Erik M.

Defending Your Life is a comedy starring Albert Brooks, Meryl Streep, Rip Torn and Shirley McClain among others about a man who has died in a car accident and has to cope with his feelings before he can ascend to a different, and possibly better, life. Things are complicated when characters come and go, past lives are revealed, and more of Albert Brooks' existence is scrutinized. Strange and sometimes uneven, Defending Your Life tries to bring Woody Allen-style humor to a tricky script.

Erik M.

The Ice Pirates is a wacky Science Fiction Comedy about a misfit band of rogues who steal ice, greatly valued, from the awful and scheming Templars in this swords and rocketry schlock that stars Robert Urick, Anjelica Huston and Ron Perlman. Meh.

Erik M.

Mimic 3 is a Science Fiction horror story about the voracious insects that imitate humans. This time, they antagonize a recluse, his sister and a friend after feasting on others. Ultimately, it's like a Rear Window with creepy bugs. Watch it if that's your taste.

Erik M.

Mimic 2 is a made-for-video Science Fiction Horror film which is the sequel to the more frightening and repellent first film. Remy, an entomologist, is tormented by numerous male antagonists as well as giant, hungry insects. The voracious bugs start a body count about 4 years later. A detective helps her. OK, but average overall.

Erik M.

The Witches is a 2020 Fantasy Adventure re-imagining about a young boy who, while living with his grandmother, discovers an evil witches' plot to destroy all the children on Earth by changing them into helpless mice. Octavia Spenser is a tough but kindly older woman who helps rescue the mice, while Anne Hathaway stars as the gruesome High Witch. There's comedy, some horror, and a surprise ending that together make this one of the better adaptations of this story! Give it a try.

Erik M.

War of the Worlds (2005) is a harrowing Science Fiction Thriller by Steven Spielberg about a divorced father and his 2 children learning that their world is being invaded by malevolent Martians who want to destroy the planet. Tom Cruise stars as Ray, just a regular dad who is thrust into this nightmare based upon a modern retelling of the novel by H.G. Wells. Action-packed, disturbing and with somewhat irritating parts, War of the Worlds starts out big and gets worse before the end. Tim Robbins, Dakota Fanning, Miranda Otto also star.

Erik M.

Superman II is an 1980 Action Adventure Science Fiction movie where the Man of Steel fights Lex Luther as well as three despicable Kryptonian criminals-Zod, Ursa and Non. Though highly dated, there are still some fun moments in this classic and the effects are serviceable. Christopher Reeve and Margot Kidder star.

Erik M.

Clash of the Titans (2010) is a Fantasy Adventure Drama remake of the 1981 film where Perseus again fights a sea monster and other loosely-based Greek mythological creatures in pursuit of a princess (Io instead of Andromeda). While it made more in the theaters and made in 3-D with updated special Effects (and no Bubo the mechanical owl), this one boasts an angrier Perseus now wanting to slay the devious Hades. It's fine for a look, but not a gem.

Erik M.

Clash of the Titans (1981) is the original Romantic Fantasy adventure about the Greek gods and the life of the heroic Perseus who rescued Aphrodite from a sea monster. Along the way, he meets the flying horse Pegasus, the small mechanical owl, Bubo, and other mythical beings. Old but decent, Clash of the Titans will stir nostalgia in even the forgettable.

Erik M.

2010 is the direct sequel to the Science Fiction drama 2001: A Space Odyssey where a mysterious alien Monolith has lead humanity to Jupiter's moon Io to discover the origins of life. A joint Soviet/American team goes out to investigate this as well as the "malfunction" of HAL, which caused the deaths of the prior crew, minus David Bowman. Less cerebral than its predecessor, 2010 adds a cold war edge to the discovery of the derelict ship, its contents and the fate of Mankind.

Erik M.

2001: A Space Odyssey is a Science Fiction drama about an alien Monolith that plays a crucial role in Mankind's development, a supercomputer named HAL 9000 who makes a terrible and profound choice, and the astronauts caught in the middle of events that will change the lives of all humanity. A visually stunning, slow and thoughtful look into evolution itself from the eyes of acclaimed Director Stanley Kubrick, this 2+ hour movie will enlighten some, and bore others. Oh, and you'll never hear "Daisy" quite the same again.

Erik M.

Godzilla (1998) is a Sci-fi action thriller about a giant reptile that wrecks the city and gives birth to babies, only to be defeated by Jean Reno and Matthew Broderick. Different look and feel, this Zilla is more like a passing nod to GODZILLA. See the originals and then the 2000s versions for what the creature craze was about, then see this to compare, with a grain of salt. Some neat moments, but mostly bad.

Erik M.

The 80s are back, for better or worse, and so is Wonder Woman in this kind of corny sequel to her monstrous hit. Here, a magic wish-granting stone with a price is the McGuffin here, and Max Lord wants only ultimate power! Cheetah, meanwhile, wants to be an apex predator while WW/Diana wants Steve back. What follows is a whole lot of wishes, some flight, silly battles against muscle and nature, and a script that flip flops everywhere towards its meh conclusion. While Wonder Woman 1 was OK, this time she falls off her horse. The poster is glitz and glamour, and gold is nice, but this film is cheap, shlockey and sad. 4/10.

Erik M.

Call of the Wild is an energetic adventure starring Buck, a big misfit dog who finds himself going to Alaska during the Gold Rush while seeking a true home. Along the way he meets several other remarkable CGI creatures, pulls a dogsled team, finds an old frontiersman, helps and saves others, and finally embraces his inner wolf. A solid and heartfelt family tale starring Harrison Ford, Omar Sy and Cara Gee. Give it a look.

Erik M.

In Those That Wish Me Dead, Angelina Jolie starts in this fiery thriller as Hannah, who discovers a boy on the run from two murderous Black Ops killers who want to prevent misdeeds from the government being exposed. Montana serves as the backdrop to this messy movie which, while delivering serviceable scenes, action and expositions, falls hard on logic and tumbles into a creek. There's just more gunshots than wit here, and the audience suffers for it.

Erik M.

When two tiny twin princesses try to retrieve an enormous egg that has drifted from Infant Island to the shores of Japan and then are refused by greedy capitalists who wish to build a Happy corporate theme park around it, they have no choice but to summon the goddess Mothra to restore balance and fight the destructive monster, Godzilla. What follows is a climatic battle, where the larva of Mothra take over and defend the Earth. Cheesy fun.

Erik M.

Dracula (1992) is a lavish and horrifying tale about the dreaded Count and his unholy minions. Mina and Lucy are the hapless damsels in danger, while Van Helsing and the others are the protagonists in this film. With vivid special effects for its time, great cinematography and great performances, especially by Winona Ryder, Gary Oldman, Keanu Reeves and Anthony Hopkins, Dracula will sink its teeth and latch on until it takes your breath away. It's a fantastic old film that's worth a long look.

Erik M.

Roger Corman's Battle Beyond the Stars is a Science Fiction Adventure about a small planet who is attacked by a giant spaceship. A young pilot named Shad attempts to rally a mercenary, a cowboy, a vixen warrior, clones, a reptilian and others to his cause before the world is destroyed. Low budget with still an interesting cast, this film remains still quaint, entertaining, and remarkable for its hand-to-hand and space battles! Based upon the Seven Samurai/The Magnificent Seven, with effects by James Cameron. With Richard Thomas, George Peppard, Robert Vaughn, Richard Thomas, Sybil Danning, John Saxon, etc.

Erik M.

Godsend is a psychological thriller involving human cloning and the inherent dangers within. Adam is an 8 yr old boy who dies while going shopping with his mom, and Adam/Zachary is the clone, combined with many latent aspects of Zachary's personality. He gets more unstable, and even dangerous, as time goes on just shortly after his 8th birthday. This parents try to piece clues to his dual nature before the ending, while the doctor who performed the cloning becomes all the more suspect. It's OK, something like The Good Son or Orphan with shades of Hide And Seek...a tense, family-driven story that gives you some clues to wrestle with, but it's not so difficult after a while to know where it's leading.

Erik M.

Dune (2021) is a grand, lavish spectacle that features a boy named Paul who, after the betrayal of his father, fights for honor and the well-being of the planet Arrakis. Based upon a best-selling book by Frank Herbert, Dune has a starring cast, great visuals, some action, OK dialogue and interesting world-building. Part 1 is paired down quite a bit, things are shadowy said, and the music can get a bit oppressive at times, but otherwise a great film! I look forward to Part 2 to see Feyd, the Emperor Shaddam IV, and others.

Erik M.