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Best bets: 'Inception' a thought-provoking thriller

Movies"Inception" has perhaps the best movie buzz of the summer, even though the plot is a little tough to explain in the snappy sloganeering of a movie poster. The trailer looks like "Blade Runner" meets "The Matrix," while the storyline sounds a bit "Johnny Mnemonic." Leonardo DiCaprio plays a thief who steals secrets from inside people's minds while they're dreaming, and he's now been hired to
/ Source: TODAY.com

Movies

"Inception" has perhaps the best movie buzz of the summer, even though the plot is a little tough to explain in the snappy sloganeering of a movie poster. The trailer looks like "Blade Runner" meets "The Matrix," while the storyline sounds a bit "Johnny Mnemonic." Leonardo DiCaprio plays a thief who steals secrets from inside people's minds while they're dreaming, and he's now been hired to go inside a dreamer and plant an idea. There's definitely a spot in summer for a more thinky movie — one can only see the "Predators" rip out a spinal column so many times. (Opens July 16.)

Remember the Sorcerer's Apprentice segment in Disney's "Fantasia"? Poor Mickey Mouse finds out that making a broom come to life to help with his chores isn't such a great idea after all. The broom scene has survived to live again in the new "Sorcerer's Apprentice" movie, starring Nicolas Cage as the Sorcerer and Jay Baruchel as his reluctant protege. (Opens July 14.)

TV

It's midsummer, but the usual TV doldrums are nowhere to be found. Instead, plenty of new shows are premiering, including "Covert Affairs," a spy series starring Piper Perabo as a young CIA trainee, and Christopher Gorham as the blind CIA officer who guides her.  (Premieres July 13, 10 p.m., USA)

Hasn't the cupcake trend waned yet? It's about to tip into severely overhyped territory with the debut of a new reality show, "Cupcake Dreams," a six-episode series following two sisters who run Georgetown Cupcake in Washington. (Premieres July 16, 10 p.m., Discovery)

If cupcakes aren't your think, try mummies. "Chasing Mummies: The Amazing Adventures of Dr. Zahi Hawass," is a new History Channel series following a world-renowned archaeologist who directs the Egyptian Mummy Project, which uses modern forensics to delve into the history of the mummies it examines. (Premieres July 14, 10 p.m., History)

DVD

"Chloe"
was the film Liam Neeson was making when his wife, actress Natasha Richardson, died in an accident at a Canadian ski resort. Ever the professional, Neeson later finished filming, but one wonders how hard it must have been, especially considering the film's topic. Julianne Moore plays Neeson's wife, a doctor who comes to believe he's cheating and decides to throw beautiful Amanda Seyfried in his path as a test. Trust me, that's never a good idea. But the movie is intriguing, and another star is the breathtaking modern Toronto house that stands in for Neeson and Moore's character's residence. Doctors must make fantastic money in Canada. (Out on DVD July 13.)

It's always a great day when another "Mystery Science Theater 3000" box set comes out. This latest four-pack includes "The Beast of Yucca Flats," "Crash of the Moons," "Lost Continent" and "Jack Frost." Of the four, "Lost Continent" is my favorite. It features Hugh "Leave It To Beaver" Beaumont, Cesar "The Original Joker" Romero, and a heckuva lot of rock climbing, which the Bots point out to great comic effect. (Out on DVD July 13.)

Gael Fashingbauer Cooper is msnbc.com's movies editor. You can follow her at www.popculturejunkmail.com or www.genxtinct.com.