Top 12 Movies -- First Half of 2004

OK...so here are the 12 best movies I have seen in the first half of 2004. Why 12? Well, two of them came out last year, and I wanted the list to have ten from this year. Also, I have not seen Spider-Man 2 yet, so that is why it is not in the list. But never fear, I'm sure it will be on the list come year end.

1. The Passion of the Christ ****
2. House of Sand and Fog **** (from 2003)
3. 21 Grams **** (from 2003)

4. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban ***1/2
5. Secret Window ***1/2
6. Dawn of the Dead ***1/2
7. The Ladykillers ***1/2
8. Miracle ***1/2

9. Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story ***
10. The Chronicles of Riddick ***
11. The Punisher ***
12. 13 Going on 30 ***

And if you did not read my review..."The Stepford Wives" would be the worst movie that I have seen so far this year.

Anyway, let me know what you think!

Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story ***
Cast: Vince Vaughn, Ben Stiller, Christine Taylor, Rip Torn, Justin Long, Stephen Root, Joel David Moore, Chris Williams, Alan Tudyk
Director: Rawson Marshall Thurber

It's the battle for Average Joe's Gym, played out in dodgeball form. Good guy Peter LaFleur (Vaughn) enters is team of marginally talented clients in a dodgeball tournament in order to get the $50,000 prize. An amount that just happens to equal the amount need to stop the forclosure on his gym. On the other side is White Goodman (Stiller), who is entering the tournament to stop the underdogs from paying off the bank so that he and hi company Globo can take over Average Joe's. "Dodgeball" embraces every sports movie cliche and runs with them, providing consistent humor throughout the movie's 92 minute running time. And of course, there are plenty of dodgeballs to the face (as well as wrenches). This is one of the funniest movies to come out in a long time, and I highly recommend it.

The Chronicles of Riddick ***
Cast: Vin Diesel, Colm Feore, Thandie Newton, Judi Dench, Karl Urban, Alexa Davalos, Linus Roache, Nick Chinlund, Keith David
Director: David Twohy

In 2000, we were introduced to Riddick (Diesel), a criminal who can see in the dark. With the video success of "Pitch Black" and the interest of Vin Diesel, a sequel was inevitable. "Chronicles" finds Riddick five years later, and still on the run from bounty hunters. When he crosses paths with old friend Inam (David), he learns that he may be the only one who is able to stop the Necromongers, lead by Lord Marshall (Feore). The Necromongers are gearing up to destroy Inam's planet, and Riddick has landed there just in time. He soon is on his way to save Jack (Davalos), a friend from the previous movie that may be able to help him out. Throw in Dame Judi Dench, and you even have a touch of class in this sci-fi action extravaganza.

Vin Diesel could very well have a real franchise on his hands here if "Chronicles" is able to make a dent at the box office. Filled with action and amazing special effects, "Chronicles" seems poised to do just that. The ending also provides a jumping off point to further adventures, so don't be surprised to see more of Riddick in a few years.

The Stepford Wives *1/2
Cast: Nicole Kidman, Bette Midler, Matthew Broderick, Christopher Walken, Faith Hill, Glenn Close, Roger Bart, Jon Lovitz
Director: Frank Oz

With all these big names attached to this movie, you can't go wrong, right? WRONG! "The Stepford Wives" is the biggest disappointment of the year (so far). The horrific story of men replacing their wives with robots that are perfect little wives has been turned into a comedy that lessens the impact of the story. The brains behind this remake have also changed the ending, essentially putting the blame back on the women! And most irritatingly of all, the wives seem to go back and forth between robots or just being the real wives with microchips in their heads that allows them to be controlled. This movie seems to be slapped together just to be able to get a few laughs out of the situation, with no regard for the audience's intelligence. All the talent in this movie is wasted. Save your money and stay away from this stinker.

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban ***1/2
Cast: Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson, Michael Gambon, Maggie Smith, Robbie Coltrane, David Thewlis, Alan Rickman, Gary Oldman, Emma Thompson, Tom Felton
Director: Alfonso Cuarón

It is year number three at Hogwarts, and Harry Potter (Radcliffe) and his friends are faced with a new menace: Sirius Black (Oldman) has escaped from Azkaban prison, and is supposedly looking to kill Harry. That has Hogwarts under the guard of the dementors, beings who bear an uncanny resemblance to the Ghost of Christmas Future). Also in the mix is a new professor of the dark arts by the name of Lupin, who also has issues of his own to deal with.

HP# has a very different look and feel to it than HP1 and HP2. A dampened color palette makes everything look gloomy and mysterious, even the once familiar Hogwarts. Alfonso Cuarón has replaced Chris Columbus in the director's chair, and tightened up the story. Where HP1 and HP2 tried to include everything from the books, HP3 is content to include only what director Cuarón deems necessary. Harry Potter fans should not be worried though, as some of the missing material will find its way into later movies. The three primary child actors seem more comfortable than ever in their roles, and have grown up a bit since HP2. Whether or not they will ride it out until the end of the series remains to be seen, but I think it would be difficult to see anyone else in their roles.

HP3 is also the first, and probably only movie to not have You Know Who in it, and that gives a nice breather before things to come. HP3 is an excellent movie that will not disappoint fans of the series. Now, only a year and a half to Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, but I am sure it will seem much longer.

The Day After Tomorrow **
Cast: Dennis Quaid, Jake Gyllenhaal, Sela Ward, Ian Holm, Emmy Rossum, Dash Mihok, Jay O. Sanders, Austin Nichols, Tamlyn Tomita, Kenneth Walsh
Director: Roland Emmerich

The latest disaster movie to hit theaters finds the world being overcome by another ice age as the result of global warming. The effects are amazing, as New York and Los Angeles are pummelled with uncharacteristic weather. While LA is torn up by tornadoes, NY is overcome by a rising ocean and extreme cold. Trapped in the NY library is Sam (Gyllenhaal) and some friends. They are there on a field trip and are suddenly forced to fend for their lives. Sam's dad, Jack (Quaid), is a climatologist who has warned the government many times about the dangers of global warming, to no avail. In the midst of all the chaos, he and some friends embark on a trek to get to his son. Of course, he has always let Sam down before, choosing job over family, but this time it will be different.

The father-son story is pretty standard, with nothing too remarkable happening there. The special effects, however, are awesome. Even after all the disaster movies that have come out, movie audiences always seem to enjoy seeing cities torn apart my forces beyond their control, even if the science behind the global warming is iffy. If you are interested in good special effects and do not need a terribly original story, this one is for you. But, if you are looking for something that is somewhat original, you may want to stay away.