This is an amazing and exciting film. While the storyline is a bit thin at times the viewer is rushed headlong through a series of harrowing adventures culminating in an intense cat and mouse chase in a secret research facility.
All in Science Fiction
J.J. Abrams' STAR TREK: INTO DARKNESS
Having grown up reading the science fiction of Clarke, Heinlein, and Asimov, the original Star Trek TV series always seemed unsophisticated and juvenile.
Joseph Kosinski's “OBLIVION”
Great popcorn movie. Really enjoyed it. Terrific visuals, interesting variations on familiar themes.
Barry Sonnenfeld's MEN IN BLACK III
To my surprise, I really enjoyed many Men in Black III. What did I like about it?
Timo Vuorensola's "IRON SKY"
I was really looking forward to seeing Iron Sky after all the online hype. Actually seeing it was a major disappointment. This movie is awful.
Mamoru Oshii's “ASSAULT GIRLS”
This is sort of a sequel to Avalon. We have, again, a post apocalyptic society where immersive multiplayer videogame warfare seems to have evolved into a major societal and economic force.
Len Wiseman's TOTAL RECALL
The new TOTAL RECALL is a fun movie. It’s nowhere near as gratuitously gory and twisted as Paul Verhoeven’s great Arnold Schwartzenneger version, but it makes up for that with performances, visuals, and pacing that match and in some cases surpass the original.
David Twohy's CHRONICLES OF RIDDICK
But the real star of this movie is the look.
Ridley Scott's “PROMETHEUS”
Is it Scott’s fault that all interstellar spacecraft now come equipped with handheld flamethrowers?
Jon Favreau's COWBOYS AND ALIENS
I loved this film. It’s a perfect demonstration of what I like in a popcorn film: fun, clever, interesting use of cliches, and lots of hats.
Zack Snyder’s SUCKER PUNCH
Bullet point review:
J.J. Abrams' SUPER 8
Back in my early days of reviewing films when my kids were growing up and still at home I created a special category called “Young People” where I placed movies that didn’t treat cinema kids like idiots or totally obsessed with sex and fart jokes.
Henry Levin's JOURNEY TO THE CENTER OF THE EARTH
This thoroughly enjoyable 1959 classic is a childhood favorite. Viewed again recently I was pleasantly surprised to see how enjoyable it remains.
Paul W.S. Anderson's “RESIDENT EVIL: AFTERLIFE”
Basically, if you’re into really well-made sci-fi-action-zombie-post-acopalyptic-action-gorefests, this one’s for you.
Mario Bava's “PLANET OF VAMPIRES”
This bare-bones DVD contains a gorgeous color wide screen version of a 1965 Italian science fiction movie directed by Mario Bava that boasts many scenes eerily reminiscent of images and situations in the later ALIEN movies.
Steven Spielberg's CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE THIRD KIND
Seeing this movie again after a delay of several years I was very pleasantly surprised at how well it holds up.
Ernie Barbarash's “CUBE ZERO”
I rather enjoyed this direct-to-video Canadian horror film.
Je-gyun Yun's TIDAL WAVE (HAEUNDAE)
As disaster movies go this one is pretty good. We get to know an odd group of people and wonder, of course, which will survive When The Big One Hits.
Val Guest's DAY THE EARTH CAUGHT FIRE
Val Guest’s businesslike direction and matter-of-fact approach to depicting extraordinary circumstances in a near-documentary style here yield a still-watchable and very entertaining thriller that takes place in London in the early 1960’s.