Darkness

Darkness
Starring: Anna Paquin
How can Hollywood accept this script?
NO stars
A teenage girl (Paquin) moves into a remote countryside house with her family, only to discover that their gloomy new home has a horrifying past that threatens to destroy the family making this another non-original horror movie adding more to the worst movies ever made.
The best part of the movie is the opening credits indicating that the movie was a complete waste of energy and time.
The acting was not convincing and nothing was explained. The movie seemed to be bits and pieces of other horror movies put together. The only problem with that is that they forget to introduce the characters and forget to add a plot.
The worst movie of the year is inexcusable and unable to show any type of a horror related plot.

The Worst Movie of the Year
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OSCAR PICKS

IF I PICKED THE WINNERS:

Best supporting Actress:

Cate Blanchett (The Aviator)

Great Job being the legendary Katherine Hepurn

Best Supporting Actor:

Morgan Freemen(Million Dollar Baby)

-A master at acting

Best Actress:

Uma Thurman (Kill Bill Volume 2)

-Would the Oscars please recognized this movie! This is such a good film that always seems to be left out of the race in every award. Thurman plays greatest bride in Hollywood history.

Best Actor:

Jamie Foxx (Ray)

Pure and Simple, no questions asked

Best Director:

Martin Scorsese (The Aviator)

Once again, this was a tough choice. It came down to three: Michael Mann (Collateral), Quentin Terrentino (Kill Bill Volume 2), and Martin Scorsese (The Aviator). Mann definetly deserves breakthrough director, Terrentino is always good, but I had to go with Scorsese because The Aviator has style and heart. Plus Scorsese is way over due.

Best Picture:

Million Dollar Baby

This year was disappointing for movies. It seems that Hollywood is getting worse. But when good films are released, they are really good films. There were some extrodinary movies this year that deserves the recognition they deserve. Million Dollar Baby is the best movie of the year with the best acting you can buy.

One of the Best Movies of the Year
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The Aviator

The Aviator

Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio

Directed by: Martin Scorsese

168 minutes and not an once of fat

**** Stars

The Aviator," directed by Martin Scorsese and written by John Logan, tells the story of aviation pioneer Howard Hughes (Leonardo DiCaprio), the eccentric billionaire industrialist and Hollywood film mogul, famous for romancing some of the world's most beautiful women. The drama recounts the years of his life from the late 1920s through the 1940s, an epoch when Hughes was directing and producing Hollywood movies and test flying innovative aircrafts he designed and created. The film also has one of the most realistic crashes in recent years. It truly captures the trecherous fear of ditching.

DiCaprio gives his best performance of his career in the film. The oscars will come down to him, Depp (Finding Neverland), and Jamie Foxx (Ray). The movie is one of the best movies of the year.

Sandler is captivating
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Spanglish

Spanglish

Starring: Adam Sandler, Téa Leoni, Paz Vega,

Directed by: James L. Brooks

A satisfying experience

*** Stars

James L. Brooks unites with goofball Adam Sandler to create a great film filled with unreachable love, a loveless marriage, and a spanish maid.

A woman named Flor(Vega) and her daughter emigrate from Mexico for a better life in America, where they start working for a family where the patriarch is a newly celebrated chef with an insecure wife. It was a very inspiring movie with great performances from everyone. Especially Adam Sandler as the dad and the chef. He is continuing his success towards an academy award.

A well acted bad movie
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Closer

Closer

Starring: Julia Roberts, Jude Law, Natalie Portman, Clive Owen

Directed by: Mike Nichols

There is more love than hate which is how i felt about the film

** Stars

This is the story of four strangers (Roberts, Law, Portman, Owen), who meet eachother in London and consistently circles back in forth in a circular motion of instant attractions and casual betrayals.

Julia Roberts plays Anna, a photographer who seems attracted to one man named Dan (Jude Law). Dan is an author who becomes attracted to Alice (Natalie Portman), a young stripper whom he meets after she is hit by a car. She eventually bumps into Larry (Clive Owen) a lonely doctor who meets Anna. It is was circle of attraction and yet it seems incredibly square and dull.

The beginning is the worst part of the film. Alice is hit by the car and randomly Dan shows up and she says "Hello stranger". The director completely forgot describe the meaning of the words. It was suppose to signify something and nothing comes out of it.

There is not one bad performance in the movie. Owen definetly deserves a nomination but he definetly could not save this disaster from striking theaters around the globe.

Lindsay Lohan unites with Tina Fey
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Mean Girls

Mean Girls

Starring: Lindsay Lohan, Tina Fey

Written by: Tiny Fey

The title speaks the truth

*** Stars

Stepping aside from Disney pictures, Lindsay Lohan hooks up with former Saturday Night Live star
Tina Fey. Fey, writing the screenplay, found the true fact of high school life and that is it isn't always nice and innocent.

Lohan plays Cady Harren, a innocent 16 year old that moved from Africa into America. She gets homeschooled throughout her life and now makes a big step into a publoc high school. She meets the popular girls in school, AKA "The Plastics". Consisting of them are Regina George (Rachel McAdams), Gretchen Wieners (Lacey Chabert), and Karen Smith (Amanda Seyfried). They are the girls that everyone thinks are hot but inside they hate them all. Regina, being the ring leader, invites Cady to sit with them at lunch and share her experiences with the girls. They soon become friends and stay together until Regina hits on the guy Cady likes. Cady soon realizes that deep down she hates Regina. So Cady does everything possible to ruin Regina's life but still think they are friends so she can get information. This sparks a tension between all the girls in school. Eventually everyone will start to hate eachother.

This is the real version of high school with its "dumb-blonde" like atmosphere and its hatred towards one other. Welcome to reality high school.

Twelve is the new eleven...
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Ocean's Twelve

Ocean's Twelve

Starring: George Clooney, Matt Damon, Andy Garcia, Brad Pitt, Julia Roberts, Catherine Zeta Jones

Directed by: Steven Soderbergh

TWELVE IS THE NEW ELEVEN INDEED

*** Stars

They are back, all eleven of them in this sequel to 2001's box office hit, Oceans Eleven. During the making of Ocean's Twelve, the cast explained deeply that they had so much fun making the film, ultimetely making it a fun movie to watch.

Andy Garcia stars as Terry Benedict, a casino owner in Las Vegas who wants revenge on the heist that the crew pulled 3 years before. Even thought his insurance company payed off the debt, he wants financial satisfaction from the people he hates the most especially Daniel Ocean. Ocean stole his girl, stole his money, and stole the control of his casino's security. So now 3 years later, he gets a tip from an insider that it was Ocean who did for sure. So now all of them are back to return the fortune they stole from him 3 years earlier otherwise Benedict will put them into jail or eventually kill them. They decide to go to Amsterdam and steal a priceless artifact, that should be enough to pay off their debt.

They add a new character in the film which is the reason it is called Ocean's Twelve. Catherine Zeta Jones plays Isabel Lahiri, a detective working on a case that could end up in the hands of Ocean and his crew. Lahiri and Brad Pitt's character Rusty Ryan have a past relationship with one another and somewhat play a cat and mouse game during the film.

Another new character is François Toulour played by Vincent Cassel. He has reason to believe that he is the best thief in the world and wants to challenge Ocean and his crew at a game of stealing. Whoever wins, gets the respect and the money.

There are many twists and turns in the film, making it interesting to watch. Although the first one was better because it was simply the original, that doesn't mean that the new Ocean's Twelve has style, comedy, drama, and everything you need to make the film be a lot of fun to watch.

Tim Allen and Jamie Lee Curtis star in a Christmas disaster
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Christmas with the Kranks

Christmas with the Kranks

Starring: Tim Allen, Jamie Lee Curtis, Dan Akroyd

A ripoff off a Home Improvement Christmas, only Home Improvement was good

** Stars

Tim Allen and Jamie Lee Curtis star as a married couple obsessed with Christmas. But when there daughter joins the peace corps, and won't be coming home for Christmas, they decide to skip Christmas completely. But their neighbors won't let them. In the end they all celebrate at their house with their daughter suprising them at the party.

The movie had some moments but it wasn't enough to save this trainwreck. Especially when you saw Jamie Lee Curtis in a tight bathing suit.

A digital masterpiece
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The Polar Express

The Polar Express

Starring: Tom Hanks

Directed by: Robert Zemeckis

A TRUE Christmas Story

**** Stars

There a Christmas stories and then there are real Christmas stories. The Polar Express is a real Christmas story; one for the ages.

Tom Hanks, voices a train operator who picks up kids on Christmas Eve to bring to the north pole. He brings those who need to understand the true meaning of Christmas and to prove that Santa Clause is real. But the train does not show up at the train station. It shows up at your house. The shots of the train in this movie is a phenomenal achievement.

This is a spectacular adventure through the dark places and into the love and joy of Christmas.

This is one true classic that will never get old, just like all of Hanks's other movies.

Johnny Depp meets Peter Pan
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Finding Neverland

Finding Neverland

Starring Johnny Depp, Kate Winslet

Imagination vs. Reality

***1/2 Stars

Finding Neverland discovers the beginning of Peter Pan. Johnny Depp, getting better every movie he makes, plays as the highly imaginitive Sir James Matthew Barrie, a talented playwrite who meets a young family, with a mother and 4 kids struggling to cope with the death of her husband and their father. The mother, Sylvia Llewelyn Davies, portrayed by the wonderful Kate Winslet is missing something in her life. She wants her kids to be happy but she does not know what to do. They eventually meet James Barrie in the park one day with his dog. They soon bond towards one another and Barrie seems more focused on this family than his own wife, Mary Ansell Barrie (Radha Mitchell). He is inspired to write Peter Pan based on his experiences with the kids and his love towards them.

The question in this movie is simple. Does it really matter what is real and what isn't? Just becuase it isn't real, doesn't mean you can't see your dreams come to life in your imagination. Depp, the shining star of the movie, is picture perfect, as Sir James Matthew Barrie, who wrote ne of the greatest stories of all time.

National Box Office King
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National Treasure

NATIONAL TREASURE

Starring: Nicholas Cage, Sean Bean

Directed by: John Turtletaub

Produced by: Jerry Brockheimer

*** Stars

The Twist of Fate

How does something so valuable thousands and thousands of years ago manage to be found by just a handful of people? Why are the clues on the back of The Declaration of Independence? Only the ones with the clues will know why...

From the producer who brought you Pirates of the Carribean and Bad Boys II, National Treasure is about Benjamin Gates (Cage), a treasure hunter seeking a fortune that long lives through his families generations. After finding out that the clues are on the back of the Declaration of Independence, he must find a way to get it. But when his ex-partner (Bean), wants it too, he must find a way to stop Bean from getting what could be the key to all his problems.

Although the plot can be a little ridiculous at some times, it still was immensely entertaining. Casting Cage and Bean as rival enemies is conviently reasuring to the viewers.

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The Grudge

The Grudge

Starring: Sarah Michelle Ghellar, Bill Pullman

This is by far the worst movie ever made

0 stars

I cannot even begin to describe the dreadfulness of this film. I have never been more disgusted by a film than this in my entire life. I felt even disgusted writing this review. The movie was boring, pointless, completely unscary, and definetly a complete waste of time.

Ghellar stars as a at home nurse and is freaked out by a creature living in one of her patient's homes. All she does throughout the whole film is walk around and get freaked out by a little kid making cat noises and a creature knocking off the ring.

How can hollywood make such vulgar crap? There is no point to this film.

It's really bad
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After the Sunset

After the Sunset

Wow can you say embarrasing?

Starring: Pierce Brosman, Woody Harrelson, Selma Hayek

* Star

This movie is just bad. There is no plot, acting that makes you want to kill yourself, and direction that horrifies the film industry.

Brosman, making a bad mistake of leaving the James Bond franchise, plays a diamond thief retiring undefeated. But when a cruise comes with a one of a kind diamond on his island, he must have it in his possession although he convinces everyone he is out the game. He tries to convince his enemy, an FBI agent played by Woody Harrelson but Harrelson is not convinced.

Althought Salama Hayek (Brosman's girlfriend) is beautiful, it is still not enough to stop this train wreck from crashing, really hard.

Foxx is the King of 2004
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Ray

RAY

Starring: Jamie Foxx

OSCAR BAIT **** stars

Jamie Foxx, a comedian starring in just a few roles in his life shines in his best performance ever. He deserves the oscar with no questions asked.

Ray Charles, one of the greatest pianist ever to have lived is a blind, heroin addicted, wife cheating musician. He goes through stages of life that are bad and good. But when he gets on stage, he becomes a huge success no one could match.

Jamie Foxx, without a question deserves an Academy Award for this movie. But can he handle the competition come oscar time? Some of his opponenets did really good. One oppenont is himself (Collateral).

The Incredibles

The Incredibles

Produced by: Pixar Animation Studio

Starring: Craig T. Nelson, Holly Hunter, Samuel L. Jackson

*** Stars

PIXAR HAS DONE IT AGAIN, BUT IT'S NO FINDING NEMO OR TOY STORY

Pixar Animation Studio is more than a good thing, it is an apocolyptic masterpiece. But even though the film is exremely exciting and really cool, it doesn't compare to the other Disney classics such as Finding Nemo or the Toy Stort series.

Craig T. Nelson is Mr. Incredible, a washed up action hero wanting more out of life than his mediocre job and his family. He takes a job as the old hero but gets in trouble. He now has his whole family trying to save him from the evil super herp "Syndrome".

Pixar has done it again with its top of the line animation, but since the production company did not enlist this movie in the best animated category because they want a best picture nomination, I think this movie will have a hard time winning an award. But that does not mean its a bad movie. Not at all. But it is no where near Finding Nemo or Toy Story.

You Will Laugh Until You Cry...
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Team America: World Police

Team America: World Police

Starring: Trey Parker and Matt Stone

Directed by: Trey Parker

***1/2

Could possibly be the funniest movie ever made...

Parker and Stone, being the offending geniuses of the world, have to be the only people in this entire world that can make a movie so funny by using puupets.

The very beginning of the movie, you meet the members of Team America: World Police, a group of action heroes ready to blow things in anyway they can. Parker actually takes a moment to develop the chraracters, that way it can mean more to you when the main character Gary, an actor who doubts himself when he is asked by the team to go undercover as a terrorist, throws up all over himself for a good 3-4 minutes.

The movie has everything you want in a wild gross out comedy. Everything from a broadway hit called "Aids", to Michael Moore blowing up Mount Rushmore, to the Film Actors Guild (F.A.G) with Alec Baldwin, and most of all, by persuading the leaders of the world to stop the empowerment of the north Korean leader Kim Jong Il by telling them that there are 3 different types of people out there: Dicks, pussies, and assholes. Kim Jong Il is and asshole who just wants to shit all over everyone else. The F.A.G's are the pussies and the Team are the dicks.

A recommendation to any movie is good, but when I tell you to get up right now and go see this movie I mean it.

THE BEST MOVIES OF THE YEAR SO FAR HEADING INTO THE WINTER

The Best movies of the year so far in no particular order (*:reserved on top 10)

Kill Bill Volume 2* , Ladder 49 *, The Bourne Supremacy , The Alamo , The Butterfly Effect , Collateral , Cellular , The Terminal

The Fogotten is a movie that is hard to forget.
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THE FORGOTTEN

THE FORGOTTEN

Starring: Julianne Moore, Dominic West, Anthony Edwards, Gary Sinise

Directed by: Joseph Ruben

AN ENDING MORE SHOCKING THAN THE VILLAGE

*** STARS

I do not want to give away the ending of this movie. I could tell you and you wouldn't believe me. So if I were you, I would go watch this movie for the last hour of it. It was so freaking, it blew my mind.

After coming out of the not-so-good movie Laws of Attraction, Julianne Moore plays a mother who loses her child in a plane crash. 14 months later, she discovers that all of the memories (videos, pictures) of her boy Sean, know longer exsists. Everyone around her thinks she is crazy because her husband (Edwards) and her psychiatrist (Sinise) tell her the truth that there was no child and she was just creating a new character in her life. But Moore knows the truth. She knows that her boy is real. She finds Sean's friend Lauren's father. Lauren also died in the crash as well. But he doesn't know that he has a child. He later remembers and now the two team up to find out the truth of what happen to their children.

The movie takes about 30 minutes to get started into a great thriller. The last hour of this movie really blew me away. Are these two parents suffering from a disease? Or are they the only ones who really think that they are right and there children could still be alive? The movie has a purpose. It tells us that a mother never forgets there child. Even if they are not real.

Dunst and Bettany hitting the court in this new romantic comedy WIMBLEDON
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Wimbledon

WIMBLEDON

Starring: Paul Bettany, Kirsten Dunst

Directed by: Richard Loncraine

A tennis game I actually didn't mine watching

*** STARS

There is a heart warming story here in this romantic comedy. Dunst plays a tennis super star, who is on a hot streak when she bumps into a has-been player who is playing his last tournament in his career. While overcoming the media, the other players, and Dunst dad played by Sam Neil, the two stars managed to adapt to eachother with love and on the court. There was good chemistry between the two leads.

Ladder 49, the greatest movie of its kind ever made.
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Ladder 49

Ladder 49

Starring: Joaquin Phoenix and John Travolta

Directed by: Jay Russell

WHAT A GREAT MOVIE THIS IS

**** STARS

Trapped in a fire that looks likely to kill him, Jack Morrison(Phoenix) takes the opportunity to look back over his life, career and marriage, while he waits for his company, Ladder 49, to rescue him, if they can. Captain Mike Kennedy (Travolta) plays Phoenix's fire chief and mentor who soons becomes his best friend. Jacinda Barrett plays his wife who should soon become a well-known respected actress. What a great film this is.

The opening sequence is extrodinarally incredible because it shows the bravary that these men have in order to fight against their worst enemy of all, fire. This is not your typical action thriller. This is a movie with a purpose, to show the courage of what these men in company Ladder 49 have to save the life a even a single person trapped in a big skyscraper. I found myself cheering for them throughout the entire movie.

Ladder 49 is realistic with its humor, its action, its teary goodbyes, its bonding towards one another, and mostly, its tribute to the men fighting fires every day. This is the best movie of its kind ever made.

Theron as Aileen in her best role of her career.

Monster

Monster

Starring: Charlize Theron, Christina Ricci

Directed by: Patty Jenkins

THERON DESERVED HER OSCAR

***(B)This was one powerful movie to say the least. Theron. in her beset performance of her life, plays Aileen Wuornos. a prostitute who meets a young girl named Selby Wall who is a lesbian. They end up becoming lovers and Wuornos wants to start over with a new life. Instead, she kills six men and ends up on death row.

This is one of the most powerful performances in years and Theron does it with style and although she is the "bad guy" I found myself feeling sorry for hewr throughout the movie which is exactly what director Patty Jenkins wants you to think. Congratulations Charlize, you deserved your oscar.

Cellular

Cellular is one of the best of the year starring Chris Evans, Kim Basinger, Jason Stratham, and William H. Macy
NEW MOVIE OUT THIS WEEK

Cellular
Written by: Casey LaMarca
Starring: Chris Evans, Kim Basinger, Jasson Stratham, William H. Macy
Directed by: David R. Ellis

This movie has it all: Action, Suspense, Drama, and skillful acting,
****(A)An entertaining thriller of this matter came shocking to me. It was a very convincing action thriller that made me think about the cell phone usage today, like the movie Phone Booth. Chris Evans plays Ryan, a irresponsable young man who receives a call from a women named Jessica Martin (Basinger), a biology teacher who is kidnapped by Greer (Stratham), a dirty cop that needs to stop Martin's husband Craig (Richard Burgi) from releasing something that oculd destroy his life.
The movie has it all; It has action, heart throbbing, on the edge of year seat suspense, comedy, acting, and a great soundtrack that went along great with the movie. Finally, a film that was not afraid to take a chance.

Casey LaMarca Movie Reviews

Mr. 3000

Written by: Casey LaMarca

Starring: Bernie Mac

Directed by: Charles Stone III

**1/2

We have recently seen Bernie Mac in supporting roles (Ocean's 11, Bad Santa), but this time he decides to go for the lead, and he gives a comical but also a touching performance. It's too bad the plot is a routine sports flick filled with typical sport cliches. Mac plays Stan Ross who just retired from baseball as soon as achieving his 3,000th base hit. Now, however, after three of those hits during his career with the Milwaukee Brewers have been disqualified, the Hall of Famer returns to the game, playing once again for the Brewers, to play a few more games and get back to the 3,000 mark. Before his retirement and still playing for the Brewers, Ross is a great player but he hates the press and does not care about anything else but him and his 3000th hit. All he wants is the glory to himself so he can become a legend of the game. But after coming back to baseball 9 years later, he discovers that the experience renews his love for the sport, reminding him what it was like to be a true baseball player again, and also to mentor the rookies who play with him so they do not turn up like a out of retirement washout like himself. It takes him a while to realize that the game is not about yourself, but about teamwork and determination. The films comedy and heart ties together and it felt good to watch. Bernie Mac gives one of his best performances but it'd nothing to get yourself rattled about.

Paparazzi-*1/2 Cole Hauser plays an actor who just mad it big until he meets, The Paparazzi out to destroy is his life and all his friends and families. After they hurt him and his family in a car accident, he decides to get bloody satisfaction. The plot is unsatisfying and thank God this movie is only 85 minutes long.

Alien vs. Predator- 0 stars (F): ONE OF THE WORST MOVIES OF THE YEAR is loud annoying, and devastatingly predictable, with stick figure like acting. Sanaa Lathan, the worst person to pick for this role, plays a woman who loves to clime and knows all about geography. She leads a team into the ground to find out that they are in the middle of a war between the aliens and the predators. The real question here is: What's the point?

Collateral-****(A): It started like any other night. That is until Foxx picks up Cruise for a cab fair and before he knows it, he is on the run from this maniac who is hired to kill people for one night. Foxx tries to protect himself and later on finds out that he must protect Jada Pinkett Smith, a women he drove that he liked. But can he stop Cruise before it is too late? Find out for yourself in one of the best movies of the year which is one fair you won't mind paying.

The Manchurian Candidate-***(B): Denzel Washington stars in this psychological suspense thriller about an ex-GI running for Vice-President brainwashed to control the country. Washington, also being brainwashed, tries to figure out who is behind this before it is to late. Washington gave a powerful performance.

The Village-**** M. Night Shyamalan Does it Again
Joaquin Phoenix should just become partners with Shyamalan. Every time they are together, they put on a great show. Bryce Howard, academy award winner Ron Howard's daughter, gives an extraordinary debut as the main role in this movie. Love the ending or hate it, you cannot deny that you thought about its premise all the way home. This is one of the most underrated films of our time.

THE BOURNE SUPREMACY- ***1/2
Matt Damon stars in the sequel of The Bourne Identity, which is one of the best movies of the summer. It returns to the adventures of Jason Borne. After hiding in India, he is now framed for a murder and robbery that took place in Berlin, Germany. He now must find out why he was framed and who set him up. This is a top-notch action thriller.

I ROBOT- *** Will Smith gives a solid performance in this high-octane adventure of science fiction. Del Spooner, a washed up police detective has found a flaw in the new USR robot that could destroy the life of humans. Smith's bold charisma saves the movie from dropping into formula.

ANCHORMAN: THE LEGEND OF RON BURGHANDY- ***

Will Farrell tells you to stay classy San Diego in this hilarious comedy about Ron, who is the most popular news anchors in San Diego. But when Veronica (Christina Applegate) comes along as the first Anchorwomen, things start to heat up. Other than Farrell, more hilarious performances from Steve Carrell, Tim Robbins, Jack Black, Ben Stiller, Luke Wilson, and Vince Vaughn. This is one of the funniest movies of the year.

King Arthur-***
Clive Owen and the BEAUTIFUL Keira Knightly star in this film about King Arthur and his knights who must bring go on one more quest so they can be liberated from Rome. Anthony Fuqua, director of Training Day and Tears of the Sun brings a style to the film, but relies too much on action. With more story and less action, this could have been the historically epic we were yearning for.

Spiderman 2-****

One of The Best Superhero Movie Ever Created
This is twice as better as the original and that is saying a lot. A stylish and powerful action packed romantic drama adventure starring Tobey Maguire who is just getting better and better as Spiderman. He played so well as him that he should deserve some recognition as the great hero who is out to fight yet again and this time against Doctor Octopus "Doc' Oc'" who is trying to take over everything. Kirsten Dunst plays Mary Jane Watson all grown up, acting, living and still loving Peter Parker. It seems she will never stop loving him no matter how he acts. This is a great film.

Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story ***(B) Ben Stiller is hilarious yet again in this one-liner comedy that made my sides hurt throughout the 90 minute feature. A group of guys from a gym must get 50,000 dollars to pay for their gym otherwise they will lose it to Globo Gym who is the best gym in town. Vince Vaughn, Christine Taylor, Ben Stiller, and Milton from Office Space put on one hilarious comedy with sidesplitting laughs. THUMBS UP

The Terminal ***1/2

Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg should become Siamese Twins because I never want them to separate in making movies. They have don Saving Private Ryan, Catch Me if you Can, and finally this movie about a man named Victor Nivorski who is stuck in an airport because he is "unacceptable". He has nowhere to live because of a war going on in his home country. Therefore his passport is invalid so he cannot leave the airport. This movie has the heart more movies lately need.

The Stepford Wives ** With veteran cast of Nicole Kidman, Glenn Close, Matthew Broderick and "The Great" Christopher Walken, this movie has some hilarious one liners that will make you cry. Based on the horror movie made back in the 70's, a more humorous movie is made here about a woman who loses her job and goes to live in Stepford "the perfect society". A risk worth taking, but still falls flat.

The Day After Tomorrow **1/2 Did any one really expect this $125 million dollar disaster movie to be award winning? This movie will satisfy those who want to see the unreal happen (like Independence Day). Ronald Emmerich, who did Independence Day, directs this movie about Global Warming. In 7-10 days the Earth will be at its next Ice Age. Dennis Quaid plays a Climatologist who discovers this activity. His son (Jake Gyllenhal) is in NY for a class trip. When suddenly massive waves and tornadoes rip through the entire United States. The best scene in this entire movie is the tornadoes ripping through Los Angeles. This 10 minute long scene was one of the most eye popping, jaw dropping action sequence I have scene this year.

Shrek 2 ***1/2 Stars
Picking up right where they left off, Shrek and Fiona are one their honeymoon and they come back feeling great...until they are invited to Far Far Away, Fiona’s real home with the king and queen. So her, Shrek, and Donkey go and meet them. When things do not go to plan, Shrek does everything he can to make Fiona happy. The best character in the movie is Puss n' boots (Antonio Bandaras). He is smart, funny, adorable, and adventurous. Of course, Donkey (Eddie Murphy) and Shrek (Mike Myers) both give some effort to this hilarious sequel. Though it does not have the caliber of the first film, Shrek 2 definitely deserves an Oscar nomination for Best Animated Feature.

TROY *** Stars
WOLFGANG PETERSEN'S 200 MILLION DOLLAR EPIC
At 200 million dollars, Troy is the most expensive movie of the year. The artistic battle sequences of thousands of Greeks and Trojans is jaw-dropping The famous story stars Brad Pitt as Achilles who leads the Greeks into battle to rescue Helen (played by Diane Krueger) from her love Paris (played by Orlando Bloom). Eric Bana, coming off a low point in his career (The Hulk), gives the movies greatest performance as Hector, Paris's older brother who should eventually come the King of Troy. As for the special effects, Petersen's view of the battle scenes are quite valiant and it indeed does capture the true horror of watching 50,000 men running at you with full force with a sword aimed at your head. But the scene between Achilles and Hector shows the true emotion of war. Those who have read the Iliad will disagree with accuracy towards the book. But it does keep you on the edge of your seat during the 163-minute feature (THUMBS UP)

VAN HELSING ENDS UP WITH A MEDIOCRE FINISH *1/2 X-Men star Hugh Jackman stars as Dr. Van Helsing who is trained to kill all evil creatures. Kate Beckinsale stars as the girl who wants to kill Dracula. All I can say about this movie is that it will never be remembered as a brilliant movie, but as a movie that will leave you with a frown on your face. It will be forgotten if the Box Office doesn't help them out. (THUMBS DOWN)

Godsend- 1/2 stars (D-)-This movie does not even deserve a review. Although the first 20 minutes of the movie had a chance to excel, it started to lack everything about a psychological thriller. Robert De Niro, Greg Kinnear, and Rebecca Romijn Stamos have made the worse career moves of their lives. A young boy is killed, and the parents (Kinnear, Stamos) deiced to clone them from a doctor (De Niro). There is no emotion or terror in this terrible film directed by Nick Hamm. (THUMBS DOWN)

The Punisher- *** Stars

Starring: Thomas Jane, John Travolta

Directed by: Jonathan Hensleigh

FBI undercover agent, Frank Castle (Thomas Jane) is a former Special Forces member who is finally moving into a safe desk job, to the delight of his wife and son. But when his family is executed after witnessing a mafia hit, Castle dons a black battle suit, arms himself with a ton of guns, and seeks swift revenge. Yes, it is another revenge movie, but Hensleigh adds more emotion then most revenge films in recent years. Jane and Travolta both give surprisingly solid performances.

KILL BILL VOLUME 2- ****(A) Uma Thurman, David Carradine, and Quentin Tarantino are glorious beyond what this world can afford. The Bride is back for revenge and she is kicking ass like you have never seen her before. She takes on Daryl Hannah as Elle Driver, Michael Madsen as Budd, and Carradine as the ever-betraying Bill. This is the most fun I've had at the movies in years.

The Alamo- ***1/2 Billy Bob Thornton deserves an Oscar Nod for his acting skills as Davy Crockett in this film about the fall of the Alamo in 1837. This is one of the best movies of the year so far.

Walking Tall-*1/2 After coming out of his first successful movie, THE RUNDOWN, The Rock (Dwayne Johnson) is back in a new action drama about Chris Vaughn (AKA Buford Pusser) who is back from war and ready to start over a life he once had. But when a casino starts to cause trouble with drugs and leaving him for dead because of a riot he was in that night, he runs for sheriff and wants to make things right. I did not like The Rock as a wrestler or even that much as The Scorpion King. I thought he was superb in The Rundown. I am very excited to see him as an actor, but still there is no reason for this kind of inepitude.

Hellboy-2/4-
The Ladykillers-3/4
Dawn of the Dead-3/4
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind-3.5/4-

Secret Window-3/4-
Hidalgo-2/4-.
Starsky and Hutch-3/4
The Passion of the Christ-3.5/4
Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights-0/4
Eurotrip-3/4-
Cold Mountain-3/4-

Welcome to Mooseport-2/4

Jersey Girl-3/4-

50 First Dates-3/4-

Miracle-3/4-
Lost in Translation-4/4
Big Fish-3.5/4
The Butterfly Effect-2.5/4-

Along Came Polly-2.5/4- .

Chasing Liberty-2/4-

Paycheck-2/4-

Cheaper by the Dozen-3/4-

Something's Gotta Give-3/4-
The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King*- 4/4-
Stuck on You- 3/4
The Last Samurai- 4/4
Timeline-0/4
Mystic River- 3/4
Matrix Revolution- 2/4

ELF- 3/4
The Missing-2/4
Bad Santa- 3/4
Gothika- 2/4
Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World-3/4
Scary Movie 3- 2.5/4
Runaway Jury- 3/4
Kill Bill Volume One-4/4
School of Rock- 4/4
Out of Time- 2.5/4
Underworld- 3/4
The Rundown- 3.5/4
Matchstick Men-4/4
The Fighting Temptation-2/4
Anything Else- 3/4
Once Upon a Time in Mexico- 3/4
Dickie Roberts- 2/4
Freddy vs. Jason-.5/4
Freaky Friday- 3/4
American Wedding-3/4
Open Range-3.5/4
S.W.A.T- 2.5/4
Lara Croft Tomb Raider-The Cradle of Life- 1.5/4
Bad Boys II-2/4
Pirates Of The Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl- 3.5/4
Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines- 3.5/4
Charlie's Angels Full Throttle- 2/4
Finding Nemo- 4/4
The Hulk- 2.5/4
Hollywood Homicide- 3/4
Dumb and Dumberer: When Harry Met Lloyd- 1.5/4
2 Fast 2 Furious- 1/4
The Italian Job- 3/4
Bruce Almighty- 3/4
The Matrix Reloaded- 3/4
Daddy Day Care- 2/4
X2 Xmen United- 3/4
The Ghost of the Abyss- 3/4
Identity- 3/4
Holes- 3/4
Chicago- 3/4
Bringing Down the House- 2.5/4
The Hunted-2/4
The Core- 2/4
A Man Apart- 1.5/4
Basic- 2/4
Old School- 3/4
Tears of the Sun-2/4
Catch me if you Can- 3.5/4
Shanghai Knights- 2.5/4
Daredevil- 2/4
Just Married- 2/4

2002:
We Were Soldiers-4/4
Solaris-2/4
The Sum of all Fears-3/4
Orange County-3/4
8 Mile-3.5/4
Drumline-2.5/4
25th Hour-4/4
Lord of the Rings The Two Towers- 4/4
Die Another Day-3/4
I Spy- 2/4
Santa Claus 2- 2/4
The Transporter- 2/4
Red Dragon- 3/4
The Tuxedo-1/4
Swimfan-0/4
XXX-1/4
Signs- 4/4
Austin Powers in Goldmember- 2/4
Road to Perdition- 4/4
Mr. Deeds- 2.5/4
Men in Black II- 2.5/4
Minority Report- 4/4
Spiderman- 3.5/4
Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones- 2/4
The Scorpion King- 2/4
Resident evil- 1/4
Big Fat Liar- 2.5/4
The Bourne Identity- 3.5/4
Unfaithful- 3/4
Showtime-2/4
Kung Pow: Enter the Fist- 1/4
Insomnia- 4/4

2001:
Tomcats-1.5/4
American Pie 2-3/4
The Royal Tenenbaums-3/4
Behind Enemy Lines-3/4
Black Hawk Down- 4/4
Lord of the Rings The Fellowship of the Ring- 4/4
The Others- 2/4
Shallow Hal- 2.5/4
Corky Romano- 1/4
Scary Movie 2-2.5/4
3000 Miles to Graceland-2.5/4
From Hell- 3/4Training Day- 4/4
40 Days and 40 Nights- 3/4
The Sweetest Thing-2.5/4
Rollerball- .5/4
Don't Say a Word- 2/4
Spy Kids- 1.5/4
Hardball- 2/4
A Beautiful Mind-4/4
Rush Hour 2- 3/4
Monster's Ball- 3/4

2000:
Traffic- 3.5/4
Thirteen Days- 4/4
Finding Forrester- 3/4
Requiem for a Dream- 3.5/4
Dr. Seuss’s How the Grinch Stole Christmas- 2.5/4
What Women Want- 3/4
Memento- 4/4
Dude, Where's my Car- 2/4
Bring it On- 2/4
Little Nicky-2/4
Gladiator-4/4
The Perfect Storm-3/4
High Fidelity-4/4
Me, Myself, and Irene-3/4
Mission Impossible 2 -3/4
Space Cowboys-3/4
Bedazzled-3/4
Scary Movie- 3/4
Cast Away- 4/4
U-571- 3/4
Vertical Limit- 2.5/4
Rules of Engagement-3/4
1999:

American Beauty-4/4
American Pie-3.5/4
The Green Mile-4/4
For Love of The Game-3/4
Three Kings-3/4
Toy Story 2- 3.5/4
Galaxy Quest- 3.5/4
The World is not Enough- 3/4
Star Wars: Episode I: The Phantom Menace- 3/4
Austin Powers: The Spy who Shagged Me- 3/4
October Sky- 3.5/4
Entrapment- 3/4

1998:
Rush Hour- 3/4
Shakespeare in Love- 3/4
Elizabeth- 3/4
Saving Private Ryan- 4/4
The Thin Red Line- 2.5/4
You’ve Got Mail- 3/4
The Truman Show- 3/4

1990-1997:
Titanic- 4/4
The Rock- 3/4
Dumb and Dumber- 3.5/4
The Silence of the Lambs- 4/4
Pie-3.5/4
Air Force One-3.5/4
Apollo 13-4/4
Forrest Gump- 4/4
A Few Good Men- 4/4
Dances with Wolves-3.5/4
Unforgiven- 4/4
Toy Story-4/4
The Game-3/4
A Bronx Tale- 3.5/4
That Thing you Do- 3/4
Mission Impossible- 3/4
A League of their Own- 3/4
Clueless- 2.5/4
Renaissance Man- 3/4
Groundhog Day- 4/4
Back to the Future III- 3/4
Judge Dredd- 2/4
Demolition Man- 2.5/4
The Mask- 3/4
Robin Hood Men in Tights- 2.5/4

The 1980's:

Ferris Bueller's Day Off-3.5/4
Scrooged- 3.5/4
Stripes- 3.5/4
Rain Man- 3.5/4
Back to the Future- 4/4
Back to the Future II-3.5/4 Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade- 4/4
Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom- 3.5/4
Indiana Jones: Raiders of the Lost Ark- 4/4
The 1970's:
The Godfather- 4/4
The Godfather Part II- 4/4