Alan Ng

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Film Threat
For 559 reviews, this critic has graded:
  • 74% higher than the average critic
  • 8% same as the average critic
  • 18% lower than the average critic
On average, this critic grades 7.8 points higher than other critics. (0-100 point scale)

Alan Ng's Scores

  • Movies
  • TV
Average review score: 73
Highest review score: 100 Dracula
Lowest review score: 20 Mufasa: The Lion King
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 474 out of 559
  2. Mixed: 71 out of 559
  3. Negative: 14 out of 559
559 movie reviews
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    • 30 Metascore
    • 30 Alan Ng
    The Crow
    It drags through a slow love story, lacks the original’s dark, gritty atmosphere, and misses the intensity that made the 1994 film a cult classic. Even the crow legend feels like an afterthought, leaving this remake bland and forgettable.
    • 30 Metascore
    • 60 Alan Ng
    Blue Iguana
    Rockwell and Schwartz are basically doing their version of a Hope-and-Crosby road film. They play characters very familiar to an American audience and that is played against a British comedic landscape. The result it interesting to watch, but I think more for the Brits than its American counterparts.
    • 29 Metascore
    • 40 Alan Ng
    Hurry Up Tomorrow
    Ultimately, Hurry Up Tomorrow is an example of style over substance. Its visuals try to shock and awe while leaving its narrative a confusing mess.
    • 29 Metascore
    • 60 Alan Ng
    Animal Farm
    There are many flaws in Animal Farm, but its message is what I’m recommending the film for. Look, it will make great dinner conversation with your toddlers.
    • 28 Metascore
    • 65 Alan Ng
    AfrAId
    Overall, Afraid delivers an unsettling ride with standout performances.
    • 28 Metascore
    • 70 Alan Ng
    Mother Schmuckers
    My only real issue is the two leads. They’re crazy and hold nothing back. They are revolting and lovable, but there’s not much contrast between the two or real depth to their characters other than being lazy reprobates.
    • 26 Metascore
    • 30 Alan Ng
    Dolittle
    It’s insulting to think that children will see a movie solely because you have animals that talk and act silly.
    • 26 Metascore
    • 40 Alan Ng
    Freelance
    It just feels like a movie that was made because Cena and Brie agreed to star in it.
    • 25 Metascore
    • 40 Alan Ng
    Cold Blood
    Overall, Cold Blood just falls flat. Secrets should be shocking, unpredictable, and strongly impact the story. Here they’re predictable and lacks cleverness in discovering everyone’s true identities and motives.
    • 24 Metascore
    • 50 Alan Ng
    Playing with Fire
    Key, Leguizamo, Greer, and Haysbert actually look like their having a good time and investing their acting talent in this silly story without flinching. No one’s phoning it in. John Cena is just a little too cartoony in his straight-laced character and somehow manages to make “normal” feel over-the-top.
    • 23 Metascore
    • 75 Alan Ng
    Die in a Gunfight
    I recommend Die In a Gunfight to any film fan that wants to see a different take on the mob love story. I think the romance takes a back seat to the violence when I think an equal footing would have made the film so much better.
    • 22 Metascore
    • 85 Alan Ng
    Reagan
    As a film, Reagan is about as perfect a biopic as you will get. The story flows quickly and feels cinematic for a man whose life plays out like a movie.
    • 22 Metascore
    • 55 Alan Ng
    Vanquish
    Ultimately, Vanquish falls into the cliché of typical action films, where the focus is on the action, and the story is a way to string the action together
    • 18 Metascore
    • 70 Alan Ng
    The Fanatic
    Whether you’re astonished or offended, Travolta gives a marvelous and unforgettable performance.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 70 Alan Ng
    Erasing Eden
    Erasing Eden’s story is not for everyone. Sometimes I wanted to quit in the same way I almost (and actually) gave up on my friends like Eden. But it pays off in the end if you open your heart and stick it out.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 70 Alan Ng
    Tiger
    There are enough facts and inspiration to make Tiger worth watching. Mickey Rourke always gives a good performance, and he still fits in the boxing setting. The downside is the story’s structure is unoriginal insuring Tiger will never leap beyond being just a good film.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 80 Alan Ng
    Making Montgomery Clift
    In Making Montgomery Clift, you see how brilliant an actor Clift was. You see his love of the art of storytelling, developing characters with depth and dimension, and his willingness to put the final product over his own ego. He loved living life just as much as portraying it on screen.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 75 Alan Ng
    Stay Human
    In Stay Human, Michael Franti examines the idea of staying human in these times when we’ve all embraced cynicism and fear over the optimism and potential of the human spirit.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 70 Alan Ng
    Pig Hag
    The true star and the reason to watch Pig Hag is Anna Schlegel as Jodie. She puts it all out there—her anger, vulnerabilities, and sexuality are on full display.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 75 Alan Ng
    Origin Story
    Kulap’s life is on full display in Origin Story. I don’t think I could do it if I were in her shoes. The chamber of secrets has been opened, and she holds nothing back. Her story is fascinating, but also in a way, we become this voyeur into her life, like slowly passing a severe car accident on the freeway getting a good look at the damage.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 70 Alan Ng
    Surprise Me!
    The film is good and will appeal to fans of the genre, but doesn’t do enough to transcend it, which is what you hope when you watch dozens of Rom-Coms every year and when you want to broaden the appeal of your film altogether.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 55 Alan Ng
    The Outsider
    The Outsider puts a spin on the western drama but quickly falls back into the conventional tropes of the genre. It best to approach The Outsider knowing that its primary focus is on the story and not action.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 80 Alan Ng
    Low Low
    Good story and strong acting are a killer combination in this independent film.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 75 Alan Ng
    Becoming Burlesque
    As unique as the story is, Becoming Burlesque succeeds in large part to Shiva Negar’s performance as Fatima. She’s engaging and charismatic, and she guides Fatima character arc flawlessly. Your eyes are on her, and you’re with her all the way from caterpillar to butterfly.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 70 Alan Ng
    Birds without Feathers
    I found McColm’s film intriguing to watch and fascinated by her satirical take on her subject. If you open yourself to the movie just a little, you’ll find yourself identifying with them in times of great personal and emotional failure.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 80 Alan Ng
    Up There
    Up There succeeds where many dramas like this fail. It balances action beautifully with dialogue. Especially as dialogue-heavy movies tend to vomit exposition at a sickening rate. A hefty portion of character development and revelation comes from its performances.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 70 Alan Ng
    Thrasher Road
    Thrasher Road is a fantastic story of family and forgiveness.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 75 Alan Ng
    Sequestrada
    Sequestrada is a beautiful film showing off the elegance of the Amazon river and the simplicity of the indigenous villages. The drama is shot with handheld cameras giving off a fly-on-the-wall documentary style of filmmaking. The acting isn’t that great but oddly feels authentic.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 70 Alan Ng
    Hell on the Border
    Hell On The Border tells a unique western-style story.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 70 Alan Ng
    ANYA
    Anya is a less than perfect film, but attempts to answer a few intriguing questions, making it worth watching.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 75 Alan Ng
    Queen of Paradis
    Queen of Paradis is a fun art documentary from the beautiful collection of Reine Paradis. She, at times, imperils herself for her art and has a sharp sense of humor about it.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 80 Alan Ng
    Eating Up Easter
    Eating Up Easter is another documentary exploring the tension a society faces when confronted with potentially being left behind in a rapidly changing world. Documentaries such as this, always paint progress as the antagonist, and rightfully so. The struggle to hold onto one’s past is an underdog fight and, at times, an unwinnable one.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 70 Alan Ng
    StarDog and TurboCat
    It’s hard to watch StarDog and TurboCat and not think that Disney and Pixar can do this better. The animation is pretty good with standard cartoon movement and character design. It only lacks the photorealistic details and textures associated with Pixar.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 75 Alan Ng
    Point Defiance
    The heart of the film and the source of this thriller’s tension is the interplay between the two brothers, played beautifully by Derek Phillips and Josh Crotty.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 80 Alan Ng
    Waterlily Jaguar
    There is a good amount of dialogue in Waterlily Jaguar, but the dialogue informs us about the character. Bob is not a chatty person, but Le Gros’ portrayal speaks volumes about Bob. Miro Sorvino continues to show she has range and can elevate any character she takes on.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 65 Alan Ng
    Money Plane
    Money Plane will be remembered as Adam Copeland’s first feature lead role with some heavy-hitters to back him up. The film is good, tame fun, but in desperate need of memorable, action moments for water-cooler talk.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 75 Alan Ng
    Doin' My Drugs
    Doin’ My Drugs is an informative and inspiring documentary about a man and his guitar trying the change an entire nation, one person at a time.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 70 Alan Ng
    Effigy: Poison and the City
    Udo Flohr’s Effigy – Poison and the City is a fantastic film to watch if you’re a fan of period dramas. The leads give terrific performances, and the setting is visually beautiful for history buffs.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 75 Alan Ng
    The Reunited States
    The Reunited States is an essential documentary for anyone who’s frustrated with the state of politics today, not only in Washington but at home.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 80 Alan Ng
    Gustav Stickley: American Craftsman
    A compelling documentary.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 90 Alan Ng
    Donny's Bar Mitzvah
    Donny’s Bar Mitzvah just works from start to finish.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 75 Alan Ng
    Boys vs. Girls
    The best laughs of Boys vs Girls come at the end, so be patient, and you’ll have fun.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 70 Alan Ng
    HAM: A Musical Memoir
    Diving into Sam Harris’ life was fun, and you will have fun too… unless you hate musicals.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 65 Alan Ng
    War Path
    War Path is a good movie with potential. It does a lot with its budget and resources and is worth a watch for any fan of independent filmmaking.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 60 Alan Ng
    I'm Not in Love
    I’m Not In Love is competently made. Despite the screenwriting-as-therapy formula, it’s entertaining and engaging to watch.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 65 Alan Ng
    Making Sense
    Gregory Bayne’s Making Sense puts the spotlight on a fantastic cast with disabilities and tells a story about disabilities that could only be told as science fiction.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 80 Alan Ng
    American Fighter
    George Kosturos carries American Fighter. His acting is above average, and his fighting makes him look like this kid look believable. The bouts never feel choreographed or staged for the camera.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 65 Alan Ng
    Masquerade
    The ending does have a pretty good payoff to push Masquerade over the recommendation line.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 65 Alan Ng
    A Dark Foe
    I’d describe A Dark Foe as a dark ride at Disneyland. You’re invited to step into a vehicle, buckle up, sit back, and enjoy what happens around you. The steady progression into darkness moves rather quickly through one revelation after the other.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 75 Alan Ng
    Platform
    Anyone familiar with the global gender-gap problem will find nothing surprising about the themes presented in Platform. However, where Mossayebi’s documentary sets itself apart from other similar stories is how he captures the drive and determination of the three sisters and their good luck and misfortune along the way.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 75 Alan Ng
    I Love Us
    One could say that I Love Us can’t decide what it wants to be. Is it a crime thriller or a family film? This split focus is a legitimate criticism, but somehow director and lead actor Danny Abeckaser manages to pull it off. It’s far from perfect, but it works well enough.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 85 Alan Ng
    The Sleeping Negro
    The Sleeping Negro is unlike your typical drama in that it has a dreamlike visual tone and style and is more an essay about the trials and tribulations of being black in America.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 70 Alan Ng
    American Siege
    As an indie thriller, American Siege does what it needs to accomplish in building tension as the filmmakers bring us into a town where everyone is compromised one way or the other and these compromises cause the town to implode.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 80 Alan Ng
    Shut In
    D.J. Caruso masterfully orchestrates this symphony of suspense, albeit a twenty-piece symphony, but a symphony nonetheless.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 80 Alan Ng
    Win a Trip to Browntown!
    There is a charm to Win a Trip To Browntown found in its story of family and ambition.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 80 Alan Ng
    Ink & Linda
    Documentaries exist for many reasons. In the case of Ink & Linda, it’s to take us to a world that we may not be familiar with and show us something new, something interesting. Not only do we meet two unique artists, but we get to see them collaborate and create.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 70 Alan Ng
    Room 203
    On the grand scare scale of Asian horror, with The Ring and The Grudge as its standard-bearers, Room 203 is on the lighter side of horror.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 75 Alan Ng
    Take the Night
    It’s a good thriller with excellent performances.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 75 Alan Ng
    Baby Assassins
    What works is the relationship between Mahilo and Chisato. The characters are so well defined and contrasts one another perfectly. The depiction of their friendship is just as good as the fight scenes. Action-wise, it really does take a while to warm up, but getting to the final battle is worth the wait.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 80 Alan Ng
    Homebody
    Joseph Sackett’s feature film, Homebody, finds a charming and fresh take on the body swap formula.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 80 Alan Ng
    Ariel Phenomenon
    For the UFO believers, Ariel Phenomenon is precisely the film you’re looking for as proof of alien existence. But for the unbeliever, Nickerson’s film is a mandatory watch to either chip away at your beliefs or make them stronger.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 85 Alan Ng
    Who Are You People
    Ben Epstein’s story is compelling, and his character development is brilliant. But taking a step back, the film represents the lives of real people who have made massive mistakes and trying to move on from those mistakes as best they can.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 85 Alan Ng
    Refuge
    It’s time to turn off the news and turn our attention to stories and films that offer real solutions for peace. Start here and learn that people can change for the better.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 85 Alan Ng
    Beyond Human Nature
    If you’re a fan of crime documentaries or are fascinated by the grey areas of law, Michael Neelsen’s Beyond Human Nature is a sobering look at American justice at its best and worst.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 65 Alan Ng
    Rally Road Racers
    Rally Road Racers may not change the world or elevate the art form of animated features. Instead, it’s one of those films my kid would watch over and over again. It is good, wholesome fun, with some classic actors to help appease the parents looking for things to do with their kids.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 80 Alan Ng
    It's Quieter in the Twilight
    If you love all things space, It’s Quieter in the Twilight is must-see viewing. A lot of technical information is unloaded upon the audience, but Miossi lays it out in digestible chunks.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 85 Alan Ng
    Bobcat Moretti
    Bobcat Moretti speaks to everyone with its inspirational story.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 70 Alan Ng
    Mr. Jimmy
    I like Mr. Jimmy solely because of its fascinating character study of an obsessed fan, Akio Surakai.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 85 Alan Ng
    Jawan
    Remember when action films were fun? Get yourself into the theaters, exercise those subtitle muscles, and enjoy an intense and wild ride with Jawan.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 70 Alan Ng
    Dancing in the Dust
    It’s missing a nice, tidy resolution that would greenlight this in Hollywood. I’ll say there’s a sweetness and sadness to the film’s final moments.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 70 Alan Ng
    Goodbye, Petrushka
    Goodbye, Petrushka is a heartfelt narrative and very much writer/director Nicola Rose’s story. It’s not a perfect film, but it’s a very personal one.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 80 Alan Ng
    Limbo
    Limbo stands out as a competent cop-drama noir. Our three heroes are put through the wringer and barely come out with their sanity and their lives. Cheang holds nothing back.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 70 Alan Ng
    Girls on Film
    It’s not going to change your life, but it has a solid story, and it’s sexy as hell.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 85 Alan Ng
    Total Trust
    Total Trust asks a lot of questions that each of us must answer before it is too late.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 70 Alan Ng
    A Fragile Flower
    The film’s intended audience is those who enjoy romantic stories, and it definitely delivers in that regard. Personally, I would have preferred if the story had taken a darker and grittier turn, but I appreciate the filmmaker’s effort to maintain a positive direction.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 75 Alan Ng
    One Night in Tokyo
    Reza Emamiyeh and Tokiko Kitagawa deliver fantastic performances.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 75 Alan Ng
    Break
    As someone who played too much pool in college, I’ve been starving for a good pool hustle movie. Break is just what the doctor ordered. Now I’ll have to pull the old cue out of storage and lose a grand or two in the process.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 80 Alan Ng
    H2: The Occupation Lab
    H2: The Occupation Lab gives us the Palestinian perspective on the conflict.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 80 Alan Ng
    Tell Them You Love Me
    Nick August-Perna’s documentary, Tell Them You Love Me, is a heartbreaking story in so many ways. Hope can be a powerful weapon, leaving devastation in its wake.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 65 Alan Ng
    Freydís and Gudrid
    It feels like a reading of ancient tales, with the emotion of the opera replacing the melodrama and acting found in traditional period pieces.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 85 Alan Ng
    Jack Has a Plan
    Though Jack’s past is both uplifting and tragic, the heart of Jack Has A Plan comes in the final months leading up to Jack’s ultimate fate.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 80 Alan Ng
    Black Outside
    I dare you to watch Black Outside and not think about wanting to do this journey for yourself. There’s something irresistible about this film, and indeed, there is something within you that must be released, and a 2,600-mile hike might be what the doctor ordered.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 80 Alan Ng
    Reawakening
    Virginia Gilbert’s Reawakening ends on a brutal yet honest note, refusing to hand out easy answers or emotional closure. It’s not clean, but it’s meant to be an unflinching reality check.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 85 Alan Ng
    Am I Racist?
    For the most part, Walsh’s gags work throughout the film. Like most political docs, the open-minded will benefit the most from what Walsh has to say, while Walsh’s DEI targets will have the most to complain about
    • tbd Metascore
    • 70 Alan Ng
    Empire Waist
    Empire Waist delivers a heartfelt and empowering message about adolescence, body image, and self-acceptance. Its sincerity and positivity make it a refreshing and modern tale for teens.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 85 Alan Ng
    The Man in the White Van
    The Man in the White Van is the perfect primer for someone thinking about getting into horror films but is a bit skittish. The killing is implied, and the gore is off-camera. Yet, the film is all about that uneasy tension that we feel, wondering what’s around the corner or what goes bump in the night.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 80 Alan Ng
    You & I
    You & I is a fantastic tale of modern romance.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 75 Alan Ng
    Somewhere in Montana
    Sometimes, a movie’s impact transcends its story, delivering something we desperately need—a chance to reflect, connect, and simply breathe. Somewhere in Montana is one such film offering a heartfelt reminder that, despite our differences, people can win the day.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 50 Alan Ng
    Detective Chinatown 1900
    Detective Chinatown 1900 tries to be a high-energy action comedy but gets tangled in a web of subplots, leaving little room for the buddy-cop fun it teases.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 75 Alan Ng
    No Address
    No Address is very much an issues-based drama. Its purpose is to provide a soul behind the statistics.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 70 Alan Ng
    The Buildout
    The Buildout is a haunting journey into faith, friendship, and the fine line between devotion and delusion.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 70 Alan Ng
    Kung Fu Rookie
    Kung Fu Rookie is a heartfelt, high-energy tribute to Jackie Chan. It is packed with acrobatic action and playful stunt work that would make the legend proud. With thrilling fight sequences, goofy humor, and a love for old-school kung fu cinema, it is a fun ride that proves admiration is best expressed through action—literally.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 70 Alan Ng
    Asog
    In the wake of unimaginable devastation, Asog gently yet boldly celebrates resilience—not just through the intimate journey of Jaya and Arnel but also through the countless survivors bravely rebuilding their lives from ruin.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 75 Alan Ng
    Found Footage: The Making of the Patterson Project
    In the end, Max Tzannes’ Found Footage: The Making of the Patterson Project delivers a smart, self-aware film that plays with the mockumentary format without getting lost in the gimmick. It’s funny and it’s creepy. It delivers where many have failed before.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 85 Alan Ng
    Pistachio Wars
    Even if the corporate claims are true—that films like Pistachio Wars are anti-corporate propaganda—it’s important never to turn a blind eye to any issue where the only thing we’re being told is, “trust us… nothing to see here.”
    • tbd Metascore
    • 75 Alan Ng
    Peaches Goes Bananas
    Peaches Goes Bananas is one of the weirdest and most touching music documentaries I’ve seen.
    • tbd Metascore
    • 80 Alan Ng
    12 Hours in October
    You feel the horrors of those 12 hours. Abeckaser tells the right stories, from innocent festivalgoers to military-trained fathers, and to the mothers and children who perish. Before you utter the words, “Yeah, but…,” 12 Hours in October is pretty one-sided, and I’m not blind to the protests that have occurred in the streets and on university campuses in the U.S.
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