CLICK AND DOUBLE CLICK: SEE YOU AT THE MOVIES

OK, I admit it. I love movies, but I don't see as many as I did B.K. (Before Kids). By the time you pay for the movie and a baby sitter, it can get rather pricey. And nothing is more of a downer than taking the effort and hating the movie.

That's why I try to check out the movies from several different sources before I go.

I actually saw four movies in the last month -- will wonders never cease -- and there's still several I want to catch before they leave town. After all, this is Hollywood's summer blockbuster season, and I want a front-row seat. (Well, maybe middle-toward-the-back-row seat.)

www.suntimes.com/ebert

I don't always agree with Roger Ebert, but he's a good place to start. You can find several full-blown reviews of the week's new releases.

My most recent outing was Disney's "The Kid" with Bruce Willis, and I'm glad to he agrees with my thumbs up. He gives it three stars out of four, and admits he smiled a lot and laughed a few times.

Don't forget to check out his one-minute movie reviews on the side of the page.

He liked Rocky and Bullwinkle? Amazing. I wanted to like it. I'd rate it as the best bad movie I've ever seen.

He also liked the other two movies that I've seen in the month and I have to agree: Thumbs up to "The Patriot" and "The Perfect Storm." They're very different movies, but both are effective in transporting you to the scene. It's interesting that Ebert didn't think "The Patriot" had much to do with historical reality. I just read an interesting story in "Smithsonian" about the fact they worked with historical experts to accomplish just that.

www.hollywood.com/reviews

One of the fun aspects about movie reviews is to see how the "experts" disagree. These reviews are divided into four categories: the story, the acting, the direction and the bottom line.

If you're thinking of renting a video tonight, check out Leonard Maltin's video reviews on the left-hand side of the page. There are more than 20,000 capsule reviews available.

I also like the fact you can research the movies without a review. Sometimes, you just want to know the plot line without all the commentary.

This site also an easy way to jump over to the official Web site for more information. Some of the movie Web sites are pretty amazing, such as the one for "The Perfect Storm," which can be found at www.perfectstorm.net.

A movie may get good reviews, but is it suitable for your kids? The Movie Mom may provide help in that category.

www.moviemom.com

Author and columnist Nell Minow reviews both movies on video and in theaters. She gives much longer reviews about the story line and how it could impact kids' sensitivities -- rating films from one to five checks. (Five checks is the best.) She also rates such issues as audience, profanity, nudity and sexual references, alcohol and drug abuse, violence and scariness, tolerance and diversity issues.

She rates the films both for younger children and then again for older kids and teen-agers. Her best choices for a family film in the theaters now? "Chicken Run" or "Fantasia 2000."

My kids saw "Chicken Run" and really liked it. Summer seems a good time for family fare.

www.joblo.com

For a different point of view, check out JoBlo's Movie Emporium. There's lots to see here, from reviews to links to actual movie scripts. JoBlo provides reviews and then lets those who visit agree or disagree with short comments.

For example, JoBlo gave "The Kid" a rating of 6.5 out of 10, but two viewers disagreed and gave it a much higher rating.

You can kind of tell JoBlo's taste by his favorite movies of 2000, which are "American Psycho" and "Gladiator."

Still, there's lot to do and see on this movie site, and the reviews are honest and insightful.

www.stairwell.com/doc

One great thing about the Internet is its ability to make fun of itself. Dr. Daniel's Movie Emergency has fun with the movie review process.

You start in the Examining Room and move to such places as the Operating Room or Morgue.

He also uses an interesting rating system:

* Medical miracle: This film is an amazing physical specimen. Don't change a thing.

* In for Observation: This film is worth a look but may show a few ill symptoms.

* Under the Knife: This film has life in it, but could use a little reconstructive surgery.

* Critical condition: This film could croak at any time, but still has a slight pulse.

* Dead on Arrival: This film is so bloody horrible it's taking on signs of rigor mortis.

He listed "Chicken Run" as medical miracle, but thought "Mission: Impossible 2" was in critical condition.

Not all films are reviewed here. Hey, it's hard to be clever all the time. There are also some fun movie games to check out.

Of course if you just want to learn more about any movie, don't forget to stop by the International Movie Database.

www.imdb.com

It lists LOTS of information about each film and provides a plot line and listing of the cast and crew. It's a great place when you remember who's in a film, but can't remember the title. It's wonderful for movie trivia contests.

What's your favorite movie review site? E-mail me at click@semissourian.com or jonia@sehosp.org.

See you in Cyberspace or perhaps at the movies.

Joni Adams is the webmaster at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau.