David Vaughn

<IMG SRC="/images/archivesart/hpue1.jpg" WIDTH=200 BORDER=0 ALIGN=RIGHT>Adapted from J.K. Rowlings bestselling book, <i>Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone</i> is the story of the boy who lived (Daniel Radcliffe). Placed with his unloving Aunt and Uncle as a baby, he grew up in the muggle world until rescued by Professor Albus Dumbledore (Richard Harris), headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, where Harry will spend the next seven years of his life in order to fulfill his destiny.

<IMG SRC="/images/archivesart/gforce.jpg" WIDTH=200 BORDER=0 ALIGN=RIGHT>A top-secret, highly trained trio of guinea pig super spies is assigned to stop a dastardly plot to take over the world. Squad leader Darwin (voiced by Sam Rockwell) will do what it takes to guarantee the success of his team, which also includes Blaster (Tracy Morgan), a weapons expert with an attitude, and Juarez (Penelope Cruz), a sexy martial arts pro.

<IMG SRC="/images/archivesart/pubem.jpg" WIDTH=200 BORDER=0 ALIGN=RIGHT>John Dillinger (Johnny Depp) is one of the most infamous gangsters in American history. The charismatic bank robber and his gang robbed countless banks during the Great Depression and he became a folk hero to the downtrodden public who had no sympathy for the banks that had plunged the country into the economic abyss. J. Edgar Hoover (Billy Crudup) proclaimed Dillinger Public Enemy Number One and sent his best agent, Melvin Purvis (Christian Bale), to bring him down.

Early in the 21st Century, a military defense program called Skynet becomes self-aware. Viewing humanity as a threat to its existence, Skynet decides to strike first. The survivors of the nuclear fire call the event Judgment Day. They live only to face a new nightmare—the war against the machines.

The first two Terminator movies directed by James Cameron were excellent, but the franchise hasn't fared so well with the subsequent directors—especially the horrendous job by McG (yes, that's what he calls himself) with Terminator Salvation. Character development is neglected in lieu of nearly nonstop action, although the soundtrack is very impressive with superior dynamics, frequency response, and surround imaging. If you're looking for a new audio demo disc, this certainly fills the bill, but don't expect the story to captivate your imagination.