Dann Michalski

An incredibly fun comic book film, Suicide Squad is action-packed and full of thrills. In the wake of Superman's death the government puts together a black ops team of super-criminals, including Deadshot, Harley Quinn, Captain Boomerang, and Killer Croc, to fight the battles that no one else can. Starring Will Smith, Margot Robbie, Jared Leto, Jai Courtney, and Cara Delevingne, the film has an impressive cast that gives some very good performances; particularly Robbie who's outstanding as Harley, bringing a lot of charisma and personality to the role. However, the storytelling is rather formulaic and convoluted. Still, the action is pretty exciting, as are the characters (especially Deadshot, Harley, and Joker). And the soundtrack is extraordinarily well-done, using classic rock to set a campy, lighthearted tone. Suicide Squad, while it has its problems, is entertaining and presents an interesting vision of the DC Cinematic Universe.

A complete clusterf**k, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice is overstuffed and poorly executed. Still, it's incredibly exciting to see DC's biggest titans going at it. As Superman grows increasingly concerned about the Gotham vigilante known as the Bat, Bruce Wayne trains to take down Superman; having seen his frighteningly destructive power firsthand. And while this main story-arc is solid, there are half a dozen subplots cluttering up the film, making it hard to follow what's going on. Ben Affleck proves to be excellently cast as an older, war-torn Batman, and Gal Gadot does an impressive job as Wonder Woman. Additionally, Zack Snyder’s directing is visually stunning, creating some extraordinary imagery, and the score by Hans Zimmer and Junkie LX is riveting, and brings a lot of tension and suspense to the film. Yet as thrilling and action-packed as Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice is, it’s constantly tripping over itself.

Zack Snyder and Christopher Nolan team up to deliver a new vision of Superman in Man of Steel. The film retells the origin of Superman, from his birth on the dying world of Krypton to his rise as a superhero when he must defend the Earth from a rogue group of Krptonians. It's a heavy, and at times, convoluted story that's not told very well. Henry Cavill does a fair enough job at creating a new interpretation of Superman, but Amy Adams is a poor Lois Lane. However, the special effects are incredible; though the CGI is overused and ends up overwhelming the plot and the characters. Still, the action sequences add a lot energy and excitement to the film. While it's not super, Man of Steel successfully reboots the franchise and delivers a science fiction focused vision of Superman.

Chevy Chase is back for more misadventures in the hilarious comedy Fletch Lives. After inheriting his great aunt’s estate in Mississippi, Fletch is framed for murder and has to uncover who’s behind it. Once again Chase delivers a great performance, though the character is a bit less edgy than in the previous film. Additionally, the sketches aren’t as organic; coming off as rather board and cartoonish. Still, the comedy’s really good and the mystery is involving. Fletch Lives is a lot fun and is full of laughs, but it doesn’t have as good a story as the original.

Director Robert Zemeckis delivers a fun and outrageous adventure in Romancing the Stone. When her sister is taken hostage in Columbia romance novelist Joan Wilder is forced to come up with the ransom, but after taking a wrong turn she ends up on a wild adventure with a treasure hunter. Michael Douglas, Kathleen Turner, and Danny DeVito form a great cast and deliver solid performances. The story is fairly well told, however the characters are a bit underdeveloped and there are some weaknesses in the plot. Still, the action sequences are impressive and exciting, and the comedy works quite well. Romancing the Stone is a thrilling action film that's tremendously entertaining.

"They called me Mr. Glass." M. Night Shyamalan delivers a bold new vision in the suspense thriller Unbreakable. When David Dunn walks away unharmed, the sole survivor of a train wreck, a mysterious man proposes an incredible theory to explain David's miraculous survival. Bruce Willis and Samuel L. Jackson lead the cast and deliver outstanding performances. And the writing is excellent, especially in how it mixes genres and creates compelling characters. A unique and captivating film, Unbreakable is riveting and full of intrigue.

Escaping the Poseidon turned out to just be the beginning as the story continues in Beyond the Poseidon Adventure. A small tugboat looking to claim salvage rights and a medical ship join forces to mount a rescue of possible Poseidon survivors, but things are not all that they appear to be. Despite having an interesting concept the story quickly falls apart and gets ridiculous. Another all-star cast has been assembled, and includes Michael Caine, Sally Field, Peter Boyle, Telly Savalas, and Slim Pickens. But the performances aren't very good, and the characters aren't that likable. Still, the action is shot pretty well and adds some intensity and excitement to the film. Beyond the Poseidon Adventure has none of the passion or charisma of the original, but it's entertaining at times.

Formulaic (but action-packed), Homefront is your stereotypical action hero film. Written by Sylvester Stallone, the story follows a former DEA agent who retires to the countryside to raise his daughter, but he soon runs afoul of a local drug runner. Starring Jason Statham, James Franco, Winona Ryder, and Kate Bosworth, the cast is especially good. And it's this impressive cast that makes the film work, 'cause the material is fairly clichéd and by the numbers. While it's not very original, Homefront is a solid popcorn flick.

It's Jet Li vs. Jason Statham in War, an exciting martial arts action film. An FBI agent out for revenge pursues a notorious assassin named Rogue who's come to San Francisco to instigate a war between the Triads and the Yakuza. The storytelling is rather good, especially in creating suspense and intrigue. And, the fight sequences are particularly impressive. However, the characters aren't given much depth and seem more like stereotypes. While War is pretty much a typical revenge film, it's entertaining and has a good cast.

Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice's rock opera Jesus Christ Superstar is brought to the big screen in this most unusual adaptation. Shot as a contemporary play, a theater troop drives out into the Israeli desert and proceeds to put on a production of the Gospel Story. There are no real sets as it's all shot on location, and the costumes bare all of the trademarks of '70s fashion (from bell bottom pants to rose tinted sunglasses). And, there's a little bit of disco in the choreography. Yet this all ends up giving the film a bombastic energy that's a lot of fun. Plus, the music is incredibly catchy and has a lighthearted humor to it. Though it's a bit dated, Jesus Christ Superstar presents a unique vision and has a sort of kitschiness that makes it tremendously entertaining.

Ocean's crew reunites for one last con in Ocean's Thirteen. When one of their own gets scammed by a casino developer Danny Ocean puts the team back together in order to get payback, and to set things right. The story's fairly strong, and the Las Vegas setting returns the series to its roots. Still, the con's a little incoherent and the plot has some extraneous parts. Most of the cast from the previous films return, and are joined by Al Pacino; who makes for a terrific villain. Ocean's Thirteen is an improvement over the last film, but it's not as good as the original.

Jack Lemmon and James Garner star in the hilarious political satire My Fellow Americans. After narrowly escaping an assassination attempt former presidents and bitter rivals Kramer and Douglas team-up in order to expose a plot to cover-up a breaking political scandal. Lemmon and Garner are really good together and have great comedic chemistry. And the comedy is especially well-written, taking jabs at both political parties and lampooning modern political figures like Bill Clinton, Dan Quayle, and George Bush. Yet, at times the humor can get a little too silly and slapstick-ish. My Fellow Americans has some problems, but it's fun and delivers a lot of laughs.

Tom Hanks and Shelley Long star in the hysterical '80s comedy The Money Pit. The story follows a couple that buys a house together, and while at first they think it's a steal the place turns out to be a real fixer upper and tests their relationship. Hanks and Long are great together and give excellent performances. The comedy is also extraordinarily good and delivers some clever satire. Produced by Steven Spielberg, The Money Pit is a smart family film that's full of laughs.

Joe Dante turns the Gremlins into f***ing clown shoes in the atrocious sequel, Gremlins 2: The New Batch. This time the film is all satire and goofiness...and no horror. The Gremlin designs are cartoonish and fake looking, lacking any sense of danger or terror. The performances are also pathetic, and don't even work in a campy, satirical way. And worst of all, the film tries to be meta, but it all falls flat. It's almost as if Gremlins 2: The New Batch was intended to undermine and lampoon the series, which it succeeds at brilliantly.

The Will Ferrell screwball comedy Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy is outrageously funny. Set in the '70s, the story follows a San Diego news anchor name Ron Burgundy who's at the top of his game, but his world is shaken when a spunky, headstrong female report joins the station's news team. Aside from Ferrell, the film stars Christina Applegate, Steve Carell, Vince Vaughn, and Paul Rudd; who all deliver great performances that really makes the comedy work. Additionally, there's some hilarious spoofing of '70s American pop-culture. A better comedy than it has any right to be, Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy is a lot of fun.

Based on the popular book series, The Maze Runner is an intense and suspenseful thriller. The story follows a group of young boys that find themselves wiped of their memories and sent into the center of a giant maze that's constantly changing. What the maze is and why the boys have been placed there is an enticing mystery, and the writing does an impressive job at setting up this world and creating intrigue. Additionally, the performances are fairly good, and the costumes and set designs have an interesting look and feel. However, there are some problems with the storytelling, as it seems a bit rushed at times with some random elements thrown in to add ambiguity. Though it's a little weak on story, The Maze Runner is an entertaining and exciting adventure.

Brian De Palma brings Mission: Impossible to the big screen in an explosive and action-packed adventure. Branded a trader when his team is killed during an intelligence operation, IMF agent Ethan Hunt goes rogue in order to clear his name. The plot's rather good, and does a fair job at building suspense and intrigue. Starring Tom Cruise, Jon Voight, Emmanuelle Beart, and Ving Rhames, the casting’s pretty solid. And, the action sequences are shot especially well, adding a lot of energy and intensity to the film. Danny Elfman's score is also excellently done. Incredibly entertaining, Mission: Impossible is a fun and thrilling action film.

Mission: Impossible gets Wooed in this second installment of the franchise. Director John Woo takes the helm and ups the action to the point of nauseum. And, there's so much identity switching and uses of masks that this might as well have been called Face/Off 2. Tom Cruise is also a problem, as he makes it all about his character and showing off his action moves (to the detriment of the film). The style over substance focus even extends to Limp Bizkit's cover of the Mission: Impossible Theme, which is just noise. Still, a lot of the action sequences are impressive and shot well. For a mindless action film, Mission: Impossible II is alright, but it's a disappointing entry into the series.

The fifth installment of the franchise, Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation delivers an exciting, adrenaline-packed adventure. After the IMF is disbanded secret agent Ethan Hunt goes rogue in order to complete one last mission to expose a criminal syndicate of former spies turned mercenaries. Tom Cruise, Jeremy Renner, and Simon Pegg return, and are joined by Rebecca Ferguson and Alec Baldwin. And their performances are pretty good; particularly Ferguson, whose stunt work and fight scenes are especially well-done. Director Christopher McQuarrie also does an impressive job, and brings a lot of suspense and tension to the action sequences. Thoroughly entertaining, Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation is an explosive spy thriller.

U-571 is a thrilling and powerful war film from writer/director Jonathan Mostow. The story follows the crew of a US Navy submarine that is sent on a secret mission to recover an Enigma decoder from a disabled German U-boat. Starring Matthew McConaugey, Harvey Keitel, and Bill Paxton, the film has a strong cast. The writing is also rather good, and does an excellent job at creating suspenseful and intense battle scenes. Additionally, the directing is impressive and brings a lot of energy and excitement to the film. Well-crafted, U-571 is action packed and delivers an incredible high-seas adventure.

Clearly out of ideas, Jurassic Park III tries to keep the franchise alive with cheap comedy and mindless action. In this installment the story returns to Dr. Alan Grant, who is recruited to go back to the Jurassic Park islands to rescue a child who has been accidentally stranded there during a parasailing accident. But before long, the film devolves into a creature feature; with random chases and meaningless dinosaur fights. And while some of the action is exciting, the insipid and lazy writing shines through and draws attention to the numerous plot holes. Good for a few thrills, Jurassic Park III is dumb fun at best.

"Welcome to Jurassic Park." Director Steven Spielberg was the perfect directing choice to bring this Michael Crichton scientific thriller to life. In perfect Spielbergian style the film teases out the dinosaur park for the first act, then kicks into a full throttle action/adventure. Sam Neill, Richard Attenborough, and Jeff Goldblum all give outstanding performances that draw in the audience. But, what stands out most are the amazing special effects. The dinosaurs are both breathtaking and terrifying; capturing everything that we find fascinating about them. And, John Williams' score brilliantly embodies the majesty and excitement of the material. A wonderful piece of filmmaking, Jurassic Park inspires the imagination.

Richard Kelly's Southland Tales is an insanely bizarre and macabre film with Lynchian undertones. An actor named Boxer Santaros goes on a ride-along with a LAPD cop to research a screenplay that he's writing, but events lead Santaros to believe that his screenplay isn't as fictional as he thought and that reality isn't what it seems. The plot is incoherent; full of meaningless tangents that go nowhere and that don't service the main storyline. However, the film is given a certain level of charisma by all of the rich and interesting characters. Additionally, the casting is exceptional, featuring Dwayne Johnson, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Seann William Scott, Mandy Moore, and Justin Timberlake. But, Kelly's ultraliberal political agenda hijacks the film and makes a mess out of everything. Though there are moments of brilliance, Southland Tales tries to do too many things and ends up doing none of them well.

From writer/director Roland Emmerich comes the exciting sci-fi adventure Independence Day. In the aftermath of a surprise alien attack a ragtag group of military forces and civilians band together to fight back. Starring Will Smith, Jeff Goldblum, Bill Pullman, and Randy Quaid, the film has a talented cast that gives some good performances. And, the special effects are especially well-done; delivering incredible battle sequences. Additionally, the storytelling is remarkably efficient, and does an impressive job at introducing the characters and moving the plot forward. Still, there are a lot of contrivances and leaps in logic in order to make the story work. And, there are stereotypes aplenty; from the stripper with a heart of gold, to the mad scientist, to the warmongering military commander. But regardless of its problems, Independence Day is tremendously fun and entertaining.

Beirut is an exciting political thriller that’s full of intrigue. The story follows a former US diplomat who’s recruited by the CIA to negotiate a hostage exchange in Beirut, but when internal politics get in the way he’s forced to go outsider of official channels to save the hostage. Starring Jon Hamm, Rosamund Pike, and Mark Pellegrino, the film has a pretty strong cast. And it does a good job at creating tension and suspense. Also, the costumes and sets are especially well-done, creating an authentic look and feel for the time period. However, it can be a little confusing to follow the different political factions and the deals and trades being made. Yet despite a few script problems, Beirut is an intense and gripping drama.

"Sometimes dead is better." Based on the bestselling Stephen King novel, Pet Sematary is a frightening horror film. The story follows a family that discovers a Pet Cemetery behind their back yard that has mystical properties, which if used, comes with a terrible price. The directing is especially good and brings an impressive amount of tension and suspense to the film. However, there are a few storytelling issues and some of the acting is weak. A faithful adaptation of Stephen King's terrifying thriller, Pet Sematary delivers some chilling scares.

Jigsaw is back (or is he) in this latest installment of the Saw franchise. When a police informant claims that a new Jigsaw game is underway and bodies start coming in the police find themselves in a race against time to find out who’s running the game and save the captives. Featuring Callum Keith Rennie, Laura Vandervoort, and Tobin Bell, the cast is pretty decent. However, the story kind of muddles up the chronology of the series (making it even more convoluted). Yet the mystery of who’s the new Jigsaw, and the subsequent investigation are fairly intriguing. But what really counts in a Saw film are the traps, and a couple of these are rather clever (others are ridiculously complicated). A mediocre entry in the franchise, Jigsaw more or less follows the series formula and delivers what one would expect.

Logan takes a giant sh** on the X-Man franchise, destroying everything fans have come to enjoy. Set in a distant future where mutants are nearly extinct Logan works as a part-time limo driver caring for a mentally ill Charles Xavier, until a nurse informs him of a secret government program that’s genetically engineering new mutants and seeks his help in getting one of them, a little girl, to a safe haven in Canada. The film completely undoes everything Days of Future Past did (which was to create a better, more hopeful future), and presents a rather nihilistic view where nothing the X-Men did amounted to anything. The action scenes are really good, and take advantage of the R rating by not holding back on the blood and violence. And Hugh Jackman gives one of his best performances of the series. But Logan is just too dark and gritty, there’s no fun to it and it casts a shadow over the whole franchise.

Captain Jack Sparrow sails the high seas in search of adventure once again in Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales. When Will Turner’s son Henry goes looking for a way to end his father’s curse he teams up with Jack Sparrow to find Poseidon’s Trident, but an old advisory is soon awakened and seeks revenge on Sparrow. Johnny Depp is excellent as always, and brings a lot of charisma to the film. However, Javier Bardem makes for a rather weak villain (perhaps the weakest of the series). And the special effects for the dead crew are incredible poor. There are also some continuity errors with the previous films that are a bit irksome. Still, the action sequences are fun; full of swashbuckling sword fights and thrilling chases. Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales is an entertaining ride, but it struggles to deliver something fresh and exciting.