Aliens are among us

The new aliens-among-us movie "District 9" scored surprisingly big at the box office over the weekend taking in more than $37 million.

In "District 9," a South African cop becomes the hunted after he is assigned to move a couple of million alien refugees from one slum into another and is accidentally infected with alien DNA.

Reel-life alien visitors to Earth often are treated badly even when they aren't trying to take over the planet through global warming, as in 1996's "The Arrival" with Charlie Sheen.

And who can blame humans for shooting at extraterrestrials trying to wipe us out in alien invasion movies such as "Independence Day" or "War of the Worlds."

Not all aliens are bad, however. Some are just looking for a good time, such as in "Earth Girls Are Easy" or "Mars Needs Women."

Some alien visitors are here to help, such as Starman sent to protect Earth from Nazi-type invaders in the Japanese camp classic "Attack From Space."

Still other alien visitors land here by accident, such as the black alien being chased through Harlem by outer space bounty hunters in "Brother From Another Planet."

Sometimes alien visitors want our help, such as the alien seeking water for his dying planet in "The Man Who Fell to Earth."

Here are six films available on video and DVD that feature aliens among us. Do you know who your neighbor really is?

"Men In Black" (1997) -- Tommy Lee Jones and Will Smith (pictured above) work for a government agency that tracks alien visitors to Earth. Their job becomes a lot harder when an alien killer (Vincent D'Onofrio) shows up and threatens to start an interstellar war. Other stars include Rip Torn, Tony Shalhoub and Linda Fiorentino. More aliens visit Earth in the sequel "Men In Black II."

"Alien Nation" (1988) -- Alien refugees called Newcomers are slowly making lives for themselves in Southern California until a plot is discovered that might turn humans against the Newcomers in this sci-fi thriller. James Caan stars as a human cop partnered with the first Newcomer detective played by Mandy Patinkin. Terrence Stamp co-stars as a Newcomer drug dealer.

"Superman" (1978) -- Christopher Reeve stars as Superman, the only survivor from the planet Krypton, sent to Earth by his father (Marlon Brando) to protect mankind. Other stars include Margot Kidder, Gene Hackman, Jackie Cooper, Ned Beatty and Valerie Perrine.

"They Live" (1988) -- A drifter (Roddy Piper) finds a pair of sunglasses that allows him to see aliens who have taken over the planet and their subliminal messages in this camp sci-fi film. Other stars include David Keith and Meg Foster.

"The Hidden" (1987) -- An alien cop (Kyle MacLachlan) in the body of a dead FBI agent hunts an alien bad guy who keeps hopping from one human host to another in this quirky sci-fi thriller. Other stars include Michael Nouri, Claudia Christian and Clu Galager.

"Cocoon" (1985) -- A ditzy boat captain (Steve Guttenberg) and a handful of retirees (Wilford Brimley, Hume Cronyn and Don Ameche) stumble across four aliens (led by Brian Dennehy) who are trying to rescue comrades stuck in cocoons on the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean for millenia. Other stars include Tahnee Welch and Tyrone Power Jr., children of Raquel Welch and Tyrone Power.

TV characters you want on your side

While watching U.S. Marshal Mary Shannon cling to life "In Plain Sight" the other night, I started thinking about what TV character I'd like looking out for me in the event I ever needed looking after.

My wife and I decided there are characters who you want on your side if you've been scammed or cheated, such as Timothy Hutton's crew of grifters in TNT's "Leverage." The grifter, hitter, hacker and thief that work with Hutton's mastermind are about evening the score. They even took on crooked bankers trying to milk the bailout in a recent episode.

We also decided that if you were a crime victim, you'd want Kyra Sedgwick's Brenda Leigh Johnson from TNT's "The Closer" on the case. She's like a pit bull once she sets her sights on solving a crime.

Those guys are tough but nice. What about the TV characters who are tough but not so nice?

The litmus test my wife and came up with was what TV cop/detective/righter of wrongs would do violence in his or her pursuit of the bad guys who did one of us wrong.

One character we decided could be violent but would try to out-think the bad guy was "In Plain Sight's" Marshall Mann. In last week's season finale, Mann tried to reason with the leader of a gang responsible for shooting his partner. If Mann wouldn't resort to violence to pry the information out of that scumbag, chances are it's just not in his character.

We compiled what we think are six of the baddest TV characters that you would definitely want on your side. All of these shows are available on video and DVD.

"NYPD Blue" -- Dennis Franz's New York City Detective Andy Sipowitz was not above using violence when he deemed it necessary. He's the kind of TV cop you'd want on your side if a relative was missing or you wanted to squeeze the information out of a suspect. Although he mellowed in later seasons, Sipowitz no doubt would have killed if someone threatened his family or loved ones.

"NCIS" -- Mark Harmon's NCIS agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs is a dogged pursuer but as a former Marine sniper he has the killer instinct, which he used to kill the drug dealer who murdered his wife and daughter. Gibbs would not hesitate to use violence to defend one of his team.

"Saving Grace" -- Holly Hunter's Oklahoma City Detective Grace Hanadarko is small but packs a punch. She won't abuse a suspect but she'll use violence if necessary to take down a bad guy. Even as she pals around with an Angel named Earl, you can't help but believe she'd kill someone who threatened her family, friends and fellow cops.

"The Shield" -- Michael Chiklis' Los Angeles Detective Vic Mackey (pictured above) murders a fellow cop in the series pilot, so we know he's got the killer instinct. In fact, it's hard to keep track of all the people he killed during the show's run. Mackey would knock down doors, beat people and maybe even kill to help a friend or loved one. Just make sure you stay a friend or loved one.

"Burn Notice" -- Jeffrey Donovan's Michael Weston is the star, but Gabrielle Anwar's ex-IRA bomber Fiona Glenanne is the shoot-first character on this USA Network hit series. She'd definitely kill to protect Weston and his mom, and she'd probably not hesitate to kill to protect Sam (Bruce Campbell), even though they bicker a lot.

"Law & Order: Criminal Intent" -- Chris Noth's Detective Mike Logan left the original series after punching out a New York City councilman, it's not hard to imagine he'd use violence to protect his family, friends, partner or fellow cops. He's a good cop but he'll push the envelope when needed.

Got a favorite TV bad ass? Let me know.

John Hughes comedies are ageless

John Hughes was able to tap into teen angst like no other director, which was why he was able to churn out a string of hit comedies such as "Sixteen Candles" and "Ferris Bueller's Day Off" during the 1980s.
Hughes died of a heart attack Thursday while visiting family in New York City. He was 59 and hadn't directed a film since "Curly Sue" in 1991.
While he stopped directing, Hughes continued to write stories and screenplays including "Maid in Manhattan" in 2002 with Jennifer Lopez and Ralph Fiennes. In fact, Hughes was a more prolific writer than director. He helmed only eight movies but is credited with writing 38 films including hits such as "Home Alone," "National Lampoon's Vacation," "Pretty In Pink" and "Mr. Mom."
He also continued producing movies including "Home Alone 3" in 1997.
But his greatest success came as a young man directing one hit after another from 1984 to 1990.
Hughes is credited with helping launch the careers of many stars including John Cusack and Molly Ringwald in "Sixteen Candles," Bill Paxton in "Weird Science" and Judd Nelson in "The Breakfast Club." Many of his frequent stars came to be known as the Brat Pack.
Hughes graduated from Glenbrook North High School in Northbrook and based most of his movies in the Chicago area. His favorite reel-life town was Shermer, Ill., based on an early name for Northbrook. Most of his hits were filmed in Chicago, as well.

Even though his movies are all at least 20 years old, they continue to make people laugh. Here are six of his best comedies. All are available on video and DVD and many are regularly shown on cable. No doubt one of the cable channels will hold a John Hughes marathon in the next week or so.

"Sixteen Candles" (1984) -- Hughes burst onto the Hollywood scene with this teen comedy about a young girl (Molly Ringwald) who is heartbroken because everyone has forgotten her 16th birthday while planning her older sister's wedding. Other stars include Anthony Michael Hall, Justin Henry, John Cusack and Gedde Watanabe as Long Duc Dong.
"The Breakfast Club" (1985) -- Hughes scored a second straight hit with this film about five high school students who discover they have much in common while serving a Saturday detention. The students (Hall, Ringwald, Judd Nelson, Ally Sheedy and Emilio Estevez) bond while tormenting their teacher (Paul Gleason).
"Weird Science" (1985) -- Two nerdy students (Hall and Ilan Mitchell-Smith) create a woman of their dreams (Kelly LeBrock), who then helps them learn to stand up for themselves. Other stars include Robert Downey Jr. and Bill Paxton as Chet.
"Ferris Bueller's Day Off" (1986) -- Matthew Broderick stars in this Hughes comedy about a student determined to enjoy a day off of school despite the best efforts of the principal (Jeffrey Jones) to catch him goofing off. Other stars include Alan Ruck, Mia Sara, Jennifer Grey and Edie McClurg.
"Planes, Trains & Automobiles" (1987) -- Hughes made an easy transition from teen comedy to adult comedy with this film about a dedicated family man (Steve Martin) desperately trying to get home to Chicago from New York in time for Thanksgiving dinner despite a winter storm. His only companion on his trek is an annoying salesman (John Candy). Other stars include Laila Robbins and Edie McClurg.
"Uncle Buck" (1989) -- John Candy stars as a man reluctantly pressed into service by his brother and sister-in-law to watch their kids during a family emergency. Other stars include Amy Madigan, Laurie Metcalf, Jean Louisa Kelly and Macaulay Culkin.