“Superman Returns” ***
Turns out there’s not a lot left to say about Superman, even though he’s been gone from the big screen for nearly 20 years. Director and co-writer Bryan Singer does a serviceable job of re-creating the Superman mythology for a new generation, but there’s not much spice here or personal style to revive a comic book franchise the way “Batman Begins” did last summer, or “Spider-Man” did in summers previous. Brandon Routh alternates between imitating Christopher Reeve and trying hard not to imitate him, so it’s impossible to forget Reeve’s iconic role in the franchise. |PG-13|148 minutes|Released today|Michael Booth
“The Ant Bully” **
A stellar cast in the same old hill. Another week, another animated movie with a scorchingly starry vocal cast. This time it’s “The Ant Bully.” With Meryl Streep! Julia Roberts! Nicolas Cage! Produced by … Tom Hanks! Despite the wattage, though, the movie sheds no new light. Structurally, it’s reminiscent of this summer’s superior “Monster House,” with an awkward boy (Zach Tyler Eisen) experiencing adventures and learning to trust what he’d once feared while his clueless parents are on a weekend vacation. |PG|97 minutes|Released today|Christy Lemire, Associated Press
“Clerks II” ** 1/2
Kevin Smith returns with his sequel to the career-making 1994 “Clerks,” and not enough has changed. Our favorite slackers are still stuck in awful jobs, still debating everything from “Star Wars” to hardcore pornography. This time, Dante (Brian O’Halloran) may be escaping to a better life in Florida, but he’s also in love with the perky manager of his burger joint (Rosario Dawson). Randall (Jeff Anderson) is as misanthropic as ever, spouting hate and cynicism in all directions. Without the charm of his low-budget first effort, Smith can’t fall back on his rookie aura. “Clerks II” plays as a money-grab from a writer and director who couldn’t find another idea.|R|96 minutes |Released today|Michael Booth
“Ice Age: The Meltdown”
*** The long-awaited sequel to “Ice Age,” which was a box-office hit and mixed an appealing array of animation styles. This time, the ice is going away, but don’t expect too many deep references to global warming. Ray Romano, Denis Leary and John Leguizamo reprise their voice roles, joined by Queen Latifah as a love interest for the big woolly mammoth Manny (Romano).|PG| 90 minutes |Released Nov. 21|Michael Booth
TV ON DVD
Da Ali G Show: Da Compleet Seereez|With Sacha Baron Cohen’s big- screen “Borat” a sensation in theaters, a four-disc set gathers both seasons of the comedy series in which his journalistic alter-egos – hip-hopping Ali G, Kazakh Borat and Austrian Bruno – skewer all things American. The set has commentary and bonus segments featuring all three characters.|$49.99| Released Nov. 21|David Germain, Associated Press
MORE RELEASES | DVDs available today
Angel Rodriguez
Bones: Season 1
The Christopher Reeve Superman Collection
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Dane Cook Vicious Circle
Ellen: Season 5
Firestorm: Last Stand at Yellowstone
Joan of Arcadia: Season 2
Molly: An American Girl on the Home Front
Pandora’s Box
Searching for Bobby D
7th Heaven: Season 3
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Striking Range
Supergirl
Superman II: The Richard
Donner Cut
Thundercats: Season 2
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