New acquisition: Batman (1989)

 

Alice in Wonderland (2010)

Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children (2016)

Edward Scissorhands (1990)

Batman (1989)

On the set: Tim Burton

Big Fish (2003)

Tim Burton

Mars Attacks! (1996)

Earth is invaded by Martians with unbeatable weapons and a cruel sense of humor.

Fairly enjoyable sci-fi spoof works only to a degree, since it's thoroughly tongue-in-cheek, so that, ironically, the more straight-faced Indepedence Day from the same year was actually more fun.

Halliwell*: "The film begins brilliantly, with a stampede of flaming cows, but then is content to recycle, at great expense, the style of 50s sci-fi films while its cast parody their more serious roles; despite its occasional antic charm, it is not as enjoyable as it ought to be."

Maltin**1/2: "Overly self-satisfied spoof of  '50s alien-invasion movies (and '50s attitudes)...Great effects and animation (of the Martian characters) but awfully broad and one-note in tone, spoofing something that's already funny in the straight-faced originals of the period. One can't completely dislike a film in which Slim Whitman figures so prominently, however."

Beetlejuice (1988)

On the set: Winona Ryder

Big Eyes (2014)

A drama about the awakening of the painter Margaret Keane, her phenomenal success in the 1950s, and the subsequent legal difficulties she had with her husband, who claimed credit for her works in the 1960s.

Adequately straightforward handling of an unusual and upsetting true story of artistic betrayal with a splendid cast.

New acquisition: Big Eyes (2014)

A gift from our friend Elvi.

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."