Doug Ballard Movies

Christopher Nolan steps back into the director's chair for this sequel to Batman Begins, which finds the titular superhero coming face to face with his greatest nemesis -- the dreaded Joker. Christian Bale returns to the role of Batman, Maggie Gyllenhaal takes over the role of Rachel Dawes (played by Katie Holmes in Batman Begins), and Brokeback Mountain star Heath Ledger dons the ghoulishly gleeful Joker makeup previously worn by Jack Nicholson and Cesar Romero. Just as it begins to appear as if Batman, Lt. James Gordon (Gary Oldman), and District Attorney Harvey Dent (Aaron Eckhart) are making headway in their tireless battle against the criminal element, a maniacal, wisecracking fiend plunges the streets of Gotham City into complete chaos. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

The Lighthouse's reopening is threatened when its liquor license is turned down due to improprieties on the part of co-owner Jimmy (Tate Donovan). Summer (Rachel Bilson) and Seth (Adam Brody) try to comfort Marissa (Mischa Barton) after she learns the truth about Julie (Melinda Clarke) and Luke (Chris Carmack). Recovering from his near-fatal accident, Luke makes an effort to come clean before exiting the O.C. for good. And in keeping with the title of this episode, Caleb (Alan Dale) startles everyone by proposing to the love of his life. ~ Rovi

Two unlikely friends -- a boy and a killer whale -- are reunited under potentially dangerous circumstances in this sequel to the successful family adventure Free Willy. Jesse (Jason James Richter) has finally found stability and contentment with his foster parents Glen and Annie Greenwood (Michael Madsen and Jayne Atkinson), but he is confronted with a new emotional challenge when his birth mother (a drug addict who abandoned him when he was young) dies, and his troubled half brother Elvis (Francis Capra) comes to live with the Greenwoods. Jesse also deals with new feelings when he develops a serious crush on Nadine (Mary Kate Schellhardt), the goddaughter of Randolph (August Schellenberg), an animal trainer at the theme park where Jesse helps out. But a much bigger problem is on the horizon when the safety of Willy, the killer whale he befriended and helped return to the wild, is threatened. An oil spill spoils the ocean environment where Willy and his family now live, and an unscrupulous owner of an oceanarium, Wilcox (M. Emmet Walsh), attempts to capture Willie and put him back into captivity as a performing attraction. While Free Willy featured Keiko, a trained whale who (ironically) was living in captivity when the film was shot, Free Willy 2: The Adventure Home instead utilized mechanical models and digital animation to bring "Willy" to life. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Ever since Paula (Janeane Garofalo) began dating Larry's (Garry Shandling) agent, Stevie (Bob Odenkirk), the conflicted host can't help but feel that Stevie is using the relationship to his advantage by having an increasing number of his own clients on the show. When Paula needs to find a guest and Stevie offers Jennifer Aniston with the stipulation that Paula will book Andy Kindler as well, Larry's suspicions seem to be confirmed. Meanwhile, an ethnic joke on the show has sparked protests and Hank (Jeffrey Tambor) attempts to weasel out of paying back a 20-dollar loan. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

While discussing the hiring of a new head writer with Artie (Rip Torn), Phil Wallace Langham) unexpectedly jockeys for the position himself. Despite the fact that Artie thinks Phil lacks the "people skills" that the job of head writer demands, he gives a determined Phil a shot at the job. Quickly disillusioned due to the substantial amount that office politics play into the job, Phil runs into grief with both Paula (Janeane Garofalo) as well as a headstrong executive. Soon on the outs with the rest of the writers, Phil makes outrageous demands in hopes that Artie will fire him. The plan backfires, and Artie is convinced that Phil will go a long way as head writer. Special guests include Doug Ballard, John Riggi, Jim Turner, Richard Narita, and SCTV alum Dave Thomas. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

Sunset Grill directed by Kevin Connor is a suspenseful, well-written and acted contemporary film noir with an idiosyncratic look at life on the wild side. Ryder Hart (Peter Weller) is a burnt-out former L.A. private detective who hears about the murder of a trafficker in illegal aliens, but who does not get involved until his wife is murdered. Investigating the murder, Ryder meets tycoon Shelgrave (Stacy Keach), who collects Mayan art, and his seductive assistant Loren (Lori Singer). The rather complicated plot includes double-crosses, possible murders of illegal aliens to sell their organs, and it culminates in a bloody shootout. Director Conner deftly ties up all the loose ends of the plot and gives them an internal consistency, as one incident leads to and explains another, creating a portrait of a complex, anti-hero, whose pain is explained but not sentimentalized. The plot is over-complicated, and the supporting cast contains more lunatics than most asylums, however Sunset Grill delivers what it promises: complex, contemporary mystery at its very best. ~ Linda Rasmussen, Rovi

In the 102nd and final episode of ALF, the titular alien is thrilled to learn that his fellow Melmaccians Skip and Rhonda are going to establish a new colony on another planet--and he's been invited to join them if he can come up with a security deposit. This means that ALF will have to leave the Tanners, a prospect he faces with both sadness and regret (mostly over not being able to raise money for that deposit). Alas, just as he's prepared to make his final farewells, ALF is captured by the Alien Task Force! ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi