Here’s what’s opening nationwide this Friday (July 11, 2008): “Hellboy II: The Golden Army,” “Meet Dave” and “Journey to the Center of the Earth.”

Official synopsis: After an ancient truce existing between humankind and the invisible realm of the fantastic is broken, hell on Earth is ready to erupt. A ruthless leader who treads the world above and the one below defies his bloodline and awakens an unstoppable army of creatures. Now, it's up to the planet's toughest, roughest superhero to battle the merciless dictator and his marauders. He may be red. He may be horned. He may be misunderstood. But when you need the job done right, it's time to call in Hellboy.

Does this sound exciting? Absolutely! I really enjoyed Guillermo del Toro’s first “Hellboy” flick and I’m more than happy he managed to bring back the original cast. Ron Perlman is not necessarily the kind of actor you find in every other big Hollywood blockbuster, but his performance as Hellboy is quite simply flawless.

Judging by the film’s highly entertaining trailers, “The Golden Army” will most likely supply fans with stunning action and gorgeous special effects. I’ve been really pleased with the evolution of Del Toro’s vision on the big screen, and he definitely has what it takes to turn in another solid fantasy flick. If you can’t wait for “The Dark Knight” to come out, I suggest passing some time with Red and co. this weekend.

Final word: Definitely the release I am most excited about this week.

Official synopsis: Dave Ming Chang (Eddie Murphy), newly arrived in New York City, may be the ultimate fish out of water. There’s something about him that’s not quite right – for starters, he seems remarkably out of place and uncomfortable in his own body. And for good reason; “Dave” is not a man at all, but a ship made in the image of its miniature-sized captain.

Does this sound exciting? Absolutely not! I don’t even know why I am wasting my time writing about this, but “Meet Dave” looks just like another big Eddie Murphy disaster. The trailer looks incredibly embarrassing and promises nothing but lame gags and Eddie Murphy acting like, well… Eddie Murphy.

Although I applaud his performance in 2006’s “Dreamgirls,” I have to admit I pretty much hated every one of his recent family comedies. “Norbit” and “The Haunted Mansion” are just to examples. Unless the movie is just totally different from what we’ve seen so far in previews, this is going to be yet another waste of time and money.

Final word: Meeting Dave? No thank you.

Official synopsis: An exciting adventure based on the classic Jules Verne novel “Journey to the Center of the Earth,” Journey to the Center of the Earth 3D stars Brendan Fraser as a science professor whose untraditional hypotheses have made him the laughing stock of the academic community. But on an expedition in Iceland, he and his nephew stumble upon a major discovery that launches them on a thrilling journey deep beneath the Earth’s surface, where they travel through never-before-seen worlds and encounter a variety of unusual creatures.

Does this sound exciting? Kind of, and the primary reason is because it’s in 3D in select theaters. Early reviews suggest Eric Brevig’s flick is filled with exciting adventure and suspense, and I am very curious about the quality of the 3D format. The story and action is obviously entirely built around this new technology, so don’t expect a sophisticated story line.

But who cares as long as the action is top-notch? We all know Brendan Fraser has a thing for silly action, so I’m sure he’s going to take this audience on a fun ride to the center of the planet. Let’s hope it’s as fast-paced as it seems.

Final word: Bring on the adventure!