The Cat Returns (2002)

 Anime film is a kind of lose sequel to 1995's 'Whisper of the Heart', a Hayao Miyazaki written film based on the same magna, and featuring the character of Baron Humbert von Gikkingen (voiced by Carey Elwes), an aristocratic, anthropomorphic cat with a propensity for helping young human females; In this case Haru Yoshioka (voiced by Anne Hathaway), a young teen who finds herself being slowly turned feline by the King of Cats, who wants her as a bride for his son. Short, solid, fun, with the fat lazy cat Muta (voiced by Peter Boyle), unusually effective as comic relief. ***

Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1920)

 Lean, tight and effective version of the Robert Louis Stevenson novella of the same name. 'Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde' proves a solid vehicle for star John Berrymore at the height of his power. This has arguably aged better then other, more well known silent horror films of the time, or rather it plays in a manner that modern audiences may find less taxing then say 'Nosferatu' or 'Phantom of the Opera'. ****

The Ritual Killer (2023)

 Clinton, Mississippi police officer Cole Hauser, recruits anthropology professor Morgan Freeman's assistance in solving a series of ritual murders of young women. This is basically a much worse version of the kind of film that Freeman would have had success with a quarter century earler. The movie does have an opening sequence set in Italy where the killer gets away with a similar murder spree, this provides Hauser with an Italin counterpart detective to assist him by phone, as well as ups the overall production value with location shooting. Very blah and tired. *

Alien: Covenant (2017)

 Direct sequel to Ridley Scott's Alien prequel 'Prometheus', the crew of a colony ship divert course to answer a distress signal that turns out to come from David, Micheal Fassbender's enigmatic android from the previous film; the only "survivor" of the crew of the Prometheus' (we learn the fate of the other survivor Naomi Rapace in course of the film). Needless to say, answering the distress signal turns out to have been a horrible mistake for Billy Crudup, Katherine Waterson and the rest of the colony ships passengers and crew. Interesting directions for David's character, this sets up to have another direct sequel, but this movie under performed so a 3rd David movie was never made, which is a pitty. ***

Last Tango in Paris (1972)

 A controversial but extremely succesful film, 'Last Tango in Paris' blurred the line between legitimate art film and well, porn. Bernardo Bertoulucci directed a main stream American star, Marlon Brando, in this story of an American husband whose French wife commits suicide, so he attempts to find solace in an intense sexual relationship with 20 year old Maria Schneider. This film is schockingly graffic for the time, but is substantive, arty, and emotionally moving enough to also be a more then 'legitimate' movie. Possibly Brando's best and most subtle performance. $96 million box office on a $1 million budget. ****

Cover Up (1949)

A Christmas noir. Insurance investigator Dennis O'Keefe travels to a small Midwestern community, to find out if the most hated man in town killed himself or was murderd. William Bendix is the town sheriff, Barbara Britton is O'Keefe's love interest. Some what uneven, some times a little confusing, generally interesting. There is a tripple twist at the end. **

Bloodbeat (1983)

 The only Wisconsin based, Christmas time, supernatural, samurai, slasher film you'll ever need. Low budget and odd. Warning: flashing lights, deer hunting and psychic samurai sex. **