film

12 Monkeys directed by Terry Gilliam (1995)
[7/10]
"We come to expect the ending, but I felt somewhat disappointed with the conclusion, which left me with an empty feeling like an unfulfilled promise."
1408 directed by Mikael Håfström (2007)
[8/10]
"You can easily overlook the few minor problems and enjoy the creative torments the room inflicts on Cusack's character and loose count of the number of times the film makes you jump in your chair."
21 directed by Robert Luketic (2008)
[5/10]
"The camera and the film editor do more work than the actors. We see hundreds of close up shots of casino chips, winning blackjack hands, and brief shots of the actors' faces smiling in flushed glee. The film relies on the rush of emotions viewers will feel in response to the large sums of money and not the acting."
28 Days Later directed by Danny Boyle (2002)
[6/10]
"Essentially we have a character study of a limited number of survivors in a hopeless situation. Yes, they keep plodding on -- as many of us would hope we could do in the same situation -- but we really don't get any great epiphany about human nature in the process."
28 Days directed by Betty Thomas (2000)
[5/10]
"You don't see any remarkable performances or go through any emotional highs or lows, but you do end up with a warm-fuzzy feeling, hoping for the best as Gwen starts her sober life."
Above the Law directed by Andrew Davis (1988)
[5/10]
"Admittedly a formula movie, but one that works well within the formula and still provides a satisfying time for action fans."
Absolute Power directed by Clint Eastwood (1997)
[6/10]
"Eastwood does manage the suspense of Absolute Power very well. So well that I didn't really notice many of the flaws until I watched the film a second time. So, I recommend seeing Absolute Power once for the pleasant thrill, but then don't pollute the pleasant memory with closer scrutiny of repeated viewings."
Accepted directed by Steve Pink (2006)
[5/10]
"I wouldn't call it a masterpiece, but with a few really funny lines and the stereotypical warm-and-fuzzy comedy ending make a good starting point for freshman director Steve Pink."
Adventures of Elmo in Grouchland, The directed by Gary Halvorson (1999)
[4/10]
"My two year old loved it, my eight year old liked it, the rest of my family tolerated it. Patinkin's performance provided, for me, the only real entertainment in the show. The songs seemed more contrived than usual for a Muppet movie. Noticeably missing: Kermit, Piggy, and Fozzy."
Air Force One directed by Wolfgang Petersen (1997)
[6/10]
"Air Force One provides good action and some suspenseful moments, but after multiple viewings, you find yourself saying, 'Oh, sure. Like the president would really have . . .'"
Akira directed by Katsuhiro Otomo (1988)
[7/10]
"Most viewers who like science fiction should find Akira an accessible story, but I highly recommend reading the six volume graphic novel for a richer, more detailed version of the story."
All the King's Men directed by Steven Zaillian (2007)
[3/10]
"Terrible editing, overblown acting by Penn, and underdeveloped characterization make All the King's Men not worth seeing. The depth of character that earned Robert Penn Warren a Pulitzer prize never appears in Zaillian's emaciated screenplay and leaves us with a shallow, uninteresting film."
American Gangster directed by Ridley Scott (2007)
[6/10]
"From the trailers, I expected to see scene after scene of gore and violence, but I was pleasantly surprised at the intellectual comparison of these 'real life' characters from our recent past."
Apt Pupil directed by Bryan Singer (1998)
[6/10]
"Ian McKellen and Brad Renfro provide the life force in Apt Pupil, but even with such good efforts, the final act leaves us wanting more."
Argent de Poche, L' [Small Change] directed by François Truffaut (1976)
[7/10]
"François Truffaut returns to filming a classroom full of children with the theme that children exist in a state of grace -- they pass untouched through dangers that would destroy an adult."
Artificial Intelligence: A.I. directed by Steven Spielberg (2001)
[7/10]
"I appreciate all the interesting moral and philosophical questions Spielberg introduces in A.I., and the movie does manage to keep your interest -- espically visually -- for the almost three-hour running time."
Avengers, The directed by Jeremiah S. Chechik (1998)
[3/10]
"The story line limps along and no amount of explosions or fight scenes can save us from the compounding ennui."
Barnyard directed by Steve Oedekerk (2006)
[3/10]
"Imagine that Gary Larson had made a feature length version of his sentient cows from the 'Far Side' comics, then you might have an idea of what director Steve Oedekerk attempted with Barnyard."
Beowulf (2007)
[4/10]
"The low quality animation made me feel like I was watching a cut scene from a video game. For the entire film, I kept getting the feeling that at any moment the cut scene would end, and I would have to take up the game controller to battle the monsters."
Boondock Saints, The directed by Troy Duffy (1999)
[7/10]
"The Boondock Saints presents an interesting conundrum. When you look back at the plot, the movie really doesn't have too much substance. Nevertheless, I really enjoyed watching The Boondock Saints."
Break-Up, The directed by Peyton Reed (2006)
[5/10]
"The utter lack of romantic chemistry between Vaughn and Aniston dooms The Break-Up, since the audience really doesn't care if the couple gets back together or not, and the few meager laughs don't really merit spending any time or money at the theater on this film."
Brokeback Mountain directed by Ang Lee (2005)
[10/10]
"All the elements of Brokeback Mountain come together to create a transcendent experience that lingers in your mind for days after you watch the film."
Brothers Grimm, The directed by Terry Gilliam (2005)
[6/10]
"Expect to laugh, but you shouldn't expect comedy on the order of Gilliam's Monty Python days."
Capote directed by Bennett Miller (2005)
[8/10]
"Bennett Miller does an excellent job creating an overall tone and mood in Capote that simultaneously evokes the 1950s but also stays subtle enough to work as a canvas for Capote's character."
Captain Blood directed by Michael Curtiz (1935)
[6/10]
"Captain Blood moves quickly, has fairly decent sea-battle effects for its time, and keeps you interested with its witty dialog and dry humor."
Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle directed by McG (2003)
[4/10]
"It doesn't really matter to what assignment Charlie sends the angles since the film follows the path of greatest skin exposure, highest number of explosions, and maximum stern looks from Lucy Liu."
Charly directed by Ralph Nelson (1968)
[6/10]
"Cliff Robertson does an excellent job portraying the various aspects of Charly's personality, for which he earned an Oscar, but overall the heavy-handed anti-science themes and now anachronistic presentation style overburden the story line for a less-than-pleasing effect."
Cheaper by the Dozen 2 directed by Adam Shankman (2005)
[5/10]
"All of the twenty child actors seem to have good acting abilities, but with so many children in the cast the kids get about as much screen time as a cameo role in this movie dominated by Martin and Levy."
Choristes, Les [The Chorus] directed by Christophe Barratier (2004)
[7/10]
"I generally don't like warm-fuzzy feel-good movies, but this one handles the plot well, develops the characters in a believable way, and has some pleasant music along the way."
Chronicles of Narnia, The: Prince Caspian directed by Andrew Adamson (2008)
[7/10]
"Director Andrew Adamson again does an excellent job bringing the spare details of C. S. Lewis's Prince Caspian to epic proportions on the screen."
Chronicles of Narnia, The: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe directed by Andrew Adamson (2005)
[8/10]
"On the whole, Adamson has faithfully captured the essence of Lewis's book and given a movie audience the adventure story it expects."
Cider House Rules, The directed by Lasse Hallström (1999)
[6/10]
"Movies often use an innocent outsider like Homer to bring the viewer a new perspective of contemporary issues. The Cider House Rules effectively uses this cliched character to present its pro-abortion agenda. As Homer falls in love (and has sex), he must adjust his views on abortion, especially when faced with the implications of the unwanted pregnancies of Rose, a fellow apple picker. "
City of Angels directed by Brad Silberling (1998)
[7/10]
"Although constructed almost entirely of cliches, City of Angels rallys its cliches synergistically to produce a pleasing, though predictable, story."
Coal Miner's Daughter directed by Michael Apted (1980)
[6/10]
"I would have liked the movie to present more of Loretta's personal philosophy as expressed in her songs and less of her hobnobbing with stars after her rise to fame."
Coffee and Cigarettes directed by Jim Jarmusch (2003)
[5/10]
"Jarmusch has collected some weird and quirky stories that emphasize the variability of human nature, even over something as simple as coffee and cigarettes."
Cooler Climate, A directed by Susan Seidelman (1999)
[6/10]
"A Cooler Climate promotes the standard American dream: with the right combination of attitude, determination, and skill you can achieve just about anything. Too bad so many of the characters had to explore immoral options before coming about."
Corrina, Corrina directed by Jessie Nelson (1994)
[7/10]
"Corrina, Corrina takes a tender and careful look at death, loss, and healing from the point of view of a seven-year-old girl Molly (Tina Majorino) in the 1950s."
Crash directed by Paul Haggis (2005)
[8/10]
"Crash demonstrates that everyone makes decisions based on preconceived ideas about race. Regardless of our racial background, we make decisions about how we react to and treat other people based on racial profiling."
Curtain Call directed by Peter Yates (1999)
[5/10]
"Unless Spader can soon find a role where he does not play a bungling but gifted character, his career will soon slip until he'll be lucky to get roles like his in Curtain Call."
Da Vinci Code, The directed by Ron Howard (2006)
[5/10]
"The Da Vinci Code has some better than average chase scenes and a few tense moments, but doesn't deliver the major punch at the end one would expect from all the hype."
Dangerous Lives of Altar Boys, The directed by Peter Care (2002)
[7/10]
"The Dangerous Lives of Altar Boys tells a touching story that really captures the essence of growing up as a teenage boy in a staunch Catholic family, and in spite of all the anachronisms, I found the movie completely engaging."
Dawn of the Dead directed by George A. Romero (1979)
[4/10]
"Romero could have easily left over 30 minutes of this film on the cutting room floor. Where Night of the Living Dead had some scary scenes, Dawn turns the zombies into an ineffective comic force. Sure, the humans need to avoid the zombies, but the zombies never pose a formidable threat."
Dead Zone, The directed by David Cronenberg (1983)
[6/10]
"As a Stephen King adaptation, I'd have to say this one does an excellent job of creating a believable world where you can accept the characters as people and believe in the character's strange abilities."
Deep Impact directed by Mimi Leder (1998)
[5/10]
"In spite of cheap effects and attempts to create emotion, I liked the movie and its attempt to show that you can choose to be a good person even when faced with the knowledge of your almost certain demise."
Devil Wears Prada, The directed by David Frankel (2006)
[6/10]
"I recommend seeing The Devil Wears Prada to watch Streep's amazing performance, but don't expect much from the emaciated storyline -- thin as a Runway model and with about the same I.Q."
Devil's Own, The directed by Alan J. Pakula (1997)
[5/10]
"Ford and Pitt have enough charisma and talent to carry most of the scenes, but by the end, all the scenes don't make a very satisfying, or even logical, plot."
Die Hard directed by John McTiernan (1988)
[9/10]
"You can watch Die Hard over and over and still get a pleasant thrill with each viewing."
Dirty Dozen, The directed by Robert Aldrich (1967)
[7/10]
"Compared to today's action genre, The Dirty Dozen doesn't have nearly as many scenes of intense action, but it does manage to entertain with it's fairly well composed plot and well integrated subplots."
Donnie Darko: The Director's Cut directed by Richard Kelly (2001)
[7/10]
"Generally I liked Donnie Darko, but I think the ambiguous ending and the cultural commentary distracted from an otherwise well-made film."
Down Periscope directed by David S. Ward (1996)
[6/10]
"A fairly formulaic underdog-overcomes-all-odds movie with some good acting and better-than-average action."
Dreamer: Inspired by a True Story directed by John Gatins (2005)
[5/10]
"Russell's performance doesn't provide any new insight into fatherhood or raising horses, although he does put up a nice argument for a diverse workplace when he defends his Hispanic staff."
Dreamgirls directed by Bill Condon (2006)
[7/10]
"Dreamgirls provides a fun, musical and visual experience without a whole lot of character depth. Tap your toe, enjoy the fun, but don't look too deeply into the storyline."
Elizabethtown directed by Cameron Crowe (2005)
[7/10]
"I found Elizabethtown an enjoyable, pleasant, interesting, and funny study of Drew's developing character."
Enemy at the Gates directed by Jean-Jacques Annaud (2001)
[8/10]
"Vassili Zaitsev shot 149 Germans during the 1942 battle for Stalingrad. Enemy at the Gates depicts Vassili and his legendary duel with the German sniper Major Konig."
Eragon directed by Stefen Fangmeier (2006)
[5/10]
"If you have never read the book Eragon, then the movie provides a simple yet satisfying teen adventure story."
Eraserhead directed by David Lynch (1977)
[7/10]
"I think much of the appeal of Eraserhead lies in its ambiguous events and meaning. Because Lynch doesn't make his intentions clear, he leaves the viewer wide open to project personal meaning onto the film."
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind directed by Michel Gondry (2004)
[7/10]
"Aside from the medical and ethical questions, Eternal Sunshine explores the nature of attraction and the development of relationships. It asks whether a natural attraction exists between two people. Clearly, the writers believe so, since Joel and Clementine feel drawn to each other repeatedly."
Everyone's Hero directed by Christopher Reeve, Colin Brady, Dan St. Pierre (2006)
[5/10]
"Nothing in the story makes you want to see this movie again, and you feel bad that this movie serves as a final tribute to Christopher Reeve."
Fight Club directed by David Fincher (1999)
[6/10]
"Rarely, a movie comes along that captures the essence of a book so well, that it outshines the book."
Fire Down Below directed by Félix Enríquez Alcalá (1997)
[2/10]
"Fire Down Below disappointed me in several ways. First, the love interest with Sarah Kellogg (Marg Helenberger) seems artificial, placed in the film to give Taggart easy access to clues that he might have actually had to work to find otherwise. Second, the film doesn't have the requisite antagonist champion whose skill almost matches Seagal's."
Flightplan directed by Robert Schwentke (2005)
[5/10]
"Flightplan recreates Jodie Foster's character in Panic Room but puts her in a much bigger room (a jumbo jet) and with a bigger cast."
Flyboys directed by Tony Bill (2006)
[6/10]
"Essentially, you should see Flyboys for the excellent dogfights. You need the basic story line so you will care enough about the pilots when they die, but otherwise the plot doesn't do much to enlighten the audience about Americans serving in the French military as some of the first wartime aviators."
Fog, The directed by John Carpenter (1980)
[7/10]
"The Fog doesn't have the best acting and doesn't have the most original storyline, but John Carpenter masterfully manipulates our anticipation of impending doom for the community of Antonio Bay. And maybe the next time you see a fog bank, you might just wonder what could hide within."
Frequency directed by Gregory Hoblit (2000)
[6/10]
"Quaid and Caviezel both provide convincing performances, so much so, that the total familial love barely avoids going over the edge into pure sappiness. So if you cry at movies, take a hanky to Frequency."
Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai directed by Jim Jarmusch (1999)
[6/10]
"Jim Jarmusch creates an interesting mood of honor and despair. Ghost Dog comfortably follows the samurai code, which Ghost Dog regularly presents as voiced over narrative accompanied by the text of the code on the screen -- in the style of a PBS biographical documentary."
Ghost World directed by Terry Zwigoff (2001)
[7/10]
"Ghost World defies most of the conventions of both comedy and romance movies. The comedy comes in dark waves of irony and sarcasm. The romance doesn't follow a typical reunification and happily-ever-after ending."
Girl Next Door, The directed by Luke Greenfield (2004)
[6/10]
"Director Luke Greenfield has created a well constructed teen comedy with a bit of a plot twist at the end."
Gladiator directed by Ridley Scott (2000)
[8/10]
"Gladiator succeeds as a hero story, and Louis DiGiaimo should get some recognition for casting actors into perfect parts for their characters. I enjoyed the battles and the recreation of 2nd century Rome, but Gladiator doesn't carry the depth of feeling you get from other hero movies, such as Spartacus or Braveheart, and probably won't endure time as well as Alien, Blade Runner, or some other Ridley Scott films. "
Glimmer Man, The directed by John Gray (1996)
[6/10]
"The plot moves quickly along the thinnest of threads but holds together just enough to provide plenty of opportunities for explosions, shootings, gruesome murder scenes, and, of course, hand-to-hand combat -- especially in places with lots of glass and furniture."
Golden Child, The directed by Michael Ritchie (1986)
[5/10]
"Generally funny, but not riotously so."
Good Boy! directed by John Robert Hoffman (2003)
[5/10]
"You can appreciate Liam Aiken's development as an actor, but often the script gives lame dialogue to everyone, making Good Boy! somewhat painful to watch with not enough comedy to offset the pain."
Grosse Pointe Blank directed by George Armitage (1997)
[9/10]
"The story combines hit men, romance, fights, explosions, and comedy. And all this accompanied by well chosen music from the 1980s."
Hamlet directed by Michael Almereyda (2000)
[7/10]
"I don't think that this version with its modern setting brings too many young people to an appreciation of Shakespeare, but for those of us who have liked Shakespeare all along, it gives us some new ways of looking at a classic."
Hard to Kill directed by Bruce Malmuth (1990)
[5/10]
"A moderately fun romp with plenty of action, although Seagal's character probably disables just as many people with his gun as he does with martial arts."
Harry Potter and the Sorcerers Stone directed by Chris Columbus (2001)
[8/10]
"Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone holds up well to repeated viewings, although you do start to see a lot of minor inconsistencies."
Harvest of Fire directed by Arthur Allan Seidelman (1996)
[6/10]
"A pleasant family movie that earns, rather than manufactures, its warm-and-fuzzy emotional effect."
Hearts in Atlantis directed by Scott Hicks (2001)
[6/10]
"Without Hopkins, Hearts would join the long list of ho-hum we-preferred-life-in-the-1950s movies."
Henry V directed by Kenneth Branagh (1989)
[8/10]
"Branagh plays Henry V with and easy elegance, and he delivers the king's motivational speeches with marvelous interpretation and dynamics."
High School Musical directed by Kenny Ortega (2006)
[5/10]
"It can happen -- a made for TV movie from Disney that doesn't suck. In fact High School Musical does a pretty good job at providing snappy songs, occasionally interesting choreography, and a less than lame plot."
History of Violence, A directed by David Cronenberg (2005)
[6/10]
"A History of Violence asks serious questions about the generational effects of violence, but fails to provide any solid answers to these questions."
Holes directed by Andrew Davis (2003)
[7/10]
"I would have to guess that the book provides more satisfactory development of Stanley's character than the film. I liked the film, and as with any good underdog story, we cheer for Stanley and Zero as they work to overcome both the oppression of their immediate situation and their family history."
Hope Floats directed by Forest Whitaker (1997)
[3/10]
"Dull performances by all. Lackluster cinematography. Don't waste your time."
Horse Whisperer, The directed by Robert Redford (1998)
[5/10]
"In order to enjoy The Horse Whisperer, you must meet at least five of the following six criteria: you like horses or movies about horses, you like to look at Robert Redford, you like movies with panoramic scenes of the American West, you like semi-tragic romance movies, and you are a woman. If you meet these criteria, then you will not even notice that 160 minutes passed by while watching The Horse Whisperer."
Hot Fuzz directed by Edgar Wright (2007)
[7/10]
"I didn't find Hot Fuzz as riotously funny as Shaun of the Dead. Hot Fuzz has much more subtle humor, mostly irony created by the totally metropolitan Angel trying to fit in to a small town lifestyle. But Hot Fuzz has a much more intelligent plot than Shaun of the Dead."
Ice Storm, The directed by Ang Lee (1997)
[5/10]
"Director Ang Lee skillfully creates the bleak mood of The Ice Storm through carefully crafted scenes and an excellent cast that easily portray the film's hollow characters."
Incredibles, The directed by Brad Bird (2004)
[9/10]
"Before seeing The Incredibles in the theater, I was skeptical after hearing all the hype from the media and friends about the film. Without even a grudge, I have to say the movie lived up to most of the hype, and it has taken its place in my mind as Disney's all-time best animated movie."
Interpreter, The directed by Sydney Pollack (2005)
[6/10]
"I enjoyed watching The Interpreter, but I think with some grooming, it could have provided more thrills and a more satisfactory ending."
Jakob the Liar directed by Peter Kassovitz (1999)
[6/10]
"Worth seeing once, but it won't loose much in the transition to home video."
Jetée, La directed by Chris Marker (1967)
[6/10]
"La Jetée shows the power of the briefest of memories to instill a life with hope. Marker's presentation as a series of stills emphasizes the periodic and fleeting nature of memory."
Joy Luck Club, The directed by Wayne Wang (1993)
[8/10]
"The Joy Luck Club examines the lives of eight women: four mothers and their daughters. Each mother went through harrowing experiences to come to the United States from pre-Communist China. And even though the daughters only know fragments of their mothers' stories, these events define major aspects of their personalities and their relationships with their mothers and others."
Juno directed by Jason Reitman (2007)
[8/10]
"Juno does a good job at portraying a particular girl's experience with teen pregnancy, although I don't think you can extend this portrait much beyond Juno's character since she has more self-confidence and personal determination than most adults."
Kaze no tani no Naushika [Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind] directed by Hayao Miyazaki (1984)
[7/10]
"Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind tells the story of a distant future where warfare and mass pollution have made the earth almost uninhabitable."
Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang directed by Shane Black (2006)
[5/10]
"Individual scenes did make me laugh, but no synergy takes place between the noir and parody elements to make Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang more than a well-made, well-intentioned curiosity."
Kung Fu Hustle directed by Stephen Chow (2004)
[8/10]
"Kung Fu Hustle takes all the stereotypes of the martial arts genre, exaggerates them to an extreme, and provides a hilarious tribute to the genre."
Kung Fu Panda directed by Mark Osborne, John Stevenson (2008)
[6/10]
"Watching Kung Fu Panda, I came to the realization that animated martial arts just don't impress me. No one had to study for years in order to make the amazing moves demonstrated on the screen. Instead, the characters were just drawn that way."
L.I.E. directed by Michael Cuesta (2001)
[8/10]
"Through the excellent performances of Dano and Cox, L.I.E. embues each character with both positive and negative qualities. These people don't live in a black and white world, but in a grey world where we have to accept the good we can find."
Lady in the Water directed by M. Night Shyamalan (2006)
[4/10]
"I think Shyamalan keeps trying to surpass his first big success and keeps failing dismally. At least Lady in the Water kept me guessing up to the very end. I had the entire plot of The Village worked out after seeing the first preview."
Lake House, The directed by Alejandro Agresti (2006)
[6/10]
"Alas, we have only drab locations for a common love story with a cute, but unimaginative, gimmick."
Lara Croft: Tomb Raider directed by Simon West (2001)
[5/10]
"You get lots of action, and you get to watch a shapely heroine blast away tons of bad guys and a few animated stone creatures, but you can put your brain on vacation and just let your testosterone enjoy this one."
Last Boy Scout, The directed by Tony Scott (1991)
[4/10]
"The Last Boy Scout tries to look like a Die Hard movie but never quite delivers a satisfying stream of action."
Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events directed by Brad Silberling (2004)
[7/10]
"In most cases where I have both read the book and seen the movie adaptation, I recommend the book as the better experience. In the case of A Series of Unfortunate Events, I have to recommend the movie over the books."
Lethal Weapon directed by Richard Donner (1987)
[7/10]
"The characters, plot, and action all mesh effortlessly. Most action movies sacrifice plot and characterization for the sake of action, but Lethal Weapon balances its action with a logical plot that truly demonstrates a need for the use of lethal force."
Little Manhattan directed by Mark Levin (2005)
[9/10]
"Little Manhattan handles the themes of first love and lost love with sensitivity and uncommon depth."
Lord of War directed by Andrew Niccol (2006)
[5/10]
"From the Lord of War trailers, I expected an action movie, but writer/director Andrew Niccol has infused his film with political messages that unfortunately interfere with my enjoyment of the film."
Lost in Space directed by Stephen Hopkins (1998)
[4/10]
"If you like science fiction films at all, then you should see Lost in Space in a theater so you can get the full effect of the special effects. But don't waste your time if you want a serious or even semi-plausible plot."
Loverboy directed by Kevin Bacon (2006)
[5/10]
"I'm not sure what message director Kevin Bacon wanted me to take away from his film. As a moral tale, Loverboy shows that both neglect and over-protectiveness create dysfunctional relationships. We don't really see any contrasting non-dysfunctional relationships, so we don't have a counter-example to know what Bacon thinks a good relationship looks like."
Ma Vie en Rose [My Life in Pink] directed by Alain Berliner (1997)
[5/10]
"Seven-year-old Ludovic (Georges Du Fresne) believes he's a girl. Somehow when the stork delivered him, Ludovic's second X chromosome fell in the garbage, leaving him with a male body."
Madagascar directed by Eric Darnell, Tom McGrath (2006)
[6/10]
"Darnell and McGrath know that their plot only holds up for so many jokes, and mercifully Madagascar runs a trim eighty-six minutes -- just enough time to enjoy the story and the laughs without getting beat up by the same jokes over and over."
Magnolia directed by Paul Thomas Anderson (1999)
[8/10]
"Somehow, in spite of all the negative situations, Magnolia has a voyeuristic charm. I think we all can sympathize with one or more of the characters, and perhaps we realize (especially after the World Trade Center disaster) how easily outside events can pull our lives out of the track that we carefully planned an place us on a collision course with our past."
March of the Penguins directed by Luc Jacquet (2005)
[5/10]
"I thought the pacing of the film dragged a bit with the Freeman monologue, and I could have used some comic relief through personified voices."
Marie Antoinette directed by Sofia Coppola (2006)
[5/10]
"I find Marie Antoinette an interesting mood piece that doesn't tax the actors involved, except maybe with their period wardrobe. The soundtrack distracts from the tone of the film, and I got bored at many places, probably due to so much attention to detail in the costumes and sets at the expense of true biographical information."
Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World directed by Peter Weir (2003)
[9/10]
"Master and Commander excels at presenting a picture of life on a nineteenth century naval vessel: close quarters, dirty living conditions, and a high likelihood of receiving severe wounds or dying."
Matador, The directed by Richard Shepard (2005)
[5/10]
"In spite of the excellent acting of the parts, I cannot agree with the moral message of this film -- that one can benefit from the killing of other people."
Memento directed by Christopher Nolan (2001)
[9/10]
"The genius of Memento lies not in Leonard's condition, but in the telling. To punctuate Leonard having no direct recollection of the past, director Christopher Nolan plays out Leonard's story in reverse."
Metoroporisu [Metropolis] directed by Taro Rin (2006)
[7/10]
"Metropolis keeps your interest and keeps revealing multiple layers of character motivation and intrigue."
Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Movie directed by Bryan Spicer (1995)
[5/10]
"I doubt that you could enjoy the movie on its own merits; you have to see it as an extension of the Power Rangers story line established in the first couple of television seasons. But for Power Rangers fans, this movie still holds entertainment value, even after repeated viewings."
Miss Congeniality directed by Denald Petrie (2000)
[5/10]
"Put a hard nosed, glamour neutral, female FBI agent undercover as a contestant in a major beauty pageant (under threat of terrorist attack) and you could get a lot of laughs. But the writers of Miss Congeniality didn't write an all-out gut-busting comedy."
Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day directed by Bharat Nalluri (2008)
[7/10]
"Really you can't say much more than Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day presents charming characters in a well crafted love polygon. The humor comes easily, the plot never gets too heavy, and you get a double warm-fuzzy feeling as the two leads find true love emerging out of the chaos that swirls around them."
Mission to Mars directed by Brian De Palma (2000)
[5/10]
"As an avid science fiction fan, I find the ideas in Mission to Mars stale and hardly worth the effects budget. Like Lost in Space, the Mission to Mars producers seem more concerned with creating a visually appealing film than creating an interesting plot or hiring some really good astrophysicists as consultants."
Mission: Impossible directed by Brian De Palma (1996)
[6/10]
"I can understand killing off one or two of the team members to provide a revenge motivation for the rest of the team, but killing off the entire team, including Phelps, departs so radically from the traditions of the TV series, that only the first twenty minutes really deserve the name Mission: Impossible."
Mongol directed by Sergei Bodrov (2007)
[6/10]
"Director Bodrov clearly wants to paint a different picture of young Temudjin than most people have from from reading about the savage Gengis Kahn. Mongol paints a picture of a stubborn, religious man devoted to his wife and determined to create a great empire for the benefit of all Mongol people -- 'even if half of them have to die for it.'"
Monster House directed by Gil Kenan (2006)
[7/10]
"Monster House provides a nice, family-friendly movie with a good story and well developed characters."
Monty Python and the Holy Grail directed by Terry Gilliam, Terry Jones (1975)
[9/10]
"The special edition DVD with an extra 30-seconds doesn't add much value to the film, but the interviews with the cast and especially the tour of the locations with Michael Palin and Terry Jones give some interesting insights into the production."
Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium directed by Zach Helm (2007)
[4/10]
"The film tries to do to much in the short running time. Just resolving any one of the four major plot problems could have occupied the entire space of the film, and the resolutions we do get leave too many unanswered questions."
Mudge Boy, The directed by Michael Burke (2003)
[6/10]
"Writer and director Michael Burke does an excellent job at creating a portrait of Duncan Mudge, but he doesn't really take the story to a satisfying conclusion."
Music of the Heart directed by Wes Craven (1999)
[4/10]
"Pamela Grey created an excellent script that demonstrates Roberta's personality and her caring for her students, and Wes Craven (Scream, A Nightmare on Elm Street) demonstrates that he can create emotions other than terror. Unfortunately, Meryl Streep never seemed comfortable in her role and always looked stiff and unnatural -- especially when playing the violin."
My Fellow Americans directed by Peter Segal (1996)
[7/10]
"Both Lemmon and Garner make believable presidents, and they easily execute their lines from the well crafted script. A cub reporter from the Washington Post could work out the political intrigue of My Fellow Americans in a matter of minutes, but then you don't need a Tom Clancy class scandal for a light comedy."
My Super Ex-Girlfriend directed by Ivan Reitman (2006)
[5/10]
"The script does a good job at thinking through a lot of the situations for superhero-human relationships, but spends a bit too much time developing the sexual characteristics of such relationships."
Nacho Libre directed by Jared Hess (2006)
[5/10]
"It has some memorable lines, but the plot meanders without much drive or purpose and may go down as one of Black's low points in his career."
Night Listener, The directed by Patrick Stettner (2006)
[5/10]
"The Night Listener doesn't necessarily keep you glued to the edge of your seat, but it does have enough mystery and intrigue to carry the story at a reasonably pace comfortably to the end."
Night at the Museum directed by Shawn Levy (2006)
[5/10]
"You don't want to think too hard about the premise or the motivations behind the characters, but you can have a few good laughs watching Stiller in a typical slapstick role."
Night of the Living Dead directed by George A. Romero (1968)
[7/10]
"Of all the movies ever made, only a few actually start an entire genre. Romero's Night of the Living Dead sets the stage for zombie movies in the same way that Bram Stoker's novel set the pattern for all vampire stories."
Nightmare before Christmas, The directed by Henry Selick (1993)
[7/10]
"The typical and unsurprising plot doesn't provide much satisfaction, but visually Nightmare provides a fun, creative atmosphere that has so much detail that you can see something new every time you watch."
Notting Hill directed by Roger Mitchell (1999)
[6/10]
"Can the boy love the girl and live happily ever after, even though the girl is a movie star? Of course, they have one last chance to reunite and make up and to leave the audience with the requisite warm-fuzzy feeling."
Omen, The directed by John Moore (2006)
[5/10]
"Even though each of the parts of the remake surpasses the scenes in the original, the sum of the parts doesn't surpass the effect of the original."
Omen, The directed by Richard Donner (1976)
[8/10]
"Donner has created a horror classic that lives on in popular culture and has done so without resorting to the pools of blood and gore employed much of today's horror genre."
On Deadly Ground directed by Steven Seagal (1994)
[1/10]
"Hot off the success of Under Siege, Warner Brothers let Steven Seagal direct On Deadly Ground. What a mistake. Someone has probably made a worse movie, but I haven't seen it."
Over the Hedge directed by Tim Johnson, Karey Kirkpatrick (2006)
[5/10]
"Over the Hedge gives a visually appealing presentation that easily ranks on the same level with other recent animated features, but the preachy moral messages in conflict with advocating robbery and vandalism lessen the enjoyment of the already thin plot."
Painted Veil, The directed by John Curran (2006)
[8/10]
"The Painted Veil makes a methodical study of a couple that starts out with a marriage of convenience, deal with adultery, and come to love each other more deeply than they every expected."
Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest directed by Gore Verbinski (2006)
[6/10]
"If you want action and don't care much about plot or character development, then see Dead Man's Chest. If you like your action movies to have some purpose behind the action, then you will probably find this movie runs a bit long -- like I did."
Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl directed by Gore Verbinski (2003)
[8/10]
"Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl provides a fresh, funny adventure story that you can watch over and over."
Pokémon the First Movie: Mewtwo Strikes Back directed by Michael Haigney, Kunohiko Yuyama (1999)
[4/10]
"I find the Pokémon TV series (at least the first couple of seasons) fun and interesting, but the movie lacks most of the endearing qualities of the series. My two-year-old, who sat through all of The Adventures of Elmo in Grouchland begged me to take her home."
Poseidon Adventure, The directed by Ronald Neame (1972)
[7/10]
"Classic disaster fare with good character development and some interesting religious philosophy thrown into the mix."
Prairie Home Companion, A directed by Robert Altman (2006)
[6/10]
"The performances please and provide adequate reason to see the film, but the plot seems just an excuse on which to hang the performances."
Puppet Masters, The directed by Stuart Orme (1994)
[6/10]
"Nothing really stands out in The Puppet Masters, but none of the usual B-movie flaws drag it down ether, which leaves you with a mildly pleasant sci-fi feature."
Pursuit of Happyness, The directed by Gabriele Muccino (2006)
[6/10]
"Will Smith does a very good job portraying the desperation and despair, but the script doesn't allow him any room to display any range of emotions -- good depth, but no breadth."
Quatre Cents Coups, Les [The 400 Blows] directed by François Truffaut (1959)
[10/10]
"Every time I watch François Truffaut's Les Quatre Cents Coups (The 400 Blows), I have scenes of the main character Antoine Doinel (Jean-Pierre Léaud) running through my head for days."
Queen, The directed by Stephen Frears (2006)
[9/10]
"The Queen does something unusual -- it makes a fairly severe critique of monarchy in general while giving tribute to Queen Elizabeth II's years of service to her country."
Quills directed by Philip Kaufman (2000)
[6/10]
"So how do you make a movie that documents the life or works of the Marquis de Sade, the person from whom we get the word sadism? Quills answers this question with, 'You don't,' but you can piggy-back your movie on his reputation."
Return to Me directed by Bonnie Hunt (2000)
[6/10]
"Return to Me doesn't contain any Oscar-winning performances, but leaves you happy. Duchovny does a good job not bringing any of Fox Mulder into the role, and the rest of the cast do a good job at creating a warm family feeling around grace."
Road to Perdition directed by Sam Mendes (2002)
[6/10]
"Visually, Road to Perdition delivers almost a duotone effect with its high contrast and low color. In almost every scene, we feel the coldness of the gangster's soul -- often accompanied by rain. The visual appeal almost makes up for the cliched plot, but the heavy-handed salvation of the sweet angel child with a quickly attached anti-gun message takes away from the film's effectiveness."
Romancing the Stone directed by Robert Zemeckis (1984)
[7/10]
"The overall plot is fairly predictable, but the romantic and comedic elements mesh together well and create a light and funny story with just enough suspense to keep the story interesting."
Rosemary's Baby directed by Roman Polanski (1968)
[8/10]
"Rosemary's Baby creates a very creepy film that builds to a frenetic pitch toward the end through a clever arrangement of finding evil in everyday events such as dinners with the neighbors, conversations in the laundry room, and doctor's visits."
Santa Clause 3, The: The Escape Clause directed by Michael Lembeck (2006)
[4/10]
"It does seem that Tim Allen has driven his career into a rut, and The Santa Clause 3 merely provides one of the better run-of-the-mill movies Allen has made in quite a while."
Seeker, The: The Dark Is Rising directed by David L. Cunningham (2007)
[6/10]
"The Seeker has it fun and scary moments, but the threat of evil -- in spite of its well demonstrated power -- feels hollow, and the teenage protagonist too easily defeats in five days a force that has had thousands of years to prepare."
Shanghai Noon directed by Tom Dey (2000)
[7/10]
"Shanghai Noon offers slightly better than usual Jackie Chan dialog, typical improvizational martial arts, and fun but merely average stunts (at least for Jackie)."
Shaun of the Dead directed by Edgar Wright (2004)
[8/10]
"If you like British comedy, than you should find Shaun of the Dead riotously funny, and the humor comes from the characters' interactions and not just from bashing zombies with a cricket bat or trying to decapitate zombies with flying vinyl LPs -- and we get some of that too, but not overly much."
Shi mian mai fu [House of Flying Daggers] directed by Yimou Zhang (2004)
[6/10]
"Even if I weren't tired of watching martial artists dancing in the treetops, Yimou Zhang's House of Flying Daggers lacks the depth of story found in many of the recent Hong Kong martial arts epics such as Ang Lee's Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon and even his own Hero."
Silverado directed by Lawrence Kasdan (1985)
[9/10]
"Westerns and comedies don't get much better than Silverado. You get good crisp writing, witty remarks, great characters, and fun rough-and-tumble, .45-blasting action."
Siu Lam Juk Kau [Shaolin Soccer] directed by Stephen Chow (2001)
[7/10]
"Although not as riotously and continuously funny as Kung Fu Hustle, Shaolin Soccer does have quite a few good laughs, and you can see how this successful venture led to the even funnier Kung Fu Hustle."
Sixth Sense, The directed by M. Night Shyamalan (1999)
[8/10]
"I must admit that on my first viewing the ending took me totally by surprise. Usually I can see 'surprise' endings within a few minutes of the opening of the film. Shyamalan has built a plot that supports the surprise ending in every way and never telegraphs the ending."
Smoke Signals directed by Chris Eyre (1998)
[8/10]
"Smoke Signals succeeds on many levels: as a coming-of-age movie where two young men learn that they have more in common than they thought; as a road-trip movie; as a light comedy; and as a portrait of Native American life. Alexie successfully weaves these aspects together into a story that you can watch again and again."
Snakes on a Plane directed by David R. Ellis (2006)
[4/10]
"Sure, Snakes on a Plane just duplicates the clichés of most air-disaster movies, but with Samuel L. Jackson, you just have more fun watching the mayhem."
Solaris directed by Steven Soderbergh (2002)
[6/10]
"Tarkovsky's characters often deliver their lines in a flat tone, as if the characters not only believe the glass is half empty, but that it's filled with poison as well. In that sense, Soderbergh has made a 'happy' version of Tarkovsky's Solaris."
Spiderwick Chronicles , The directed by Mark Waters (2008)
[8/10]
"Ignoring the very clear warning about death and destruction to those who open the book, Jared breaks the seal and begins to read about a world of magical creatures. By breaking the seal, Jared breaks the barrier between the fairy and human worlds and exposes his family to a pantheon of aggressive creatures."
Stand by Me directed by Rob Reiner (1986)
[8/10]
"Rarely does a collection of child actors have so much talent bundled together, and the list of talent doesn't stop with the main characters. Stand by Me also has excellent performances by young Kiefer Sutherland and John Cusack."
Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace directed by George Lucas (1999)
[7/10]
"I have seen TPM three times and have liked it better each time, in spite of the problems I had with Lucas's execution of the plot. Lucas truly has a unique vision and talent for creating fun, visually pleasing movies that one rarely tires of seeing."
Step Up directed by Anne Fletcher (2006)
[5/10]
"When you watch a movie like Step Up, you wish the producers had just left out the lame, connect-the-scenes plot and just given us twice as much dancing."
Straight Story, The directed by David Lynch (1999)
[4/10]
"Imagine how bored would you get driving a riding lawn mower across Iowa? Now imagine watching a movie about a 73-year-old man driving a riding lawn mower across Iowa -- a serious movie, not a comedy. Now add a folksy violin ditty on an endless 30-second loop for 110 minutes of 5 mile-per-hour lawn mower adventures and you have The Straight Story."
Suchîmubôi [Steamboy] directed by Katsuhiro Otomo (2004)
[8/10]
"Ray's adventures as Steamboy provide a fun romp through an alternate history where advances in steam power accelerate the development of technologies."
Superman Returns directed by Bryan Singer (2006)
[7/10]
"Bryan Singer has collected an excellent cast and presented a new and interesting addition to the Superman saga that surpasses all the previous Superman efforts."
Syriana directed by Stephen Gaghan (2006)
[6/10]
"In spite of good performances by an amazing cast, the preachy message of Syriana turned me off."
There Will Be Blood directed by Paul Thomas Anderson (2008)
[7/10]
"I think Upton Sinclair would approve of this adaptation of his novel. We watch the self-destruction of the main characters as they focus on their greed and lust for power, and we see these empty lives -- like black holes -- draw the goodness and life unwillingly out of the people who happen to cross their path."
Three Amigos directed by John Landis (1986)
[4/10]
"With fondness, I anticipated watching the Three Amigos on DVD. Some of the jokes still made me laugh, but the plot didn't have enough interesting material to really make me want to watch the movie over and over."
Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada, The directed by Tommy Lee Jones (2005)
[4/10]
"Three Burials tries to make big symbolic and political statements but just fails to have the power to follow through with these intentions."
Time Bandits directed by Terry Gilliam (1981)
[7/10]
"A blow-by-blow description of Time Bandits doesn't do it justice. Director Gilliam has infused every scene with subtle humor, blatant slapstick, and cosmic justice."
Tristram Shandy: A Cock and Bull Story directed by Michael Winterbottom (2006)
[7/10]
"Watching Tristram Shandy, you get an idea of the novel's plot, but more importantly, you get a feeling for Sterne's style in the novel. The film's self-referential presentation, the constant shifting from one subject to another, the refusal to resolve just about any issue or story arc produces the same effect in the viewer as the novel does on its readers."
U-571 directed by Jonathan Mostow (2000)
[6/10]
"Mostow has created a good action picture with cardboard characters and a cliched plot. He spends too much time in the first half of U-571 trying to show the realities of submarine life and neglects details that would make the audience care about the characters."
Under Siege directed by Andrew Davis (1992)
[6/10]
"Under Siege provides some good bone-crunching, blood-spattering fun that mostly outweigh Seagal's bad acting and some weak plot points."
United 93 directed by Paul Greengrass (2006)
[7/10]
"United 93 walks us through the transition from before 9/11 to after 9/11. Our lives take place with a much more hectic set of background noises playing than before, and with United 93, we watch the exact moment when the background noise increased."
V for Vendetta directed by James McTeigue (2006)
[8/10]
"The twisting and engaging story line more than makes up for the 'comic book' characters, and director JamesMcTeigue displays an excellent balance of mystery, suspense, and violence."
Village, The directed by M. Night Shyamalan (2004)
[5/10]
"Shyamalan has assembled a stellar cast, and the actors do their best with the script's questionable motivation and silly dialogue."
Vita è Bella, La [Life is Beautiful] directed by Roberto Benigni (1997)
[10/10]
"Benigni and Cerami have finely woven all the plot elements together as you would expect in a superb short story. The story never denies life's harsh realities, yet still encourages us to live with more joy, regardless of our situation."
Walk the Line directed by James Mangold (2005)
[7/10]
"Hats off to the casting director who discovered these hidden depths and talents in Joaquin Phoenix, who so completely takes on the persona of Johnny Cash that you might think Cash's spirit had returned and possessed Phoenix's body."
Wanted directed by Timur Bekmambetov (2008)
[8/10]
"Over half of the film centers on Wesley training to take his place in the guild of assassins. Wesley doesn't have much fun training, but the film moves the story along with a nice combination of explosions, rapid-fire gunfights, chase scenes, and the discovery of cool and interesting things about the weavers' heritage and skills. You don't get a lot of deep thought out of Wanted, but you do get a fun, adolescent romp filled with plenty of action."
War of the Worlds, The directed by Byron Haskin (1953)
[7/10]
"By today's standards, The War of the Worlds has pretty unbelievable effects, but you can tell that Haskin took enormous care with the effects available to him at the time. The effects do work well to establish the deadly nature of the Martians and the unbelievable firepower they could produce with even just a single craft."
War of the Worlds directed by Steven Spielberg (2005)
[7/10]
"When a story remains popular for over a hundred years, clearly the elements strike a chord in the human psyche, and who better than Stephen Spielberg to know how to make a movie that resonates that chord in modern audiences."
Wicker Man, The directed by Neil LaBute (2006)
[4/10]
"Perhaps another male lead could have given a more plausible performance, but then you would also have to deal with the pathetic script that makes even talented women like Ellen Burstyn sound like a brainwashed robot. Then again, perhaps we should leave well enough alone, just enjoy classic cult films on their own merits, and use big-budget Hollywood money make something altogether new."
Wicker Man, The directed by Robin Hardy (1973)
[7/10]
"This original production far suprasses the recent remake."
Witness directed by Peter Weir (1985)
[7/10]
"Witness creates good suspense and shows the contrasting culture of the Amish without making any judgements. The script lays on the religious symbolism quite thick: John (an apostle of Christ), Book (a synonym for the Bible), and John knows carpentry (Christ was the son of a carpenter). With this setup, you must expect that John Book will function as some sort of savior figure, but that savior figure also has romantic inclinations."
Wo Hu Cang Long [Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon] directed by Ang Lee (2000)
[9/10]
"I have tried to watch Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon with a critical eye, but the engaging story and the absolutely gorgeous cinematography always distract me from my critical view and by the end, I just sigh like you would after taking a bite of the most succulent cheesecake."
World Trade Center directed by Oliver Stone (2006)
[6/10]
"Stone does an excellent job of developing his characters, in spite of having his main characters immobolized in a pile of rubble. He also never allows the story to get overly sentimental and avoids overtly manipulating the audience's emotions."
Young Frankenstein directed by Mel Brooks (1974)
[8/10]
"Even if you haven't ever seen Young Frankenstein, you have probably heard at least half of the dialog from ubiquitous quotes and samples. The script by Gene Wilder and Mel Brooks spoofs its predecessors and the black-and-white horror movie genre but these spoofs synergistically create an icon of comedy."
Zathura directed by Jon Favreau (2005)
[6/10]
"If you've seen Jumanji, then you pretty much have seen Zathura. In essence, a couple of kids find an old game, start to play, and then realize that the game affects reality in quite serious and perilous ways."
Zerkalo (Зеркало) [The Mirror] directed by Andrei Tarkovsky (1975)
[7/10]
"Tarkovsky wants more of an emotional response than a rational one. He creates scenes of nostalgic memory combined with emotionally charged scenes of modern day family strife combined with a typical Russian fatalism about life. I think other Tarkovsky movies such as My Name Is Ivan and Stalker more successfully create an emotional impact on the viewer, but The Mirror still provides a pleasant experience, especially for fans of other Tarkovsky films."
Zodiac, The directed by Alexander Bulkley (2006)
[5/10]
"The Zodiac tries to capture the zeitgeist of the San Francisco Bay area while the Zodiac serial killer actively killed victims and corresponded with the local press."
Zoom directed by Peter Hewitt (2006)
[2/10]
"I don't think that I have ever seen a movie that tried harder than Zoom only to fall flat on its face. It wants to make you laugh. It wants you to have fun. It wants you to like the characters. It wants to do a lot of things, but it just can't muster up enough energy to do any of these things."

Average score: 6.21