A Look Back at the Summer Blockbuster Season

Batman Begins (2005)

After training with a ninja (Ken Watanabe) in Asia following his parents' brutal murder, Bruce Wayne (Christian Bale) returns to Gotham City and finds it overrun with crime and corruption. Discovering a cave under Wayne Manor, Bruce assumes a new identity and wages a one-man war against the criminals that plague the city. Katie Holmes, Liam Neeson, Gary Oldman, Tom Wilkinson and Morgan Freeman co-star. Christopher Nolan directs.

My Two Cents: Makes Burton's Dark Knight look like a sissy; makes Shumacher's Batman look like a bad dream that's finally ended.

NetFlix Rank: Loved It
IMDB Rank: 9/10

Star Wars: Episode III: Revenge of the Sith (2005)

In the third and final installment of the Star Wars prequel trilogy, Anakin
Skywalker (Hayden Christensen) and Padmé Amidala (Natalie Portman) are married, and General Grievous leads the Confederacy in a battle against the Republic. Darth Sidious (Ian McDiarmid) lures war-weary Anakin to the dark side, forcing Obi-Wan (Ewan McGregor) to fight against his former pupil. Samuel L. Jackson and Jimmy Smits also star.

My Two Cents: The Force is strong with this one!

NetFlix Rank: Loved it
IMDB Rank: 9/10

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005)

Lucky Charlie Bucket's one of five golden-ticket holders treated to a tour of Willy Wonka's chocolate factory in Tim Burton's reimagining. Along with the other four (rather naughty) contest winners, good-hearted Charlie (Freddie Highmore) visits the factory and encounters Oompa Loompas, eats wonderful candy creations and meets the fascinating Wonka (Johnny Depp) himself. From the time he enters the factory, Charlie's life changes forever.

My Two Cents: Falls a hair or two short of its predecessor's status as a classic, but Burton's eccentricity still delivers.

NetFlix Rank: Really Liked It
IMDB Rank: 8/10

Wedding Crashers (2005)

In this raucous romantic comedy, John (Owen Wilson) and his partner in crime, Jeremy (Vince Vaughn), are emotional criminals; they know just how to use a woman's hopes and dreams for their own carnal gain. Their modus operandi is to crash weddings so they can meet guests who want to hook up with someone else on such a romantic day. But when John meets Claire (Rachel McAdams), he discovers what true love -- and heartache -- feels like.

My Two Cents: At its best it's the funniest movie since Old School. Unfortunately it, too, fades toward the end.

NetFlix Rank: Really Liked It
IMDB Rank: 8/10