KUNG FU PANDA - In this animated tale, Jack Black lends his voice to Po, a clumsy and overweight bear who loves snacking yet longs to be an elite kung fu fighter. It looks like DreamWorks Animation has taken a cue from the superior storytellers over at Pixar: "Kung Fu Panda" is about a lot more than kung fu, and it's also more than a place for Black to unleash his over-the-top zaniness. Po is a waiter at his dad's noodle restaurant who has an unhealthy obsession with the Furious Five fighting team. Despite his girth, Po dreams of being just as brave as Tigress! Viper! Mantis! Crane! Monkey! With a cast that includes the voices of Angelina Jolie, Dustin Hoffman, Lucy Liu and David Cross, "Kung Fu Panda" takes us on a physical and spiritual journey toward making Po the best fighter that China's ever seen. "Kung Fu Panda"; running time: 1 hour, 35 minutes; rated PG; 3 stars.

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INDIANA JONES AND THE KINGDOM OF THE CRYSTAL SKULL - "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull" is like a visit from an old uncle you hadn't seen in 19 years. He shows up suddenly with nothing but the same old stories. The film is set in the late-1950s (the others took place in the 1930s) and we know that because the initial soundtrack music is Elvis Presley's "Hound Dog." It's also the era of the Cold War and the dawn of the Nuclear Age. In one of the movie's best segments (Warning: Spoiler here), Indy survives an atomic blast, a cataclysmic piece of filmmaking. As a movie-going, popcorn experience, "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull" ranks below the series' three previous films. More than two decades of advances in special effects and other technology has not made "Crystal Skull" more entertaining than the others. It is, in fact, less interesting. "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull." Running time: 2 hours, 3 minutes. Rated: PG-13. 2 1/2 stars.

SON OF RAMBOW - The first thing to know about "Son of Rambow": It has about as much to do with Rambo as Dirty Harry does with "Harry Potter" or as Rocky Balboa does with flying squirrels. The second thing to know about "Son of Rambow": It recalls so many other films, you can count the cultural footnotes on your fingers and tributes on your toes. Set in the early 1980s but shot with the earth-toned elegance of the 1950s, "Son of Rambow" follows an unlikely friendship between two British boys. Perched on the edge of prepubescent innocence, they attend a school where the girls tower above them like trees in uniforms. Carter (Will Poulter) is a crew-cut bully. Will (Bill Milner) is a religious recluse. The bulk of "Son of Rambow" mirthfully depicts the boys' growing friendship after Carter enlists Will to be the stuntman in a shot-by-shot video remake of "Rambo: First Blood" he's making for a competitive contest on BBC television. "Son of Rambow." Running time: 1 hour, 36 minutes. Rated: PG-13. 2 1/2 stars.

BEFORE THE RAINS - Breathtaking panoramas of southern India and cinematic strokes of artistry fill "Before the Rains." Noted cinematographer and director Santosh Sivan captures memorable images of Kerala, his home state. Set in 1937 against the backdrop of Indian opposition to British colonialism, the film revolves around Henry, an English tea plantation owner and his right-hand man, Neela. For all its loveliness and attempts to be profound, this film is as predictable as a soap opera, albeit in a colonial setting. It is saved by its beauty and well-etched performances. Rahul Bose is wonderfully believable as Neela. His performance is almost matched by Linus Roache as Henry. "Before the Rains." Running time: 1 hour, 38 minutes. Rated: PG-13. 2 1/2 stars.

THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA: PRINCE CASPIAN - Galloping centaurs, a swashbuckling mouse, cool bad guys, way cooler good guys, girls that kick butt and just enough spiritual undertones for some Christians to think that it's about them. What's not to like in the new "Narnia" sequel? With "The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian" audiences will see a darker, funnier sister to the original epic adventure film that was a box-office smash when it debuted in 2005. Like the first "Narnia," "Caspian" is beautifully photographed with imagery and sets befitting the medieval mythology that C.S. Lewis, creator of this children's book series, so loved. Heroes are bathed in light and enemies shrouded in the darkness of an isolated castle that oozes evil. "The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian." Running time: 2 hours, 20 minutes. Rated: PG. 3 stars.

SPEED RACER - Speed kills, but it also thrills. Watching Andy and Larry Wachowski's hyperkinetic, candy-colored "Speed Racer" is like spending two hours caroming through a pinball machine. Sense and subtlety are road kill as the cartoon-deep plot zips by, but your inner third grader will be too jazzed to complain. If, that is, you still have an inner 8-year-old. If you're totally grown-up, you'll find "Speed" a long, dreary, migraine-inducing slog. Speed Racer - yes, that's our hero's name - is no one's savior. He's just a car-crazy kid who grows up to become the hottest new talent in the World Racing League. Speed's father, Pops Racer (John Goodman), runs a family racing business. Mom Racer (Susan Sarandon) encourages Speed to follow in the skid marks of older brother Rex (Scott Porter, the disabled quarterback in TV's "Friday Night Lights") - even after Rex's spectacular career ends in a fiery, and apparently fatal, accident. "Speed Racer" takes audiences for a fast, good-natured ride. A kiddy ride, yes, but on occasion it's a blast to let the youngsters slam the pedal to the metal. "Speed Racer." Running time: 2 hours, 9 minutes. Rated: PG. 3 stars.

MADE OF HONOR - It's only natural to make the comparison between Patrick Dempsey's "Made of Honor" and Julia Roberts' "My Best Friend's Wedding." Both movies are about boy/girl best friends who don't realize how much they love each other until one of them gets engaged. In 1997, Roberts was the anguished "best man" who watched Dermot Mulroney marry Cameron Diaz. Now, in the post-metrosexual age, Dempsey is the maid of honor for his gal pal, Hannah. Dempsey plays Tom, a Casanova with a mean streak who can only say "I love you" to dogs. He and Hannah have one of those flirty platonic relationships. Michelle Monaghan is delightful as Hannah. She's smart and beautiful and has excellent taste in clothes. As the movie unfolds with its gorgeous scenes of New York and Scotland, it becomes more clear that "Made of Honor" isn't like "My Best Friend's Wedding" at all. No, with it's easy predictability and super obvious plot, it actually has more in common with another famous boy/girl pair of best friends: Ross and Rachel from "Friends." "Made of Honor." Running time: 1 hour, 41 minutes. Rated: PG-13. 2 1/2 stars.

IRON MAN - "Iron Man" is an ironclad jump-start to the summer movie season, a brainy adventure about a snarky, self-centered weapons-of-mass-destruction manufacturer Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) who suddenly, thrillingly sees the light. The opening segment, with the genius, playboy industrialist riding in a Humvee amid a dangerous war zone, cocktail in one hand, exchanging small talk with the troops, is an example of powerful understatement. Then comes a rebel attack in which Stark is seriously injured and kidnapped. In a dank cell with another captured scientist (Shaun Toub, wearing a tie and vest, inexplicably), Stark's life is saved by the insertion of a glowing, electro-magnet in his chest that keeps shrapnel from creeping to the heart and killing him. Stark is forced by his captors to build a state-of-the-art, missilelike weapon called Jericho, which he planned on selling them in the first place. The cellmates, instead, conspire secretly to construct a flying suit. It works. "Iron Man." Running time: 2 hours, 6 minutes. Rated: PG-13. 3 1/2 stars.