Wednesday, January 8, 2003
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Wednesday, January 8, 2003 |
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Movies By MICHAEL
BOYLAN Opening Friday Just Married Ashton Kutcher and Brittany Murphy play newlyweds from different social classes in this comedy. As the first comedy released in 2003, here are hopes that it is funny and not too gross and stupid. Rated PG-13. Now Playing Analyze That Billy Crystal and Robert Deniro reunite for a sequel to the successful comedy about a mobster and his psychiatrist. In this film, Deniro gets out of jail and is a consultant on a TV series about the mob. This is getting mixed reviews and might be better for a rental. Rated R. Catch Me If You Can Leonardo DiCaprio and Tom Hanks star in this film based on the true story of Frank Abagnale Jr., a young con-man who posed as a pilot, a doctor and a lawyer. The film was detly directed by Steven Spielberg and had a feel of a film from the 1960s. Hanks and Dicaprio were both excellent, as was Christopher Walken, who played Frank's father. This will probably be on my top five of the year. Rated PG-13. Die Another Day Beautiful women, fascinating gadgets, car chases, double entendres and one-liners. You will find all that in the latest James Bond movie. Pierce Brosnan returns as Bond and Halle Berry stars as the love interest. Rated PG-13. Drumline Filmed in Atlanta, this movie focuses on a hotshot drummer who takes his college marching band and drumline to the championship. This looks like it could be fun. Rated PG-13. Gangs of New York This is definitely an Oscar contender. Daniel Day Lewis stars as Bill the Butcher, a ganglord of early New York City, while Leonardo DiCaprio stars as a young man whose father was killed by the Butcher. This film is exceptionally well directed by Martin Scorcese and is a must see. Rated R. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets Better than the original (and my how the kids have grown), there is more action, humor and heart in this film. Kenneth Branagh is great as Gilderoy Lockhart and the rest of the ensemble play their roles perfectly. Rated PG. Lord of The Rings: The Two Towers This film picks up where the last one left off. Frodo and Sam continue their quest to destroy the ring, while Aragorn, Gimli and Legolas try to find Sam and Frodo, the other hobbits, Merry and Pippin, and destroy Saruman. This was even better than the first one with more action and humor. Why must we wait until next December for the final installment? Rated PG-13. Maid in Manhattan J. Lo stars in this update of the Cinderella story. She plays a maid who dresses in the clothes of a rich woman and falls for a handsome senatorial candidate. Rated PG-13. Pinnochio The Italian box office smash comes to America with English voices dubbed in. The word is that this is a very entertaining family film. Rated G. Star Trek: Nemesis This is possibly the final Next Generation Star Trek film. The plot of this one focuses on a peace treaty being destroyed by a man that is a clone of Picard. Rated PG-13. The Hot Chick Rob Schneider makes amiable films that seem to really bother some people. I'm not one of them. In this film, he plays a teenage girl who has been cursed to appear to others as a 30-something year old man. The previews look hilarious, though the movie is probably only O.K. Rated PG-13. The Santa Clause 2 Tim Allen returns as the new Santa Claus, who finds out that he must get married if he wants to remain Santa. As he goes off looking for love, his Santa clone is preparing to take over the North Pole with toy soldiers. Rated G. The Wild Thornberrys Movie Nickelodeon's animated series hits the big screen. If you like the program, you'll like the movie. If not, don't expect too much. Rated PG. Treasure Planet Disney updates Treasure Island by setting it in space. The story remains virtually the same, though Long John Silver is now a cyborg. This is one for the kids who have already seen Harry Potter 12 times. Rated PG. Two Weeks Notice Sandra Bullock and Hugh Grant in a romantic comedy. This looks very entertaining and Grant has been on fire lately. Rated PG-13 Also Playing 8 Mile Eminem stars in this film as a young rapper aspiring to get out of his poor neighborhood and make it as a rap star. This movie was well directed by Curtis Hanson and Eminem has real magnetism on the screen. It was a good film but not Best Movie of the Year material. Rated R. Barbershop Ice Cube stars in this film about a man who sells his late father's barbershop only to learn what the place meant to the community. He then must find a way to get it back. Rated PG-13. Brown Sugar This is a romantic comedy/drama set in the world of hip hop. The film got a mix of good and mediocre reviews and could be a good date movie. There are a lot of other things I would want to see first though. Rated PG-13. Extreme Ops A group of extreme skiers, snowboarders and other athletes stumble across a terroristic plot while filming a commercial. Now the athletes must thwart the terrorists and escape the mountain with their lives. The action sequences look great but the script is a little corny. Rated PG-13. Ghost Ship Another remake of a William Castle horror movie. This one stars Julianna Marguiles and Gabriel Byrne and has a few good scares. This does move very slow in parts and is not as good as either "Thirteen Ghosts" or "House on Haunted Hill." Rated R. I Spy Owen Wilson and Eddie Murphy team up in this film based on the tv series of thesame name. The studio has to be disappointed that the film didn't do better at the box office, though I'm sure it is entertaining for a dollar. Rated PG-13. Jackass: The Movie I'll admit it. I didn't want to pay full price to see this movie, but I will see it while it is at the dollar theatre. Johnny Knoxville and his band of morons do stupid things to each other and others around the world. Rated R. Jonah: A Veggie Tales Movie The Veggie Tales tell the story of Jonah in this computer animated film. If your kids like Veggie Tales, they will like this movie. Rated G. Solaris George Clooney stars in Steven Sodergergh's remake of a psychological/sci-fi drama. This was not popular with audiences but still looks interesting. It is long though and not heavy on action. Rated PG-13. Spy Kids II: Island of Lost Dreams The kids are back, now working as full time spies. This movie wasn't as magical as the first one but it was still a lot of fun. Great cameos from Steve Buscemi and Bill Paxton really added to the film. Rated PG. Stuart Little 2 Stuart is back with more mouse sized hijinks in this sequel that can't possibly match the original. Nathan Lane reprises his role as the fat, sarcastic, cat. Rated PG. Sweet Home Alabama Filmed around the state, including areas in Fayette County, this film focuses on a girl from the south who has found fame, fortune and love up north. She returns below the Mason-Dixon line to finalize a divorce so she can marry the son of the mayor of New York but finds she still is attracted to her first husband. This stars Reese Witherspoon and Candice Bergen among others. Rated PG-13. The Tuxedo The first Jackie Chan bomb in a long time, maybe ever. In this film he plays a super spy's assistant who must put on a special tuxedo and save his boss. Jennifer Love Hewitt also stars. Rated PG-13.
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