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Director: Peter Webber

Starring: Gaspard Ulliel, Li Gong, Aaron Thomas, Helena Lia Tachovska,

This has been a hit-or-miss series all along. This one is a miss. The story is weak and the characters are poorly developed. They try to set up Hannibal as a monster created by the actions of others, but if this is the case, then there has be a transition from innocent child to cold-blooded killer. We don’t have that here. All we have left is some innovative revenge murders, reminiscent of I Spit On Your Grave (anyone remember that one?) and a story that needed about seven more re-writes.

The film starts with a long section on eight-year-old Hannibal’s experiences in World War II. Aaron Thomas plays young Lecter, while Tachovska plays his younger sister. The rest of the unconvincing story begins when the young killer is sixteen-years-old and in an orphanage. Soon, our young connoisseur is out of there and into a bigger world, but is still haunted by dreams of his wartime experiences. All of this is surprisingly slow and boring, with a decided lack of tension and suspense. This film should be about building depth in the main character, but we are not let into his thinking, but kept outside as we merely witness his brutality. The ending does pick up and offer some action, but too little too late.

There is not much to recommend here. If you liked “Hannibal”, then this one might be to your taste, but you will need some patience to get there. If that one was not your kind of flick, then don’t bother with this one. Pull Red Dragon off the shelf and watch that one again, or check out Manhunter (the first Hannibal Lecter movie), if you haven’t seen it.

Director: Adam Shankman

Starring: Nikki Blonsky, John Travolta, Michelle Pfeiffer, Christopher Walken, Amanda Bynes, James Marsden, Queen Latifah, Brittany Snow, Zac Efron, Elijah Kelley, Allison Janney

In a tepid summer of tired sequels and action orgies this film is a breath of fresh air. I am not usually a big fan of musicals, but this one won me over! The young cast seems to be bursting with joy and the experienced performers are clearly having a ball, as well. The songs are exuberant and the story, well-known to many because of its long run as a stage show (based on a 80’s flick and starring Ricki Lake at one point), is very good for a musical and even addresses the civil rights’ issues of the 60s.

Teenage newcomer, Nikki Blonsky, won the celebrity lottery and landed the lead role of Tracy Turnblad, a Baltimore high school student who is obsessed with becoming one of the dancers on the local Corny Collins Show and stealing the heart of the lead dancer, Link Larkin (Zac Efron). Tracy’s mother, Edna Turnblad, played frighteningly well in drag by John Travolta, is worried that Tracy will get hurt. This role has traditionally been played in drag going back to the 1988 feature with the famous transvestite, Divine. Christopher Walken is great as Tracy’s dad, who supports her dream. Look for a funny cameo by original writer, John Waters as a neighborhood flasher. Michelle Pfeifer and Brittany Snow star as the nasty mother/daughter team of Velma and Amber Von Tussle who are determined to prevent any changes to lily white, homogenous look of the show. Queen Latifah and Elijah Kelley’s characters of Motormouth Maybelle and Seaweed, performers on the show’s ‘Negro Day’ march to fight for the rights of all, when even that tiny representation on the air is threatened. Tracy disregards the risk and marches with them.

Well, I don’t want to start gushing, but this is the most appealing and energetic musical since Grease and if you liked that wonderful fifties romp, then this should be a can’t-miss movie for you. The performances and charming cast combine with a strong story, along with catchy tunes and nifty dance numbers, to create a winner that will be remembered long after the summer and all of its mediocre films have been forgotten.

Starring: Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson, Robbie Coltrain, Maggie Smith,
Richard Harris, Tom Felton, Jason Isaacs, Kenneth Branaugh

Director: Chris Columbus

It’s the second year at the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and there is a something of a sophomore jinx, I’m sorry to say. This, like The Two Towers, is still a very good movie for the same reasons that the first effort was excellent, but it has some elements that hurt the end product and make it the weakest in the series thus far.
This movie begins with Harry spending a miserable summer when a really irritating house elf named Dobby arrives. This character is not as bad as Jar Jar Binks, but to even be compared to that disaster is bad enough. Soon, Harry is swept off to join the Weasleys, but problems necessitate him and Ron taking a flying car to Hogwarts. This scene involves too much adolescent screaming and goes on too long.
The movie lags in the middle, but does have a good story and all the wonderful characters from the first movie joined by Branaugh as an egotistical glory-hungry wizard and the first appearance of a wonderfully menacing Jason Isaacs as Lucius Malfoy.
The film picks up and has a satisfying ending. It is enjoyable and is must viewing for Potter fans and will likely still be pleasing to all who enjoyed the first in the series.

Starring: Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint, Brendin Gleeson, James and
Oliver Phelps, Jason Isaacs, Tom Felton, Robert Pattinson, Stanislav Ianevski,
Bonnie Wright, Robbie Coltrane, Michael Gambon, Maggie Smith.

Director: Mike Newell

This is the fourth installment of the boy-wizard’s legacy and it brings back all of wonderful characters of the series and, as usual, has some more to introduce. As well, more of the imaginative and wonderful magic effects that we have come to expect from the mind of JK Rowling are everywhere in the production, and, of course, there are dangers to overcome and mysteries to solve, so keep your wits about you.
In Potter’s fourth year at Hogwarts, there is to be no Quiddage (Gasp)! Instead, there is an international global Tri-wizard tournament. This was a very strong book in the series, but it was considerably longer than the first three, so the challenge here was to tell the whole story in a reasonable length of time. Newell managed to accomplish this, but the film does seem to rush through some parts.
This is a worthy addition to Potter series and will be thoroughly enjoyed by all those who enjoyed the previous entries, but perhaps those who have not read the books might find it a little harder to follow than the previous movies.

Starring: Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson, Robbie Coltrain, Maggie Smith,
Tom Felton, Michael Gambon, David Thewlis, Gary Oldman.

Director: Alfonso Cuaron

The third installment of the Harry Potter money-making machine is very good and a step back up from a slightly weaker effort of The Chamber of Secrets. This is one of my favorite Potter books so it has a strong story to start and has more of the usual wonderfully imaginative Harry Potter scenes.
Its year three for our Hogwarts’ heroes and this year there is an escaped prisoner, a harassed hippogriff and deadly dementors to worry about. The usual cast is back, (minus the deceased Richard Harris, replaced by Gambon) and does well, although Grint overacts in spots. The story can get hard to follow in the middle so pay attention.
Those who have enjoyed the previous entries, this is a fine addition to the series. If you have not been won over by now, then this is unlikely to be to your taste.

Starring: Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson, Robbie Coltrain, Maggie Smith,
Richard Harris

Director: Chris Columbus

Okay, okay, it’s true. I am a Harry Potter fan. I’ve read all the books more than once, but usually that makes it harder to please me with the movies, but really they could not have done a much better job with this first installment and the result is one of the best fantasy movies ever made.
The story starts with Daniel Radcliffe as 10 year-old orphan living a Cinderella-like existence with a cruel aunt and uncle, when he learns that he is actually a wizard and will soon be attending the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft & Wizardry. When he begins his voyage there, we enter a fantastically, imaginative world that makes me want to clap my hands and giggle. Once at the school, he finds good friends in Ron (Rupert Grint) and Hermione (Emma Watson) and discovers the wizard sport of Quiditch, which really makes no sense as a sport. Why have a team? The Golden Snitch is all that matters. But I digress. He also finds wonders and mysteries aplenty. The story is wonderful and the acting, even by the young stars is very good. Add this to the impressive special effects and you have a classic effort.
Fans of the books and fantasy lovers, who don’t need a high body count to enjoy the genre will love this movie. I know I did.

Director: Michael Mann

Starring: Robert De Niro, Al Pacino, Val Kilmer, Jon Voight, Tom Sizemore, Ashley Judd, Diane Venora, Danny Trejo, Amy Brenneman, Wes Studi, Kevin Gage

Writer/director Michael Mann gave this action classic that featured the first time that Al Pacino and Robert De Niro appeared on screen together, though, they only have one scene of dialog. This is one of the coolest caper flicks that Hollywood has ever put out and you will be hard-pressed to find any action fan that didn’t love this movie. The story is simple, but is beefed up by a number of sub-plots. Often too many of these slow down a movie and interrupt its flow, but here they fit in seamlessly and help to enhance our understanding of the characters.

De Niro is Neil, the leader of a crew of hardened bandits that includes Chris (Val Kilmer), Michael (Tom Sizemore) and Trejo (Danny Trejo), who plan and execute big money robberies with expert precision. Al Pacino is Lt. Vincent Hanna, a cop specializing in catching guys just like this, gets on their case and in doing so, quickly gains an admiration for their professionalism, but sees it as a challenge to nail them. Both men have other issues crowding their lives, however, but you know that it will end with the two of them. This is an excellent action movie, though one big gunfight goes on waaaay too long – and the cops, Jesus! I could fire a pellet gun over my shoulder, looking through my rearview mirror, while driving at top speed down a treacherous mountain road and hit more than there guys! I mean, I know what Hollywood is like, but this scene gets pretty ridiculous.

This is as good as any action movie out there, the faults notwithstanding, and it you have somehow overlooked seeing it all these years, quick get out there and rent it (or better yet, buy it. I did) and we will keep that little secret just between us.

Starring: John Cusack, Jack Black, Todd Louiso, Iben Hjejle, Lisa Bonet, Tim Robbins

Director: Stephen Frears

Ok, list of the greatest movies about camera-talking, neurotic, record store owners undergoing heartbreak? Number one: High Fidelity. This is the kind of role that brings out the best in John Cusack, but he isn’t working alone. Black and Louiso are fantastic as his inept employees in wonderfully, written supporting roles. For Cusack fans this one is a can’t miss.
Cusack is Rob Gordon, the owner of Championship Vinyl, and a man whose life is going nowhere, when his long time girlfriend, Laura (Iben Hjejle), packs it in. This triggers a wave of nostalgia about his past relationships and what went wrong. He decides to contact each of them and find out why it didn’t work. All of this gives him a window into himself and why he has lived his life the way he has. Along the way he tries to win Laura back from Ray (Tim Robbins), meets a cool sexy singer (Lisa Bonet) and finds out why ex’s are ex’s. The humour is subtle, rapid fire and clever.
This is a smart comedy with plenty of humour along with a good story and a message that we can all stand to hear from time to time. It’s worth seeing. Give it a spin.

Director: Russell Mulcahy

Starring: Christopher Lambert, Roxanne Hart, Clancy Brown, Sean Connery, Beatie Edney.

Christopher Lambert is the King of the B-Movies; a straight-to-video titan. But, if he never appears in another memorable film, he will always have Highlander. This 80s action classic features a rocking Queen soundtrack, flashy, cool, sword action, inspired direction and interesting characters, all blended in Gregory Widen’s first, and best, screenplay.

The film opens at Madison Square Garden, where professional wrestling is the evening’s attraction and in the midst of the crowd, sits Russell Nash (Lambert). Soon, he adjourns to the parking garage, where he is soon embroiled in a life or death sword battle. The back story to this immortal character is told in flashbacks to his beginnings in the Scottish Highlands. Stalking him in modern NYC is an ancient enemy, The Kurgan (Clancy Brown), while the police, including Brenda Wyatt (Hart) try to figure out what is going on.

This is a must for action fans, but has little to offer for those who don’t consider Die Hard to be one of the finest films of the 80s.

Director: Nicholas Hytner

Starring: Stephen Campbell Moore, Richard Griffiths, Samuel Anderson, James Corden, Andrew Knott, Jamie Parker, Russell Tovey, Dominic Cooper,
Samuel Barnett, Sacha Dawan, Clive Merrison, Frances de la Tour, Georgia Taylor

This is another entry into the education section of the cinematic library, but it is a worthy addition. The young, ensemble cast does an excellent job with Alan Bennett’s screenplay based upon his own play. The story does find some new angles to address in this tired genre. It doesn’t all fit in with my taste and moves forward too slowly, but it is original and very well written with some excellent dialogue (including a particular strong scene where a couple of the boys compare teenage groping with their girlfriends to military action) and features superior performances throughout.

Stephen Campbell Moore is Mr. Irwin, the brash new teacher with original ideas thrust into a class of gifted, but spirited, British school boys looking for positions at prestigious British colleges. Irwin helps the group to see history in a different light and they help him to see some things about himself, as well. Richard Griffiths, best known as Uncle Vernon in the Harry Potter series, gives a strong performance as the boys’ literature teacher.

This is a quality project, but moves a little too slowly for me to give it a strong recommendation. It is best compared with past releases such as Dead Poets’ Society and Mona Lisa Smile, so if these two features appealed to you, then this may be a good Friday night movie choice.