The show revolves around a group of women living on Wisteria Lane. One of them, Mary Alice Young, commits suicide in the first episode, leaving her friends, her husband, and her teenage son reeling from the shock. The women soon learn that there are skeletons in Mary Alice’s closet when they find a note she had received the day of her death, saying simply, “I know what you did. It makes me sick. I’m going to tell.”

The drama on the show is sprinkled with humor, sometimes dark and sometimes silly. What draws viewers back to Desperate Housewives week after week is the colorful cast of characters.

Susan Mayer, played by Teri Hatcher, is a recently-divorced single mom who is very emotional and a bit of a klutz. She has fallen in love with a handsome man who lives across the street named Mike Delfino (played by James Denton). Mike claims to be a plumber, but is really residing on Wisteria Lane to investigate the murder of his ex, who was a drug user and mysteriously disappeared years ago. Time after time Susan discovers little things about Mike that make her question who he is and what his intentions are, but she continues to go back to him hoping for a true relationship to develop. Mike does love her, but his past constantly haunts him.

Bree Van De Kamp is perfectly played by Marcia Cross. Bree is the Martha Stewart of the neighborhood – she cooks, cleans, gardens, sews, and arrives at every gathering with a perfect basket of baked goods. Bree’s husband Rex is somewhat stifled in their relationship and strays from the bounds of marriage when he decides that he wants to indulge in the rougher side of sex. Sparks fly when Bree discovers Rex’s infidelity. Bree and Rex’s son becomes difficult to handle and is sent away to a military-like school, where he reveals that he is gay.

Lynette Scavo, played by Felicity Huffman, is a former executive turned stay-at-home mom with three young sons. Her husband Tom (played by Doug Savant) is away often on business, and as it turns out has skeletons in his own closet. When Tom’s father arrives for a visit, Lynette is shocked to find out about his infidelity, leading Tom to worry about his own errant past. Lynette struggles with the hectic daily lifestyle of a homemaker with small kids, and often feels alone.

Gabrielle Solis, played by the lovely Eva Longoria, is a high-maintenance former model, who is currently living in wealthy domestic bliss with her husband Carlos (played by Ricardo Antonia Chavira). Gabrielle becomes bored with her life and enters into an affair with her barely-legal gardener John (played by Jesse Metcalfe). Carlos wants to have a baby but Gabrielle won’t even hear of it. When Carlos tampers with Gabby’s birth control, she becomes pregnant but doesn’t know for certain who the father of her baby is. Add Carlos’ mother into the mix, and the scene is set for explosive results.

The cast also includes Nicollette Sheridan as Edie Britt, the neighborhood floozy who is always going after the single attractive men, including Mike Delfino. Edie’s house is burned to the ground one night when Susan breaks in to see if Edie is with Mike, and knocks over a candle in her haste to get out.

Mary Alice’s family includes husband Paul (played by Mark Moses) and son Zach (played by Cody Kasch). Zach is a troubled teen who lashes out at his father after his mother’s death. Paul has many secrets to cover, and spends an evening digging an old and well-worn toy box out from under the family swimming pool and dumping it into a nearby river. When the police find the box and discover human remains, Paul instantly goes from mysterious to downright creepy. As it turns out, Mary Alice bought Zach from his drug-addicted mother. The family changed their names and moved to Wisteria Lane, but the mother tracked them down and tried to get her son back. Reading between the lines, it’s obvious that Mike is Zach’s real father and the woman in the toy box is who he’s been searching for.

New to the neighborhood this season are Betty Applewhite (played by Alfre Woodard) and her son. They also have secrets, as we see in the season premiere. Apparently there is someone locked up and chained in their basement. One can only imagine who it is and why he’s there.

Last season ended with Rex’s death, Tom losing his job and suggesting that Lynette become the family breadwinner, John informing Carlos in open court that he may be the father of Gabrielle’s baby, and Susan being held hostage in Mike’s home by an enraged Zach. Where will the plot take our favorite housewives this season? I can hardly wait to find out!

Director Malcolm D. Lee is able to portray Chicago in 1978 with conviction without being overcome by sappy nostalgia, or the typical over-emphasis of fads to which most movies of this genre fall prey. There is the music of the time, the skating, the clothes, plaid bell bottoms and all, but somehow the movie seems fresh and not canned. The only thing pinning it to the past is perhaps the wholesomeness, which is a bit rare in today’s movies.

Bow Wow as X (Xavier) is natural screen self, much unlike a lot of other rapper-turned-actors, and shares his screen with others when required with ease. He plays a likeable, sporty Chicago South Side teenager, with a yen for skating. He hides his grief for his recently deceased mother under a cloak of ready cheer, wit, and charm. His father Curtis (Chi McBride), is equally devastated by the death of X’s mother, but since none of them let it show or share it much with each other, they have angry, frustrated moments which get resolved only at the very end.

Curtis is also laid off his job and keeps it a secret from his X and his sister, Sonya (Busisiwe Irvin). Into this scene, X and his friends discover that their favorite summer haunt, the local Palisades Gardens Roller Rink, is to be shut down. Lost for options, they decide to shift to the North Side’s swanky Sweetwater rink, where the uproariously self-loving Sweetness (Wesley Jonathan) holds court. The ensuing show off is regular movie fare, but here the relationship between X and his father are thrown into sharp relief, and in a way, it is Curtis who seems to anchor the movie together. His solid presence and immaculate acting seems to do a lot to wrench a good performance out of Bow Wow.

The large supporting cast, of X’s friends and neighbors, and Sweetness’s posse, does a commendable job as well. Worth particular mention is Tori (Jurnee Smollett), as the gutsy new girl on the block with a sunny smile full of braces. Indeed it often seems like Brandon T. Jackson, Marcus T. Paulk, Rick Gonzalez ,Khleo Thomas and Wayne Bradie overshadow Bow Wow a bit with their stronger acting.

The choreography of the skating is exceptional, with some fine moments on the rink, where the juveniles try to show off adult abilities while zooming about the polished floor. The musical score comes off very well, and the skate marathons set to Donna Summers do not disappoint. The soundtrack juggles the eras with tracks like “Kung Fu Fighting”, and spices itself up with lines from “Boogie Oogie Oogie” and “Wishing on a Star.”

The only shortcoming the movie faces is when the family angle and that of teen prowess do not mix as easily as they are supposed to and one is left wondering exactly which path had the director originally meant to take. The extraordinarily sweet disposition of the movie can be another reason the movie may not appeal to youngsters, but it will make a charming pastime for those who have lived the times it depicts when they decide to rent this movie.

That said, the movie is a sincere attempt to bring alive Chicago in ’78, and along with the superficial sugar and polish, there is enough sap in the father-son relationship to carry the movie through. And though this movie would do nothing to toughen Bow Wow’ s softie image, it is well worth a spin over the weekend for young people of all ages!

How did Luke and Leia come to be?
Why were they separated?
What was Anakin and Amidala’s relationship really like?
How did Anakin turn to the dark side?
What happened to the Jedi?
What caused Darth Vader to wear that costume?

The Revenge of the Sith answers all those questions and more. It leaves you feeling full after years and years of hunger for more. It’s almost a sad feeling because you know something so good has ended; a chapter in the history of the world has come to a close. However, this film is so thoroughly enjoyable.

Anakin is a young man who has many responsibilities. He’s secretly married to Amidala, a senator. He doesn’t want to lose her but dreams that her life will soon end. He learns from the Emperor that there is a way that Anakin can conquer death. He must come over to the dark side to do it. Anakin is intrigued but struggles with that. He also becomes the Emperor’s eyes and ears on the Jedi Council; but, is NOT awarded full council privileges. The Jedi don’t fully trust him. He feels that they don’t take him seriously enough.

Anakin also learns that he will be a father. His dreams worsen. He knows Amidala will die; and, he can’t bear that. He just can’t. To save her and to further his own ambitions, he turns over to the Dark Side. As a result, the Emperor unleashes his newest weapon, Darth Vader, on the Jedi. Anakin kills all the young padowans. He destroys the future of the Jedi order to keep the Sith strong.

His betrayal breaks the hearts of Obi-Wan and Amidala. There is a final showdown between the master and his young charge. Obi-Wan leaves Anakin to die on a planet of molten lava. This is how he is so horribly burned and needs the Vader gear, just to survive. Amidala goes into an early labor and dies while delivering her children, Luke and Leia.

Yoda and Obi-Wan split up the children for their own safety. Leia goes with Senator Bail Organa (Jimmy Smits); Luke is brought to Anakin’s family in Tatooine, the Skywalkers. The Emperor reigns supreme; but, Darth Vader has learned that his loyalty to the Emperor has come with an awful price. He is told that Amidala has died; and, he has lost everything.

Since I’ve grown up with Star Wars, I feel that Lucas presented this saga perfectly. As a young child, I would NOT have understood the complexities of the Anakin-Amidala-Obi-Wan relationship. I would not have really cared. However, now, that I have grown up and have had a family of my own, I understand that things aren’t always so easy. No one is all bad or all good. Even Darth Vader had some good qualities.

Revenge of the Sith is the ultimate Star Wars movie. It is the culmination of the saga, the missing pieces of the near 30 year old jigsaw puzzle that the world has loved putting together. It’s amazing and beautiful. It’s well-written and action-packed; but, with a bit more of an emotional undercurrent, a more mature story line if you will. It’s a masterpiece.

You have to see it more than once.

Andy, played by Steve Carell, is a loveable hero and is indeed a virgin at age 40. He did participate in the gender wars when he was young, but after many lost battles he decided to call it quits until the right girl came along. He deals with life by having a variety of obsessions that includes playing with action figures, high tech electronic equipment and spending a lot of time playing video games.

Andy’s strategy for coping with situations he doesn’t understand is to simply avoid them. The men who work with Andy at the electronic store are always talking about women and Andy gets by with nodding his head in agreement. When “the boys” coax him into a night of poker, Andy slips up and states that a woman’s breasts feel like bags of sand. The boys feel it is their duty to ensure that they find Andy a woman who will change his life.

Andy has long been in acceptance of the fact that he wants to “save himself” for that special someone. In fact, he would much rather stay at home playing with his actions figures and high tech toys and “collectibles,” than go out on a date. However, Andy’s friends have other ideas about his love life and take him to a singles bar hoping they can line him up with a one night stand and put an end to his state of virginity.

Andy likes a girl, Trish, who is played by Catherine Keener, who has a store across the mall from the electronic store where he works. Trish takes in consignment items that she sells for her customers on e-Bay. But Andy is far too shy and backward to ask Trish out, so she takes matters into her own hands.

The characters in the movie couldn’t have been better chosen. Each pulls off a great performance, but the real reason the movie is so terrific is because of the rare chemistry between Andy and Trish.

Catherine Keener pulls off a stunning performance. Her plan is to conquer Andy and steal his virginity, as well as to form an intimate lasting relationship that the audience will care about and she is highly successful in her mission. This is a movie you won’t want to miss.

The film stars Karl Urban (Lord of the Rings, The Chronicle of Riddick) as Ghost, a young man found by Native Americans as a child in the macabre ruins of a Viking long ship with nothing but a sword. As he grows to manhood he is uneasily adopted and raised by the peace loving Native tribe, but never fully accepted into the community. ‘Pathfinder’ is the simple but spectacular tale of one man battling to come to terms with his own past and divided identity. It just so happens that he also has to do battle with a horde of bloodthirsty Viking invaders as well. Some guys just can’t seem to catch a break.

‘Pathfinder’ is low on main characters, with all but two, Ghost and his love interest Starfire, serving as simple sword fodder. The protagonist Ghost is the only really vaguely developed character in this film, invincibly carving his way through the invading hordes in bloody style and with a little mystic soul searching and a fairly basic love interest thrown in on the side in an attempt to fill out the character. Urban acts as well as can be expected given the script, alternatively being manly and violent and silent and soulful. The lack of dialogue means that he tries to make the most of the significant looks and pregnant silences of the character, and on the whole gives a creditable performance.

Like the characters themselves, the morality of the film is simple and basic. The Vikings invaders are depicted as huge, filthy, near demonic, bearded murders with nothing on their minds but slaughtering the innocent and peace loving Natives with a variety of brutal looking weapons and there is no moral questioning of Ghost’s attempts to kill them all off; it’s very much a bad guys against good guys kind of film.

‘Pathfinder’ is equally low on dialogue but heavy on almost non-stop fighting action adventure, making up for a simple plot – family gets killed, man seeks vengeance, kills a full horde of Vikings single handed – with spectacular gore and heart pounding fight scenes. Filmed in grimy detail, the atmosphere of the film is dark and violent, with bucket loads of flying blood and swordplay but little else. At times it seems to be purely an exercise on a Rambo-like level to see how many different ways one man can kill a much larger group of enemies using nothing but a sword and a series of inventive traps and disguises as well as the landscape itself. Given the almost non-stop violence and literally bloody visuals of the film it’s actually a little surprising that it only warranted a 15 certificate instead of the 18 certificate it almost certainly deserves.

With the exiled warrior, demonic half-human enemies, and the clashing of the main character’s native and adopted cultures, ‘Pathfinder’ can be summed up as in the vein of ‘The Thirteenth Warrior’ but the humour or humanity that made that film a classic.

If you watch ‘Pathfinder’ expecting an epic action adventure with intelligence then you will be sadly disappointed. If however you can turn off your mind and simply accept the simple plot, violence, and sword waving heroics and appreciate the stunning visuals of the film then you may be pleasantly entertained.

As the world of television technology has expanded, so too have the number of television programming providers. While those early television viewers had to make do with only a handful of channels, services like Sky TV offer far more choices. From the best of children’s programming to the latest blockbuster movies to the funniest comedies, television viewers have far more choices at their disposal.

Sky TV is the leading satellite TV service in the UK, and its excellent coverage puts it within the reach of more than 95% of all households in the country. Even viewers who live in areas suffering from poor television reception are generally able to enjoy the fine quality programs offered by Sky TV.

Those who opt for the convenience and coverage of Sky TV can also enjoy the finest digital picture quality, along with the highest quality audio. And with literally hundreds of channels to choose from, Sky TV viewers can always find something worth watching. From the best comedy programming to the most engaging dramatic content, Sky TV viewers can enjoy the best of all worlds on their TV sets.

Those television viewers who love a good blockbuster will also enjoy Sky TV. This popular service provides viewers with the latest in box office films. This great service provides all the enjoyment of renting the latest films, without the inconvenience and expense of driving to the video store. With Sky TV viewers can enjoy the latest movies for a set fee, bringing the excitement of Hollywood to virtually every home in the UK.

Of course sometimes even the most laid back television viewers will want to get in on the action, and for those times Sky TV offers the excitement of interactive TV. With interactive TV viewers are free to take an active part in their favourite live TV shows. Viewers can also take advantage of the best shopping, along with fun games and email services. All of this interactive excitement is within reach thanks to the Sky satellite receiver. Viewers from around the country can not only watch but also actively participate in their favourite programming.

As if this were not enough, Sky TV has recently broadened its services to include even more useful programming. One of these enhancements is known as Sky+, a service which allows viewers to watch and record two different television channels at the same time. The Sky+ service also allows viewers to save the films they have previously recorded for later viewing. In addition to these handy services, the Sky+ service also allows television viewers to easily pause and rewind live television. No longer will a ringing phone or persistent doorbell get in the way of your favourite programming. With Sky TV and the new Sky+ viewers can enjoy their favourite shows on their schedule, watching their favourite programs when they want and where they want.

One of the latest advances in the world of television technology has been the advent of high definition programming. High definition programming, or HD for short, provides all the benefits of television with superior picture quality, sharper colours and an overall better picture. The more vibrant colours and superior detail of high definition provides discriminating viewers with a better viewing experience no matter what the program.

Sky TV allows viewers to enjoy the high definition experience with Sky HD. Similar to Sky+, Sky HD also provides all the benefits of high definition technology, including superior detail, more realistic colours and excellent overall picture quality.

In addition to these services, Sky TV also provides Sky Freesat, a subscription free satellite TV service. While Sky Freesat has a number of advantages, those who are looking for a more robust viewing experience may prefer the superior choices and better channel packages of traditional Sky TV. The excellent channel packages available from Sky TV provide many advantages over the more limited Sky Freesat services, including a superior choice of television channels, more movie choices, more sports programming, and of course all those family friendly children’s programs. With all these choices even the most cost conscious television viewer may find that the subscription services offered by Sky TV, Sky HD and Sky+ provide excellent benefits at an affordable cost.

These days there are flat panel televisions, plasma TV sets and many other cutting edge technologies designed to make television viewing easier and more enjoyable. Modern TVs no longer rely on old fashioned picture tubes, making them both user friendly and reliable.

Getting the most out of those new TVs can be quite a challenge however. Even the best and most modern TV is useless without top quality programming to go with it. This is where the world of television has until now failed to keep up with the technology that makes TV viewing so interesting. While TV sets have undergone many advances, television programming has remained largely the same since those early sets first came rolling off their assembly lines. That is where Sky TV comes in.

TV viewers in the UK no doubt already know that Sky TV is the leading satellite television provider in the country, and this great service is ready to team with all that great new television technology. From the largest urban centres to the smallest towns and villages, Sky TV is available virtually everywhere in the country. With a coverage area equal to some 95% of the country, Sky TV s available virtually anywhere television viewers are found. This enormous coverage area makes Sky TV a particularly good choice for those households with poor television reception.

Of course even the best coverage is worthless without the best television programming, and Sky TV comes to the rescue here as well. Viewers of Sky TV are free to choose from an enormous array of programming, including the finest and most educational children’s programming available in the country. Those who choose Sky TV can find programming they want to watch whenever they want to watch it. Whether those viewers crave the latest movies, the most exciting dramas, the funniest comedies or the most educational nature programming, there will be something to please every member of the family.

Those whose tastes run to the new and exciting will also be pleased to know that Sky TV offers an array of the latest box office hits. With only a few simple clicks Sky TV viewers can view the latest films on their favourite TV, without any of the inconvenience of driving to and from the video store. Indeed, Sky TV helps to bring the latest in Hollywood entertainment to virtually every household in the UK.

As if all this were not enough, Sky TV also offers television viewers in the UK a taste of something truly unique. With Sky TV viewers are no longer relegated to a passive role. Instead, those viewers are invited to get in on the action with interactive TV. This unique service allows viewers to join in on the excitement of their favourite shows from the comfort of their own homes. Sky TV viewers can enjoy the finest in shopping, play a number of great games and enjoy high tech email service as well. All that is needed to make this magic happen is the easy to use Sky satellite receiver. The Sky satellite receiver allows viewers to interact with their favourite shows, bringing a whole new level of excitement to television viewing.

And there is still more to the Sky TV service. That is because Sky has recently introduced a new service, known simply as Sky+. The Sky+ service gives viewers around the country a simply way to watch and record their favourite shows, even if they are played at the same time. With Sky+ viewers can watch and tape two different programs at the same time, so viewers never will never again have to miss their favourite shows. In addition, the Sky+ service allows TV viewers to easily pause and rewind live TV, eliminating the risk of missing a critical part of the programming due to a ringing phone or other distraction. This great service allows viewers to watch their favourite programs on their schedule, no matter when those programs are played.

Sky TV viewers can also enjoy the latest n high definition television viewing. High definition, or HD for short, is one of the most significant advances in television technology, and Sky TV viewers can take full advantage of the superior picture and beautiful vibrant colours HD TV has to offer. Discriminating TV watchers will instantly spot the difference and enjoy this superior viewing experience.

With Sky HD TV viewers can enjoy the best programming in the best possible quality. This allows viewers to enjoy the many advantages of high definition television without the need to give up their favourite shows or lose their favourite television channels.

And last but certainly not least Sky TV offers Sky Freesat, the perfect way for viewers to enjoy the best satellite TV service without the inconvenience and expense of a subscription service. Sky Freesat offers a unique way to watch TV, and many viewers enjoy this fine service. With all that Sky TV has to offer it is no wonder so many in the UK are taking a close look at this excellent programming choice.

Although labelled as a laugh out loud black comedy, In Bruges is by far deeper than that as the two debate the morality of killing another man for money. Ken attempts to justify himself by claiming to have only killed bad men, or in self-defence; he is still aware of his sins. McDonagh’s cleverly layered plot is in evidence here, as this intellectual conversation sparks a joke that is to be repeated throughout the plot. This can be seen as epitomising In Bruges, as it never gets too deep to avoid being funny; it never gets too funny to stop the audience thinking.

McDonagh’s quest to avoid clichés becomes apparent early on in the film. Whilst Ray could be seen at first as glamourising a professional assassin – he is young, handsome, easily bored by sightseeing and seemingly comfortable with his life – the darkness inside him soon becomes apparent. In Ray we see one of Farrell’s finest performances, as he must attempt to come to terms with what he has done. Farrell’s portrayal of Ray is one of astonishing scope as we see his anger, his grief, his passion, and in the dying moments of the film, his optimism.

As events in the film start to spiral out of control and the climax approaches, the integrity of characters is tested, characters whom conventional society would condemn for their lack of morals. Within the murky society of In Bruges there is another layer of morality, and with these men there are lines that must not be crossed.

In Bruges could be criticised for the level of violence and swearing McDonagh has produced, and this is certainly not a film for children. It does, however, feature these whilst being very funny. The brilliant blend of comedy and pathos means this entertaining film is far removed from typical gangster movie territory.

Dirk Pitt, played by Matthew McConaughey is an ex-Navy Seal and oceanographer, history buff. He has an obsession with a Civil War ironclad boat that disappeared with a treasure of Confederate gold coins on board. He is determined to find it.

Dirk and his boyish buddy, played by Steve Zahn of Daddy Daycare fame, are conducting research in West Africa where they meet a scientist (Penelope Cruz) who is hard at work tracking and trying to find a cure for a deadly virus that is killing people off at a rapid rate of speed.

It soon becomes apparent to all three that militants wish to propagate the virus for their own benefit. The threesome head out across the Sahara to save the African people and the world, and end up being the target of thousands of bullets. They seem to spend all of their time dodging them, lobbing grenades and wisecracking amongst themselves.

The star of the show is really Steve Zahn, who gives comic relief by keeping his audience in stitches throughout the entire ordeal.

Sahara is adapted from a book by Clive Cussler and though it is far from original, it is an entertaining movie.

Rated: 3.5 stars out of 5.

Film producer Rick McCallum and cinematographer Ron Fricke spent five days shooting volcanic lava flows in Sicily to create the look of hell used in the end of the movie. A pivotal point in the movie finds Anakin Skywalker traveling to Mustafar, a molten lava world and duels his former mentor and friend Obi-Wan Kenobi. (The battle results in injuries so fierce for Anakin that he is forced to wear respiratory gear…the infamous breathing apparatus that marks him as Darth Vader in episodes four, five, and six.)

Mount Etna opened 6 new fissure’s in 2001 giving the filmmakers ample opportunity to film the shots necessary to create the world of Mustafar. The volcanic ash has darkened the skies and piled up in surrounding areas, including over Catania’s International Airport, shutting down the airport. Fortunately, most of the lava flowed towards the uninhabited Valle de Bove. The closest it came to a populated area, was when it pooled in a basin only 2.5 miles from the village of Nicolosi.

Fortunately Mount Etna has posed no threat in recent years. The last time a village was in true danger, when lava flows neared Zafferana in 1992. The Italian military engineer corp headed off the danger with controlled explosions.

A more romantic tale about Mount Etna holds that in 1886, the lava flow was diverted when a local archbishop carried a statue of Saint Anthony out to the threatening eruption.

Mount Etna is actually better known as a winter resort than it is an area of volcanic activity, although it is undergoing substantial rebuilding since the 2001 and 2002 eruptions, which destroyed many ski-lifts, pistes, and retail establishments. The residual heat from these eruptions greatly reduced the amount of snowfall build up necessary for skiing over the past few years. Insurance difficulties and government funding for rebuilding efforts have further slowed the efforts.

Just in 2005, have the cable cars and other tourist attractions started to reopen. Residents remain optimistic about rebuilding…hopefully the magnificent Mount Etna images used in the year’s hottest movie release will become a new selling point to visitors!