Ahh ... the mall. A place to just hang, and the stars of Kevin Smith's movie do that well. Jeremy London and Jason Lee loaf around the mall, scoping girls, brooding and wasting time. But then Lee is dumped by his girlfriend (Shannen Doherty), and he decides that the only way to win her back is by getting on a game show that is being taped in the middle of the food court, with the help of Silent Bob and Jay (mainstays in Smith movies such as "Clerks"). The movie is offensive and crude in parts but it's one of the funniest movies you'll see. IMDb | Other Reviews
"Magnolia" is a truly unique, original, intelligent film, but perhaps the most intriguing aspect is the way in which its remarkable potential is left unrealized. The real star of the film, you see, is its wunderkind director, P.T. Anderson, whose enthusiasm pervades and invigorates every scene but often gets the better of him. Some obvious flaws would have been caught by a more sober, thoughtful eye, one less intoxicated by the look and feel of scenes and more concerned with creating well-wrought stories. A few of the multitude of storylines are underdeveloped or abandoned in the wake of the film's hyperkinetic spirit, and many of the scenes intended to be heartbreaking do not actually have the necessary emotional weight. Despite it all, "Magnolia"is a very thought-provoking film, one so skillfully made that these faults do not begin to turn the tide toward making it less than a positive, fascinating experience. More On "Magnolia"
I found this one quite entertaining. It got a bit long there at the end, but getting there was so much fun it was worth it in the end. This is a Bill Murray vehicle like none in recent years and he pulls it off. If you're a fan of his, you'll love it and if you're not, you'll find yourself giggling when you never thought you would. It was marketed as a "James Bond meets Alfred Hitchcock," but it's more like "The Pink Panther meets Alfred Hitchcock." Not really a weekend-night feature, this "campy flick" is ideal for a rainy weekend afternoon. IMDb | Other Reviews
A hilarious, very offbeat satire of blockbuster alien movies past and present, especially "Independence Day." Some of the all-star casting proved to be more of a distraction than an asset to the movie -- why bother to cast Michael J. Fox or Danny DeVito if you're just going to kill them off after two scenes? But overall, it was a fun ride. Special notice must be given to Tom Jones' ability to laugh at himself. IMDb | Other Reviews
A high-tech, smart thriller. Very sleek and action-packed from start to finish. Keanu Reeves, in his first tolerable performance, plays a computer hacker who learns the world he's been living in isn't quite what he thought. As a result, his life is about to change in ways he can't possibly imagine or predict. That's one of the strong points of this film -- you never know quite where it's heading, but you know the end payoff is going to be good. And it is. IMDb | Other Reviews
If you like high-tech special effects, fast action and uh, patent leather, this movie is worth the rental price. Never mind that Keanu Reeves' surfer-like accent is still faintly detectable, perhaps that's why his character's dialogue is limited. Prepare to spend the first 30 minutes of the movie confused as the movie delves into a dismal future, the developing world of the Internet and alternate realities. Just prepare for bad men in black with "Terminator II" powers and some good martial art scenes. A top Hong Kong stunt specialist agreed to create fight scenes for the movie under one condition: that the cast train long hours to learn the techniques seen in Hong Kong action films. If you're a big martial arts fan like I am, then you'll be able to tell that the training paid off. The movie's ending sort of bottoms out, but you'll get over it.
Ack! My advice? Don't. Unless you want to waste three hours of your time of course, because that's how long this movie is -- and for no reason. The plot is simple. I figured it out after I read the back of the video box. So why did I still rent it? Curiosity. I was getting different opinions about the movie and felt compelled to come up with my own. Now, I have one. MTV nominated this movie in its "longest pregnant pause" category. Sure enough, there were plenty of them and all of them ridiculously long. Brad Pitt succeeds in making himself look really bad by playing his clueless character really well. The best scene with him, of course, is when he takes off his shirt. That's one good reason to see this movie. The second is to see how the very rich throw a birthday party. IMDb | Other Reviews
Fritz Lang's "Metropolis" is a silent film made in 1927 that marks the beginning of all great science fiction thrillers. The film is about a futuristic city of lights that is operated by a working class group of individuals who live under ground. The ruler of Metropolis, John Frederson, lets his ambition rule over his conscience. In opposition to his father, Frederson's son feels deep sympathy for the workers and tries to help them in any way possible. The heroine of the story, Maria, named after the Virgin Mary, speaks to the robot-like underground workers to give them hope. When Frederson steps in and tries to destroy Maria's credibility it leads to the demise of Metropolis. It sends a great message about the horrors of industrialism, and how detached a leader can get from his people. "Metropolis" is a fantastic story that was way ahead of its time. IMDb | Other Reviews
Did you see the trailers for this comedy in which floppy-haired Brit Hugh Grant attempts to imitate James Caan's mob-like "Forgetaboutit?" Well then, you've basically seen the whole movie. This enjoyable -- if not predicable -- comedy plays up all of Grant's bumbling charms amidst a myriad of New York Italian stereotypes. A typical date movie. IMDb | Other Reviews
This science fiction, gross-drooling-alien-creature-hunting-humans movie was better than I thought it was going to be. There is little, if any, gore. It's left up to your imagination. The creature is caught in "glimpses" and is very scary looking. The movie is still is a bit formulaic, but slickly produced with a solid pace. A Friday, Saturday night feature flick in a pinch, but a perfect Saturday or Sunday afternoon movie. IMDb | Other Reviews
While it would be difficult to classify the outcome of the sci-fi drama, "Mission To Mars" as a "mission accomplished," it could hardly be considered an aborted "mission" either. Like its crew members (Tim Robbins, Gary Sinese and Don Cheadle) in flight, "Mission" simply drifts aimlessly into familiar science-fiction film territory. In many ways, this is a fun movie to watch, loaded with hellzapoppin' special effects. But director Brian De Palma is also creative is the more subtle aspect of space travel, including weightlessness. On the downside, it's not as frightening as any trailer would lead you to believe, and takes on a syrupy melodramatic tone throughout most of the film. It feels particularly awkward to see accomplished actors like Robbins, Sinese and Cheadle delivering overused lines -- almost to the point where it looks like Robbins is downright uncomfortable with it. Full Review | IMDb | Other Reviews
This sequel to the 1993 miniseries fails to capture the integrity and overall quality of the original. However, it is gratifying to see the completion of some storylines and find out what happens to the characters from the first story. IMDb | Other Reviews
This movie delivers exactly as much as you expect from the previews. It is heartfelt and sincere and provides a few laughs along the way but does little to make a lasting impression. Loren Dean stars as new town psychiatrist Dr. Mumford (also the name of the town, not coincidentally), who has quickly become the town's top shrink. But he has a secret -- he never has been a licensed therapist. The expected success and lying backlash ensues. The R rating on this movie is warranted. Despite the warm and fuzzy nature of its previews, "Mumford" is definitely not family viewing thanks to scenes with drug use and graphic nudity. Conclusion: If you happen into a free ticket or can't think of anything better to rent, you won't be disappointed by this film. But it's not worth a special trip. Full Review | IMDb | Other Reviews
Even Indiana Jones himself couldn't have saved this misguided adventure. The special effects and sets are dazzling, while the story and characters are lackluster. The character of Evelyn Carnarvon, a clumsy Egyptologist and Brendan Fraser's love interest, is infuriatingly dumb and predictable. Apparently most of the other characters followed her cue. Fraser does an admirable job of trying to hold up this big-budget monster flick. He's got the acting ability, but not the screen presence to lead this expedition. It's entertaining enough for a matinee, but I've seen this formula done much more convincingly. IMDb
A common criticism (that is, when people even noticed it existed) of the latest Muppet movie was that it didn't cover any new ground, that it was a rehashing of previous Muppet material. Critics neglected to realize that this is the Muppets we're talking about, not Jean-Luc Godard, and the primary intended pleasure is simply in seeing your old pals Kermit and the gang just living their lives. The Muppets own a genuine charm, one of a depth and, yes, a humanity unseen most anywhere else. And "Muppets From Space" gets this essential warmth across better than any Muppet film since the original. It helps that it centers around Gonzo, the weirdo whose loneliness had never before been explored, and his plight to find his family. The film is, of course, adorable, but it's also surprisingly touching. IMDb | Other Reviews
Over the years I've seen this movie about five times, I even own a copy of it. And you know what? I still don't like it. I don't think it's a bad movie, in fact, the photography and costumes truly make this a "classic." It's that darn Prof. Higgins. The guy is an arrogant, sexist colossal jerk -- and not in that "he may seem gruff, but he really has a heart of gold" way either. But the worst part is, Eliza goes back to him! Not to ruin the ending for the three people who haven't seen the musical, but if you want to leave the movie with respect for any of the characters, my advice is to turn it off and skip the last 10 minutes. The music is great and the costumes are even better. IMDb | Other Reviews
While this movie won't elevate David E. Kelley the movie screenwriter above David E. Kelley the TV writer/producer, it does prove that Kelley's creative vision can be successfully translated to the big screen. This tale, which centers around one of the writer's great passions in life (hockey), plays out like your typical sports movie. The "big game" in this case is a showdown between the small town's local hockey team and the NHL's New York Rangers. One of the shortcomings of the film is that once we finally get to the game, we have little sympathy for any of the characters, nor have we been given reasonable cause to believe these guys are all that good. Conclusion: "Mystery, Alaska" is a satisfying choice for a matinee and a decent date movie. Full Review | IMDb | Other Reviews
The action and quick witted dialogue begin in the very first scenes of this movie and don't slow down. Greg Kinner, as Captain Amazing, the real superhero in a town of posers, makes for a great good-guy-gone-bad (you following me?). Janeane Garafalo is at her finest as The Bowler. Her dry sense of humor and straight-faced delivery doesn't waiver. And I never thought I would say this, but it was great to see Paul Reubens, formerly known as Pee Wee Herman, back on the silver screen. There are so many amazing things in "Mystery Men" -- from the gigantic disco ball to the superhero rejects -- that listing them here would take some of the movie's ingeniousness away. Overall, the best thing about this movie is the fortune-cookie wisdom, so be sure to pay attention. You could learn a thing or two. IMDb | Other Reviews
Ahh ... the mall. A place to just hang, and the stars of Kevin Smith's movie do that well. Jeremy London and Jason Lee loaf around the mall, scoping girls, brooding and wasting time. But then Lee is dumped by his girlfriend (Shannen Doherty), and he decides that the only way to win her back is by getting on a game show that is being taped in the middle of the food court, with the help of Silent Bob and Jay (mainstays in Smith movies such as "Clerks"). The movie is offensive and crude in parts but it's one of the funniest movies you'll see. 
Hey, here's an idea: Let's do yet another movie version of the "Three Musketeers" and leave out any action sequences. What's a Three Musketeers story without any sword fighting, you ask? It's "The Man In The Iron Mask," starring not one, but two, Leonardo DiCaprios dueling to see who can bore the audience most. Let this one rot in the Dark Ages. 
