March 25, 2005 - In the immortal words of prolific hip-hop star Biz Markie, "It's spring again... everybody knows it's spring again." And not only is it a time for love, renewal and the quoting of old-school rap songs... it's movie time, people!  We've got a look at all the fresh flicks coming out this season, starting with the few new films arriving next week and taking you all the way through the Memorial Day weekend.

It's shaping up to be a pretty cool few months with the highly-anticipated releases of Sin City, Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, Ridley Scott's Kingdom of Heaven and a little movie called Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith. Maybe you've heard of it. Read along as we break down all the major movies as well as some under-the-radar flicks that are sure to rock the hizzy...

Beauty Shop
Release Date: March 30th
Studio: MGM/UA
Cast: Queen Latifah, Alfre Woodard, Alicia Silverstone, Andie McDowell, Della Reese, Mena Suvari, Kevin Bacon
Director: Billie Woodruff
Writers: Kate Lanier, Elizabeth Hunter, Audrey Wells, Norman Vance, Jr.
Rated: PG-13 on Appeal for Sexual Material, Language and Brief Drug References

The Scoop:  After making a cameo in Barbershop 2 as Beauty Shop gal Gina Norris, Latifah is now ready for her own spin-off. We pick up on Norris at a posh Southern Salon in Atlanta where she's doing quite well. Things take a turn when Norris' boss (Kevin Bacon) starts taking credit for her work, forcing her to quit and take along shampoo girl (Silverstone) and clients (McDowell, Suvari). She buys a rundown salon and makes it fabulous. How can you go wrong with this setup? And Kevin Bacon, for Pete's sake!

	Alicia Silverstone and Queen Latifah in Beauty Shop

Sin City
Release Date: April 1st
Studio: Dimension Films
Cast: Bruce Willis, Mickey Rourke, Elijah Wood, Nick Stahl
Directors: Robert Rodriguez, Frank Miller, Quentin Tarantino (Special Guest Director)
Writer: Frank Miller
Rated: R for Sustained Strong Stylized Violence, Nudity and Sexual Content Including Dialogue.

The Scoop: Sin City is a highly stylized adaptation of Frank Miller's graphic novels, based on several interwoven stories (Sin City, That Yellow Bastard and The Big Fat Kill) that take place in a fiction, morally bankrupt city. The film stars Bruce Willis as Hartigan, a cop with a bum ticker and a vow to protect stripper, Nancy (Jessica Alba); Mickey Rourke as Marv, the outcast misanthrope on a mission to avenge the death of his one true love, Goldie (Jamie King); and Clive Owen as Dwight, the clandestine love of Shelly (Brittany Murphy), who spends his nights defending Gail (Rosario Dawson) and her Old Towne girls (Devon Aoki and Alexis Bledel) from Jackie (Benicio Del Toro), a tough guy with a penchant for violence.  Elijah Wood, Nick Stahl, Michael Madsen, Carla Gugino, Michael Clarke Duncan, Josh Hartnett, Marley Shelton, Powers Booth and Rutger Hauer are all part of the ensemble cast. Yes, it's slammed with stars! Frank Miller wrote the screenplay and shares a co-directing credit with helmer Robert Rodriguez (Once Upon a Time in Mexico, Spy Kids). Quentin Tarantino is also credited as "special guest director."

	Jessica Alba and Bruce Willis in Sin City

Sahara
Release Date: April 8th
Studio: Paramount Pictures
Cast: Matthew McConaughey, Penelope Cruz, Steve Zahn, Delroy Lindo
Director: Breck Eisner
Writers: Josh Oppenheimer, Thomas Dean Donnelly, Douglas S. Cook, David Weisberg
Rated: PG-13 for Action Violence

The Scoop: Sahara, based on Clive Cussler's best-selling novel series, stars Matthew McConaughey as adventurer Dirk Pitt. Pitt must try to prevent a deadly microbe from causing an epidemic in the world's oceans. Add a few scheming billionaires, African dictators, assassination plots and a Civil War ironclad and, surely, we're in for some fun... assuming director Breck Eisner, son of Disney honcho Michael Eisner, is up for the challege. Despite some legal drama between Cussler and Paramount Pictures, the author's daughter, Dayna Cussler, has a small role in the film.

	Penelope Cruz and Matthew McConaughey in Sahara