Winona Ryder

(ph: Drew Jarrett)

Stranger Things, Season 3 (2019)

 

Summer brings new jobs and budding romance. But the mood shifts when Dustin's radio picks up a Russian broadcast, and Will senses something is wrong.

The third season ups the ante with a Russian threat and a more complex narrative with parallel subplots plus some good new members of the ensemble (Robin and Erica);as before, highly entertaining.

Stranger Things, Season 2 (2017)

 

It's 1984 and the citizens of Hawkins, Indiana are still reeling from the horrors of the demagorgon and the secrets of Hawkins Lab. Will Byers has been rescued from the Upside Down but a bigger, sinister entity still threatens those who survived.

This season holds our interest mainly with its strong cast of characters with the addition of new ones, especially Max and Kali, but the plot and "New" mystery is mainly a rehash from season 1.

 

Stranger Things, Season 1 (2016)

 

In 1983 Indiana, a young boy vanishes into thin air, as friends, family and local police search for answers, they are drawn into an extraordinary mystery involving top-secret government experiments, terrifying supernatural forces and one very strange little girl.

Lovingly recreated homage to 80s Spielberg productions convinces with excellent period details, a great cast of characters and introducing a very unique and mesmerizing persona with the girl Eleven; the mystery itself, however, is not really that exciting. 

 

Alien: Resurrection (1997)

 

200 years after her death, Ellen Ripley is revived as a powerful human/Alien hybrid clone who must continue her war against the Aliens.

Too ambitious for its own good this installment of the Aliens series is quite messy, but has some moments, especially concerning the visuals.

On renewed viewing I need to correct my initial rating: this is actually an imaginative and at times quite disturbing new take on the Alien saga and, compared to the last installment, the plot is quite coherent.

On re-watching: meanwhile I do quite enjoy this version; it does have some intense moments.

Halliwell*: "Stylish, occasionally impressive movie that all too soon settles into familiar routine."

Maltin**: "Clumsy sequel with crummy logic, far too many wisecracks; a few good action scenes, but scrictly for series fans."

 

Winona Ryder

Winona Ryder

Edward Scissorhands (1990)

Stranger Things, Season 2 (2017)

It's 1984 and the citizens of Hawkins, Indiana are still reeling from the horrors of the demagorgon and the secrets of Hawkins Lab. Will Byers has been rescued from the Upside Down but a bigger, sinister entity still threatens those who survived.

This season holds our interest mainly with its strong cast of characters with the addition of new ones, especially Max and Kali, but the plot and "New" mystery is mainly a rehash from season 1.

Stranger Things, Season 1 (2016)

In 1983 Indiana, a young boy vanishes into thin air, as friends, family and local police search for answers, they are drawn into an extraordinary mystery involving top-secret government experiments, terrifying supernatural forces and one very strange little girl.

Lovingly recreated homage to 80s Spielberg productions convinces with excellent period details, a great cast of characters and introducing a very unique and mesmerizing persona with the girl Eleven; the mystery itself, however, is not really that exciting.

Mermaids (1990)

An unconventional single mother relocates with her two daughters to a small Massachusetts town in 1963, where a number of events and relationships both challenge and strengthen their familial bonds.

Erratic comedy-drama doesn't really go anywhere, but entertains with a great lively ensemble and some good scenes.  

Halliwell (no star): "A romantic comedy uncertain whether it is trying for laughs or tears; it attempts, unsuccessfully, to settle for both."

Maltin***: "Lively mix of comedy and drama...Funny and affecting, with a standout performance by Ryder..."

Winona Ryder

Bio:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winona_Ryder

The Iceman (2012)

The story of Richard Kuklinski, the notorious contract killer and family man, whose wife and daughters never had any clue about his real profession.

Unfortunately, this fact-based story gets a quite formulaic treatment, but the movie does offer a good cast, and Michael Shannon's stellar performance saves the day.

Maltin***: "Tough, fact-based character study/crime drama...well made and extremely well acted, though it lacks the depth of Scorsese's GOODFELLAS and such TV series  as The Sopranos and Boardwalk Empire; not surprisingly, actors from all three...are cast here."

Beetlejuice (1988)

On the set: Winona Ryder