To XML or not to XML

Hello,

I am new to ActionScript 3 and CS4, and this may be an ignorant question but here it is.

I am loading a bunch of pictures into a sort of presentation in flash with interactivity. The picture loads and when the user presses next the picture slides to the left and comes forward but fades out on the edge and then text comes up explaining the picture. There are hundreds of pictures to do this for. I did an earlier version of this in Flash8 using XML. Now I am using Flash CS4 with AS3 - would you still do this with XML or is there a different way? Can I still make it fade out with xml?

Thankyou for any help!