Movies Of 2003

From big stars to huge epics, 2003 will be full of movies that have guaranteed audience appeal.

So, just who and what will we be flocking to see on the big screen in the coming year?

The Early Show's entertainment contributor and senior editor of entertainment for People magazine, Jess Cagel, took a look at some upcoming films for the new year.

Cagel says to expect the silver screen to be filled with epics, sequels, and comic/super hero themes this year. He explains that it has become a huge risk for movie studios to make an expensive movie without a guaranteed audience appeal, so big-name actors – with their fan appeal - will also be making big movies.

Cagel predicts 2003 may be the year newcomers Eric Bana makes a splash as the comic anti-hero, "The Hulk." And he says to look out for Agnes Bruckner of "Blue Car."

Big Historical Epics

• "Master And Commander": Ship Surgeon Stephen Maturin (Paul Bettany) and Navy Capt. Jack Aubrey (Russell Crowe) sail out to see the richness and strangeness of life on the far side of the world, against the backdrop of Napoleonic Wars. Release date: June 6, 2003
• "Last Samurai": Tom Cruise plays Woodrow Algren, a Civil War veteran turned Winchester guns spokeman. He arrives in Japan in the late 1870s to train the troops of the emperor Meiji, to help Japan break away from the long-held tradition of relying on employed samurai warriors to protect territories. When Algren is injured and captured by the samurai, he learns about their warrior honor code from Katsumoto, the samurai's leader. He then has to decide which side of the conflict he wants to be on. Release date: Dec. 12, 2003

• "Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle": The original three ladies star in this movie. Drew Barrymore, Lucy Liu and Cameron Diaz once again take on the heroine roles made famous in the '70s television show the first movie was based on. Demi Moore, Matt LeBlanc, Bernie Mac and many others are also joining the cast. Release date: June 27, 2003
• "The Matrix: Reloaded": Neo (Keanu Reeves) and the rebel leaders estimate that they have 72 hours until 250,000 probes discover Zion and destroy it and its inhabitants. During this, Neo must decide how he can save Trinity from a dark fate in his dreams. Also starring Laurence Fishburne. "The Matrix: Revolution" will have make its opening 6 months after "The Matrix: Reloaded." Release date: May 15, 2003
• "Lord Of The Rings, The Return of the King": This movie will close the successful "Lord of the Rings" trilogy. Release date: December 2003
• "X2": The "X-Men" sequel will kick the 2003 summer movies off. Already living in a society that mistrusts them, the mutants are faced with even more discrimination after an unforeseen enemy - who may be a mutant with extraordinary powers - launches a devastating attack. Magneto, having escaped from his plastic prison, forms an unlikely alliance with Professor Xavier (Patrick Stewart) to stop a new enemy. Release date: May 2, 2003
• "Fast And Furious 2": Set in Miami, Officer O'Conner (Paul Walker), stripped of his badge, is recruited to infiltrate the Miami street racing circuit in an effort to redeem himself. Also starring Tyrese, Ludacris, Fabolous. Release date: June 6, 2003
• "Shanghai Knights": This movie is the sequel to "Shanghai Noon." A Chinese rebel murders and escapes to England. Chon (Jackie Chen) and Roy (Owen Wilson) make their way to London with revenge on their minds. Release date: Feb. 7, 2003

• "Daredevil": Matt Murdock is a respected criminal attorney. But after he's done his "day job," Matt takes on a secret identity as "The Man Without Fear," Daredevil, the masked avenger who patrols the neighborhood of Hell's Kitchen and New York City to combat the injustice that he cannot tackle in the courtroom. Starring Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner. Release date: Feb. 14, 2003
• "The Hulk": The creature in this movie is based on the Marvel comic book character that possesses superhuman strength and an uncontrollable rage. The movie stars Eric Bana and Jennifer Connelly and is directed by Ang Lee. Release date: June 20, 2003
• "Cat In The Hat": The magic of childhood is re-born as one of Dr. Seuss' best-loved characters comes to life. Release date: November 2003

• "Gigli" and "Jersey Girl": Jennifer Lopez and her fiance Ben Affleck will be in the two romantic movies in 2003.
• "Down With Love": This is a movie that pays homage to the early 1960s sex comedies that starred Rock Hudson and Doris Day. The story follows a best-selling female advice author (Rene Zellweger) who has all the answers until a sly journalist playboy (Ewan McGregor) starts asking the questions. Also starring David Hyde Pierce.

• "Bruce Almighty": Bruce Nolan (Jim Carrey), a television reporter in Buffalo, N.Y., is discontented with almost everything in life, despite his popularity and the love of his girlfriend, Grace (Jennifer Aniston). At the end of the worst day of his life, Bruce angrily ridicules and rages against God and God responds. God appears in human form (Morgan Freeman) and, endowing Bruce with divine powers, challenges Bruce to take on the big job to see if he can do it any better. Release date: May 23, 2003.
• "Against The Ropes": Meg Ryan stars in a fictional story inspired by North America's most famous female boxing promoter, Jackie Kallen. The movie follows her struggle to survive and succeed in a male-dominated sport. Release date: March 14, 2003
• "Duplex": Drew Barrymore and Ben Stiller team up in the comedy. The young couple has a chance to move into a gorgeous duplex in the perfect New York neighborhood. All they have to do is bump off the current tenant, a cute little old lady. The movie is directed by Danny DeVito. Release date: March 14, 2003
• "Anger Management": Adam Sandler and Jack Nicholson star in this movie about a businessman who is wrongly sentenced to an anger-management program, where he meets an aggressive instructor. Release date: April 11, 2003
• "Mona Lisa's Smile": Julia Roberts stars in the movie of a free-spirited Berkeley graduate in 1953 who takes a position as a teacher at the women's college, Wellesley.

• "Blue Car": This is a small movie about a high school teacher who has affair with student. The film stars newcomer Agnes Bruckner. Release date: May 2003
• "Bringing Down The House": When a lonely guy (Steve Martin) meets a woman (Queen Latifah) on the Internet who happens to be in prison, she breaks out to be with him, and proceeds to wreak havoc on his middle-class life. Release date: March 7, 2003