Erik M.

The Polar Express is a whimsical tale about a magical train that takes young children to see Santa Claus and all the wonders of the North Pole...or is it a dream? Along the way they meet elves, a kind Conductor, Santa himself and several others while enjoying an adventure that resembles such things as roller-coaster rides, sleigh rides, and skis. They learn life lessons including the power of belief, facing danger, memory and more through the characters of Hero Boy, Hero Girl, Lonely Boy and the Know-It-All. Uncanny at times, very ambitious, baffling and a bit strange in others but always entertaining film will leave everyone full of Christmas cheer.

Erik M.

Weapons is a 2025 mystery/horror/thriller film about a group of children (and some adults) who come under the thrall of a hideous witch and cause harm to those that interfere with the curse placed upon them. A young teacher and a middle-aged parent join forces, connect the dots and find that they all are being weaponized to horrible effect. Nightmarish, unrelenting movie that shouldn't be missed.

Erik M.

Set during Mardi Gras in Louisiana a few years later from the first movie, Candyman 2 follows another blond named Annie who runs into the bee-and-hook wielding killer in this less-than-successful second film where he wants both his reincarnated love AND his unborn child. It's just OK.

Erik M.

Candyman (1992) is a fantasy/horror story with romantic undertones about an African-American slave/artist who falls in love with an upper-class blond Caucasian woman, then has his hand cut off and his entire body covered with bees by an angry mob. Many decades later, Candyman has become a hook-handed legend that strikes when his name is said five times in front of a mirror. Clive Barker of the Hellraiser franchise conceived the somewhat sympathetic Candyman. A decent film with an erudite villain.

Erik M.

2017s The Mummy is a Dark Universe story about Tom Cruise telling jokes and falling everywhere while the titular Mummy, played by Sofia Boutella, chases him with her minions. Lots of action, CGI and a few words from Russell Crowe and Annabella Wallis as an archeologist and Dr. Jekyll/Mr. Hyde. It's OK for a monster movie with some Mission: Impossible and earlier Mummy montages thrown in.

Erik M.

The Day the Earth Blew Up is a 2024 Sci-Fi Comedy adventure cartoon about an alien invasion involving chewing gum that goes totally bonkers and it's up to misfits Porky Pig, Daffy Duck and Petunia to save the day! Screwball antics, profound sadness and sudden hope collide along with silly mischief to form a wondrous film for everyone! See this soon.

Erik M.

A Minecraft Movie is a very silly film about a man named Steve who finds a mystical land in a mine (hence the name Minecraft) where one can dream up anything. He, along with a few friends, take on the evil Piglins and other nasty denizens to save the world from the imagination-less hordes. Funny and bizarre and has heart. Check it out.

Erik M.

In this sweet and gentle CGI film, intrepid bear Paddington searches for his Aunt Lucy with the entire Brown family in tow as they brave the wilderness of, well, Peru, in a roundabout search for El Dorado. Along the way, they meet nuns, a wily ship captain with his daughter and other mild dangers as well as discover, once more, that family is the ultimate treasure! Funny, cute and tame for the entire family, even a family of bears! See this.

Erik M.

Subservience is a Sci-Fi Action/Thriller about yet another family that adopts an sophisticated android with all the perks, including superhuman strength, intellect, sensuality, etc. but runs amuck badly when it feels threatened. Soon, one robotic partner becomes several, and they all want to live, have rights, and start killing people for "reasons." It's a decent premise done often but still fun to watch. Think M3GAN, only more sexy-staring Megan Fox.

Erik M.

Wrath of the Titans is an adventure fantasy about demi-human Perseus again saving the day by riding Pegasus, defeating Ares, the God of War, as well as the God of the Underworld, Hades. He teams up with Zeus, the King of the Gods and Hephaestus, the Armorer of the Gods, plus a few human friends to ultimately defeat Kronos, the father of Zeus and one of the powerful Titans. This story is NOT based on any mythological tales but has cyclops, a Minotaur, a two-headed Chimera and few others to slay. Sadly overdone, undercooked and just numb. 3 stars for trying.

Erik M.

Rear Window is a nice little crime drama/thriller about an injured man living in NYC during a summer heatwave in the 1950s that thinks he spotted a domestic murder while looking out his window. His girlfriend, an assistant and a detective buddy all, at first, think he's wrong but the evidence mounts. Other stories play out in this slice of life, but James Stewart and Grace Kelly's tale is one of love and the lingering suspicion that something happened in the apartment across from his/theirs. A decent film.

Erik M.

The Wild Robot is a lovable and entertaining CGI Cartoon about an endearing corporate robot named Roz who tries to befriend a small forest community of animals, and a gosling in particular, when she inadvertently kills its parents. She learns to protect and nurture them, he learns to trust her, a fox friend learns acceptance, and the good guys team up against the bad robots who want to return Roz back into an uncaring machine. Big fight scenes contrast greatly with moments of danger and heroism as Roz redeems herself! See this film.

Erik M.

Bone Tomahawk has a simple enough premise: A small posse is formed after a raid by bloodthirsty Troglodytes captures a female doctor and others in an old western town named Bright Hope and they try to gain the victims back. Bloody conflict ensues along with some prejudices. An haunting classic movie.

Erik M.

Robocop (2014) is a re-imagining of the earlier Science Fiction story about a Detroit cop turned cyborg and media plaything named Alex Murphy who is ordered to push Omnicorp and their sinister founder into higher power! Faster, stronger, better...this cop is more slick with just a few fatal flaws in its cinematic matrix. A decent show.

Erik M.

In Darkness Falls, a kindly old woman who is burned to death for the supposed murder of two boys comes back as an angry vengeance spirit to kill again, especially those who have seen her burnt, twisted face. It's up to a few young adults to stop her now at a lighthouse in this OK 2003 thriller.

Erik M.

Jack the Giant Slayer is a Fantasy adventure about a young, brave farm boy who finds horrible giants, bad men, a pretty princess and a kingdom shortly after gaining some magical beans from a supposed monk escaping Cloister. It's up to Jack, the farm boy, to save the day in this OK, sometimes violent, story. Fi, Fie, Foe, Fom.

Erik M.

The Emoji Movie is about the hidden life of one's cell phone and one "Meh" icon named Gene who discovers that he is much more than just a Meh. With High Five and Jail Break by his side, Meh sees the world beyond his app, finds a princess, and saves the social life of his human. Weird but OK.

Erik M.

Snow White is a fantasy movie about a princess whose birthright is stolen by a jealous and awful stepmother queen. She finds these 7 CGI creatures who should be dwarves but aren't, lives in their technicolor forest, tries to free her people from cruelty and poverty, is poisoned, comes back after a peck on the lips, remembers some guards, and the queen dies. It's pretty bad. Watch the 1930s cartoon or virtually anything afterwards. Not a great film, honestly.

Erik M.

Shrek and his extended family start off with a tough day and the wily little Rumpelstiltskin twists everything to become his worst nightmare in the latest episode of the franchise. Most of the gang is here, but they're different as Shrek wasn't born in this timeline and they must now reacquaint one another and solve a riddle before things get worse. It's complicated, there's witches involved, and...well...watch the movie. 3 stars.

Erik M.

Ghost Dog is crime thriller about an assassin who follows the Samurai code and is himself marked for death by the mafia. Forest Whitaker stars as Ghost Dog, one of the deadliest fighters. They kill his pigeons and he kills the mob with bits of philosophy thrown in. OK for its time.

Erik M.