William Shatner

A fanatical group of Star Wars devotees travel across the country on a mission to steal a print of Star Wars: Episode I -- The Phantom Menace from Skywalker Ranch and become the first fans to see the film in a rowdy, sci-fi-flavored road comedy starring Sam Huntington, Chris Marquette, Dan Fogler, Jay Baruchel, and Kristen Bell. Carrie Fisher, William Shatner, and Ray Park turn up for cameos in the one comedy that truly understands the fanboy mindset. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide

A devoted "Santaologist" in search of the world's greatest living mystery attempts to cut through government conspiracy, big business hush-ups, and countless phony look-a-likes in order to prove the existence of the world's most instantly recognizable Yuletide merrymaker in a poker-faced mockumentary starring Christopher Clark, Daryn Tufts, and William Shatner. Millions of people around the world believe in Santa Claus, and a precious few even claim to have experienced a close encounter with the Christmas icon. But some folks won't be satisfied until they've come face to face with the man with the red stocking cap, and St. Nick enthusiast Lloyd Darrow (Clark) is just such a man. Now that the cameras are rolling, will Lloyd finally find the irrefutable truth that he has been searching for since childhood, or could it be that his lifelong fascination with all things Santa will finally come to a bitter end after a disheartening discovery? ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide

FBI agent-turned-reluctant beauty queen Gracie Hart (played by Sandra Bullock) is taking on both bad guys and high glamour again in this sequel to the comedy smash Miss Congeniality. After her undercover mission at the Miss United States pageant becomes public knowledge, Gracie becomes something of a celebrity, and the FBI uses her notoriety to generate positive PR for the bureau; however, Gracie would like to get back to some solid police work, especially after scuffling with fellow female agent "Sam" Fuller (Regina King), who isn't impressed with Gracie. Despite their differences, the two find themselves working side by side when two of Gracie's pals from the pageant -- contest winner Cheryl Frasier (Heather Burns) and master of ceremonies Stan Fields (William Shatner) -- fall victim to kidnappers. As she did on the first film, Sandra Bullock served as both producer and star for Miss Congeniality 2: Armed and Fabulous, while director John Pasquin's credits include several episodes of the situation comedy George Lopez, also produced by Bullock. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

As anyone with even a nodding acquaintance with Star Trek can tell you, the (future) birthplace of Captain James T. Kirk is Riverside, Iowa. But how many of those people could tell that there really is a Riverside, Iowa, population 928? It is this cozy little farming community that serves as the locale of the four-part Spike TV reality series, Invasion Iowa. Imagine the surprise and delight of the Riverside citizenry when William Shatner himself shows up in town, ostensibly to film a big-budget sci-fi epic titled "Invasion Iowa," in which he is to star as "Colonel Shane Yeager." And not only Shatner, but a veritable army of filmmakers likewise descend upon Riverside, including Shatner's personal "spiritual advisor" Steve, short-tempered female studio executive Max, vainglorious leading lady Gryffyn, clumsy production assistant Herb, and Shatner's body double (and favorite nephew), Tiny. As the people of Riverside open their hearts, their homes and their businesses to the visitors from Hollywood, not a single one of them suspects that the entire affair is a hoax: there is no film in production called "Invasion Iowa" -- and except for Shatner, the movie personnel are all phonies! Of course, this being Spike TV, the cruel deception is played for all it is worth (and the worth is considerable!), climaxing with the episode in which we get to savor the reactions of the locals when they find out they've been hoodwinked. Debuting March 29, 2005, Invasion Iowa ended its brief run, appropriately enough, on the first of April. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Directed by Rawson Marshall Thurber, Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story revolves around amiable underachiever Peter LaFleur (Vince Vaughn), whose rundown gym, Average Joe's, is populated by a less-than-average clientele including a self-styled pirate, an ultra-obscure sports aficionado, and a pining high school nerd. It soon becomes apparent that Joe's is in financial trouble and will soon be foreclosed by attractive attorney Kate Veach (Christine Taylor) - unless Peter can cough up $50,000. Despite Average Joe's posing little threat to Globo Gym, a fitness Goliath across the street that is owned by egomaniacal White Goodman (Ben Stiller) - Goodman senses an easy acquisition and decides to take over the facility. Peter's ragtag group of regulars, however, are less than thrilled with the prospects, and mobilize a showdown, winner-takes-all Dodgeball tournament against Globo Gym. The film also features Missi Pyle, Rip Torn, Stephen Root, and Alan Tudyk. ~ Tracie Cooper, All Movie Guide

It's yet another version of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol, with a gender-bender twist. Tori Spelling stars as Carol Cummings, a fabulously wealthy and enormously successful TV talk show host -- and a first-class shrew. Caring little for anything but the money and the celebrity that her job accrues, Carol mercilessly bullies and harangues everyone with whom she works, from her ulcerated producer Jimmy Fields (Michael Landes) to her long-suffering personal assistant Roberta Timmons (Nina Siemaszko), a single mom who dares not risk losing her job -- especially with Christmas just a few days away. While feverishly putting together a Yuletide TV special, Carol is visited by the ghost of her Aunt Marla (Dinah Manoff), who in her time was an even more insufferable diva than her niece. Warning Carol to change her ways before it is too late, Aunt Marla further proclaims that Carol will that evening be visited by three spirits who will show her the error of her ways. From this point forward it's the same old story, though it's fun to watch Gary Coleman as the Ghost of Christmas Past (appropriately in the form of a washed-up sitcom star!) and especially William Shatner as a Dr. Phil-style Ghost of Christmas Present. Also, the film represents one of the few times that the Scrooge character has a living love interest -- namely, Jason Brooks as John, a well-known Good Samaritan who continues to pine for Carol even after she has decided that he's the proverbial millstone around her neck. A Carol Christmas was first telecast by cable's Hallmark Channel on December 7, 2003. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Paintball and Star Trek come together as one for this historic moment in extreme sports. The Society of Paintball Players and Teams (SPPLAT) get together with actor William Shatner for this pay-per-view event, which turns out to be the largest paintball event in history. Shatner himself leads his paintball team (referred to as the Federation) to victory against a team dressed up as Klingons, led by Chicago-area morning radio host ManCow. To add even more extremity, Tom Kaye, the owner of Air Gun Designs, led a group of players dressed up as Borgs. Held in Joliet, IL, at Challenge Park Xtreme, this event raised funds for Shatner's charity organization, Ahead With Horses, a group that helps underprivilged kids interact with animals. ~ Andrea LeVasseur, All Movie Guide

Based on a series of best-selling books by Wayne Jancik, the cable TV series 100 Greatest One-Hit Wonders was an irreverent but affectionate journey through nearly 50 years of Top Ten lists from the annals of Billboard Magazine. True to its title, the five-part, five-hour series offered performances of, and background information about, 100 songs which represented the only time in which their creators ever achieved hit-record status. Beginning with 100 ("Kung Fu Fighting") and concluding with number one ("The Macarena"), the series gave generous airspace to such classics as "King Tut," "In a Gadda-Da-Vida," and "Achy Breaky Heart." Serving as host was actor William Shatner, renowned for his own recording triumph, a talk-sing version of the Beatles' "Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds." 100 Greatest One-Hit Wonders debuted May 6, 2002, on the VH1 cable network. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

William Shatner and Leonard Nimoy reveal the realities behind the successful duration of the science fiction entertainment phenomenon Star Trek in the documentary Mind Meld. They played Captain Kirk and Mr. Spock on Star Trek on television from 1966 to 1969, and in films during the 1970s and 1980s. Produced to promote the William Shatner website updates, the video involves the two friends co-interviewing one another, and sharing the real-life experiences that were shadowed by their fame on the show. While the show's popularity and critical attention earned them stereotypes as the characters they portrayed, Mind Meld presents the effects of Star Trek on their lives. As well as personal issues like alcoholism, love, and marriage, the actors share the on-set dynamics -- conflicts and all -- and the influences these had on their involvement on the show and in their lives. Set in the backyard of Nimoy's home, the film provides a genuine glimpse of the lives of the stars shadowed by the roles that defined their public personas, and the mutual experience that binds them as friends. ~ Sarah Sloboda, All Movie Guide