John Dies at the End (2012)

 

A new street drug that sends its users across time and dimensions has one drawback: some people return no longer human. Can two college drop-outs save humanity from this silent, otherworldly invasion?

This horror-comedy is wildly imaginative and made with evident talent, but it's hopelessly incoherent, unfunny and not really that exiting. 

 

Morgan (2016)

A corporate risk-management consultant must decide whether or not to terminate an artificially created humanoid being.

Above-average, well cast sci-fi drama delivers some shocks  with the android's irrational and violent behaviour; the twist ending, however, is is rather predictable.

The Ides of March (2011)

An idealistic staffer for a new presidential candidate gets a crash course on dirty politics during his stint on the campaign trail.

A biting, but not very original look at US election politics is mainly watchable for its first-rate cast and good direction.

Maltin**: "Purported inside look at backroom politics covers awfully familiar ground and offers no real surprises; with a cast of this caliber it's easy to take but still doesn't add up to much."

The Congress (2013)

An aging, out-of-work actress accepts one last job, though the consequences of her decision affect her in ways she didn't consider.

Interesting but a bit confusing adaptation of Stanislaw Lem's classic sci-fi novel does skillfully add animated sequences to indicate virtual reality - until you don't know what is real or not.

Love & Mercy (2014)

In the 1960s, Beach Boys leader Brian Wilson struggles with emerging psychosis as he attempts to craft his avant-garde pop masterpiece. In the 1980s, he is a broken, confused man under the 24-hour watch of a shady therapist.

Excellently executed bio-pic with a good cast, but hampered by unnecessarily telling the story in leaps back and forth in time, and in the end it's a tortured artist with a Svengali-like madman and a wee romance thrown in for good measure - and hardly any insights to the genius Brian Wilson actually is.

Planet of the Apes (2001)

An Air Force astronaut crash lands on a mysterious planet where evolved, talking apes dominate a race of primitive humans.

Great production and visual splendor can't save this superfluous remake of the 1968 classic with its uncharismatic hero and a disappointingly contrived riddle ending.

Halliwell (no star): "Burton claimed this was a 're-imagining' of the original movie; with its glum hero and turgid action, all it demonstrates is the poverty of his imagination."

Maltin**1/2: "Entertaining if forgettable rethink of the 1968...A good yarn with great production design and impressive make-up by Rick Baker. Finale, with Rod Serling overtones, is the major letdown."

Ironclad (2011)

In 13th-century England, a small group of Knights Templar fight to defend Rochester Castle against the tyrannical King John.

English history on a schoolboy level: lots of sworld-weilding action, a wee bit of romance and the evil English King as caricature; one would suggest to introduce a new rating "not suitable for an audience above a certain age".

Maltin*1/2: "Potentially provocative historical epic wallows in one-dimensional theatrics, cornball dialogue, and in-your-face gore."

Rock of Ages (2012)

A small town girl and a city boy meet on the Sunset Strip, while pursuing their Hollywood dreams.

Deliberately simple-minded musical rehashing a staple of 70s hits, made by and made for people who hate real rock music and who think it's just a part of Tinseltown.

Maltin**: "Dreary film adaptation...Performed live on stage, this may have been fun, but the mivie is just a collection of caricatures and cliches, and plays like an endless string of music videos."