Mike's Movie Tips

2/4 Starring: Chris Hemsworth, Cate Blanchett, Tom Hiddleston, Mark Ruffalo, Tessa Thompson, Jeff Goldblum, Anthony Hopkins Rated PG-13 for Intense Sequences of Sci-Fi Violence and Action, and Brief Suggestive Material The Achilles' Heel of the MCU is what makes it so insanely popular: all the movies feel exactly the same.  It makes it easier for Marvel executives to sleep at night, since there's considerable reward with virtually no risk.  And obsessed fans will be happy since Marvel Studios takes enormous pains to fill the movies with in-jokes and Easter eggs.  Not to mention a Stan Lee cameo.  MCU fans will love this movie, since it (presumably) has everything they want in a MCU movie.  But for everyone who isn't a member of that group, you're not going to miss much. Thor (Hemsworth) has returned to Asgard after taking the crown of a nasty demon/god/some king of monster.  There, he finds that Loki (Hiddleston) is alive and well but that his fathe...

3.5/4 Starring: Tilda Swinton, Goran Visnjic, Jonathan Tucker, Raymond J. Barrie, Josh Lucas Rated R for Some Violence and Language, and for a Strong Sex Scene How far would you go to protect someone you love? The immediate response would be "to the ends of the Earth."  Or something like that.  But how far would you really go?  And are you willing to pay the price? That's the question Margaret Hall (Swinton) is forced to ask herself.  You see, her gay son Beau (Tucker) was in a car accident with a sleazebag named Darby Reese (Lucas).  She pays him a considerable sum to stay away from Beau, but that doesn't keep him away.  He and Beau fight and Darby ends up dead.  Margaret finds his body the next day, and makes a spur of the moment decision to cover it up.  She thinks that the whole sordid event is over and done with, until a man named Alek Spera (Visnjic) shows up with some damning evidence.  He tells her that unless she gives him ...

2/4 Starring: Everlyn Sampi, Tianna Sansbury, Laura Monaghan, David Gulpilil, Kenneth Branagh, Jason Clarke Rated PG for Emotional Thematic Elements There are few doubts in anyone's mind that the Stolen Generation is a black stain on Australia's history.  This policy, which lasted from the 1910's to, unbelievably, the 1970's, allowed the government to forcibly take "mixed-caste" children (who had one parent of an indigenous race) from their families and "integrate" them to European society.  Estimates place between one in ten and one in three children were subjected to this, and the effects are still being felt to this day. Clearly, this story needed to be told.  However shameful or painful this mark on the history of the land down under is, we must not forget it.  But as a snapshot of history, or even conventional filmmaking, "Rabbit-Proof Fence" comes up short...and by quite a bit.  What should have been a powerful and harrowing e...

3/4 Starring: Elijah Wood, John Hurt, Leonor Watling, Julie Cox, Jim Carter, Burn Gorman Rated R for Language, Sexual Content/Nudity and Some Violence/Disturbing Images After viewing "The Oxford Murders," one thing is absolutely clear: this movie is not for everyone.  Ostensibly it's a murder mystery, but however it's main thrust is the philosophical and mathematical discussions that are necessary to stop the killer.  Those who would not prefer to watch a movie that challenges them intellectually should not bother with this movie. Martin (Wood) is a young grad student who has come to London to study with the famous mathematician and philosopher Arthur Seldom (Hurt).  But Seldom is such a pompous ass that Martin decides to go home rather than be insulted again by this loser.  That is until they find his landlady murdered in the home where he is renting a room.  Also at the murder site is a mathematical symbol that indicates they are dealing with a serial ...

1.5/4 Starring: Judi Dench, Ali Fazal, Tim Pigott-Smith, Eddie Izzard, Michael Gambon, Olivia Williams Rated PG-13 for Some Thematic Elements and Language Full disclosure: I missed the first few moments of this movie.  I'm still writing the review because I came in long before the title card showed up.  And because I need it for my Bottom 10 list this year. On a technical level, there's not much wrong with "Victoria and Abdul."  The performances are solid, the cinematography is fine (although there's one scene that obviously lacked a tripod for no apparent reason), and so on and so forth.  It's just that I didn't believe a minute of it.  I kept praying that it would get better, but moments of emotional honesty are few.  And that's what is necessary for this kind of buddy movie to work. Queen Victoria (Dench) is in her golden years, but tired of all the ceremonies, rituals and politics.  One day two emissaries from India show up to present her...

3/4 Starring: Cary Elwes, Leigh Whannell, Danny Glover, Monica Potter, Michael Emerson, Tobin Bell The version being reviewed is unrated.  For the record, the theatrical cut is rated R for Strong Grisly Violence and Language I don't know if they exist in other cities (my guess is they do), but there are businesses called "escape rooms."  The idea is to get a group of your friends and get "locked" in a room.  To get out, you all have to band together to solve a series of puzzles that lead to a key that unlocks the door.  I've done it once, and it's a lot of fun if you have the right people.  "Saw" reminded me of this, although as spooky as the Halloween-themed ones are, I strongly doubt they are as gruesome as this movie. Adam (Whannell) wakes up mysteriously submerged in a bathtub in the dirtiest bathroom imaginable.  He isn't alone; also in the room is Dr. Lawrence Gordon (Elwes).  Both are chained to rusted pipes.  Tapes they find...

1/4 Starring: Dana Kimmell, Paul Kratka, Tracie Savage, Jeffrey Rogers, Catherine Parks, Larry Zerner, David Katims, Rachel Howard, Nick Savage, Gloria Charles, Kevin O'Brien, Cheri Maugins, Steve Susskind, Richard Brooker Rated R (probably for Strong Violence/Gore, Language, Sexuality/Nudity and Drug Use) The most interesting characters show up after the recap of the first film, and they're only on screen for five minutes.  Not a good sign; even for something as low grade as a " Friday the 13th " movie.  With a title like that, I'm not expecting something like " Halloween " or " Sinister ."  But I would like to be repaid with something other than unending tedium.  Sadly, that's what happens in this gimmicky and utterly worthless horror flick.  The only thing worth noting about this dud is that it's the first time Jason puts on his infamous hockey mask. Chris Higgins (Kimmell) is going to her family's old farm on Crystal Lak...