MOVIES
"Bad Boys II"
Since "Bad Boys" came out in 1995, Martin Lawrence, who plays simpering family man Marcus Burnett, has divorced his wife and been arrested twice for assault and gun possession. Will Smith, who plays trash-talking tough guy Mike Lowrey, has settled down with his wife and two children.
Jokes aside about the role reversal of the actors and characters, this sequel boasts the original director ("Pearl Harbor" and "Armageddon" director Michael Bay) and producer (blockbuster backer Jerry Bruckheimer).
This film will stick with the original's successful formula of giving Miami narcs Burnett and Lowrey slick action scenes and punchy one-liners.
Who should see it: Fans of the original who laugh at remembering Lawrence trill, "We were wondering if we could borrow a cup of brown sugar?"

"How to Deal"
After last year's likable but hokey "A Walk To Remember," in which Mandy Moore played a terminally ill preacher's daughter, she will take on a new 'do and 'tude for this film.
Based on Sarah Dessen's novels about Halley Martin, a gangly 15-year-old fed up with love's twisted effect on people's lives, the film is directed by newbie Clare Kilner and written by "Daria" scribe Neena Beber. It also stars capable adult actors Allison Janney and Peter Gallagher.
Halley finds someone to help her deal in Macon (Trent Ford), who mirrors her heart-wrenching teen angst and choppy brunette 'do.
Who should see it: Teenage girls who, like, totally feel Halley's pain.
"Johnny English"
This film supposes itself to be the British "Austin Powers," and with the screenwriting team behind the last two James Bond flicks, a beautiful love interest (Natalie Imbruglia) and a solidly sinister bad guy (John Malkovich), it could be "groovy, baby."
The possible weak link is the rubber-faced leading man, Rowan Atkinson ("Mr. Bean"). As a timid, but enthusiastic, MI-7 (England's CIA) secret agent, English is forced to try to recover the Crown Jewels after all of his more able co-workers have been killed in action.
Who should see it: People who thought "Austin Powers" was too cerebral.
MUSIC & DVDs
"Strays," Jane's Addiction
After 13 years in rehab, the Addiction is relapsing, to the great joy of rock fans everywhere.
The band that fused rock, punk, funk and jazz so successfully in the late 1980s and early 1990s is back, with singer Perry Farrell, guitarist Dave Navarro, drummer Stephen Perkins and new bassist Chris Chaney.
After reuniting in 2001 for a six-week tour, the band felt compelled to record this album, which Navarro told Rolling Stone is "awesome, the best thing we ever did."
Who should hear it: Those who remember how sexy Farrell was in the '80s in his purple velvet pants and no shirt.
"Evolver," 311
This band's offbeat mix of hip-hop, rock and reggae bears very few similarities to the immortal sound of The Beatles. But 311 said in an mtv.com interview that this album's title is deliberately similar to the Fab Four's 1966 release.
While 311 wrote and recorded its seventh studio album, The Beatles' "Revolver" was in heavy rotation, and its influence is apparent in a few tracks, the band said.
Vocalist Nick Hexum said this album stays true to 311's voyeuristic style, with plenty of new elements and experimentation.
Who should hear it: Ticket-holders to 311's show with G. Love and the Special Sauce and Something Corporate in Oklahoma City on July 21.
"Special One,"Cheap Trick
After 30 years, multiple line-up changes and some serious record label problems, this band miraculously has energy left over to deliver some more of its trademark lively rock.
In its first studio album in six years, the band responsible for the infectious "I Want You To Want Me" will attempt to overcome the bad rep it got in the 1980s with the release of several power-ballad albums.
With lyrics as catchy as The Beatles' and riffs and beats as angry as Nirvana's, this Illinois quartet looks to regain its old-school cool.
Who should hear it: Cheap Trick fans still rocking out to the band's 1970s classics.
"The Life of David Gale"
Any film that tries to make a bold statement about a prominent social issue (think "John Q" or "Traffic") runs two great risks.
The first and most common is becoming preachy. The second, and the one for which critics condemned "Gale," is letting the statement get lost. In this film's case, it was lost in a convoluted plot and superficial acting.
"Evita" director Alan Parker helmed this film about a death-penalty activist who is sentenced to Texas' death row. The DVD comes with a making-of feature and deleted scenes.
Who should see it: Death-penalty activists at their monthly meeting.
"Nicholas Nickleby"
Charles Dickens' stories were not written for a single sitting, which is why this film turned out as a CliffsNotes.
It lacks some of the elaborate story embroidery and puts some thoughts into the author's head. Nevertheless, this film is definitely Dickensian.
Filled with a colorful cast of side characters (including Nathan Lane, Alan Cumming and Jim Broadbent), a somewhat bland leading man (Charlie Hunnam of "Abandon") and an endearing social message about the plight of the poor, this film was directed and adapted by the director and writer of 1996's delectable "Emma" adaptation, Douglas McGrath.
Who should see it: Those who love McGrath after seeing "Emma," and love Hunnam after seeing "Abandon."
GAME & BOOK
"Valhalla Chronicles"
This role-playing game for PCs is set in the land of Norse mythology, where humans live in Midgard, gods live in Asgard, and dead heroes live in Valhalla.
Gamers play as one of four heroes with the ultimate goal of defeating Loki, giant-god of evil and mischief.
The company behind the "Europa Universalis" game series, Paradox Entertainment, developed this game.
Who should play it: Students enrolled in Comparative Mythology this fall who want a handy, albeit expensive, mnemonic device.
"Ilium," Dan Simmons
The author of the "Hyperion" science fiction series returns with the first in what is sure to be another epically best-selling and award-winning series.
The foundation of this complex, futuristic tale is a retelling of Homer's "Iliad." A race of highly evolved humans similar to the Greek gods populate a new Olympus. This era's Trojan War is in its ninth year, this time on Mars.
The gods resurrect a 20th-century pot-bellied classics professor and send him to the fabled war to note any deviances from Homer's work.
Who should read it: Students who have seen Professor Fears' dramatic retelling of the Trojan War in his Freedom in Greece class and have become enraptured with that heroic conflict.
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