Steve's  CR reader's
  Rating    opinion
  $2-$8       1-5       Available reviews

    $8         4        Phenomenon
     8 . . . . 4 . . .  The Birdcage
     7         -        Rumble in the Bronx
     7         -        The City of Lost Children
     7 . . . . - . . .  Welcome to the Dollhouse
     7         4        Star Trek: First Contact
     7         5        Ransom
     6 . . . . 5 . . .  Fargo
     6         -        Mystery Science Theatre 3000: The Movie
     6         2        Jumanji
     6 . . . . 4 . . .  Independence Day
     6         1        12 Monkeys
     5         1        The Island of Dr. Moreau
     5 . . . . - . . .  Beavis and Butt-Head Do America
     5         4        Eraser
     5         1        Chain Reaction
     5 . . . . 1 . . .  Four Rooms
     5         1        Larger than Life
     5         1        Space Jam
     5 . . . . 2 . . .  Mission: Impossible
     4         1        The Cable Guy
     4         1        Sgt. Bilko
     4 . . . . 2 . . .  White Squall
     4         1        From Dusk Till Dawn
     4         2        The Phantom
     4 . . . . 2 . . .  Down Periscope
     3         5        Big Night
     3         -        Kids in the Hall: Brain Candy
     3 . . . . 1 . . .  Spy Hard
     3         1        Father of the Bride, Part II
     2         -        Barb Wire
     2 . . . . 1 . . .  The Glimmer Man

The Reviews....

Four Rooms .. rating: $5

Each segment of this film was written by a different person, with only Ted the Bellboy to provide continuity. The first segment is disappointing, the third is hilarious, and the last is quite clever. This would have been more enjoyable without the vulgar language.
Fun tip: Look for connections between the four rooms.

12 Monkeys .. rating: $6

Terry Gilliam did an excellent job borrowing the mood and environment from ``Brazil'' without making things too dark. I thought Bruce Willis's portrayal of a madman would have been more convincing if the first scene in the movie were shown out-of-sequence as a flashback.
Fun tip: Look closely at Brad Pitt's eyes during the formal dinner scene.

Jumanji .. rating: $6

In the previews, the computer-generated special effects didn't look very smooth. But that all goes away once you're sucked into the story. Robin Williams is less flamboyant than usual, but that's appropriate for his role here. Lots of fun, but too scary for kids under 7.
Fun tip: Who plays Van Pelt, the hunter? (watch the credits)
Guest fun tip: See if you can spot the axe before Peter.

From Dusk Till Dawn .. rating: $4

What starts out as a good road movie (with probably the most glorious death scene we'll see all year) turns mindless about half way through. This would have been more enjoyable if the ads hadn't given away the second half. As with most Tarantino films, you'll get de-sensitized to the foul language.
Fun tip: Keep an eye out for Cheech Marin.

The City of Lost Children .. rating: $7

I found this movie to be engrossing, with its eccentric characters and fantastic sets. Don't expect the plot points to jump out at you - I needed a second viewing to really understand the message. Beautifully filmed with very well integrated special effects. French with English subtitles.
Fun tip: Look for faces in the green smoke.

White Squall .. rating: $4

Most movies based on a true story wind up either giving too much detail or skipping over most of it. Somehow this film did both. Great locations, action scenes and props (The Albatross), and technical accuracy helped make up for the lack of clear plot. A decent matinee.
Fun tip: Keep an eye on the life jackets.

Rumble in the Bronx .. rating: $7

If you've never seen a Jackie Chan movie before, you're in for a real treat. This actor/stuntman from Hong Kong is very creative and awfully fun to watch. The plot line is weak and the dubbing is humorous, but that's exactly what I expected. I highly recommend this action flick.
Fun tip: Can you name the mountain range in the Bronx?

Down Periscope .. rating: $4

Good light entertainment. The writers didn't have a lot of new material, but they bounced around nicely to avoid getting bogged down in any one plot line. Many of the faces are familiar from older movies or recent television shows. Worth the matinee price, but not much more.
Fun tip: Predict the droop in Harry Dean Stanton's string.

The Birdcage .. rating: $8

Nathan Lane is simply brilliant in this updated version of ``La Cage Aux Folles.'' All of the actors deliver lively performances, but it's really the intricately-woven script that deserves the credit here. Take a simple plot (``let's act nice for the future in-laws'') and throw in every complication you can possibly think of. The result? Non-stop laughs!
Fun tip: Watch for Greg Louganis's cameo appearance.

Father of the Bride, Part II .. rating: $3

Cute, but not especially inspiring. Steve Martin's acting is flat, and the only lively character is the irritating Martin Short. The screenplay tries to cover too much territory, and avoids following through on the truly interesting dialogs (like what to name the baby). Maybe Part I was better.
Fun tip: Guess the names for the babies.
Fun tip: If Dr. Brooks delivered Annie, then how old should Dr. Brooks's injured son be?

Fargo .. rating: $6

This film is creepy in a "people really do that, don't they?" kind of way. The story is well-told, covering most of the necessary details and adding some North Dakota flavor. The pace is very even but works pretty well, and is characteristic of the Coen brother's films like Raising Arizona and Blood Simple.
Fun tip: When the deputy gets the tip from the bartender, notice how warm it is.

Sgt. Bilko .. rating: $4

This is a much better idiom for Steve Martin. He's complemented by a good supporting cast full of familiar faces. The plot keeps a fast but light pace, which makes this film perfect for a matinee or as a future rental.
Fun tip: Try to read the signs, posters and bumper stickers.
Guest fun tip: See if you can spot any gambling.

Kids in the Hall: Brain Candy .. rating: $3

Assuming you've developed a taste for The Kids offbeat sense of humor, they are as funny as usual. They have a neat story idea, and I loved their interpretation of everyday life in the corporate board room. It just... well... was like watching TV, only without the commercials.
Fun tip: Think about your favorite memory while you wait for the end of the credits.
Guest fun tip: Guess which lead characters are women.

Barb Wire .. rating: $2 (+ 25¢ for the mini-poster)

My friends picked this movie because (A) it was too new to be on my boycott list, and (2) they had free passes. This is yet another story drawn from popular comic books, but it's poorly adapted to the big screen. Pamela Lee's dialog is reminiscent of Arnold Schwarzenegger's in the original Terminator.
Fun tip: What was the name on Barb's fake ID?

Mission: Impossible .. rating: $5

The story line is a little slow and a bit simple, and some of the events are unbelievable (think `McGuyver'). But the action scenes are as good as any 007 movie without car chases. Tom Cruise is fun to watch, and I was especially happy to see Ving Rhames again. Fans of the television series may be disappointed.
Fun tip: What version of Netscape does the IMF use?

Mystery Science Theatre 3000: The Movie .. rating: $6

I burned out on MST3K some months ago, so I didn't have much hope for the movie. But it's a real gem. This Island Earth is a terrible film, with lots of space to voice over dialog from Mike and the Bots. I only wish it were longer. Naturally, this will be great on video. Be sure you watch it with friends.
Fun tip: Look for strings holding up the Satellite of Love.

Spy Hard .. rating: $3

The first ten minutes showed some real promise, including a hilarious title sequence. But the humor dropped off sharply from there. None of Leslie Neilson's take-off films have been very good since the Zucker brothers stopped producing them. The writers did manage to satirize quite a lot of films.
Fun tip: What was the number of the bus?

The Phantom .. rating: $4

This movie is adapted from the popular comic book series, and it worked for me only because the film never took itself too seriously. Both the dialog and the plot are light, and there are only a few slow spots. Most of the stunts are so-so, but one is especially unbelievable. A good candidate for MST3K.
Fun tip: How many minutes of film were shot in the 'Pirates of the Caribbean' ride?

Eraser .. rating: $5

Pretty much a classic Arnold movie with all the usual explosions, chase scenes and bad one-liners. The action scenes are pretty good and the laughs were better than I expected (Continuity, however, didn't do such a good job). An improvement over True Lies, with a little bit of the plot from Mission Impossible.
Fun tip: Watch the bartender take off his vest.

Welcome to the Dollhouse .. rating: $7

Have you forgotten what it was like to be in junior high? This film will bring back all those painful memories by following a 7th grader who just wants to fit in. Filmed in NJ on a small budget, the script is both agonizingly familiar and funny. Great soundtrack. Watch this with friends, I guarantee 30 minutes discussion.
Fun tip: Who is supposed to give Missy a ride home from ballet lessons?

Independence Day .. rating: $6

The story opens by introducing four different character groups, then carefully weaves them together through the common adversary: the aliens. The writers did a good job playing with my emotions, but some minor changes would have made this more satisfying. I expected little - this film delivered more.
Fun tip: How many aliens were harmed in the making of this film?

Phenomenon .. rating: $8

John Travolta's performance as an average man touched by genius is certainly Oscar nomination material, and the writers deserve much of the credit. The story moves along smoothly, introducing numerous sub-plots without ever getting bogged down in them. This film's message is simple and clear, and I only hope that most of us take it to heart.
Fun tip: Pay attention during Portuguese lessons.

Chain Reaction .. rating: $5

Scientists discover a solution to a significant world problem, but not everybody is enthusiastic about sharing this information. The movie follows Keanu Reeves as he runs from the bad guys and tries to uncover the truth. This is an okay whodunit film, but it got a bit unbelievable at times.
Fun tip: Stay until the end of the credits.

The Cable Guy .. rating: $4

I have to admit that Jim Carrey is a lot of fun to watch, and I spent much of this film sympathizing with Matthew Broderick's anguish. The bigger surprise was that this movie cleverly delivered a wake-up call for all of us whose lives are defined by television. (Or maybe I'm reading too much into this)
Fun tip: What actor played the role of Stanton?

The Island of Dr. Moreau .. rating: $5

This adaptation of H. G. Wells' classic starts off a bit slow, but carefully introduces the viewer to a wealth of individual characters. The island's inhabitants are each provided with meaningful motivations, although the lead character is left surprisingly under-developed. The make-up work is stunning.
Fun tip: Val Kilmer's imitation of Marlon Brando is top-notch.
Guest Fun tip: What character is played by Ron Perlman?

The Glimmer Man .. rating: $2

It didn't take too long for me to start wondering "What's the point?" The shaky camera work is reminiscent of Die Hard 3 and Batman (the TV show), and the director obscured all of Steven Seagal's fight scenes. It's about as bad as Under Siege II.
Guest Fun tip: Go see some other movie.

Big Night .. rating: $3

This small art film received a lot of praise from the main-stream reviewers, not all of it deserved in my opinion. A careful study of two Italian brother's last chance to make it in the restaurant business. Apparently written for the gourmet audience, the tempo was much too uneven for my tastes.
Fun tip: Rent it for home with a giant bowl of pasta.

Larger than Life .. rating: $5

The plot is pretty simple: Bill Murray has to move an elephant from middle America to California in less than a week. But the writers added enough wrong turns, crazy characters, bad luck and animal antics to make it interesting. Certainly not high-brow, but great for the kids.
Fun tip: What does Tip Tucker say is in sausage?

Ransom .. rating: $7

The writers could have relied on lots of uncomfortable scenes about a child in danger, but instead they focus on the parents, the FBI, and the kidnappers. The crime is well planned and the movie reveals enough of its complexity to make the story believable. A small quibble: I didn't believe the motive.
Fun tip: Where is Sean at the very end of the movie?

Space Jam .. rating: $5

First things first: I'm a big fan of Warner Brothers cartoons, but I'm a bit of a purist about animation. So the 3-D glossy look of Space Jam didn't sit very well with me. And while parts were good, the story line was too weak to last 90 minutes. This one's OK for kids and basketball fans, but a little flat for the rest of us.
Fun tip: Stay until the end of the credits

Star Trek: First Contact .. rating: $7

The Borg are once again headed towards Earth, crushing and assimilating everything in their path. As with all good Star Trek films, the protagonist is clearly defined, well written, and single-minded in their focus (no pun intended). Continuity from the ST:TNG series is especially good. And best of all, no Shatner!! (Courtesy of MST3K.)
Fun tip: Which minor character helps repair the warp ship?
Imponderable: Why are the root coordinates for the universe assigned to Earth?

Beavis and Butt-Head Do America .. rating: $5

Mike Judge has done an admirable job turning the usual 3 minute B&B skits into a full-length movie. The two moron's cross-country journey is filled with tons of tasteless jokes, sight gags and low-brow humor. If you're willing to dumb down for a matinee, this film won't disappoint.
Fun tip: Who are the voices for Muddy Grimes, his wife Dallas, and the head ATF agent?

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