The film’s large-action set pieces utilise wire work and CGI to achieve a balanced yet enthralling result. The director and star of Shaolin Soccer made his magnum opus in Kung Fu Hustle, a surreal and funny martial arts extravaganza. One name that does not get enough recognition is Stephen Chow. Stars such as Jackie Chan, Donnie Yen and Bruce Lee before them are legends of the genre. Hong Kong cinema has always seen huge jumps in innovation and storytelling when it comes to action and martial arts films. The Manchurian CandidateĪ still from Kung Fu Hustle. While this film is nowhere near the quality of any of the Alien or Predator films, it can be enjoyed as a one-off adventure that doesn’t affect either franchise. The film was highly anticipated and did enough to earn a second film, but the less said about the sequel the better. Several comic-book adaptations and failed attempts later, the film arrived from Resident Evil and Event Horizon director Paul W S Anderson. PredatorĮver since a Xenomorph skull appeared in Predator 2, fans had speculated on whether the two would meet. The film divided audiences upon release and, while profitable, was not the huge box-office success its producers hoped it would be, but watched today it presents a very enjoyable sci-fi experience. I, Robot is a science fiction action film directed by Alex Proyas and adapted from Isaac Asimov’s genre-defining story. While it was waning in the glory days of the late 1990s when his name meant assured box office success, he was still enough of a draw for cinemagoers to carry a huge budget with aplomb. Will Smith’s stock was still very high in 2004. Will Smith and Bridget Moynahan in I, Robot. Years later, Emmerich would outstay his welcome with films such as The film makes the most of its computer-generated capabilities, presenting a world overrun by harsh blizzards engulfing large metropolitan cities. Perhaps quaint to see that in 2004, global warming was nothing more than a fictional disaster film scare rather than the very real threat it is today. In The Day After Tomorrow, the threat is global warming. Having already directed Independence Day, Stargate and Godzilla, the director’s next film had to be an even bigger disaster than any of his previous films. The Day After Tomorrowĭirector Roland Emmerich crowned himself something of a disaster film auteur by 2004. Troy features well-choreographed duels and spectacular battle scenes that are sure to thrill. Other stars include Eric Bana, Orlando Bloom, Diane Kruger and Brian Cox. The film stars Brad Pitt as Achilles in an unforgettable performance filled with charisma and vulnerability. The historical epic from German director Wolfgang Petersen was a sensation that re-ignited global interest in the stories in Homer’s Iliad. The Brad Pitt-starring epic was part of a larger wave of big-budget period pieces released in the wake of Gladiator. Here are 24 films that turn 20 years old in 2024. The year was packed with significant sequels, which included Spider-Man 2, Kill Bill: Vol 2, Resident Evil: Apocalypse and Ocean’s Twelve.īut it was an underdog favourite that ended up taking home the top prize for the year at the 2005 Academy Awards the following winter, with the Best Picture Oscar going to Clint Eastwood’s Million Dollar Baby, starring Hillary Swank and Morgan Freeman.Īnd yes, Eastwood at 93 is readying his next directorial effort, which perhaps could win Best Picture at the 2025 awards to keep things feeling even more eerily familiar. The highest-grossing film of the year was Shrek 2, which brought home more than $900 million in box-office ticket sales, lifting the franchise to the peak of its cultural powers. The year featured major releases by some of the most decorated directors in Hollywood, including Steven Spielberg, Martin Scorsese and Steven Soderbergh.Īnd yes, those same three names are still dominating the conversation here in 2024, with Scorsese a key name in Oscars season, and Soderbergh getting huge buzz for his latest horror film at Sundance. In many ways, the year is a precursor for the Hollywood of the present, a time still dominated by sequels, often from the same franchises, with some of the same filmmakers at the helm. Back in 2004, cinemagoers were treated to a stellar year for mid-oughts blockbuster filmmaking, with a rich panoply of marquee titles debuting, many of which still resonate strongly today.
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