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"Paranormal Activity 2" never quite measures up to the original when it comes to the "creeps" department, but it's a solid effort and is worth seeing for fans of the original. With a larger and generally likable cast, and a few good jumps thrown in, it's a lot of fun. It also has some interesting expansions to the mythology that I quite liked as an admirer of the first film. I'd give a 3.5 out of 5, rounding up to 4 for the MovieMistakes.com rating system.

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Despite its legacy having been somewhat tarnished by five sequels of varying quality, Oren Peli's original "Paranormal Activity" is to this day one of the best examples of the "found footage" sub-genre done right. Genuinely spooky fun, it's perfect fodder for late-night viewing, and it's one of my go-to's for the Halloween season. I'd give it a good 4 out of 5.

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"Ghost in the Shell (2017) " attracted so much controversy during production that most audiences just wouldn't give it a chance. And it's a shame, because as far as adaptations go, this is a pretty darned solid and entertaining effort. It successfully reworks the heady and complex original into an accessible sci-fi thriller, and a lot of effort was put into its production. I also enjoyed the fact that it did at least touch on many of the themes of prior adaptations. Sure, it may not be quite as "smart" as the 1995 film or the original manga... but it's still a slick, exciting film. And I'm glad I gave it a chance and saw it on the big screen! I loved the original anime film. I love its follow-up "Innocence." And I pretty much loved this film, too.

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Part of the great tragedy of the new "Hellboy" is that it had so much potential. And on the surface, the elements are all there. Director Neil Marshall has a great track record, the cast is serviceable and the visuals are frequently interesting. But as a film... it just doesn't work. The writing is dreadful and completely aimless. The pacing is a complete mess. The characters are under-developed. And the visual direction is patchy and inconsistent at best. Fans can fall back on the "well, it looks more like the comic than the other movies" argument all they want... but minor aesthetic similarities to the source material can't fix a film that is fundamentally broken at its core. 2019's "Hellboy" is an unlikable slog, and it's among the worst mainstream films I've seen in recent memory.

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2019's "Child's Play" reboot tries its hardest, and indeed has a handful of fun moments that set it apart from the 1988 classic of the same name. Mark Hamill in particular makes a stellar turn as our new Chucky, and is easily the highlight of the film. But on the whole, the film pales in comparison to the riskier, creepier original, and it often fails to deliver on its own premise. Many of the new concepts introduced feel poorly developed, and several major sub-plots go absolutely nowhere. Combined with a strangely dull pace, and it's just not as much fun as it ought be. In the end, it's just another mediocre reboot that will likely be forgotten within a year. 2 out of 5.

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"Goosebumps 2: Haunted Halloween" tries its hardest, but is never quite able to recapture the thrills (or heart) that made the original a surprise success. This is in no small part due to it being noticeably lower-budget than the 2015 film, and suffering a rushed, patchy narrative. Although it does thankfully benefit from Jack Black in another scene-stealing turn as R.L. Stine and a few engaging sequences.

As it stands, "Haunted Halloween" serves best as a weekend rental for families with young children... but it's not really worth rushing out to buy. I give it a middle-of-the-road 2.5 out of 5. (Rounding up to 3 for the rating system on this website).

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Who'd have thought such an unnecessary and belated sequel could not only be good... but also be better than the original? "Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle" benefits from a playful and creative storyline, sharp direction and an excellent cast who have a grand time hamming it up for the camera. It's fast, funny and filled with plenty of eye-popping action set-pieces that will delight the whole family.

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A novel and entertaining monster flick, "Mimic" is an early sign of director Guillermo del Toro's talent and charisma as a filmmaker. While it lacks the nuance of his later work, it is nonetheless fun, stylish and oft-effective. A splendid creature-feature through and though.

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One of the most criminally underrated series of the past decade, Diablo Cody's "United States of Tara" mixes thoughtful character development with genuinely hilarious humor to tell the tale of a woman suffering multiple-personality disorder. Series star Toni Collette gives a remarkable, career-defining performance, and the supporting cast (including Brie Larson and Patton Oswalt) absolutely shine in their roles.

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From a wonderfully kitschy opening title sequence that hearkens back to the iconic original, through a slew of subversive twists and turns that took me by surprise, David Gordon Green's "Halloween" proves to be the definitive continuation of John Carpenter's classic. Boasting intense scares, buckets of blood and a surprisingly effective sense of self-aware humor, "Halloween" 2018 is not only the best of the "Halloween" sequels - it's arguably one of year's best horror movies, period.

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While it benefits from some slick direction courtesy the usually reliable F. Javier Gutierrez, "Rings" ultimately falls flat thanks to uneven performances, an oddly confusing narrative and bizarre editing choices. It's a frustrating film, because there's potential... but it's all squandered and lost thanks to obvious studio-enforced re-shoots and re-edits, which leave the film feeling disjointed and without focus.

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Starts off fantastic, with great performances and thoughtful handling of character and theme... then throws it all away with one of the worst third acts I've ever seen. A wholly pointless and unlikable film that might just be 2018's worst.

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A Saturday morning cartoon for grown-ups, "Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets" is pure cinematic spectacle.

A dizzying display of constant special effects and non-stop action, the film's aim is to entertain first and foremost. And that it does on a consistent basis. If you desire a deep story or compelling characters, you won't get that here. The main characters are blank slates and the plot is a paper-thin series of excuses to set up the next big effects set-piece. However, if you want a wild thrill-ride like nothing you've seen before, you'll get your money's worth. It's one of the most rampantly creative films I've seen in years.

And so, I'm giving it a 4 out of 5 - "Valerian" is great, shallow, spellbinding, escapist fun.

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