How could an old-fashioned monster movie with vampires, werewolves, Frankenstein and Hugh Jackman possibly go wrong? Our garlic-toting man in Eastern Europe, Steve Stav , reveals the movie behind the hype in his review of Van Helsing.

13 Going On 30 looks back to the ’80s as a girl grows up to be Jennifer Garner in a heartbeat. Is this classic case of “be careful what you wish for” simply another rip-off of Big? Steve Stav, who could never get the Moonwalk quite right, has the answer.

In The Passion of the Christ, Jesus doesn’t just take one for the team, he suffers hundreds for humanity. Is Mel Gibson’s ultra-controversial flick a persuasive, anti-Semitic passion play, a heavy dose of cinematic self-flagellation, or just an atonement for Bird On A Wire? Our man of indeterminate faith, Steve Stav, seeks the truth in a revealing review.

Love, Hawaiian Style – Drew Barrymore is a bit more than absent-minded in Adam Sandler’s new nice-guy vehicle. Our man in the South Pacific, Steve Stav, explains why 50 First Dates is a perfect Valentine’s Day movie.

Nonsense Parade (Mackadoshis). Review by Steve Stav.

What if Tom Cruise could have starred opposite Yul Brynner in a music-stripped, slightly rewritten version of The King and I, with Akira Kurosawa as choreographer? Our man in the Far East, Steve Stav, might have the answer.

Supersonic Guitars In 3-D (Yep Roc). Review by Steve Stav.

“LA Song” soul-rocker Beth Hart took a tumble a few years ago; she’s now resurfaced with a remarkably powerful new CD, Leave The Light On. Steve Stav takes turns on the couch with the singer-songwriter in a revealing – and therapeutic – interview.

Billy Bob Thornton’s Bad Santa resembles the Grinch with aspects of Leaving Las Vegas – the drinking aspects, that is. How does the foulest, most profane movie of the year stack up against holiday classics? Very well, according to Steve Stav

In Elf, SNL expatriate Will Ferrell plays a Peter Pan-in-reverse, complete with yellow tights. Does this cinematic dose of holiday cheer stand up to the Rankin-Bass classics? Our resident Bumble, Steve Stav, offers his opinion.

Nonsense Parade (Mackadoshis). Review by Steve Stav.

From Howlin’ Wolf to the Small Faces to Billy Bragg. One man has made the Hammond B-3 hoot and holler with all three – Steve Stav introduces us to the many faces of Ian McLagan.

KISS goes “EZ Listening” with strings? Hardly. Former KISS Army soldier Steve Stav goes back to boot camp in his DVD review of yet another eyebrow-raising performance by the greatest band in the land.

Textbooks, chalkboards, the Ramones – another Rock ‘N’ Roll High School? Make that “grade school”…Jack Black is back, and more tenacious than ever, in School of Rock. Resident scholar Steve Stav stopped laughing long enough to offer his thoughts on the latest Richard Linklater film.

Robert Rodriguez has finally had enough of those pesky Spy Kids, and returns to his Sergio Leone-worshipping El Mariachi saga. Our man south of the border, Steve Stav, dons his bulletproof vest for a clip-emptying review of Once Upon A Time In Mexico.

I Can Lick Any Sonofabitch In The House has been raising eyebrows this summer with their gutsy new disc and phenomenal live show. Frontman Mike Damron takes on Charlton Heston, Courtney Taylor, George Bush and much, much more in a no-punches-pulled interview with Steve Stav.

Full Exposure (Write On). Review by Steve Stav.

Our man in Japan, Steve Stav, deciphers the new Bill Murray film, Lost In Translation, and dons his best cape for a sneek peek at Underworld. Also ,- reviews of DVDs fresh on the shelf this week.

Former cab dispatcher Danny Devito tries his hand at Hitchcock with Duplex. In his blood-spattered review, Steve Stav discovers that dark comedy and little old ladies go hand-in-hand.

What a novel concept – Kevin Costner and Robert Duvall playing cowboys. Open Range, however, is much more than your standard shoot-em-up. Our man in the saddle, Steve Stav, has both barrels ready in this fair and balanced review.