Welcome back, fellow film watchers. I know this is a day late, but some times you have to get all the films in to review them.

This week featured the long awaited release of "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skulls." It also featured the release of a political satire by John Cusack called "War, Inc." and an Oscar nominated foreign film called "Mongol." I will include, as usual, a previously released titles as well.

Lets get started, shall we.

First up, "Indiana Jones." I will start with this one, as it is my least favorite releasing today. Don't get me wrong. I love Indiana Jones like so many people do. But, with the latest effort, I had a couple issues. Most people reading this probably saw the film already this summer, as I assume almost everyone in America watched it. So I will not include a synopsis this time. I will merely cut to the chase. For the first half of the film, I was a little kid again. I was thrown back to the time I first saw Indiana crack that whip and utter a great cheesy matinee line. However, going in to the third act, I was not impressed with Lucas and Spielberg's story choice. And by the last 30 minutes of the film I was completely disappointed and sad to see a classic film icon turned into a weak box office dud. So, my over all thoughts. If you haven't seen it, it is very much worth seeing Harrison Ford don the fedora and crack that clever smile and leather whip. But for a story, "Skulls" does not deliver the mystery and puzzle of the originals and opts instead to tell the audience everything, even a climax they did not want to see.

Next up is "War, Inc." This almost unknown political satire is a partial brain child of long time 80's favorite, John Cusack. Cusack returns to the role of hitman in this film, but is now contracted by big business to aid in settling a war. In this not so distant future, armies are funded and run by corporations and it is these companies that decide the outcomes of war. Are you scared yet? One of the things that makes this film work is its tie to reality and the threatening possibility that events such as those depicted are not too far away. However, despite it's great supporting cast, consisting of Dan Aykroyd, Ben Kingsley, Joan Cusack and Marissa Tomei, "War" fails to deliver a really solid script. A majority of the film work very well, and John's ideas are well understood. He is a co-producer and co-writer of this film. One of the weak points is Tomei's character. Even her acting ability can't save it and in the end she winds up not looking near as good as she has in the past year. A surprise comes from Hilary Duff, who plays a pop star in the foreign country where Cusack is asked to assassinate the oil minister. It is a very fun satire to watch and definitely hits a lot of topics and ideas that are current. I will say it is very much worth a rental, but know that there will be parts that don't quite work.

Finally we have "Mongol," the story of the rise of Genghis Khan. The film is directed and co-written by Sergei Bodrov, who's only real big film was "Nomad." This film, shot in Kazakhstan, follows the story of Genghis as he grows from a boy, who watches his father die at the hands of enemies, to a man who unites a people under a set group of laws. What really hold this film together is the performances. Oddly enough, the lead role is played by a Japanese actor. The three leads, Genghis, his wife and blood brother, create such deep rooted characters that you forget you're watching a film and feel at times you are watching the real story. Beautifully shot and edited it is a wonder this did not win best foreign film last year. It was, unfortunately up against "The Counterfeiters." Clocking in at 2 hours, "Mongol" takes the audience all the way up to his rise to power. It is at the end that we finally get the Genghis Khan of legends and stories, but the journey to see how this man was built is so well worth it. If you see only one film this week, I hope it is this one.

And lastly, I watched "Married Life" this weekend. "Life" is about a middle aged married couple in the late forties who don't seem to be much in love anymore. The couple is wonderfully played by Chris Cooper and Patricia Clarkson. That alone should make you want to rent this film. Cooper's Harry Allen is a business man who has fallen for a younger woman, played by Rachel McAdams. He confides in his best friend, played by Pierce Brosnan, who is also narrating the film from the present. When Harry realizes that divorce would heart his wife too much, he decides to kill her. Along the way, Brosnan begins to become very close to McAdams. In the end you have a lovely little noir tale of love, marriage and all the bullshit along the way. What holds two people together? Hard to say sometimes. But I guarantee you will not be disappointed by "Married Life" and will want to watch it more than once. This is a great film for couples and friends to sit back and enjoy for a comforting evening of beautiful art and story telling.

On that note, I leave you to your couches and DVD players. Enjoy your film this week and if you get a chance to see any of these and want to comment, please do. I am always eager to hear the thoughts and opinions of others when it comes to film.

Hello, everyone. Welcome again to my wonderful review of current and upcoming rentals. This week we feature two films coming out tomorrow and a couple that have been out for a while, but are worth the rent.

Today's overall rating = "Most definitely!"

Starting us off is the early summer comedy "Forgetting Sarah Marshall." This film was written by Judd Apatow alum, and frequent player, Jason Segel. Some may remember him from "Knocked Up," where he was seen mostly nude holding his bits. Here Jason portrays Peter, a music writer for a big time crime show, ala CSI, which happens to star his long time girlfriend, Sarah Marshall. She is in fact a huge star and frequently Peter finds himself hanging on her like a handbag. The film is kicked into place when Sarah breaks up with Peter, again Jason featured nude. To solve his broken heart, Peter runs to Hawaii, only to run into Sarah and her new boyfriend. What can I say except, this is a must see comedy. Sweet, hilarious, and very true. All characters stand out and make us remember why we love romantic comedies. Mila Kunis, of "That 70's Show," is brilliant as the hotel desk clerk that Peter meets. This one if great for couples in need of a little lovely reminder, or just a couple of people who want a night of laughs.

The second big film hitting the shelves tomorrow is, yes, wait for it, I know you want it, yes, "Iron Man." The first real blockbuster of the summer. For those who missed it, "Iron Man" tells the story of rich, alcoholic, womanizing Tony Stark, who is captured by terrorists and is force to find a way to escape. In order to escape, he builds a suit made of iron. From this experience, he realizes that his destiny may not lie with building weapons. With an amazing supporting cast consisting of Gwyneth Paltrow, Terrence Howard and "the Dude" himself, Jeff Bridges, playing his first villain. This film is well worth its weight in gold, or iron if you prefer. It brings back the wonderful memories of the first "Spider-Man" film as we watched a young Peter Parker wrestle with his new found destiny to be a hero, or continue to be a plain teenager watching the world pass him by. In this, Robert Downey Jr, in the title role, becomes a hero that the audience wrestles with loving just as much as he wrestles with taking on the mantle of a hero. One of the reasons for this film's great storytelling, is that of director Jon Favreau. Originally known for creating the ever fun comedy "Swingers," he is now becoming known as a director who can touch the family with the simplest of stories and cast you can't help but love. Be sure to rent "Zathura" and "Elf" to see his previous greats. If you have not seen "Iron Man" already, make the trip as soon as possible and bring it home. The family will love you.

Finally we come to a couple of rentals that hit shelves prior to my blog that I would like to throw out as excellent rents. First up, "Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day." This lovely little gem hit theaters early in 2008 and was received extremely well. And why wouldn't it be? The two leading ladies light up the screen and force to you not blink. Academy Award winner Frances McDormand takes on the title role while AA nominee Amy Adams plays Delysia LaFosse. These two actresses are at their best together telling such a wonderful story that will make you glow in your seat. Truly a tale that was meant to be told, and no one could have done a better job. In case you didn't know, the story is that of Miss Pettigrew, who is out of a job and living on the streets of London just before WW2, when she sneaks her way into a new position as LaFosse's new social secretary. A lovely little romantic comedy that will definitely place itself on the shelves next to the greats.

Lastly we have "Forbidden Kingdom." Some may know of this film. It is the first film to star both Jackie Chan and Jet Li. Two of the great film martial arts masters finally acting along side each other. Not only that, but they also go head to head. In fact, their show down against each other makes this film worth renting. Outside of that, it's a fun fairytale along the lines of "Labyrinth" and "Neverending Story." Granted those were aimed at a slightly younger audience, this film is not unlike them at all. Following the story of a teenage boy who is transported to ancient China to return a magical staff to the legendary Monkey King. He is guided by a drunk poet (Chan), a monk (Li) and an orphan girl, played by relatively new Yifei Liu. They face two very cool adversaries. One is the White-haired Demoness, played by Bingbing Li, and the all-powerful Jade Warlord, played by Collin Chou, known to a few as Seriph in "Matrix Reloaded." While it's not the best of films out there, it is a very entertaining film that never gets old and is always fun to watch. If for anything, it's great to see two masters work so well with each other. Again, a must rent for any family that wants to have a fun evening on the couch with a huge bowl of popcorn.

There you have it. Again, I urge you to watch what I review and share with me your own comments. I am always eager to hear how people respond to film I like and films I don't like.

So, a few years back a little girl made a huge splash on Hollywood with her role in "I Am Sam." That girl was Dakota Fanning. She was great. Brilliant as the daughter of a man who is mentally challenged. Since then she's done a few other roles showing that she does in fact, have it. Most of the time that is. Nothing to really top her first one, but none the less, worth while films.

However, two years ago another girl appeared who not only "has it," but has continued to show that she always will. The film was "Little Miss Sunshine." And the actress was Abigail Breslin. She was amazing in the film as the title role. Since that film she has gone on to show that she is, in fact, the real deal.

In case you've missed them, she has appeared since Sunshine in two lovely Rom-Com's called "No Reservations" and "Definitely Maybe."

In "Reservations," Breslin portrays Zoe. A young girl who has just lost her single mother in an accident and must now live with her anal Executive Chef aunt Kate, played by Catherine Zeta-Jones. The two of them play off each other very well as two people struggling to cope with the loss of Zoe's mother (Kate's sister) and learning to live together. In the end, it couldn't have been done any better and the result is a film so well put together. Not unlike the amazing dishes that Kate creates in the film. Add to that the excellent casting of Aaron Eckhart, Patricia Clarkson and Bob Balaban as supporting and you've just made a wonderful night to stay home and sit back with some popcorn.

This year she turned out the second of the Rom-Com's, "Definitely Maybe." In this sweet little picture, Breslin played Maya, the single daughter to Will, played by Ryan Reynolds. In the film, Will is in the process of divorcing Maya's mother and Maya asks Will about his past and meeting her mom. Thus begins a wonderful tale where Will tells Maya the story, but changing the names of the three women that could be Maya's mom. Together, these two make a great father/daughter pair and work off each other like pro's. So much so that you can't stop watching and are just as please with the outcome as she is when she learns the truth.

Following both of these films, Breslin took on a major lead this year in "Nim's Island" and "Kit Kittredge." While I have only seen one of these (Nim's) I can tell you, she not only has it, but is very comfortable at showing it in everything she does. And has no problem playing off adults, and taking the lead from them.

Hat's off to you Abigail and as a fellow actor, here's hoping we continue to see more of you in the future, and even have the great opportunity to work with you.