The Bourne Supremacy ***
Cast: Matt Damon, Brian Cox , Joan Allen, Franka Potente, Julia Stiles, Karl Urban, Oksana Akinshina
Director: Paul Greengrass
Running Length: 1:48
MPAA Classification: PG-13

It has been two years since we last saw Jason Bourne (Damon), and in that time he has been trying to live a "normal" life with his girlfriend Marie (Potente) in India. But quickly, two things go wrong for him. First, someone has killed a CIA agent and planted clues that point to Bourne as the murderer. Second, an assassin has arrived in India to kill him.

While dodging the assassin, he attempts to track down the CIA team that is after him. While the team leader, Pamela Landy (Allen) is new to the situation, Bourne's old boss, Ward Abbott (Cox) is also in the mix. What follows is basically a revenge movie filled with action and intense chase scenes. The final chase is expecially edge-of-your-seat cinema.

Almost all the cast and crew are back for the second installment of the Bourne series, and that provides a nice feeling of continuity. Certainly, the third novel in the series will be made into a movie, and hopefully the same continuity will be preserved with that one as well. Matt Damon once again is the surprising action hero, a role that one would not have thought possible of him a few years ago. Brian Cox is his usual delisiously evil self playing a character whose motives are unclear.

If you found "The Bourne Identy" entertaining, you will not be disappointed with "The Bourne Supremacy". It is a good, smart action movie that keeps you involved from beginning to end. Bring on "The Bourne Ultimatum"!

CATWOMAN

While I normally do not post other people's reviews, some of these are just to good to pass up on sharing....

"Catwoman sucks mightily on every level--it has the power to unite audience members in the way any great calamity unites strangers in a common trauma. Tremble before this ambassador of dreadful. It doesn't make you a coward, it just makes you human."
--Walter Chaw

"Halle just hacked a hairball all over the summer boxoffice. And it ain't pretty."
-- David Foucher, EDGE BOSTON

"Catwoman meows, purrs, and hisses, but mostly just sucks."
-- Alex Sandell, JUICY CEREBELLUM

"It's bad enough that not only are careers over, but somebody should be slapped."
-- Walter Chaw, FILM FREAK CENTRAL

"She can do everything a Spider-Man can, but worse. Much, much, much, much worse."
-- Willie Waffle, WAFFLEMOVIES.COM

"As poorly written, ineptly directed, and hideously acted as Catwoman is, its biggest sin is that it's boring. This movie does not offer a single worthwhile, interesting, or exciting scene. The action is dull, predictable, and repetitive. Ever thought a catfight between Sharon Stone and Halle Berry could rival a dose of valium as an effective sleep-inducer? I suppose Pitof deserves a measure of respect for being able to achieve something I would have argued was not possible. "
-- James Berardinelli, REELVIEWS

"The only real redeeming quality of Catwoman is the cheap summer camp value. In fact, Catwoman is so bad that I actually recommend you see it. It's the movie you and your friends will rip on all summer long."
-- James Brundage, FILMCRITIC.COM

"[A] sloppy, dull, brain-dead waste of a movie."
-- Phoebe Flowers, SOUTH FLORIDA SUN-SENTINEL

"If one good thing can come out of this film, it's that this should provide an everlasting blueprint for what not to do with a comic book film."
-- Jeff Otto, IGN FILMFORCE

"I've never cared much for cats anyway, but this clinches it. Next time I see one, I'm going to kick it into the river."
-- Eric D. Snider, ERICDSNIDER.COM

These were found on the great website RottenTomotoes.com.

I, Robot ***1/2
Cast: Will Smith, Bridget Moynahan, Alan Tudyk, James Cromwell, Bruce Greenwood, Adrian L. Ricard, Chi McBride
Director: Alex Proyas

Knowing that this movie started out as a script entitled "Hardwired", and then only became "I, Robot" after the rights were acquired and the original script had been Asimov-ed, is enough for anyone to expect disaster. But, director Alex Proyas has created a solid movie that provides science fiction, action, humor, and something to think about. This would have been a good movie with or without the "I' Robot" link (the script is "suggested" by it), but the extras that that suggestion provided is enough to make this a thoroughly entertaining and smart movie.

When Dr. Lanning (Cromwell), the head of research ar US Robotics commits suicide, Detective Del Spooner (Smith) is called in to investigate. He quickly comes to believe that the good doctor was murdered by a robot named Sonny (Tudyk), a robot that is much more than he seems. Of course, Spooner has a distrust of robots that may or may not be coloring his judgement. He believes that Sonny has found a way around the Three Laws of Robotics, which would prevent a robot from killing a human. Aided by Dr. Calvin (Moynahan), an employee of USR, they set out to find who or what is behind Sonny's actions.

The action scenes in this movie are an amazing sight, whether they involve a few robots or many. Chicago 2035 is brought vividly and realistically to life without the special effects taking over. Will Smith does anexcellent job as the tormented Spooner. This is a smart movie filled with science fiction action, adventure, and mystery. This is also one of the biggest pleasant surprises movie-wise that I have seen in a long time.

Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy ***
Cast: Will Ferrell, Christina Applegate, Paul Rudd, Steve Carell, David Koechner, Fred Willard, Chris Parnell, Vince Vaughn
Director: Adam McKay

Will Ferrell's star is on the rise. With hits like "Elf", "Old School", and now "Anchorman" under his belt he seems to have made a life for himself beyond "Saturday Night Live". Ferrell plays Ron Burgundy, the number one news anchor in San Diego in the 1970s, who is somewhat of a living legend in the area. He is the face that everyone looks to for the news. Enter Veronica Corningstone (Applegate), a woman with high aspitations, and a determination that set off a war between herself and Burgundy. She wasnt to be an anchor, and he does not see how a woman can do what he does. When fate steps in, and Bergundy finds himself late for a broadcast, he finds his world turned upside down as Corningstone fills in for him...and does well.

"Anchorman" is a very satirical look at the news world of the 1970s as women are trying to break into a man's game. Will Ferrell disappears into Ron Burgundy, and carries the movie completely. The supporting case (along with a few surprise cameos) lend their own quirkyness to the supporting characters. If the previews looked funny to you, you will enjoy this movie. There are plenty more laughs to be found...and be sure to stay through the credits!

King Arthur **1/2
Cast: Clive Owen, Ioan Gruffudd, Ray Winstone, Keira Knightley, Stephan Dillane, Stellan Skarsgård
Director: Antoine Fuqua

Coming off of last year's "Pirates of the Caribbean", Disney's hopes had to be high for Jerry Bruckheimer's supposed factual retelling of the Arthur legend in "King Arthur". Instead, they get something that is hit and miss, no doubt in part to a studio mandated editing that turned a n R-rated violent and bloody movie into a PG-13 family affair.

Arthur (Owen), is presented as Arturius, a commander for the Roman empire. On the brink of gaining freedom for himself and his knights, he rescues Guenivere (Knightley), turns on Rome, and alighns with the Guenivere's people, the Woads. Eventually, this turn will lead to him becoming the ruler of all the Britons.

This movie is filled with action and fighting, but as I mentioned earlier, it has been toned down and sometimes feels choppy. Clive Owen does not have enough screen presence or noteriety to carry the role of Arthur. Kiera Knightley is most likely the only recognizable name in the cast to Americans, and she does not show up until almost halfway through the film. She also seems to be a little too small to be wielding the swords that she does, especially against some very large men. I like the idea of Guenivere being a warrior, but perhaps they should have chosen someone that fits the part.

Perhaps I nitpick too much, but this movie for the most part did little for me. That fault does not lie on any one person's head, and perhaps I will have a different opinion when the R-rated version comes out on DVD, probably this fall.

The Terminal ***1/2
Cast: Tom Hanks, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Stanley Tucci, Chi McBride, Diego Luna, Zoe Saldana
Director: Steven Spielberg

When Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks work together, you know you are getting a quality product. "The Terminal" is no exception. Inspired by a true story, it tells the tale of Viktor Navorski (Hanks), a native of Krakozhia who finds himself trapped at JFK Airport after a military coup causes his Visa to be revoked. He cannot return home, and he cannot leave the terminal. What follows is a fish out of water story, as Viktor makes a home for himself in a part of the terminal under construction. His exploits are at times funny and sad. He makes some friends, and meets a stewardess named Amelia (Zeta-Jones), who he becomes interested in.

This movie works, in large part, because of Tom Hanks. He carries the movie, and make it entertaining like very few actors can. Spielberg, turning out another lighthearted movie, is gearing up for more serious movies, but makes the humor work in this one, and draws the viewer into Viktor's plight. "The Terminal" is a highly entertaining picture that can be enjoyed by all.

Spider-Man 2 ****
Cast: Tobey Maguire, Kirsten Dunst, James Franco, Alfred Molina, Rosemary Harris, J.K. Simmons, Donna Murphy
Director: Sam Raimi

"Spider-Man 2" is easily the best comic book movie in the last decade, and possibly the best ever. Combining a great hero and villain with a great story and amazing special effects, "Spider-Man 2" is a great movie, period. It picks up a few years after the original, with Peter Parker (Maguire) still pining after the girl he will never let himself have, Mary Jane Watson (Dunst). He is fighting internally between what he wants and what he feels he should do, and not seeing a way to have both. His friend Harry Osborn (Franco) is getting steadily more and more bitter with him because he will not give up Spider-man, the person who killed his father. Add to that the fact that he is juggling so many other things in his personal life, and you have a pretty miserable Peter Parker. When is powers start to fail him, he decides to be Spider-Man no more.

As all this is happening, Doctor Otto Octavius (Molina) is perfecting a fusion process for OsCorp that will be a great advance in the field. An accident fuses four mechanical arms to his spine and sends him on a course of destruction that can only be stopped by Spider-Man.

Working from a story by "Smallville"'s Miles Millar and Alfred Gough, and Pulitzer-prize winning author Michael Chabon, Sam Raimi has crafted a sequel that far outshines its solid predecessor. Maguire has made Peter Parker his own, and Alfred Molina breathes intelligent menace into Doc Ock. The special effects, especially during the fight scenes, and incredible. These are easily some of the best fight scenes ever put on film. This is a movie that can be enjoyed by anyone...the perfect summer blockbuster.

And finally, mark your calendars for May 2007, when "Spider-Man 3" will hit theaters. "2" will be difficult to top, but if Raimi continues to pour his passion for the character into the movies, he will have a good shot. Bring on "3".

Top 12 Movies -- First Half of 2004

OK...so I did end up seeing Spider-Man 2 last night, and I have updated this list accordingly. Look for the full review next week.

1. The Passion of the Christ ****
2. Spider-Man 2 ****
3. House of Sand and Fog **** (from 2003)
4. 21 Grams **** (from 2003)

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

10. Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story ***
11. The Chronicles of Riddick ***
12. The Punisher ***

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