Movies

‘Monster Squad’ (1987) like a proto-‘Stranger Things’

Fans of “Stranger Things” who are curious about the influences behind Netflix’s 1980s-set series have probably already seen “E.T.” (1982), “The Goonies” (1985) and “Stand

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‘The Martian’ (2015) one of century’s elite hard SF films

The story of “The Martian’s” publication is as good as the book itself, maybe even better. Computer programmer and amateur author Andy Weir published it

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‘European Vacation’ (1985) fails to make memories – or humor

With “European Vacation” (1985), the first sequel to “National Lampoon’s Vacation” (1983), we’re forced to conclude that either 1, John Hughes is capable of writing

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‘Green Hornet’ (2011) is so unfunny it stings

My pal Michael likes to say that there’s nothing worse than a bad comedy, and “The Green Hornet” (2011) is a prime example. Flat and

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‘The Thing’ (1982) simmers in atmospheric dread

John Carpenter has built up enough of an oeuvre that everyone has their own pick for his elite work, but for me it’s “The Thing”

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‘Escape from New York’ (1981) a classic gritty actioner

I appreciate “Escape from New York” (1981) more as an influential piece of history in the action genre than as a film that stands the

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Chase shines as ‘Vacation’ (1983) puts Hughes on map

“National Lampoon’s Vacation” (1983) both makes fun of and lauds the archetypal dad who wants to show his family a fun time but runs into

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Urban’s ‘Dredd’ (2012) goes simpler and grittier

“Dredd” (2012) — the second go at bringing comicdom’s single-minded future cop to the big screen — is tight, simple and brisk. It’s objectively better

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‘Disturbing Behavior’ (1998) is wild, weird high school horror

In 1998, I thought “Disturbing Behavior” was an elite portrayal of high school as a conformity factory, as that concept was a new discovery for

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Bring your own metaphors to ‘Battle Royale’ (2000)

“Battle Royale” is the 2000 Japanese film that predated “The Hunger Games’ ” saga of kids fighting each other to the death per government mandate,

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