Flight of the Navigator (1986)

Flight of the Navigator (1986)

[5] This live-action Disney flick starts off interesting, with a 12-year old boy suddenly finding himself eight years in the future without having aged a day. Turns out he was the target of an alien abduction, and his abductor now needs his…
Speed (1994)

Speed (1994)

[8] It's formulaic, overblown and downright preposterous at times, but it's also everything moviegoers want in a summer action movie. Speed has a tight, rapid-fire script, awesome sound design, a remarkably kinetic score, and surprisingly good acting for a movie of its…
Near Dark (1987)

Near Dark (1987)

[7] Director Kathryn Bigelow (Strange Days, The Hurt Locker) serves up a stylish, brooding vampire tale set in the southwest. I dig Bigelow's tone, atmosphere, and terrific casting. Bigelow tapped into the Aliens ensemble to cast Bill Paxton, Lance Henriksen, and Jenette…
Lethal Weapon 2 (1989)

Lethal Weapon 2 (1989)

[7] The sequel is more of the same, but that's not always a bad thing. There's enough talent in front of and behind the cameras in the Lethal Weapon movies to warrant at least one or two entertaining sequels. The plot is…
Revolutionary Road (2008)

Revolutionary Road (2008)

[7] Revolutionary Road explores the dark side of marriage, where husband and wife suffocate in the confines of traditional gender roles and start lashing out at one another. Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet (together again for the first time since Titanic) service…
Battle for the Planet of the Apes (1973)

Battle for the Planet of the Apes (1973)

[5] The last film in the original Apes franchise is also the most disappointing. Roddy McDowall returns as Caesar, trying to lead apes and humans in peaceful coexistence. It's interesting to see how the movie ties into all the previous installments, but…
The Thief of Bagdad (1940)

The Thief of Bagdad (1940)

[7] In this potpourri of Middle-Eastern folklore, a banished king (John Justin) and a street boy (Sabu) team up to stop an evil magician (Conrad Veidt) from marrying a beautiful princess (June Duprez). The Thief of Bagdad tries to combine everything you…
Amityville II: The Possession (1982)

Amityville II: The Possession (1982)

[6] Part two in the Amityville franchise is actually a prequel exploring the grisly deaths of the previous family who lived in the cursed home. The first half of the movie builds to a pretty shocking climax, where the oldest son (Jack…
Evil Dead 2: Dead by Dawn (1987)

Evil Dead 2: Dead by Dawn (1987)

[8] This is more of a remake than a sequel, but most fans agree that it tops the original. Director Sam Raimi continues his imaginitive use of camera angles and movement, sound effects, and low-budget visual effects, but the winning ingredient is…
George of the Jungle (1997)

George of the Jungle (1997)

[6] For family entertainment, George of the Jungle isn't too bad. With all the critters and punny humor, it should hold most kids' interest, but for once I wish a kids' flick could restrain itself from frequent potty humor. The respectable cast…