Steven Helmer Publications

Synopsis: After more than two years at the front lines of the American Civil War, Union Captain John Harling is looking forward to being discharged and allowed to go home. However, his discharge is put on hold, and he is instead ordered to track a group of Confederate soldiers that were believed to be dead but are now causing death and destruction. Harling enlists the help of the soldiers' former commander, Col. Nehemiah Strayn, now a prisoner of war and learn, with the assistance of a mute but clairvoyant runaway slave, the men they are chasing have been brought back from the dead by an evil African entity brought to the United States by a slave trader. The movie also goes by the names Ghost Brigade , The Lost Brigade and Grey Knight . Who's in it? The movie stars Corbin Bernsen , Adrian Pasdar, Ray Wise , Cynda Williams, Martin Sheen and Billy Bob Thornton. Review: The Killing Box had been in my library for some time and, after canceling previous plans to watch it, I fin...

Synopsis: Rookie New York police officer Megan Turner kills an armed robber and is suspended when the robber's gun can't be found. Soon after, she accepts an offer from wealthy commodities trader Eugene Hunt to share a cab and begins dating him only to learn he is a serial killer. With no evidence to corroborate Eugene's confession and put him behind bars, even after he kills her best friend, Megan finds herself stalked by Eugene and must find a way to stop him before he harms anyone else close to her. Who's in it? The movie stars Jamie Lee Curtis , Ron Silver, Clancy Brown, Louise Fletcher and Richard Jenkins. Review: My youngest daughter had to work, my wife was at her sewing studio, and my oldest daughter was doing her own thing, so I found myself with time to watch a movie yesterday evening. After looking at several options, I settled on the film Blue Steel (not to be mistaken for the John Wayne movie by the same name) just because it sounded interesting and had...

Synopsis: After being released from prison, conman Gabriel Caine and his partner, Fitz, travel to Diggstown, a town named after is most famous resident, boxer Charles Malcum Diggs. The town is run by Diggs' former manager, Charles Gillon, who secretly drugged his fighter to fix a fight and scam the residents out of their property, leaving Diggs in a vegetable-like state.  Caine gets Gillon to accept a wager, any 10 county residents versus 48-year-old retired boxer 'Honey' Roy Palmer. At first, it is just about the money but soon turns personal. Who's in it? The movie stars James Woods , Louis Gossett Jr., Oliver Platt, Heather Graham and Bruce Dern. Review: I remember watching Diggstown when I was a teenager but really didn't remember a whole lot about the movie, including what it was about. So, when I came across the film again, I decided to add it to my library and wound up watching it this morning.  I would now classify the movie as a forgotten favorite. The...

Synopsis: From the time he was born, Truman Burbank has had every move he makes watched by a now world-wide television audience, living his entire life in Seahaven Island, a fictional town located inside the world's largest television studio. Only the world's biggest celebrity is the one person on the planet who doesn't realize the people around him are all actors. This all changes when a stage light falls from the sky, setting off a series of events that makes Truman question everything about his life. Who's in it? The movie stars Jim Carrey, Ed Harris , Laura Linney , Noah Emmerich and Holland Taylor. Review: My daughter had theater rehearsal last night and, while killing time waiting to pick her up, I came across The Truman Show . It had been a while since I last watched this film in its entirety, so I did just that. And I wasn't disappointed by this choice. I think the thing that really makes this movie work is the plot seems so farfetched, but the story is c...

Synopsis: In 1958, wealthy shipping magnate Herbert Greenleaf pays employee Tom Ridley $1,000 to travel to Italy and convince his son, Dickie Greenleaf, to return to the United States. Tom accepts the offer but instead of convincing Dickie to return befriends both him and his fiancée Marge Sherwood and learns to enjoy the luxuries money can bring. When Dickie, growing both bored and suspicious, later rejects him, an angry Tom kills his friend and then assumes Dickie's identity. However, he is only able to succeed with the deception for a short time before people grow suspicious. Who's in it? The movie stars Matt Damon , Gwenyth Paltrow, Cate Blanchett , Jude Law, Phillip Seymour Hoffman and James Rebhorn. Review: The first and only time I watched The Talented Mr. Ripley was when it was still showing at the theater back in 1999. Despite that, there were still scenes from the film I could remember vividly, albeit without much context. So, when I came across the film on one of...

Synopsis: In the year 2033, the Earth is a desert wasteland following a collision with a comet and 95 percent of the world's water supply is under the control of a tyrannical corporation that is determined to gain control of the remaining 5 percent by any means possible. The only person standing in their way is a tank-driving hero from Australia. Who's in it?  The movie stars Lori Petty, Malcolm McDowell , Ice-T , Don Harvey and Naomi Watts . Review: It had been pretty much forever since I had seen Tank Girl . So, when I came across it this morning on one of my movie channels and had some free time, I decided to re-watch it. As has been the case when I've seen it in the past, I enjoyed every minute. The thing I like about this movie is it manages to be funny while, at the same time, is a pretty decent action movie. Tank Girl/Rebecca (Petty) is facing off against a well-armed army and has everything working against her from almost the very beginning. At the same time, she...

Synopsis: Charles Brady and his mother, Mary, are possibly the last of a breed of vampire-like creatures known as Sleepwalkers and are constantly on the run. After temporarily settling in the small town of Travis, Indiana, they set their sights on Tanya Robertson, a teenage virgin they hope to drain of her life energy to extend their lives but first need to avoid detection and an army of cats capable of killing them. Who's in it? The movie stars Brian Krause ,  Mädchen Amick , Alice Krige, Jim Haynie and Ron Perlman. Review: My wife and I weren't really in the mood to go out last night and while making dinner, I looked for a movie for us to watch. I had never seen Sleepwalkers , and it looked intriguing, so I figured I'd give it a try. I have a mixed history with Stephen King movies, enjoying some but not a fan of many others. Unfortunately, this movie fell into that latter category - I didn't hate it but also didn't think it was anything memorable. The premise of...

Synopsis: After an attempted retaliation from a bar fight results in them killing two members of the Russian mafia, Irish Catholic brothers Connor and Murphy MacManus receive a "calling from God" and make it their mission to wipe out all the bad guys in Boston. Their mission is both jeopardized by a willing but bumbling accomplice and a talented FBI investigator that is hot on their trail. Who's in it? The movie stars Sean Patrick Flanery , Norman Reedus , Willem Daoe , David Della Rocco and Billy Connolly. Review: After spending a good chunk of the day traveling to and from Oshkosh so our daughter could take the ACT, my wife and I were too tired to do much else yesterday evening and found a movie to watch. It had been quite a few years since we last saw The Boondock Saints , so we ended up choosing that one. It was a good decision. Since it had been so long since we last saw the film, I didn't remember a whole lot about it other than there was quite a bit of viole...

Synopsis : A team of documentary filmmakers, led by aspiring director Terri Flores, embarks on a boat trip down the Amazon River in search of a long-lost tribe. When they come across a stranded snake hunter, Paul Serone, they offer him a lift and accept his offer to help them find the tribe. However, when one of their own gets injured and needs medical attention, Serone uses it as an opportunity to take control of the boat and force the crew to help him capture a giant, man-eating anaconda.  Who's in it? The movie stars Jennifer Lopez , Jon Voight, Ice Cube, Eric Stoltz and Owen Wilson . Review: Despite Anaconda coming out when I was still in college and the movie having a remake come out nearly 30 years later, I realized I had never seen the film in its entirety. So, when I came across it on one of my movie channels last night, I decided to finally correct that. As it turns out, this movie was considerably better than I thought it was going to be. One of the reasons I never made ...

Synopsis:  Synopsis: A TARDIS malfunction forces an emergency landing in San Francisco on December 30, 1999. While there, a newly regenerated Doctor must prevent his nemesis, the Master, from stealing his new body. Who's in it? The movie stars Paul McGann, Eric Roberts , Daphne Ashbrook, Will Sasso and Yee Jee Tso. Review: With Doctor Who in hiatus and with an uncertain future, I've been starting to get a bit of an itch for the series. As a result, I decided to take the time to rewatch Doctor Who: The Movie , a film I remember enjoying more than I was supposed to but also didn't remember a whole lot much else about. After re-watching it, I still think it is a better film than some Whovians give it credit for. McGann only plays the Doctor once, in this movie, so his sample size is limited. However, I didn't hate his performance. Was it as memorable as David Tenant or Tom Baker? No. At the same time though, I thought he carried himself well enough to provide the charac...

Synopsis: After once again being passed over for promotion, Major Bensen Winifred Payne is set to be discharged from the United States Marines. His commanding officer finds a way to keep him in the military by assigning him as the commanding officer of a failing JROTC program at a Virginia Preparatory School. Payne's gung-ho ways and lack of social skills immediately threaten the arrangement, along with the cadets in his unit unwilling to accept his methods.  Who's in it? The movie stars Damon Wayans, Karyn Parsons, William Hickey , Orlando Brown and Steven Martini. Review: I had some time before making dinner last night and as I was scrolling through the channels on TV, I came across Major Payne on one of my movie channels. It had been ages since I last saw this military comedy and I decided to give it a try. The movie, as it turns out, isn't as good as I remembered. However, I still didn't hate it. Look, there's a lot about this movie that, at minimum, is date...

Synopsis: Mike Roark, the head of the Los Angeles Office of Emergency Management, has his vacation cut short when an earthquake triggers a volcanic eruption in the city. With no time to evacuate, Roark must find a way to stop or divert the steady stream of lava flowing freely through the city streets and the subway tunnels before thousands of people are killed. Who's in it? The movie stars Tommy Lee Jones , Anne Heche , Gaby Hoffmann, Don Cheadle , Jacqueline Kim and John Corbett. Review : I had an opportunity to watch Volcano again yesterday evening and, mostly because there wasn’t much else on at the time, I did just that. I had been a while since I had seen this particular film, and I didn’t remember that much about it other than not liking it as much as Dante's Peak . After re-watching it, I decided it was better than I recalled. I think if there is anything that makes this movie watchable, it is Tommy Lee Jones. He is an actor who is always at his strongest when playing...

Synopsis: Following a car accident that left his wife dead, architect Frank Bannister is given the ability to see and talk to ghosts. Depressed over her loss, he gives up his career and with the help of three ghost friends, performs fake exorcisms. Shortly after being exposed as a conman, Frank becomes the primary suspect when people start dying under mysterious circumstances. With the police and an overzealous FBI agent on his trail, he must stop the supernatural entity responsible for the deaths before it kills again. Who's in it? The movie stars Michael J. Fox , Trini Alvarado , Peter Dobson, John Astin , Jake Busey , R. Lee Ermey and Jeffrey Combs . Review: I came across this movie a few nights ago shortly after watching another film with my wife. I had seen this movie before but realized I didn’t remember much about it, so I ended up re-watching it today. While the movie isn’t quite as good as I remembered, it was still pretty decent. One thing I like about this movie is th...

Synopsis: Three years after punching a corrupt politician and being demoted to investigating domestic dispute claims in Staten Island, Det. Mike Logan is present when a murdered prostitute's body is found and he is eventually given an opportunity to help find her killer. The case ultimately takes him back to his old precinct, where he learns an unknown dirty cop might be involved. Who's in it?  The movie stars Chris Noth, Dann Florek, Dabney Coleman, Dana Eskelson and Ice-T . Review: After several days of binge watching, my wife is finally caught up on her favorite shows, and I was able to find a movie to watch with her last night. I came across this one a few days ago and decided to give it a try. I have never watched the original Law & Order series, other than the occasional stray rerun and want some background noise. As a result, I only had a basic understanding of who Mike Logan (Noth) was and no upfront knowledge of the events that resulted in his demotion. In fact, ...

Synopsis: Wyatt, Morgan and Virgil Earp move to Tombstone, Arizona, seeking to retire from law enforcement and make money at a variety of business ventures. The town, however, is under the control of a gang of outlaws known as "the Cowboys," and when the local marshal is shot, Virgil decides to take his place, putting the brothers and their friend, "Doc" Holliday, at war with the gang. Who's in it? The movie stars Kurt Russell , Val Kilmer , Bill Paxton, Sam Elliott , Michael Rooker , Charlton Heston and Powers Boothe. Review: It was my wife's turn to go to my daughter's play tonight (it would be too expensive if we went to all the shows together) so, while she was there, I decided to re-watch Tombstone for the first time in years. This movie ended up being everything I remembered it being, and I mean that in a good way. This is the best kind of western, the kind that has a protagonist, in this case, Wyatt (Russell) who is more of an anti-hero than a...

Synopsis: A group of Wild West settlers realize they made a mistake and decide they want to take a wagon train back to their hometowns in the east. They hire a cowboy with a checkered past to be their wagon trail master and, almost immediately, he makes decisions that cause them to question his leadership skills. To make matters worse, a businessman, worried about how news of the travelers’ journey will cause the profitable western land rush to taper off, decides to do everything he can to stop them. Who's in it?  The movie stars John Candy , Ed Lauter , Richard Lewis , Ellen Greene, Don Lake, Steve Eastin and Robin McKee. Review : It has been a long while since I’ve seen this movie (one of John Candy’s last films) and, to be honest, I wasn’t really making much of an effort to find time to watch it. However, I had a chance to do just that last night while waiting for the kids to get ready for bed and my wife to get her shower out of the way before watching another film with her....

Synopsis: When the losing contestant on a popular 1950s game show accuses the show's producers of rigging the outcome by feeding their preferred champion the answers, a young congressional attorney decides to investigate. He suspects the allegations have merit. However, his primary witness has limited credibility and network executives are predictably uncooperative with his investigation. The movie is a dramatization of the 1950s Quiz Show Scandals. Who's in it?  The movie stars John Turturro , Rob Morrow, Ralph Fiennes , Paul Scofield and Hank Azaria. Review: My wife isn't feeling well today so after doing some chores around the house, I looked for a movie to watch while she was taking a nap. It has been a while since I last watched Quiz Show, so I selected it and wasn't disappointed by that choice. The thing I found I liked about this movie was the uphill battle the investigator, Dick Goodwin (Morrow), faced. While it was obvious his top witness (Turtorro) was tellin...

Synopsis: In 1964, an Erie, Pennsylvania garage band becomes an overnight local success with their song "That Thing You Do" and the group, The Wonders, soon find themselves on tour with a top-selling record. However, as their success grows, cracks begin to form in their friendship, threatening their ability to stay together. Who's in it? The movie stars Tom Hanks , Liv Tyler, Tom Everett Scott , Steve Zahn ,  Johnathon Schaech and Ethan Embry . Review: My wife was taking adult dance (tap) lessons, my youngest daughter was at theater rehearsal, and my oldest daughter was working on her homework so, since I had some free time last night, I wound up looking for a movie to watch. I've seen That Thing You Do multiple times in the past, but it had been a while. So, when I came across it, I ended up watching it again. I did not regret that decision. There are a couple things I really like about this movie, which came out just a couple years after I graduated high school...

Synopsis: Gomez and Morticia Addams are thrilled to have a new son, Pubert. However, their children, Wednesday and Pugsley, are jealous of the newborn and are constantly trying to harm him. Believing it will help, the Addams hire a nanny, Debbie. What they don't know is Debbie is a notorious black widow with her sights on Uncle Fester and his millions. When Wednesday figures out her plan and confronts Debbie, she and Pugsley are sent to a summer camp full of over privileged children and overbearing counselors. Who's in it? The movie stars Christina Ricci , Christopher Lloyd , Joan Cusack , Raul Julia , Anjelica Huston and Carol Kane . Review: I recently re-watched The Addams Family and since I enjoyed it so much, decided to watch the sequel, Addams Family Values yesterday evening while my wife was working on some projects in her crafting studio. It had been a while since I had watched this movie in its entirety and, while the original is still a classic in my book, I real...

Synopsis: Officer Gunther Toody takes a relaxed approach to police work, including looking the other way when it is a minor crime. When his long-time partner, Officer Leo Schnauzer, retires, he is assigned Francis Muldoon, a by-the-books police officer. Their opposite approaches both threaten their partnership and threaten to derail the department's attempt at protecting a key witness against a local crime lord. Who's in it? The movie stars David Johansen, John C. McGinley, Fran Drescher , Daniel Baldwin Nipsey Russell and Rosie O'Donnell. Review: Up until scrolling through one of my movie channels a couple days ago, I didn't even realize there was a movie version of Car 54, Where Are You?  I watched quite a few episodes of that series (in re-runs) when I was younger and, while I had some doubts, I figured I'd give it a try this morning.  I've seen quite a few terrible comedies in my lifetime. I think this may have the first one to be bad enough to give me a...