Oscar Nominations 2005

The 77th annual Oscar nominations were announced Tuesday in Beverly Hills, Calif., by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences:

Picture:
The Aviator
Finding Neverland
Million Dollar Baby
Ray
Sideways

Director:
Martin Scorsese, The Aviator
Clint Eastwood, Million Dollar Baby
Taylor Hackford, Ray
Alexander Payne, Sideways
Mike Leigh, Vera Drake

Actor:
Don Cheadle, Hotel Rwanda
Johnny Depp, Finding Neverland
Leonardo DiCaprio, The Aviator
Clint Eastwood, Million Dollar Baby
Jamie Foxx, Ray

Actress:
Annette Bening, Being Julia
Catalina Sandino Moreno, Maria Full of Grace
Imelda Staunton, Vera Drake
Hilary Swank, Million Dollar Baby
Kate Winslet, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind

Supporting actor:
Alan Alda, The Aviator
Jamie Foxx, Collateral
Morgan Freeman, Million Dollar Baby
Thomas Haden Church, Sideways
Clive Owen, Closer

Supporting Actress:
Cate Blanchett, The Aviator
Laura Linney, Kinsey
Virginia Madsen, Sideways
Sophie Okonedo, Hotel Rwanda
Natalie Portman, Closer

Writing (Adapted Screenplay):
Richard Linklater, Julie Delpy and Ethan Hawke, Before Sunset
David Magee, Finding Neverland
Paul Haggis, Million Dollar Baby
Jose Rivera, The Motorcycle Diaries
Alexander Payne and Jim Taylor, Sideways

Writing (Original Screenplay):
John Logan, The Aviator
Charlie Kaufman, Michel Gondry and Pierre Bismuth, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
Brad Bird, The Incredibles
Mike Leigh, Vera Drake

Animated Feature Film:
The Incredibles
Shark Tale
Shrek 2

Hotel Rwanda ****
Cast: Don Cheadle, Sophie Okonedo, Nick Nolte, Joaquin Phoenix
Director: Terry George
Running Length: 1:50
MPAA Classification: PG-13

The country of Rwanda was having some serious problems in 1994. The members of the Tutsi tribe in the country were being killed by the Hutu tribe. In fact, it was more of a massacre (the death toll was around a million), and the world looked on and did nothing.

One man did though. His name was Paul Rusesabagina (Cheadle). Paul was a hotel manager, of all things. He sheltered 1,200 member of the Tutsi tribe in his hotel, despite being a member of the Hutu tribe. His tribal status, along with knowing how to buy off the right people and manipulate hotel registries is what allowed him to do this good deed. His main focus was his family, as his wife was Tutsi, and his kids mixed. But he quickly came to realize that he could make a difference, even if it was small, in this awful conflict. Calling in favors, Rusesabagina was able to get these refugees to safety with the help of the United Nations.

Don Cheadle has been giving solid performances in smaller roles for years now, establishing himself as a great actor. "Hotel Rwanda" is his chance to really break through. And break trough he does. The excellence of this movie is because of him. He brings tru humanity to a man who does not want to be in the position that he is in. His struggle to help more than his family is difficult, and Cheadle conveys the difficulty with the grace of a great actor. He should be nominated for an Oscar, and if he is not, it would be a great shame.

The movie as a whole is disturbing. The lack of assistance from the global community baffles the mind. And the fact that one man could take his "safe" life in his own hands to save as many as he could is inspiring. "Hotel Rwanda" is about the choices we make as individuals and as countries to do what is right. This is an excellent film that should be seen by all. It will not be necessarily enjoyed, but it should be experienced.

The Aviator ***1/2
Cast: Leonardo DiCaprio, Cate Blanchett, John C. Reilly, Kate Beckinsale, Adam Scott, Alec Baldwin, Ian Holm, Alan Alda
Director: Martin Scorsese
Running Length: 2:48
MPAA Classification: PG-13

Martin Scorsese's "The Aviator" is a look at about two decades in the life of millionaire Howard Hughes (DiCaprio). As the movie opens, he is spending tons of money to get his film "Hell's Angels" filmed to his satisfaction. His passion for aviation leads him to acquire TWA, develope a spy plane, and battle with Senator Ralph Owen (Alda) and Pan-Am president Juan Trippe (Baldwin) over international flights. The movie ends with the long awaited flight of the "Spruce Goose". Along the way, he romances Katherine Hepburn (Blanchett), Ava Gardner (Beckinsale), and Faith Domeregue (Kelli Garner). He also battles an obsessive compulsive condition that nearly hobbles him a number of times.

"The Aviator" is an unflinching look at Howard Hughes' life. The highs and the lows are portrayed equally, showing him to be an intelligent and driven man with a debilitating sickness. DiCaprio does an adequate job as Hughes (I find DiCaprio to be overrated). Cate Blanchett is excellent as Hepburn, and supporting roles by Reilly, Baldwin, and Alda hold the film together. I would argue that the biggest drawback to the film is the somewhat abrupt ending. Not knowing anything about Hughes, it left me wondering what happened next.

The 12 Best Movies I Saw in 2004
So, here is a summary of my list. If you disagree, let me know. If you agree, let me know. I will defend my choices passionately! 2004 was a better than average year for movies (in my opinion), and I hope that 2005 will be able to surpass it. Thanks for visiting my site and reading my reviews. Stay tuned for more in 2005.

#1 The Passion of the Christ ****
#2 Spider-Man 2 ****
#3 Sideways ****
#4 House of Sand and Fog **** (from 2003)
#5 21 Grams **** (from 2003)
#6 Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban ***1/2
#7 Secret Window ***1/2
#8 Dawn of the Dead ***1/2
#9 I, Robot ***1/2
#10 The Life Aquatic With Steve Zissou ***1/2
#11 Collateral ***1/2
#12 Friday Night Lights ***1/2

The 12 Best Movies I Saw in 2004
#1 The Passion of the Christ ****
If "Spider-Man 2" was the most enjoyable film of 2004, Mel Gibson's "The Passion of the Christ" was the most powerful. The story of the last days of Jesus is one of the most intense and thought provoking films ever made. Anchored by the intense performances of James Caviezel as Jesus, Maia Morgenstern as Mary, and Monica Bellucci as Mary Magdelen, Mel Gibson's film was the movie to talk about in the first half of the year. I knew when I saw it that it had a good shot at being my #1 movie for the year, and to be fair, nothing really came close. This is also a great movie that everyone should own.

The 12 Best Movies I Saw in 2004
#2 Spider-Man 2 ****
This was, hands down, the most enjoyable movie of 2004. It has something for everyone: action, special effects, romance, character development...and it is very well made. Roger Ebert called it the best super hero movie ever made. I agree. The second installment in the Spider-Man series builds upon what has gone before, advancing the overall storyline. It also gives us a great villian in Doctor Octopus. The effects are amazing, and the battles between the hero and villian on the building, on the train, and at the end are simply awesome. "Spider-Man 2" is a movie that should be in every DVD collection.

Elektra ***
Cast: Jennifer Garner, Goran Visnjic, Kirsten Prout, Will Yn Lee, Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa, Terence Stamp, Natassia Malthe, Bob Sapp, Chris Ackerman
Director: Rob Bowman
Running Length: 1:35
MPAA Classification: PG-13

"Elektra" takes the best part of "Daredevil", namely Jennifer Garner, and spins her off as the titular character. When we last saw Elektra, she was dead. After being raised from the dead and trained by Stick (Stamp), she takes on the job of a paid assassin. And she is good. Eventually, she passes on a job to eliminate Mark Miller (Visnjic) and his daughter, Abby (Prout). The reason for passing on the job: she has gotten to know them and sees a kindred spirit in young Abby. Of course, The Hand (the group that is out to have them killed) just sends more assassins, and Elektra finds herself playing protector for the Millers. Along the way she will get to fight a few bad guys and perhaps even avenge her mother's death.

Jennifer Garner has proven that she can do the action thing with TV's "Alias", so it is no surprise that she holds her own in "Elektra". She carries the movie firmly on her shoulders, and is the best thing about the movie. The biggest fault of the movie is the direction. Rob Bowman has made some good films, the best of which is the "X-Files" movie, but he seems a little out of his element at times with the heavy duty martial arts scenes that appear in "Elektra". He manages a level of stylishness though, but that is not enough to make this movie be all it could be. Fans of Garner and Marvel comics in general should rejoice though. "Elektra" is a good action movie that will satisfy most.

The 12 Best Movies I Saw in 2004
#3 Sideways ****
Paul Giamatti's star is on the rise, and "Sideways" only lifts him up higher. This funny and sad story of men going through depression and a mid-life crisis was so enjoyable to me, mostly due to Giamatti's performance. If he isn't nominated for an Oscar, I will be extremely surprised. The story itself follows two buddies on a road trip in California's wine country. This is one of those movies where everything clicks and the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. Also, of the movies that will probably get nominated for Best Picture, this is my current favorite. Highly recommended.

The 12 Best Movies I Saw in 2004
#4 House of Sand and Fog **** (from 2003)
Despite that fact that nothing good happens in this movie, and everyone in it is worse off by the time it is over, this is one heck of a movie. Do not go into this one looking for cheer though. Ben Kingsley gives one of the best performances that I have ever seen on film, as an Iranian trying to make the most of life in America. Shohreh Aghdashloo also (now of "24" fame) gave a performance that received an Oscar nomination as well. This is powerful stuff and not for people who like happy endings.

Spanglish **1/2
Cast: Adam Sandler, Téa Leoni, Paz Vega, Cloris Leachman, Sarah Steele, Shelbie Bruce, Ian Hyland
Director: James L. Brooks
Running Length: 2:08
MPAA Classification: PG-13

"Spanglish" is told through the eyes of Christine (Bruce), a Mexican girl who comes to America with her mother Flor (Vega). Flor resists Americanization as much as she can, but when taking a job as a housekeeper for the Claskys, she realizes that that is easier said than done. The Claskys are a well to do family headed by renowned chef John (Sandler). He is the "good" parent and a all around nice guy. His wife, Deborah (Leoni) is out of work not a very pleasant person. Her relationships with her husband and daughter are strained. Flor's insertion into the family mix causes changes in everyone, mostly for the better. Soon, Flor and her daughter are moving into a summer home with the Claskys, and cultures begin to seriously clash.

"Spanglish" does not really have a plot so much as it examines a period of the characters' lives. Since it is told through Christine's eyes, there is not as much resolution as many may like. Instead, the story is strong on character, developing the three primary characters fully.

Adam Sandler gives another solid dramatic performance (his first was the offbeat "Punch Drunk Love"). He is the nice guy, and is easy to like. You feel for the guy as he has his ups and downs, and genuinely want him to succees. Téa Leoni brings believability to the bitchy wife. Self centered and oblivious to other's feelings, Deborah is a character that you do not want to like. Cloris Leachman brings some comic relief as Deborah's mother. Finally Paz Vega does a solid job as the woman caught between cultures, struggling to do what is right for herself and her daughter.

Despite the good performances, "Spanglish" felt like a bit of a misfire to me. I wanted more than I got out of it. Perhaps it was the unlikeability of some characters or the lack of a real plot, I do not know. In the days since I saw the movie, I have softened my review some, but I still can only recommend this on DVD.

The 12 Best Movies I Saw in 2004
#5 21 Grams **** (from 2003)
Sean Penn, Naomi Watts, and Benicio Del Toro star in this excellent movie about lives that intersect because of tragedy. Top notch performances all around, combined with non-linear storytelling make this a compelling movie. Sean Penn gave a far superior performance here than in the more publicized "Mystic River". Be warned though...this is not really a "feel good" movie.

The 12 Best Movies I Saw in 2004
#6 Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban ***1/2
Here is a series that gets better and better with each installment. "Azkaban" features a new director and a darker tone. The combination, along with the return of the actors from the previous films makes this the best Harry Potter movie yet. Now, if only they can keep the cast together for all seven movies, they will be in good shape. And only ten months to go until "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire".

The 12 Best Movies I Saw in 2004
#7 Secret Window ***1/2
There has not been a Stephen King movie this good since "The Green Mile". Much of that is due to Johnny Depp's performance as sanity-strained author Mort Rainey. He brings his trademark quirkiness to the role, and makes the movie fun. Another plus to this movie is a reworked ending that improves upon the original story, and gives it a little extra punch. It also manages to achieve a level of horror while maintaing a PG-13 rating.

The 12 Best Movies I Saw in 2004
#8 Dawn of the Dead ***1/2
This is, hands down, the biggest surprise on my list. I would have never thought that this movie would make it anywhere near the "best of" list, but boy was I wrong. This remake was excellent in so many ways, and provided the horror, humor, drama, and real characters to make a solid movie. Sure, it is gruesome at times, but I urge you to give this movie a shot. I do not think you will be disappointed.

White Noise *1/2
Cast: Michael Keaton, Chandra West, Deborah Kara Unger, Ian McNeice
Director: Geoffrey Sax
Running Length: 1:38
MPAA Classification: PG-13

When Anna Rivers (West) says goodbye to her husband one day, Jonathan (Keaton) does not realize that it will be the last time he sees her alive. Her mysterious death leaves him shrouded in mourning. Enter Raymond Price (McNeice) and a client of his, Sarah Tate (Unger). They are able to convince Rivers that his dead wife is talking to Price via EVP, or Electronic Voice Phenomenon. EVP is when the dead talk to the living through prerecorded static.

Once a believer, he throws himself into getting as much of it as he can, buying a lot of equipment to help him communicate with Anna. The only problem is that it might not be Anna who is communicating with him, but something more sinister.

"White Noise" takes an interesting idea and mangles it to death. The movie would suggest that it is quite easy to communicate with the dead. After all, Jonathan has tremendous success almost right off the bat. Also, the idea of talking with the dead is overshadowed by evil spirits that apparently just like to kill people. I am probably playing spoiler with some plot points here, but I am not too bothered. There are some interesting ideas presented in "White Noise" besides EVP, among which is obsession, but they are glossed over for the cheap scares that are easy to see coming. Michael Keaton has not had a notable movie in years, and "White Noise" will not change that.

The 12 Best Movies I Saw in 2004
#9 I, Robot ***1/2
This is one of the surprises on my list. When I saw the previews for "I, Robot" I was struck by unlike the book it seemed. The worry that produced was unnecessary. Even though it is significantly different from the source material ("inspired" is a good way to describe it), the movie is an excellent melding of science fiction, drama, mystery, action, and even a little humor. Oh yeah, and it is interesting as well. Who would have thought that a big summer movie could be this good?

The 12 Best Movies I Saw in 2004
#10 The Life Aquatic With Steve Zissou ***1/2
Bill Murry has given another fine performance as the Jacques Cousteau-esque Steve Zissou. He is the glue in the latest movie from quirky director Wes Anderson that holds everything together. This is an offbeat adventure that ranges from subtle to over-the-top at times, but is always enjoyable.

The 12 Best Movies I Saw in 2004
#11 Collateral ***1/2
What is better than Tom Cruise as a bad guy? JAmie Foxx giving the first of his two great performances in 2004 (the other being in "Ray"). This is probably the best onscreen duo of the year, with Cruise as the bad guy-assassin, and Foxx as the timid cab driver who is forced to drive the assassin all over town to complete his mission. Cruise is excellent as the bad guy, Foxx is excellent as the good guy, and the movie as a whole provides both excellent character development and action.

The 12 Best Movies I Saw in 2004
#12 Friday Night Lights ***1/2
Maybe it is the former high school football player in me, but this is one of the best sports movies that I have ever seen. I found it to be very realistic, from the players and the games to the town's reaction to the teams success or lack thereof. Granted, I have never played Texas high school football, but this movie embodies everything that I have ever heard about the sport in that state. And while the team does not win the championship, it really is about the journey and not the destination. This is a great sports movie.

The 12 Best Movies I Saw in 2004
Over the next two weeks or so, I plan to (hopefully) dole out my list of the 12 best movies I saw during 2004. That is not to say the 12 best movies of 2004, but the 12 best I saw in 2004. For example, this does not include movies like The Aviator, Spanglish, Kinsey, and Million Dollor Baby, which came out in 2004, but I have not seen yet due to their late releases in 2004. Likewise, the list includes two movies that were actually released in 2003, but I saw in 2004. That is also why there are 12 movies on my list. I am somewhat surprised by some of the movies on the list, and not so surprised by others. Feel free to let me know what you think, if you agree or disagree. If it takes longer than two weeks, bear with me, the entire list will eventually get out. It just depends on how ambitious I feel.

Meet The Fockers ***
Cast: Robert De Niro, Ben Stiller, Dustin Hoffman, Barbra Streisand, Blythe Danner, Teri Polo
Director: Jay Roach
Running Length: 1:55
MPAA Classification: PG-13

Poor Gaylord Focker (Stiller).You would think that after meeting his fiancee's parents, Jack (DeNiro) and Dina Byrnes (Danner), and barely surviving, he would be in the clear. Wrong. Now, the Byrnses are coming to meet father and mother Focker, Bernie (Hoffman) and Roz (Streisand). To call the excentric might be an understatement, and Jack is his usual uptight self. And, of course, that means that Greg's life is about to become hellish once again.

"Meet The Fockers" is the sequel to the popular "Meet The Parents" that was released a few years ago. Following the same formula, "Fockers" puts Greg in one uncomfortable situation after another as the parents meet. All the principals from the first film are back, along with Hoffman and Streisand as the Fockers. Both do a good job as the quirky parents that must have made poor Greg's life interesting as a child. Hoffman is the standout in this movie, I think. He is probably the most likeable of all the parents, and is genuinely funny almost every time he is on screen.

If you liked "Meet The Parents", you will like "Meet The Fockers". Simple as that. If you didn't, then stay away. This is more of the same, and for the most part it works. When it is funny, it can be extremely funny. Hopefully, now that Greg has survived this second meeting, his life will less stressful. He deserves it!

The Life Aquatic With Steve Zissou ***1/2
Cast: Bill Murray, Owen Wilson, Cate Blanchett, Anjelica Huston, Willem Dafoe, Jeff Goldblum, Michael Gambon, Noah Taylor
Director: Wes Anderson
Running Length: 1:58
MPAA Classification: R

"The Life Aquatic" tells the story of Steve Zissou (Murray), an oceanographer in the vein on Jacques Cousteau. Zissou is in the waning days of his career, with his films losing their popularity. After his long-time friend is killed on a dive by a "Jaguar Shark", Zissou plans his biggest hunt yet: to hunt out and kill the jaguar shark. Why? Revenge.

Joining him and his crew on the adverture are a reporter (Blanchett), and a man who claims to be his long lost son (Wilson). Both these people will make the ride a bumpy one, but Team Zissou is up to the challenge.

A Wes Anderson film is always enjoyable. He plans every detail of what you see, and has a camera style that is not used enough in movies today. You always get the big picture, and there is so much to see and take in. So much so, that you will notice new things in repeated viewings that you never noticed before. I thouroughly enjoy his style, and he seems to get better and better with each film.

Bill Murray has found the perfect roles in the last few years, and is making a name for himself as a solid actor. "The Life Aquatic" is no exception. He heads the ensemble cast, and is the emotional center of the film. All the supporting players are good in their roles and add greatly to the film.

In the end, "The Life Aquatic" is probably not for everyone. There is more to it than there might initially seem, but it might make you think a little. A lot of audiences do not like that, but I for one found it refreshing.

Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events ***
Cast: Jim Carrey, Meryl Streep, Jude Law, Emily Browning, Liam Aiken, Kara & Shelby Hoffman, Billy Connolly, Timothy Spall, Catherine O'Hara
Director: Brad Silberling
Running Length: 1:50
MPAA Classification: PG

Yet another popular children's book series has now been made into a movie. The subject of the first movie in this series are the first three "Lemony Snicket" novels. The movie opens with the Baudelaire children, Violet (Browning), Klaus (Aiken), and Sunny (Hoffman twins), finding out that their parents were killed in a fire that also destroyed their house. Now, they are being sent to live with their nearest relative, Count Olaf (Carrey). Unfortunately for them, all Olaf wants is The Baudelaire fortune, and he makes the children's lives a living hell as he works out a scheme to get the money.

Jim Carrey plays Count Olaf with a maniacal glee. His goofyness extends far beyond that of the source material, but that suits Jim Carrey just fine. The child actors are all excellent in their respective roles, and are about what I imagined when reading the books. The adaptation is a bit jumbled for the movie's sake, but works fairly well. There are also "additions" to the movie that are not in the first three books, and one has to wonder if they were let in on some future secrets of the novel series or if the director was just filling in the story points with items of his own choosing.

"Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events" is an entertaining family movie that can be enjoyed by all. It is not a great movie, but it shows potential that could be realized in future installments. Let's just hope that they make more movies before the kids grow up!

Finding Neverland ***
Cast: Johnny Depp, Kate Winslet, Julie Christie, Nick Roud, Radha Mitchell, Joe Prospero, Freddie Highmore, Dustin Hoffman, Luke Spill, Kelly Macdonald
Director: Marc Foster
Running Length: 1:41
MPAA Classification: PG

"Finding Neverland" is the story of playwright J.M. Barrie (Depp) attempting to find his muse and create a successful play after a bomb. He finds that muse in the Davies boys, Peter (highmore), George (Roud), Jack (Prospero), and Michael (Spill), one day in the park when he comes across them and their mother, Sylvia (Winslet) enjoying the day. They quickly form a close friendship mush to the dismay of Barrie's wife and Sylvia's mother. While playing make-believe with the kids, ideas start to form in his mind for the story that he will be best known for, "Peter Pan".

This fictional biography is a very entertaining movie to watch. The director has chosen to incorporate the imagination of the characters into the movie, and as viewers we see the world change back and forth between England and Neverland. This is used just the right amount, and never becomes distracting.

Depp is his usual excellent self, portraying Barrie as a slightly quirky individual who makes a connection with the Davies family. The children do decent jobs as the source of his inspiration as well. The greatest treat for fans of "Peter Pan" will be in how story points take shape, and what outside factors influence the story in progress. "Finding Neverland" is well worth checking out, although it may be difficult to find as it is currently in limited release.

Ocean's Twelve ***
Cast: George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Julia Roberts, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Casey Affleck, Scott Caan, Don Cheadle, Matt Damon, Andy Garcia, Elliott Gould, Carl Reiner, Shaobo Qin, Eddie Jemison, Bernie Mac, Vincent Cassel
Director: Steven Soderbergh
Running Length: 2:10
MPAA Classification: PG-13

The Eleven are back with a few extras in Steven Soderbergh's s "Ocean's Twelve". The Eleven from the first film find themselves tracked down by a very irate Terry Benedict (Garcia). He wants his money back ($160 million to be exact), and if that means the Eleven have to come out of "retirement" to do it, then so be it. They have two weeks before he enacts his revenge. That is enough to get the gang back together to plan a couple of heists to return Benedict's money to him. As the capers progress, they find that another thief, by the name of the Night Fox, is out to prove that he is better than them. Of course, this throws a wrench into their plans, and they must make a deal with him if they want any hope of getting the money they so desperately need. Also on their trail is Europol agent Isabel Lahiri (Zeta-Jones), who has a history with Rusty (Pitt) that may prove his downfall.

"Ocean's Twelve" is almost everything its predacessor was. Plot is secondary to the interaction of all the big names who seem to be having the time of their lives making this fun film. And it is a fun film to watch. Pitt, Zeta-Jones, Clooney, Damon, and Roberts are the "stars" of the film, hogging the majority of the screen time. Also, there are some surprise cameos that work very well. Some of the best jokes come at Julia Roberts' expense, and she is a trooper for going along with a story point that some viewers might not truly appreciate. I think it works.

All in all, "Ocean's Twelve" is an enjoyable film that falls just short of its predacessor. It is an entertaining heist movie that works really well. And of course, the end gives them the opportunity to have thirteen the next time around.

2004 Golden Globe Awards nominees

MOVIES:
Picture, Drama: The Aviator, Closer, Finding Neverland, Hotel Rwanda, Kinsey, Million Dollar Baby.

Actress, Drama: Scarlett Johansson, A Love Song for Bobby Long ; Nicole Kidman, Birth, Imelda Staunton, Vera Drake ; Hilary Swank, Million Dollar Baby ; Uma Thurman, Kill Bill: Vol. 2.

Actor, Drama: Javier Bardem, The Sea Inside ; Don Cheadle, Hotel Rwanda ; Johnny Depp, Finding Neverland ; Leonardo DiCaprio, The Aviator ; Liam Neeson, Kinsey.

Picture, Musical or Comedy:Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind,The Incredibles,Andrew Lloyd Webber's The Phantom of the Opera,Ray,Sideways.

Actress, Musical or Comedy: Annette Bening, Being Julia ; Ashley Judd, De-Lovely ; Emmy Rossum, Andrew Lloyd Webber's The Phantom of the Opera, Kate Winslet, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Renee Zellweger, Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason.

Actor, Musical or Comedy: Jim Carrey, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind ; Jamie Foxx, Ray ; Paul Giamatti, Sideways ; Kevin Kline, De-Lovely ; Kevin Spacey, Beyond the Sea.

Foreign Language:The Chorus, France; House of Flying Daggers, China; The Motorcycle Diaries, Brazil; The Sea Inside, Spain; A Very Long Engagement, France.

Supporting Actress: Cate Blanchett, The Aviator ; Laura Linney, Kinsey ; Virginia Madsen, Sideways ; Natalie Portman, Closer ; Meryl Streep, The Manchurian Candidate.

Supporting Actor: David Carradine, Kill Bill: Vol. 2 ; Thomas Haden Church, Sideways ; Jamie Foxx, Collateral ; Morgan Freeman, Million Dollar Baby ; Clive Owen, Closer.

Director: Clint Eastwood, Million Dollar Baby ; Marc Forster, Finding Neverland ; Mike Nichols, Closer ; Alexander Payne, Sideways ; Martin Scorsese, The Aviator.

Screenplay: Charlie Kaufman, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind ; John Logan, The Aviator ; David Magee, Finding Neverland ; Patrick Marber, Closer ; Alexander Payne and Jim Taylor, Sideways.

Original Score: Clint Eastwood, Million Dollar Baby ; Jan A.P. Kaczmarek, Finding Neverland ; Rolfe Kent, Sideways ; Howard Shore, The Aviator ; Hans Zimmer, Spanglish.

Original Song:Accidentally in Love from Shrek 2 ; Believe from The Polar Express ; Learn to be Lonely from Andrew Lloyd Webber's The Phantom of the Opera ; Million Voices from Hotel Rwanda ; Old Habits Die Hard from Alfie.

Blade: Trinity ***
Cast: Wesley Snipes, Kris Kristofferson, Ryan Reynolds, Jessica Biel, Parker Posey, Cascy Beddow, Natasha Lyonne, Dominic Purcell, Callum Keith Rennie
Director: David S. Goyer
Running Length: 1:45
MPAA Classification: R

Those pesky vanpires are at it again in "Blade: Trinity". This time they are trying to frame Blade (Snipes) for the murder of a human, as well as trying to resurrect an ancient enemy named Drake (Purcell). The two schemes are related, and Blade soon finds himself alone and on the run until he meets up with Whistler's daughter Abigail (Biel) and a former vampire named Hannibal (Reynolds). Together, they will try to stop the vampires once and for all. But, their plan could also spell the end for Blade because of his mixed heritage.

"Blade: Trinity", while entertaining, is certainly a step down after Guillermo Del Toro's "Blade II". That movie was stylish and well made. "Trinity" is filled with the choppy editing and loud music that has become popular in movies as of late. And while Del Toro had established himself as a good director, Goyer is in the director's seat for the first time - and it shows. Jessica Biel is good as the tough chick who enjoys hunting vampires, and Ryan Reynolds adds humor to the movie with almost everything he says and does. Wesley Snipes slips easily back into the role of Blade, the vampire hunting bad-ass. While not as good as "II", "Trinity" will appeal to fans of the series, or anyone who likes action movies. It's not Shakespeare, but it doesn't try to be.

Ray ***
Cast: Jaime Foxx, Kerry Washington, Regina King, Clifton Powell, Harry J. Lennis, Bokeem Woodbine, Aunjanue Ellis, Sharon Warren, C.J. Sanders, Curtis Armstrong, Richard Schiff, Larenz Tate
Director: Taylor Hackford
Running Length: 2:32
MPAA Classification: PG-13

"Ray" is the story of Ray Charles from when, at the age of 21, he left home for Seattle to play in a lounge club to the time he gives up drugs for good about two decades later. He starts out small, but clearly gifted. People try to take advantage of his blindness, but he always finds a way around this, including demanding to be paid in singles. As his star begins to rise, he finds love, drugs, and a mistress. He even gets banned from playing in Georgia. I knew very little about Ray Charles, and I found the details of his life (although tweaked for the movie) to be fascinating.

Jamie Foxx disappears into the character of Ray Charles. He looks, sounds, and moves like Ray to the point where he is almost indistinguishable from the real deal. This is his second solid performance of the year (see also "Collateral"), and he is almost certainly guaranteed a Best Actor nomination. His performance is what makes this movie worth seeing. It is far superior to the movie itself, which is lacking and feels somewhat incomplete and choppy, not to mention long. That's not to say "Ray" is a bad movie - it isn't. It is just not as good as it could be, and given Foxx's performance, that is a shame.

Sideways ****
Cast: Paul Giamatti, Thomas Hayden Church, Virginia Madsen, Sandra Oh
Director: Alexander Payne .
Running Length: 2:03
MPAA Classification: R

A week before Jack's (Church) wedding, his best friend Miles (Giamatti) takes him on a road trip to northern California for a week of wine tasting and fun. While Miles is looking forward to teaching Jack the subtleties of wine tasting, Jack is looking for one last chance to sow his wild oats. If he can help Miles find some action as well, more the better. Enter Maya (Madsen) and Stephanie (Oh). Jack quickly hooks up with Stephanie (not telling her he is engaged), and Miles gravitates toward Maya, who he has met before and has a crush on. The ladies share a love for wine tasting too, and as they hit the vineyards, one cannot help but notice that as Miles describes the wine, he is also describing himself.

Both Jack and Miles are going through a mid-life crisis, just in different ways. The movie really is about Miles, who somewhat poorly masks is alcohol problem under the guise of wine tasting. He is a divorced writer who cannot seem to get his large book published, and feels sorry for himself. Maya is the chance for something better, if only he can get the courage to take a chance again.

"Sideways" is an excellent buddy movie. Both Miles and Jack are likeable and unlikeable at the same time, and the whole time feel real. Paul Giamatti is his usual excellent best as sad sack Miles, and Thomas Hayden Church gives a surprisingly good performance as the randy Jack. Alexander Payne has crafted another funny, touching movie, and is easily one of the best directors around today. I highly recommend this movie.

The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie ***
Cast (voices): Tom Kenny, Alec Baldwin, Rodger Bumpass, Mr. Lawrence, Bill Fagerbakke, Carolyn Lawrence, Scarlett Johansson
Directors: Stephen Hillenburg, Sherm Cohen, Mark Osborne
Running Length: 1:30
MPAA Classification: PG

SpongeBob finally hits the big screen in this highly enjoyable story. When SpongeBob is passed over for a promotion to manager of the Krusty Krab II, things start to go bad for the gang. When King Neptune's crown disappears, and Mr. Krabs is framed all looks dark for Bikini Bottom. Everyone's favorite sponge, SpongeBob SquarePants (Kenny) must embark upon a quest to find King Neptune's crown, save Mr. Krabs, and defeat Plankton's evil plan for world domination. That sounds like a lot of work for a simple sponge, but he is aided by his sidekick, Patrick Star (Fagerbakke).

If you like the television show, you will not be disappointed by this big screen adventure. SpongeBob comes to life with bright, vivid colors and a story that will provide laughs for both children and adults alike. There is a mix of animation and live action sequences, and they work well together and fit the story perfectly. "The SpongeBob SquarePants" is as good as any animated movie currently in theaters, and is well worth checking out.

National Treasure ***
Cast: Nicolas Cage, Diane Kruger, Justin Bartha, Sean Bean, Jon Voight, Harvey Keitel, Christopher Plummer
Director: Jon Turteltaub
Running Length: 2:10
MPAA Classification: PG

"National Treasure" is a blatant rip-off of books by Dan Brown like "Angels and Demons" and the more recognizable "The Da Vinci Code". The only real change instead of the controversial religious themes of the books, "National Treasure" centers around a treasure hunt. Considering that this movie comes from the unholy duo of Jerry Bruckheimer and Walt Disney Pictures, it is no surprise. Bruckheimer has been turning out crap for years, and Disney's glory days are well behind it.

That being said, "National Treasure" is an entertaining (but unbelievealbe) movie. Ben Gates (Cage) believes that the founding fathers have buries a treasure somewhere and have laid out clues to finding it. In fact, his family for generations have believed it. When Gates finally figures out a key clue, he is off to the Arctic in search of the treasure. A double cross by one of his team (Bean) leaves him for dead and the bad guy after the treasure. From then on, it is a race from clue to clue to find the hidden treasure. Along the way, they even steal the Declaration of Independence.

The action is fast paced and engaging, and the clues are woven into real world items. Nicholas Cage does nothing special with Ben Gates, lapsing into standard Nicholas Cage mode. Fortunately for him, that works (as it does in most of his movies). The supporting cast also does a good job, but nothing spectacular. "National Treasure" is an entertaining movie that most will like despite the Bruckheimer connection.

The Polar Express **1/2
Cast: Tom Hanks, Leslie Zemeckis, Eddie Deezen, Nona Gaye, Peter Scolari, Michael Jeter
Director: Robert Zemeckis
Running Length: 1:30
MPAA Classification: G

"The Polar Express" is the story of an unnamed boy who does not believe in Santa anymore. On Christmas Eve night, while lying in bed, hears a train outside his window. When goes outside to see what it is, he finds the Polar Express, which is on its way to the North Pole. So begins his adventure. Along the way, he will meet other children, a mysterious hobo, and have some amazing adventures, before arriving at the North Pole in time to see Santa off on the busiest night of his year.

"The Polar Express" is both impressive and disappointing at the same time. The characters are animated using motion capture performance, mostly done by Tom Hanks. The characters look somewhat real, but are just enough off to look creepy at times (specifically the little girl, the elves, and the waiters). The movements seem a little odd at times, and that is difficult to explain because they are based on real movements. Perhaps it is just the animation. The overall animation is impressive though. The Polar Express and North Pole are fully realized in all their glorious detail.

The songs are unmemorable, but the performances by Tom Hanks are good. He gives life to numerous characters, some of them children, in such a way that you believe that they seem real and true to their age. The story has been modified from the book in order to accomidate a longer running time, and it works to some extent. The movie moves swiftly for the most part.

In the end, "The Polar Express" will probably become a childrens' holiday classic. I would not call it the best Christmas movie ever, but more likely than not, children will find enjoyment in the story of a child who learns to believe again.

Birth ***1/2
Cast: Nicole Kidman, Cameron Bright, Danny Huston, Lauren Bacall, Alison Elliot, Arliss Howard, Anne Heche, Peter Stormare
Director: Jonathan Glazer
Running Length: 1:40
MPAA Classification: R

Ten years after her husband's death, Anna (Kidman) is engaged again, and her life is going well. She has gotten over the husband she has lost and found another man, named Danny (Huston), that she loves. Then, in walks 10-year old Sean (Bright), throwing her world upside down. He claims to be her dead husband. Skeptical at first, Anna blows him off, but before long she realizes that young Sean knows way too much to be making things up. Or does he? Anna's family takes turns trying to get to the bottom of the mystery, and through it all, Anna and Danny's relationship suffers. Just what will Anna do, especially if Sean is who he claims to be?

I really liked this movie. Though not perfect, "Birth" is highly compelling as it explores the possibility of reincarnation. (The dead husband Sean ironically did not believe in it.) Nicole Kidman gives an excellent performance as the woman torn between loves. If there is any doubt that Nicole Kidman can act, all you have to do is view the three minute long close up in which her face goes through a wide range of emotions. Director Jonathan Glazer does an excellent job, filling the film with nuances that give the characters great depth. "Birth" is a very good movie, but one that will not appeal to all. In fact, I think that this is a movie that will be loved or hated. That being said, it is worth taking the chance that you will love it. I highly recommend.

The Incredibles ***
Cast (voices): Craig T. Nelson, Holly Hunter, Samuel L. Jackson, Jason Lee, Wallace Shawn, Spencer Fox, Lou Romano, Sarah Vowell, Elizabeth Peña
Director: Brad Bird
Running Length: 1:55
MPAA Classification: PG

Times change, and superheros begin to have lawsuits filed against them. When the burden is too much for the government to bear, the Incredibles are forced into retirement and into normal life through the "Superhero Relocation Program". But, working as an insurance salesman doesn't hold the same thrill for Mr. Incredible/Bob Parr (Nelson), and he finds himself listening to the police scanner with another former superhero by the name of Frozone (Jackson). That way they can still offer their help to the police. When a mysterious stranger enters his life, Mr. Incredible finds himself presented with an opportunity to regain some of his lost glory. Now, he is working on the sly with his wife (Hunter) unaware of what is going on, but a secret like that cannot be kept forever.

With "The Incredibles", Pixar goes the way of the big studios by making a superhero movie. Despite some similarity to the Fantastic Four, this idea works pretty well. It is fun to see the out of shape Mr. Incredible stuff himself into his costume and fight the bad guys. The cartoon violence ups the rating to PG (a first for a Pixar movie), but there is nothing too over the top here. "The Incredibles" is not as good as "Toy Story" 1 or 2 or "Finding Nemo", but kids and adults alike are sure to enjoy the majic that Pixar brings to the screen.

The Final Cut ***1/2
Cast: Robin Williams, Mira Sorvino, Genevieve Buechner, Stephanie Romanov, Leanne Adachi, James Caviezel, Thom Bishops, Mimi Kuzyk
Director: Omar Naim
Running Length: 1:45
MPAA Classification: PG-13

In the indeterminate future, people can choose to have a chip, called a Zoe implant, embedded in their brain that will record their memories. Upon their death, a cutter will edit those memories down to a two hour movie called a Rememory for loved ones to view. Alan Hackman (Williams) is not only a cutter, but he is one of the best. He can make a low life criminal look like a saint, and there is no job he will not take. He is a sort of Sin Eater, taking all the bad events of a person's life upon himself. He is somewhat antisocial, with a kind of-girlfriend named Della (Sorvino). Their relationship suffers because of his dedication to his job, and while she is not happy, he seems somewhat content.

Hackman is hired to do a Rememory for a wealthy man with a shady past. His widow wants the Rememory to make him look good, and knows that he can do it based on his reputation. Enter Fletcher (Caviezel), a former cutter who now is a leader of a group opposed to Remories. He wants to take the rich man's Zoe implant and use it for his own purposes. Hackman naturally refuses, and so begins a cat and mouse game to see who will end up with the implant.

Finally, interspersed with the story is a memory from Hackman's childhood that may have shaped his career path and the person he is today.

This is an interesting and entertaining movie. Once again, Robin Williams shows that he is excellent in more serious roles. Cabiezel is good as the bad guy, and Sorvino does her best with the small part that she has. This is an intelligent science fiction story that will make you question the nature and truthfulness of your memories. "The Final Cut" is a pleasant surprise that is in very limited release, so search it out and see it.

Saw ***1/2
Cast: Cary Elwes, Leigh Whannell, Danny Glover, Ken Leung, Dina Meyer, Michael Emerson, Monica Potter, Makenzie Vega
Director: James Wan
Running Length: 1:40
MPAA Classification: R

Lawrence (Elwes) and Adam (Whannell) wake up chained to pipes in the world's filthiest bathroom. They have little freedom of movement and cannot even come close to reaching each other. They do not remember how they got there or know each other. Their captor (presumably) has left them two saws, an unloaded gun, a tape recorder, two cigarettes, and a dead body in the middle of the room. They are victims of the Jigsaw Killer, and that same killer is holding Lawrence's wife and daughter hostage. At the same time, an ex-cop (Glover) is hunting down the killer, bent on revenge for the murder of his partner.

"Saw" is an intense, twisted movie. It is reminiscent of "Seven" in both mood and atmosphere, and leaves you with about the same feeling when it is all over. For me, that is good, because I believe "Seven" to be an excellent movie. "Saw", however, is not at that level...but it is close. Director James Wan ratchets up the tension with each passing moment until the final scene. And while the explanation might not hold up as well as the the viewer might like, it was still a hell of a ride. Elwes especially does an excellent job as a man first confused by his situation, then terrified for his family, then resolute in what needs to be done.

"Saw" is a great Halloween movie, and if you are looking for a good scary movie at this time of the year, "Saw" is your best bet. Highly recommended for horror fans.

Surviving Christman **1/2
Cast: Ben Affleck, James Gandolfini, Christina Applegate, Catherine O'Hara, Josh Zuckerman, Bill Macy, Jennifer Morrison
Director: Mike Mitchell
Running Length: 1:32
MPAA Classification: PG-13

Drew (Affleck), after being dumped by his girlfriend, finds himself in the position of being alone for Christmas. Having some money, he returns to his childhood home, and ends up offering the family that lives there, the Valcos, a healthy paycheck to play his "family" for Christmas. Although reluctant at first, they reluctantly agree when the amount of money offered gets to be pretty insane. At first, he rubs them the wrong way at almost every turn, but eventually they settle into a somewhat peaceful coexistence. That is, until Alicia, his "sister", arrives.

Ben Affleck has not had a good movie in a while, and while this is an entertaining movie, it will not be setting him back on the blockbuster path. Affleck plays Drew with, at times, a maniacal glee, forcing the holiday cheer upon the Valcos with reckless abandon. These are the funniest scenes, but are not enough to carry this movie. James Gandolfini is good as Tom, the father that gets his family into this mess and cannot seem to get them out.

Given that this was released before Halloween, one can't help but think that the studio is writing this one off. And while it is not a great movie, it does provide enough laughs for me to give it a very marginal recommendation. If the previews look good to you, you will probably enjoy it.

The Grudge ***
Cast: Sarah Michelle Gellar, Jason Behr, Clea DuVall, William Mapother, KaDee Strickland, Bill Pullman, Grace Zabriskie
Director: Takashi Shimizu
Running Length: 1:36
MPAA Classification: PG-13

Karen (Gellar), an American exchange student in Japan, is asked to fill in for a caretaker that did not show up for work. Arriving at the house, she begins to take care of the lady that lives there only to find that they might not be the only ones in the house. Footsteps can be heard running around upstairs, a cat can be heard meowing, and something does not seem right. It seems that the house may be haunted. A discovery in the attic sends Karen on an investigation to discover the story behind the mysterious goings on.

This movie was creepier than I anticipated when I saw the PG-13 rating. With no blood or gore, director Takashi Shimizu has crafted a eerie movie that will be scary for most. Shimizu should know what he is doing here though, having directed the Japanese version of "The Grudge" right before starting up on this American version. Sarah Michelle Gellar does nothing remarkable in a role that could have been played by anyone. The biggest surprise for me was Bill Pullman, who at first glance seems to have a very minor part. The "ghosts" are also effective, appearing from nowhere and looking suitably creepy (the actors are also holdovers from the Japanese version).

This is not a great horror movie, but it is a solidly good one. If you are looking for a few scares this Halloween, go and check out "The Grudge".

Friday Night Lights ***1/2
Cast: Billy Bob Thornton, Lucas Black, Garrett Hedlund, Derek Luke, Jay Hernandez, Lee Jackson, Lee Thomspson Young, Tim McGraw
Director: Peter Berg
Running Length: 1:57
MPAA Classification: PG-13

"Friday Night Lights" is the true story of the 1988 Odessa-Permian high school football team and their quest for the state championship. They are one of the best teams in West Texas, and Friday nights are for high school football. Everything in town stops so that all can go to the game. Tremendous pressure is put on the kids and the coaches to win. The star of the team is James "Boobie" Miles (Luke), a cocky kid who definately believes all the hype about him until a early season knee injury turns his world on end. Stepping up to fill the void are quarterback Mike Winchell (Black) and running backs Don Billingsley (Hedlund) and Chris Comer (Young). But will they have what it takes to fill that void? Coach Gary Gaines (Thornton) thinks so, and as the season moves on, he finds himself receiving both the love and the hatred of the town depending on whether they are winning or losing.

There is a lot going on in this movie, both on and off the field, and the story flows smoothly back and forth. After all, everything going on off the field is still football related, and plays into the story quite prominently. Running through it all is the immense pressure to win. This is not your typical sports movie, and the final game drives home the point of the whole movie. This is a very good movie, with solid performances all around, expecially by the mostly unknow actors playing the kids. This movie is for anyone who has ever been involved in the phenomenon of high school football. For those people, it will strike a real chord. For everyone else, it will still be an enjoyable, emotional experience that should not be missed.

Wimbledon ***
Cast: Kirsten Dunst, Paul Bettany, Sam Neill, Jon Favreau, Bernard Hill, Eleanor Bron, Austin Nichols
Director: Richard Loncraine
Running Length: 1:38
MPAA Classification: PG-13

Peter Colt (Bettany) is a professional tennis player whose career is winding down. He is ranked #119 in the world, but that is nowhere near the #11 he was ranked in 1996. He has decided to announce he will retire after Wimbledon, in which he is a wild card. While at Wimbledon, he meets Lizzy Bradbury (Dunst), an up and coming tennis star, and a whirlwind romance begins. Of course, she has to hide this from the watchful eye of her father (Neill), who wants her focused on the task at hand. Of course, the romance lifts him up, and soon he is advancing through the tournament. But, Lizzy begins to be distracted, and her game suffers. Will things work out for the couple? What do you think? This a romantic comedy after all.

Bettany and Dunst have good chemistry together, and you do root for things to work out between them. Neill does a credible job as the father who is just looking out for his daughter's interests. The tennis matches are well crafted, employing some really cool point-of-view shots from the ball's perspective as it soars across the net. All in all, this is a really likeable movie, wheather you are looking for romance, comedy, or even a little sports.

Shark Tale **1/2
Cast (voices): Will Smith, Robert De Niro, Renée Zellweger, Jack Black, Angelena Jolie, Martin Scorsese
Directors: Bibo Bergeron, Vicky Jenson, Rob Letterman
Running Length: 1:30
MPAA Classification: PG

Oscar (Smith) the fish leads a normal life. He is just an average guy working at the Whale Wash. One day, he wanders into shark territory and is chased by Frankie. Unfortunately for Frankie, the chase ends in his death, not at Oscar's hands, but by pure accident. Oscar sees as an opportunity to "be someone", and quickly takes the credit. The fish world begins to call him the "Shark Slayer", two female fish begin to show their interest, and the shark godfather (DeNiro) makes it his business to find the murderer of Frankie...his son.

"Shark Tale" is yet another animated movie that will appeal to both children and adults. The difference is, this time it almost seems made for adults first and kids second. The most obvious references are to "The Godfather" and "Goodfellas", two movies that no kids should have seen. Also, advertising placement has run amok in this movie. Every way you turn in the city, there are obvious "fake ads" for real products that is very distracting. Most everything in this movie is overkill, in fact.

The voice talents are credible and the animation is good, although I found Oscar to look kind of creepy with his near human-looking face. "Shark Tale" also is nothing like "Finding Nemo", which is both good and bad. Good, because it is not retreading material that is not too old yet. Bad, because "Finding Nemo" was so much better. "Shark Tale" is a decent movie that will be enjoyed by most, and I did laugh a number of times while viewing it, but my advice is to wait for DVD.

Napoleon Dynamite ***
Cast: Jon Heder, Efren Ramirez, Jon Gries, Aaron Ruell, Tina Majorino, Haylie Duff
Director: Jared Hess
Running Length: 1:26
MPAA Classification: PG-13

Napoleon Dynamite (Heder) is a nerdy, antisocial teenager who lives with his brother Kip (Ruell) and his grandma. That is, until grandma gets hurt and Uncle Rico (Gries) steps up to take care of them. They are a bunch of weirdos...Uncle Rico is living in the past, vidoetaping himself playing football; Kip spends most of his time in internet chat rooms. Napoleon himself is on the bottom rung of the food chain at school. His only friend is Pedro (Ramirez), a student that just moved to town.

There is no real plot to this movie. It is more of a slice of Napoleon's life, jumping right in at the beginning of the movie, and jumping right out at the end. A lot of things happen in the movie, a school dance and a class election chief among them, but it is all just part of his life and not really the focus of the film.

Jon Heder plays Napoleon with a low-key nerdiness. He is both funny and sad at the same time, and Napoleon isn't always the most likeable. That's ok though, because you still want to root for him. "Napoleon Dynamite" is a very interesting and hilarious (at times) movie. If you are looking for something a little different, something a little off-center, this is definately the movie for you.

The Forgotten **1/2
Cast: Julianne Moore, Anthony Edwards, Linus Roache, Gary Sinise, Dominic West, Alfre Woodard, Christopher Kovaleski
Director: Joseph Ruben
Running Length: 1:29
MPAA Classification: PG-13

Telly Paretta (Moore) has been mourning the death of her son for over a year. She has a supportive husband (Edwards) and a capable psychologist (Sinise), and is making progress towards acceptance. Then, suddenly, little things start to happen. Her car is parked in a different space than where she left it. A cup of coffee she is drinking disappears. These events concern her, but it isn't until her son's things start to disappear that she really freaks out. All of a sudden no one seems to remember her son, although the memories are quite clear to her. Teaming up with the father of a girl who was killed in the same accident as her son, Telly sets out to figure out just what is going on. And that is as far as I will go story-wise, because I don't want to give too much away.

Moore does a good job as the grieving mother who is determined to get to the bottom of this mystery. In fact, she gives the stand out performance in this movie. The special effects, when used are very effective, especially the "snatching" effect seen in the previews. The story is interesting, but fails somewhere along the way to really make sense. When everything is revealed, it does not entirely support what has gone before, and the "happy ending" that is tacked onto the end really makes no sense at all...it just serves as a giant "reset button" that seems cheap. The point of the story is nice though, and that gives it some points in my book. All in all, I would recommend waiting for DVD on this one.

Vanity Fair **1/2
Cast: Reese Witherspoon, Romola Garai, James Purefoy, Rhys Ifans, Gabriel Byrne, Jonathan Rhys-Meyers, Bob Hoskins, Eileen Atkins, Jim Broadbent
Director: Mira Nair
Running Length: 2:20
MPAA Classification: PG-13

""Vanity Fair" is the story of Becky Sharp (Witherspoon), a social climber, who attempts to rise from poverty to the British high society. This is done through a marriage to Rawdon Crawley (Purefoy). And once his gambling problem threatens their status in society, Becky quickly seeks to maintain here newfound stature.

Based on the classic novel by William Makepeace Thackeray, "Vanity Fair" is definately not my type of movie. That being said, fans of period pieces and classic novels will probably be satidfied. I found it difficult to get into and even more difficult to care for any of the characters. Finally, at 160 minutes, this movie runs far too long. This is not a movie for everyone, but a small few will find it highly entertaining.

Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow ***
Cast: Jude Law, Gwyneth Paltrow, Angelina Jolie, Giovanni Ribisi, Michael Gambon, Bai Ling, Omid Djalili, Sir Laurence Olivier
Director: Kerry Conran
Running Length: 1:47
MPAA Classification: PG

When giant robots invade Manhattan, Joe "Sky Captain" Sullivan (Law) is called in to save the day. After stopping those robots, he is reunited with Polly Perkins (Paltrow), an old love and reporter. Apparently, the robot attack is tied to the disappearance of prominent scientists. Some research by Polly points to the mysterious Dr. Totenkoph (Laurence Olivier, in a computer-aided performance - he has been dead for a while now). Sky Captain embarks on a quest to find Totenkoph, and Polly will not be left behind.

To some extent "Sky Captain" is an exercise in style over substance. That's not to say that there is no story, it is just that the story serves to give the audience all those glorious visuals. The effects are amazing, and provide the movie with a look that I have never seen before. "Sky Captain" plays like a movie from the early twentieth century made with the effects technology of today. It is an original idea, and it is flawlessly executed. The effects are so great to look at that you do not realize the story is not the greatest. Perhaps it just seems a bit hokey in today's movie age...I am not a huge fan of old movies.

Law and Paltrow do good jobs in the lead roles. Angeline Jolie makes an appearance later in the film, but is by no means one of the leads. The most memorable role is Dex Dearborn, Sky Captain's sidekick played with a bit of quirkiness by Giovanni Ribisi. "Sky Captain" is a good "escape" movie, worth checking out, especially on the big screen.

Cellular ***
Cast: Kim Basinger, Chris Evans, Christian Olsen, William H. Macy, Jason Statham, Adam Taylor Gordon, Rick Hoffman, Richard Burgi, Eddie Driscoll, Jessica Biel
Director: David R. Ellis
Running Length: 1:34
MPAA Classification: PG-13

Like "Phone Booth", "Cellular" was written by Larry Cohen. But, while "Phone Booth" kept the main character trapped in a phone booth for the entire movie, "Cellular" allows the good guy freedom to rove all over the city as long as he has his cell phone with him. Ryan (Evans) receives a phone call on his cellular phone from Jessica (Basinger). She tells him that she has been kidnapped and has managed to get the smashed phone that she has working. She needs his help. She has no idea why she has been kidnapped, bur is worried about her son and husband. When Ryan finally comes to believe her, he sets out to save her and her family.

"Cellular" keeps the tension at a high level throughout its running time, and that is its saving grace. It is not until later, looking back, that you realize that some of what has gone before stretches credibility. And that is ok. Basinger and Evans are very good in the lead roles, and William H. Macy is his usual excellent best in a supporting role as a cop who does not believe Ryan at first. They work well together, and the bond that they form is believeable. The reasons for the kidnapping are also plausible.

"Cellular" is a pleasant find in the doldrums of September cinema. It is 94 minutes well spent, and most people will find something to like in it.

Resident Evil: Apocalypse **1/2
Cast: Milla Jovovich, Sienna Guillory, Oded Fehr, Thomas Kretschmann, Jared Harris, Sandrine Holt, Raz Adoti, Mike Epps
Director: Alexander Witt
Running Length: 1:33
MPAA Classification: R

"Apocalypse" picks up right where this first "Resident Evil" left off. In fact, it backtracks a bit to explain how the ending of the first came about. And then, we are off, as Alice (Jovovich) hooks up with some others (Guillory, Holt, Fehr) trapped in the city. The city has been locked down because the virus from the first movie has gotten out of the Hive. The group is offered assistance in getting out if they can find and rescue the daughter of an Umbrella Corp. employee. Added incentive comes in the form of a nuclear cleansing of the city that is on its way. Along the way, they will deal with zombies, more of the creatures from the first movie, and the Nemesis (a really big, ugly mutant with a creepy smile).

"Apocalypse" falls short of the confined terror of the first film. The underground nature of the original added to the rising tension, while here the players have the run of the city. Plus, to some extent, there is not much new here. The Nemesis is a creepy adversary, but he introduced fairly early on, and his eventual end is no surprise, given the events of the first film. There is also another cliffhanger of sorts at the end to set up another sequel.

Chances are, if you liked the first film, you will like this one as well. If you did not like the first one or avoided it completely, you would be better off looking elsewhere for entertainment. What you think you will get out of this film is exactly what you will get. I liked it, but only enough to recommend on DVD.

Hero ***
Cast: Jet Li, Tony Leung, Maggie Cheung, Zhang Ziyi, Donnie Yen, Chen Daoming
Director: Zhang Yimou
Running Length: 1:36
MPAA Classification: PG-13

"Hero" is the apocryphal story of the uniting of warring kingdoms in Asia into the country of China. Three assassins who have sought to murder the king have themselves been murdered by the Nameless warrior (Li). Now, Nameless is brought before that king (Daoming) to be rewarded for his heroic deeds. While there, he recounts the tales of his battles with these assassins, and then the king offers another perspective on things that turns everything that has gone before on its head.

"Hero" is an interesting movie that will not appeal to everyone. It is in many ways reminicent of "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon", but also very different. Filled with vibrancy and color, every frame of this movie is amazing to look at. It is very easy to get lost in the images presented by director Zhang Yimou. The fight scenes are beautifully choreographed and surreal. Utilizing the "Wire-fu" first seen be American audiences in "Crouching Tiger", the characters leap and spin with no regard for gravity or any laws of physics. The story itself seems straightforward, until the king offers a possible alternative for the way things actually happened. Then, the movie takes a number of twists and turns that are mostly satisfying.

"Hero" is not your typical action movie, and I cannot recommend this movie for everyone. That being said, I think that this movie could be a pleasant surprise for some people looking for something a little different.

Suspect Zero **1/2
Cast: Aaron Eckhart, Ben Kingsley, Carrie-Anne Moss, Harry J. Lennix, Kevin Chamberlin
Director: E. Elias Merhige
Running Length: 0:99
MPAA Classification: R

FBI agent Thomas Mackelway (Eckhart) is called to New Mexico to investigate a murder that left the dead body in a car on the Arizona-New Mexico border. As the investigation begins, Mackelway soon finds himself being taunted by someone via faxes of drawings of the victim. Soon, there is another murder, seemingly at random. But, the second victim is a serial killer, and it turns out that the killer might be one as well. Could there be a serial murderer going around killing serial murderers? Well, that is where the movie falters a bit. There is no real mystery here, and if you have seen the trailer you know that. Ben Kingsley plays Benjamin O'Ryan, an ex-FBI remote viewer who is plagued by horrible images that are compelling him to act. Kingsley does the best he can with what is given him, and the movie is interesting enough, but one cannot help but wonder if this movie would have been better if the killer's identity had been more of a mystery. Of course, then you would have less screen time for Kingsley, and he carries the movie to some extent. Good movie, but not as good as it could have been.

Exorcist: The Beginning ***
Cast: Stellan Skarsgård, Izabella Scorupco, James D'Arcy, Remy Sweeney, Julian Wadham
Director: Renny Harlin
Running Length: 114 min
MPAA Classification: R

The classic movie, "The Exorcist" established a backstory for the older priest, Father Merrin. Now, "Exorcist: The Beginning" looks to provide the full story of Merrin's first exorcism. As the story opens, Merrin (Skarsgård) is a archeologist and has quit the priesthood after World War II. He is tormented by the War and it has caused his faith to falter. Merrin is summoned to Africa by the Catholic Church to investigate the discovery of a church buried in the sand. When it is unearthed, strange things start happening, and Merrin must find his faith to exorcise the demons that threaten to consume himself and the whole excavation team.

This movie does not live up to the original, but there really is no way that it could. Considered a classic by many, "The Exorcist" sets a high bar that the two previous sequels could not surpass. This is better than 3, and I have not seen 2. A lot of the problems with this movie are external to some extent. The original director was fired after he did not give the studio the blood and gore that it wanted, and Renny Harlin came on board to do reshoots and piece together a "scarier" version. Of course, blood and gore are not necessary to make a movie scary, and at times it seems like overkill.

Skarsgård fills the role of Merrin well, and brings to him a haunted quality that is necessary to his character for reasons that become apparent quickly. All in all, this is a good movie that could have been great, but is still highly entertaining and enjoyable for horror fans. I would recommend it, and also recommend looking for it on DVD when it comes out, because the rumor is that both versions will be included on it.

Without a Paddle **
Cast: Matthew Lillard, Seth Green, Dax Shepard, Ethan Suplee, Abraham Benrubi, Burt Reynolds, Bart the Bear
Director: Steven Brill
Running Length: 1:40
MPAA Classification: PG-13

When a childhood friend dies, Jerry (Lillard), Dan (Green), and Tom (Shepard) are reunited at the funeral. While reminiscing about old times, they remember a treasure hunt that they were all going to go on. Discovering maps and plans in their now-dead friend's treehouse, they decide to embark upon a quest for the treasure in the deep woods. These city boys are way out of place and soon find themselves facing a bear, and two rednecks that are up to no good.

After seeing this, it seems that they movie is trying to capture the sweetness/grossness of the "American Pie" movies. The problem is that with a PG-13 rating, the grossness does not reach the hilarity that was in "American Pie", and the sweetness comes off as cheesy. These "serious" scenes just do not work. My recommendation is to wait for DVD. You will get some good laughs out of this movie, bu not enough.

Alien Vs. Predator ***
Cast: Sanaa Lathan, Raoul Bova, Lance Henriksen, Ewan Bremner, Colin Salmon, Tommy Flanagan, Joseph Rye
Director: Paul W.S. Anderson
Running Length: 1:30
MPAA Classification: PG-13

AVP is a movie that has been in the making for a long time. Ever since an alien head showed up in "Predator 2", fans have been craving this match up. Now it is finally here, but do fans get what they have been waiting for? Yes, and no.

The discovery of pyramid in Antarctica prompts Charles Bishop Weyland (Henriksen) to mount an expidition there. When his team enters the pyramid, they set off sensors that seal off the pyramid and set the wall into motion. Quickly they discover alien eggs that begin to open and predators that are looking for some aliens to hunt. It seems that this temple is used every 100 years as a rite of passage for the predators. Now, the humans are caught in the middle and must choose a side if they want to have any hope of getting out alive.

AVP does deliver some good battles between the aliens and the predators, but even the best of them suffer from what is my biggest complaint with this movie. The director and producers have taken two R-rated franchises and joined them up into a PG-13 battle royale. The only possible reason to deliver a PG-13 movie is to get a lot of teenagers into the audience, and it is a shame that this movie is watered down because of it. The mythology of the two creatures is changed a bit for the movie, but that did not bother me. The actors did serviceable jobs, but they are not why you would go see AVP. Better than last year's "Freddy Vs. Jason", AVP is worth checking out for those seeking a good monster match up.

Collateral ***1/2
Cast: Tom Cruise, Jamie Foxx, Jada Pinkett Smith, Mark Ruffalo, Peter Berg, Bruce McGill, Irma P. Hall
Director: Michael Mann
Running Length: 1:55
MPAA Classification: R

It started out like any other night. Cab driver Max (Foxx) picks up Vincent (Cruise) who tells him that he has a few stops to make, and offers him $600 to get him to agree. When a body falls out of the first stop and lands on his cab, Max realizes he is in for more than he bargained for. As it turns out, Vincent is a killer for hire who has arrived in Los Angeles to wipe out five people that are causing some trouble for his employer. Max has just become his personal chauffeur for the evening. Vincent's domineering, confident attitude is enough for the most part to keep Max in line. Gradually dragging Max into the "action" also serves to make Max an accomplice of sorts. Vincent also serves as a mentor of sorts, telling him that he needs to get off his butt and take action in his life. In the end, this could be Vincent's downfall, if Max can get it together and make a stand.

I was pleasantly surprised by "Collateral". While not action-heavy, the action scenes are very effective. The more pervasive interactions between Max and Vincent are gripping at times, as a strange relationship forms between the two. Cruise's Vincent is a bit of a departure for him, but he fills Vincent's shoes convincingly. Foxx as Max is equally effective as his character gradually develops some strength of character.

This is not your typical action movie, but if you like a some thought in your movies, you will not be disappointed. This is a gem in the doldrums of the August box office. Check it out.

The Manchurian Candidate ***1/2
Cast: Denzel Washington, Liev Schreiber, Meryl Streep, Jon Voight , Kimbery Elise, Vera Farmiga, Jeffrey Wright
Director: Jonathan Demme
Running Length: 2:10
MPAA Classification: R

In an election year, a political thriller like "The Manchurian Candidate" packs an extra punch and delivers enough plausible story points to make one wonder if the events in the movie could really occur. In pre-Desert Storm Kuwait, Captain Ben Marco (Washington) and his convoy are attacked and captured. Three days later, they are found alive - supposedly rescued by Raymond Shaw (Shreiber), a member of the convoy. He is awarded a Congressional Medal of Honor, and thirteen years later his is running for vice-president. But Marco is having nightmares about those three days; days that are blurry in his memory. He comes to believe that Shaw may not be the hero that everyone believes he is (himself included), and begins an investigation into matters. When he finds others in the convoy are also suffering from nightmares, his paranoia increases.

I have never seen the original, but this remake, from director Jonathan Demme, delivers a sufficient amount of mystery and intrigue to keep you on the edge of your seat almost until the credits roll. My only complaint is that they attempted to deliver a type of "happy ending" to the film. To some extent, it takes away from what has happened just before it. That is all I can say without giving it away, but if you have seen the movie, you know what I mean. Denzel Washington gives another excellent performance as the tormented Ben Marco. Meryl Streep offers up the right amount of bitchiness and creepiness as Raymond's Hillary Clinton-like mother, Eleanor. This movie was definately better than I anticipated, and I would highly recommend it.

The Village **1/2
Cast: Bryce Dallas Howard, Joaquin Phoenix, Adrien Brody, William Hurt, Sigourney Weaver, Brendan Gleeson, Judy Greer
Director: M. Night Shyamalan
Running Length: 1:48
MPAA Classification: PG-13

M. Night Shyamalan's latest movie takes us to the late-19th century town of Covington. A town surrounded by woods that have creatures prowling in them. It seems that the townspeople have an understanding with these creatures: if the townspeople stay out of their woods, they will stay out of their town. And so, this community has thrived safely for many years. But, there are younger folk in the village that think they can safely pass through the woods into the outer towns if their intentions are pure. They reason that the creatures will see this pureness and let them pass. This is the argument that Lucius (Phoenix) presents to the elders. Of course, the elders forbid it, fearing for not only his safety, but the villagers' as well. When Those We Don't Speak Of enter the village one night, the elders take this as a sign that they must stay out of the woods. Soon it becomes a matter of life or death that the blind girl Ivy (Howard) pass throught the woods on a quest to the towns, and she must muster up her courage to deal with the beings in the woods.

If you have seen the trailer for this movie, and thing you know what the movie is about, you are wrong. There are few scary moments in this movie, but they are very effective. Instead, the movie focuses on the love triangle (of sorts) between Lucious, Ivy, and the town idiot Noah (Brody). Their relationship drives the events of the movie, and all three do an excellent job with their characters. The biggest role of the three, surprisingly, is Ivy's. Bryce Dallas Howard (Ron Howard's daughter), in her first starring role is what makes this movie work. As for the expected Shuamalan twists, there are two. One did not surprise me and one sort of did. There is no revelation here along the lines of "The Sixth Sense", and that is probably what everyone will be waiting for. Despite the good acting, there really is not too much here. It is not a bad film, but it is not great either. Instead, it falls somewhere in the OK range. Unfortunate, but at least it gives Howard a platform to show that she has what it takes to be a great actress.

Here are some cool movie posters for "The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie" coming only to theaters in November 2004. Personally, I can't wait!

Big Action

Big Drama

Big Twists

Big Romance

Big Evil

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