Curtin, Jane

The Librarian - Return to King Solomon's Mines

The Librarian: Return to King Solomon's Mines is the highly-anticipated sequel to the popular TNT original movie The Librarian: Quest for the Spear. Noah Wyle ("ER") reprises his role as Flynn Carsen the nerdy yet precocious librarian who was called to protect the world's greatest secrets. Along with Wyle much of the original cast including Bob Newhart Olympia Dukakis and Jane Curtin return for another round of rip-roaring pulse-pounding adventure. In addition the lovely Gabrielle Anwar (Scent of a Woman) joins the cast to accompany Carsen in his mission to save the world's most valuable treasures. The Librarian: Return to King Solomon's Mines is directed by Jonathan Frakes ("Star Trek: The Next Generation") with Dean Devlin (Independence Day The Patriot) serving as executive producer. The script is by Marco Schnabel based on characters created by David Titcher.System Requirements:Run Time: 92 minsFormat: DVD MOVIE Genre: ACTION/ADVENTURE Rating: NR UPC: 053939765229 Manufacturer No: T7652

Only one film under his belt, and already Flynn Carsen (Noah Wylie) is talking like Indiana Jones. "Relax," he tells a companion before daringly retrieving an ancient artifact before it can be used for evil. "This kind of stuff happens to me all the time." A character of modest charms (much like this made-for-cable movie), Carsen is not your typical movie action hero. His brain serves him better than his brawn. Early on, his knowledge of vegetation plays a key role in a cliff-jumping escape from pursuing bad guys. Carsen, for those just tuning in, is a librarian at the Metropolitan Library, which secretly houses history's mythic artifacts, including the sword Excalibur, and the Shroud of Turin. The fate of the world is once again in Carsen's hands when a map to the legendary King Solomon's Mines is stolen. Carsen embarks on another fantastic global adventure, with stops in Casablanca (with inevitable references to the Humphrey Bogart classic) and Kenya. This time, he has new female companionship, Emily (Gabrielle Anwar), a beautiful archaeologist who can match the much-educated Carsen degree for degree. Reprising their roles from the first film are Olympia Dukakis as Flynn's meddling mother, who tries to fix him up with his third cousin ("You'll have plenty to talk about"), Jane Curtin as flinty library administrator, Charlene ("Save your receipts"), and Bob Newhart as his mentor, Judson. Savvy viewers will see plot twists and character revelations coming from a mile away, but that is all part of the fun, as are the hokey special effects and knowing humor ("There's always a secret passage," Carsen observes while navigating a catacomb). Who know if there will ever be another Indiana Jones movie. Until then, The Librarian is worth checking out, especially on DVD, where it can be enjoyed without intrusive commercial interruption. --Donald Liebenson

The Librarian - Quest for the Spear

To be a librarian you must master the Dewey Decimal System ace internet research and if you're new librarian Flynn Carsen (Noah Wyle) save the world! Wyle (ER) heads a sterling cast in a fun fantastical special effects-laden adventure that soars around the world from the Metropolitan Library to the Amazon jungle to the Himalayas. Geeky Carsen lands a job as the Librarian keeper of such top-secret Met treasures as Excalibur and Pandora's Box. Then the Serpent Brotherhood seeking world domination steals one of three parts of the magical Spear of Destiny from the library. Only Flynn aided by a gorgeous bodyguard has the knowhow to thwart their plan. But does he know how to be a hero? He will - even if he has to gouge kick punch brave Mayan death traps and plunge off icy precipices every inch of the way!Running Time: 106 min.Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: COMEDY UPC: 053939690125

Broadcast to record ratings on the TNT cable network, this Raiders-esque adventure does not go by the book, staring with its atypical action hero and his decidedly uncool profession. Flynn Carsen (Noah Wylie from E.R.) is a thirtysomething perpetual student who still lives with his mother (Olympia Dukakis). When his exasperated professor finally ejects him into the real world, Carsen's Holmesian deductive acumen lands him a job as the librarian at the Metropolitan Library. This is not an ordinary library. It houses history's most mythic artifacts, including the Ark of the Covenant, Pandora's Box, and the sword Excalibur. The fate of the world is in Carsen's hands ("That's so sad," he observes) when the dread Serpent Brotherhood steals the library's Spear of Destiny, and Carsen must retrieve it. His reluctant, and antagonistic, partner is Nicole (Sonya Walger), who is as skilled in martial arts as Carsen is schooled in the Dewey Decimal System. Bob Newhart and Jane Curtin add welcome comic relief, with Newhart, of all people, getting into the action by film's end. The humble hero (who would rather be known as "Flynn, the rather pleasant at parties"), somewhat cheesy special effects, and corny comedy make The Librarian a fun guilty pleasure. As Carsen proclaims, "Being a librarian is actually a cool job." This looks like the beginning of a beautiful franchise. --Donald Liebenson

Antz

Woody Allen as a worker ant with an inferiority complex? Sylvester Stallone as an affable soldier ant who discovers that digging tunnels is cool? The animation playground we all knew so well is turning into a theme park full of in-jokes for grownups. Antz explores age-old topics (one person--err, insect--can make a difference, individuality and social responsibility must exist side by side, war is hell) with comic asides and Woody Allen's funniest quips this side of PG (adults will chuckle at the socialist slogans bandied about as he campaigns for workers' rights). Sharon Stone voices the rebellious princess with a fun-loving streak that doesn't quite overcome her royal bearing and court training, but she can learn. Gene Hackman is all teeth (ants