LATEST ADDITIONS

 |  Nov 10, 2008

If you're like me, you've seen your net worth take a significant hit in 2008. Not only has my house's value dropped nearly 30 percent, but my retirement fund dropped that much the first week of October! Consequently, I don't feel as wealthy as I did in 2007—although no one would ever confuse me with Daddy Warbucks in any event.

David Vaughn  |  Nov 10, 2008

<IMG SRC="/images/archivesart/kungfupanda.jpg" WIDTH=200 BORDER=0 ALIGN=RIGHT>Po (voiced by Jack Black) is an enthusiastic panda who works in his family's noodle shop while daydreaming about becoming a Kung Fu master. His dreams are soon realized when he is unexpectedly chosen to study the martial arts alongside his idols&#151;the legendary fighters Tigress (Angelina Jolie), Crane (David Cross), Mantis (Seth Rogen), Viper (Lucy Liu), and Monkey (Jackie Chan)&#151;under the leadership of their guru, Master Shifu (Dustin Hoffman). Before they know it, the vengeful and treacherous snow leopard Tai Lung (Ian McShane) returns, and it's up to Po to defend everyone from the oncoming threat.

Thomas J. Norton  |  Nov 10, 2008
Price: $2,600 At A Glance: Excellent image depth • First-rate resolution, particularly in HD • Frame interpolation can’t be defeated • Colors are pleasing but not accurate

120 Hertz and All That Jazz

It hasn’t been that long since JVC left the rear-projection business. Its LCOS designs were among the best on the market—which is appropriate for a company that still makes LCOS front projectors.

Mark Fleischmann  |  Nov 10, 2008
Price: $3,149 At A Glance: Brilliantly ironclad build quality • Tight, tuneful sealed sub • Carver-worthy dynamics

Little Speaker Lusts for Power

My lonely battle to establish the satellite/subwoofer set as a respectable speaker category just got a little less lonely. Bob Carver, legendary designer of amps and speakers, has joined me on the space-saving speaker front. Carver first gained fame when he founded Phase Linear in 1970. He designed what the industry then considered some of the world’s most powerful amplifiers. His current company, Sunfire, has branched out into surround processors, an extensive subwoofer line, and speakers. With the HRS line, he enters the sat/sub category with a product that—like most Carver products—shows a healthy lust for power. Take these four satellites, a barely larger center, and one of Carver’s famously potent subs, and you’ve got a sat/sub set that’ll turn heads and change minds.

David Vaughn  |  Nov 10, 2008

<IMG SRC="/images/archivesart/hellboyii.jpg" WIDTH=200 BORDER=0 ALIGN=RIGHT>A ruthless leader (Luke Goss) defies his bloodline and awakens an unstoppable army of creatures to wage war with the human world. It's up to the planet's toughest, roughest superhero to battle the merciless dictator and his marauders. Along with his expanding team in the Bureau for Paranormal Research and Development, Hellboy (Ron Perlman) battles the forces of darkness in the ultimate battle of good versus evil.

David Vaughn  |  Nov 10, 2008

<IMG SRC="/images/archivesart/starwarsclonewars.jpg" WIDTH=200 BORDER=0 ALIGN=RIGHT>Anakin Skywalker (voiced by Matt Lanter) and his Padawan apprentice, Ahsoka Tano (Ashley Eckstein), find themselves on a mission that bring them face to face with crime lord Jabba the Hutt (Kevin Michael Richardson). Count Dooku (Christopher Lee) and his sinister agents will stop at nothing to ensure that they fail in their quest. Meanwhile, Obi-Wan Kenobi (James Arnold Taylor) and Master Yoda (Tom Kane) lead the massive clone army in a valiant effort to resist the forces of the dark side.

David Vaughn  |  Nov 10, 2008

<IMG SRC="/images/archivesart/getsmart.jpg" WIDTH=200 BORDER=0 ALIGN=RIGHT>When the headquarters of CONTROL are attacked and the identities of its agents compromised, the Chief (Alan Arkin) has no choice but to promote his best analyst, Maxwell Smart (Steve Carell), who has always wanted to work in the field. Partnered with veteran Agent 99 (Anne Hathaway), he must rely on a few spy-tech gadgets and his enthusiasm for his promotion to defeat the evil crime syndicate, KAOS, if he wants to save the day and&#151;better yet&#151;get the girl.

Mark Fleischmann  |  Nov 10, 2008
Recent store closures have not been enough to save Circuit City from the apocalypse. The mega-chain has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.
Kris Deering  |  Nov 09, 2008  |  First Published: Nov 10, 2008
Video: 4.75/5
Audio: 4.25/5
Extras: 3.5/5
"The Clone Wars" takes place between "Star Wars Episode II: Attack Of The Clones" and "Star Wars Episode III: Revenge Of The Sith". Jedi Knights Anakin Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi continue their journey across the galaxy amongst the "Clone Wars", meeting up with familiar villains, such as Count Dooku, General Grievous and Asajj Ventress. The Grand Army of the Republic, led by Yoda, Mace Windu, Obi-Wan Kenobi, and other Jedi Knights, must fight the New Droid Army of the Separatists.
Kris Deering  |  Nov 09, 2008  |  First Published: Nov 10, 2008
Video: 4.5/5
Audio: 3.5/5
Extras: 3.5/5
Steve Carell is in CONTROL as Maxwell Smart, the novice agent often out of his depth but never out of options in this action comedy pitting him against the nuclear scheme of the evil spy group KAOS. Anne Hathaway partners with Max as ever-capable Agent 99. And director Peter Segal guides his stars through the dangerous realm of molar radios, multifunction pocketknives, exploding dental floss and more.

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