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Bumblebee (2018)

Directed by: Travis Knight

Starring: Hailee Steinfeld, John Cena, Jorge Lendeborg Jr.

Rated: PG-13 for Sequences of Sci-Fi Action Violence

Running Time: 1 h 54 m

TMM Score: 3.5 stars out of 5

STRENGTHS: Simplicity, Humor, Hailee Steinfeld, Lack of Michael Bay

WEAKNESSES: Some Dialogue, Predictable

Bumblebee (2018)

April 1, 2019

Eighteen-year-old Charlie finds out her new car is actually a robot alien fugitive.

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In Action, Adventure, Comedy, Coming of Age, Crime, Drama, Fantasy, Mystery, Sci Fi, Romance, Thriller, War Tags Hailee Steinfeld, John Cena, Jorge Lendeborg Jr., Travis Knight, Bumblebee, 2018, 3.5 Stars
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Terminator 2: Judgement Day (1991)

Directed by: James Cameron

Starring: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Edward Furlong, Linda Hamilton, Robert Patrick

Rated: R

Running Time: 2 h 36m

TMM Score: 5 stars out of 5

STRENGTHS: Acting, Action, Story, Special Effects

WEAKNESSES: Longer Than Most Action Movies

Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991)

March 12, 2019

A young John Connor must survive with the help of a Terminator if he is to lead the revolution in the future.

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In Action, Coming of Age, Epic, Sci Fi Tags Karl Nagurski, Terminator 2: Judgement Day, James CameronArnold Schwarzenegger, Edward Furlong, Linda Hamilton, Robert Patrick, R Rated, 5 Stars
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Mortal Engines (2018)

Directed by: Christian Rivers

Starring: Hera Hilmar, Robert Sheehan, Hugo Weaving, Stephen Lang

Rated: PG-13 for Sequences of Futuristic Violence and Action

Running Time: 2 h 8 m

TMM Score: 2.5 stars out of 5

STRENGTHS:Production Design, Some Acting, Some Action

WEAKNESSES: Some Acting, Sloppy Worldbuilding and Writing, Rushed Jumbled Story, Mostly Flat Characters

Mortal Engines (2018)

March 11, 2019

In a post apocalyptic steampunk world where cities are mobile and consume smaller cities to survive, two people try to stop a conspiracy.

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In Action, Adventure, Epic, Fantasy, Mystery, Thriller, Sci Fi Tags Hera Hilmar, Robert Sheehan, Hugo Weaving, Stephen Lang, Christian Rivers, 2.5 Stars, 2018
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Serenity (2019)

Directed by: Steven Knight

Starring: Matthew McConaughey, Anne Hathaway, Diane Lane, Jason Clarke, Djimon Hounsou

Rated: R for Language throughout, Sexual Content, and Some Bloody Images

Running Time: 1 h 46 m

TMM Score: 2 Stars

STRENGTHS: So Bad It’s Good

WEAKNESSES: Laughable Dialogue, Confusing Direction, Obscure Characters, Absurd Twists, Bizarre Writing

Serenity (2019)

March 5, 2019

A lonely fisherman takes a peculiar job from a mysterious woman.

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In Comedy, Crime, Drama, Fantasy, Mystery, Noir, Romance, Sci Fi, Thriller Tags Karl Nagurski, Matthew McConaughey, Anne Hathaway, Diane Lane, Jason Clarke, Djimon Hounsou, Steven Knight, 2019, 2 Stars
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Velevet Buzzsaw (2019)

Directed by: Dan Gilroy

Starring: Jake Gyllenhaal, Rene Russo, Zawe Ashton, Toni Collette, Natalia Dyer, Daveed Diggs, John Malkovich

Rated: R

Running Time: 1 h 53 m

TMM Score: 2.5 stars out of 5

STRENGTHS: Acting, Theme

WEAKNESSES: Unlikeable Characters, Finding a Tone

Velvet Buzzsaw (2019)

February 8, 2019

After a series of paintings by a recently deceased unknown artist are discovered, a group of artists try to get rich off the artist’s work, only to find the artwork fighting back.

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In Art House, Comedy, Crime, Drama, Horror, Sci Fi, Fantasy Tags Jake Gyllenhaal, Rene Russo, Zawe Ashton, Toni Collette, Natalia Dyer, Daveed Diggs, John Malkovich, Dan Gilroy, R, 2.5 Stars, 2019
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Alphaville (1965)

Directed by: Jean-Luc Godard

Starring: Eddie Constantine, Anna Karina, Akim Tamiroff, Howard Vernon

Rated: NR

Running Time: 1h 39m

TMM Score: 2 out of 5

STRENGTHS: Theme

WEAKNESSES: Direction, Editing, Budget

Alphaville (1965)

January 10, 2019

A secret agent from The Outlands ventures into Alphaville on a three part mission that concludes in the destruction of Alphaville’s creator.

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In Foreign Film, Noir, Sci Fi, Spy Film Tags Jean-Luc Godard, Alphaville, French New Wave, Eddie Constantine, Anna Karina, Akim Tamiroff, Howard Vernon, NR
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Dragonslayer (1981)

Directed by: Matthew Robbins

Starring: Peter MacNicol, Caitlin Clarke, John Hallam

Rated: PG

Running Time: 1 h 49 m

TMM Score: 3.5 stars out of 5

STRENGTHS: Story, Production Design, Tone

WEAKNESSES: Annoying Protagonist, Predictability (?)

Dragonslayer (1981)

December 20, 2018

A young sorcerer’s apprentice is recruited by knights from a distant land to slay a dragon. 

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In Action, Adventure, Drama, Epic, Fantasy, Sci Fi, Romance, Thriller Tags Dragonslayer, 1981, Matthew Robbins, Peter MacNicol, Caitlin Clarke, John Hallam, 3.5 Stars, PG
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Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse (2018)

Directed by: Bob Persichetti, Peter Ramsey, Rodney Rothman

Starring: Shameik Moore, Jake Johnson, Hailee Steinfeld, Mahershala Ali, Brian Tyree Henry, Lily Tomlin, Zoe Kravitz, John Mulaney, Nicolas Cage, Liv Schreiber, Chris Pine

Rated: PG for Frenetic Sequences of Animated Action Violence, Thematic Elements, and Mild Language

Running Time: 1 h 57 m

TMM Score: 5 stars out of 5

STRENGTHS: Animation, Story, Meta-Writing, Crazy Freaking Visuals

WEAKNESSES: -

Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse (2018)

December 18, 2018

After Peter Parker is killed, a device opens a portal between multiple dimensions, allowing multiple versions of Spider-Man into new Spider-Man Miles Morales’s version of New York. 

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In Action, Adventure, Animated, Comedy, Crime, Drama, Epic, Mystery, Sci Fi, Thriller Tags Bob Persichetti, Peter Ramsey, Rodney Rothman, Shameik Moore, Jake Johnson, Hailee Steinfeld, Mahershala Ali, Brian Tyree Henry, Lily Tomlin, Zoe Kravitz, John Mulaney, Nicolas Cage, Liv Schreiber, Chris Pine, PG, 5 Stars
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Beyond the Black Rainbow (2010)

Directed by: Panos Cosmatos

Starring: Eva Bourne, Michael Rogers, Scott Hylands

Rated: R

Running Time: 1 h 50 m

TMM Score: 2 stars out of 5

STRENGTHS: Directing, Visual Aesthetic

WEAKNESSES: Pacing, Story

Beyond the Black Rainbow (2010)

December 16, 2018

Under heavy sedation in the spiritual, new age / scientific Aboria Institue, young lady Elena tries to escape her obsessed captor.


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In Sci Fi, Thriller, Horror, Art House Tags 2010, R, 2 Stars, Panos Cosmatos, Beyond the Black Rainbow, Eva Bourne, Michael Rogers, Scott Hylands
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The Book of Eli (2010)

Directed by: The Hughes Brothers

Starring: Denzel Washington, Gary Oldman, Mila Kunis

Rated: R

Running Time: 1h 58m

TMM Score: 3 Stars

STRENGTHS: Themes, Story

WEAKNESSES: Writing, Directorial Choices

The Book of Eli (2010)

December 13, 2018

Through a ravaged post-apocalyptic wasteland, Eli must travel and protect a book he claims is of untold value. Whether or not it is, there's a mad man water baron after it and the promise of what it hold in its pages.

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In Action, Drama, Fantasy, Sci Fi, Thriller Tags mjamesmcdonald, 2010, Book of Eli, Hughes Brothers, Denzel Washington, Gary Oldman, Mila Kunis, 3 stars
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The Man Who Fell to Earth (1976)

Directed by: Nicolas Roeg

Starring: David Bowie, Rip Torn, Candy Clark

Rated: R

Running Time: 2 h 19 m

TMM Score: 5 stars out of 5

STRENGTHS: Directing, Writing, Editing, Cinematography, Acting, Unconventionality

WEAKNESSES: -

The Man Who Fell to Earth (1976)

December 10, 2018

An alien poses as a human in an attempt to return to his dying planet, but the distractions of a human woman and the greed of man continually complicate things.

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In Art House, Adventure, Drama, Epic, Fantasy, Mystery, Romance, Sci Fi, Thriller Tags Nicolas Roeg, David Bowie, Rip Torn, Candy Clark, R, 1976, 5 Stars
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Westworld (1973)

Directed by: Michael Crichton

Starring: Richard Benjamin, James Brolin, Yul Brynner

Rated: PG

Running Time: 1 h 28 m

TMM Score: 4 stars out of 5

STRENGTHS: Story, Influence, Meta-Aesthetic

WEAKNESSES: Some Drawn Out Moments

Westworld (1973)

November 28, 2018

Two wealthy friends take a vacation at Westworld, an adult theme park where visitors can live out their fantasies by interacting with robots. Once there, the machines begin to malfunction, and the friends struggle to stay alive. 

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In Action, Adventure, Crime, Drama, Sci Fi, Thriller, Western Tags Richard Benjamin, James Brolin, Yul Brynner, Michael Crichton, PG, 4 Stars
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Kin(2018)

Directed by: Jonathan Baker, Josh Baker

Starring: Myles Truit, Jack Reynor, Zoe Kravitz, Dennis Quaid

Rated: PG13

Running Time: 1h 42m

TMM Score: 3 Stars

STRENGTHS: Acting, Style, and Themes

WEAKNESSES: A Terrible Ending

Kin (2018)

November 20, 2018

When his older brother gets out of jail with a heavy debt on his head, Eli hits the road with him, not knowing that Jimmy has some huge secrets he’s keeping. Eli has his own secret though; a devastating high tech weapon of mysterious origin.

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In Drama, Action, Adventure, Crime, Sci Fi Tags mjamesmcdonald, kin, 2018, Josh Baker, Jonathan Baker, Myles Truitt, Jack Reynor, Zoe Kravitz, PG13, 3 Stars, Dennis Quaid, James Franco
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Overlord (2018)

Directed by: Julius Avery

Starring: Wyatt Russell, Jovan Adepo, Mathilde Ollivier

Rated: R for Strong Bloody Violence, Disturbing Images, and Brief Sexual Content

Running Time: 1 h 50 m

TMM Score: 3.5 stars out of 5

STRENGTHS: Action, Story, Fun, Writing

WEAKNESSES: Somewhat Predictable Third Act, Some Plotholes, Some CGI

Overlord (2018)

November 19, 2018

A group of American soldiers stumble upon a Nazi experiment after being dropped behind enemy lines on the eve of D-Day. 

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In Action, Adventure, Horror, Fantasy, Mystery, Sci Fi, Thriller Tags Overlord, 2018, Julius Avery, Wyatt Russell, Jovan Adepo, Mathilde Ollivier, R, 3.5 Stars
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The Meg (2018)

Directed by: Jon Turteltaub

Starring: Jason Statham, Bingbing Li, Rainn Wilson, Ruby Rose

Rated: PG-13 for Action/Peril, Bloody Images and Some Language

Running Time: 1 h 53 m

TMM Score: 1.5 stars out of 5

STRENGTHS: The Crazy Beach Scene

WEAKNESSES: Predictability, Dialogue, Acting, Special Effects

The Meg (2018)

November 13, 2018

Jonas Taylor squares off against a Megladon. 

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In Action, Adventure, Fantasy, Sci Fi, Thriller Tags Jason Statham, Bingbing Li, Rainn Wilson, Ruby Rose, Jon Turteltaub, 1.5 Stars, 2018, PG-13
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Alien (1979)

Directed by: Ridley Scott

Starring: Sigourney Weaver, John Hurt, Harry Dean Anderson, Ian Holm, Tom Skerritt, Veronica Cartwright, Yaphet Kotto

Rated: R for Sci-Fi Violence/Gore and Language

Running Time: 1 h 56 m

TMM Score: 5 stars out of 5

STRENGTHS: Pacing, Production Design, Atmosphere, Writing, Directing

WEAKNESSES: Wide Shots of Xenomorph

Alien (1979)

November 8, 2018

The crew of the merchant space vessel Nostromo lands on a moon to investigate a distress call, only to find something they weren’t ready for waiting for them. 

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In Fantasy, Horror, Mystery, Sci Fi, Thriller Tags Alien, 1979, Ridley Scott, R, Sigourney Weaver, John Hurt, Harry Dean Anderson, Ian Holm, Tom Skerritt, Veronica Cartwright, Yaphet Kotto, 5 Stars
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Brazil (1985)

Directed by: Terry Gilliam

Starring: Jonathan Pryce, Kim Greist, Ian Holm, Robert De Niro, Michael Palin, Jim Broadbent

Rated: R for Some Strong Violence

Running Time: h m

TMM Score: stars out of 5

STRENGTHS: Foresight, Writing, Directing, Production Design, Acting

WEAKNESSES: -

Brazil (1985)

November 5, 2018

An everyman of an oppressively bureaucratic future becomes entangled in a conspiracy after a clerical error. 

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In Adventure, Art House, Coming of Age, Crime, Drama, Fantasy, Mystery, Romance, Sci Fi, Thriller Tags Jonathan Pryce, Kim Greist, Ian Holm, Robert De Niro, Michael Palin, Jim Broadbent, R, 5 Stars, Terry Gilliam, Brazil, 1985
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The Invisible Man (1933)

Directed by: James Whale

Starring: Claude Rains, Gloria Stuart, William Harrigan

Rated: NR (Suggested PG for Mild Violence)

Running Time: 1 h 11 m

TMM Score: 4 stars out of 5

STRENGTHS: Cinematography, Special Effects, Fun, Story, Old Hollywood Charm

WEAKNESSES: Unsympathetic Protagonist/ Villain

The Invisible Man (1933)

October 31, 2018

A scientist is driven to insanity after he becomes invisible, and he spends his days terrorizing a town. 

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In Crime, Drama, Fantasy, Horror, Mystery, Romance, Sci Fi, Thriller Tags 1933, 4 Stars, James Whale, HG Wells, Claude Rains, Gloria Stuart, William Harrigan
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Frankenstein (1931)

Directed by: James Whale

Starring: Colin Clive, Boris Karloff, Mae Clarke, Edward Van Sloan, Dwight Frye

Rated: NR (Suggested PG for Some Disturbing Content and Violence)

Running Time: 1 h 10 m

TMM Score: 4 stars out of 5

STRENGTHS: Story, Writing, Effects, Directing, Sets

WEAKNESSES: Pacing

Frankenstein (1931)

October 31, 2018

An obsessive scientist recreates life using the corpses of dead men.  

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In Crime, Drama, Fantasy, Horror, Sci Fi, Thriller, Romance Tags James Whale, Colin Clive, Boris Karloff, Mae Clarke, Edward Van Sloan, Dwight Frye, NR, 4 Stars, Universal Monster, 1931
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Creature from the Black Lagoon (1954)

Directed by: Jack Arnold

Starring: Richard Carlson, Whit Bissell, Julie Adams, Richard Denning, Ricou Browning, Ben Chapman, Antonio Moreno

Rated: G

Running Time: 1 h 19 m

TMM Score: 4 stars out of 5

STRENGTHS: Story, Cinematography, Creature Design, Old Hollywood Charm

WEAKNESSES: Some Melodramatic Moments

Creature from the Black Lagoon (1954)

October 31, 2018

A group of scientists travel to the Amazon in search of a missing link in evolution, only to be terrorized by a fearsome beast that dwells there.

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In Adventure, Fantasy, Horror, Mystery, Sci Fi, Romance, Thriller Tags Creature from the Black Lagoon, 1954, 4 Stars, Jack Arnold, Richard Carlson, Whit Bissell, Julie Adams, Richard Denning, Ricou Browning, Ben Chapman, Antonio Moreno, G
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