2009 Oscar Results

Best Picture: “Slumdog Millionaire”
Best Director: Danny Boyle, “Slumdog Millionaire”
Best Actor: Sean Penn, “Milk”
Best Actress: Kate Winslet, “The Reader”
Best Supporting Actor: Heath Ledger, “The Dark Knight”
Best Supporting Actress: Penelope Cruz, “Vicky Cristina Barcelona”
Best Adapted Screenplay: “Slumdog Millionaire”
Best Original Screenplay: “Milk”
Best Art Direction: “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”
Best Cinematography: “Slumdog Millionaire”
Best Costume Design: “The Duchess”
Best Film Editing: “Slumdog Millionaire”
Best Makeup: “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”
Best Music (Original Score): “Slumdog Millionaire”Best Music (Original Song): “Jai Ho” from “Slumdog Millionaire”
Best Sound Editing: “The Dark Knight”
Best Sound Mixing: “Slumdog Millionaire”
Best Visual Effects: “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”
Best Animated Feature Film: “WALL-E”
Best Foreign Language Film: “Departures”
Best Documentary Feature: “Man on Wire”
Best Documentary Short: “Smile Pinki”
Best Short Film (Animated): “La Maison en Petits Cubes”Best Short Film (Live Action): “Toyland”

Tally:
“Slumdog Millionaire” — 8
“The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” — 3
“The Dark Knight,” “Milk” — 2“Departures,” “The Duchess,” “Man on Wire,” “The Reader,” “Vicky Cristina Barcelona,” “WALL-E” — 1

Oscar nominations announced

And the nominees are ...

Best film:
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Frost/Nixon
Milk
Slumdog Millionaire
The Reader

Best actor:
Richard Jenkins (The Visitor)
Frank Langella (Frost/Nixon)
Sean Penn (Milk)
Brad Pitt (Button)
Mickey Rourke (The Wrestler)

Best actress:
Anne Hathaway (Rachel Getting Married)
Melissa Leo (Frozen River)
Kate Winslet (The Reader)
Meryl Streep (Doubt)
Angelina Jolie (Changeling)

Best supporting actor:
Robert Downey Jr. (Tropic Thunder)
Philip Seymour Hoffman (Doubt)
Heath Ledger (Dark Knight)
Michael Shannon (Revolutionary Road)
Josh Brolin (Milk)

Best supporting actress:
Amy Adams (Doubt)
Penelope Cruz (Vicky Cristina Barcelona)
Viola Davis (Doubt)
Taraji P. Henson (Button)
Marisa Tomei (The Wrestler)

Best director:
Danny Boyle (Slumdog)
Ron Howard (Frost/Nixon)
Gus Van Sant (Milk)
David Fincher (Button)
Stephen Daldry (The Reader)

Best animated feature:
Bolt
Kung Fu Panda
Wall-E

Complete list of 80th annual Academy Award winners:

Best Picture:
No Country for Old Men

Actor:
Daniel Day-Lewis, There Will Be Blood

Actress:
Marion Cotillard, La Vie en Rose

Supporting Actor:
Javier Bardem, No Country for Old Men

Supporting Actress:
Tilda Swinton, Michael Clayton

Director:
Joel Coen and Ethan Coen, No Country for Old Men

Foreign Film:
The Counterfeiters, Austria

Adapted Screenplay:
Joel Coen & Ethan Coen, No Country for Old Men

Original Screenplay:
Diablo Cody, Juno

Animated Feature Film:
Ratatouille

Art Direction:
Sweeney Todd the Demon Barber of Fleet Street

Cinematography:
There Will Be Blood

Sound Mixing:
The Bourne Ultimatum

Sound Editing:
The Bourne Ultimatum

Original Score:
Atonement, Dario Marianelli

Original Song:
Falling Slowly from Once, Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova

Costume:
Elizabeth: The Golden Age

Documentary Feature:
Taxi to the Dark Side

Documentary (short subject):
Freeheld

Film Editing:
The Bourne Ultimatum

Makeup:
La Vie en Rose

Animated Short Film:
Peter & the Wolf

Live Action Short Film:
Le Mozart des Pickpockets (The Mozart of Pickpockets)

Visual Effects:
The Golden Compass

Complete list of 80th annual Academy Award nominations:

Best Picture:
Atonement
Juno
Michael Clayton
No Country for Old Men
There Will Be Blood

Actor:
George Clooney, Michael Clayton
Daniel Day-Lewis, There Will Be Blood
Johnny Depp, Sweeney Todd the Demon Barber of Fleet Street
Tommy Lee Jones, In the Valley of Elah
Viggo Mortensen, Eastern Promises

Actress:
Cate Blanchett, Elizabeth: The Golden Age
Julie Christie, Away From Her
Marion Cotillard, La Vie en Rose
Laura Linney, The Savages
Ellen Page, Juno

Supporting Actor:
Casey Affleck, The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford
Javier Bardem, No Country for Old Men
Hal Holbrook, Into the Wild
Philip Seymour Hoffman, Charlie Wilson's War
Tom Wilkinson, Michael Clayton

Supporting Actress:
Cate Blanchett, I'm Not There
Ruby Dee, American Gangster
Saoirse Ronan, Atonement
Amy Ryan, Gone Baby Gone
Tilda Swinton, Michael Clayton

Director:
Julian Schnabel, The Diving Bell and the Butterfly
Jason Reitman, Juno
Tony Gilroy, Michael Clayton
Joel Coen and Ethan Coen, No Country for Old Men
Paul Thomas Anderson, There Will Be Blood

Foreign Film:
Beaufort, Israel
The Counterfeiters, Austria
Katyn, Poland
Mongol, Kazakhstan
12, Russia

Adapted Screenplay:
Christopher Hampton, Atonement
Sarah Polley, Away from Her
Ronald Harwood, The Diving Bell and the Butterfly
Joel Coen & Ethan Coen, No Country for Old Men
Paul Thomas Anderson, There Will Be Blood

Original Screenplay:
Diablo Cody, Juno
Nancy Oliver, Lars and the Real Girl
Tony Gilroy, Michael Clayton
Brad Bird, Jan Pinkava and Jim Capobianco, Ratatouille
Tamara Jenkins, The Savages

Animated Feature Film:
Persepolis
Ratatouille
Surf's Up

Art Direction:
American Gangster
Atonement
The Golden Compass
Sweeney Todd the Demon Barber of Fleet Street
There Will Be Blood

Cinematography:
The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford
Atonement
The Diving Bell and the Butterfly
No Country for Old Men
There Will Be Blood

Sound Mixing:
The Bourne Ultimatum
No Country for Old Men
Ratatouille
3:10 to Yuma
Transformers

Sound Editing:
The Bourne Ultimatum
No Country for Old Men
Ratatouille
There Will Be Blood
Transformers

Original Score:
Atonement, Dario Marianelli
The Kite Runner, Alberto Iglesias
Michael Clayton, James Newton Howard
Ratatouille, Michael Giacchino
3:10 to Yuma, Marco Beltrami

Original Song:
Falling Slowly from Once, Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova
Happy Working Song from Enchanted, Alan Menken and Stephen Schwartz
Raise It Up from August Rush
So Close from Enchanted, Alan Menken and Stephen Schwartz
That's How You Know from Enchanted, Alan Menken and Stephen Schwartz

Costume:
Across the Universe
Atonement
Elizabeth: The Golden Age
La Vie en Rose
Sweeney Todd the Demon Barber of Fleet Street

Documentary Feature:
No End in Sight
Operation Homecoming: Writing the Wartime Experience
Sicko
Taxi to the Dark Side
War/Dance

Documentary (short subject):
Freeheld
La Corona (The Crown)
Salim Baba
Sari's Mother

Film Editing:
The Bourne Ultimatum
The Diving Bell and the Butterfly
Into the Wild
No Country for Old Men
There Will Be Blood

Makeup:
La Vie en Rose
Norbit
Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End

Animated Short Film:
I Met the Walrus
Madame Tutli-Putli
Meme Les Pigeons Vont au Paradis (Even Pigeons Go to Heaven)
My Love (Moya Lyubov)
Peter & the Wolf

Live Action Short Film:
At Night
Il Supplente (The Substitute)
Le Mozart des Pickpockets (The Mozart of Pickpockets)
Tanghi Argentini
The Tonto Woman

Visual Effects:
The Golden Compass
Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End
Transformers

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

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.

Shrek 2 ***
Cast (voices): Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy, Cameron Diaz, Julie Andrews, Antonio Banderas, John Cleese, Rupert Everett, Jennifer Saunders
Directors: Andrew Adamson, Kelly Asbury, Conrad Vernon

Newlyweds Shrek (Myers) and Fiona (Diaz) are summoned to meet Fiona's parents (Cleese and Andrews) in the kingdom of Far, Far Away. This causes some unease in Shrek, who worries about what they will think of him and their now-ogre daughter. Compounding the problems is Prince Charming (Everett), who wants Fiona as his wife. Back are the voices from the previous movie, with a few extra stars added to the mix. The most noticeable new addition is Puss in Boots, voiced by Antonio Banderas. He is a Zorro-like assassin sent by Charming's mother to do away with Shrek, but eventually comes over to the good side. And he is just so adorable with his big eyes.

"Shrek 2" is about as good as its predecessor. The writer find a way to continue a story that was really complete in one movie, and it doesn't feel unnecessary. Kids and adults will find humor and enjoyment in the misadventures of Shrek and his gang. This is much better than Disney's "Home on the Range" and a good destination for a family night out.

Here are some very cool and new "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban" movie posters:

Everything Will Change

Character Will Be Tested

Darkness Will Descend

Mysteries Will Unfold

Secrets Will Be Revealed

Godsend **
Cast: Greg Kinnear, Rebecca Romijn-Stamos, Robert De Niro, Cameron Bright
Director: Nick Hamm

When the Duncan's son is killed in a car accident, Paul (Kinnear) and Jessie (Romijn-Stamos) are approached by Dr. Richard Wells (DeNiro). It seems that he has perfected the ability to clone someone by using just a single cell. He is interested in doing that for the Duncans, giving them a second chance with a genetically identical child. After some initial unease, the Duncans agree, and Adam #2 is born nine months later. The first eight years are great, with both Paul and Jessie feeling like they did the right thing to get that second chance. But, when Adam reaches the age the he had originally died at, he begins having night terrors and acting strangely.

At first glance, "Godsend" seems like it will be a movie that looks at the issue of cloning, but in the end, the movie side-steps the issue all together, opting for essentially what is an "outside" explanation. And that is disappointing, to say the least.

Troy **1/2
Cast: Brad Pitt, Eric Bana, Orlando Bloom, Diane Kruger, Sean Bean, Peter O'Toole, Brendan Gleeson, Brian Cox, Julie Christie, Saffron Burrows, Julian Glover, Rose Byrne
Director: Wolfgang Petersen

Homer's "The Illiad" comes to life in this epic reenactment of the fall of Troy. Banished are the Greek gods, who are referred to a lot, but never seen. And that is probably for the best, although that is probably the most noticeable change from the source material.

Hector (Bana) and Paris (Bloom) from Troy are on a peaceful mission to Sparta, when Paris falls for the beautiful Helen (Kruger). Paris takes her back to Troy, enraging her husband Menelaus. Menelaus enlists the help of his brother, King Agamemnon (Cox), and his army to retrieve her. Agamemnon sees this as a opportunity to increase his empire, and is more than willing to help, summoning his prized warrior Achilles (Pitt). Achilles, we find out, will fight for Agamemnon, but only when it suits him.

The battle scenes are grand in detail and the special effects mesh seamlessly with the live actors, and one has come to expect in movies these days. The problem lies more in the characters. With the exception of Hector, the characters seem rather flat and unlikeable. One could argue that Hector is the most noble character in the whole movie, and that is something that really gets him nowhere in the end. All in all, "Troy" is enjoyable, but not as good as it could have been.