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[ Christine Ebersole, Jonathan Ward ] Watching this shameless ripoff of E.T. is a lot like chewing on a piece of chicken ligament garnished with crumbled glass. 1988.

Macbeth

[ Orson Welles, Jeanette Nolan, Roddy McDowall ] The shoddy set and costumes look like the work of a community theatre guild, but Welles' riveting performance and always stylish direction overcome the low-budget faults to make for a wonderful film experience. 1948.

Mad Dog and Glory

[ Robert De Niro, Bill Murray, Uma Thurman ] You can almost see a terrific film lurking behind the poor casting decisions, if only the lead actors had swapped roles. Only for diehard fans of Murray and De Niro. 1993.

Mad Max

[ Mel Gibson, Joanne Samuel ] The original "biker-apocalypse" movie did it right! Mondo stunts and bleak futuristic scenery pushes Mel to title of post-nuclear king of the road. 1980.

Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome

[ Mel Gibson, Tina Turner ] Weak third entry in the post-apocalyptic trilogy. Gibson replaces his sullen loner with a comic book he-man, and Turner's hair is a character in its own right. 1985.

Manhunter

[ William L. Peterson, Dennis Farina ] "Miami Vice" does the FBI as agent Peterson tracks a very funky serial killer. Look for plot attention on Hannibal "The Cannibal" Lecter in a supporting role, still creepy, better haircut. 1986.

Matilda

[ Danny DeVito, Mara Wilson, Rhea Perlman ] The Roald Dahl book goes bigscreen in inventive fashion. DeVito and Perlman are hate-ably sleazy as The Wormwoods, parents of a kewpie doll child with magical powers. At its heart it's a great kids' revenge picture. Boffo effects and cinematography. 1996.

Memoirs of an Invisible Man

[ Chevy Chase, Daryl Hannah ] Slick sight gags can't save this boner of an attempt to make Chevy into Claude Rains. Daryl does her usual one-dimensional best. 1992.

Men in Black

[ Tommy Lee Jones, Will Smith ] This Barry Sonnenfeld film about alien-busting secret agents is a welcome invasion, providing just the right mix of outlandish wit and smashing effects. See the full review. 1997.

Misery

[ James Caan, Kathy Bates ] Rob Reiner directs from a Stephen King story, but the true credit for this terrific film goes to the wildly superb Bates as the obsessed and wickedly unvulgar groupie of novelist Caan. 1990.

Mister Roberts

[ Jack Lemmon, Henry Fonda, James Cagney ] Lemmon gobbled up a Supporting Oscar for his marvelous portrayal of the wisecracking Ensign Pulver. This Navy flick is still shipshape after forty years. 1955.

Mixed Nuts

[ Steve Martin, Madeline Kahn, Adam Sandler ] Not as bad as its reputation, this neo-screwball comedy has a few enjoyable moments. The script is mostly peanuts, but you might find a few cashews in Martin's performance and Garry Shandling's cameo as a self-absorbed landlord. 1994.

Mo' Money

[ Daman Wayans, Marlon Wayans, Stacey Dash ] Daman Wayans cashed in on his "In Living Color" success with this con-artist comedy. Predictable story is just a vehicle for the Wayans brothers to slip on a closet full of funny characters. 1992.

Mo' Better Blues

[ Denzel Washington, Wesley Snipes, Joie Lee ] Denzel plays some nice lines in this modern jazz riff, but the weak third act of Spike Lee's script ends things on a sour note. Highlights include Snipes performance as a vindictive sax player and Ernest Dickerson's stellar camerawork. 1990.

The Money Pit

[ Tom Hanks, Shelly Long, Alexander Godunov, Joe Mantegna ] Funny remake of Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House features the ever-appealing Hanks as a cursed homeowner. Watching Hanks struggle while being trapped in a rug clogged in a hole in the floor is worth the price of rental. 1986.

The Money Train

[ Wesley Snipes, Woody Harrelson, Jennifer Lopez ] White Men Can't Jump leads team up again. The results are much less satisfying in this standard buddy cop movie. High-octane action scenes make this one watchable. 1995.

The Mosquito Coast

[ Harrison Ford, River Phoenix, Helen Mirren ] Ford's underrated performance is both believable and riveting. The story of an obsessed inventor who drags his family to Central America hurts the audience at times, but deserves a look from true film fans. 1986.

Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House

[ Cary Grant, Myrna Loy ] Grant escapes city life but winds up with a homeowner's nightmare. Remade in 1986 with Tom Hanks as The Money Pit. 1948.

Mr. Smith Goes to Washington

[ James Stewart, Jean Arthur, Claude Raines ] Capra's political picture has my vote for one of the best films in history. Smart, funny, and touching with great performances all around. I could talk for days about how good this movie is. 1939.

Murder on the Orient Express

[ Albert Finney, Ingrid Bergman ] Headliner Finney as the master detective, anyone who was anyone at the time as the rest of the cast. One murder, a trainload of suspects, and a snowbank. Who could ask for anything more? 1974.

My Favorite Year

[ Peter O'Toole, Mark Linn-Baker ] Tour de force performances by O'Toole as a lovably drunk movie idol and Linn-Baker as a young TV writer assigned to be his guardian in 1950's TV Land. Maybe the funniest movie made in the '80's. 1982.

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