The Avengers ****

Cast: Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Mark Ruffalo, Chris Hemsworth, Scarlett Johansson, Jeremy Renner, Tom Hiddleston, Samuel L. Jackson, Clark Gregg
Director: Joss Whedon
Running Length: 2:22
MPAA Classification: PG-13

After years of build up, The Avengers delivers what was hinted at a few years ago in the post credit scene of Iron Man.  Of course, since Iron Man, we were treated to Iron Man 2, The Incredible Hulk, Thor, and Captain America: The First Avenger; all of which only served to build the excitement and expectations that The Avengers would be forced to deliver upon.

The good news is that The Avengers does deliver, and then some.  The story revolves around Iron Man (Downey), the Hulk (Ruffalo), Thor (Hemsworth), Captain America (Evans), Black Wido (Johansson), Hawkeye (Renner), and Nick Fury (Jackson) banding together to stop Loki (Hiddleston) and his alien army from taking over the world.  Honestly though, the joy is in just seeing all of these heroes together finally.  Director Joss Whedon has crafted a story that is action packed and at times very funny.  He was a great choice for director, as he clearly understands the characters and the Marvel Universe in general.

All of the heroes are given pretty much equal time, so fans of individual heroes won't feel cheated.  What is interesting is that Mark Ruffalo, despite being new to the Avengers movie world, somewhat steals the show, both as Bruce Banner and the Hulk.  The Avengers is the best Hulk movie yet, surpassing both Eric Bana and Edward Norton's efforts.

Marvel has done something pretty impressive here.  Their long range plan has totally paid off, leaving DC in the dust.  Next up is the second phase of their Avengers plan, which will include Iron Man 3, Thor 2, and Captain America 2, and will culminate in Avengers 2 in a few years.  I, for one, cannot wait.

Jarhead ****

Cast: Jake Gyllenhaal, Peter Sarsgaard, Brian Geraghty, Jamie Foxx, Chris Cooper, Dennis Haysbert
Director: Sam Mendes
Running Length: 2:05
MPAA Classification: R

"Jarhead" is the true story of Anthony Swafford (Gyllenhaal) from basic training through the Gulf War. Basic training is rough and reminiscent of the movie "Full Metal Jacket". Swafford emerges from the training as a sniper candidate, and becomes best friends with his spotter, Tony (Sarsgaard). Sergeant Siek (Foxx) is their commander, and sees them as the best snipers of the group. In 1990, Swafford's unit is sent to Iraq to participate in the Gulf War, but this war is not a war for snipers, and he soon finds himself ready to fight, but never allowed to.

The unit is trained and trained and trained to be their very best, but there is no outlet for all their training, and soon that begins to take its toll. They are soldiers who are unable to use the skills that they have, and sooner or later someone is going to snap.

Jake Gyllenhaal is excellent as the baby faced Swafford, and is a definite candidate for an Oscar nomination. Sarsgaard, who has been in a number of films this year, finally has found a role to really shine in. Finally, Foxx is perfect as a true Marine that loves being a Marine. "Jarhead" is an interesting war movie that really has little war in it. Its focus is on the people that are there to fight the war, and what happens when the highly trained men are not allowed to do what they have been trained for. This is the best war movie in recent years, and I highly recommend it.

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire ****

Cast: Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint, Michael Gambon, Maggie Smith, Alan Rickman, Brendan Gleeson, Robbie Coltrane, Miranda Richardson, Ralph Fiennes, Timothy Spall, David Tennant
Director: Mike Newell
Running Length: 2:37
MPAA Classification: PG-13

Harry Potter (Radcliffe) is back for his fourth year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizadry, and it is not going to be an easy year. First off, it is announced that there will be the Tri-Wizard Tournament, in which the three participating schools have a champoin chosen for them from the Goblet of Fire. Those champions will compete against each other in a series of challenges. When the names are chosen, not only is each school represented, but the Goblet also chooses a fourth champion: Harry Potter.

Forced to compete in the tournament, Harry soon finds that the tournament is very dangerous, and perhaps someone entered him into it in the hopes that he would be injured or even killed. If that is not enough, Harry is having dreams of Voldemort (Fiennes). It seems that the dark lord may be making a comeback, and that does not bode well for anyone.

"Goblet" is arguably the best of the Harry Potter movies so far. Filled with action and a key plot point - the return of Voldemort, it does not disappoint. The kids have come into their own and it is difficult to imagine anyone else filling those roles. Fiennes is perfect as Voldemort, bringing a creepy evilness that is just right for you know who. Director Mike Newell has taken the longest of the Harry Potter books, streamlined it, and made an entertaining motion picture. Only one and a half years to wait for "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix", and summer 2007 cannot come soon enough.

Doubt ****

Cast: Meryl Streep, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Amy Adams, Viola Davis
Director: John Patrick Shanley
Running Length: 1:45
MPAA Classification: PG-13

At Saint Nicholas Church School, Sister Aloysius Beauvier (Streep) is the principal. She is an old-school nun who sees sin just about everywhere she looks. Sister James (Adams) is a new and impressionable nun who is very idealistic. When she sees something that may be inappropriate between Father Brendan Flynn (Hoffman), a progressive priest, and a student, she confides in Sister Aloysius. Sister Aloysius then takes on Father Flynn, who professes his innocence.

“Doubt” is an intense drama with amazing performances. Streep, Hoffman, Adams, and Davis (as the boy’s mother) all deliver Oscar nominated performances. Those nominations are all well deserved. The story works so well because of the doubt that is present. Did Father Flynn act inappropriately? Or is Sister Aloysius just on a witch hunt, seeing what she wants to see? The movie forces the viewer to think and come to their own conclusions. This is a great film, and is definitely worth seeing.

Frost/Nixon ****

Frost/Nixon ****
Cast: Frank Langella, Michael Sheen, Kevin Bacon, Matthew Mcfadyen, Sam Rockwell, Oliver Platt, Rebecca Hall
Director: Ron Howard
Running Length: 2:02
MPAA Classification: R

For three years after his resignation from the presidency, Richard Nixon (Langella) remained in seclusion in California. He made no appearances, he gave no interviews. Then, a British talk-show host named David Frost (Sheen) offered him $500,000 for a series of interviews. They would cover Domestic Policy, foreign policy, “Nixon the man,” and Watergate. Nixon accepted the deal, figuring he would get a series of easy questions, but Frost was going for something more. Assisted by three allies: John Burt (McFadyen), James Reston Jr. (Rockwell), and Bob Zelnick (Platt), he mounted interview sessions determined to get Nixon to admit he was wrong and committed crimes.

“Frost/Nixon” is a thoroughly engrossing movie, despite the ending being known. Langella and Sheen are great in their respective roles. The story is edge of your seat viewing. Director Ron Howard spends about half the movie reenacting excerpts from the actual interviews, and they are engaging showing a duel of wits where only one can be the winner. I highly recommend this entertaining and engaging film.

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button ****

Cast: Brad Pitt, Cate Blanchett, Julia Ormond, Taraji P. Henson, Jason Flemyng, Tilda Swinton, Jared Harris
Director: David Fincher
Running Length: 2:46
MPAA Classification: PG-13

Benjamin Button (Pitt) is born in 1918, as an old man. His mother dies in the birth, and his father Thomas (Flemmyng) abandons him. He is found and raised by Queenie (Henson), and within a few years has the appearance of an 80 year old man. But then, as the years pass, he begins to look younger. At the age of 13, he first meets Daisy (Blanchett). Their paths will cross repeatedly over the course of his life, and she will become the love of his life.

“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” is so much more than that description, and is an entertaining and engaging motion picture. Covering the greater part of the 20th century, it takes us on a whirlwind tour of his life. Brad Pitt is great as the tile character, playing him in all stages of his life, from old to young. Blanchett is equally good as his beloved Daisy. The story itself, based on a short story by F. Scott Fitzgerald, is an amazing backwards look at a life. It has a lot to say about what defines a life and the sacrifices that one must make as he goes through it. I highly recommend this film.

The Dark Knight ****

Cast: Christian Bale, Heath Ledger, Michael Caine, Aaron Eckhart, Gary Oldman, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Morgan Freeman, Cillian Murphy, Eric Roberts
Director: Christopher Nolan
Running Length: 2:30
MPAA Classification: PG-13

Batman (Bale) has become Gotham City’s hero, meting out justice to criminals. Some citizens question whether he is a hero or a menace, and some copycat “Batmen” are popping up pretending to be the Caped Crusader. Over all, Batman is gradually stopping the mob of criminals in the city. The new D.A. Harvery Deny (Eckhart) is taking them on in court, and Lieutenant Gordon (Oldman) is cracking down as well. An understanding of sorts is formed between the three, and then a lunatic enters the mix. The Joker (Ledger) has sights on Gotham to usher in a wave of chaos. All he wants is Batman to remove his mask, and when that does not happen, he unleashes a whirlwind upon Gotham City of unimaginable proportions. Now, Batman must decide how far he can go to take down The Joker, without crossing the line.

“The Dark Knight” is a worthy successor to “Batman Begins”, that mostly exceeds its predecessor in all areas. Bale once again embodies Bruce Wayne/Batman, a man driven to make morally questionable decisions to defeat a psychopathic enemy. Ledger steals all the scenes he is in, giving a more twisted performance than Jack Nicholson did so many years ago. It is a shame that we will never see another appearance of this Joker, but Heath Ledger’s final completed performance is spectacular. Eckhart is perfect as Harvey Dent, a man also pushed to the edge and then over. The greatest asset to this film though, is not in front of the camera, but behind it. Christopher Nolan has crafted yet another great film. His direction and writing (with his brother) are what make this film as great as it is. He is one of the most gifted filmmaker around today, and brings a “comic book movie” to a whole new level. This is great filmmaking, and I highly recommend seeing it.

The Passion of the Christ ****

Cast: James Caviezel, Maia Morgenstern, Monica Bellucci, Hristo Jivkov, Hristo Naumov Shopov, Mattia Sbragia
Director: Mel Gibson

As everyone knows, Mel Gibson's film focuses on the last 12 hours of the life of Jesus. From the Garden of Gethsemenie to turture to crucifixion to resurrection, Mel Gibson's movie is a emotional journey through the heart of Christian belief. Is it bloody? Yes. Is it violent? Yes. Does that diminish its value? Not in the least. This movie is an unflinching view of Jesus' final hours that is powerful and moving. mes Caviezel, Maia Morgenstern, and Monica Bellucci give stunning performances as Jesus, Mary, and Mary Magdeline respectively. The emotions that they convey on their faces is heartbeaking. As for the anti-Semitism, I did not see any. I think that you will see what you want to see in this regard, although I do not believe contains any anti-Semitic views. I recommend that everyone (Christian or not) take in a viewing of this amazing film.

21 Grams ****

Cast: Sean Penn, Benicio Del Toro, Naomi Watts, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Danny Huston, Clea DuVall, Marc Musso
Director: Alejandro González Iñárritu

Paul is a man with a bad heart and a failing marriage. Jack is a born again ex-con who sometimes takes things a little too far. Christine is happily married and has two daughters. All three have nothing in common until one fateful day that binds them together in a way that none expect. 21 Grams is a great movie that I would hate to spoil with further plot points. It is told in a haphazard way, jumping forward and backward in time, that really works and is part of the reason for the movie's greatness. It is confusing at first, but then things start to fall together and make sense. The acting is top notch from all three leads as well -- all could easily be nominated come Oscar time.

House of Sand and Fog ****

Cast: Ben Kingsley, Jennifer Connelly, Ron Eldard, Shohreh Aghdashloo, Jonathan Ahdout, Frances Fisher
Director: Vadim Perelman

When Kathy Nicolo is evicted from her house because of a failure to pay taxes, Massoud Amir Behrani, an immigrant from Iran, purchases it for a fraction of the value at an auction. For Kathy, this house was all she had -- her husband has left her and the house was given to her by her father when he died. For Massoud, this is an opportunity to plan for the future (by reselling at four times the cost) and reclaim some of the status that he and his family had in Iran. The problem is that the tax was a mistake. By the time Kathy does anything, Massoud legally owns the house, and does not want to lose this huge deal. Kathy befriends a police officer that attempts to help her by harassing and threatening Massoud's family. The tension builds and builds, mostly due to Lester the policeman's actions, and before long the situation is at the breaking point. The acting in this movie is top notch all around, especially from Kingsley as the proud immigrant that just wants to take advantage of the American way to help his family. He should get nominated for an Oscar and could very well win. This is easily one of the best movies released in 2003.

The Last Samurai ****

Cast: Tom Cruise, Ken Watanabe, Tony Goldwyn, Timothy Spall, Koyuki, Hiroyuki Sanada, Billy Connolly, Shichinosuke Nakamura
Director: Edward Zwick

Civil War veteran Nathan Algren is hired by a Japanese delegation the teach modern warefare to the Emperor's army. It seems that a rebel samurai by the name of Katsumoto is causing some trouble for the Emperor, and they believe that Algren can help out. While training the troops in Japan, they are forced to prematurely face Katsumoto and his men, and they are overwhelmed. Algren is taken as a prisoner so that Katsumoto can "learn from his enemy". As the winter passes, Algren finds himself learning of the samurai way of life, and becoming friends with his captor. When winter ends, Algren finds himself considered an equal, and not an enemy. Now he must determine the path he will choose, as another confrontation is inevitable. Cruise and Watanabe are excellent as one time enemies that become allies. The ways of samurai life are very interesting, and the epic scope of the movie makes it highly entertaining.