Directed by: Chris Buck, and Kevin Lima
Written by: Tab Murphy, Bob Tzudiker, Noni White, Henry Mayo, and Ned Teitelbaum
Based on the book by: Edgar Rice Burroughs
Produced by: Bonnie Arnold
Voices of: Tony Goldwyn, Minnie Driver, Gleen Close, Brian Blessed, Nigel Hawthorne, Lance Henriksen, Rosie O'Donnell, Wayne Knight

Shipwrecked off the coast of Africa, a family of three builds a house to live. When they are attacked by a jaguar, only the baby survives. He is then adopted by a gorilla, and named Tarzan. He then grows up to be a strong man playing with his friends, Terk the gorilla, and Tantor the elephant. When a group of humans arrive to study monkeys, Tarzan rescues one of them from a mob of angry baboons. She tells him her name is Jane, and they quickly fall in love. Jane's bodyguard, Clayton wants to kill the gorillas instead which leads to Tarzan saving the day. This is wonderfully animated, and Rosie O'Donnell and Wayne Knight supply the laughs as the Timon-and-Pumbaa like pair. This is a joy for everyone.

Oscar: Best Original Song ("You'll Be In My Heart")

Directed by: Martin Scorsese
Written by: Paul Shrader
Produced by: Julia Phillips, and Michael Phillips
Starring: Robert DeNiro, Jodie Foster, Cybill Shepard, Harvey Keital, Leonard Harris, Peter Boyle, Albert Brooks, Garth Avery, Martin Scorsese

Martin Scorsese gives a reviting direction in a wonderfully filmed drama. Travis Bickle has just returned to New York after fighting in the Vietnam War. He becomes a taxi driver which results in meeting a lot of interesting people. He encounters a twelve year old prostitute who he decides to save from the horrors of her pimp. He also meets a woman working on the campaign of a man running for seantor who Travis plans on assasinating. Martin Scorsese also gives a great cameo as one of Travis's customers. This film is also filled with great performances from Robert DeNiro, Jodie Foster and Harvey Keital. Scorsese's brilliant direction is also helped by Paul Shrader's wonderfully written screenplay and the gloriously filmed cinematography.

Oscar nominations: Best Picture, Best Actor (Robert DeNiro), Best Supporting Actress (Jodie Foster), Best Original Score

Directed by: Trey Parker
Written by: Trey Parker, Matt Stone, and Pam Brady
Produced by: Trey Parker, Matt Stone, and Pam Brady
Voices of: Trey Parker, Matt Stone, Kristen Miller, Darran Norris, Masasa, Maurice LaMarche, Phil Hendrie, Fred Tatasciore

Trey Parker and Matt Stone have done it again! They have the the lowest form of comedy and actually made it very funny. Very few people have successfully done it with comic genius Mel Brooks being the person I can think of at the moment. Team America is a team of police who go around the world killing terrorists and finding weapons of mass destruction. When one of their crew is killed, their leader hires a Broadway actor named Gary to replace him. On the other side of the world, Korean dictator Kim Jong Il hires a bunch of terrorists to place WMDs in every continent of the world. Soon, a group of political speakers called the Film Actors Guild lead by Alec Baldwin team up with Kim Jong Il to stop Team America, who they have a complete hatred against. Taking on the war on terror, WMDs, celebrities, and everything else under the sun, Parker and Stone create a rather funny picture made completely with puppets. They take on everyone from Matt Damon to Michael Moore to Jerry Bruckheimer all keeping on with the story. Of corse, what would a Parker-Stone production be without a bunch of great songs with such entertaining musical numbers like "America, F**k Yeah", "I'm So Ronery", "Everyone has AIDS", and possibly one of the funniest songs I've ever heard, "Pearl Harbour Sucked and I Missed You." Although not for everyone, it's still one of the funniest films of 2004.

Golden Satellite Award nomination: Best Motion Picture, Animated or Mixed Media

"Film Website" nominations: Best Animated Film, Best Original Song ("Everybody Has AIDS"), Best Art Direction

Directed by: Janet Perlman
Produced by: Janet Perlman

The National Film Board of Canada made another very funny short, and my second favourite National Film Board of Canada short film behind the immortal classic, The Cat Came Back. This short simply tells the classic fairy tale reenacted by penguins. It's very cute, and a different take on the tale. Watch out for very small in-jokes throughout the film. Even though, it's a brilliant short, the best Cinderella spoof out there is the lesser seen British animated short film, Prince Cinders. That was a great film that was snubbed the Oscar for Animated Short Film, and also featured the young voices of Jim Broadbant and Jennifer Saunders. This is a great film that your whole family will love.

Oscar nomination: Best Animated Short Film

Directed by: Steven Spielberg
Written by: Sacha Gervasi, and Jeff Nathanson
Produced by: Steven Spielberg, Walter F. Parkes, and Laurie MacDonald
Starring: Tom Hanks, Stanley Tucci, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Kumar Pullana, Chi McBride, Diego Luna, Barry Shabaka Henley, Zoe Saldana

In this heartwarming film by Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks gives another good performance. Viktor Navorski has just arrived at JFK Airport in New York. While Viktor was in the air, there was a military coup in his country, so he has no country. Now, he can't enter the United States or go back home. So, he has live in the airport terminal. he soon makes friends with a lunch man, a caretaker, and falls for a beautiful stewardess. He, meanwhile, learns to get money around the terminal, and even attempts to get a job. Standing in his way is the airport director, who will try at anything to get Viktor to break the law. Tom Hanks gives a nice, comedic Charlie Chaplin-esque performance with Stanley Tucci providing brilliant work as the main antagonist. The script is very well written, and is very funny, with Spielberg giving a solid direction, and the wonderful sets and cinematography make the set look like a real terminal. This is a film, everyone who has had their flight delayed many times will enjoy.

Production Design Award: Best Contemporary Art Direction

"Film Website" nomination: Best Art Direction

Directed by: Burt Gillett
Written by: Boris V. Morkovin
Produced by: Walt Disney
Voices of: Pinto Corvig, Billy Bletcher, Dorothy Compton, Mary Moder

Walt Disney was the king of animation in the 1930's, and this classic short is further proof of that. The reason why it's so famous is because of the hugely popular and brilliant song, "Who's Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf?" Three pigs are building their own houses. The first pig builds his house out of straw, the second pig builds his house out of sticks, and the third pig builds his house out of bricks. The third pig warns his brothers about the big bad wolf, but they laugh and start singing that memorable song. Meanwhile, the wolf arrives and blows their houses away, and the first two pigs hide in the third pig's house. The wolf attempts to blow down the brick house, but fails. So he goes down the chimney but the pigs are smart then he thinks. This is a brilliant short that will always be remembered more for that song then actual animation and story.

Oscar: Best Animated Short Film

Directed by: David Hand
Produced by: Walt Disney

One of Walt Disney's lesser known cartoons, Three Orphan Kittens is a charming little short film that has quite an interesting story. Three kittens sneak into a house and soon destroy all the furniture. The maid becomes completely angry and throws them out. The kittens are then saved by a little girl who helps and takes care of the poor things. A different short with a very simple story that you can expect from the master of animation, this is a cute film that should have gotten more recognition then it did, even though it won the Oscar. The cats in this short would make some appearances in a sequel and many adventures with Pluto the Dog.

Oscar: Best Animated Short Film

Directed by: John Lasseter
Written by: John Lasseter
Produced by: William Reeves

Pixar's second great short film is a brilliant masterpiece. John Lasseter started the Toy Story universe with this groundbreaking (at that time) computer animated short, which proves Pixar reigns supreme in the computer animation department. Tin Toy centers around a toy who has just been bought and has escaped from his package. He is soon seen running away from a very hungry baby. Tin Toy then hides under a bed where a bunch of other toys are hiding. The baby then starts crying, and Tin Toy beefs up his courage and decides to cheer him up. This is a very entertaining short with a big message.

Oscar: Best Animated Short Film

Directed by: Sydney Pollack
Written by: Larry Gelbart, and Murray Schisgal
Produced by: Sydney Pollack, and Dick Richards
Starring: Dustin Hoffman, Jessica Lange, Bill Murray, Teri Garr, Sydney Pollack, Charles Durning, Dadney Coleman, George Gaynes

In this fun cross-dressing comedy, Dustin Hoffman plays Michael Dorsey, a troubled actor, who can't find a job. He then decides to dress as a woman named Dorothy, and get a role on a soap opera. He then falls in loves with his lovely co-star, Julie, who likes Dorothy, and has a crush on Michael. It all goes upside-down as Michael tries to figure out who he really is. A actor without a job or a popular soap opera star? This film is brilliantly written, and shows how people can go to great lengths to get a job. Hoffman is wonderful, with Jessica Lange doing very well as his love interest. Bill Murray is also great in his pre-Ghostbusters days.

Oscar: Best Supporting Actress (Jessica Lange)
Other Oscar nominations: Best Picture, Best Actor (Dustin Hoffman), Best Supporting Actress (Teri Garr), Best Director (Sydney Pollack), Best Original Screenplay, Best Original Song ("It Might Be You"), Best Sound, Best Cinematography, Best Film Editing

Directed by: Wilfred Jackson
Produced by: Walt Disney

I've known the story of The Tortoise and the Hare, since I was a baby, and this short has also been a part of my childhood. Keeping with the moral of the story, Disney adds humour and a lot of interesting characters to this great adaptation. The tortoise and the hare are going to have the race of the century, and all the animals in the forest have turned up to watch this historical event. The race starts and the hare speeds off, but the tortoise takes his time. This all leads to the short's very famous ending coupled with an excellent musical score and wonderful animation. This short is highly recommended.

Oscar: Best Animated Short Film

Directed by: John Lasseter
Written by: Joss Whedon, Andrew Stanton, Joel Cohen, and Alec Sokolow
Produced by: Bonnie Arnold, and Ralph Guggenheim
Voices of: Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Don Rickles, Wallace Shawn, Erik Von Detten, John Ratzenberger, Jim Varney, Annie Potts, John Morris

The first ever fully computer-animated film is quite a technical marvel even in today's days of brilliantly animated CGI features like Shrek and The Incredibles. Woody the cowboy doll has always been the leader of the toys, but when his owner gets the latest big thing, he is thrown to the side. A space ranger action figuire called Buzz Lightyear lands on the bed, but thinks he is an actual spaceman and that he is on an uncharted planet. Soon, Woody becomes very jealous of Buzz's popularity and throws him out the window, only to meet him once again. They are later found in the home of an evil toy destroyer. Pixar's first full-length is very well-done and well-written like their other film, although it doesn't reach the calliber of it's sequel and Finding Nemo.

Oscar nominations: Best Original Screenplay, Best Original Musical or Comedy Score, Best Original Song ("You've Got a Friend in Me")

Directed by: John Lasseter
Written by: Andrew Stanton, Rita Hsiao, Doug Chamberlain, and Chris Webb
Produced by: Karen Robert Jackson, and Helene Poltkin
Voices of: Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Kelsey Grammar, Joan Cusack, Don Rickles, Wallace Shawn, Wayne Knight, John Ratzenberger

In this amazing sequel to Toy Story, Woody is kidnapped by a toy collecter, who wants to send him to Japan. Meanwhile, Buzz forms a rescue party to go and save him. Woody, though, doesn't want to be saved, because he's fun with his new friends. They are the part of the Woody's collection. It seems Woody was the star of a cancelled 50's television series called "Woody's Roundup." Now, he must decide decide whether to go home, or stay with his friends. This film actually is better then the first film in many ways. It's got more action, humour, and Wayne Knight stands out as Woody's kidnapper.

Oscar nomination: Best Original Song ("When She Loved Me")

Directed by: Sylvain Chomet
Written by: Sylvain Chomet
Produced by: Didier Brunner, and Vivianne Vanfleteren

In this mostly silent French cartoon, we are brought into a new world that you won't find in any Disney film. Champion is a cyclist in the Tour de France, who is then kidnapped by the mob and forced to race, until he drops dead. So, it's his grandmother and dog to the rescue as they go to save him. Their search bring the metropolis of Belleville, where they meet the famous singers, the Triplets of Belleville. They soon help the two find their friend. This is a charming animated film, that is sure to please anyone, although the children will have trouble keeping interest on the screen. The colourful animation, and brilliantly jazzy music all bring to a wonderfully produced picture.

Oscar nominations: Best Animated Film, Best Original Song ("Belleville Rendez-vous")

"Film Website" nominations: Best Animated Film, Best Original Song ("Belleville Rendez-vous")

Directed by: Wolfgang Petersen
Written by: David Benioff
Based on the poem by: Homer
Produced by: Wolfgang Petersen, Diana Rathburn, and Colin Wilson
Starring: Brad Pitt, Eric Bana, Orlando Bloom, Peter O'Toole, Diane Kruger, Brian Cox, Brendan Gleeson, Saffron Burrows, Sean Bean

I have always been fascinated by Greek mythology. Troy is a film that doesn't give the classic Homer story justice. When Paris steals Helen of Sparta away with him to Troy, a war is raged on his homeland. The entire Greek army that includes the bad-tempered Achilles, and the smart Odysseus head to their beaches to fight. Hector soon has a head-to-head battle with Achilles, and loses. It's now up to Paris to save Troy. The Greeks have other ideas of their own, though. Troy starts out entertaining, but begins to lose sight of everything in the middle. The film is overall boring, and even the battle scenes are boring. The film runs too long at three hours, and there are many scenes that should have been cut, and put in the DVD. Brad Pitt is just saying "look at me, becuase I'm pretty and I'm killing people." The only actors which kept my interest were Peter O'Toole, Eric Bana, and the special effects.

Oscar nomination: Best Costume Design

Directed by: Peter Weir
Written by: Andrew Niccol
Produced by: Andrew Niccol, Edward S. Feldman, Scott Rudin, and Adam Schroeder
Starring: Jim Carrey, Laura Linney, Ed Harris, Noah Emmerich, Holland Taylor, Brian Delate, Natascha McElhone, Peter Krause

Truman has lived his life on the island of Seahaven for his entire life. He has always wanted to leave to find his long-lost girlfriend, but never has been able to. What he doesn't know is that Seahaven is a fictional place inside a giant studio, and every except Truman are actors. He is the star of his own television series called The Truman Show, and he doesn't know it. One day he decides to conquer his fear of water, and goes off to sea to finally leave his prison. Jim Carrey has made an amazing change from slapstick actor to dramatic actor. He plays Truman with ease, but Ed Harris is the big winner as The Truman Show creator, Christof, and Peter Weir has an amazing direction.

Oscar nominations: Best Supporting Actor (Ed Harris), Best Director (Peter Weir), Best Original Screenplay