The Naked Gun 2½: The Smell of Fear (1991)

Police Lieutenant Frank Drebin is back, where he investigates a bombing and stumbles into a criminal conspiracy involving Big Oil. As always, the plot of these movies is secondary to the succession of rapid-fire jokes and sight gags that are hidden in every scene. Admittedly, there is a big drop off in quality, but Leslie Nielsen is so effortlessly brilliant in the role, even when the jokes don't land, he still pulls it off with style and ease. It's top-loaded with enough irreverence and slapstick humor to put a smirk on your face if you're into this brand of over-the-top comedy. Just adjust your expectations accordingly, turn your brain to the "off" position and strap in for stupidity and big laughs.

3¼ Black Russians out of 5

Gorky Park (1983)

When three unknown bodies are discovered frozen in the snow in Moscow's Gorky Park, officer Arkady Renko (William Hurt) of the Soviet police force gets himself deep in danger while trying to get to the bottom if it. The KGB casually hand him the case, even though he suspects they may be involved.
Based on a novel of the same name by Martin Cruz Smith (I've not read it), it's a political thriller with a script that doesn't waste words, but to sustain its realism a film that's set in Russia and is about Russian citizens ought to be in the Russian language, not littered with American and British accents, even if they are fine actors at home. The love subplot that develops is rushed and unconvincing, but the level of intrigue compensates well enough.

3 cold reconstructions out of 5

HARRY POTTER & THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS [2002]

Summer's over and it's back for a second year at Hogwart's School of Witchcraft & Wizardy in director Chris Columbus' second film in the colossally popular Harry Potter series, The Chamber of Secrets.
The series gets slightly more darker as Harry gets older and this is just the beginning as the boy wizard & friends are prey to a series of bizarre attacks that leaves it victims petrified.  Once again the set design, music and faith to it's source material are all top-notch,  However, as a whole, the film seems to just be a continuation of the an introduction to the world and hardly does anything to develop the tale of where the series eventually goes.  It's entertaining enough and if you loved the first one then this one will suffice.

3 unbearably annoying Jar-Jar/Gollum hybrids out of 5

HARRY POTTER & THE PHILOSOPHER'S STONE [2001]

aka
Harry Potter & The Sorcerer's Stone

Director Chris Columbus faithfully adapts the first novel of J.K. Rowlings' popular children's fantasy series, Harry Potter & The Philosopher's Stone.
Pint-sized pip-pip Harry Potter, after living with years of abuse from his aunt and uncle, is whisked away on his 11th birthday to Hogwart's School of Witchcraft & Wizardry, where he discovers he's far more important than he was priorly led to believe.  Blessed with beautiful visuals, gorgeous set designs and an astounding imagination, the film's biggest flaw is being so faithful to the book it sometimes hits some severe lulls in it's 2½ hour running time.  Fortunately it has an impressive cast that flaunts the instantly likeable chemistry of it's core child cast and it's who's who of adult actors that enjoy their tea & scones. Not a whole lot happens, apart from some beautifully fleshed-out stand alone scenes but that's fine seeing as it's merely setting up the characters and world for the adventures that lied ahead.  

3½  earwax flavored jelly beans out of 5

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (2005)

A soulless, ruinous version of The Hitchhiker's Guide that’s had all the deadpan wit filtered out of it in an effort to make it shorter and, I presume, appeal to a wider audience who don’t understand British humour. Ironically, the abridgement was for the best because the casting is so abominable that the sooner it ended the better. Many of the actors don’t seem to understand their roles at all. Even Stephen Fry, who’s given the impossible task of replacing the voice of Peter Jones, can’t save it from itself.

1½ generally bad moves out of 5

Withnail & I (1987)

London. 1969. Depressing and dank. No one wants to do the dishes in the sink. Two out of work actors live in a den of booze and self-pity. They decide to get away to the country for a new perspective, but things are never that simple with Withnail. Both Paul McGann and Richard E. Grant give the best performances of their careers as the boozing no-hopers on the verge of a meltdown. Misery is funny when it’s someone else’s. Classic British cult comedy. I've known a Withnail in real life. Hateful guy.

4 prancing like a tit out of 5