Nowadays, the Wayans family has become synonymous with bad comedy. Let’s start by discussing their decline.

In 2000 Keenen Ivory Wayans directed some of his brothers in “Scary Movie”. Although I never found it remotely funny, the film was a big hit. The film became the spoof film to emulate and a new wave of parody films arrived. However, a lot of these new parody movies got panned by audiences and critics alike. One of them was “Scary Movie 2” with the Wayans trying to strike gold a second time but failing miserably.

Keenen then directed his brothers in “White Chicks” where two black federal agents go undercover as rich white girls. A few years later, he directed “Little Man” where a short criminal pretends to be a baby (the premise was lifted from an old Bugs Bunny cartoon). Neither of these films did anything to undo the damage of “Scary Movie 2”. Now, Keenen, Shawn and Marlon had done three duds in a row.

Many of the Wayans family had individually done bad films before such as Damon in “Earth Girls Are Easy” and Keenen in “The Glimmer Man” but now they had failed as a family collective. However, there was a time when they were considered genuinely funny.

In 1988, Keenen directed and starred in “I’m Gonna Git You Sucka”, a relatively amusing spoof of the blaxploitation pictures of the 70s. Damon was given a small role while Shawn and Marlon make brief appearances.

In the 90s, several members of the Wayans family were part of “In Living Colour”, a sketch comedy series. The series lasted for five seasons with well over a hundred episodes. It was created by and starred Keenen while also featuring Damon, Kim, Shawn and Marlon. The series had many truly hilarious skits. The show also starred a young Jim Carrey before he got really famous with “The Mask” and “Ace Ventura: Pet Detective”.

The show’s humour still holds up surprisingly well but a lot of the cultural references and the style are very dated. In fact, it’s not only some of the Wayans’ brothers best work as it’s also some of Jim Carrey’s best work too.

Japan is a country known for its strange fiction. Whether it’s videogames about a plumber eating mushrooms or manga (Japanese comic books) about a guy with a chainsaw arm, they always seem to produce the most wild and whacky stuff. Here are several really bizarre movies from Japan.

5. Godzilla vs. Hedorah

The “Godzilla” franchise is known for being rather goofy and has always had weird moments but “Godzilla vs. Hedorah” (also known as “Godzilla vs. The Smog Monster”) might just be the weirdest of the series. One sequence sees a man hallucinate and see everybody with fish masks. Godzilla also flies as he pursues Hedorah in one of cinema’s most absurd moments.

4. Dreams

You know a film is going to be weird when it’s based on somebody’s dreams. When we sleep, some seriously odd things can happen. However, I think the stuff going on in Akira Kurosawa’s mind is a little stranger than anything that has gone on in mine. We see a collection of different dreams that span the master director’s life. It’s a film that cannot really be described very well but one that should be experienced.

3. Spirited Away

Many people may forget just how weird some of the films from Studio Ghibli are because they are just so darn entertaining. While “Spirited Away” is a truly classic anime film, it’s still a weird movie where a little girl encounters so much strange stuff. Her parents get turned into pigs, she has to deal with a giant baby and there’s other weird creatures that I can’t even describe.

2. House

A supernatural movie about a haunted house features many strange sights. We see a disembodied head biting a girl on the bum and somebody else gets eaten by a piano. Yes, you read that right. A piano devours someone.

1. RoboGeisha

“RoboGeisha” sees a woman get transformed into a cyborg geisha assassin. Near the end, half of her body turns into a tank and she battles a giant building monster. There is also a swordfight where swords come out of several girls’ butts. This is of course one of those particularly odd Japanese splatter comedies like “Tokyo Gore Police” and “The Machine Girl”. The whole list could be filled with splatter comedies.

“Batman: The Animated Series” is widely considered one of the best depictions of the Batman character and one of the greatest cartoon series of all-time. However, Batman is nothing without his rogue’s gallery so here is a collection of some of his best villains.

10. Scarecrow

While his initial design in the series looked ridiculous, the creators improved upon Scarecrow’s look. This villain uses chemicals to force his victims to experience their greatest fears. This often leads to some nightmarish imagery.

9. Baby-Doll

This is a villain created specifically for the series. Baby-Doll is a rather menacing character despite her appearance. A middle-aged actress with the look of a small child. She showcases some serious psychological issues and will stop at nothing to get her way.

8. Poison Ivy

Poison Ivy is certainly a little on the cheesy side but there’s nothing wrong with that. Her use of killer plants and poison lipstick will be viewed as goofy by many but I think she’s still a good an addition.

7. Harley Quinn

First introduced in this series, Harley Quinn has become an iconic DC character. She’s appeared in the comics, videogames and even live-action movies after becoming a fan favourite. Full of personality, this sidekick to the Joker is a joy to watch.

6. Ventriloquist and Scarface

The Ventriloquist and Scarface are arguably Batman’s most psychologically intriguing opponents. The Ventriloquist seems almost innocent but the vicious mobster personality lurking within him is projected onto a dummy. I love the whole 1920s’ mobster style.

5. Mad Hatter

One of the more underrated villains. The Mad Hatter is a fun addition to Batman’s rogue gallery. He obviously relies heavily on imagery from the “Alice In Wonderland” book but I always found that to be engaging.

4. Two-Face

The fact that Two-Face used to be Harvey Dent, a dedicated district attorney and friend of Bruce Wayne makes things all the more difficult for the Caped Crusader as he battles Two-Face. The whole deciding things with a coin is definitely gimmicky yet it helps to make the character memorable. Also, I love his suit in this show.

3. Riddler

If you love to see Batman use his brains as well as his muscles, no villain puts up an intellectual challenge quite like the Riddler. Always leaving creative clues for the Dark Knight, the Riddler is a fascinating villain and has that unforgettable green suit.

2. Mr. Freeze

One of Batman’s more tragic adversaries. Mr. Freeze was a joke in the live-action “Batman & Robin” film with Arnold Schwarzenegger dishing out ice puns. However, this animated version is interesting by being both sympathetic yet menacing.

1. Joker

There is nobody else that it could have been. The Joker represents everything that Batman is not because he’s colourful, joyful and pure evil. The Joker has transcended DC’s domain to become one of the most recognised villains in all of fiction. The voice acting by Mark Hamill (“Star Wars”) is simply brilliant here and makes for one of the best incarnations of the character to date.

Honourable mentions:
Ra’s al Ghul, Bane and Maxie Zeus

The “Pokémon” brand seems to just keep getting stronger, having already produced videogames, an anime series, trading cards and lots of anime movies, we now have a live-action “Pokémon” film. However, it’s not based on the main “Pokémon” videogames but instead it’s based on the “Detective Pikachu” spin-off game. I am not familiar with the “Detective Pikachu” game, I’m not a fan of anime content, I’ve never bothered with the trading cards and I only have limited experience with the main videogames. People have been hailing this as the best film based on a videogame but I thought it was still pretty bad.

The film takes place in a city where Pokémon and humans live together. After his police officer father is killed, Tim Goodman (Justice Smith “Paper Towns”) reluctantly joins forces with Pikachu (voiced by Ryan Reynolds “Green Lantern”) to uncover the circumstances surrounding his father’s death. They discover a plot that threatens the relationship between Pokémon and humans.

I found the Tim character to be incredibly bland and the actor really seemed like he did not want to be there. Then again, I don’t blame him because I wouldn’t want to be surrounded by Pokémon. I’ve tended to find the Pokémon creatures to be more annoying than cute or cool. There are lots of different Pokémon in here including Mewtwo, Charizard, Jigglypuff and Gengar so I’m sure fans will be excited by all of that. I found Ryan Reynolds to be pretty irritating as the voice of Pikachu.

“Detective Pikachu” may appeal to some of the “Pokémon” fans out there but I just cannot get excited about it. I thought this was a really underwhelming movie with mediocre special effects, bad acting and some really stupid plot points. There is even one scene in the third act that is a rip-off of the 1989 “Batman”. There are a few mildly entertaining moments here and there but most of it is rather difficult to sit through (like most movies based on videogames).

“Point Break” is one of the dumbest films I’ve ever seen and if I ever see another movie like it, I’ll know there is something very wrong with this world. From the lousy plot to the unengaging action sequences, “Point Break” is bad on just about every level.

In “Point Break”, hotshot F.B.I. agent Johnny Utah (Keanu Reeves “The Matrix”, “The Devil’s Advocate”) must go undercover as a surfer in order to infiltrate a group of bank robbers that like to dress up as former-American Presidents. No, I haven’t just made this plot up. With this kind of premise, wouldn’t the title “Surfing Bank Robbers” be better.

Keanu Reeves tries to be good here but the script is so bad that I’m afraid that he just falls to pieces. Gary Busey (“Lethal Weapon”) is interesting as Johnny’s partner but again the script cripples him. By far the worst character is spiritual surfer and lead bank robber Bodhi, who is played appallingly Patrick Swayze (“Dirty Dancing”, “Road House”). The scenes where Johnny and Bodhi supposedly bond via surfing are terrible and come across as being part of some really cheap music video and not the mystical adrenaline rush intended. Also, the combination of Reeves and Busey is weird and does not work.

“Point Break” (or “Surfing Bank Robbers” as I’m calling it) has a couple of interesting ideas in its second half but the film is so awful that it can’t be saved by a few minor positives. It features one of the worst endings I’ve ever seen and involves Reeves’ character throwing his badge away. It made me think about the amount of badges littered throughout movie history. “Surfing Bank Robbers”, I mean “Point Break”, is messy and not a film I would find pleasure in if ever finding myself watching it again.

“The Mandalorian” just keeps getting better as the second season is even better than the first one. Set in the “Star Wars” galaxy, things just keep getting more exciting with even more impressive production values. This season tries to tie things a little closer to other “Star Wars” films and shows. That’s something I’ve generally been against but it’s just done so well here.

The Mandalorian (Pedro Pascal “The Equaliser 2”) continues to escort a strange lifeform with force powers as he tries to find the Jedi. Along the way, he must battle against an array of monsters and other foes and finds himself joining forces with allies both old and new. Can he finally ensure that the creature he has been protecting will be safe?

We discovered at the end of the first series that the mysterious Mandalorian is Din Djarin. He’s just clearly one of the best characters in the whole “Star Wars” franchise. This season contains some familiar faces as we see Carl Weathers (“Predator”) among those that return. We also see plenty of new faces. Rosario Dawson (“Clerks 2”) is entertaining in one particular episode. However, the highlight might be seeing Boba Fett (Temuera Morrison “Once Were Warriors”) back and being so darn cool. Baby Yoda is just as adorable as ever. There are so many terrific creatures in this series that it reminded me very much of the original trilogy.

As much as I loved the first season of “The Mandalorian”, the second one just improves everything to the point where this might just be the best “Star Wars” movie or show since the original trilogy. It’s really wonderful has this spin-off continues to enrich the already rich galaxy of “Star Wars” with its spectacular action sequences and high levels of creativity. If you enjoyed the first season, you are going to love the second one.

Clint Eastwood (“Unforgiven”, “Dirty Harry”) is the master of diversity; he’s been a cowboy, a cop, an astronaut and soldier to list just a few of his roles. “Play Misty For Me” is more like “Psycho” than it is like any of his other pictures as he directs and stars. However, something just isn’t right.

In “Play Misty For Me”, Eastwood is a disc jockey that is threatened when a female fan (Jessica Walter) starts intruding on his life. First, it’s a mild inconvenience but it isn’t long before his life and that of his girlfriend’s is put on the line. It’s surely unsettling but I can’t help but feel other films have done this mad stalker premise a lot better.

Clint Eastwood is good yet maybe he’s too good. Jessica Walter is good yet she can’t match Eastwood and that’s where the problem is. There’s a reason why Hannibal Lecter, Michael Myers and Norman Bates were successful; they’re more interesting than their prey. Eastwood’s disc jockey is far more developed and intriguing than Walter’s crazy woman and that’s partially why I think the film fails. Maybe Eastwood should have played the crazed fan instead. The other characters go nowhere and feel extremely tacked on to say the least.

Although at times it’s intense and seems to be working, the relationship between the deranged woman and her target isn’t done correctly. The film also features one of the sappiest romantic scenes ever as Eastwood and a girl are sat joyfully on a beach before moving onto the woods for intercourse while some of the most tedious love music you can find is playing. I respect Eastwood for making this film so different from his other work but that doesn’t mean I have to like it as a movie and that’s how I’ve judged it. This is an interesting specimen but there’s a reason why it’s an endangered species, it just isn’t that good.

Despite their popularity, we might not see any future “Purge” films. 2020 is been a crazy year because of the Coronavirus pandemic but there has also been serious unrest.

Violent rioting in America, partly tied to protests about racial inequality, have sometimes looked like something right out of a “Purge” film. With the police abandoning some areas of major cities, people seemed to have the power to do whatever they wanted. We also part of Seattle temporarily declared its own ‘country’ in 2020.

Audiences may no longer find the films to be fun escapism because when riots are happening in your neighbourhood, you only have to look out the window to see something that looks like the franchise. Also, politicians have always been eager to point the finger of blame at films for violence in society. Future “Purge” films may be viewed as offering citizens a blueprint for rioting, looting and committing other crimes. The films have also taken on an increasingly political angle with one instalment subtitled “Election Year”. After an especially divisive period in American politics, it’s possible that audiences will just want less discussion of politics in their entertainment. The pandemic has also led to people having to wear face masks right across our world so perhaps watching a film with a ton of people in masks will just make us think of the frustrations of being forced to wear a mask in public.

All this may lead to studios not being so eager to allow the “Purge” franchise to return to the screen. It’s entirely plausible that the series will be expanded upon in the future but don’t expect too much in the current climate.

Sometimes it’s hard to come up with fresh ideas for sequels. A lot of the time, the filmmakers try to recapture the success of the first movie but as a result, they end of up with a product that is just a repeat of the original. Here are some films sequels that offer nothing new.

5. Escape From L.A.

Kurt Russell (“The Thing”, “Stargate”) burst onto screens as Snake Plissken as he was sent to a dystopian New York to rescue the President (Donald Pleasence “Halloween”). “Escape From L.A.” follows Snake as he’s sent to a dystopian Los Angeles to rescue the daughter of the President. The consensus was that it was pretty much the same as the first movie.

4. Beneath The Planet of the Apes

The original “Planet of the Apes” had Charlton Heston (“Soylent Green”) play an astronaut trapped on a planet where apes on the dominant species, only to discover that he’s travelled into the future and that it was Earth all along. The sequel sees James Franciscus as a different astronaut, who goes through a lot of the same situations as Heston’s character.

3. Home Alone 2: Lost In New York

The first “Home Alone” film saw Macaulay Culkin (“Uncle Buck”) outsmart some crooks (Joe Pesci “Goodfellas”, Daniel Stern “Leviathan”) with lots of whacky traps after being accidentally left at home when his family goes on holiday. Now, he’s accidentally gone to New York and just so happens to bump in the same bad guys. He sets up some more whacky traps and beats them yet again. While it geographically moved the film miles away, it was conceptually the same as the first one.

2. Rush Hour 2

The first film in the buddy cop series saw Jackie Chan (“Police Story”) come to L.A. and finds himself teaming up with loudmouth Chris Tucker (“The Fifth Element”). Lots of the gags were about Chan’s character being the outsider and not understanding American customs and culture. The sequel saw the duo head to Hong Kong where Chris Tucker was the outsider. It’s all the same jokes about not understanding what’s going on but now it’s Tucker in Hong Kong.

1. Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me

When it comes to being lazy with the gags, arguably no franchise was lazier than “Austin Powers”. These movies recycled so many jokes that you may as well have just watched the first movie on repeat. Every rude and crude gag from the first one gets repeated such as stuff in the foreground barely covering the nudity. It’s unbelievable that Mike Myers (“Shrek”) was able to get away with doing so little to change up the material.

Many people know that many aspiring actors and actresses get their first work in horror films. Examples include Johnny Depp in “A Nightmare On Elm Street”, Jamie Lee Curtis in “Halloween” and Kevin Bacon in “Friday The 13th”. However, here are some stars that probably want to forget their early work in horror movies.

5. Paul Rudd – Halloween: The Curse Of Michael Myers

Nowadays, he might be known for his role as Ant-Man in the Marvel movies but a young Paul Rudd appeared in the sixth entry in the “Halloween” series. This one is generally viewed as one of the weakest entries in the long-running series by many of the fans and Rudd’s performance does nothing to help the film.

4. Jennifer Aniston – Leprechaun

A year before starring in tv’s “Friends” and long before becoming a familiar face in romantic-comedy films, Jennifer Aniston starred in “Leprechaun”. While she managed to avoid the sequels, it’s still pretty embarrassing to see her get pursued by an evil Leprechaun (Warwick Davis “Willow”).

3. Viggo Mortensen – Leatherface: The Texas Chainsaw Massacre III

Before roles in “Lord of the Rings” as well as the Oscar-winning “Green Book”, Viggo Mortensen appeared in the third “Texas Chainsaw Massacre” flick. Few had anything nice to say about this instalment and I doubt Mortensen regards it as a career highlight.

2. Leonardo DiCaprio – Critters 3: You Are What They Eat

Having starred in “Titanic”, “Django Unchained”, “Inception”, “The Revenant”, “The Departed” and too many other popular movies to name here, you may find it hard to believe that a young Leonardo DiCaprio appeared in the third film in the “Critters” franchise. While the first film got some good reviews, the sequels were all panned. DiCaprio has obviously moved on to many better things but it’s still jarring to think he was in something like this.

1. Matthew McConaughey and Renée Zellweger – Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Next Generation

If any Hollywood stars want to forget their work in horror movies, I suspect it’s Matthew McConaughey (“Interstellar”) and Renée Zellweger (“Bridget Jones’s Diary”). Their cringeworthy performances in the fourth “Texas Chainsaw Massacre” movie are so bafflingly bad that they have to be seen to be believed.