Welcome to this over-deadline edition of the cinematic spree. As usual, I watched too many movies and then waited until the last minute to write this column, beating the grace period built into the deadline (15th) by only one day (19th). This month I watched all of the Tom Clancy movies and all of the Lord of the Rings movies. So it's basically a non-stop discussion of American foreign policy from the heavy metaphors to the light ones. Throw in a few comedies, some hip new releases, and the usual blather and you've got... the cinematic spree. Now on with the spree!

spoiler alert--- I might reveal the endings to movies, if it's necessary to properly discuss what the film is really about. Sometimes I might not, but to be safe, only read reviews for films you've seen or films you don't mind reading a spoiler about. Spoiler: in LOTR they destroy the ring. Oh that was ice cold, the old spoiler in the spoiler alert gag. Classic.