~ Michael Hastings, Rovi

This teen psychological thriller marks the feature film debut of respected television producer and director Daniel Sackheim. Leelee Sobieski stars as Ruby Baker, a high school student who is devastated when her parents Grace and Dave (Rita Wilson and Michael O'Keefe) are killed in a tragic car accident. With her younger brother Rhett (Trevor Morgan), Ruby is sent to live with the legal guardians chosen by her parents, their best friends Terry (Stellan Skarsgård) and Erin Glass (Diane Lane). The Glasses live in an opulent Malibu mansion where Ruby and Rhett are promised all of the finest luxuries money can buy and a lavish new rich-kid lifestyle. Before long, however, Ruby begins to suspect that her new caretakers are not what they appear on the surface and that the couple's financial woes may force them to harm her or Rhett in order to cash in on their sizable life insurance policies. The Glass House was written by Wesley Strick, screenwriter of Cape Fear (1991), Wolf (1994), and The Saint (1997). ~ Karl Williams, Rovi

This big budget "re-imagining" of the 1968 original departs somewhat from both that classic science fiction film and the source novel by author Pierre Boulle. Mark Wahlberg stars as Leo Davidson, an astronaut of the early 21st century whose unauthorized mission to rescue a chimp companion from a mysterious space storm goes awry when he and his ship are lost through a rip in the fabric of time. Leo crash-lands on a planet where intelligent, talking apes are the dominant species and humans a conquered slave class. Befriending both a chimpanzee activist named Ari (Helena Bonham Carter), who's sympathetic to humans, and a beautiful human rebel, Daena (Estella Warren), Leo quickly becomes a prominent figure of resistance to his fellow humans. This makes him an instant source of irritation for the militant and ambitious General Thade (Tim Roth) and his trusted adjutant, Attar (Michael Clarke Duncan), who intend to hunt Leo down and crush the burgeoning human uprising. War looms between ape and human as Leo and his band head for a sacred site deep in an off-limits desert, where secrets about the planet's ape and human ancestry wait to be revealed. Planet of the Apes is directed by Tim Burton and features the original film's star, Charlton Heston, in a cameo role as the dying father of Thade. ~ Karl Williams, Rovi

During the rescue of a group of Abydonian captives, Teal'c (Christopher Judge) has a showdown with the Goa'uld Amaunet--who is housed in the body of Sha're (Valitare Bandera), the Jaffa wife of Dr. Daniel Jackson (Michael Shanks). Unable to console himself to the fact that Teal'c is forced to kill Sha're to destroy Amaunet, Jackson resigns from the SGC. It requires several psychic messages from his late wife to make Jackson reconsider his rashness. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

In this family-oriented comedy adventure, parents think their boy is crying "wolf!" when he tells them that his pets have told him of a conspiracy to kill the president. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi

Atlanta is the setting for a deadly scenario, triggered when a lethal virus is stolen from the local Biological Resarch Institute. The theft involves an illicit arms deal, not to mention a collection of rogue government agents--and the anticipated murder Fortunately, Jessica (Angela Lansbury) is on hand to connect the dots and solve the case...but she'd better hurry before the virus is unleashed upon the unsuspecting populace. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi