Since the birth of the motion picture, critics and moviegoers alike have retrospectively given titles to certain eras of cinema. In the past twenty years, the movie industry experienced the Blockbuster Era and the Rise of Independent Cinema. With the vast number of sequels, prequels, remakes, and re-interpretations in cinema today, it makes sense to dub this period as the Era of Recycled Material. And the spring 2004 movie line-up doesn’t look like it will disprove this theory. This is not completely horrible, as audiences are occasionally blessed with solid, if not superior, sequels. In addition, some movies require makeovers. Luckily, spring 2004 also boasts a few original concepts, as well as a vast array of genres and even controversy to please even the pickiest moviegoers.
Quentin Tarantino’s action epic “Kill Bill: Volume 2” (4/16), though not legitimately a sequel, looks to be the king of the other “2” movies, including “Barbershop 2: Back in Business” (2/6), “Agent Cody Banks 2: Destination London” (3/12), and “Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed” (3/26). Audiences will also be treated to the likes of “Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights” (2/27) sans Swayze and Grey (probably for the best). Bruce Willis and Matthew Perry will re-team in “The Whole Ten Yards” (4/9). Perhaps the Coen brothers will deliver a solid a remake of the crime-comedy “The Ladykillers” (3/26), starring Tom Hanks. “Dawn of the Dead” is a remake of George A. Romero’s cult classic. Don’t forget about ’70s television — “Starksy & Hutch” (3/5) will star Ben Stiller and Owen Wilson.
The list of comedies due for release is quite large, but director Michel Gondry’s “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind” (4/19), written by Charlie Kaufman of “Being John Malkovich” and “Adaptation” fame, looks to break from the pack. The story concerns the erasing of bad memories and stars Jim Carrey as the guinea pig in the process. The all-star cast includes Kate Winslet, Kirsten Dunst, Mark Ruffalo, Tom Wilkinson, and Elijah Wood. Also of note is the return of the comedy troupe Broken Lizard in “Club Dread” (2/27). Aging rock star Bill Paxton is relaxing at a resort when a serial killer arrives. Other comedies on the menu include “50 First Dates” (2/13), “Eurotrip” (2/20), “The Girl Next Door” (3/12), “Jersey Girl” (3/19), and “Envy” (4/2).
“Secret Window” (3/12) starring Johnny Depp and “Godsend” (4/30) starring Robert De Niro headline the thriller genre, which also includes “Twisted” (2/27), “Taking Lives” (3/19), and David Mamet’s “Spartan” (3/12).
Another comic book superhero will head to the silver screen this spring. “The Punisher” (4/16) will star Thomas Jane as the vengeful man whose family is murdered. It is rumored that this action flick will, like “Blade,” not cut back its violence for a PG-13 rating. Denzel Washington will also star as a vengeful man who must recover a young girl he was hired to protect in “Man on Fire” (4/23). Other action flicks include “Never Die Alone” (3/26), “Walking Tall” (4/9), and “Van Helsing” (5/7).
But the most buzz and controversy of the spring is being generated by two historically-based movies. Mel Gibson’s “The Passion of the Christ” (2/25), a re-telling of the final hours before Jesus Christ’s crucifixion, has been denounced by the Jewish community for supposed anti-Semitism. It has also outraged many leaders in the Catholic Church. Nevertheless, the Biblical tale will be released nation-wide on Ash Wednesday and may very well be the movie event of 2004. Director Bernardo Bertolucci’s “The Dreamers” (2/6), which takes place during the 1968 Paris student riots, will be theatrically released despite its NC-17 rating for explicit sexual content.
“Troy” (5/14) looks to be this year’s “Gladiator.” This swords-and-sandals epic about the Trojan War boasts a cast featuring Brad Pitt, Orlando Bloom, Eric Bana, and Peter O’Toole, among others. With “Das Boot” director Wolfgang Petersen at the helm, this could be a must-see. Other historically-based movies include “Ned Kelly” (3/26), starring Heath Ledger as the famous Australian outlaw, “The Alamo” (4/9), starring Billy Bob Thornton as Davy Crockett, and “Miracle” (2/6) starring Kurt Russell as Herb Brooks, the coach of the USA hockey team that took home gold at the 1980 Winter Olympics.