There are a lot of famous satire films out there but here’s a list of some that I feel are underrated.

5. Bowfinger

Steve Martin (“Planes, Trains & Automobiles”) and Eddie Murphy (“Beverly Hills Cop”) star in this satire of Hollywood. It takes shots at filmmaking executive, pampered stars and even Scientology.

4. Looking For Comedy In The Muslim World

Albert Brooks (“Finding Nemo”) plays himself as he’s tasked by the American government with finding out what Muslims find funny. The film is really more a satire of cultural barriers and celebrity status than it is about Islam. It could have easily been about finding out what the Chinese laugh at.

3. Idiocracy

A film that has started to get some recognition in more recent years. Directed by Mike Judge (“Office Space”), this movie sees Luke Wilson (“Bottle Rocket”) play the most average of our times. He gets cryogenically preserved and awakens in a future where the average intelligence has decreased drastically. It’s sort of like a live-action version of “Futurama”.

2. The Infidel

Omid Djalili (“The Mummy”) plays a British Muslim, who learns that his birth parents were actually Jewish. If he wants permission from a rabbi to see his dying biological father, he must learn about his Jewish roots. However, he also has to keep up appearances as a Muslim to impress an Islamic hate preacher to secure his son’s marriage the imam’s daughter. There are some great jokes about Islamic and Jewish cultures as we see the similarities and differences between the two.

1. Thank You For Smoking

“Thank You For Smoking” offers a really great look at the world of lobbying. It follows Nick Naylor (Aaron Eckhart “The Dark Knight”), a tobacco lobbyist with friends that include firearms and alcohol lobbyists. This movie demonstrates how slick and confident people can spin stories and data. Naylor has the manipulative skills to make smoking seem like a perfectly safe activity. The movie shows you just how many people die of smoking related illnesses and how those numbers put despots such as Genghis Khan to shame.

“Novocaine” is a comedic film noir but the makers seemed to have forgotten to add the comedy. Steve Martin (“Mixed Nuts”, “The Man With Two Brains”) previously spoofed the film noir genre with “Dead Men Don’t Wear Plaid” and while I wasn’t exactly a fan of that film, I at least felt that it was trying to be funny. “Novocaine” is actually quite unsettling at times.

Frank Sangster (Martin) is a dentist that finds himself at the centre of a seedy plot after he is seduced by a new patient (Helena Bonham Carter “Fight Club”). With the drugs stolen from his practice, Frank tries to get the stuff back but soon becomes accused of murder. Now, he must prove his innocence by discovering who set him up.

Martin is a funny guy but he doesn’t even seem to attempt to be amusing here. He’s in a script that has as much joy as “Silence of the Lambs”. It’s not plausible that Helena Bonham Carter’s character seduces anybody because it’s so evident that she’s got problems right from the start. She never looks enticing here because she never successfully masks the fact that she is a substance abuser. Laura Dern (“Jurassic Park”, “Blue Velvet”) is in here but it rather disappointing. Kevin Bacon (“Tremors”) makes a brief appearance but adds nothing to the movie.

“Novocaine” has been marketed as a comedy and other people refer to it as one so I’m so shocked that it seems so comedically empty. As a film noir, it’s not especially engaging. It has a few intriguing ideas but that’s about it. The whole tone of movie is really dark and unpleasant. A shot near the end of this movie is so disturbing and graphic that it actually felt like a live-action version of a particularly uncomfortable sequence in “Ren & Stimpy” where Ren has problems with his teeth.

“Dudley Do-Right” is a live-action comedy based on some of the segments from “The Rocky And Bullwinkle Show”. This film got savaged when it was released back in 1999 and I don’t really get why. It’s infinitely better than “The Adventures Of Rocky And Bullwinkle”, which came out just a year later.

In this film, Dudley Do-Right (Brendan Fraser “George of the Jungle”, “The Mummy”) is a dopey Canadian Mountie that loves his job. His rival, Snidely Whiplash (Alfred Molina “Spider-Man 2”, “Species”) is executing another dastardly scheme and he’s also getting the affection of Nell (Sarah Jessica Parker “Striking Distance”), the girl of Dudley’s dreams. Dudley will have to set things right if he wants to save his job, his town and his girl.

Brendan Fraser is mildly entertaining as Dudley. Dudley is an individual with a good heart but he’s a bit of an idiot and is easily tricked as always assumes the best about other people. The character seems to embody the image of Canada in that he’s very pleasant but a little dull. Sarah Jessica Parker is forgettable here. Alfred Molina looks like he’s having fun as the villain. Eric Idle (“Monty Python and the Holy Grail”) is reasonable here too.

Children are likely to be entertained by “Dudley Do-Right”. I like some of the slapstick and I admire this film for being quite innocent. It seems most comedies now have to be really aggressive so it’s nice to see a film that is more light-hearted. None of it is particularly funny though so I cannot exactly recommend it. I’ve never seen the original cartoon series so I can’t compare it with this. If you are a big Brendan Fraser fan or you just love slapstick comedy then maybe check this one out. You’re not doing anything wrong if you want to watch “Dudley Do-Right”.

“Bedtime Stories” is what happens when you combine Disney with Adam Sandler (“Happy Gilmore”, “The Wedding Singer”). It’s got the typical Adam Sandler film formula but it has a somewhat charming Disney style to it. It’s not exactly a good film but it’s an okay family film from the guy that did the awful “Little Nicky”.

Skeeter Bronson (Sandler) grew up in Los Angeles at a little motel owned by his father (Jonathan Pryce “Brazil”). Despite being the son of the founder and promised a chance at running things, Skeeter is only a hotel handyman as the new owners have turned everything into a lavish establishment and old promises have been forgotten. He finds himself having to look after his niece and nephew. When he tells them bedtime stories, elements of the stories start happening for real.

Adam Sandler’s obnoxious behaviour surfaces from time to time but he’s more likeable here than he is in most of his other films. Jonathan Pryce is good despite having limited screen time. Guy Pearce (“Memento”) plays Skeeter’s rival. The two end up competing to run the hotel. Richard Griffiths (“Withnail & I”), Russell Brand (“Forgetting Sarah Marshall”), Rob Schneider (“The Hot Chick”) and Courteney Cox (“Ace Ventura: Pet Dective”) all appear. There is also a funny guineapig with oversized eyes.

Parts of the film are enjoyable in a fun Disney way but then it also has some of the same Adam Sandler shtick that we’ve seen a dozen times before. If you’ve seen “The Wedding Singer”, “Billy Madison” or several his other movies, you know exactly what is going to happen. Disney would have been wise to make this film without Sandler. As it is, it’s a film that will provide some level of enjoyment to kids but it’s certainly not one of the better family films out there.

“Pryde of the X-Men” was originally intended to be the start of a cartoon series but this pilot flopped. We did eventually get an animated “X-Men” series but not until 1992. What is here is certainly not all bad but it could have been much better.

Kitty Pryde is a just a teenage mutant that is struggling to understand her abilities when she is recruited by Professor X to join his X-Men team. Kitty must join the X-Men and battle against Magneto and his band of evil mutants that seek to destroy the human race. Now, a comet is racing towards the Earth and only the X-Men can foil Magneto’s scheme.

It’s rather strange seeing a Wolverine with a strong Australian accent. Although Australian actor Hugh Jackman would play the character in the live-action “X-Men” films, the character has always been Canadian. We also get other heroes such as Storm, Nightcrawler, Cyclops and of course, Kitty Pryde. However, as this was only intended to be a pilot episode, we don’t get much info about any of them. The animation is decent on all the characters. It’s almost as good as the animation we saw in the 90s “X-Men” cartoon series.

“Pryde of the X-Men” is maybe worth checking out if you are a big fan of “X-Men” comics and the 90s cartoon series but I don’t think most people will care for it. The characters are okay and the action sequences are moderately enjoyable. However, some noticeable improvements were made when the 90s series eventually came out so I think it was wise not to greenlight a series at this point. I also think that people that are not so familiar with “X-Men” are better starting off with the live-action films. I think this is definitely better than “X-Men: The Last Stand” though.

“Rick And Morty” has quickly become one of the most popular tv shows. This animated show has been praised for its intelligent humour and creativity but I just don’t get the appeal. It seems to be trying to capture the brilliance of “Futurama” but it never quite manages it. Although some of it is intriguing to me, I find it a rather unpleasant show.

Rick Sanchez is a crazy scientist that leaps across space and different universes and dimensions with his grandson, Morty. The two couldn’t be more different in personality as they get into all sorts of crazy trouble that pushes the boundaries of taste.

One of my biggest complaints about this show is with the characters. “Futurama” worked because I liked the characters and cared about them but everybody here is just awful. Rick is a total jerk, Morty is pathetic and the rest of the family are just dull. A lot of the other characters come across as really unsettling. One episode has the rapist Mr. Jellybean and there are plenty of other really creepy characters throughout this show. I really despise the animation style. All the characters have these horrible dead eyes that make them look lifeless. The animation is really my biggest complaint as everyone just looks so displeasing.

I will give the writers some credit because some of the ideas in here are really interesting but I just always find myself irritated by the characters. The show is obviously appealing to many people and it’s become a real phenomenon but I just can’t get into it. I find it odd that I was so satisfied with “Futurama” and I love some shows with bad taste humour such as “South Park”. Maybe the writers could do a new show with different characters and better animation but as it is, I just don’t like what I’m seeing.

“Tom And Jerry & The Wizard Of Oz” offers a strange yet surprisingly entertaining crossover between the loveable slapstick style of “Tom And Jerry” and the classic “The Wizard Of Oz”. This animated movie is basically like watching a film with everybody’s favourite cat and mouse duo with “Wizard Of Oz” being retold in the background.

Tom and Jerry live on a farm with Dorothy and her family. When a storm comes, Tom, Jerry and Dorothy all get whisked away into the magical fantasy land of Oz. Once there, they will encounter the Scarecrow, Tin Man and Cowardly Lion. They will also have to defeat the rotten Wicked Witch of the West if they intend to get home.

Tom and Jerry’s slapstick comedy is still really enjoyable. Just like Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck, I could watch this comedy duo go at it for eternity. The “Wizard Of Oz” characters feel very one-dimensional as the focus is really on Tom and Jerry. This film really works on the basis that you already know the original film and characters so if you are unfamiliar with Scarecrow, Tin Man or any of the others, you’re not going to learn much about them here. I like the animation style and all the characters look great.

It’s not terrific by any means but it’s a fun way to spend an hour. It combines the laughable adventures of a great slapstick team with an unforgettable film classic. It really is like seeing two of your favourite things together even when you never even considered the pairing before. Tom and Jerry would go on to do crossovers with other franchises. If you love the old “Tom And Jerry” cartoons and you are love “Wizard Of Oz” then this is worth checking out. However, don’t watch this if you’re not already familiar with the original film.

“Hellraiser: Deader” is the seventh entry in the “Hellraiser” series and it’s just more of the same gory images and bad writing. This one is set in Romania and that’s about the only thing that will help you distinguish it from the other direct-to-video “Hellraiser” flicks.

Amy Klein (Kari Wuhrer “Anaconda”, “Eight Legged Freaks”) is a journalist that gets sent to Bucharest, Romania to investigate a mysterious cult. The group appears to be able to bring people back from the dead. However, she soon finds the sinister puzzle box and it’s not long before Pinhead (Doug Bradley “Hellraiser”) and the other monsters are causing her life to be plunged into darkness.

The Amy Klein character is not particularly interesting so I didn’t care what happened to her. The other characters are mainly unpleasant individuals that are into disturbing sex stuff and being part of cult rituals. There are even a few sequences that take place on an Eastern European torture sex train… I guess this movie made that a thing. We get to see plenty of them with little to no clothes and doing depraved acts. Don’t expect to see much of Pinhead as he must only show his face here for a couple of minutes.

The whole Eastern Europe sex train thing has to put this film in the same league as “Hostel” for making Eastern Europe look like a place of sexual sin and torture. If you liked the other direct-to-video “Hellraiser” sequels then this is another one. It’s just more of the same with more people getting ripped apart by chains, another meaningless story and more gore. Pinhead must appear just enough for this to qualify to be a “Hellraiser” film. It’s so obvious that so many of these sequels were never intended to be part of the franchise.

When you are stuck on a plane, you often find yourself watching a film because you are so bored. However, here are some films that you should never watch while on a plane.

5. Die Hard 2: Die Harder

Besides having your plane hijacked, what’s the worst thing that could happen? Probably having the airport hijacked. That’s exactly what happens in this “Die Hard” sequel.

4. Snakes On A Plane

Some people don’t like being on a plane, some people don’t like snakes and some people don’t like either of those things. Seeing a plane loaded with snakes is hardly going to make you feel comfortable if you are one of those people.

3. Executive Decision

This thriller sees Islamic terrorist hijack a plane. This was before 9/11 and while it’s still a film where the good guys save the day, it’s notably more plausible than “Passenger 57” with Wesley Snipes.

2. Final Destination

A movie that begins with a plane crash then you see the aftermath of the crash as people attend funerals. After all that misery, you then have the rest of this underwhelming horror flick to watch.

1. United 93

If any movie should not be seen on a plane then it is “United 93”. This is a movie all about the 9/11 hijacking. This is a very realistic film designed to show you what it must have been like. If any airline ever plays this on a flight, I suspect that they would be sued by nervous passengers.

Despite receiving mixed reviews at best, the “Hellraiser” franchise has existed since the 80s and shows no signs of slowing down. Here’s my personal ranking of the films.

10. Hellraiser: Judgement

An exercise in pure depravity. As disgusting if not more so than any of the “Saw”, “Hostel” or “Texas Chainsaw Massacre” films. “Hellraiser: Judgement” is a despicable film with no purpose other than to be despicable.

9. Hellraiser: Inferno

The first direct-to-video sequel in the franchise was not originally intended to be a “Hellraiser” film. Pinhead gets awkwardly crammed into this strange and unengaging flick. Some of the special effects are rather bad.

8. Hellraiser: Revelations

The first “Hellraiser” film not to feature Doug Bradley as Pinhead. The new Pinhead looks absolutely awful. This one also copies a lot of plot elements from the original film. I also hated that some of it is done like a found-footage movie.

7. Hellraiser: Deader

This one is set primarily in Bucharest, Romania. Its depiction of Eastern Europe as a seedy place of sexual torture is perhaps second only to “Hostel”. A completely unnecessary and pointless sequel.

6. Hellraiser: Hellworld

Set in a world where there is an online videogame based on the “Hellraiser” franchise, this feels like a very generic slasher film. However, it does feature Lance Henriksen (“Aliens”) so it’s not all bad.

5. Hellraiser III: Hell On Earth

A very predictable sequel that fails to feature the exciting imagery that made the first two entries interesting. There is barely anything here that adds to the mythology.

4. Hellraiser IV: Bloodline

Pinhead goes into outer space (just like Jason Voorhees and Leprechaun) in this fourth outing. This is a film where the director used the ‘Alan Smithee’ pseudonym as he was so embarrassed by it. This instalment jumps between different time periods and gets rather messy.

3. Hellraiser: Hellseeker

Easily the best of the direct-to-video “Hellraiser” sequels. Some of the plot elements are interesting. However, this is yet another one that was never originally intended to be part of the franchise.

2. Hellraiser

While it starts off somewhat slow, the movie gets rather creative in its final act by introducing the Cenobites. There are some great special effects here. This is the one that introduced us to the demonic puzzle box and the evil Cenobites.

1. Hellbound: Hellraiser II

Probably the most intriguing film in the whole franchise. Fans seem to debate whether or not this one is superior to the first. It has a lot of striking visuals and some impressive special effects. It gives us more of the Cenobites.