Tim Winters Movies

Bay Area digital-effects wizard David Lee Fisher offers an enticing visual remix of the 1920 German expressionist classic with this innovative updating that places contemporary performers against scanned backdrops of the original and offers a detailed new script to create an exciting new vision. As the annual fair descends upon the sleepy burg of Holstenwall, Germany, Francis and his best friend Alan are unwittingly enticed into attending an exhibition by malevolent hypnotist Dr. Caligari that will have a sinister, life-changing effect on the pair. When the dreadful doctor awakens psychic sleepwalker Cesare (Hellboy's Doug Jones) from his profound slumber to predict Alan's future, the resulting prophecy is endlessly more terrifying than the frightened friends could have ever imagined. In the days that follow, the citizens of Holstenwell fall prey to a grisly series of unsolved murders that prompts Francis to launch a thorough investigation. With the killer fast closing in on Francis' unsuspecting fiancée Jane, the brave husband-to-be must uncover the secret of Dr. Caligari's strange powers before his one and only love suffers a particularly grim fate. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide

Irrepressible kiddie-sitcom icons Kenan and Kel ( Kenan Thompson, Kel Mitchell) are the whole show in this made-for-cable comedy, described by one dim viewer as "Sleepy Hollow for idiots." Vacationing in New England with Kenan's family, our two heroes are stranded in the middle of nowhere when the car breaks down. Offering to go to the nearest village for help, K & K find that the locals are held in the terrifying thrall of the legendary Headless Knight. In the fine tradition of Abbott and Costello, the boys vow to overcome their own fears and take on the ghostly knight--before he manages to claim their heads (empty though they may be) for his collection. The great Milton Berle makes his final acting appearance in this film, which may or may not say something about the evolution of TV comedy since the heyday of "Uncle Miltie". Two Heads Are Better Than None made its Nickelodeon service debut on July 15, 2000. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

"War Without End" was one of the few two-part stories in the Babylon 5 canon. In Part One, Michael O'Hare returns as Ambassador Sinclair, who pays a final visit to B5 for the purpose of revealing the fate of Babylon 4 (last seen in the 1994 episode "Babylon Squared"). In the course of the story, Delenn makes a confession that ties a number of dangling plot strands from previous episodes --- but there are even more suprises still to come. Written by J. Michael Straczynski, Part One of "War Without End" was first made available to American television during the week of May 13, 1996. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Atlanta is the setting for a deadly scenario, triggered when a lethal virus is stolen from the local Biological Resarch Institute. The theft involves an illicit arms deal, not to mention a collection of rogue government agents--and the anticipated murder Fortunately, Jessica (Angela Lansbury) is on hand to connect the dots and solve the case...but she'd better hurry before the virus is unleashed upon the unsuspecting populace. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

A privileged, free-spirited young girl tries to adapt to life in a strict boarding school in this charming, critically acclaimed children's fantasy. Adapting a novel by Frances Hodgson Burnett, also the author of The Secret Garden, the film shifts the story's setting to World War I. 10 year-old Sara Crewe (Liesel Matthews) has been left in a respected New York City boarding school while her British father heads overseas to fight. Filled with wild stories and a playful attitude, the unconventional Sara becomes popular amongst her classmates but quickly comes into conflict with the harsh headmistress, Miss Minchin (Eleanor Bron), who attempts to quash the child's individuality. The young girl's situation takes a serious turn for the worse when she unexpectedly receives word of her father's death, and, suddenly impoverished, is forced into life as a servant. Treated as a lesser class of person by her former companions, Sara instead befriends her fellow servants and turns to the power of imagination in order to maintain hope for the future. In addition to changing the story's setting, screenwriters Richard LaGravenese and Elizabeth Chandler add a layer of Indian mythology to the tale, allowing director Alfonso Cuaron the chance to punctuate the riches-to-rags fable with a series of lush, imaginative fantasy sequences. Though A Little Princess had difficulty attracting audiences during its initial run, its visual splendor and touching storytelling were praised by many critics, several of whom proclaimed the film one of the best family-oriented productions of its time. ~ Judd Blaise, All Movie Guide

This shocking prison drama was inspired by a true story. In 1938, Henri Young (Kevin Bacon), sentenced to Alcatraz for stealing $5, attempted to escape from prison with three other prisoners. One of the escapees was captured, and to curry favor with Warden Glenn (Gary Oldman), he informed on the others. Young was soon brought back to custody, and was to be punished by spending 19 days in solitary confinement. Nineteen days stretched into three years, in which Young was kept in a pit with no light, no toilet, no furniture, and nothing to read. Young emerged from solitary a vengeful madman, and he quickly murdered the convict who turned him in. Young was put on trial for the killing, and assigned a first-time public defender, James Stamphill (Christian Slater). Stamphill was horrified by Young's tales of the conditions at Alcatraz, and he used them as the basis of his defense for his client, believing that anyone would be driven to madness and murder if they had been treated the same way as Young. Murder in the First also features Embeth Davidtz, William H. Macy, Brad Dourif, and R. Lee Ermey. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

Director Andrew Davis followed up the action blockbuster The Fugitive (1993) with this Capra-esque box office dud that nevertheless featured engaging dual performances by Andy Garcia. Garcia stars as Ruben and Robby, twin brothers who were raised separately and have become total opposites. Ruben has recently inherited a 40,000-acre Santa Barbara estate from his eccentric guardian, Mona (Holland Taylor). A friend to artisans and migrant workers, Ruben wants to transform the land into a commune, while the cold-hearted Robby wants to steal it from his brother, develop it and make millions. Muddying the waters are Lou (Alan Arkin), a quick-thinking ex-cop and pal of Ruben's who is able to manipulate the law to his own purposes, Eddie (Joe Pantoliano), a shark lawyer who plays both sides against the middle, and Ruben's ex-wife Laura (Rachel Ticotin). When each brother masquerades as the other for a time, however, some insights are gained by both. ~ Karl Williams, All Movie Guide

Still having trouble getting their sons to behave themselves, Jesse (John Stamos) and Becky (Lisa Loughlin) join a support group for the parents of twins--but only after Jesse takes several excursions down the "River Denial." Elsewhere, DJ (Candace Cameron) tries to keep Danny (Bob Saget) from finding out about her traffic ticket. Alas, her sisters know all, and they take full advantage of the situation by demanding a hefty "fee" for their silence. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

An innkeeper in a small Midwestern town is concerned about strange boarders, whom he believes are visitors from the future. He struggles to save his daughter from being taken by the aliens and to keep the town from being destroyed. ~ All Movie Guide

Season Nine of Murder, She Wrote gets under way with an episode set at a Milan Film Festival, where Jessica Fletcher (Angela Lansbury) is attending the premiere of a movie based on one of her novels. The film's producer Catherine Wayne (Susan Blakely) is as well known for her string of box-office successes as she is for her shabby treatment of underlings; in fact, as the story begins, she is seen refusing to release an up-and-coming young director from his ultra-restrictive contract. Inevitably, Catherine is murdered, and Jessica is obliged to investigate the case. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Bob Gunton guest stars as Benjamin Maxwell, a renegade Federation starship captain. Acting on his own initiative, Maxwell makes a series of unprovoked attacks on Cardassian ships. To forestall a resumption of hositilities between the Cardassians and the Federation, Captain Picard may be forced to kill Maxwell, who happens to be an old comrade. First aired February 2, 1991, "The Wounded" was scripted by Jeri Taylor, from a story by Stuart Charno, Sara Charno, and Cy Chermak. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Albert Brooks wrote, directed, and stars in this philosophical comedy about a man having a hard time making a case for himself in the afterlife. When advertising executive Daniel Miller (Albert Brooks) finds himself in a fatal car crash minutes after taking delivery on a new BMW, he's whisked away to Judgment City, where the recently dead are put on a sort of trial to decide their fate. If in your time on Earth you were able to face your fears and learn from your mistakes, you get to move on to a life in a better world. However, if you didn't, you have to go back to Earth and try again. As he spends the next several days watching various episodes from his life, Daniel gets the impression he doesn't stand much of a chance of moving on -- and his representative, Bob Diamond (Rip Torn), seems to have little confidence in his case. In the meantime, he frequents Judgment City's many restaurants (where the food is delicious and you can eat all you want without gaining an ounce), pays a visit to the Past Life Pavilion, and meets Julia (Meryl Streep), who seems so kind, sweet, and noble that her advancement is practically assured. Daniel and Julia fall in love, but what's going to happen if they don't end up in the same place? Albert Brooks and Meryl Streep make a witty and engaging romantic team in Defending Your Life, and Shirley MacLaine appears in a highly appropriate cameo. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

A serial killer has been preying upon women who have found success in professions previously limited to men. Hunter (Fred Dryer) and McCall (Stepfanie Kramer) investigate when John Skouros (Tom Villard), a self-styled psychic, claims to have forseen the first three murders. Things take a truly sinister turn when Skouros predicts that the killer's next victim will be McCall! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide