Christian Science Monitor's Scores

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For 4,492 reviews, this publication has graded:
  • 55% higher than the average critic
  • 2% same as the average critic
  • 43% lower than the average critic
On average, this publication grades 2.1 points higher than other critics. (0-100 point scale)
Average Movie review score: 67
Highest review score: 100 'Round Midnight
Lowest review score: 0 Couples Retreat
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 2,780 out of 4492
  2. Mixed: 1,361 out of 4492
  3. Negative: 351 out of 4492
4492 movie reviews
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  1. Japanese Story
    Brooks endows Japanese Story with a fair measure of suspense, pathos, and romance, despite the challenge of conjuring these qualities from only two main characters and not much else to look at in many scenes but sand, sand, sand.
  2. Millennium Mambo
    This is a great companion piece to Hou's masterly "Flowers of Shanghai" and fresh evidence of his status as Taiwan's greatest filmmaker.
  3. Cheaper by the Dozen
    Soft, sentimental, and as unlike real family life as you can get.
  4. Cold Mountain
    The fine cast is also misused -- especially Kidman, who looks as unruffled at the end of her torments as before they began, and Zellweger, who does a job of overacting that might have gotten rejected by "The Beverly Hillbillies."
  5. Paycheck
    Woo's customary action-film pyrotechnics gather more substance than usual from the implausible but inventive plot, drawn from a Philip K. Dick story.
  6. Peter Pan
    Hogan's version brings out the story's somber side, showing how the mischief of unworldly characters like Peter and Tinkerbell can do real damage, and how refusing to grow up is an awful idea if you actually try it.
  7. The Company
    Like many Altman movies, this is less a dramatic story to follow than an atmospheric environment to visit.
  8. Monster
    If you can endure watching it, you won't forget this grim cautionary tale for a long time.
  9. Mona Lisa Smile
    Roberts brings a sense of personal conviction to her part -- she's quite a feminist herself -- and as much sense of humor as the corny screenplay allows.
  10. The Fog of War: Eleven Lessons from the Life of Robert S. McNamara
    The filmmaking is meticulous and the ideas are endlessly thought-provoking.
  11. House of Sand and Fog
    The first hour is excellent, spinning an ethically and emotionally compelling tale. Narrative logic fades during the second half, though, reducing the movie's impact on every level.
  12. The Butterfly
    It's all very sweet and occasionally touching. More lasting shots of more beautiful butterflies would have added a lot, though.
  13. Calendar Girls
    Don't race to see it unless a female "Full Monty" is just what you've been waiting for.
  14. The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
    Add a lot of dull acting -- except Sir Ian McKellen and Andy Serkis -- and you have an uneven movie with yawns aplenty.
  15. Girl with a Pearl Earring
    What distinguishes Girl With a Pearl Earring is its combination of refined filmmaking and Johansson's exquisitely understated acting. It partakes of Vermeer's spirit and style, and that makes it one of the year's best movies.
  16. The Statement
    Caine puts all his formidable talent into pulling this off, but Jewison's directing and Roland Harwood's screenplay (based on Brian Moore's novel) provide a regrettably shaky foundation for him to build on.
  17. Something's Gotta Give
    Movies like this are meant to amuse and entertain, though, not instruct. Meyers's latest is worth seeing for its offbeat story, its tantalizing settings, and most of all, its spot-on acting, especially by Keaton and Nicholson.
  18. Stuck on You
    The comedy is tooooo loooooong for the two or three jokes it has to play with, and Kinnear does the picture's only three-dimensional acting.
  19. Power Trip
    Intelligent, revealing, and sometimes hilarious.
  20. Big Fish
    What a waste of a fine cast.
  21. The Last Samurai
    Less a heart-stirring historical study than a nostalgic fantasy, built on a foundation no firmer than Cruise's superstar persona.
  22. Forget Baghdad: Jews and Arabs - The Iraqi Connection
    Articulate interviews and an unusually creative visual style make the picture as lively to watch as it is illuminating to think about.
  23. Monsieur Ibrahim
    While the story is sentimental, heartfelt acting makes its impact less manipulative.
  24. What Alice Found
    The screenplay by director Bell is packed with surprises, and the acting is excellent.
  25. The Legend of Leigh Bowery
    You may find the film as outrageous as it is outlandish, and Bowery would have taken that as a compliment.
  26. Valley of Tears
    The movie peaks about halfway through, when town officials try to stop Perry from revealing what's going on.
  27. In America
    The story has too many trite moments, but strong acting and a goodhearted attitude keep it afloat.
  28. The Triplets of Belleville
    Children may enjoy it, aside from the youngest, who might find it too weird for comfort. Its main audience is adults, though. And not just any adults, but those in the mood for venturesome fare that's both surreal and hilarious.
  29. The Haunted Mansion
    While it may supply giggles and shivers to preteens, grownups should think twice before entering this all-too-haunted house.
  30. The Cooler
    Look for realism, and you'll find The Cooler disappointing. Look for a far-fetched yarn that's as unpredictable as a throw of the dice, though, and you'll find it engaging fun.
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