Every child is aquiver with anticipation for the latest Disney/Pixar offering this week, the CGI film WALL-E, which tells the tender little tale of the last robot left on earth. He not only finds true robot love, but is inadvertently called upon to help re-establish life as we know it. Critics are going gaga over this post-apocalyptic sci-fi fantasy, which adults could well enjoy more than the kids will. Opening in about 3,900 theaters, Disney/Pixar has high hopes for little WALL-E, and many are saying it’s their best ever.

In a savvy bit of counter programming, Universal is offering up the slick, sexy assassin thriller Wanted, starring Angelina Jolie, James McAvoy and Morgan Freeman. They’ve done a terrific job with the trailer, teasing viewers with stunts never before attempted. Just when you think you’ve seen every car chase trick imaginable, this film promises heart-stopping originality. Opening in 3,100 theaters, it’s not even trying to compete with WALL-E for the number one spot, but no one would complain about a good, solid second place finish over this hot summer weekend.

Opening in just a few theaters in New York and L.A this week is Matthew Broderick’s latest indie effort, Finding Amanda, about a washed up, alcoholic and gambling addicted TV producer (Broderick) who tries to save his marriage by going to Las Vegas to rescue his 20-year-old niece (Brittany Snow), who has become a very happy hooker. Although it’s billed as a comedy, a film this full of unrelentingly flawed characters usually has a hard time finding traction, and it will be interesting to see if this movie gets a broader release, or moves quickly to DVD.

An indie with possibly more crowd pleasing potential is The Last Mistress, opening in New York this week, Los Angeles next week and going into a wider release fthe following week, depending on it’s reception. It’s described as a film about, “the ramifications of female desire, casting Asia Argento as an impassioned, independent woman for the ages, in a surprisingly witty and touching – and needless to say sexually explicit – period drama that explores the age-old battle of the sexes.” A darling of the 2007 Cannes and Toronto film festivals, French film lovers are extremely eager to see it.