It’s not often when a movie comes along that catches my cat’s fancy. I have several, but Mr. Kitty, a Siamese with definite attitude, takes his movies very seriously. He’s very vocal, often showing disdain for films where cats are the butt of the joke, or a tired cliche in a horror film (according to Mr. Kitty, he has never licked tuna juice from the private area of a teenage boy, or leapt out of the shadows to scare anyone). Read the rest of this entry »

“Deuces Wild” is so mind-numbingly bad you wonder if any of it is supposed to be taken seriously. The sophomore effort of director Scott Kalvert, who hasn’t been behind the camera since 1995’s “The Basketball Diaries,” “Deuces Wild” plays like a junior high school drama production of “West Side Story” minus the music, or the talent. Read the rest of this entry »

When director Brian De Palma is on the money, he’s one of our greatest directors. Whether he’s pumping out pseudo-Hitchcock like “Carrie,” “Dressed to Kill” and “Obsession” or popular popcorn fare like “The Untouchables” and “Mission: Impossible,” De Palma knows how to tell a story. Read the rest of this entry »

He said it and he meant it! “The Terminator” is back in “Rise of the Machines,” and he’s back with a vengeance. Though it’s been 12 years since his last appearance, “The Terminator” is just as formidable. Credit a tongue-in-cheek performance by star Arnold Schwarzenegger, who still looks as menacing as ever, plus a cheeky script and tightly wound direction by Jonathan Mostow (“U- 571”), taking over for creator/co-writer James Cameron. Read the rest of this entry »

Disney’s kennel has served them well, either in live action or animated form. When it comes to shaggy dog stories, the studio has rarely barked up the wrong tree. Released in 1959, The Shaggy Dog was the studios first live-action film, and modestly shot in black and white, became instantly profitable. The tale of a young boy (Tommy Kirk) afflicted by an ancient spell which transforms him into a four-legged hairball, The Shaggy Dog spawned one theatrical sequel and numerous television films. Read the rest of this entry »

Anyone who lives near the ocean knows and understands its power and seduction. The sea is a mighty mistress, one who demands total respect. Cross her and she can be unrelenting in her ferociousness. Respect her, and she can open up the world to anyone willing to take advantage of her riches. Read the rest of this entry »

You know a family film misses the mark when a light from across the aisle catches your attention and turns out to be a kid playing video games. As I struggled through Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events, I kept wondering who would enjoy this dull and dreary exercise. Definitely not the kid sitting across the aisle. Read the rest of this entry »

Alex (William H. Macy) has a problem. He wants out of the family business, but he doesn’t know how to tell his father. In his mid-40’s, Alex wants to settle down and take care of his wife and young son. The problem is his father Michael (Donald Sutherland), a man who cannot tolerate weakness, and sees it as a sign of betrayal. Read the rest of this entry »

He’s big, he’s mean, and he’s green, and I’m not talking about the Jolly Green Giant at harvest time. I’m talking about Marvel Comic’s angst-ridden super hero “The Hulk,” who literally leaps to the big screen in director Ang Lee’s big budget cartoon. Read the rest of this entry »

“Dancer in the Dark” is the kind of film you either love or hate. There’s no in-between when it comes to director Lars Van Trier’s haunting musical about one woman’s harrowing journey through an unjust legal system. Read the rest of this entry »