The Screening Room

Ripped from yesterday's newscasts and available on DVD today, Lions for Lambs attempts to be a talker about the Iraq war but winds up a big snoozer instead. The star-studded cast (Meryl Streep, Tom Cruise and Robert Redford) tries to deliver the goods, all three looking as if they believe the preachy lines they spout, but in the end there are no goods to deliver. Just talk, talk and more talk. It's not so much a movie as it is a panel discussion, the kind one could catch on Fox News or CNN last year, before the elections and the economy claimed the spotlight.

You'll likely see this one given prime display among the new releases at the video stores, and with the three stars featured prominently on the DVD cover, it's tempting not to bite. After all, with Streep, Cruise and Redford, who did double duty as director, how bad can it be? Well, that depends on how bad you think boring is. If you could use a good night's sleep, this film could get you there. If you think a film should engage the viewer and deliver something resembling a plot, stay away.

Disney announced today that all of its animated movies beginning next year will be released in 3D. To accomplish that feat, Disney will partner with Fox, Universal and Paramount to update more than 10,000 theaters across the country in a project that will take three years. The takeaway here: 3D is here to stay.
But why is everyone all of the sudden jumping on the 3-D bandwagon? I mean, the technology has been around in one form or another for more than 50 years. The answer seems pretty simple: money (I'm sure you could have guessed that). Theaters can charge about $3 more per ticket on a 3D movie, but more importantly, 3D-movies draw more moviegoers and offer an experience that can't be replicated, even in souped-up home theaters.
The big winner here seems to be the exhibitors -- the studios are footing the bill for the conversion, so why wouldn't they say yes?

Check out Nancy Churnin's roundup of summer movies that might be of interest to kids and teens here. It ran as part of Guide's Parents' Guide to Summer (and, hey, while you're there you can check out listings for more than 200 camps and activities for the youngsters).

What summer movie are you most looking forward to?

Oh, Apple.com/trailers, what would we do without you?

Apple has an exclusive clip from the delighfully geektastic Iron Man, which opens May 2.

Watch "Run Before You Can Walk."

Awards season is done. Let's get on to summer movie season with its adventure and ear-shattering explosions.

Hit me again
Critics booed it, but audiences doubled down last weekend for 21, which remained atop the box-office charts with $15.3 million. The tale of Las Vegas card counters edged out two new releases: the family flick Nim's Island ($13.2 million) and the George Clooney football comedy Leatherheads ($12.7 million).