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by
Ivana Redwine
The best new movie releases on video and DVD slated for for October, 2003,
include "The
Italian Job,"
"The
Lion King,"
"Willard,"
"The
Matrix Reloaded,"
“28
Days Later,”
“Hulk,”
and “Whale
Rider.”
Let's
take a look at these recommended new releases on video and DVD.
October
7, 2003
“The Italian Job”
Mark
Wahlberg, Charlize Theron, and Edward Norton star in this slick caper
film. A team of thieves steals $35 million in gold bars in Venice, but
soon one team member (Norton) kills the team leader and makes off with
the loot. Then Charlie Croker (Wahlberg) joins forces with the slain team
leader’s daughter (Theron) in a quest to get revenge and recover the gold.
This movie is a remake of the 1969 film starring Michael Caine.
“The
Lion King”
Disney
aimed this 1994 animated feature at children, but adults generally find
it entertaining. The story is basically “Hamlet” transposed to the animal
kingdom. The young lion Simba (voice of Matthew Broderick) is in line
to become king when his father (voice of James Earl Jones) dies. But Simba’s
uncle Scar (voice of Jeremy Irons) kills the king, and young Simba has
trouble deciding what to do. There’s music by Elton John and Tim Rice,
including “Hakuna Matata” and “Circle of Life.”
“Willard”
Crispin
Glover stars in this horror film, a remake of the 1971 movie with Ernest
Borgnine. Michael Jackson’s “Ben” is sung twice. In the remake, Glover
plays a morose, troubled loner named Willard Stiles who can control rats.
Willard wants the small white rat Socrates to lead his pack, but Socrates’
leadership is challenged by the large rat Ben. The movie’s horror element
derives from Willard periodically unleashing his army of rodents.
October
14, 2003
“The
Matrix Reloaded”
This
action sci-fi film is the second in the Matrix trilogy, and Keanu Reeves,
Laurence Fishburne, and Carrie-Anne Moss are all back from “The Matrix”
(1999). In “Reloaded,” a Machine Army seeks to destroy Zion, the last
human city. But Morpheus (Fishburne) still believes the One will fulfill
the Oracle’s Prophecy, ending the war. Neo (Reeves), who is gaining a
better command of his powers, is the great hope, but he is beset with
doubts.
October
21, 2003
“28
Days Later”
Directed
by Danny Boyle (“Shallow Grave,” “Trainspotting”), “28 Days Later” is
a post-apocalyptic sci-fi horror film that is well-liked by critics. A
bike messenger has a bad accident in London and he comes to four weeks
later to find a virus has apparently killed most of the world’s people
and infected zombies attack the few non-infected survivors. He teams with
other survivors, and they seek sanctuary with an army unit, only to end
up in a new set of harrowing circumstances.
October
28, 2003
“Hulk”
This
is the first movie to feature the Marvel Comics superhero known as the
Hulk. Bruce Banner (Eric Bana) is a scientist who accidentally absorbs
an enormous dose of gamma radiation and thereafter transforms intermittently
into a massive, rampaging, green creature with superhuman strength. But
there are those who want the Hulk for military reasons. Ang Lee directed
this film, which also stars Jennifer Connelly, Nick Nolte, and Sam Elliott.
“Whale
Rider”
This
unusual coming-of-age tale was a favorite of festival audiences and critics
during its theatrical release. Pai (Keisha Castle-Hughes) is a 12-year-old
girl who dreams of becoming the leader of her people, a Maori tribe in
a beautiful part of present-day New Zealand. Her grandfather is the current
chief, and she seems worthy, but tradition works against her. However,
the movie avoids clichés and handles this material in unexpected ways.
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