The Long Riders (1980)

The origins, exploits and the ultimate fate of the Jesse James gang is told in a sympathetic portrayal of the bank robbers made up of brothers who begin their legendary bank raids because of revenge.

From memory: Stylish, atmospheric and violent modern Western with a good cast and beautiful cinematography.

Halliwell (no star): "Well-worn territory with new-fangled violent detail. Not much of an attraction despite the gimmick of having the various anti-heroesplayed by real brothers."

Maltin***: "...stylish but extremely bloody film. Typically meticulous direction by Hill..."

The Ice Harvest (2005)

A shady lawyer attempts a Christmas Eve crime, hoping to swindle the local mob out of some money, but his partner, a strip club owner, might have different plans for the cash.

Somnambulant - and humorless - heist thriller takes its time till it reveals that it actually does have a plot; good cast is hardly faced with any challenge.

Maltin**: "Mostly unfunny black comedy must have worked better on the pages of Scott Phillip's novel..."

Independence Day (1996)

 

 

The aliens are coming and their goal is to invade and destroy Earth; fighting superior technology, mankind's best weapon is the will to survive.

 

Successful rejuvenation of the 50s alien invasion/doomsday subgenre offers top-of-the-art special effects and action coupled with some good-natured tongue-in-cheek humor.

Halliwell*: "Enjoyably silly, jingoistic nonsense that found an appreciative audience for its sensational effects of blwing up the White House and most of the world; it sticks closely to the plot of The War of the Worlds, offering a technological version of a biological virus to knock out the aliens."

Maltin**1/2: "Spectacular - and spectacularly stupid - sci-fi saga...Big, Oscar-winning special effects are impressive, but the human stories are so dumb, the writing so lame, and some of the performances so broad they make some silly '50s sci-fi movies look brilliant by comparison."