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.

Steven Spielberg's masterful take on the H.G. Wells classic stars Tom Cruise as Ray Ferrier, a divorced New Jersey Everyman whose weekend with his kids (Dakota Fanning, Justin Chatwin) is shattered by an alien invasion. As the decidedly unfriendly E.T.s and their menacing tripods devastate the planet, Ferrier bravely attempts to reach his ex-wife (Miranda Otto) in Boston, encountering the best and worst of humanity along the way. Tim Robbins also stars. 117 min. Widescreen; Soundtrack English. Two-disc set.