The Reviews for 2003 . . .

Gods and Generals . . rating: $4

It's surprising that a three and a half hour film didn't make me feel interested in any of the characters. Much of the dialog between married couples sounds like it was lifted straight from their letters instead of heartfelt conversation. And while the battle scenes do a good job conveying the sheer number of lives lost, it seems the director only filmed one take and the editors had to turn it into multiple advances and retreats. This is part 1 of Ted Turner's Civil War trilogy, part 2 (Gettysburg) was released in 1999.
Fun tip: Keep an eye out for Ted Turner's cameo appearance.

The Matrix Reloaded . . rating: $5

As expected, the fights and special effects are top notch, and some new characters like the twins and the keymaker are pretty interesting. But this sequel lacks the novelty of the first Matrix. We learn a little more about Zion and the Matrix, and lots of simple parallels to computer programming. Never the less, I'll still see the third film this fall.
Also check out: The Wachowski brothers have collected nine anime shorts in The Animatrix providing more background on their fascinating creation.

Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl . . rating: $6

Disney borrowed a few images from their beloved theme park ride and succeeded in creating a decent summertime film. Johnny Depp over-acts just enough, and the skeleton effects are pretty cool. The plot meanders at times and perhaps there are too many characters, but it's no big deal because director Gore Verbinski never takes things too seriously.
Fun tip: Stay to the end of the credits.
Trivia question: Jack Davenport (Captain Norrington) stars in what BBC comedy?

Johnny English . . rating: $3

Peter Sellers and Mike Myers have defined the bumbling detective character, but Rowan Atkinson's effort comes up short. The stunts and toilet humor can't overcome a predictable story, and the few clever bits are dragged out too long. Of course Black Adder fans will probably enjoy this much more than I did.
Fun tip: Rent Rowan Atkinson's stand-up routines or Mr. Bean shorts.

The Order . . rating: $4

A dwindling order of monks keep the Church's deepest secrets and handle all the dirty work like exorcisms and forgiving the unforgiven. Normally I enjoy stories like this with a hint of religious mystery (The Prophecy, Dogma, The Exorcist) but this one lacks the depth to have any real payoff. Beautiful sets and scenery though.
Trivia question: Where was this movie filmed?

Kill Bill, volume 1 . . rating: $8

Quentin Tarantino hasn't lost his touch. Plenty of violence, tons of style, soundtrack choices that are strangely appropriate, and his dark sense of humor running just below the surface. Uma Thurman may not have a lot of dialog but she carries the story with fierce determination. And let's hope the anime scene opens American's eyes to the fantastic work from Japanese studios.
Fun tip: Watch for references to Reservoir Dogs and Pulp Fiction.
Trivia question: What actor plays Bill?

The Lord of the Rings - Return of the King . . rating: $7

The final chapter doesn't disappoint. Great special effects, more of a good story, a mammoth battle at the end - there was plenty here to keep me entertained. I could nitpick about the sluggish climb up Mount Doom, but that was more than offset by the encounter with She-Lob. I smell a 10-hour DVD marathon in my future...
Fun tip: Find Gollum's 2003 MTV Movie Award acceptance speech.

The Ladykillers . . rating: $4

The Coen brothers are up to their usual tricks but not their usual standards. The exposition drags quite a bit, and Tom Hank's character is irritating at best. The pace really picks up in the third act and the film finishes strongly, but it can't make up for the first 60 minutes.
Trivia question: When was the original version released?

Ray . . rating: $8

This movie doesn't miss a trick - start with an interesting subject (the great Ray Charles), do tons of research, write a script with highs and lows, cast the adaptive Jamie Foxx, then edit it down to tell the story while leaving the audience wanting for more. Oh, and don't forget the music. The clincher for me was around the two hour mark when I realized how much of Ray's life story was left untold in this version, and how a 5-hour director's cut DVD would keep me glued to the screen.
Trivia question: How many children did Ray Charles have?

The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe . . rating: $7

I may sound like a broken record, but this is another case of a good movie starting with a good story. The screenplay pretty much stays true to the book, and the director is careful that the special effects support the plot instead of stealing the show. I found the four siblings fit their roles nicely and I spent much of my time totally wrapped up in the film. Be mindful of the PG rating, as my eight year old nephew was a little uncomfortable with the opening sequence.
Trivia question: Who wrote the book?
Editorial: Walking out the theatre, my brother and I discussed the state of animation today. It seems to me that many critics and audiences expect graphics that weren't even possible just 10-15 years ago. But those effects and big-name actors doing the characters voices don't come cheap. And like any business, the studios hesitate to finance a project unless they are confident it will sell lots of tickets. An interesting plot and coherent script are hardly necessary if the PR department can convince you that film XYZ is the latest in animation technology.
The unfortunate side effect is that some great stories will never get the distribution they deserve, as Disney has done with much of Hayao Miyazaki's works. Films like Final Fantasy , Titan A.E. and Metropolis (2002) are only scratching the surface of animation for adults.

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