Ah, the pre-teen years. Such an angst-ridden period in one's life. Bridge to Terabithia, the story of two 10-year-olds who retreat into a fantasy land to escape the sadness in their lives, is a movie that understands what it's like to be a kid, and for that, critics say it's family entertainment of a very high order. Terabithia is a coming-of-age tale about friendship that doesn't skimp on tragedy, but doesn't lack for uplift, either. And it features engaging performances from its young stars, Josh Hutcherson and AnnaSophia Robb.

Madea may be gone, but Tyler Perry's back with Daddy's Little Girls, his second film as a director, and the first in which he doesn't play his no-nonsense, straight-talking alter ego. This time, he's a single dad locked in a custody battle with his wife for their three daughters; he enlists a beautiful attorney (Gabrielle Union) to help, and romance blossoms. The pundits say Perry's filmmaking skills have improved with this effort, but the film is ultimately too predictable and preachy to work.

Director Billy Ray is carving out an interesting niche spinning tales of frauds in high places. His first film, Shattered Glass, told the story of the journalist/ fabulist Stephen Glass; now comes Breach, based upon the career of imprisoned FBI turncoat Robert Hanssen. Ryan Phillippe stars as a young agent assigned to check up on Hanssen (Chris Cooper), who his superiors believe may be leaking information to the Soviets. Critics say Breach, despite a lack of explosive action scenes, is a first-rate mind-game thriller that authentically captures the culture within the agency.