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"LARA CROFT, TOMB RAIDER: THE CRADLE OF LIFE" -- Angelina Jolie returns as the titular video-game hero, this time seeking to prevent Pandora's Box, which is actually a terrible weapon, from falling into the hands of a nasty bioterrorist (Ciaran Hinds). She is aided by a former lover (Gerard Butler). Butler and Hinds are great, Jolie is not, but terrific visuals overcome some flaws. Jan De Bont delivers another non-stop action thriller. -- Carlos deVillalvilla DVD
"THE LAST SAMURAI" -- A visually stunning epic about a Civil War hero (Tom Cruise) whose services are engaged to modernize the Imperial Japanese army and help avert a bloody civil war in that country. But when the American is captured by the honorable samurai Katsumoto (Ken Watanabe), he wonders if he's on the right side. Watanabe is spectacular.
"THE LAST WALTZ" -- The greatest rock 'n' roll movie of all time finally comes to DVD, and it proves worth the wait, with a great image, great sound and lots of extras. Also of interest is an astounding four-disc CDs set. The famous Thanksgiving concert of The Band, featuring some fabulous guests, including Van Morrison, Muddy Waters, Paul Butterfield, Eric Clapton and many others.
"THE LEAGUE OF EXTRAORDINARY GENTLEMEN" -- When a madman strives to set Victorian Europe at war, extraordinary characters -- Allen Quartermain (Sean Connery), Mina Harker (Peta WIlson), Captain Nemo (Naseeruddin Shah), the Invisible Man (Tony Curran), Dr. Jeckyll (Jason Flemyng) and Dorian Gray (Stuart Townsend) unite to save the world. Leaps of logic and sub-par CG may slow the show, but Connery and a terrific steampunk atmosphere make this a movie worth seeing.
"LEGALLY BLONDE: RED, WHITE AND BLONDE" -- Reese Witherspoon returns as Elle Woods, the plucky Harvard-by-way-of-Beverly Hills grad who sent up the legal profession in the first movie. Here, she goes after government when she becomes an intern for a powerful congresswoman (Sally Fields), lobbying for an animal rights bill. Dreadfully unfunny, only Witherspoon's personality saves this terrible, unbelievable tripe. Rent at your own risk.
"LIFE" -- A film whose reach exceeds its grasp, "Life" can't decide if it's going to be social commentary, character study, historical document or comedy. Eddie Murphy and Martin Lawrence are two men sentenced to life in prison for a murder they didn't commit. The chemistry isn't exactly magic. The worthwhile moments are few and far between.
"THE LONG KISS GOODNIGHT" Geena Davis and Samuel L. Jackson are a great buddy team in this spies-run-amok shoot-'em-up. Davis is a magnificent action hero, and we hope for sequel. Craig Bierko is amusing as a bad guy.
"THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE RING" -- J.R.R. Tolkein's classic comes to life at long last, in a filmed version that is worth the wait. Middle Earth is threatened by an unspeakable power, and to survive, the ring of power must be destroyed in an epic quest that is weaved upon a tapestry of stunning visuals and eye-popping special effects. This is a must-see for any movie fan.
"THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE TWO TOWERS" -- The quest continues, as Frodo (Elijah Wood) and Sam (Sean Astin) continue their trek to Mordor, accompanied by the highly untrustworthy Gollum (Andy Serkis and a small army of programmers), while Aragorn (Viggo Mortensen) desperately defends Rohan from Saruman's (Christopher Lee) army. Although there are some minor flaws, this is still a classic and a visual treat, not to be missed.
"THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE RING" -- The trilogy comes at long last to a satisfying close as Frodo (Elijah Wood) and Sam (Sean Astin) complete their arduous trek to Mount Doom, although not without obstacles, including a terrifying, gigantic spider named Shelob. Meanwhile, the rest of the cast excels in the wonderful battle scenes. This is a movie you owe it to yourself to see.
"LOVE ACTUALLY" -- Entertwined vignettes directed by Richard Curtis (writer of "Notting Hill," "Four Weddings and a Funeral" and "Bridget Jones' Diary") concerning how love is all around us. Hugh Grant, Martine McCutcheon, Liam Neeson, Thomas Sangster, Emma Thompson, Alan Rickman, Laura Linney, Rodrigo Santoro, Colin Firth, Lucia Moniz move to love's hopeful dance against the beautiful backdrop of London at Christmastime. Charming, as most Richard Curtis movies, and an ideal date movie.
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