TV Times

TV Times

Glimpses of what to come in 2004
By Harinda Vidanage
The cine world has not changed much from the basic configuration from 2003 as this year also fans will see the sequels. Chapters and follow up from previous movies, which made big names. Apart from these few unique creations have been integrated into the line up.

The year will also feature a number of greatest epics. The taste for making epics have taken movie makers by storm also fired by last year’s successors of Rings Trilogy, Master and Commander: Far side of the Ocean and Last Samurai. This year three great epics will come alive on big screen.

The first will be Hidalgo based on the true story of the greatest long-distance horse race ever run. “Hidalgo” is an epic action-adventure and one man’s journey of personal redemption. Held yearly for centuries, the Ocean of Fire - a 3,000 mile survival race across the Arabian Desert was a challenge restricted to the finest Arabian horses ever bred, the purest and noblest lines, owned by the greatest royal families. In 1890, a wealthy Sheik invited an American and his horse to enter the race for the first time. Frank T. Hopkins (Mortensen) was a cowboy and dispatch rider for the US cavalry who had once been billed as the greatest rider the West had ever known. The Sheik (Sharif) would put his claim to the test, pitting the American cowboy and his mustang, Hidalgo, against the world’s greatest Arabian horses and Bedouin riders.

Towards the end of the year two great epics are set to storm the movie world. Collin Farrel transforms himself into a greatest General world ever new. The story is an epic that is as daring, bold and ambitious as its subject, of a relentless conqueror who by the age of 32 had amassed the greatest empire the world had ever seen.

Behold Alexander the great in a setup where Past and present collide to form the puzzle of the protagonist, a tapestry of triumphs and tragedies in which childhood memories and Alexander’s rise to power unfold side by side with the latter day expansion of his empire, its gradual decline and ultimate downfall. From his youth, fueled by dreams of glory and adventure, to his lonely and mysterious death as a ruler of a vast state, from the tumultuous relationship with his parents a powerful king and a queen (Angelina Jolie as Octavia) determined to put her child on the throne at any cost.

The year would see the return of a super hero the most successful character Marvel franchise has ever introduced to the cinema. Spidy loved by millions will return to weave the web of justice. In this episode his life-long yearning for M.J. (Kirsten Dunst) becomes even stronger as he fights the impulse to reveal his secret life and declare his love. His friendship with Harry Osborn (James Franco) is complicated by the young Osborn’s bitterness over his father’s death and his growing vendetta against Spider-Man.

Even Peter’s beloved Aunt May (Rosemary Harris), who has fallen on hard times after the death of Uncle Ben, begins to have doubts about her nephew. Peter’s life is about to become even more complicated as he encounters a formidable new foe Dr. Otto Octavius (Alfred Molina). Peter must use all the powers at his disposal to try to stop this diabolical madman in his octagonal tracks.

Along with these big names the year would witness another chapter unfolded in the Harry Potter series. Set during the summer before Harry’s third year at Hogwarts, this is the adventure that happens when he has to go on the run after an incident where he was unable to control his anger. Getting on a bus, he hears about Sirius Black, a renegade wizard who was a Prisoner at Azkaban and there begins the adventure.

Also Scooby Do is to return and so will the blade swinging Half Human, Half Vampire Wesley Snipes. The final episode of this horror adventure dubbed Blade 3:Trinity will also be a major attraction this year. Another movie to look out for is Vin Diesel reprising his star-making “Pitch Black” role of enigmatic anti- hero Richard B. Riddick in the new science fiction action-adventure epic, “The Chronicles of Riddick”. Also another very unique creation which one should keep a tag on is the movie on America’s favorite feline which is about to become a major motion picture star. Garfield is prone to be with a broad-audience appeal. The live action/CGI picture is adapted from the syndicated cartoon strip read in 2600 newspapers by 260 million readers around the globe.

The superhero theme seems to be going strong this year as well with a Super star donning another unique outfit and gets ready to “Purr”. Halle Berry transforms into Catwoman believe it or not. Her story is of a mild mannered graphic artist murdered in order to keep her silent about an accidental discovery she made.

An ancient myth is played out, when an Egyptian Mao cat, indebted to Patience for saving her its own life, breathes life back into the young woman. Patience is reborn with an independent attitude, carefree behavior and the heightened senses of a cat. Now she must investigate the circumstances behind her murder and learn to accept both parts of herself.

Along with these another collision between two races is portrayed in a hyper action sci fi movie titled Alien Vs The Predator. The movie line up this year will also feature Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow, Starship Troopers 2, The Stepford Wives, Strange Bedfellows, Suspect Zero, Switchblade Romance, Terminal, Thunderstruck, To Kill A King, The Touch, Tripoli, The Ugly Americans, Warriors of Heaven and Earth, Who’s Your Daddy?, Wicker Park, Without a Paddle, The Woods,, The World Of Tomorrow, xXx 2 as well.

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