Harry Brown

Harry Brown (2009) – This bleak film easily achieves the kind of weight Gran Torino struggled after; even pushing eighty, Michael Caine is still believably hardcore; Sean Harris does a fantastic job in a supporting role. 7

Batman: Under the Red Hood

Batman: Under the Red Hood (2010) – Winick adapts his ’05-’06 run on the comic here, and it does have some emotional weight, although it’s not mind-blowing; it’s got a solid voice cast, and while Bruce Greenwood does a good Batman voice (a lot better than Christian Bale, anyway), there’s really no reason not to have Kevin Conroy here, unless DC was doing it to distance this rather violent film from their kid-friendly DCAU. 6

Ultimate Avengers 2

Ultimate Avengers 2 (2006) – Marvel, you got your War of the Worlds-riffing Nazi space aliens in my superhero movie again; and, unfortunately, it’s all cheese and clichés the rest of the way. 5

Virus

Virus (1980) – The final act is pretty good and the whole thing has some emotional impact, but the silly, sloppy script and direction (where are they getting food?) diminish it; the 108-minute cut edits out most of the Japanese part of the story, but it still works reasonably well. 6

Wallace and Gromit in “A Matter of Loaf and Death”

Wallace and Gromit in “A Matter of Loaf and Death” (2008) – It may not be The Wrong Trousers, but it’s quite delightful all the same; love the Batman and Aliens homages. 7

Trilogy of Terror

Trilogy of Terror (1975) – In this Matheson anthology, the first story is adequate, the second is painfully obvious from the start, and the third is decent if inferior to the source story; Karen Black is solid in multiple roles. 6

Ravenous

Ravenous (1999) – Given the writing, it probably wasn’t going to be great either way, but it would have worked better if it hadn’t tried to be comical; it has a nice cast and an interesting soundtrack going for it, though. 5

Hot Tub Time Machine

Hot Tub Time Machine (2010) – It’s gratuitously crude, but this one is actually kind of funny, although it’s also unforgivably dumb. 5

Event Horizon

Event Horizon (1997) – It’s got fine set design but painfully dated effects (plus the Latin is wrong); it seems like it’s got a solid premise, but it’s lacking something in a number of areas – the script, the cut, the concept of hell, the ending – we can surely do better than this mediocre The Shining-meets-Hellraiser-in-space. 5

47 Ronin

47 Ronin (1994) – The direction feels amateurish at times, and the 1962 version is better, but this has some merits of its own, particularly Ken Takakura, who is excellent. 6

The Invention of Lying

The Invention of Lying (2009) – It’s got a fantastic premise and some very funny moments, but we need a better, more thoughtful story than the fumbling creation of a half-assed religion; as a director, Gervais needs work, especially on continuity. 5

The Cell

The Cell (2000) – It’s predictable and fairly repulsive, but it presents its villain in an unusually complex manner; for fantastic and creepy visuals, you simply can’t do better. 6

Invasion of the Body Snatchers

Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1978) – Kaufman’s unimpressive direction fails to build the suspense or paranoia so vital to this story, not that the screenplay helps any; instead, it’s sometimes unintentionally silly; see the original. 5

The Elmchanted Forest

The Elmchanted Forest (1986) – The story’s a bit of a muddle, but it’s got a creativity, a charm and a style all its own; it’s a shame it’s never had a DVD release. 7

Heart Condition

Heart Condition (1990) – You can always count on good work from Bob Hoskins and Denzel Washington, although their chemistry is only so-so; it’s too bad the ghost of Denzel’s mustache couldn’t have conjured up a better script. 5