Nov 14, 2003 By Lou Gaul Calkins Media Film Critic 4 min read

A military epic (“Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World”), a cartoon romp (“Looney Tunes: Back in Action”), a factual drama (“Shattered Glass”) and a music documentary (“Tupac: Resurrection”) are the top titles arriving on this third weekend of November. The new motion pictures (with release dates subject to change) scheduled for a theater near you include:

– “Looney Tunes: Back in Action”: After being downsized from his job at Warner Bros., Daffy Duck becomes involved in a spy mission that involves traveling to Las Vegas with the bumbling son (Brendan Fraser of “Monkeybone”) of a big-screen secret agent (Timothy Dalton of “The Living Daylights”). Bugs Bunny goes along for the ride in the PG-rated romp and is joined by numerous Looney Tunes characters, including Porky Pig, the Tasmanian Devil, Yosemite Sam, Road Runner, Wile E. Coyote, Tweety Bird and Sylvester. The colorful PG-rated picture, which combines live action and animation (a la “Space Jam” and “Who Framed Roger Rabbit”), co-stars Jenna Elfman (TV’s “Dharma and Greg”), Steve Martin (“Bowfinger”) and Heather Locklear (TV’s “Melrose Place”) and features many humorous fantasy-film references designed to delight movie buffs. Joe Dante (“Gremlins”) directed.

– “Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World”: This ruggedly rousing high-seas epic, rated PG-13, is set in 1805 during the Napoleonic Wars. Australian director Peter Weir (“Witness”) simply thrusts viewers into the victory-at-sea tale with little preparation, tosses around assorted nautical terms, introduces numerous salty characters and then invites audience members to hold on for the ride. Russell Crowe (“Gladiator”) stars as British navy Capt. “Lucky” Jack Aubrey and anchors the $135 million picture with a commanding performance as the daring officer who leads his crew in a cat-and-mouse hunt for a much larger French vessel. In the hands of the thoughtful Weir, the stunning visual effects service the 118-minute story without overwhelming the characters and their seemingly impossible mission.

– “My Architect: A Son’s Journey”: The life and work of the late Philadelphia native Louis I. Kahn, an emotionally troubled designer considered by historians to be one of the most important architects of the second half of the 20th century, is examined by his illegitimate son, Yale University graduate Nathaniel Kahn. The unrated 116-minute documentary chronicles Kahn’s professional triumphs including building the Exeter Library and the Kimbell Art Museum – and his personal demons. Those psychological problems ultimately caused the one-time University of Pennsylvania professor to die bankrupt and unidentified in the men’s room in New York’s Penn Station in 1974.

– “Shattered Glass”: Boyishly handsome reporter Stephen Glass (Hayden Christensen of “Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones”) is a rising star at The New Republic, a respected magazine, due to his way of breaking important stories. His world collapses, however, when a no-nonsense editor (Peter Sarsgaard of “K-19: The Widowmaker”) and a fellow reporter (Steve Zahn of “Daddy Day Care”) discover that the popular journalist has invented all the facts and quotes. Chloe Sevigny (“Boys Don’t Cry”), Rosario Dawson (“Men in Black II”) and Hank Azaria (“America’ s Sweethearts”) co-star in the 103-minute picture, rated PG-13. Screenwriter-turned-filmmaker Billy Ray, who penned “Hart’s War,” made his directing debut.

– “Tupac: Resurrection”: This R-rated documentary, which took five years to complete, examines the life and art of the late rap artist Tupac Shakur, who was killed on Sept. 6, 1996 at age 25 during a Las Vegas drive-by shooting. His murder remains unsolved. The 90-minute production was approved by Shakur’s estate and his mother, Afeni, served as executive producer. Lauren Lazin, best known as the executive producer of the cable hit “Cribs,” made her directing debut.

At the buck$ office

“The Matrix Revolutions” got off to a good but far from great start last weekend.

The final installment in the “Matrix” trilogy grossed more than $50 million despite a flood of bad reviews from critics and negative word of mouth from fans.

Will Ferrell, however, must be smiling.

His modestly budgeted, feel-good holiday comedy, “Elf,” opened with more than $32 million and should remain in theaters through Dec. 25.

According to the Associated Press, the top 10 films last weekend were:

1. “The Matrix Revolutions” ($50.16 million)

2. “Elf” ($32.1 million)

3. “Brother Bear” ($18.6 million)

4. “Scary Movie 3” ($11.1 million)

5. “Radio” ($7.4 million)

6. “Love Actually” ($6.6 million)

7. “Mystic River” ($4.83 million)

8. (tie) “Runaway Jury” ($4.8 million)

9. (tie) “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre” ($4.8 million)

10. “The School of Rock” ($3.15 million)

Coming Soon!

The major titles scheduled to open Nov. 21 include: “Dr. Seuss’ The Cat in the Hat” (a family picture with Mike Myers in the title role), “Elephant” (director Gus Van Sant’s acclaimed drama about a Columbine-like shooting) and “Gothika” (a dark thriller with Halle Berry as a doctor who awakens as a patient in a mental institution).