Videodrome (1983)
Aug 31, 2000Reality-Manipulating TV
Absolutely fascinating David Cronenberg film that swims with a heady mix of ideas that blur tv, reality and the human body
James Woods
Cat’s Eye (1985)
Jan 4, 2000Stephen King Anthology
An anthology of three Stephen King stories, this comes out with extremely variable results where what were originally a series of tight and mordant tales end up strangely overblown
Cop (1988)
Apr 6, 2003Disturbed Cop Hunts Serial Killer
A James Ellroy-adapted crime thriller with James Woods giving a very disturbed performance as an unhinged detective on the trail of a serial killer
Contact (1997)
May 25, 2009Communications from Space
Carl Sagan's novel about SETI is inflated into a big budget film determined to impress even though the story did not need it. Sagan's interesting debate about religion and science is emasculated so as not to offend any religious groups
Hercules (1997)
Apr 19, 2007Disney Animation/Greek Mythology
Disney animated film from the same duo behind Aladdin. As with that film, the Greek myths are subjected to an annoying barrage of hip modern jokes and pop culture references
Vampires (1998)
Jun 19, 1999Vampire Hunter
John Carpenter revitalises the vampire film with a sharp action edge as James Woods heads a team of vampire hunters. Woods gives a ferociously determined performance way above and beyond the call of duty
Scary Movie 2 (2001)
Jul 8, 2001Genre Spoof
The first of the Scary Movie sequels. The Wayans Brothers extend the gag beyond the slasher movie to take on the ghost story and exorcism film while aiming squarely for Lowest Common Denominator humour
Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within (2001)
Jul 15, 2001Anime/Alien Soul Devourers
Despite being made by the same company, this has absolutely nothing to do with the Final Fantasy videogame. It is a visually stunning work of anime that takes place on an epic scale set after Earth has been invaded by spirit beings
Stuart Little 2 (2002)
Oct 19, 2002Mouse Boy
The sequel to Stuart Little proves as equally likeable as its predecessor
Northfork (2003)
May 29, 2014Strange Film About Angels
The Polish Brothers, two of the most underrated creative teams in the US today, make a rather puzzling film about angels that feels like muted Coen Brothers. The film is cool, measured, has often striking imagery but leaves you scratching your head trying to figure out what it is about
Surf’s Up (2007)
Jul 29, 2007Animation/Surfing Penguins
This came out several months after Happy Feet and has a similar plot involving surfing penguins. Though the lesser film and far more predictable, it is likeable
An American Carol (2008)
Jan 17, 2010American Conservative Version of A Christmas Carol
A ridiculous American conservative satire that turns Dickens' A Christmas Carol into a heavy-handed farce where a Michael Moore lookalike is made to see the error of his liberal ways
Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths (2010)
Feb 3, 2013Animation/Comic-Book Superheroes
Second of the Bruce Timm animated films based on DC's Justice League, this has been construed as a Mirror Universe take that pits the Justice League up against villainous versions of themselves
Straw Dogs (2011)
Oct 7, 2011Brutality and Assault
Another wholly unnecessary remake that waters the raw savagery of the original down to a safe tepidness. Everything that the original set down has now become formulaic
Coma (2012)
Sep 22, 2012Medical Conspiracy Thriller
TV mini-series remake of the Michael Crichton medical thriller that pointlessly changes and over-extrudes a tight and effective original, while director Mikael Salomon adds absurd red herrings and keys away major surprises well in advance
Big Bad (2016)
Feb 1, 2018Kids' Adventure vs Werewolf/Bigfoot
An affectionate recreation of 80s-type kids-on-an-adventure films like The Goonies as kids come up against a creature that may be a werewolf or a Bigfoot. Made with humour and a liking for its characters while not forgetting to be scary