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For 4,652 reviews, this publication has graded:
  • 62% higher than the average critic
  • 2% same as the average critic
  • 36% lower than the average critic
On average, this publication grades 1 point higher than other critics. (0-100 point scale)
Average Movie review score: 66
Highest review score: 100 Arrival
Lowest review score: 0 A Hole in My Heart
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 3,348 out of 4652
  2. Mixed: 845 out of 4652
  3. Negative: 459 out of 4652
4652 movie reviews
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  1. Gang Related
    Kauf, whose Stakeout was a lighter blend of the same kind of elements at work here, knows just how to play the material to keep it enjoyable. That's not an easy task, considering that the main characters are pretty reprehensible and the basic plotline is about covering up the accidental murder of a cop. Nevertheless, in part because of a series of good performances and in part because Kauf approaches things with confidence, the results are positive. Gang Related may not be Pulp Fiction, but it's not a bad foray into tangential territory.
  2. What Men Want
    At least What Women Want could be identified as an enjoyable rom-com with a dose of female empowerment. One would have to be charitable to use “romantic”, “comedy”, or “enjoyable” for this new iteration.
  3. TRON: Legacy
    They had 28 years, and this is the best they could come up with?
  4. The Thing
    It's a solid, entertaining monster movie that, at its best, recalls not only its three decades-old namesake but Alien as well.
  5. The Fifth Estate
    Perhaps the most curious and counterproductive aspect of The Fifth Estate, the so-called "Wikileaks movie," is the decision by director Bill Condon and screenwriter Josh Singer to establish the film as a thriller.
  6. Den of Thieves
    Den of Thieves delivers an above-average cops-and-robbers heist film.
  7. American Reunion
    This is a joyless experience made all the sadder because most viewers still remember the naughty delights delivered by "American Pie."
  8. The Sentinel
    Director Clark Johnson and screenwriter George Nolfi (adapting the novel by Gerald Petievich) do an excellent job of setting things up and getting the story underway. Unfortunately, some of their hard work is undone during the movie's final third.
  9. Your Place or Mine
    The actors may not have perfect chemistry but they are as likable as they’ve ever been and it’s not a chore to spend 110 minutes with them even though one can’t help but wish the fantasy is better realized and the ending doesn’t feel rushed and unearned.
  10. The Gray Man
    The Gray Man is part of an unflattering pattern where creativity plays second fiddle to algorithms.
  11. New York, I Love You
    Oddly, the filmmaker best known for his Valentines to New York, Woody Allen, is not participant.
  12. Shoot 'Em Up
    There's a little bit of "Kiss Kiss Bang Bang" in Shoot 'Em Up, although this production isn't as smart or as slick.
  13. Broken City
    Whether the core flaw lies in the script or is the result of overly aggressive editing, the final result is offers only sporadic glimpses of the compelling thriller Broken City fails to evolve into.
  14. The Grudge
    Pretty much a one-trick pony, and, after a while, that trick loses its ability to impress.
  15. Terminator Salvation
    With its idea of an insurgency striking against an implacable evil empire, there's more than a little "Star Wars" in Terminator: Savlation, although not even at its "Empire Strikes Back" bleakest was Lucas' series this dark.
  16. The Mummy
    In the end, it's the self-mocking aura that save this film from being a waste of two hours.
  17. Bohemian Rhapsody
    It’s too bad no one working on the production recognized the disparity in quality between the performance/non-performance scenes or they might have leaned more heavily on the former at the welcome expense of the latter.
  18. Ice Age: Continental Drift
    It is as comfortable and predictable as any Saturday morning cartoon, although with higher production values and a spiffier look.
  19. Hancock
    Sometimes funny, sometimes clever, and occasionally involving, but it's never brilliant and its edge is compromised by the neutering that accompanies the teen-friendly PG-13 rating.
  20. Antichrist
    Bottom line: Do I recommend Antichrist? Tough to do, but tough not to. For those who are intrigued by the controversy, it may be worth the sacrifice, if only so you can evaluate it from a position of knowledge.
  21. Bullet Train
    There’s a time and a place for mayhem, and that’s essentially what Bullet Train is: two hours of fights, carnage, and witty repartee. Oh, it’s too long, to be sure – probably at least by 20 minutes. And its puzzle-like structure is too complicated for its own good. But, taken on its own terms, it’s fun and energetic as only this sort of film can be.
  22. Y2K
    Although there are a few amusing instances when the film goes over-the-top with gore, those don’t save what’s ultimately a bad zombie apocalypse film with the undead replaced by robots.
  23. Sleuth
    The 1972 movie was better paced and presented a superior story but this one has its own pleasures. It's an interesting failure - a film that works more successfully as a study of technique and writing than as a motion picture.
  24. Amsterdam
    With its whiplash-inducing tonal inconsistencies and sloppily assembled narrative, Amsterdam often feels like a pastiche of (take your pick) Monty Python, The Coen Brothers, or Wes Anderson grafted onto a crime caper/espionage thriller with a strong allegorical message about fascism.
  25. Inventing the Abbotts
    Inventing the Abbotts has the cast and characters to be something special; the script just isn't ambitious enough.
  26. Kalifornia
    Kalifornia is disturbing, and, while it doesn't overdo the blood, neither is the violence understated.
  27. Harrison's Flowers
    At its heart, Harrison's Flowers is a love story, albeit a graphic and difficult one.
  28. Mary Shelley's Frankenstein
    Mary Shelley's Frankenstein may not be the definitive version of the 1817 novel, and the director likely attempted more than is practical for a two-hour film, but overambition is preferable to the alternative, especially if it results - as in this case - in something more substantial than Hollywood's typical, fitfully entertaining fluff.
  29. Adult Life Skills
    The only reason Adult Life Skills is getting attention in 2019, nearly three years after it was finished, is because lead actress Jodie Whittaker is now bigger than big.
  30. Little
    The humor is typically sitcom-ish, tending more toward sophomoric gags than genuinely funny material.
  31. Tristan and Isolde
    There's something beautiful about a well-made tragic love story. It may not be as uplifting as one with a happy ending, but it's more cathartic.
  32. Spirit Untamed
    This is a perfect example of complete and utter mediocrity.
  33. Made in America
    The humor is spotty, character development is so- so, and there are number of significant plot problems. There's no overriding reason why anyone would want to see Made in America unless they're a fan of Danson or Goldberg.
  34. Insidious: The Last Key
    There’s ample evidence that the producers (and writer/actor Leigh Whannell) are milking a familiar title for all it’s worth – of the four Insidious films, only one has been any good and, although The Last Key may not be the worst of them, it’s easily the most irrelevant and generic.
  35. I Think I Love My Wife
    What is missing in depth and philosophical intent is compensated for with humor and humanization.
  36. Riddick
    Riddick isn't perfect but it's a good high-octane sci-fi tinged action/thriller.
  37. Dennis the Menace
    Dennis the Menace is basically innocuous -- creatively barren but offering the kind of light, undemanding entertainment that the under-ten crowd finds so appealing. Most children will get a kick out of it, although adults roped into accompanying their offspring may find themselves yearning to escape through the nearest exit.
  38. Spenser Confidential
    Spenser Confidential is a perfect Netflix movie – a mid-budget action/thriller featuring a recognizable star and not requiring much in the way of attention or dedication from a viewer.
  39. Men in Black II
    Would be a thoroughly entertaining affair if it wasn't for one thing: the plot. The annoying and pointless storyline is a constant irritant because it diverts our attention from the real reason to see this movie - the easygoing chemistry between actors Tommy Lee Jones and Will Smith.
  40. Green Dragon
    Perhaps the most impressive aspect of Green Dragon is Bui's recreation of Camp Pendleton, circa 1975 (filming actually took place in Camp Pendleton).
  41. Around the World in 80 Days
    Although each episode might be marginally entertaining in its own right, the overall effect is that the movie isn't funny enough, exciting enough, or dramatic enough to warrant two hours of an audience member's time.
  42. Father of the Bride Part II
    The curious thing about Father of the Bride Part 2 is that not only is it the sequel to a remake, but it's the remake of a sequel. As such, it's a perfect illustration of stretching an idea too far. Certain premises lack the necessary material for a multiple features, and this is one such example
  43. The Black Dahlia
    The sloppiness of the ending doesn't only damage The Black Dahlia, it sinks the project.
  44. Species
    Director Roger Donaldson has a lot of fun with his premise. The top-notch special effects, which use a lot of seamless computer animation, make the climax look very nice. The rest of the film is essentially one long chase sequence with a couple of nude scenes and maulings added to liven up the proceedings. No matter what genre you identify Species as, it's not top of the line, but there's also quite a bit of room beneath it.
  45. Mark Felt: The Man Who Brought Down the White House
    The movie is more about the events that resulted in Felt becoming Deep Throat than his work in that role. Although not the definitive Watergate movie, it illustrates an aspect of the scandal that to this point has not been given ample attention by filmmakers.
  46. An Unfinished Life
    An Unfinished Life isn't original, but, for those who enjoy this sort of drama, it's an opportunity to remember how, in the right circumstances, on-screen characters can touch our hearts.
  47. Imagine Me & You
    Imagine Me & You isn't unpleasant, but it is unremarkable. If nothing else, it proves that gay romances can be just as uninspired as their heterosexual counterparts.
  48. Lola Versus
    Gerwig transforms the ordinary screenplay into something that is by turns charming, touching, and funny.
  49. The Promise
    When it comes to war love stories, The Promise isn’t going to challenge Casablanca. The movie is stronger when presenting the political situation than the romantic one.
  50. Despicable Me 3
    Despicable Me 3 is an example of how even the most promising animated franchises can hit a wall if allowed to continue too long.
  51. The Chaperone
    If ever there was a production that embodies all the negative Masterpiece Theater qualities, this is it.
  52. Nine
    Despite following its stage inspiration and bringing structure to Fellini's "8 1/2" (the ultimate source material), Nine still suffers at times from a lack of narrative drive and it doesn't have the surreal, dreamlike quality of "8 1/2" to fall back upon.
  53. The Man in the Iron Mask
    The problem with this movie is that Wallace has attempted to squeeze a 500-page book into a 130-minute motion picture, something that can't be done without major sacrifices.
  54. 30 Minutes or Less
    Tone is critical to a movie of this nature, and Fleischer gets it right.
  55. Venom: Let There Be Carnage
    The Venom sequel checks all the generic comic book movie boxes and, if all one expects from a film adaptation is a straightforward translation with motion and live actors, it’s hard to knock Let There Be Carnage. But, in an era when most superhero productions are becoming increasingly complex, challenging one another for greater depth and storyline intricacy, the shallowness of both Venom movies stands out in an unflattering fashion.
  56. Soul Men
    There's nothing quite like watching Samuel L. Jackson and Bernie Mac performing at a hoedown and getting into it with the audience.
  57. Silent House
    The bad news is that Silent House is 88 minutes long, and the final half hour represents a descent into an anticlimax that ends with a scene as dumb as it is disappointing.
  58. The Quick and the Dead
    If movies were rated solely on the basis of style, The Quick and the Dead would score highly indeed. With its dazzling photography, inventive camera angles, and throbbing bass score, the film is an experience for the eyes and ears. Director Sam Raimi and cinematographer Dante Spinotti have woven a beautifully elaborate tapestry: colorful and evocative -- and depressingly two-dimensional.
  59. The Best of Enemies
    My sense is that, while The Best of Enemies may be met by stinging criticism from the far left and far right (for different reasons), those with centrist leanings will appreciate it for what it is (as opposed to for what it isn’t).
  60. Hart's War
    Works uncommonly well because of the effective manner in which it blends together its various elements: the WW2 prison camp setting, the courtroom aspects, and the issues of honor, racism, and redemption.
  61. The Emperor's Club
    There's still quite a bit of the essence of "Dead Poets Society" in The Emperor's Club. Thankfully, however, the level of schmaltz and manipulation has been greatly reduced.
  62. The Mechanic
    Adequate light entertainment for those who enjoy thrillers, but it is uneven and the underwhelming ending will disappoint those who enjoyed the delicious irony served up by its predecessor.
  63. Gold
    Despite its uneven tone, the film is compelling and, perhaps more importantly, relevant even though the actual historical events occurred two decades ago.
  64. Horizon: An American Saga - Chapter 1
    I applaud what Costner has given us with Horizon. This contains many of the things on my movie wish-list with its focus on an original story, diverse characters, and a classic cinematic approach. Problems aside, Costner has me hooked and I’ll be among the first in line to see Chapter 2 when it opens in August.
  65. Killing Zoe
    Ultimately, the greatest fault with Killing Zoe may lie in Avary's ambition. In trying to do too much (crime film, love story, psychological thriller, and dissection of an alienated generation) with a ninety-minute motion picture, his focus becomes blurred. Regardless, with a style that alternately recalls John Woo and Sam Peckinpah, and a tone that is nihilistic in the extreme, he has created a movie that, while obviously flawed, isn't easily forgotten.
  66. Live by Night
    The film’s climax is tautly executed; the way everything plays out is a whirl of brutal, violent beauty.
  67. Scary Movie 3
    If there's one thing this motion picture proves, it's that "The Naked Gun 33 1/3" wasn't the final insult from a founding ZAZ (Zucker/Abrams/Zucker) member; this is.
  68. Oldboy
    While few will debate Lee's ability as a director, this isn't close to being in his wheelhouse. Oldboy cries out for a Brian DePalma, a Quentin Tarantino, or even a David Lynch. The end result bears out the suspicion that Lee isn't right for the material, nor it for him.
  69. National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation
    One of the great unanswered questions in Hollywood is how Chevy Chase still gets work. Although his appeal is not as incomprehensible as that of, say, Pauly Shore, it's not obvious, either; "range" is one word no one will ever use in conjunction with Chase's acting ability.
  70. Inkheart
    Inkheart looks good and is well acted but, in the end, it left me indifferent.
  71. Angel-A
    Angel-A is an intriguing film, but more of an interesting failure than an offbeat success.
  72. Run, Fatboy, Run
    The result is tepid humor and a less-than-compelling feel-good story of redemption and re-kindled romance.
  73. Scoop
    A blend of lackluster comedy and lazy plotting, the film feels a lot like bad Hitchcock.
  74. 13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi
    The movie is imperfect and overlong but it’s never boring.
  75. The Judge
    Two words that come to mind when considering The Judge are generic and predictable. It's also well-intentioned and earnest (perhaps to a fault).
  76. A Lot Like Love
    Here's a pleasant little romantic comedy that doesn't try too hard and has the virtue of doing a few things differently.
  77. Ready to Wear (Prêt-à-Porter)
    Ready to Wear doesn't have enough substance to justify its length, nor does it possess enough raw humor to leaven the flat spots. The jokes are inconsistently funny, with some being worth giggles, some eliciting hearty chuckles, and some prompting little more than shrugs.
  78. Golda
    For those with a particular interest in Meir, Israel, or 20th century Middle East history, there’s enough here to hold a viewer’s attention. But, as theatrical experiences go, this one underwhelms.
  79. Goon: Last of the Enforcers
    The comedy is embarrassingly unfunny, the attempts at drama are badly acted and sometimes cringe-worthy, and the copious amounts of blood during the fight sequences fall short of being amusing while sabotaging any hope of taking them seriously.
  80. Charlotte Gray
    From a purely technical perspective, Charlotte Gray is expertly made -- the cinematography and music are evocative, and lead actress Cate Blanchett has no problem holding our attention. But, while Armstrong gets the notes right, she fails to play them with inspiration.
  81. Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle
    It worked once, but the novelty factor is gone. The cheese is still there, but this time it's overlaid with a cynical sense that the only reason the movie exists is because the first one made so much money.
  82. The Predator
    Black is a capable action director so the individual fight scenes are well-executed and occasionally involving. It might have helped the excitement level if we had more than a passing affinity for any of the characters.
  83. Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows
    A Game of Shadows is a stronger, better realized movie that builds upon the strengths of the original and jettisons some of the weaknesses.
  84. Tokyo Decadence
    Tokyo Decadence will appeal to only a select few. The movie is rated NC-17 for a reason -- it doesn't pull any punches, and there's virtually nothing it won't risk putting on screen. Those who take a chance on this film may be shocked by what it offers, but, regardless of their opinion of the story, the overall experience won't soon be forgotten.
  85. Timecop
    As a shoot-'em-up, blast-'em-to-pieces film, it's not half bad. As a futuristic time travel movie, however, it has some very serious problems.
  86. The Real Blonde
    Enjoyable and inviting.
  87. TRON: Ares
    Tron: Ares is fan service at its finest: a bold, brash spectacle that can’t get enough of its Easter eggs and callbacks. But there are two problems with this approach: it can be alienating for those outside the inner circle, and it prioritizes sensory overload over storytelling.
  88. Brother Bear
    The end result is a pleasant experience that is more appropriate for families than for adults unaccompanied by young offspring.
  89. Ted 2
    It would be disingenuous for me to claim that Ted 2 isn't funny. Although I was often bored by the plodding direction of the story, I laughed from time-to-time.
  90. Albino Alligator
    A cagey, claustrophobic noir thriller highlighted by a few clever plot twists, some nicely- honed dialogue, and a half-dozen top-notch performances.
  91. The Theory of Flight
    The Theory of Flight is far from a perfect movie, but it offers enough highlights that, on balance, it's worth a recommendation. The solid acting camouflages a great many other deficiencies.
  92. Bride of Chucky
    It's openly silly and, by almost every traditional critical standard, it falls a little short of the mark. Nevertheless, I enjoyed Bride of Chucky enough to place it on my ever-growing list of "guilty pleasures," and I recommend it to those who enjoy horror films (although probably not to anyone else). The movie laughs at itself, and I laughed along with it.
  93. Divergent
    Divergent is less action-oriented than "The Hunger Games" but no less compelling.
  94. The Greatest Showman
    In style, if not substance, The Greatest Showman is reminiscent of the Disney film, "Newsies." Like the 1992 live-action musical, The Greatest Showman comes to life when the characters are singing or dancing but struggles through the sequences in between.
  95. Last Vegas
    It has the sensibilities of a late-'80s/early-'90s forgettable big-screen sit com and probably won't find many interested viewers who aren't card-carrying AARP members.
  96. Spanglish
    trong on characters and relationships, but weak on some of the details that would elevate it from merely "good" to "great."
  97. Tears of the Sun
    Fuqua takes a genre picture and, by diverting the story onto an unconventional path, generates a sense of urgency. Tears of the Sun is not a great movie, but it is satisfying, and represents an example of accomplished filmmaking.
  98. Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas
    The voices were chosen more for their big name appeal than for their ability to bring life to the drawings. The storyline is flat, linear, and shallow.
  99. 50 First Dates
    Perhaps the biggest surprise of all is that the film doesn't resort to an easy cheat at the end. It plays things straight, and still manages to satisfy, making this one of Sandler's most appealing outings to date.
  100. The Counselor
    It's not so much a bad film as it is a disappointing one. A very disappointing one.
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