Movies Released May 7, 2004

Why are Americans so fat? Find out in "Super Size Me", a tongue in-cheek—and burger in hand—look at the legal, financial and physical costs of America's hunger for fast food. Ominously, 37% of American children and adolescents are carrying too much fat and 2 out of every three adults are overweight or obese. Is it our fault for lacking self-control, or are the fast-food corporations to blame? Filmmaker Morgan Spurlock hit the road and interviewed experts in 20 U.S. cities, including Houston, the "Fattest City" in America. From Surgeon Generals to gym teachers, cooks to kids, lawmakers to legislators, these authorities shared their research, opinions and "gut feelings" on our ever-expanding girth. During the journey, Spurlock also put his own body on the line, living on nothing but McDonald's for an entire month with three simple rules: 1) No options: he could only eat what was available over the counter (water included!); 2) No supersizing unless offered; 3) No excuses: he had to eat every item on the menu at least once. It all adds up to a fat food bill, harrowing visits to the doctor, and compelling viewing for anyone who's ever wondered if man could live on fast food alone. The film explores the horror of school lunch programs, declining health and physical education classes, food addictions and the extreme measures people take to lose weight and regain their health. "Super Size Me" is a satirical jab in the stomach, overstuffed with fat and facts about the billion-dollar industry besieged by doctors, lawyers and nutritionists alike. "Would you like fries with that?" will never sound the same!

"Valentin" is a coming of age story told through the eyes of a precocious 10-year old boy who lives with his grandmother in turbulent 1969 Argentina. Estranged from his eccentric parents, young Valentin yearns for a real family and dreams about being an astronaut. He befriends a recluse neighbor, forms an unlikely friendship with one of his father's many ex-girlfriends and sets out to discover the harsh realities about his parents, all the while bringing joy and wisdom into the lives of the adults around him.

Kat, a brand new journalism grad, has landed her first big job. It's in Hawaii and she couldn't be more excited. All it requires is an upbeat personality, good instincts and a lot of perseverance. But Kat is finding the work harder than she ever imagined. For one thing, her prey - an elusive big wave surfer named "The Monk" – doesn't intend to be found, and the friendly locals are being somewhat less than helpful. Her uninvited boyfriend is driving her crazy, her ex-surfer guide has been on the losing end of too many waves, the geek she's reporting to is falling in love with her, and she's wanted by the FBI. What's a girl to do? Kat realizes too late that finding "The Monk" will cost her more than she could ever afford. But can she foresee that she'll wind up finding herself?

Set in the late 19th century, monster hunter Dr. Gabriel Van Helsing (Jackman) is summoned to a mysterious land in East Europe to vanquish evil forces... like Count Dracula (Richard Roxburgh), the Wolf Man (Will Kemp), and Frankenstein's Monster (Shuler Hensley). Assisting him once he gets there is Anna (Kate Beckinsale), the heir of a long-running family committed to hunting down and destroying Dracula.

Today is the biggest day in the super-organized life of uptight overachiever Jane Ryan (Ashley Olsen). She's due to give a major speech at Columbia University for a competition to win a prestigious scholarship to Oxford University. Meanwhile, her rebellious sister Roxy (Mary-Kate Olsen) is planning to ditch school and go backstage at a Simple Plan music video shoot in Manhattan, where she'll slip her demo tape to the band's A & R team. Despite having so little in common and so much emotional distance between them, the adversarial sisters reluctantly journey together to the Big Apple, but their plans go wildly awry when a mix-up involving Jane's all-important dayplanner lands them in the middle of a shady black market music piracy scheme. Sidetracked, sideswiped and hotly pursued from Chinatown to Harlem by whacked-out truancy officer (Eugene Levy) and a wannabe gangster (Andy Richter), Jane and Roxy reluctantly join forces and find unexpected romance with a charming Senator's son (Jared Padalecki) and a handsome bike messenger (Riley Smith). If Jane doesn't recover her dayplanner – and the crucial speech inside it – she can kiss her college scholarship goodbye. If Lomax finally catches up with Roxy, she'll be drummed out of high school for good. Roxy and Jane seem to have everything going against them…but anything can change in a "New York Minute"!