Once rumored to have Kevin Smith on board as screenwriter and helmer of the franchise, we have now embarked on “Scary Movie 3.” Now directed by David Zucker, a professional, the man behind “Airplane!,” he directs this time taking the place of the Wayans brothers, and boy am I thankful for the change. If part two and their plans for part three were any indicator, the Wayans ran out of material for spoofing, and the change is most welcome. Now spoofing films like “8 mile”, alien fare “Signs” which the plot revolves around, pop culture phenomenon like “American Idol”, horror films like “The Others”, “The Ring”, and mega blockbusters like “The Matrix”, “Scary Movie 3” has a more fresh new feeling this time around, it has almost a sense of professionalism the Wayans had a hard time instilling.
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Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over (2003)
Well, it’s clear by this series that Robert Rodriguez has had his influences. The first film was a throwback to the old spy movies, the second was a throwback to Ray Harryhausen and Indiana Jones, while this is more of a throwback to that amusing science fiction yarn “Tron”, that other yarn “Running Man”, and the unknown gem “Star Wars” (har har). This has been just an adorable exciting fun series with adorable stories and adorable kid actors, and this is no exception.
Shaun of the Dead (2004)
If you were to ask me right now which I prefer, British comedy or American comedy, I’d reply without a moment’s hesitation: British comedy. Uh-oh someone’s being unpatriotic! Think about it: they gave us “Monty Python”, “The Office”, “Coupling”, and inspiration for “All in the Family” and “Three’s Company” (and so much more), I love all British comedy because it’s just so utterly brilliant. Regardless, the British have comedy down to a tee, down to an art and theirs is subtle, so sharp and so unbelievably funny and sometimes weird, case in point: Shaun of the Dead. It’s quite obvious when watching this film that creators Simon Pegg and Edgar Wright are not only pop culture buffs, but also horror buffs as they pay homage to the great George Romero with every aspect of a good zombie film, and yes there’s walking zombies, no runners here.
Swimming Pool (2003)
Sarah, a renowned author making a decent living with a series of books with the character of Inspector Dorwell somewhat shies away from the throws of recognition and seems to hate almost being worshiped. She’s experiencing a creative meltdown of a sorts and is sent by her publisher, with whom she’s having an affair with, to his country house in the far end of France away from civilization to work on her new book, though she isn’t sure what she’s writing yet. She gets more than she bargains for asking for inspiration when her publisher’s daughter Julie comes to stay at the house unannounced. The two instantly dislike one another, and are exact opposites; Sarah played by the elegant and stunning Charlotte Rampling is a somewhat withdrawn, cold and uptight woman while Julie played by Ludivine Sagnier is stunning, very, very sexy, seductive, adventurous, and very mysterious, but the two don’t like each other.
Seabiscuit (2003)
This depression-era tale and celebration of Americana, based on true events is a marvel to watch that doesn’t totally grab you from the get go, but it surely is worth watching. Directed and adapted by Gary Ross and based on the true tale of the undersized horse who lifted a nation’s spirits and brought America to its toes with its speed as the underdog, “SeaBiscuit” becomes a tale about beating the odds, the triumph of competition, and how one small animal can bring a nation together to forget its miseries. This is not a movie about a horse, no it is not, it is a tale about a horse and the three broken people who were brought together by the drive to compete.
Standing in the Shadows of Motown (2002)
They were the bass guitars in “My Girl”, they were the pianos in “Cool Jerk” and “You’ve Really Got a hold on me”, and they were the drums in “Ain’t too Proud to Beg” and “Heatwave”, they were “The Funk Brothers”, the most under-appreciated band in music who had more number one hits than the Beatles, Elvis, and the Rolling Stones combined, the people who Marvin Gaye and Stevie Wonder loved to hang around and learn from as the modern artists featured in the documentary do. Not only does this pay tribute to the artists but it gives them a spotlight of glory that they were never given. The Funk Brothers were a group of men who were a mixture of talented jazz, soul, and club musicians whom were assembled by Motown founder Berry Gordy to play the music to his artists songs, and though some came from different cities and were of different races they became brothers nonetheless.
Spider-Man 2 (2004)
The sequel to the 2002 blockbuster, and based on the legendary storyline from the Spider-Man comic books, we see Peter Parker yet again juggling his life trying to keep it together while juggling two jobs, an education, his aunt, and his part-time job as Spider-Man. Peter who is still in love with Mary Jane denies his feelings for her despite her blatant hinting and keeps her at a distance. Meanwhile Harry Osborne, son of Norman who died at the hands of Spider-Man as the Green Goblin, is plotting his revenge on Spider-man attempting to track him down. But at a hero’s weakest times a new evil is always born and a genius scientist by the name of Otto Octavius has invented a new science where he can create a small sun which can be used as a substitute for electricity, but when something goes horribly wrong, his lab begins crumbling and explodes killing his wife and forever grafting his mechanical tentacle-like tools to his spine.