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Movies

Title: "Sex and the City:The Movie" R (strong sexual content and graphic nudity)

Grade: C-

Basic story: The girls are back in town. Our favorite gal pals strap on their Manolos and sashay onto the big screen in a film that is set four years after we last saw them on HBO.

What you'll love: Fans will be thrilled to see their old friends even though they're not doing much of anything.

What you won't: This movie never surprises. It plays exactly like an episode of the series — which would be fine if it wasn't two hours and 25 minutes long.

Title: "The Strangers" R (violence, terror and language)

Grade: B

Basic story: Home alone — but not for long: A couple (Liv Tyler, Scott Speedman) living in a remote cabin (of course) face a home invasion of the most harrowing kind.

What you'll love: For 30 minutes, this is the scariest movie in years. Warning #1: It takes awhile for the tension to build. Be patient. Warning #2: Wear Depends. You'll need them.

What you won't: The movie isn't as scary once common sense kicks in. What are they trying to accomplish? How do they always know when to pop out at the right time?

Game

Title: "Haze" PlayStation 3 $60 Mature

Grade: D-

Basic story: You're part of an elite military unit with an edge —  you take drugs to heighten senses. Utterly destroying enemies is a real high. Then you come down. Hard.

What you'll love: Draining all color from the screen and painting the world in black and white, the effects of withdrawal are crippling. But you never know when it'll happen.

What you won't: Just say no: Whoever made this had to be on something. If not, they should've been. They need the excuse. Graphics. Glitches. Gameplay. This is a total mess.

Comic

Title: "Final Crisis #1 (of 7)" $3.99

Grade: C-

Basic story: All that's good in the DC Comics universe is about to be obliterated by a bunch of bad guys wanting payback.

What you'll love: DC's track record on anything, especially big stories, hasn't been the best of late. Gotta admit, though, this looks almost promising.

What you won't: Last dance? The album tries to be many things: a Mary J. Blige record, a Mariah Carey record, and finally, a hard-core dance-floor record. There's just no center.

Dvd

Title: "Rambo — Special Edition" $34.98

Grade: B+

Basic story: After "Rocky Balboa" became a hit, you just knew that another "Rambo" couldn't be far behind. This one has him retired in Thailand needing to gut someone again.

What you'll love: -

What you won't: There's deleted scenes, commentary from Sly Stallone, segments on reviving Rambo and more. But what's the point? This isn't a movie; it's a violent cartoon.

Title: "The Invaders — The First Season" $36.98

Grade: B-

Basic story: It's 1967. Your name is David Vincent.  And this is your burden: Aliens are here. They look like us. They're taking over. You're on to them. But they're on to you.

What you'll love: Because the aliens look like us, Vincent (Roy Thinnes) never knows who to trust — not that anyone would believe him. It's a great premise that's well-delivered.

What you won't: -

Cd

Title: Usher "Here I Stand" $18.98

Grade: B+

Basic story: Man up: Now that he's become a husband and father, the crooner is singing a different tune. Out are songs about infidelity. In is true love and commitment.

What you'll love: From the lovey-dovey vibes of "Something Special" to the slow burn of  "Love You Gently," much of this is classy R&B.

What you won't: -