Mike's Movie Tips

2/4 Starring (voices): Kevin Conroy, Mark Hamill, Tara Strong, Maury Sterling, Ray Wise Rated R for Some Bloody Images and Disturbing Content I suppose it should come as no surprise that I'm not a superhero fan.  I see each new Marvel movie simply because I'm a film critic and I could care less about canon or Easter eggs or in-jokes.  Evidently there are people who eat this stuff up, because clickbait is filled with links to sites that say things like, "Only TRUE Batman fans will recognize these Easter eggs!" or "Stan Lee confirms a fan theory we've all thought since day one."  And as wretched as " Teen Titans GO! To the Movies " was, it was made infinitely worse because I had to listen to diehards down the aisle from me call out every reference.  "Oh!  There's Catwoman!"  "Oh!  There's Stan Lee!"  "Oh!  There's Joe Somebody from issue 626!" It's not like I haven't tried.  Really, every

4/4 Starring: James Stewart, Grace Kelly, Thelma Ritter, Wendell Carey, Raymond Burr Rated PG (probably for Violent Content) Anyone wanting to understand the sheer brilliance of Alfred Hitchcock need look no further than "Rear Window."  Of course, there are other examples of his filmmaking prowess, such as "Psycho" and " North by Northwest " (among many, many others).  But "Rear Window" is so complicated, so diabolical and so perfectly constructed that it's a wonder that even Hitch pulled it off.  But pull it off he did. Famed photojournalist L.B. Jeffries (Stewart) is miserable.  A recent on-the-job escapade has left him with a broken leg for the past seven weeks (with one more to go).  His girlfriend Lisa (Kelly) is eager to marry him, but she is "too perfect" for him.  And the weather is scorching hot.  With little else to do, Jeff has taken up spying on the neighbors personal lives as a hobby.  They're a lot that mig

0.5/4 Starring: Riley Keough, Jaeden Martell, Lia McHugh, Richard Armitage, Alicia Silverstone Rated R for Disturbing Violence, Some Bloody Images, Language and Brief Nudity I like horror movies.  I like the sense of being on the edge of my seat, biting my nails, fearing what is lurking outside the corner of the screen.  Or that sense of pure dread of what comes next.  Of course, there are movies like " Sinister " or " The Innkeepers " that are so scary that I curse myself for enduring them, until the memory fades and I am thrilled with what the films accomplished. "The Lodge" falls into none of those categories.  This is a vile, contemptible film that trivializes serious issues for cheap thrills and then has the audacity to present itself as art instead of the schlock that it is.  Horror films push all kinds of buttons on a person's psyche and emotions.  That's their job.  But "The Lodge" is reprehensible trash.  It's really

4/4 Starring: Camila Morrone, James Badge Dale, Calvin Demba, Rebecca Henderson, Ben Rosenfield Rated R for Substance Abuse, Language Throughout and Some Sexual Material "Mickey and the Bear" has a keen sense of place, and that's what gives the film its energy.  Annabelle Attanasio does such a good job of creating rural, small town Montana that it allows the ordinary characters and their situations to come to life.  This is a place where kids start smoking in high school, college aspirations are rare, being engaged or pregnant at the end of high school is not scandalous and people stay where they are.  Attanasio doesn't judge her characters or shame them.  Rather, she creates a reality, and with that in place, what might seem boring and pointless takes on an uncommon level of poignance and empathy. Mickey (Morrone) has just turned eighteen.  She has a normal life in her small Montana town.  Her boyfriend Aron (Rosenfield) has plans for their future that she do

3/4 Starring: Boyd Holbrook, Bokeem Woodbine, Cleopatra Coleman, Michael C. Hall Not Rated (probable R for Bloody Violence, Grisly Images and Language) There isn't really anything new in the film "In the Shadow of the Moon."  In fact, it revolves around one of the oldest questions in science fiction.  But it has good performances, a solid (if underwritten) screenplay, and moves fast.  It isn't anything special, but as a way to spend two hours (especially during this pandemic), it's entertaining. Locke (Holbrook) and Maddox (Woodbine) are two beat cops in Philly.  While Maddox seems content to remain where he is and lose money betting on basketball games, Locke is more ambitious, and seeks to become a homicide detective like his brother-in-law Holt (Hall).  One night, three people die horrifying deaths and suffer identical wounds, Locke sees his chance.  His attempt to catch the killer ends with her death.  Nine years later, history repeats itself: same inj

2.5/4 Starring (voices): Tom Hulce, Demi Moore, Tony Jay, Kevin Kline, Jason Alexander, Mary Wickes, Charles Kimbrough Rated G Even with much of the creative team returning (including directors Gary Trousdale and Kirk Wise, producer Don Hahn and Brenda Chapman among the many writers), it would be unfair to expect "The Hunchback of Notre Dame" to match up to " Beauty and the Beast ."  The 1991 film is an instant classic that will be deservedly remembered for as long as there is film.  Few movies can make that claim.  But even that knowledge doesn't change the fact that the Disney version of Victor Hugo's novel is a disappointment. The film takes place in the Middle Ages in Paris.  Judge Frollo (Jay) is an outwardly pious man who sees sin everywhere, particularly with the gypsies whom he persecutes voraciously.  While running after one of them, he accidentally kills one of them and is prevented from killing her newborn child by the archdeacon (David Og

3/4 Starring: Scott Weinger, Lindsey McKeon, Julia Weikel, Billy O', Holly Towne, Brad Hawkins, Peter Riggs, Candace Moon Rated R for Violence/Gore, Sexuality, Language and Some Drug Use "Shredder" is a guilty pleasure.  In many respects, this is not a good movie, but at least it has the good sense never to take itself seriously.  This is a mad slasher movie complete with (almost) every convention established in the 42 years since " Halloween " defined the genre.  It has the dim-witted characters, the low-rent Agatha Christie plot, characters who are constantly doing stupid things (going off somewhere alone, the mysterious newcomer, some gratuitous sex and nudity, plenty of blood and gore, and of course, a rising body count.  This movie is beyond silly, and the filmmakers know this.  What makes it work is that the script is a little more ironic, a little more satirical, and pushed just a little too far to be taken as straight horror.  In a way, it works si

3.5/4 Starring: Hugh Grant, Andie MacDowell, Kristen Scott Thomas, James Fleet. Simon Callow, John Hannah, Charlotte Coleman, David Bower, Rowan Atkinson Rated R for Language and Some Sexuality Weddings are considered to be the best day of a person's life (other than the birth of their children).  I haven't been married nor do I suspect that I have kids, so I wouldn't know.  But for those not in the immediate circle of the bride and groom, it can be awkward and downright depressing.  I mean, there's having to make small talk with people you barely know (if at all).  Or having to arrive on time at a function you'd rather not be at because you only kinda, sorta know the people involved.  And dealing with their relatives and friends who are annoying, drunk, senile, or just as awkward as you are (probably a combination of all the above).  And let's not forget the jealousy of being single when everyone else is in a relationship or in the throes of the temporary

4/4 Starring: Chris Tucker, Jackie Chan, Tom Wilkinson, Elizabeth Pena, Mark Rolston, Tzi Ma, Rex Linn, Ken Leung Rated PG-13 for Sequences of Action/Violence and Shootings, and for Language I have long defended films that use formulaic storylines as long as they are done well.  "Rush Hour" is a perfect example.  In fact, it uses so many conventions and formulas that the only originality came because a studio executive wasn't looking.  Let's count them down, shall we?  Buddy cop movie, culture clash, opposites attract, crime thriller 101, ludicrous stunts and special effects.  This movie crosses every t and dots everyone i.  Despite that, it packs enough laughs and thrills to satisfy even the most cynical of viewers.  It's big time fun. The daughter of a Chinese consul (Ma) has just been kidnapped.  The FBI, led by Russ (Ralston) and Whitney (Linn), are on the case, but much to their shock and displeasure, the consul has already sent for the highly respect

1/4 Starring: Harry Hamlin, Judi Bowker, Burgess Meredith, Laurence Olivier, Maggie Smith, Neil McCarthy, Tim Pigott-Smith Rated PG (probably for Violence and Nudity) Although "Clash of the Titans" is synonymous with special effects pioneer Ray Harryhausen, its the special effects that are one of the film's biggest problems.  Some are good (in their goofy, old fashioned way), but others like the blue screen work are just awful.  By no means are they the only problem, as the film is an utter failure in just about every category.  It's just that it's ironic that what should be the film's biggest selling point turns out to be one of its many black eyes. The film has no plot.  At least not one of any interest.  Bickering among the gods like Thetis (Smith) and Zeus (Olivier) has led to conflict.  The king of Argos has imprisoned his daughter out of jealousy, and after she is impregnated by Zeus, the king puts her and a child named Perseus in a coffin (alive