Ming Lo
The 90-minute debut episode of Alias introduces Jennifer Garner as Sydney A. Bristow, who like many other undergraduates is working her way through college. Unlike her friends and fellow students, however, Sydney is not permitted to discuss her "outside job," not even with her roommate, Francie (Merrin Dungey) -- because Syd happens to be an undercover operative for the CIA. Or at least she thought she was working for the CIA until she reveals the nature of her profession to her fiancé, Danny Hecht (Edward Atterton) -- a revelation that results in Danny's murder. That's when Sydney discovers to her horror that the agency which employs her is not the CIA but instead a rival and somewhat sinister organization known as SD-6, under the aegis of the highly untrustworthy Arvin Sloane (Ron Rifkin). Though she'd sooner give up the spy game outright, Sydney is forced by Sloane into a deadly game of double-agent espionage, where no one -- least of all Sydney -- can tell the good guys from the bad. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Jeanie (Gloria Reuben) concludes that Scott Anspaugh (Trevor Morgan) will need a bone-marrow transplant. A distracted Benton (Eriq La Salle) injures a pedestrian with his car. Morganstern (William H. Macy) returns to the ER after recovering from his heart attack. Carol (Julianna Margulies) learns a disturbing secret about a 16-year-old female patient. Del Amico (Maria Bello) tends to Karen Fun (Kimberly Russell), whose fourth pregnancy may end in miscarriage like the previous three. And Corday (Alex Kingston) performs a risky procedure on a patient -- without securing permission from anyone. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Greg Kinnear guest stars as Dr. Hobart, eminent paleontologist, Nobel Prize winner, and former boyfriend of Ross' current amour, Charlie (Aisha Tyler). Anxious to get a prestigious grant from Hobart, Ross (David Schwimmer) is willing to many any sacrifice -- but he may draw the line when it comes to giving up Charlie. Elsewhere, Chandler (Matthew Perry) unsuccessfully tries to cover up the fact that he's sneak-previewed Joey's (Matt LeBlanc) audition tape, and Rachel (Jennifer Aniston) and Monica (Courteney Cox) get into a tussle over a painting that neither one wants -- or do they? ~ All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Greg Kinnear, Aisha Tyler, (more)
This updated remake of the 1958 sci-fi cult classic I Married a Monster from Outer Space closely adheres to the same basic plotline as the original. On the eve of his wedding to Kelly Drummond (Susan Walters), good ol' boy Nick Farrell (Richard Burgi) wanders into the woods, where he is promptly abducted by aliens. Despite this ordeal, Nick shows up at the church on time and the wedding proceeds. But Kelly cannot help but notice that there is something "different" about her husband. Whereas previously all Nick cared about was drinking and carousing with his buddies, now he is serious, well-spoken, and curiously insistent that he and Kelly begin making babies as soon as possible. When all of Nick's drinking companions undergo similar character transformations, it becomes obvious to Kelly that the man she married isn't the man she intended to marry, but instead the "host" for an impending invasion from beyond.. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Susan Walters
A young man gets a crash course in the madness of war in this fact-based drama from director Sam Mendes. Anthony "Swoff" Swofford (Jake Gyllenhaal) decides to join the Marines, just like his father and his father before him, and signs on just in time to be sent to Iraq to fight in the Gulf War in 1991. After experiencing the rigors of boot camp, Swofford and his pal Troy (Peter Sarsgaard) are trained to be snipers, and under the leadership of Sgt. Sykes (Jamie Foxx) and Lt. Col. Kazinski (Chris Cooper), the two land in the middle of a desert where they're up against an enemy they can't always see under a blazing sun with hours of boredom punctuated by moments of sheer terror. Swofford, Troy, and their fellow soldiers rely on the wits, their sense of humor, and their friendship of their brothers in arms to deal with a situation that doesn't much resemble what they saw on television at home. Jarhead was based on the memoirs of the real-life Anthony Swofford, who did serve as a sniper in the 1991 Gulf War; the title comes from military slang for a Marine enlistee. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jake Gyllenhaal, Peter Sarsgaard, (more)
Frankie Dunn (Clint Eastwood) is a veteran boxing trainer who has devoted his life to the ring and has precious little to show for it; his daughter never answers his letters, and a fighter he's groomed into contender status has paid him back by signing with another manager, leaving Frankie high and dry. His best friend and faithful employee Eddie Dupris is a former fighter who Frankie trained. In his last fight, Eddie suffered a severe injury, a fact that brings Frankie great guilt. One day, Maggie Fitzgerald (Hilary Swank) enters Frankie's life, as well as his gym, and announces she needs a trainer. Frankie regards her as a dubious prospect, and isn't afraid to tell her why: he doesn't think much of women boxing, she's too old at 31, she lacks experience, and has no technique. However, Maggie sees boxing as the one part of her life that gives her meaning and won't give up easily. Finally won over by her determination, Frankie takes on Maggie, and as she slowly grows into a viable fighter, an emotional bond develops between them. When a tragedy befalls one of the three characters, each comes to a decision that shows how the relationships in the film have changed them. Adapted from a short story by F.X. Toole, a former corner man with years of experience in the fight game, Million Dollar Baby also stars Morgan Freeman, Anthony Mackie, and Mike Colter. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Clint Eastwood, Hilary Swank, (more)
Making TV history as the first-ever American sitcom to film on location in mainland China, The Drew Carey Show takes this opportunity to dish up its most surrealistic episode to date. Pulling off the practical joke to end all practical jokes, Mimi (Kathy Kinney) manages to maroon a sleeping Drew (Drew Carey) on the Great Wall of China with no money or passport. As his friends wonder why Drew didn't show up for his scheduled business meeting in Winnipeg, our hero sells chickens and gives impromptu sock-puppet shows in order to pay his way to the American Embassy in Beijing, 200 miles away. Several disasters later, Drew's only hope for ever getting back to Cleveland hinges upon his rendition of "You Deserve a Break Today" at the Tiananmen Square McDonald's! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
The rousing, true-life story of a single dad who went from living on the streets to owning his own brokerage firm is brought to the big screen by superstar Will Smith, appearing for the first time opposite his real-life son Jaden Smith. Set in early-'80s San Francisco, the film charts the hard times and eventual comeback of Chris Gardner, a suddenly single salesman who has custody of his son, but finds that providing for the two of them is a challenge in the increasingly unstable economic climate. He struggles to work his way from unpaid intern at Dean Witter to something more substantial, even as life continues to offer him setbacks. Making his Hollywood debut, Italian director Gabriele Muccino was championed by Will Smith for the project. ~ Michael Hastings, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Will Smith, Jaden Christopher Syre Smith, (more)
In the conclusion of Touched by an Angel's two-part Season Four finale (originally telecast as a single two-hour episode), Monica (Roma Downey) and Tess (Della Reese) have managed to smuggle Chinese defector Jean Chang (Bai Ling) back into Beijing for a reunion with her husband George (Russell Wong). But George has bad news: his and Jean's beloved daughter Piao is missing, and may no longer be alive. Also in Beijing is Jean's American boss Edward Tanner (Adrian Pasdar), a disreputable toy manufacturer who has been exploiting cheap labor provided by George. One of these characters is slated to perform an act of great and selfless courage that will change the lives of many others--but Monica isn't certain whom that person will be, and with the Red Chinese police hot on her heels, she may never find out! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
An FBI agent whose partner and family were killed by a notorious assassin sets out for revenge as the elusive triggerman sparks a sprawling gang war between the triads and the yakuza in the feature debut from prolific music video director Phillip Atwell. FBI sgent Jack Crawford (Jason Statham) is a man driven by vengeance. After his partner, Tom Lone (Terry Chen), and his family fell to bullets fired by infamous hitman Rogue (Jet Li), Crawford makes it his life mission to ferret out the slippery killer. Complications arise when it begins to appear as if Rogue has a mission of his own to carry out, and as triad boss Chang (John Lone) prepares for all-out war against yakuza boss Shiro (Ryo Ishibashi), Crawford and Rogue also come face to face as the secrets of the past emerge in a hail of gunfire. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jet Li, Jason Statham, (more)















