If 1979’s “Alien” was the original hypothesis that the best science-fiction thrillers are psychological, then John Carpenter’s “The Thing” is the study that proves it true. A remake of John W. Campbell Jr.’s 1951 classic “The Thing from Another World,” Carpenter’s re- imagining is another brilliant execution of quiet suspense that gets quickly into your […]

As far as predicting goes, it’s pretty easy when one movie comes out in full release the entire weekend because everyone fears competing with it. The theme of today’s post is “Don’t **** with Michael Jackson.”

High school is vicious, everyone knows that. And although stereotypes have run high school movies ragged, there’s still a ring of truth to them even when they’re blown out of proportion. In this regard, “Heathers” stands apart. This ’80s cult favorite black comedy is the counter-culture version of the high school flick, the very definition […]

When Michael Jackson died over the summer, my life wasn’t exactly turned upside-down; I didn’t really learn to love his music until high school. So maybe I’m not the right person to say this, but This Is It, the film that is basically a release of behind-the-scenes footage of Jackson’s preparations for what would have […]

Johnny 5 is angry, Hollywood. Very angry. Listen, I know the ’80s are the laughing stock of pop culture, but today’s pop culture owes itself to triumphs and failures of that decade, not to mention many people hold ’80s movies and TV shows close to their hearts. With all that said, is there any reason […]

If you read the plot summary for “Mad Max,” you’ve just ruined the first 1 hour and 10 minutes of the film. You’ve also found out that “Mad Max” takes place in post-apocalyptic Australia, which will be helpful because otherwise you won’t have any idea what’s going on. The film, made in 1979, tries really […]

“Short Circuit” is one of those rare ’80s comedies that knows what it is. It delights in its tackiness, awkward jokes and poking fun at both the “tech movement” and Cold War dramas. It never gives off the sense that it’s trying to be something it’s not, staying fresh, funny and even laughing at itself. […]

I’m sad to announce that the streak has ended at 6. On Friday, I chose Saw VI to take the box office crown as the “Saw” films have so often done in the past, but it was horror competitor Paranormal Activity that climbed all the way to No. 1 this week. I’m now batting .850 […]

It’s that time of year again. The makers of “Saw” are blessing us all with another lovely chapter of creatively brutal torture horror. Hard to believe we’re already up to number six. Before I know it I’ll be taking my grandkids to Saw XLVI in IMAX 4D. I suppose we have that to be glad […]

This is the one weekend every year (in recent memory) where a majority of the film-loving community lets out a collective groan. It’s “Saw Weekend,” and in 2009 the Saw franchise celebrates its sixth birthday. Groan. Then again, it’s not that I’m really all that miffed this time around. When Saw IV and Saw V […]

The Coen brothers have developed critical acclaim for making black comedies/awkward tragedies that depict small-time people getting in way over their heads, who for one reason or another are motivated to do things out of the ordinary because the natural order of the world and society has wronged them in some way. “A Serious Man,” […]

Martin Scorsese’s second collaboration with Leonardo DiCaprio is “The Aviator,” a nearly three-hour biopic examining about a thirty-year window in the life of airline and movie mogul Howard Hughes, whose successes in aviation and Hollywood romances made him shine in the public eye despite the bankrupting methods and slowly growing obsessive compulsions that tore at […]

It probably comes as no surprise to you that Where the Wild Things Are took the weekend box office, but it might be a bit more surprising to learn that it’s not because of families. Personally, I had no doubts about the older demographics feeding solidly into the weekend gross, but did I expect them […]

Spike Jonze’s imagining of “Where the Wild Things Are” is nothing like you’d expect from a film adapted from a beloved children’s book. It’s dense with top-notch visuals from the cinematography to the incredible fusion of costumes, puppetry and CGI used to bring the Wild Things to life, but its plot is very frank in […]

Wild Things are in store for the box office this weekend. The first children’s/family film to compete in a month since Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, Where the Wild Things Are, the anticipated adaptation of the classic picture book, is sure to draw a big crowd of filmgoers of all ages. With weather across […]