Mike's Movie Tips

0.5/4 Starring: Clea DuVall, Steven Culp, Jason Marsden, Tyler Mane, Karim Prince Rated R for Violence/Gore, Language and Nudity "How to Make a Monster" boasts a clever, if not terribly original, concept: a video game character enters the real world and starts killing people.  This sort of thing has been done before, many times in fact, but the coat of paint is different.  Done well, this could have been a lot of fun.  Alas, it's an utter waste of time. A video game company is in a tough spot: their latest game, called "Eviloution," has been met with ridicule by its target audience.  Desperate to turn the game around, the company hires a ragtag group of "genius" (a term I use with thick sarcasm) developers to revamp it.  While they initially balk at the timeframe, they change their minds when a million dollar check is dangled in front of them.  They decide to use an AI to choreograph the character via a special suit.  Which one, the hero or the

3/4 Starring: Russell Crowe, Olga Kurylenko, Yilmaz Erdogan, Dylan Georgiades, Jai Courtney, Jacqueline McKenzie Rated R for War Violence including Some Disturbing Images For whatever reason, Hollywood shies away from movies about World War I.  There are plenty of movies about The Civil War ("Glory," "Gettysburg"), The American Revolution (" The Patriot ," "1776"), Vietnam ("Platoon," "Apocalypse Now").  The other great war, World War II, probably has more movies to its name than every other war combined.  Yet the conflict that took place between 1914 and 1918 is rarely the subject for films (other than "All Quiet on the Western Front" and "Joyeux Noel," I can't think of any). I'm not sure why that is.  It's not like it's not cinematic; a truly visionary director could definitely make a thrilling spectacle of trench warfare.  Perhaps it's because the conflict was too complex to b

3/4 Starring: Ryan Reynolds, Helen Mirren, Daniel Bruhl, Katie Holmes, Tatiana Maslany, Max Irons, Antje Traue Rated PG-13 for Some Thematic Elements and Brief Strong Language They say that in movies, change is king.  I'd give greater weight to conflict since there are more than a few movies about characters who don't change at all, but I can see their point.  Change is king in "Woman in Gold," a David and Goliath story about a woman's attempt to reclaim a famous painting that is rightfully hers. After the death of her sister, Maria Altmann (Mirren) finds a few letters regarding a painting of her aunt Adele (Traue) from pre-World War II.  That painting is the so-called "Woman in Gold" by Gustav Klimt.  Maria was extremely close to her aunt, so she would like the painting returned to her.  Unfortunately for her, the painting is world famous (at least one character calls it "the Mona Lisa of Austria"), and the Austrian government, despite

0.5/4 Starring: Tom Hardy, Noomi Rapace, Joel Kinnaman, Vincent Cassel, Gary Oldman, Fares Fares Rated R for Violence, Some Disturbing Images, Language and a Scene of Sexuality There are good movies, like last year's masterful " Boyhood ."  There are bad movies, like this year's dud " Unfinished Business ."  And then there are movies like "Child 44," which make bad movies look good.  The film may be top heavy with talent, but had any of them been using this as a way to break into stardom, they'd go back to waiting tables by the end of opening weekend.  Fortunately, all of them have talent, and will survive this debacle because of this.  Me?  I'm not so sure.  I have a rugby match tomorrow, so I'm hoping to get knocked around a bit in order to forget this monstrosity (if not, there's always the free beer after the game). What's wrong with this movie?  A better question is what's right, and the answer is almost nothing

3.5/4 Starring: Vin Diesel, Paul Walker, Michelle Rodriguez, Dwayne Johnson, Tyrese Gibson, Ludacris, Nathalie Emmanuel, Kurt Russell, Jason Statham, Jordana Brewster, Djimon Hounsou Rated PG-13 for Prolonged Frenetic Sequences of Violence, Action and Mayhem, Suggestive Content and Brief Strong Language I almost didn't see this movie.  For one thing, I've only seen the first film in the franchise.  Second, even though I love Paul Walker, the fact that this is his last film is something I'd rather not think about.  Still, I'm glad I did.  It's a lot of fun, and the film's farewell to Walker is note-perfect. Dominic Toretto (Diesel) is living the high life with his "family:" his best friend Brian O'Connor (Walker), who is married and has a son with his sister Mia (Brewster), his girlfriend Letty (Rodriguez), and friends Roman (Gibson), Tej (Ludacris) and Hobbs (Johnson).  But the brother of an old enemy, a nasty piece of work named Deckard Sh

3.5/4 Starring: Domhnall Gleeson, Oscar Isaac, Alicia Vikander Rated R for Graphic Nudity, Language, Sexual References and Some Violence What is consciousness?  What is the line between machine and something capable of free will?  For as long as there have been science fiction stories, questions like these have fascinated science fiction authors and their audiences.  Now, celebrated fantasy author Neil Gaiman, in a striking directorial debut, has added his spin to the argument.  Gaiman doesn't give a definitive answer, but his questions are presented with style and thought. Caleb (Gleeson) is a 26 year old coder who is working at the world's largest internet company.  He thinks he hit the big time when he gets to spend a week with the reclusive owner, a man named Nathan (Isaac).  When he gets there, he finds the real reason for his visit: Nathan has created an AI by the name of Ava (Vikander), and he wants Caleb to test her and see if she has her own conscience.  But th

2.5/4 Starring: Ryan Merriman, Paula Garces, Stanley Tucci, Dana Delany, Ruben Blades Rated PG-13 for Thematic Elements and Some Violent Images "Spin" is a small, character-oriented drama that has some nice performances which are hampered by an inconsistent tone.  Many scenes in this film are either too somber or too melodramatic, and as such dilute the strengths of this simple story. The film takes place in the 1950's.  Eddie Haley (Max Madore) is staying with his uncle while his parents are flying their plane.  Then his uncle Frank (Tucci) returns and tells him that they have died in a crash.  Frank takes him in, but is called away overseas soon after.  The two people he employs to help keep up his house, Margaret (Delany), an American, and Ernesto (Blades), are left to raise him. Cut to ten years later (give or take).  Eddie has grown up into a handsome, if rebellious, 17-year-old (now played by Merriman).  He views Margaret and Ernesto as his parents, so whe

1/4 Starring: Courtney Cox, James LeGros, Nick Offerman, Anne Archer, Michael Ealy Rated R for Violence and Some Language Words cannot express how much I hate movies like "November."  Movies that are vehicles for the director to show how "artistic" he is and how "not mainstream" he is.  I can't be the only one who feels this way, can I?  I guess so, because judging from the reception of " The Rover " and Wes Anderson's fanatical following, there are plenty of people who drink this stuff up. Sophie (Cox) is a rather mousy photography teacher whose boyfriend Hugh (LeGros) was murdered in a robbery gone bad.  Naturally, she's pretty broken up about this and is suffering from headaches, not to mention guilt (she cheated on him once, but never told him).  Somehow, a photograph of the corner-store where Hugh was murdered shows up in one of her presentations at school. I don't know whether editor/director Greg Harrison thinks h

2.5/4 Starring: Vincent Cassel, Monica Bellucci, Albert Dupontel, Jo Prestia Not Rated (Definite NC-17 for Extreme Brutal Violence including a Vicious Rape Scene, Strong Language, Graphic Nudity and Drug Use) This review contains spoilers.  I'm on the fence on advising to go ahead and read on because in a way, the film is spoiler-proof.  It's not that kind of movie.  But on the other hand, viewers watching it without any foreknowledge may have a different experience than those who are aware of the director's methods. There's no denying that Gaspar Noe's 2002 film is tough to watch.  Featuring a particularly brutal act of revenge and one of the most graphic rape scenes ever committed to film, "Irreversible" is definitely not for everyone.  However, it's debatable whether or not it actually works as it is intended, even on its own level. "Irreversible" could be described as an "anti" revenge tale.  The story is the same, but

1.5/4 Starring: Vegar Hoel, Stig Frode Henrikson, Charlotte Frogner, Lasse Valdal, Evy Kasseth Rosten, Jeppe Beck Laursen, Jenny Skavlan Not Rated (Probable R for Strong Zombie Violence and Extreme Gore, Language, and a Sex Scene) "Dead Snow" has become an underground cult hit, garnering enough attention and dollars to not only produce a sequel (not that that means much), but a chance for co-writer/director Tommy Wirkola to make it big in Hollywood (he directed the surprisingly well-received " Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters ").  Then again, so did Vincenzo Natali, and he directed " Cube ." The premise, a group of horny twenty-somethings running into a nasty group of Nazi zombies in the middle of the mountains, has a lot of potential.  A sort-of " 300 " meets " Dawn of the Dead " with the sensibilities of " Hatchet ."  The problem?  The comedy.  More specifically, the lack thereof.  In an attempt to have his cake and

2.5/4 Starring: Jeff Bridges, Tim Robbins, Hope Davis, Joan Cusack, Robert Gossett, Spencer Treat Clark, Mason Gamble Rated R for Violence and Some Language Your Paranoia is Real I love a good tagline.  They're the most underrated forms of marketing, and some of them are quite clever.  While not as ominous as "Let he who is without sin try to survive" (" Seven ") or "Think you're alone?  Think again" (" Hollow Man "), taken into context it's a pretty good one. The premise of "Arlington Road," that your new neighbor across the street is a terrorist, is compelling and provocative, especially in this day and age.  "Arlington Road" was released in 1999: two years before 9/11, but three years after Oklahoma City.  The film uses our memories of the latter to enhance the atmosphere, but director Mark Pellington doesn't exploit it; they're mainly in quick montages and flipping pages. Unfortunately, as h

3/4 Starring: Shailene Woodley, Theo James, Kate Winslet, Miles Teller, Ansel Elgort, Jai Courtney, Mekhi Phifer, Ashley Judd Rated PG-13 for Intense Violence and Action Throughout, Some Sensuality, Thematic Elements and Brief Language As much as I dislike these tween franchises like " The Hunger Games " and " Twilight " (or would be tween franchises like " The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones "), " Divergent " was unexpectedly entertaining.  It was a little overlong and dully scripted, but anchored by two solid performances and Kate Winslet playing a villain, it was fun.  So I admit that I was anticipating the second installment, "Insurgent."  Much to my pleasure, it's just as entertaining. At the end of the first film, Tris (Woodley), Four (James) and a few others have escaped a brutal crackdown engineered by Jeanine (Winslet).  Jeanine has designs to consolidate the whole city, the last bastion of humanity, under her con

3/4 Starring (voices): Bob Newhart, Zsa Zsa Gabor, Tristan Rogers, George C. Scott, Adam Ryen Rated G There is something to be said for having too much of a good thing.  Too much food packs on the pounds.  Too much booze gets you a hangover.  And too many action scenes, as exciting as they may be, limit character development and emotional involvement.  Don’t get me wrong, the sequel to “ The Rescuers ,” which came out 13 years after the original, is a lot of fun and well worth seeing.  But it’s too busy; there’s so much going on that it dilutes the focus of the film. Cody (Ryen) is an adventurous young boy living in the Australian outback.  He’s friends with all the animals, and one day, he is tasked with saving Marahute, a massive golden eagle.  That puts him in the sights of a vile poacher named McLeach (Scott), and his nasty lizard, Joanna (Frank Welker).  A mouse whose position as bait was the reason that McLeach captured Cody frantically contacts the Rescue Aid So

3.5/4 Starring (voices): Bob Newhart, Zsa Zsa Gabor, Geraldine Page, Michelle Stacy, Joe Flynn Rated G When I watched “The Rescuers” tonight, one movie came to mind: “ The Secret of NIMH .”  While this film was made before Don Bluth formed his own production company, he was the directing animator on this 1977 feature.  Clearly, he took something from it or vice versa, because this and many of his other films possess a similar feel.  It’s not as complex as his other mice-centered film, but perhaps that’s for the best (while it fit the story, “NIMH’s” subtext about animal testing was as horrifying as it was unfair).  “The Rescuers” is as light as they come, but it’s the whole package: action, adventure, laughter and a little romance. The Rescue Aid Society is made up of mice from around the world who gather together to help those in need.  One day, they find a bottle containing a cry for help from a girl named Penny.  The beautiful Hungarian representative, Miss Bianca (Ga

1/4 Starring: Dwayne Johnson, Karl Urban, Rosamund Pike, Richard Blake, Dexter Fletcher The version being reviewed is unrated.  For the record, the theatrical cut is rated R for Strong Violence/Gore and Language Rarely has a movie’s title been so appropriate: doom is the situation anyone who views this movie will be in.  I heard that this movie was bad, so I went in fully expecting something totally cheesy and getting a few campy laughs and some perverse enjoyment at seeing all the bullets and body parts fly around.  But “Doom,” based on the popular video game, is so bad that it makes it impossible to watch for camp value.  It’s just a really, really, really bad movie. The film takes place in 2046.  A portal to Mars has been discovered on Earth, and a research facility has been built there to figure out who built it and why they left.  But something has happened, and a team of hard-core marines has been sent in to take care of it.  Led by the gruff Sarge (Johnson), the

3.5/4 Starring: Liam Neeson, Joel Kinnaman, Ed Harris, Vincent D’Onofrio, Genesis Rodriguez, Boyd Holbrok Rated R for Strong Violence, Language including Sexual References, and Some Drug Use “Run All Night” is more than it seems to be.  Much more, in fact.  Although it kind of sounds like “Taken” meets “ The Warriors ,” the film is more concerned with the ties that bind us, be it fathers and sons or between friends, than gratuitous violence.  That said, there is plenty of bone-crunching brutality for those sick of superheroes and tween franchises. Jimmy Conlon (Neeson) has been working as a hit man for local mobster Shawn Maguire (Harris) for decades.  Perhaps it is because Shawn has most of the police on his payroll that Detective Harding (D’Onofrio) hasn’t been able to thrown Jimmy in prison for the rest of his life.  As a result of his occupation, not to mention abandoning him at an early age, Jimmy is estranged from his son Michael (Kinnaman).  Maguire, on the othe

3/4 Starring: Annette Bening, Shaun Evans, Jeremy Irons, Juliette Stevenson, Miriam Margolyes, Bruce Greenwood, Tom Sturridge, Lucy Punch Rated R for Some Sexuality Note: This review contains some rather vague spoilers.  Reading the review won’t damage your enjoyment of the film, but I’m putting it out there nonetheless. Many consider “All About Eve” to be the ultimate movie about the theater.  I do not.  I didn't think it was that great of a movie, and frankly, kind of boring.  For me, that honor goes to “ Mrs. Henderson Presents .”  “Being Julia” isn’t as delightful or charming, but it’s entertaining, plus it contains Annette Bening’s best performance. Julia Lambert (Bening) is a legendary actress in pre-WWII London.  She’s married to Michael Gosselyn (Irons), who handles the business side of things.  But she’s bored and exhausted with her life and wants to cancel the show that she’s doing.  That changes when Michael introduces her to a young American named T

3/4 Starring: Miles Teller, J.K. Simmons Rated R for Strong Language including Some Sexual References There are two reasons to see “Whiplash,” and they are named Miles Teller and J.K. Simmons.  The movie itself is intense, but has an uncertain narrative flow with poorly developed secondary characters.  But when Teller and Simmons lock horns, the movie is absolutely brilliant. Andrew Neyman (Teller) is a young jazz drummer who is as talented as he is ambitious.  One day he is spotted by Terence Fletcher (Simmons), who runs the school’s top band, and offers him a secondary spot.  Soon he is the core (i.e. playing in concerts) drummer.  But Fletcher has standards that are impossible to meet, and one mistake will get you on the wrong end of a vocal tirade that will leave the hardest man in tears.  But Andrew won’t let Fletcher push him around, and the repeated clashes between the two are escalating into all out war. Forget Al Pacino or Jack Nicholson.  Compared to Simm

3/4 Starring: Kate Beckinsale, Gabriel Macht, Tom Skerritt, Columbus Short Rated R for Violence, Grisly Images, Brief Strong Language and Some Nudity “Whiteout” is the rarest of all breeds: a mystery done well.  There are no superheroes, no fantasy creatures (and certainly no tweens with pasty skin), and no numbers attached to the end of the title.  It is based on a graphic novel, but then again, so was “ From Hell .” Surprisingly, this movie has some similarities with “From Hell,” although they are extremely superficial.  For one, both films are serial killer movies.  Two, despite the large cutlery, neither is a slasher movie.  And three, both are heavy on the atmosphere.  “From Hell” took place in the seedy parts of 1888 London, where evil slithered around like opium smoke from the lead character’s pipe.  “Whiteout” takes place in Antarctica, and director Dominic Sena makes sure that we can feel the cold.  When someone says hell frozen over, this is what they mean.

2/4 Starring: Will Ferrell, Kevin Hart, Craig T. Nelson, Alison Brie, Edwina Findley Dickerson, Ariana Neal Rated R for Pervasive Crude and Sexual Content and Language, Some Graphic Nudity and Drug Material I am not a Will Ferrell hater.  Used correctly, he can be hilarious.  Left to his own devices or in the hands of someone who thinks him simply standing in front of the camera will send the audience into paroxysms of laughter (I'm talking to you, Adam McKay !), watching him on-screen is nothing short of agony.  "Get Hard" is a little of both.  There are far too many jokes that fall flat because Ferrell is trying too hard, but there are also some hilarious bits. James King (Ferrell) is a high powered business executive with more money than God.  He's engaged to Alissa (Brie), the vapid daughter of his boss, Martin (Nelson).  At their engagement party, he is arrested for corporate crimes.  But he is in fact innocent, and under the mistaken belief that justice

1/4 Starring: Maika Monroe, Keir Gilchrist, Daniel Zovatto, Lili Sepe, Olivia Luccardi, Jake Weary Rated R for Disturbing Violent and Sexual Content including Graphic Nudity and for Language We go to the movies to escape reality.  Whether it's for a good laugh (" Ted "), a good cry (" The Notebook "), or even a scare (" The Innkeepers "), we watch movies to have an experience we wouldn't otherwise get in our ordinary lives.  That's why the best movies reflect reality rather than imitate it.  For example, no one in real life talks like they do in a Quentin Tarantino movie (wouldn't it be cool if they did?), but it's certainly fun to watch those movies because we get to hear people speak so eloquently and mix violence with comedy.  Really, movies are theater without the constraints of the stage. Which is why it isn't a good idea to imitate reality.  Having people speak and talk like they do in real life is a recipe for boredom