Fantasy: 264

The American sports comedy film, Herbie: Fully Loaded (2005), directed by Angela Robinson, follows the adventures of a spirited Volkswagen Beetle with a mind of its own. After losing multiple races, Herbie is towed to a junkyard and decommissioned. Meanwhile, Maggie Peyton, the youngest member of the racing Peyton family, finishes college and secures an internship at ESPN. To celebrate her achievement, her father Ray takes her to the junkyard to choose a car as a graduation gift. Amidst the selection process, Herbie escapes from a crane and lands on top of the car Maggie initially picked out. With no hesitation, Maggie ...

The American romantic comedy fantasy-adventure film, Just Like Heaven (2005), directed by Mark Waters, follows the story of Elizabeth Masterson and David Abbott. Elizabeth is a dedicated emergency room physician in San Francisco who gets into a car accident on her way to a blind date set up by her sister. Three months later, David, a landscape architect seeking a fresh start after his wife’s passing, moves into Elizabeth’s apartment as a sublet. To their surprise, Elizabeth starts appearing in the apartment, causing confusion for both of them. She believes David is an intruder while he thinks she broke in. ...

Set in Paris, Angel-A (2005) is a French romantic fantasy drama film written and directed by Luc Besson. In one scene, Andre describes himself through a voice over, revealing that he is currently in Paris but actually lives in America. Despite considering himself a good person, Andre admits to constantly lying, even to himself. The next moment, he is violently slapped to the ground by three thugs who demand their owed money. Later, Franck’s bodyguard holds Andre over the railing of the iconic Eiffel Tower and demands repayment for his debt as well. Desperate for help, Andre turns to both the American embassy and a ...

King Kong (2005), a monumental adventure monster film, was co-written, produced, and directed by the talented Peter Jackson. In the midst of the Great Depression, New York City’s struggling vaudeville performer Ann Darrow is offered a role by filmmaker Carl Denham, who is facing financial troubles. Despite her initial reservations, Ann agrees to join the project upon discovering that her favorite playwright, Jack Driscoll, is involved as well. The filming takes place on the SS Venture, with Captain Englehorn at the helm and Carl claiming that they are heading to Singapore. However, his true intention is to capture ...

The fantasy film, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005), directed by Mike Newell from a screenplay by Steve Kloves, is based on the 2000 novel of the same name by J.K. Rowling. In the film, Harry has a nightmare in which a Muggle caretaker is murdered for overhearing a plot involving Lord Voldemort, Peter Pettigrew, and an unidentified man. The next day, Harry joins the Weasleys, Hermione Granger, Cedric Diggory, and his father Amos at the Quidditch World Cup. However, their evening is disrupted when Death Eaters ...

Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed (2004) is a comedy-adventure fantasy film in the American market that was inspired by the beloved animated series, Scooby-Doo. At the start of the film, Fred, Daphne, Velma, Shaggy and Scooby-Doo are all thrilled to be attending the grand opening of an exhibition at the Coolsonian Criminology Museum. The exhibit showcases all their successful past cases, complete with authentic monster costumes on display. The festivities take an unexpected turn when a mysterious figure known as ‘The Evil Masked Figure’ appears and uses the Pterodactyl Ghost to steal two of the costumes. As if that weren’t enough, Heather ...

Scooby-Doo and the Loch Ness Monster (2004) is a direct-to-video animated comedy mystery that follows the usual format of the popular Saturday morning cartoons. The beloved Mystery, Inc. crew embarks on a journey to Scotland’s Loch Ness to visit Daphne Blake’s ancestral home, Blake Castle, alongside her cousin Shannon. As luck would have it, their arrival coincides with the annual Highland games held on the castle grounds and featuring various traditional Scottish sports. However, Shannon reveals that the castle has been plagued by sightings of the infamous Loch Ness Monster. Her claims are backed by Del Chillman, a self-proclaimed monster enthusiast and ...

The American live-action/animated adventure comedy film, The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie (2004), is based on the popular animated television series of the same name. In Bikini Bottom, our beloved protagonist SpongeBob SquarePants eagerly anticipates his promotion to manager at the new Krusty Krab 2, located next to the original restaurant. However, much to his disappointment, his co-worker Squidward Tentacles is given the title instead. Mr. Krabs explains that Squidward is more mature and better suited for the role, leaving SpongeBob feeling upset and discouraged. Meanwhile, Plankton’s numerous failed attempts to steal the Krabby Patty secret formula and conquer ...

Far Far Away Idol (2004), a six-minute interactive short with various endings, was included as a bonus on the Shrek 2 DVD and VHS on November 5, 2004. Following the conclusion of Shrek 2, fan-favorite characters participate in a singing competition judged by none other than Simon Cowell himself. Experience the comical antics of your beloved Shrek characters as they belt out tunes all night long in this side-splitting parody. Laugh along with Fiona, Puss in Boots, Donkey and the rest of the Far Far Away Kingdom as they compete in a musical showdown.

In 2004, an American animated comedy film was released called Shrek 2 (2004). It was loosely based on a children’s picture book from 1990 by William Steig also titled Shrek!. The story follows the main characters, newlyweds Shrek and Princess Fiona, who return from their honeymoon to receive an invitation from Fiona’s parents to attend a royal ball in honor of their marriage. Despite initial hesitation, Fiona convinces Shrek to attend and together they journey to the kingdom of Far Far Away with their companion Donkey. Upon arrival, they are met with surprise and disapproval from Fiona’s ...

The fantasy film, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004), was directed by Alfonso Cuarón, with a screenplay by Steve Kloves. It is based on the 1999 novel of the same name written by J.K. Rowling. Once again, Harry Potter endures a disappointing summer with his relatives, the Dursleys. However, things take a turn for the worse on his thirteenth birthday when Vernon’s sister Marge insults Harry’s parents in a cruel manner. Enraged, Harry causes her to inflate and float away. Believing he will be punished ...

Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas (2003) is an American animated adventure film produced by DreamWorks Animation and distributed by DreamWorks Pictures. The story follows Sinbad and his pirate crew as they attempt to steal the enchanted ‘Book of Peace’ and hold it for ransom in what they believe will be their final mission before retiring to Fiji. However, Sinbad’s plans are interrupted when he realizes that the book is being guarded by Prince Proteus of Syracuse, his childhood best friend. Despite Proteus’ pleas for mercy based on their past friendship, Sinbad still tries to take the book but is thwarted by the arrival of Cetus, a large sea ...

The fantasy adventure film, Peter Pan (2003), was co-directed and written by P. J. Hogan and Michael Goldenberg. Set in Edwardian London, the story follows Wendy Darling as she tells her younger brothers, John and Michael, tales of Captain Hook and his pirates. One night, as Wendy shares her stories with her brothers, Peter Pan overhears from outside their nursery window. However, not everyone is impressed with Wendy’s imaginative tales. Concerned about her future prospects, Aunt Millicent urges the Darlings to focus on more practical matters. Meanwhile, at school, ...

Big Fish (2003), directed by Tim Burton and based on the novel Big Fish: A Novel of Mythic Proportions by Daniel Wallace, follows the life of Edward Bloom. At his son William’s wedding, Edward reminisces about the day Will was born, claiming to have caught a giant catfish with his wedding ring as bait. Growing up, Will often heard these fantastical stories, but never believed them to be true. This caused a rift between him and his father. However, when Edward is diagnosed with cancer years later, Will and his pregnant wife Joséphine visit Edward at their ...

The Ghost of Lord Farquaad (2003) is an animated 4D film based on the Shrek franchise by DreamWorks Animation and the book by William Steig. As Shrek and Princess Fiona search for the Honeymoon Hotel, Thelonious appears and captures Fiona. Shrek and Donkey chase after them, leading them to a graveyard where they encounter Lord Farquaad’s statue of Dragon which he has sent to attack them. However, the real Dragon arrives to save them, resulting in a chase that ends with the stone dragon losing its wings and falling into the water below. In another attempt to harm Fiona, Farquaad sends her over a waterfall on a raft ...

The epic high fantasy adventure film, The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003), was directed by Peter Jackson and written by Fran Walsh, Philippa Boyens, and Jackson. Based on J. R. R. Tolkien’s third volume of the novel series, The Return of the King (1955), it follows the journey of Sméagol, a hobbit who becomes consumed by the power of the One Ring after murdering his cousin Déagol to obtain it. As ...

Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003) is an American fantasy supernatural swashbuckler film directed by Gore Verbinski. Produced by Jerry Bruckheimer and distributed by Walt Disney Pictures, it’s based on the popular Pirates of the Caribbean attraction at Disney theme parks. In the 18th century, Governor Weatherby Swann and his daughter, Elizabeth, sail aboard HMS Dauntless. During their voyage, they come across a shipwrecked survivor named Will Turner. However, when Elizabeth takes a gold medallion from around Will’s neck, she ...

Scooby-Doo: The Movie (2002) is an American fantasy adventure comedy film based on the beloved animated franchise of the same name, and produced by Mosaic Media Group. After defeating the Luna Ghost at a toy factory, tensions within Mystery, Inc. cause Fred, Daphne, and Velma to part ways. With their trusty van, the Mystery Machine, in their care, Scooby and Shaggy are left to manage on their own. However, two years later they receive an invitation from Emile Mondavarious, the owner of ‘Spooky Island’, a horror-themed tropical resort. He believes that something sinister is happening on his island and asks for their assistance in solving the mystery.

In the comedic short film Mike’s New Car (2002), the main characters from Monsters, Inc., Mike Wazowski and James P. ‘Sulley’ Sullivan, star in a 2002 American computer-animated adventure. Mike proudly introduces Sulley to his new six-wheel drive vehicle, eager to take it for a spin. However, things quickly go awry as Mike encounters numerous mishaps while trying to get inside the car. From the seatbelt reminder chime to struggling with a stuck seatbelt, Mike’s excitement turns into frustration. As Sulley tries to help, he ends up accidentally locking Mike out of the car and then closing the hood on his fingers. Amidst the chaos, all Mike can ...

The Scorpion King (2002), an action adventure film directed by Chuck Russell, features Dwayne Johnson in the lead role. Set before the time of the pyramids, it tells the story of a powerful conqueror named Memnon who terrorizes local tribes with his sorcerer’s foresight. Only three true Akkadians, Mathayus, Jesup, and Rama, are left to face the threat and are hired by King Pheron to kill Memnon’s sorcerer for twenty blood rubies. Sneaking into Memnon’s camp, they are ambushed by guards who were warned by Pheron’s son Takmet, a traitor who kills his ...