and THE MATRIX: REVOLUTIONS (November)

The films that will round out the Trilogy are easily at the top of my list. The original (1999s The Matrix) brought awesome action and special effects into a movie with an actual plot and a whole new philosophy of our existence! The Wachowski brothers envisioned this story as a trilogy from the start, and thankfully the first film made back enough money so that Warner Bros. would let them continue telling it. These two movies, combined with the upcoming video game and anime dvd, all tie together to tell the complete tale. Tell me this isn’t the year of the Matrix! It has also been reported that Keanu Reeves took a possible $20-40 million pay cut on the backend gross of the movies so that these 2 sequels could get made, now how often do you see commitment like that from a big star?

The first film was great, the extended version on its DVD set was even better. The second film was amazing and even a bit better than its predecessor. I have been reading some of the gossip surrounding Return of the King online and some reports are saying that director Jackson is getting whatever he wants for the grand finale (and he damn well deserves it!), and what it’s looking like he wants is a four hour movie! Wow! You know what, 4 hours is a long long time, but there is nothing that makes me think it would not be worth every frame on-screen!

What movie revived the comic book adaptations? No, not Spider-man, it was X-Men. Young director Bryan Singer was hired on for the task of trying to dig comic-based movies out of the hole dug deep after Batman & Robin, and he did it with flying colors. By concentrating more on the characters and less on all the special effects, Singer proved that comic movies can be made to work. The cast is quite good together and from the previews it looks like things are going to get pretty crazy in part two! I can’t wait to see them in action again!

KILL BILL (Fall)

Where did Quentin Tarantino go? Many of us have been wondering that for years. The guy made three movies and then disappeared. Well after producing several shitty sequels to the original shitty From Dusk till Dawn, he is coming back with, as the trailer proclaims, his 4^th film, and it stars Uma Thurman. Uma Thurman as the kick ass assassin Black Mamba to be exact. This film looks like it could be a whole lot of fun!

THE HULK (June 20)

For several decades a Hulk movie would have been a surefire stinker. I loved watching the television show with Lou and Bill when I was a kid, but no way, it never would have worked on the big screen. In a rather shocking development the director of The Ice Storm and the recent Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon hopped onboard the long-in-limbo project. Then it picked up even more steam and credibility when it somehow roped stand-out actress Jennifer Connelly! Because of the birth of CGI it seems possible that this story can be told on the level it deserves. Can a CGI Hulk movie float?

BRUCE ALMIGHTY (May 23)

Jim Carrey finally (again) returns to his comedic roots! And he has the powers of God. Good enough premise right there. Jennifer Aniston should help spice up the mix. This one will hopefully provide some good entertainment.

TERMINATOR 3: RISE OF THE MACHINES (July 2)

1991. That was the year Terminator 2 (or T2) was released. And many will argue (with good reason) that it was Ah-nuld’s last solid effort on the silver sceen. After a couple previews I am still very much on the fence on this one. It is a shame that James Cameron isn’t involved and that will undoubtedly show. I don’t know, at 55 this is potentially the last chance Schwarzenegger will have to awe us. Tons of people will see this movie on opening weekend by default, but how many will see it after that point? Maybe the previews are just terrible to throw us all off?

THE LAST SAMURAI (Dec 5)

A Civil War hero (played by Tom Cruise) finds himself on the wrong end of several swords.

The Ladies return and turn the estrogen up a few notches! Looks fun.

Mel Gibson’s movie about Christ, all in Latin?!

Ben (Affleck) and Jen (J.Lo Lopez), directed by Kevin Smith. The movie Smith has said will make him lose all his fans, yikes!

Can the seemingly unstoppable Reese be stopped? Hopefully this one isn’t just a complete re-hash.

Britain 1898. Sean Connery and his group of extra ordinaries need to save an alternative Earth. Another comic adaptation, hopefully there will be as many fireworks on-screen as have been reported on the set!

INTOLERABLE CRUELTY (Oct 10)

George Clooney, Catherine Zeta-Jones, and Billy Bob Thornton, directed by the Coen Brothers. Early word has been good.

By John C. Lyons
Film Critic

(03-0216)