Erik M.

Batman Returns is the follow-up to the original by Tim Burton, where the Caped Crusader fights both the hideous Penguin and his awful circus minions as well as the feral feline Catwoman, who's armed with claws, kicks and a whip. Again, the gloomy city is decimated further, and the body count is greater. Darker and stranger.

Erik M.

Man of Steel is the first of a series of movies starring Henry Cavill as Superman, who grows up and fights General Zod and his minions while capsizing Metropolis. Big explosions, bigger destruction and a cast includes Amy Adams, Kevin Costner, Diane Lane, Lawrence Fishburne, Russell Crowe and Michael Shannon. Missing the special something that would make this a better film.

Erik M.

Hugo (2011) is about a young boy who's trying to make an automaton work and return it to its original owner while staying away from a French Train Inspector in this imaginative adventure drama. Shot in 3-D amid lavish settings, the film transports you to the 1930s and explores topics like WWI, early film-making, and more. Despite its lack of success in the box office, it is an awesome film that's ultimately about FILM. Asa Butterfield and Chloë Grace Moretz star as Hugo and Isabelle, while the rest of the cast includes Jude Law, Sacha Baron Cohen and Ben Kingsley. Consider immersing yourself into a different kind of movie storytelling.

Erik M.

Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close is a drama about a young autistic boy who is on a quest to find the lock for a key that his father left while alive during the tragic events of 9/11/2001. Tom Hanks and Sandra Bullock star as the boy's parents. Powerful, poignant yet made for an Oscar and manipulative, this film takes you though the mind of this child as he searches for his father while also dealing with his confusion and suffering. Max von Sydow, Voila Davis and John Goodman also perform, but it is the well-studied Thomas Horn who will draw you in as the 9-year old Oskar Schell. Give it a look and then make up your mind as to its merits.

Erik M.

"They're Heere!!" In Poltergeist, a typical suburban family is tormented by various evil spirits bent on taking their youngest daughter and driving the rest out of their home. Great SFX, score, settings and more drive this frightening vehicle home. Mischievous and malevolent, the ghosts even drive paranormal investigators wild with fright, until finally the entities are confronted and the family is reunited at its conclusion. Good, scary fun! See this film and find out just why Steven Spielberg is amazing.

Erik M.

Seven is a very tense action thriller/mystery about a murderer who punishes his victims using the deadly sins as a reference. Brad Pitt and Morgan Freeman star as the cops looking to bust the perpetrator before he completes his crime wave. Gwyneth Paltrow stars as Tracey, Pitt's unfortunate pregnant wife. If a gratuitous amount of murder, swear words and gun play make your day, then watch this film.

Erik M.

In a strange, magical place "far beyond the imagination" lies an ancient kingdom under siege by the horrible Slayers under the wretched and terrible Beast, which aims to take over the kingdom and the galaxy! Only the power of Love and the bravery of the newly-crowned King Colwyn along with the Magical Glaive can the Beast be slain in Krull (1983). Swords, sorcery, lasers (?) and weird witchcraft along with a woeful crystal spider, a morose cyclops, nightmarish SFX, bizarre 80s settings, and even the appearance of young Liam Neeson, Lysette Anthony, Francesca Annis or Ken Marshall can propel the script to above average. Despite its many flaws, it has some fair moments, but only a few.

Erik M.

It the miniseries is a 1990 Horror/Thriller with Tim Curry as the title character, a monstrous creature who mainly preys on children and their worst fears. A small group of kids and, 27 years later, adults challenge and then defeat Pennywise the Clown. Watch for Tim Curry, but stay for the rest of the group. Compare and contrast with the 2017 version. Disappointing ending.

Erik M.

The Day the Earth Stood Still is a 2008 Science Fiction Drama about a humanoid alien who passes final judgment upon the world and only Jennifer Connelly and her adopted son stand to change the path of this destruction. Keanu Reeves stars as Klatuu, and Gort is the cybernetic organism who threatens the planet. With Kathy Bates, John Cleese and Jaden Smith. Based upon the familiar original, with better quality apocalyptic graphics.

Erik M.

Army of the Dead is a 2021 Zombie Horror gore-fest with a bank heist tagged onto it for good measure. Dave Bautista and others are soldiers of fortune who try to rob a heavily secure casino vault in Las Vegas before the city is blown up via nuclear missile strike. They have to overcome shamblers (regular zombies) as well as animated animals like decomposing white tiger Valentine and more elite undead such as leaders Zeus and Alpha Queen. Fans of carnage rejoice as this has lots of action, violence and depravity but low on actual plot.

Erik M.

Brotherhood of the Wolf is a 2001 Period Horror movie about a "real" creature that attacks the mostly women and children living in Gévaudan, France during the French Revolution. Grégoire de Fronsac and Mani are hired to stop the beast at all costs. They encounter the Marquis and others who use beast for their advantage; it is, in fact, a large African Lion enhanced with spikes, armor and driven insane. A mix of martial arts, swordplay, and musketeering make this an unusual film along with the ample gore, nudity, and SFX. Check it out.

Erik M.

What would happen to your love if you died and, years later, came back as another person? In Birth, this happens to an incredulous Nicole Kidman as Anna, and she cannot explain how her husband became a young boy 10 years after his death or why she may have still have feelings towards him in this 2004 drama. Lauren Bacall, Anne Heche, Ted Levine and Danny Hudson also star. It's got themes of endless love, obsession, child abuse and tragedy, so it might not be for everyone but Nicole Kidman and then newcomer Cameron Bright bring this strange film to another level and make it worth seeing.

Erik M.

In this horror/thriller, it's 3 teens and a child vs demons from The Conjuring franchise in the grand sequel so named Annabelle because the doll is the way into our reality. Many jump-scares, some few genuinely frightening moments. Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga star, but it's really a short cameo.

Erik M.

The Snowman is a glacial, gory crime drama/horror film about a serial killer who's preying on Oslo residents in winter and has Michael Fassbender as a cop trying to stop his crime spree. His only calling card are strange snowmen and many of the victims are women. Odd music, unfamiliar names and near-constant snowfall give it an otherworldly and weird atmosphere, as do the horrible murders.

Erik M.

Rabbit Hole is a 2010 dramatic tearjerker about a husband and wife dealing with the death of their boy and the effects that they have with their family and friends. Nicole Kidman, Aaron Eckhardt and Sandra Oh star. Some truly heavy moments within, so you have been forewarned.

Erik M.

In this remake of the 1980 horror film, the killings become more frequent in this story about an old plague ship carrying a doomed crew, the founding fathers of a seaside town taking their gold and scuttling it, and the revenge taken by angry ghosts in the present. Spooky, weird fun for some.

Erik M.

The Fog is about a celebration of the founding fathers of a seaside town that turns fatal when the ghostly residents of a plague ship go after the living relatives in this horror story. A few good scares and gross scenes by John Carpenter and Debra Hill. Revenge never felt so damp and cold.

Erik M.

This version of the 1957 stage musical/1961 film is subtly updated for the 2021 screen as a romantic musical drama where the Jets and Sharks battle for territory while Tony and Maria engage in timeless love despite their warring factions; Romeo and Juliet set in a poor neighborhood. It soars, it sometimes still falls into some racial morasses, but the music and dancing elevate it much like the original. Very period accurate and pleasant in a nostalgic sense. 4 stars.

Erik M.

Free Guy is a fun, fast, positive and action-packed romantic fantasy science fiction comedy mash-up about a non-player character named Guy (affectionately played by Ryan Reynolds) who finds out that there's a larger world out there and he's just a small part of a modern, violent video game. He falls in love with player and game designer Molotov Girl/Millie (Jodie Comer), who's trying to find proof that the underlying, nearly forgotten game is more peaceful. Together they fight to save the peaceful world game and bring down the baddies-mostly Antwan (Taiki Waititi), CEO. There's a message about love, hope and never giving up amid the explosions and noise, and there's some funny moments in there as well to entertain everyone. See and smile!

Erik M.

Ondine is a fantasy/romance drama about an unlucky, struggling Irish fisherman who uncovers what may be a pretty and magical female from the waters. His sickly, wheelchair-bound daughter quickly gains her strength through an unexpected kidney transplant and both she and the fisherman grow attached to her, and she to them...until a terrible secret emerges that could tear them apart. Is she a Selkie, or an amnesiac, or...? Sweet fairy tale with some truth thrown in. While it stars Colin Farrell as the hapless fisherman and Alicija Bachleda as the lady in the water, little Alison Barry steals the show as the child Annie. See something new from 2009.

Erik M.