Collection ID 15
Director: Jerry Paris
Starring: Steve Guttenberg, Bubba Smith, David Graf, Michael Winslow, Bruce Mahler
Genre: Comedy
Studio: Warner Bros.   Release date: 1985   Rated: PG-13   
Language (Country): English, French (USA)
Summary: When a new gang moves into town it's up to the screwball police team to stop them.
My Rating:
My Review: The first Police Academy movie was pretty good, but here's the first sequel to a franchise with ever diminishing returns. Starring a no talent cast (Steve Guttenberg, Bob Goldthwait, Bubba Smith (yes the American Football player, Colleen Camp, Howard Hesseman, Julie Brown and others). In this sequel the graduates of 'Police Academy' go on their first assignment. The story; a sad little plot about common criminals who's biggest crime is the defacing of public property with graffiti. These saps in blue are put on the case to capture these no good hooligans. While their hi-jinks may not be enough to entertain, there's plenty of sub-plot on inter-office politics to keep you entertained. The writing is purile, boring and uninspiring. The best part of this movie? It's short. At only 87 minutes, the pair subsides quickly. I give it a 2 out of 5.

Collection ID 1718
Director: Bob Clark
Starring: Dan Monahan, Mark Herrier, Wyatt Knight, Roger Wilson, Cyril O'Reilly
Genre: Comedy
Studio: Astral Bellevue Pathé   Release date: 1981   Rated: R   
Language (Country): English (Canada, USA)
Summary: In 1954, a group of teenage male students of Florida's Angle Beach High School are determined to lose their virginity. They embark on games of sexual innuendo with female classmates whose activities Billy, Tommy, and Pee Wee witness via their secret surveillance. Pee Wee is the most desperate, which gets him into one predicament after another, besides constantly being the butt of pranks. Good guy Tim deals with his learned racism that surfaces with the arrival of new student Brian Schwartz, who is Jewish. Meanwhile, new Boys' Phys Ed coach Roy Brackett is attracted to cheerleading coach Miss Lynn Honeywell, who is attracted to him but doesn't want to go all the way. Coach Brackett's goal is to find out why Coach Warren has nicknamed Miss Honeywell "Lassie". All these goings-on offend the sensibilities of the Girls' Phys Ed coach, Miss Beulah Balbricker, who takes it upon herself to maintain the moral standards of the school. When the boys' mission stalls, Mickey, whose brother Ted is ...
My Rating:
My Review: An astonishing movie that absolutely couldn't be made in today. This movie was released in 1981. It's set in South Florida in 1954. Yes - The South is full of rednecks and racists in 1964, and this movie contains language and imagery that would likely trigger most people under the age of 40. There is the 'N' word, there is nudity (full frontal), there are corrupt cops, overt racism, anti-semitism, and prostitution. There is underage drinking, and there is juvenile delinquency, the sorts of which are never seen in today's society. A group of high-school guys do their best to help their friend (Pee-Wee played by Dan Monahan) lose his virginity. As I said, this sort of movie could never be made in today's socially rigid, easily triggered, under informed and oversocialized, caste system. To me it's a very entertaining release from the constraints and expected morals of a dystopian present.

Collection ID 1065
Director: Kevin Costner
Starring: Kevin Costner, Will Patton, Larenz Tate, Olivia Williams, James Russo
Genre: Drama
Studio: Tig Productions   Release date: 1997   Rated: R   
Language (Country): German, English, Spanish (USA)
Summary: Post-apocalyptic America. What begins as a con game becomes one man's quest to rebuild civilization by resuming postal service.
My Rating:
My Review: Directed by and starring Kevin Kostner. Also features Will Patton, Larenz Tate, Olivia Williams and others. Here is a bigger than real-life dramatic tale of post-apocalyptic America (the year is 2013). In the wilderness of a decimated nation, colonies of survivors eke out a living under the shadow of terror cast by General Bethlehem (Will Patton) and his Holnist army. Into this dim landscape stumbles a drifter - A man who stumbles upon an abandoned mail truck and becomes 'The Postman'. What starts out as a scam to gain a free meal and a nights lodging becomes something much bigger. The legend soon begins to grow when the Postman decrees that the U.S. Government has been reconstituted. This drifter has taken on the visage of hope - draped in the symbols of a nation restored, the people are looking for a hero, and this drifter is reluctantly cast into that role. A story of hope, potential, revolution, love and perseverance. I don't care what the other critics say, I think they've misjudged this movie. Here is a strong message of hope, an emotional tale that touches on a raw nerve of American pride. Of a glory that once was, that could be again, a shining dream of a new hope. The characters are excellent, the acting pretty good, and the locations spectacular. The music is a bit over-wrought, but it fits the sentimentality of the movie rather well. This movie is very similar in photography, acting and editing, to WaterWorld - Which I liked, by the way. The only problem with this movie was the ending. Despite the movies length, the ending came on too suddenly. I give it a 4 out of 5.

Collection ID 321
Director: Kevin Costner
Starring: Kevin Costner, Will Patton, Larenz Tate, Olivia Williams, James Russo
Genre: Drama
Studio: Tig Productions   Release date: 1997   Rated: R   
Language (Country): German, English, Spanish (USA)
Summary: Post-apocalyptic America. What begins as a con game becomes one man's quest to rebuild civilization by resuming postal service.
My Rating:
My Review: Directed by and starring Kevin Kostner. Also features Will Patton, Larenz Tate, Olivia Williams and others. Here is a bigger than real-life dramatic tale of post-apocalyptic America (the year is 2013). In the wilderness of a decimated nation, colonies of survivors eke out a living under the shadow of terror cast by General Bethlehem (Will Patton) and his Holnist army. Into this dim landscape stumbles a drifter - A man who stumbles upon an abandoned mail truck and becomes 'The Postman'. What starts out as a scam to gain a free meal and a nights lodging becomes something much bigger. The legend soon begins to grow when the Postman decrees that the U.S. Government has been reconstituted. This drifter has taken on the visage of hope - draped in the symbols of a nation restored, the people are looking for a hero, and this drifter is reluctantly cast into that role. A story of hope, potential, revolution, love and perseverance. I don't care what the other critics say, I think they've misjudged this movie. Here is a strong message of hope, an emotional tale that touches on a raw nerve of American pride. Of a glory that once was, that could be again, a shining dream of a new hope. The characters are excellent, the acting pretty good, and the locations spectacular. The music is a bit over-wrought, but it fits the sentimentality of the movie rather well. This movie is very similar in photography, acting and editing, to WaterWorld - Which I liked, by the way. The only problem with this movie was the ending. Despite the movies length, the ending came on too suddenly. I give it a 4 out of 5.

Collection ID 375
Director: John McTiernan
Starring: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Carl Weathers, Elpidia Carrillo, Bill Duke, Jesse Ventura
Genre: Action
Studio: Twentieth Century Fox   Release date: 1987   Rated: R   
Language (Country): English, English (Predator only), French (Not on Running Man) (USA)
Summary: A team of commandos, on a mission in a Central American jungle, find themselves hunted by an extra-terrestrial warrior.
My Rating:
My Review:

Collection ID 1099
Director: John McTiernan
Starring: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Carl Weathers, Elpidia Carrillo, Bill Duke, Jesse Ventura
Genre: Action
Studio: Twentieth Century Fox   Release date: 1987   Rated: R   
Language (Country): English, English (Predator only), French (Not on Running Man) (USA)
Summary: A team of commandos, on a mission in a Central American jungle, find themselves hunted by an extra-terrestrial warrior.
My Rating:
My Review:

Collection ID 1649
Director: Michael Spierig, Peter Spierig
Starring: Ethan Hawke, Sarah Snook, Christopher Kirby, Christopher Sommers, Kuni Hashimoto
Genre: Action, Drama, Mystery, Sci-Fi, Thriller
Studio: Screen Australia   Release date: 2014   Rated: R   
Language (Country): English (Australia, USA)
Summary: PREDESTINATION chronicles the life of a Temporal Agent sent on an intricate series of time-travel journeys designed to ensure the continuation of his law enforcement career for all eternity. Now, on his final assignment, the Agent must pursue the one criminal that has eluded him throughout time.
My Rating:
My Review: I'm such a sucker for time travel movies. Written and directed by the Spierig Brothers (Michael and Peter Spierig). This movie is based on a short story (All You Zombies) by Robert A. Henlein, one of my favorite authors. The movie stars Ethan Hawke, Sara Snook, Noah Taylor and others. In this movie, Ethan Hawke plays a temporal agent. A law enforcement officer who does his best to prevent crime before it takes place - Reshaping a dark future in order to create a living present. As a temporal agent, Ethan Hawke's character is tasked with one final assignment. Track down and prevent the Fizzle Bomber from destroying the fabric of time and the lives of 11,000 people. It's a mind-bending time travel romp filled with all sorts of surprising twists and turns. Excellent characters, but a bit too much exposition. The acting (especially that of Sarah Snook) was outstanding, and this movie could easily qualify as one of the best time travel movies. Jammed full of paradox, this story will keep you guessing all the way through. I've added it to my 'must own' list, and I look forward to repeat viewings. I give this movie a 5 out of 5.

Collection ID 653
Director: Christopher Nolan
Starring: Hugh Jackman, Christian Bale, Michael Caine, Piper Perabo, Rebecca Hall
Genre: Drama
Studio: Buena Vista Home Entertainment / Touchstone   Release date: 2006   Rated: PG-13   
Language (Country): English, French, Spanish (USA)
Summary: "The Prestige" attempts a hat trick by combining a ridiculously good-looking cast, a highly regarded new director, and more than one sleight of hand. Does it pull it off? Sort of. Christian Bale and Hugh Jackman play rival magicians who were once friends before an on-stage tragedy drove a wedge between them. While Bale's Alfred Borden is a more skilled illusionist, Jackman's Rufus Angier is the better showman; much of the film's interesting first half is their attempts to sabotage--and simultaneously, top--each other's tricks. Even with the help of a prop inventor (Michael Caine) and a comely assistant (Scarlett Johansson), Angier can't match Borden's ultimate illusion: The Transporting Man. Angier's obsession with learning Borden's trick leads him to an encounter with an eccentric inventor (David Bowie) in a second half that gets bogged down in plot loops and theatrics. Director Christopher Nolan, reuniting with his "Batman Begins" star Bale, demonstrates the same dark touch that hued that film, but some plot elements--without giving anything away--seem out of place with the rest of the movie. It's better to sit back and let the sometimes-clunky turns steer themselves than try to draw back the black curtain. That said, "The Prestige" still manages to entertain long after the magician has left the stage--a feat in itself. --"Ellen A. Kim"
My Rating:
My Review: An awesome movie that fell just short of brilliance. I left the theater feeling cheated. Directed by Christopher Nolan (of Memento, Following and Insomnia), this movie starred a very well cast group of actors: Hugh Jackman, Christian Bale, Michael Caine, Scarlett Johansson, David Bowie, and others. The acting was superb. Especially the performance by David Bowie as Nikola Tesla. The costumes, sets and locations were incredible. The music fantastic, and the story was great. A competition in the vaudville tradition of one-upsmanship. Two magician's compete against each other for the thrill of adulation. As the tricks get better, the crowds get larger, and the nasty tricks get rougher. As the competition escalates to murder, the tricks become other worldly, and the consequences more dire. The only let down in this movie was the 'reveal', or the ending. With a mystery spoiling exposition, all is revealed, and I left the theater feeling cheated. I wanted the mystery to continue. I wanted to walk away with my own conclusions, questions and suppositions. The ending of this movie prevented any such notion. Oh, by the way. The stuff about Nikola Tesla in Colorado Springs? It's all true. He lived there for a time, built a laboratory. Lit up Knob hill without the use of wires and who know what other experiments he conducted? 4 out of 5.

Collection ID 1349
Director: Christopher Nolan
Starring: Hugh Jackman, Christian Bale, Michael Caine, Piper Perabo, Rebecca Hall
Genre: Drama
Studio: Buena Vista Home Entertainment / Touchstone   Release date: 2006   Rated: PG-13   
Language (Country): English, French, Spanish (USA)
Summary: "The Prestige" attempts a hat trick by combining a ridiculously good-looking cast, a highly regarded new director, and more than one sleight of hand. Does it pull it off? Sort of. Christian Bale and Hugh Jackman play rival magicians who were once friends before an on-stage tragedy drove a wedge between them. While Bale's Alfred Borden is a more skilled illusionist, Jackman's Rufus Angier is the better showman; much of the film's interesting first half is their attempts to sabotage--and simultaneously, top--each other's tricks. Even with the help of a prop inventor (Michael Caine) and a comely assistant (Scarlett Johansson), Angier can't match Borden's ultimate illusion: The Transporting Man. Angier's obsession with learning Borden's trick leads him to an encounter with an eccentric inventor (David Bowie) in a second half that gets bogged down in plot loops and theatrics. Director Christopher Nolan, reuniting with his "Batman Begins" star Bale, demonstrates the same dark touch that hued that film, but some plot elements--without giving anything away--seem out of place with the rest of the movie. It's better to sit back and let the sometimes-clunky turns steer themselves than try to draw back the black curtain. That said, "The Prestige" still manages to entertain long after the magician has left the stage--a feat in itself. --"Ellen A. Kim"
My Rating:
My Review: An awesome movie that fell just short of brilliance. I left the theater feeling cheated. Directed by Christopher Nolan (of Memento, Following and Insomnia), this movie starred a very well cast group of actors: Hugh Jackman, Christian Bale, Michael Caine, Scarlett Johansson, David Bowie, and others. The acting was superb. Especially the performance by David Bowie as Nikola Tesla. The costumes, sets and locations were incredible. The music fantastic, and the story was great. A competition in the vaudville tradition of one-upsmanship. Two magician's compete against each other for the thrill of adulation. As the tricks get better, the crowds get larger, and the nasty tricks get rougher. As the competition escalates to murder, the tricks become other worldly, and the consequences more dire. The only let down in this movie was the 'reveal', or the ending. With a mystery spoiling exposition, all is revealed, and I left the theater feeling cheated. I wanted the mystery to continue. I wanted to walk away with my own conclusions, questions and suppositions. The ending of this movie prevented any such notion. Oh, by the way. The stuff about Nikola Tesla in Colorado Springs? It's all true. He lived there for a time, built a laboratory. Lit up Knob hill without the use of wires and who know what other experiments he conducted? 4 out of 5.

Collection ID 166
Director: Alan J. Pakula
Starring: Harrison Ford, Brian Dennehy, Raul Julia, Bonnie Bedelia, Paul Winfield
Genre: Crime
Studio: Warner Bros.   Release date: 1990   Rated: R   
Language (Country): German, English, Spanish (USA)
Summary: Evidence suggesting that a murdered woman was a prosecutor's mistress leads to him being tried for the crime.
My Rating:
My Review: A murder mystery court-room drama starring Harrison Ford. It's your typical human drama, the person investigating a murder had an affair with the murder victim. Suspicion turns to the investigator, who is of course 'Innocent'. The ending is a bit of a surprise, but the plot is unoriginal. The movie lacked passion, and I fell asleep at one point. To slow for my tastes, and far to predicatable.