August 27, 2004 - The summer movie season is over. The last of the blockbusters has come and gone.  But that doesn't mean there aren't any decent flicks remaining.  What's worth seeing?  Well, this week we've got reviews of Anaconda, Hero, Suspect Zero and Brown Bunny.

Here's a breakdown of what's new and a glimpse at our reviews...

Anacondas: The Hunt for the Blood Orchid
Cast: Johnny Messner, Matthew Marsden, Kadee Strickland, Morris Chestnut, Karl Yune, Salli Richardson-Whitfield
Director: Dwight Little
Writers: John Claflin, Daniel Zelman, Michael Miner, Ed Neumeier, Hans Bauer, Jim Cash, Jack Epps Jr.
Rated: PG-13 for Action Violence, Scary Images and Some Language

The Scoop: A group of scientists set off on a dangerous river journey in the Borneo jungle in search of an extremely rare blood orchid that is rumored to be the source of a youth-preserving serum.  What they don't realize is that within the mysteries of the jungle lies a deadly predator who keeps the secret of the orchids safe and stops anyone who dares to enter its territory from leaving.

The Scoop: Steve Head gives Anacondas 2 1/2 out of 5 stars. He says, "In spite of its standardness, what I don't want to do is discourage you from seeing this movie. Because... well... I'll just go ahead and admit it. It's fun. That's right. It's predicable. It's cliché. But it's fun to watch."

Read Steve's review of Anacondas.

	The cast of Anacondas

Suspect Zero
Cast: Aaron Eckhart, Ben Kingsley, Carrie-Anne Moss
Director: E. Elias Merhige
Writer: Zak Penn, Billy Ray
Rated: R for Violent Content, Language and Some Nudity

The Scoop: When Dallas FBI Agent Thomas Mackelway (Aaron Eckhart) violates serial killer Raymond Starkey's civil rights during an unorthodox arrest, Starkey goes free and Mackelway is demoted to a remote branch of the agency in Albuquerque. His first day on the job, Mackelway investigates the murder of a traveling salesman Harold Speck, which turns out to be the first of three seemingly random killings. Or perhaps they are not random at all; the last to die is Mackelway's nemesis, Raymond Starkey.  The assignment consumes him. His past mistakes haunt him. His head throbs constantly as he tries to find the link between the victims that will lead him to their killer. The case becomes increasingly gruesome and patently personal. This does not go unnoticed by his unflappable partner Fran Kulok (Carrie-Anne Moss), who knows of Mackelway's past and the demons that afflict him. Like Mackelway, she becomes drawn into the labyrinth of chilling clues, all of which point to the enigmatic Benjamin O'Ryan (Ben Kingsley). O'Ryan clearly has a connection to the murders, a connection he flaunts; quite possibly, he may also harbor a sinister link to Mackelway.

The Scoop: Todd Gilchrist gives Suspect Zero 2 1/2 out of 5 stars. He says, "Suspect Zero is in fact a captivating film that is disguised as a run-of-the-mill serial-killer suspense flick, and one like too few others whose ideas are interesting enough to deserve cinematic execution. "

Read Todd's review of Suspect Zero.

	Aaron Eckhart in Suspect Zero

Hero
Cast: Jet Li, Tony Leung Chiu-Wai, Maggie Cheung Man-Yuk, Zhang Ziyi, Chen Dao Ming, Donnie Yen
Director: Zhang Yimou
Writer: Feng Li, Bin Wang, Zhang Yimou
Rated: PG-13 for Stylized Martial Arts Violence and a Scene of Sensuality

The Scoop:  The soon-to-be First Emperor of China is on the brink of conquering a war-torn land. Three opponents are determined to assassinate him and one loyal subject stands in their way.

The Scoop: Spence D. gives Hero 4 out of 5 stars. He says, "In the end, Zhang and all involved have crafted what can more or less be considered a thinking man's (and woman's) action film rife with beautiful location scenery, incredibly production design, intense cinematic beauty, and above all engagingly beautiful fight sequences. Since Hollywood still hasn't managed to grasp this formula, it's a blessing that filmmakers like Zhang are cranking out films like this."

Read Spence's review of Hero.

	Jet Li in Hero

The Brown Bunny
Cast: Chloe Sevigny, Vincent Gallo
Director: Vincent Gallo
Writer: Vincent Gallo
Rated: Not Rated

The Scoop:  Bud Clay (Gallo), a motorcycle race driver, goes on a roadtrip from New Hampshire to California, where he has a race in five days. As he travels across the country, he's haunted by the memories of his lost love, a girl named Daisy Lemon (Sevigny). Along the way, he tries to find a new love to call his own, but his feelings for Daisy seem to hold him back.

The Scoop: Todd Gilchrist gives Brown Bunny 3 out of 5 stars. He says, "The Brown Bunny is an existential, experimental film that works if approached from that viewpoint, and sadly (for him) from no other."

Read Todd's review of Brown Bunny.

	Vincent Gallo and Chloe Sevigny in Brown Bunny

Check back on Monday for the scoop on next week's new flicks.