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This week's new releases, available Tuesday, are rated by Jay Bobbin of Zap2it on a scale of one to four, with H equivalent to a poor rating and *** meaning excellent.

STAR TREK

***

One of the most enduring franchises in entertainment history gets a big, enjoyable reboot with director J.J. Abrams' take on the Gene Roddenberry-created sci-fi saga.

Chris Pine plays a younger James Kirk, who joins Starfleet and encounters the youthful Vulcan named Spock (Zachary Quinto, 'Heroes'), among others who will become Kirk's comrades aboard the starship Enterprise. The original Spock, Leonard Nimoy, is worked in cleverly.

Other cast members include Zoe Saldana, Karl Urban, Simon Pegg, Anton Yelchin and Winona Ryder.

BRUNO

***

Sacha Baron Cohen is at it again, immersing himself in another persona a la "Borat," in this comedy about a fashionista who must leave Austria after a career-damaging incident. He comes to the States to try to start over ... and in the process of playing out Bruno's adventures, star and co-writer Cohen puts one over on people who don't realize Bruno actually is an actor in character. Then-presidential candidate Ron Paul is among the victims.

MY SISTER'S KEEPER

***

Jodi Picoult's novel, about a youngster conceived to help cure her sister's leukemia, becomes a sincerely acted film with an especially fine performance by Abigail Breslin as the younger sibling.

The girl develops second thoughts about her intended role, prompting her to hire a lawyer and pursue emancipation.

Sofia Vassilieva plays the ill sister and Cameron Diaz the girls' mother in director Nick Cassavetes' ('The Notebook') cast, which also includes Alec Baldwin and Joan Cusack.

ROME:

THE COMPLETE SERIES

***

The sweeping HBO drama about politics -- personal and otherwise -- in ancient Italy now is available in an all-encompassing set, with certain characters' respective stories played out against a background that has stood in history ever since the actual events.

Cast members include Kevin McKidd ('Journeyman'), Ray Stevenson, Polly Walker, Lindsay Duncan and James Purefoy ('The Philanthropist').

IS ANYBODY THERE?

***

Two-time Oscar winner Michael Caine demonstrates his acting mastery again in this involving drama about a rest-home resident who makes an unlikely friend in the moody son (Bill Milner) of the facility's operators.

Caine's character, a former magician, doesn't want to be there. His outlook prompts his new ally to reconsider how he wants to live his own life.

Rosemary Harris, alias Aunt May in the "Spider-Man" movies, also appears.

WILD CHILD

***

Emma Roberts, the screen's most recent "Nancy Drew" (and the niece of fellow actress Julia), grows up a bit in this comedy-drama about a rebellious California teen sent off to England by a father (Aidan Quinn) who wants her to learn discipline.

At a private school overseas, she gets an education even while trying to figure a way out of her new environment.

The film -- making its debut in America on home video, though it had a wide theatrical release in Europe -- also features Natasha Richardson, in one of her last appearances, as the school's headmistress.

Coming soon:

ANGELS & DEMONS

Nov. 24

Tom Hanks is back as Robert Langdon, the symbologist of 'The Da Vinci Code,' who helps unravel a plot against the Vatican.

FOUR CHRISTMASES

Nov. 24

When their traditional holiday getaway is foiled by fog, a couple (Vince Vaughn, Reese Witherspoon) are trapped into visiting various relatives.

FUNNY PEOPLE

Nov. 24

A comedian's (Adam Sandler) terminal illness prompts him to play mentor to an aspiring comic (Seth Rogen). Leslie Mann also stars for her husband, writer-director Judd Apatow.

NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM:

BATTLE OF THE SMITHSONIAN

Dec. 1

Exhibits come to life once more, as do historic figures including Amelia Earhart (Amy Adams), in the comedy-fantasy sequel. Ben Stiller stars again.

TERMINATOR SALVATION

Dec. 1

Christian Bale assumes the role of John Connor, who remains mankind's biggest hope as he tries to prevent the cyborgs from destroying what remains of the human race.

HARRY POTTER

AND THE HALF-BLOOD PRINCE

Dec. 8

The young wizard (Daniel Radcliffe) seeks the key to defeating Lord Voldemort's minions while also trying to deal with matters of the heart.

Oldies but goodies -- If your local video store is fresh out of the newest titles, give these attractions a try:

DOWNHILL RACER

1969

***

Robert Redford plays an Olympic skier whose independent streak causes headaches for his coach (Gene Hackman) in a new Criterion Collection edition of the drama.

GONE WITH THE WIND

1939

***

The all-time classic gets elaborate '70th Anniversary Edition' treatment, with Clark Gable and Vivien Leigh as Rhett Butler and Scarlett O'Hara.

MELODY

1971

***

After they made the Oscar-winning musical "Oliver!" together, Mark Lester and Jack Wild reteamed in this drama about a young romance, with Tracy Hyde in the title role.

* Little Screen appears in Life & Times each Friday.