2000 Movie Mania. Review on Five Best Hollywood Films of 2000

We were mesmerized, seduced, and spell bound. 2000 was a very good year for movies, including the choices listed below.

1. CAST AWAY (2000) It is 1995, Chuck Noland, a Federal Express executive, is absorbed in ‘time.’ As far as he is concerned, a split second can make a difference in someone’s life. After a return trip from Russia, Noland and his girlfriend Kelly (Helen Hunt), are enjoying Christmas dinner with family. He receives a trouble call and must fly to Malaysia. Despite Kelly’s plea for him to stay and enjoy Christmas with her, Noland declines, his main concern is to make sure that all is well in Malaysia. Accompanied by Kelly, Noland arrives to board the plane for Malaysia. They exchange gifts, and he promises her that he will be right back. Now airborne, the plane encounters stormy weather while flying over the South Pacific. Suddenly there is an explosion, the plane has flown off course, and the events unfolding within the plane is clear indication that something terrible is about to happen. Suddenly, Noland is underwater and facing a spinning propeller heading for him and his life raft. Miraculously, he escapes the propeller and drifts to the surface of a deserted island.

Noland soon learns that he must fend for himself. Everything that was once easy has now become almost a prehistoric form of survival. Realizing that he is in it for the long haul, Noland befriends a ball, and names it “Wilson,” (after its trade name of course). As Noland count his days of inhabitance on the island, a picture of his fiancé, and his love for her, keeps him focused on finding a way back home. He soon realizes that there is a way to leave the island. His first attempts fail, however, in his final attempt he succeeds. After his rescue, Noland discovers that the love of his life, Kelly, has married and has a son. The one solid rock (other than Wilson) that kept him wanting to survive, is now so close, yet so far. Realizing that there is no renewal, nor closure to his love for Kelly, he knows that he must move on, and at the end of the crossroad, he makes his decision.

1. HARRY POTTER AND THE SORCERER’S STONE (2001) I first heard about Harry Potter on the news, when a group of Anti-Potter demonstrators were trying to band the books from being sold as a result of witchery, spells, and incantations being completed by children. Curiously, I wanted to see what all the brouhaha was about, so I watched the movie, and much to my dismay, I was hooked (witchery maybe?) I think not. This fantasy movie is very entertaining and funny.

The opening scene begins on Pivet Drive. After Harry’s parents are murdered by Voldermort, an evil wizard, Harry (Daniel Radcliffe) survives, (with a scar to prove it), and is left on the doorstep of his aunt and uncle, and their spoiled son. Now 11-years old, Harry has obviously seen hard times living with his relatives. In order to prevent further letters from reaching Harry from Hogwarts, his uncle moves the family to a lighthouse. That does not stop Hagrid (Robbie Coltrane) from visiting Harry on his eleventh birthday, to accompany Harry to the school of Hogwarts Witchcraft and Wizardry. After boarding the Hogwarts train, he befriends red-haired Ron Weasley (Rupert Grint), and take charge Hermione Granger (Emma Watson).

Once in the school of Hogwarts, Harry becomes acquainted with Hogwarts staff and students such as, the arrogant Draco Malfoy (Tom Felton), and the famous wizard himself, Albus Dumbledore (played by Richard Harris). Later he meets the Master of Potions, Professor Snape (Alan Rickman), the teacher of Transfiguration, Professor McGonagall (Maggie Smith), Professor (of Charms) Flitwick (Warwick Davis), and the nervous Professor Quirrell (Ian Hart), Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher. The movie delivers an array of colorful characters, wild adventure, and sneaky comedy

1. CROUCHING TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON (2000) Directed by Ang Lee, this is a fascinating, well delivered, well received movie! It is the beginning of the Qing Dynasty, Li Mu Bai (Chow Yun-Fat), and Yu Shu Lien (Michelle Yeoh) are on a journey to retrieve the Green Dynasty, a legendary sword stolen from its owner. Li Mu Bai soon faces conflict with a former female adversary who killed his master, Jade Fox (played by Cheng Pei-pei).

Yu Shu Lien is hired to protect Jen, the beautiful daughter of a powerful official. Each, caught up in their own unwanted lifestyle, yearn to live the other’s life. Yu Shu Lien soon finds herself in a one-on-one rooftop chase pursuing a night ninja. It is not long before Yu Shu Lien realizes that the night stalker is none other than Jen. The special effects of the film creates a ‘walking on air’ imagery. Not a dull moment in any of the fight scenes, especially the treetop battle between Li Mu Bai and Jen. This movie captures Beijing beauty, art, and culture, and holds the attention of the viewer.

1. MISSION IMPOSSIBLE II (2000) Starring Tom Cruise as Ethan Hunt, Thandie Newton as the beautiful, vivacious thief, Nyah Nordoff-Hall, Ving Rhames as Luther, Swanbeck (Anthony Hopkins), and Sean Ambrose (Dougray Scott).

Ethan Hunt, (Cruise), is called in to stop ex-secret agent Sean Ambrose (Scott) from obtaining a sample of the Chimera killer virus and its antidote from the scientist who created them for Biocyte Pharmeceuticals. Beforehand, he has already met, seduced, and bedded the lovely and beautiful Nyah (Newton), an expert jewel thief. Hunt is informed by Swanbeck that he must use Nyah as bait to get to Ambrose before he can get to the virus. Enters Luther (Rhames) and his associate (John Potson) to assist Hunt and Nyah. Sent to Australia to distract Ambrose, Nyah enters Ambrose’s compound as planned.

As the movie progresses we see Hunt in a race to beat Ambrose to the virus. They play cat and mouse games, exchanging masks, one resembling the other, voice match and all. While in the science lab where the last vials of the killer Chimera virus are stored, Hunt and Ambrose shoot it out over the last remaining virus substance and its antidote. In an unsuspected twist, Nyah injects the virus in her arm in order to save Hunt. Now with the clock ticking toward Nyah’s life, Hunt must find the antidote. Ambrose and his posse are about to make the switch, money for the virus and antidote, when enters Hunt, as smooth, if not smoother than 007 himself. As the two enemies battle for the virus and antidote, Nyah is seen wandering around, near dead. Finally the fighting pays off, Ambrose is dead, Hunt has the antidote and remaining virus, and, alls well that ends well.

1. PITCH BLACK (2000) Vin Diesel packs brawn in this movie and gives it the action-packed credibility we expect. The movie begins with a crash that leaves most of the crew dead, except about nine passengers, which focuses more on the main characters, John (Cole Hauser), Fry (Radha Mitchell), and Riddick (played by Diesel). They land on a planet with three suns, making it impossible to see nightfall or find water. After the landing, Riddick escapes. While hunting Riddick, it is obvious that something is out there, and they will soon become the hunted. Soon they realize that night will fall, and the only person who can see in the dark is Riddick, the one man they are hunting, the one man they must rely on in order to survive the night. As the movie nears the end, with most of the remaining crew being picked off one-by-one by the creatures, a surprise ending shows Fry placing herself in harms way in order to save Riddick. A gender reversal of female heroism. The movie ends as Riddick, the holy man, and the identity discovered female safely boards the ship to find their way back home.