Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief

Logan Lerman, Alexandra Daddario, Catherine Keener, Pierce Brosnan, Steve Coogan, Rosario Dawson, Uma Thurman, Joe Pantoliano, Max Van Ville -- A guy and his friends rescue his mother from Hades. In the end, he gets to meet his father. The End. A tweens guide to happiness. Like "Clash of the Titans" only better. I would rate it 3 1/2 out of 5 stars. (2010-PG)

Accidents Happen

Geena Davis, Harrison Gilbertson, Viva Bianca -- Two words - family angst. A family gets in to a car accident. The daughter is killed, and one of the son's is left in a permanent vegetative state. About the family's learning to cope. Spoiler alert, Mrs. Smolensky hides the bowling ball. I would rate it 3 out of 5 stars. (2009-R)

Hot Tub Time Machine

John Cusack, Craig Robinson, Crispin Glover -- The worst John Cusack movie I have ever seen! Even worse than "2012", and I didn't think that was possible. The title says it all. Awful!!! I would rate it 1 1/8 out of 5 stars. (2010-R)

Night Train

Danny Glover, Leelee Sobieski, Steve Zahn -- Two passengers (Leelee Sobieski and Steve Zahn) and a conductor (Danny Glover) heist some diamonds on a passenger train. Leelee Sobieski is nice to look at! I would rate it 4 out of 5 stars. (2009-R)

The Bounty Hunter

Gerard Butler, Jennifer Aniston, Jason Sudeikas -- I made it through 1 1/4 hours before I turned it off! Horrible! Sorry, Gary, I thought it was insipid. (Look it up in your Funk and Wagnall's) If you want a real laugh, I can suggest "Midnight Run" starring Robert DeNiro and Charles Grodin. It is a comedy, and it's good. I would rate it 1 1/2 out of 5 stars. (2010-PG-13)

Snow Cake

Alan Rickman, Sigourney Weaver, Carrie-Anne Moss - Think "Rain Man" only in Canada. Alex (Alan Rickman) is driving to see his sister. Along the way he picks up a hitchhiker. Alex gets in an accident, and the hitchhiker is killed. Alex goes to the hitchhiker's hometown and apologizes to her mother. The mother (Sigourney Weaver) has autism. Charlie Babette tugged and pulled and hurt my neck! I would rate it 3 1/4 out of 5 stars. (2006-NR)

It's the Rage

Joan Allen, Jeff Daniels, Robert Forrester, Andre Braugher, Bokeem Woodbine, Anna Paquin, David Schwimmer, Josh Brolin, Gary Sinise, Giovanni Ribisi -- All the stars in the universe couldn't save this one. It's about gun violence. Everybody as a gun. I didn't like it very much. I would rate it 2 1/2 out of 5 stars. (1999-R)

Middle of Nowhere

Susan Sarandon, Eve Amurri, Anton Yelchin -- A girl (Eve Amurri), who dreams of going to medical school, and her cohort (Anton Yelchin) hatch a plan to sell "product" (marijuana) in addition to their summer jobs. She played the punk rocker in "Saved!". I liked it! I would rate it 4 out of 5 stars. (2008-R)

Saint John of Las Vegas

Steve Buscemi, Sarah Silverman, Tim Blake Nelson, Romany Malco -- An insurance adjuster (Steve Buscemi) and his partner (Romany Malco) travel to Las Vegas investigating an fraud case. Along the way, they have many adventures. I liked Sarah Silverman as Buscemi's girlfriend, Jill. I would rate it 4 out of 5 stars. (2009-R)

The Runaways

Dakota Fanning, Kristen Stewart, Michael Shannon, Tatum O'Neal -- So much hype - so little product. I expected a kick-ass story of "The Runaways", but what I got instead was some over- acted piece of fluff. Even their smash hit "Cherry Bomb" was a real disappointment. Oh well. I guess they are 50 now. I would rate it 2 1/4 out of 5 stars. (2010-R)

Population 436

Jeremy Sisto, Fred Durst, Charlottel Sullivan -- I watched it because a friend told me to. It was mildly amusing. Jeremy Sisto (most famous for "Law & Order") and Fred Durst (who is the lead singer from the band "Limp Bizkit") are in it. Suspenseful. I would rate it 3 out of 5 stars. (2006-R)

Brooklyn's Finest

Richard Gere, Don Cheadle, Ethan Hawke, Wesley Snipes, Vincent D'Onofrio, Ellen Barkin -- A gritty look at New York's finest. One of the producers is John Langley of "Cops" fame. Everybody gets killed in the end except Richard Gere. Violent! I would rate it 4 1/4 out of 5 stars. (2009-R)

The Runner

Courteney Cox, John Goodman, Joe Mantegna, Bokeem Woodbine, Steve Schirripa, David Arquette, Ron Eldard -- A whole lot of stars, not much action. Mildly amusing, but no great shakes. I think I saw it around 10 years ago. I remember John Goodman and the black widow spiders. A runner (a guy who bets money for a 3rd party) in Las Vegas falls in love with a cocktail waitress. I would rate it 3 1/2 out of 5 stars. (1999-R)

S. Darko

Daveigh Chase, Briana Evigan -- An even weirder tale than "Donnie Darko" (at least the first one had all sorts of stars in it). One was made in 2001, and one was made in 2009. The thing is, they are exactly the same (time travel, a preacher that does wrong, and sleepwalking). The only thing that is the same is Daveigh Chase, who plays the sister of Donnie Darko in both productions. I would rate it 2 out of 5 stars. (2009-R)

Donnie Darko

Jake Gyllenhaal, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Patrick Swayze, Seth Rogen, Noah Wyle, Drew Barrymore, Mary McDonnell, Daveigh Chase -- A really weird tale that has some thing to do with time travel. I liked it, though it is not for everybody. I would rate it 4 out of 5 stars. (2001-R)

Don McKay

Thomas Haden Chuch, Elisbabeth Shue, Melissa Leo, Keith David -- A really weird tale about some high school janitor going home after 25 years. He finds himself "ensnared in a web of conspiracy, deception and murder". Like I say, a really weird tale. I would rate it 2 1/2 out of 5 stars. (2009-R)

The Last Supper

Cameron Diaz, Courtney Vance, Bill Paxton, Nora Dunn, Mark Harmon, Jason Alexander, Charles Durning, Ron Perlman -- Five friends invite an acquaintance over for dinner. With murderous results - time and time again. It was okay, but no great shakes. I would rate it a 2 3/4 out of 5 stars. (1995-R)