aaaaaaarrggg

This may be the longest-in-development sequel since _Psycho II_ and Carpenter takes no chances by simply remaking his original _Escape from New York_ in a slightly different setting on a somewhat bigger budget. Certainly watchable and Kurt is in trim, fightin' form, but a palpable atmosphere of deja vu hangs over the film, making it seem almost as needless as Carpenter's _Village of the Damned_ remake.

43 _22%

The Incredible Melting Man (1977) - Rated 13 Jun 2011

Cheeseball semi-rerun of _The First Man into Space_. DeBenning is the dull-as-dishwater hero who wanders around in circles while Alex bumps off nearly the entire cast until a downbeat ending that's as shocking as it is inept. Thankfully the Rick Baker makeup FX are pretty good for such a low-budget movie and then you've got Rainbeaux as a model who squeals as if she'd seen a mouse when she stumbles across the decapitated body of one of Melt's victims.

71 _73%

WarGames (1983) - Rated 13 Jun 2011

Likable bit of high-tech fluff. Excellent performances from Broderick and the lovely Sheedy and a well-calculated screenplay that gets the maximum mileage out of its far-fetched (but not entirely improbable) premise help make this a lot more fun than some more recent teen-oriented cyber-thrillers I could name.

43 _22%

Short Circuit 2 (1988) - Rated 13 Jun 2011

You know a sequel is in trouble when the only actor who returns from the original is the third-billed comic relief (_Gone with the Wind II_ with Butterfly McQueen would be better), with Stevens as the cliched malaprop-spouting Hindu. Gibb is the unlikely love interest in this overlong and underdeveloped followup that's not terrible but just terribly unimaginative.

57 _46%

Virtuosity (1995) - Rated 13 Jun 2011

A sci-fi variation of the thriller _Copycat_, this is slick but oh-so-pat and obvious with its routine plot (and annoying mugging from Crowe), somewhat redeemed by fancy direction and good work from Denzel.

43 _22%

Multiplicity (1996) - Rated 13 Jun 2011

Great state-of-the-art FX seem to be the main reason this slight fantasy was made and they remain the main reason to watch this -- unless you just can't get enough Keaton, who made this weak fantasy-comedy rather than the third Batman movie.

71 _73%

Westworld (1973) - Rated 13 Jun 2011

Crichton gives his _Jurassic Park_ premise an initial run-through with this fun sci-fi thriller. Well done on an obviously tight budget, with Brynner great as a prototype of Schwarzenegger's Terminator character: an android who keeps coming back again and again every time it's "killed".

14 _3%

Robot Holocaust (1986) - Rated 13 Jun 2011

Manhattan-shot clinker. Ed French did the budget makeups, which sometimes work, but the dopey story and wooden acting got this an early berth on the fledgling "Mystery Science Theater 3000" show.

71 _73%

Stalker (1979) - Rated 13 Jun 2011

Tarkovsky returns with this long, intelligent Russian sci-fi drama filmed in both color and black and white. Not for everyone but well worth it for those willing to work with it.

43 _22%

Johnny Mnemonic (1995) - Rated 13 Jun 2011

Futuristic misfire. Flashy but uncompelling; still, any movie with Keanu, Dolph, Henry, and Udo in the same cast has got to be worth a look for kitsch value alone.