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When I reviewed the theatrical version I said, “Like STAR WARS: EPISODE 1, I truly feel this film is just the first act of a much larger epic.” I still feel that FELLOWSHIP is very plot heavy and that the real character development will come in the next two installments, however after seeing the EXTENDED EDITION I feel that the film is truly a fantasy classic and there is no point in ever watching the theatrical version again.

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This film really shouldn’t be that good. Most of the film is exposition, people just talking about what has happened. However, the brilliance of the film is that it’s not boring for a second. Oliver Stone has truly made a masterpiece. Along with his editor and sound designer, they have crafted a visually thrilling journey through the labyrinthine plot against the president. As the plot unravels, the scenes pick up speed and the editing becomes more jagged. The sound becomes layered with a subtle ticking clock underneath.

The other driving force is the cast, which is loaded with amazing performances. Kevin Costner as DA Jim Garrison is the central reason the film works. Costner has been known to dial in a performance or two, but when he gets a role he really cares about (see DANCES WITH WOLVES and all three of his baseball films) he really drives home a powerful, convincing performance. Garrison is his best and he really grabs you with his “man in search of the truth” passion. There’s a great character scene close to the end when the film slows down a bit (like reaching the eye of the storm) where Garrison can open up to his wife (Sissy Spacek, IN THE BEDROOM). That quiet scene leads right into the courthouse climax where Costner really excels. His closing monologue is one of the best ever — just listen for the quiver in his voice. Plus, Stone throws at us one of my favorite shots in movie history when Garrison finishes his speech and looks directly into the camera to include the audience in on the fight for justice.

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I really loved the original HARRY POTTER film — enough so to put it on my top 25 for last year. Looking back on my review of it, I gave it 3 1/2 stars, which in our revisionist times I’m saying is now 4 stars. (If George Lucas can change STAR WARS and have Greedo shoot before Han Solo than I can change my rating of a movie.) I liked CHAMBER OF SECRETS quite a bit, even though it didn’t blow me away like the first one did.

This may be due to the fact that the plot structure is basically the same. This time around the Hogwart’s School is being plagued by a menace that is petrifying the students and it’s up to Harry (Daniel Radcliffe) to figure out who’s behind it. Harry, along with his friends Hermione (Emma Watson) and Ron (Rupert Grint), tries to uncover more information about the mysterious Chamber of Secret, which the teachers are very hush-hush about. However, the danger seems to be following Harry especially and we believe the dire warnings of Dobby the House Elf (voiced by Toby Jones, EVER AFTER).

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How do we cope with an expected tragedy? When we have no good reason not to think there will be another day of life with the ones we love, how does the mind process the sharp 180 turn of remorseless reality when that next day doesn’t come? These are the painful questions that director Francois Ozon tackles in this thoughtful French production about the unexpected loss of a spouse.

Marie (Charlotte Rampling, SPY GAME) and Jean (Bruno Cremer, French TV actor) travel to their vacation home. The day after they arrive they go to the beach. Jean says he’s going into the water and Marie stays behind to sunbathe. Jean disappears. What may have happened to him is unclear at the beginning because we never see him go into the water, which is a brilliant move by Ozon (8 WOMEN) because the doubt serves as a driving narrative through-line for the film.

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