In "Superman Returns," newcomer Brandon Routh steps into the role of the Man of Steel.

It's a Super day as the movies' newest Man of Steel arrives on ...

The big screen scene: Newcomer Brandon Routh assumes the title role in "Superman Returns" (Warner), returning from an extended visit to what's left of Krypton to take on nemesis Lex Luthor (Kevin Spacey) -- and discover that Daily Planet colleague Lois Lane (Kate Bosworth) has moved on with her life.

(And for those who need a refresher course in the cinematic "Superman" saga, Warner also launches "Superman II: The Richard Donner Cut," which restores sequel footage Donner filmed during production of 1978's "Superman," which was later reshot by his replacement, Richard Lester.)

A very different sequel, "Clerks II" (Weinstein), writer-director Kevin Smith's follow-up to his 1994 debut, follows the laterally mobile title characters (Brian O'Halloran, Jeff Anderson) and their slacker shadows Jay and Silent Bob (Jason Mewes, Smith) to a fast-food joint managed by the beguiling Rosario Dawson.

And on the animated front, "The Ant Bully" (Warner) focuses on a pipsqueak kid, terrorized by a neighborhood bully, who takes his anger out on an ant colony -- until the colony's resident wizard (voiced by Nicolas Cage) brings him down to size. Julia Roberts, Meryl Streep, Paul Giamatti and Lily Tomlin also turn up in the vocal cast.

Critic's choice: One of the greatest, most influential filmmakers in history, Robert Altman died last week -- but not before leaving an imperishable cinematic legacy, including such classics as "M*A*S*H" (1970) and "Nashville" (1975), along with such recent triumphs as 2001's "Gosford Park" and this summer's "A Prairie Home Companion," which makes its video debut this week.

The maverick Altman reimagined and reinvigorated numerous genres, delivering all-time best Westerns (1971's "McCabe and Mrs. Miller"), detective dramas (1973's "The Long Goodbye"), gambling movies (1974's filmed-in-Reno "California Split"), Depression dramas (1974's "Thieves Like Us"), Hollywood satires (1992's "The Player"), tortured-artist biopics (1990's "Vincent & Theo"), music-meets-mob melodramas (1996's "Kansas City") and one-of-a-kind explorations of identity, from 1972's "Images" to 1977's "3 Women." They're all on DVD -- and they're all vivid reminders of Altman's unique genius.

Hot docs: Before the fact-based "We Are Marshall" opens in theaters next month, "Marshall University: Ashes to Glory" (Docurama) recounts the college football program's revival following a devastating plane crash.

"Forget Baghdad" (AFD), meanwhile, focuses on four Iraqi-born Jews living in Israel. And late monologuist Spalding Gray recounts his efforts to write a novel in "Monster in a Box" (Image).

On the political front, "Robert Greenwald Presents: The Brave New Films Box Set" (Disinformation) includes "The Big Buy: Tom DeLay's Stolen Congress," "Wal-Mart: The High Cost of Low Price" and "Iraq for Sale: The War Profiteers."

Kidvid corner: In "Molly: An American Girl on the Home Front" (Warner), the popular "American Girls" series explores World War II-era America, while "The Cheetah Girls 2" (Disney) follows the further adventures of four musical teens.

There's cartoon fun in store with Casper the Friendly Ghost's "Peek-a-Boo" and "By the Old Mill Scream" (Genius), "Hot Wheels Acceleracers, Vol. 4: The Ultimate Race" (Warner), and "Underdog" and "The Underdog Chronicles" (Genius).

Speaking of dogs, beloved canine star Lassie comes home in "Best of the Lassie Show," "Flight of the Cougar," "Lassie's Birthday Surprise," "Lassie's Christmas Stories" and "Lassie's Gift of Love" (all from Genius).

TV transfers: One of TV's all-time classics finally makes the jump to DVD in "St. Elsewhere: Season One" (Fox), set at an embattled Boston hospital populated by memorable medical characters, from an egomaniacal heart surgeon (William Daniels) to the hospital's world-weary chief (Ed Flanders). Denzel Washington, David Morse, Ed Begley Jr., Norman Lloyd and Howie Mandel also star. Today's other series debuts include "Bones: Season One" (Fox) and "Criminal Minds: The First Season" (Paramount).

On the TV-movie front, "12:01" (Image) traps a man (Jonathan Silverman) in a "time bounce," repeating a pivotal day. Helen Slater and Jeremy Piven co-star.

And if you can't wait for the next season of "American Idol," there's always four seasons of "Canadian Idol" (Sony/BMG).

Also arriving on DVD: "Ellen: The Complete Season Five" (A&E), "Jamie Kennedy's Blowin' Up" (Paramount), "Joan of Arcadia: The Complete Second Season" (Paramount), "7th Heaven: The Complete Third Season" (Paramount) and "Touched by an Angel: The Third Season, Vol. 2" (Paramount).