The Taking of Pelham One Two Three (1974)

★★★★☆

Set in New York, a group of heavily armed men decide to hijack a subway car and hold everybody inside for ransom. They demand $1 million otherwise they’ll begin killing passengers. Lt. Zach Garber responds to the threat and tries to reason with the hijackers but time is running short and the mayor is isn’t sure about giving in. This wonderfully menacing film is what the remake could never amount to. Striking performances by Walter Matthau and Robert Shaw highlight this edge of your seat thriller that is somehow both calming and tense. It’s dark, gritty and reflects the realism of inner city commute. It’s not flashy and it gets down to business within the first 10 minutes of the film.

Green Lantern (2011)

★★★☆☆

Based off of the Marvel comic book hero; a test pilot named Hal Jordan nearly saves a dying alien who gives him a mysterious green ring with supernatural powers. Unwillingly, Hal becomes the successor of the alien who is part of an intergalactic peacekeeping squad. At the same time, an interstellar being known as Parallax is accidentally inserted inside Dr. Hector Hammond and soon Hammond as well as Parallax threatens to destroy humanity. Hal must find the courage to be Earth’s Green Lantern. This film could have been great but instead, it became a step up from Fantastic 4 but a step down from X-Men but Reynolds still keeps his sarcastic charm. The CGI was okay but what really bothered me was that it didn’t utilize its villains and heroes properly. I wanted to see Hector Hammond pose more of a threat, but instead I saw Hal beat up band guys in an alley. The film can be easily passed off as a great corny superhero movie but I wanted more.

Full Metal Jacket (1987)

★★★★1/2

This riveting, brutal, honest and bloody story follows a group of newly recruited marines as they deal with the abusive and dehumanizing effects of basic training before they are shipped off to Vietnam. The second half of the story follows Pvt. Joker as an army journalist as he witnesses the bloody effects of the Vietnam war. Set in the 60’s in Hue, Vietnam. This was a particularly hard film to endure, especially the first half at basic training where you begin to feel how the recruits feel as their drill instructor harasses and abuses them. It’s a dark look into the eyes of war and is only strengthened by powerful performances, wonderful direction and apocalyptic atmosphere. This film is compelling and sticks with you the rest of your life and like any great film that shows the horrors of Vietnam, it’s a tough bite to chew.

The Rocketeer (1991)

★★★☆☆

Set in the 30’s, when a young airplane pilot discovers a secrete prototype jetpack, he dawns a uniform and metal mask and becomes a local hero. However, the jetpack belongs to famed aviator Howard Hughes and his high-flying stunts have captured the eyes of a Hollywood actor that moonlights as a Nazi spy. Now the young man must find a way to stop the Nazi spy from stealing the jetpack as well as killing his friends. Great action, great art direction and a particularly menacing villain played by Timothy Dalton make this flick fun for kids but for me, I wanted a little more action and I felt like there was no real danger but rather a plot that revolves around an easily able to fix mistake. For kids it works but for adults, it might be a little iffy.

Mimic 2 (2001)

★★1/2

Sequel to Mimic. Years after all remnants of the Judas breed insect have been destroyed, a mysterious creature begins lurking around the slums of New York. Soon one of the teachers of a local school who once worked on the Judas breed recognizes that it’s a mutated cockroach but this time it’s different, this time they have evolved to look human. Now, after being trapped in the school, which has become the nest, she must find away to save herself as well as the two kids she saved. This was one of my childhood favorites and I don’t understand why. I was somewhat bored by it because it seems like the film went entirely for mood and not direction. It felt like it was trying to be Guillermo’s work but it was an imposter with bad CGI.

Jonah Hex (2010)

★★★☆☆

The government in exchange for his freedom recruits a lone, mysterious bounty hunter with supernatural powers (named Jonah Hex) to find and stop a terrorist who wants to use state of the art technology to blow up the capitol. Making matters more interesting is that Jonah Hex has dealt with this madmen before; he was the one who slayed his family and rendered him with a serious facial deformity. Good action and decent performances save this film from becoming a bland action-packed western. I liked the plot involving new technology as the catalyst for the terrorist but Megan Fox felt completely unneeded. Overall, it wasn’t bad but certainly not the best comic book adaption.

Super 8 (2011)

★★★★1/2

Review: Click here

Super 8 (2011)

★★★★1/2

Review: Click here

Mimic (1997)

★★★1/2

3 years following the elimination of disease carrying cockroaches by a genetically modified breed of insect, a new breed of insect has risen up from New York’s depths. Growing to human size, concealing itself in a protective mask that resembles a human head and feeding on humans; this new insect has kidnapped a young boy, killed several people and is out to colonize the world. Now, Dr. Tyler and her husband must find away to stop the insect menace before it spreads… or has it already? Great atmosphere, gorgeous set pieces, wonderful slimy makeup and slasher instincts highlight this movie as being a great sci-fi horror. It definitely can get under you skin sometimes.

Nightwish (1990)

★★★☆☆

Genres are mixed in this sci-fi/horror tale. A college professor invites his four graduate students to accompany him at his personal farm to investigate paranormal activity but when the students channel an evil spirit that unleashes their deepest fears, they must find a way to conquer themselves. Making matters worse is that there is the possibility that aliens are using the demonic forces to take over the world and the professor is in the middle of it all. As a small, indie made sci-fi horror film with appeasing special effects and one hell of a plot, it’s certainly not bad. The intentions are right and the cheesiness is there but the direction of the actors and actresses makes the film fumble. Still, it was fun watching it to see just how deep they tap into the human psyche when it comes to sleep and mentality.

The Manchurian Candidate (1962)

★★★★★

During the Korean War a group of POWs are brainwashed to carry out Korean terrorists plot but when one, who happens to be a Medal of Honor recipient, begins having nightmares of killing people it’s up to Bennett Marco (who was also brainwashed) to stop him from assassinating the vice-President. Marked by amazing performances by Sinatra, Harvey and Lansbury, this compelling thriller really holds you down as it spins you through loops of unexpected twists and double-crossing. Mixed with romanticism and beautiful cinematography, this film was a breath of nostalgic fresh air.

Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner (1967)

★★★★1/2

Joey and John are your typical American couple who love each other deeply, but when Joey brings her fiancé to meet her parent, their morals are put to the test when they find out that their daughter’s fiancé is black. Now, tasked with having to give them their blessing in a short time, they must find a way to put their prejudices aside for the wellbeing for their daughter. However, it seems like the families of both of the lovers have prejudices to work out. I doesn’t help that they have unwillingly agreed to have dinner together. A perfect film that plays out like a stage play with all around great performances by the cast and the supporting cast. As the film progresses you feel empathetic towards John as he is tasked with an even tougher decision. Awkwardness, laughs and nervousness is what hits you as you’re eyes are glued to the screen wondering what happens and how things will be solved.

Shock Waves (1977)

★★1/2

When their ship hits a strange “reef” while on their vacation, a group of tourists wind up on a seemingly abandoned remote island. But they soon discover that the island is inhabited by a Nazi scientist who went into exile at the end of World War II, taking with him his army of Nazi zombie supersoldiers. Now the group must find a way to fix their boat and evacuate the island before the ocean becomes their grave. I give a definite A for atmosphere and mood and general creativity for the zombies but the rest of the movie falls flat. It’s long, drawn out and not too much interesting stuff happens. If the mood were able to salvage this film, it would have been worth seeing. Otherwise, it’s forgettable.

Robin Hood (1973)

★★★★1/2

Disney’s take on the legendary story of Robin Hood, an outlaw who stole from the greedy king to give back to the poor over-taxed citizens of his kingdom, told through anthropomorphic animals. Having stolen the throne of his brother who had to leave his kingdom for an emergency, the greedy king decides to tax the citizens of the kingdom to the point of poverty. A childhood staple; this wondrous, whimsical and occasionally dark retelling of the famous tale is still funny after all these years. I found myself smiling at the same jokes and action sequences. This film is the definition of timeless.

Bicentennial Man (1999)

★★★1/2

After being purchased by a suburban family in the near future, android Andrew Martin yearns to become a human being after developing humanistic qualities such as sculpting, painting and a playful attitude. However, during his 200-year journey he is met with the deaths of his closest friends (his family) as well as the disapproval of being classified as “human” by popular vote. Though not as great as I remember, this is a still a very touching and imaginative tale of wanting to fit in with a brilliant performance by Robin Williams and beautiful direction by Columbus. It has heart, affection and warmth but seems a bit too fast-paced. It brings up the question, what defines being human?

The Hangover Part II (2011)

★★★1/2

The wolf pack is back! Yes, but this time Stu is getting married in Thailand and his friends Phil and Doug pressure him to not only invite Alan but to have one last drink for his bachelor party and things go bad. After waking up in a dingy hotel they soon realize that Stu’s brother in-law (his father-in-law “prized possession”) is missing and might have been kidnapped by a drug cartel. They must now find a way to remember the night before so that they could save Stu’s brother-in-law. This time Alan didn’t do anything… that they know of. It was great to see Mr. Chow in a bigger role and although the film has an abundance of laughs and raunchiness, it literally felt like The Hangover set in Thailand. They didn’t try to do anything new so it felt a little rehashed but it was still great to see the guys fumble over each other a second time.

Schindler’s List (1993)

★★★★★

Spielberg’s epic retelling of Nazi industrialist Oskar Schindler who, after witnessing the liquidation of the Poland ghetto, became concerned with how the Jewish were being persecuted by the Nazi Party. Afterwards he made it his mission to save as many Jews as possible from the Plaszow labor camp as he could, although at first he was reluctant to do anything but as time passed on he saw the evil that was the Nazi Party. Filmed in black and white, this movie was hauntingly compelling with scenes that would even the strongest person get teary. Spielberg doesn’t do justice to all the evils of the Holocaust but he really puts the viewer into the shoes of the Jews, which is something that is rarely achieved. Mixed with a fantastic score by John Williams and brilliant performances, this movie should be watched by everybody just so that they could get a taste of World War II. It really is just the tip of the iceberg.

Jurassic Park (1993)

★★★★1/2

Review here.

Dark Tower (1989)

★★☆☆☆

When a mysterious death occurs on the construction of a vast skyscraper, authorities believe that it was an accident. However, detective Dennis Randall believes otherwise, he believes that the tower is being haunted by a ghost and soon discovers that this ghost is attracted to the architect of the building, Carolyn Page. With the help of a psychic, Dennis must find a way to stop the ghost from killing Page and the rest of the people in the tower. Does it sound bland? It is. The characters are stale, the plot is mediocre and it tries to go for a Kubrickian style mood but ultimately fails. It comes off a being boring with less than a handful of intresting scenes.

Gangs of New York (2002)

★★★★☆

Set in 1863, a young man named Amsterdam Vallon returns to the Five Points district of New York for one thing: to kill the man (Bill the Butcher) who brutally murdered his father years ago in a bloody gang fight. However, things have changed, the allies that his father had are now working for Bill and Bill has become untouchable. So Vallon decides to get on Bill’s good side and inevitably becomes his protégé, without Bill knowing who is really is. However, things slowly come to a boil and Vallon is beginning to resemble Bill himself. Sure it’s not Scorsese’s best film but I think it’s a movie that is overlooked by a lot of people. It has outstanding costuming and set design and the performances are great; Daniel Day-Lewis gives a chilling performance as the film’s main antagonist and I think DiCaprio exceeds in his as well. It’s a compelling story with rich characters and some brutal violence. Highly recommended.

eXistanZ (1999)

★★★1/2

When a famous game designer is marked for death by an unknown group of assassins, a marketing trainee is tasked with making sure that she stays alive. However, they must now play the virtual reality game that she designed to figure out if the game has been corrupted and who and why these assassins are targeting her. The problem is… they can’t trust anybody, not even their closest friends. Though I don’t think it’s Cronenberg’s best movie it definitely has his mark but I felt like the film was lagging in performance, probably because I was trying to keep up with the plot. It wasn’t a bad thing and I still found the film entertaining, I just prefer Cronenberg’s earlier films.

Trinity & Beyond: The Atomic Bomb Movie (1995)

★★★1/2

Narrated by William Shatner, this documentary dives into the history of the development of the atomic bomb from the Trinity test to the first Chinese atomic bomb in the 60’s. Using restored and declassified test footage from the government, the film really shows just how powerfully mesmerizing that atomic bomb was. It was frightening but at the same time it was beautiful. I felt like it was the Koyaanisqatsi of nuclear testing since the footage was cut so perfectly to the soundtrack. The story is interesting and Shatner does a great job but the scene-stealer here is the footage and the soundtrack of the near-apocalypse.

Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides (2011)

★★★★☆

Loosely based off of a book of the same name, the story follows Captain Jack Sparrow (again) who somehow got swindled into becoming a crewmember aboard the Queen Anne’s Revenge, the ship of the notorious Blackbeard. Meanwhile, Barbossa has become an Admiral working for the King of England sent out to find and kill Blackbeard. What he doesn’t realize is that both Sparrow, Blackbeard, Blackbeard’s daughter and the Spanish, are all trying to locate the famed Fountain of Youth. Though this film doesn’t have the great cinematography and darkness that Verbinski gave the Pirates movie, it was still a great action film that explored greater realms of Pirate mythology. Headlined by McShane’s Blackbeard, this installment is probably better than the 3^rd installment but I would have loved to see what Verbinski would have added to the table.

Vertigo (1958)

★★★★1/2

When a San Francisco detective, suffering from acrophobia, is asked my one of his friends to follow and investigate his wife’s activities, he soon becomes obsessively in love with her. The basis of his friend’s accusations is that he believes that she is becoming somebody that she isn’t but as things unfold, detective Ferguson realizes that there is a more sinister plot at hand. Cited as being one of Hitchcock’s best films, I don’t believe it’s his best but certainly one of his greatest achievements in suspense and brilliance. It’s a very complex and thoughtful story the blends mystery with forbidden passion. Wonderful special effects seem to be a byproduct of this film. For me, it’s Jimmy Stewart’s performance that won me over, especially his chilling turn of character at the end.

Eraser (1996)

★★★☆☆

John Kruger is one of the best witness protection agents of his company but when a young woman breaks into his company’s labs, he soon realizes that they are developing a high-tech weapon. He soon realizes that she is telling the truth and they are both on list of people to be “erased.” As a simple plotted, gun-a-blazing, suspenseful action movie it works… and that’s all it really is. It may not be one of Schwarzenegger’s best movies but it’s pretty entertaining with some great stunts. It’s nice to see James Caan fight off Arnold any day of the week.

Pleasantville (1998)

★★★★1/2

When a brother and sister from the 90’s are zapped into a 1950’s sitcom by a mysterious remote, they soon find themselves struggling to adapt to the 50’s ideology and morals. It doesn’t take long before the sister, Jennifer, disobeys her brother, David, and brings 90’s culture to this complacent black and white world. Before long, the citizens of Pleasantville begin seeing things in a while new color and this angers those who want to keep their strict morals and later leads to Pleasantville becoming not so pleasant. At its heart, this is a truly magical film that explores people’s fear and how we’ll do anything to preserve our innocents. Great special effects and wonderful art direction highlight this film as being something other than a “fish out of the water” story. It has heart, humor and morals.

L.A. Confidential (1997)

★★★★★

Set in the 50’s, when a ruthless and violent shooting at the Nite Owl Diner is investigated, by the book police officer Edmund Exley seeks out the vigilantes responsible for all the murders. Meanwhile, brute thug Detective Wendell White believes that the shootings trail back to a wealthy brothel owner who makes prostitutes look like movie stars. However, Jack Vincennes, who became the chief advisor for an L.A. cop TV Show, believes that the shootings originated at the L.A. County Governor’s office. What these three don’t realize is that the shootings go much deeper than any of them suspected. Brilliant performances, a tight and suspenseful script and gorgeous cinematography highlight this film as one of the best modern day noir pieces I’ve seen.

Airplane II: The Sequel (1982)

★★★☆☆

When an A.I. computer guidance system aboard a space shuttle becomes self-aware and reroutes the course towards the sun, Ted Striker is called back once again to save the shuttle and all the passengers aboard it. With very little time and the ground units puzzled, Ted must find a way to destroy the A.I. system, remap a new course to the moon and win the love of his life Elaine Dickinson. As a sequel, this installment isn’t bad and has some fresh gags but ultimately it references the first one way too many times. Jokes are reused and “remade” and ends up being a parody of itself. It’s nice to see a new cast of characters but I just wish that it didn’t ride Airplane’s coattails.

Rear Window (1954)

★★★★★

After an accident has left him in a wheelchair, Photographer Jeff Jeffries finds entertainment by spying on his neighbors from his apartment window. However, after harmlessly peeping into a mild case of spousal abuse, Jeffries soon becomes convinced that the husband has murdered his wife. Unable to leave his apartment and without any evidence, Jeffries must now prove that the murder happened… or is he developing a case of cabin fever? While the film, at its core, is quite boring, Hitchcock uses voyeurism to create sharp suspense. The audience, like Jeffries, is confined to that one apartment and we aren’t able to see what truly is happening. With great performances by Jimmy Stewart and Grace Kelly, this is a fine case of pure suspense.

A.I. Artificial Intelligence (2001)

★★★★1/2

In the future, a family, grieving after their son’s near-fatal illness, decides to “adopt” a young robotic boy who has been programmed to feel love by means of artificial intelligence. However, when the family’s son is cured, the robotic boy is abandoned in a forest by the mom and begins a journey to find the “blue fairy” (from which he heard from the Pinocchio story) that can grant him the wish of becoming a real boy so that his mother could love him. This haunting, beautifully directed film is sad, heartbreaking and compelling. It raises several questions about what love is and if it’s possible for machines to love and vise versa. It’s a heart-wrenching story of trying to become ‘real’ and it’s told through the eyes of a child. It’s creepy because we begin to believe that this boy is real. Haley Joel Osment is phenomenal but I hated the ending because it didn’t bring the closure I wanted.

Chinatown (1974)

★★★★★

Set in 1930’s Los Angeles, a private detective begins investigating an adultery case he soon realizes that the man who may be having an affair is a key member in the water company. Upon his sudden and suspicious death, the investigator is drawn into a series of lies, hidden agendas, murder and framing that lead him to believe that somebody had him killed so that he doesn’t tell the police about where the water of Los Angeles is really going. Brilliantly directed by Roman Polanski, beautifully shot and carefully tuned; this film was a great tribute to the old crime noir flicks of the 30’s and 40’s. Jack Nicholson, Faye Dunaway and John Huston give outstanding performances, which only add to the film’s charm and glory. Don’t even get me stared about the score.

Cliffhanger (1993)

★★★★☆

After a fatal rescue mission high above the Rocky Mountains, Gabe Walker is called back to the mountain rescue force when he is sent to rescue survivors of a downed airplane. Little do he and his bitter friend realize that the survivors are a group of violent thieves that crash-landed there after a mid-air height went wrong. Now, with three suitcases full of money spread out over the mountainous region, Gabe and his partner are forcefully tasked with finding the money despite the dangerous terrain. This is another great example of a fine action movie that not only leaves me with a sense of anticipation but also preserves and showcases the natural beauty of that region. Great action, a less-indestructible Stallone and a chilling performance by John Lithgow make this a must-see for any action fanatic.

The Terror Within (1989)

★★1/2

Set in a post-apocalyptic world destroyed by an unknown chemical accident, a group of underground military survivors take in a woman who appears to be alive despite living above the ground. Things turn from bright to dark when her mutant baby kills her and escapes to somewhere in the compound. With the mutant growing at a fast rate, the crew must find a way to stop it before it gets hungry with its eyes set on the crewmembers. Produced by Mr. Schlock Roger Corman, this flick is bad but not in all cases. The creature design is great and it has that distinct midnight movie feel as you watch it. It may be bad but it’s the good type of bad and by the end of it you can’t help but say, “they really don’t make them like they use to.”

True Lies (1994)

★★★1/2

Harry Tasker has been living a secret life as a government agent and assassin for years hidden from his wife Helen. However, when Harry discovers that she might be having an affair he calls on his intelligence resources to find out who this other man is but when he assigns her a phony mission things spin out of control. A militant terrorist kidnaps his wife and a couple of nuclear warheads and threatens to bomb Miami if his demands aren’t met. Harry must find a way to break the news to his wife and save the city of Miami before it becomes a smoking crater. This is the definition of an action flick: great action, a protagonist that’s funny and indestructible, a compelling side story and plenty of humor. Jamie Lee Curtis reprises her role as the ‘scream queen’ many times and the film becomes a true relic of action cinema.

The Slumber Party Massacre (1982)

★★1/2

When her parents leave her home alone, an high school girl invites her friends over to her home to have a “girl’s night” slumber party. However, an uninvited guest arrives fresh from the insane asylum and equipped with a huge power drill to maim and kill the girls. With the night getting darker and darker, the girls must find a way to stop the killer before the slumber party turns into a bloodbath. Apparently this was supposed to be a spoof on slashers but it ends up being this cheesy yet bland slasher flick. Shockingly, I found its blandness and cold-hearted nature to be enjoyable and ends up being a self-parody straight from the 80’s slasher genre.

Quantum of Solace (2008)

★★★☆☆

Picking up directly after Casino Royal, James Bond seeks revenge for the death of his love, which leads him to investigate a environmental corporation. However, upon confronting the corporation’s CEO Bond and M realize that it’s only a front for an even bigger network of high-profile terrorists. Now Bond must find a way to stop the CEO from taking control of a third world country’s water supply. Though this isn’t as suspenseful as Casino Royal, it’s still a great action flick with some amazing chase and fight sequences. Bond seems darker and more determined and Craig does a great job as always. The only gripe is that I wish we got to see more of Quantum since it’s in the movie’s title. Otherwise, it’s great eye candy action.

Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery (1997)

★★★★☆

Austin Powers, 60’s swinger and secret agent who was cryogenically frozen in the 60’s, is awakened in the 90’s to fight his sworn enemy Dr. Evil. However, in addition to trying to stop Dr. Evil, Austin must realize that it’s no longer the 60’s and times/attitudes have changed from what he knew. Now, like a fish out of water, he must learn to fit in if he wants to stop Dr. Evil. This brilliant and hysterical parody of the James Blond flicks is a winner. Austin is absolutely clueless about his new surroundings (as well as Dr. Evil who was also frozen in the 60’s) and that’s why it’s so funny. Meyers created a lovable goofball who we can point and laugh wit.

Song of the South (1946)

★★★1/2

After his family moves in with his grandmother down south and the leaving of his father, a young boy named Johnny finds happiness from an old but kind storyteller named Uncle Remus. Uncle Remus, knowing that the boy loves stories, regales him of the stories of Br’er Rabbit and Br’er Fox. These stories teach the boy moral lessons and the true essence of happiness. Although it’s very politically incorrect and shows the ideal perfect relationship between slaves and slaveowners, it’s still a very warm and lighthearted story for children. I enjoyed it, I laughed at it and I loved the animation. As the old saying goes, ignorance is bliss especially whenit comes to kids.

African Cats (2011)

★★★★1/2

This Disney nature documentary follows two different cat families. On one side of the river is a single mother Cheetah trying to raise her cubs alone and protecting them from vicious hyenas. On the other side of the river is a small, but closely-knit lion pride who have to fend themselves off from a another lion (and his three sons) who wants to take over their group. This is one of the best nature documentaries I’ve ever seen because it has a story that was written and performed by nature and shows the brutal reality that is nature. It’s painfully sad, beautifully happy and very compelling. Mixed with great narration by Samuel L. Jackson and stunning camera work, this is a film that should be seen. It really puts “the Circle of Life” in perspective.

Pandorum (2009)

★★★1/2

A pair of spaceship crewmembers wake up from hyper sleep with no memories of their mission or identities, they soon realize that the entire ship is nearly desolate. After running into one survivor, it’s clear that an indigent race of aliens have taken over the ship and that the previous captain had a psychological breakdown that ended in total slaughter. Now, with no plan of action, a killer race of aliens on the loose and Pandorum seeping into their minds… they must find a way to save themselves from destruction. Although I initially hated this movie, it is slowly growing on me and it’s really a breath of fresh air. It’s rare to find a good space horror flick with decent acting and this film does a great job of both. Great practical effects and amazing action sequences make this a fun thrill ride to watch.

Hoodwinked Too! (2011)

★★☆☆☆

While at a secret training facility Red Riding Hood is called back in action and paired with her ex-partner Wolf when Hansel and Gretel are mysteriously taken by a wtich for some diabolical purpose. Red and Wolf aren’t the best of friends anymore but they must set their differences aside if they want to rescue the children. However, the witch has an even sinister plan that includes Red’s Granny. But things aren’t what they appear and there’s a greater conspiracy at work. Unlike the first movie, this film lost it’s charm and originality and became a silly yet barely enjoyable ode to James Bond. The first film was a different spin on the Red Riding Hood tale that blended humor with crime noir. This movie felt too cheesy.

The People Under the Stairs (1991)

★★★☆☆

When his mom is in need of medical attention, a young boy agrees to help his father and his father’s friend to break into their landlord’s home to steal some gold. However, upon breaking into their house he soon realizes that the ‘mother’ and ‘father’ of the house are crazed psychopaths who kidnapped children and forced them to live in their basement. Now, he must team up with the parent’s daughter in order to escape from the landlords who want to brutally kill each of them. As ridiculous and over-the-top the film is, it’s pretty entertaining with some pretty fun and humorous moments. I personally love these types of horror flicks that deal with urban decay.

The Lost Boys (1987)

★★★★☆

After moving to a new beachfront town, Michael quickly begins to fall for a young girl named Lucy. However, after meeting her “gang” and drinking a mysterious drink he begins to cringe at the light, have incredible strength and craves blood. Soon he realizes that he’s been initiated into a gang of vampires. Now, he and a two vampire-hunting brothers must find a way to turn him back before they have and Lucy for their next meal. With a stunning, synth-Goth score and a memorable performance by Kiefer Sutherland, this tale of bloodsucking vamps really exemplifies what the 80’s where about. The makeup is amazing and the humor is great. It’s what Return of the Living Dead was to the zombie genre.

Mulholland Falls (1996)

★★★1/2

Set in 1950’s Los Angeles, this neo noir crime drama follows Max Hoover and his special squad of LADP investigators that use “special” interrogational strategies. The team is sent to investigate the murder of a young woman who Max had an affair with on the side. As bad memories resurface, the investigation leads Max and his right hand man Elleroy to a world renowned General and scientist who helped with the A-bomb project. Max soon finds himself right in the middle of a conspiracy and secret cover-up of possible mistreatment of U.S. soldiers. This was a great film with a great yet raspy performance by Nick Nolte and Chazz Palminteri does a great job as well. Ultimately, it’s great but I wished they really expanded more on the rest of Nolte’s group since they all seem to show charisma that isn’t fully developed.

Life of Brian (1979)

★★★★☆

Brian was born on Christmas in the stable next door to the Almighty Christ and lives his entire life as an average momma’s boy. However, after joining a group that plots to rebel against the Romans and bizarre series of events, he is ultimately mistaken for the messiah. With a disappointing mother, hoards of one-track minded followers and the entire Roman army after him, what can Brian do to convince people that he isn’t the messiah let alone the fact that there is no true messiah? This film caters to a specific type of person that can understand Monty Python’s humor and I, fortunately, am one of them so this was a riot to watch. However, if you are new to The Python, some of the jokes may seem awkward or fall flat but this piece’s strength comes from its satirical jab at religion and how people blindly follow it. It’s raunchy, it’s over-the-top and it’s funny as Hell!

Carnival of Souls (1998)

★★1/2

Half experimental and half linear; this movie follows a young bartender who is still struggling with inner demons after seeing the brutal rape and murder of her mother by a circus performer. When the nightmares of the fateful night that she met him begin to resurface, so does the carnival and when the carnival comes back to town… so does her mother’s murderer. Now, caught in a web of dreams and hallucinations, the young girl must struggle to find peace and decipher what’s real and what isn’t. The story sounds great on paper but it is in fact a remake of a better film of the same name. This film has great production design and 1 or 2 creepy moments but it falls flat and becomes stale. I think it’s main problem is the lack of solid direction and a clear story.

The Jackal (1997)

★★★1/2

The FBI gets word that a notorious assassin named The Jackal, who is known for literally changing his appearance, has been hired by a terrorist group to assassinate somebody from the U.S. government. In a last minute effort to find him, they agree to release an IRA sniper from imprisonment to track him down. However, once The Jackal realizes that he has a tail, the situation spirals into a deadly game of cat and mouse. For an action movie it has its charms and it’s great to see Willis in disguises ranging from a fat Jewish accountant to a gay businessman. Richard Gere puts on a wonderful Irish accent but what I think this film lacks is solid suspense, but even without it there are great gunfights.

Sunset Boulevard (1950)

★★★★★

When hi scar breaks down in an unknown area of Sunset Blvd., a screenwriter stumbles upon the home of a former silent movie star and agrees to stay with her and help her develop a screenplay for her big comeback. Unfortunately, he soon becomes a prisoner and the actress’s severely depressed personality begins to surface as the screenwriter tries desperately to help her realize the reality of things. This disturbing, neurotic piece shimmers with the brilliant performances of William Holden and Gloria Swanson, who fully becomes the deranged and psychotic film star Norma Desmond. It’s a dark tale of what Hollywood can do to somebody and just how far somebody will go for that glitz and glamour. It’s a true masterpiece.

Planet 51 (2009)

★★★☆☆

Set on the fictional Planet 51 in 1950’s style suburbia, an American astronaut named Captain Chuck Baker lands his shuttle on the world thinking that he is the first one to discover and set foot on it. To his surprise, he realizes that there is an entire civilization living there. Now, wanted by their government, Chuck befriends a socially awkward alien and his energetic brother as they find a way to send him back home before the military decides to dissect him. I liked this movie and for a film that isn’t made my Disney/Pixar, it’s whimsical, funny and somewhat exciting. I love the mockery towards 50’s pop culture and the nods to great sci-fi flicks of the 50’s and 60’s. For a kids movie it’s pretty great but it lacks heart and warmth.

UHF (1989)

★★★★☆

George Newman becomes the owner of a local public TV station when his uncle wins it in a card game. Seeing that the station is limping along he decides to spice it up by creating all sorts of wacky shows and becomes an unintentional hit. The problem comes when R.J. Fletcher, a big corporate media tycoon, tries to prevent UHF from becoming a hit so that he could monopolize the television stations. With its brilliant pop culture parodies, slapstick humor and over the top performances, this film is a treat to watch and really makes you laugh in unexpected ways. There is also a sort of charm and warm-hearted feeling that comes with it. Weird Al is great as always but considering the type of humor that is used, I wonder why and how the film would have turned out had the Zucker brothers co-developed the movie with Weird Al.