Fresh B+
|
Scott Pilgrim vs. the World (2010)
|
"What it does have is a very smart script and a tremendous amount of visual flair."
|
Robert Roten
|
Fresh B
|
Eat Pray Love (2010)
|
"It does focus on spirituality, a vital part of most human beings which nevertheless is absent in most films."
|
Robert Roten
|
Splat C
|
The Expendables (2010)
|
"It looks like most of the money spent in this project went to explosions, which are many and huge, and to acting salaries, at the expense of special effects and the script, which could have used a big upgrade."
|
Robert Roten
|
Fresh C+
|
The 300 Spartans (2003)
|
"The battles seem more realistic because they are done essentially like a stage play in real time. This requires real skill and training."
|
Robert Roten
|
Fresh B
|
Salt (2010)
|
"A mysterious main character, lots of action and a complicated plot combine for a pretty good summer popcorn movie."
|
Robert Roten
|
Fresh B
|
Predators (2010)
|
"Most sequels are inferior to the original film, but "Predators" is an exception, a film that stands on its own and is the equal of the original film."
|
Robert Roten
|
Fresh C+
|
The Sorcerer's Apprentice (2010)
|
"It shows a fair amount of visual imagination, a brisk pace, solid acting, and lots of action, but is lacking in imagination when it comes to story and dialogue."
|
Robert Roten
|
Fresh B
|
Despicable Me (2010)
|
"Kiddie-level animated feature with a lot of jokes that hit below the belt, but the characters are lovable and its heart is in the right place."
|
Robert Roten
|
Fresh B
|
Inception (2010)
|
"I thought this film was going to be a real brain-twister like "Memento" or "The Prestige," but "Inception" is not all that complicated, which is helpful, given all those special game-type rules you have to keep track of."
|
Robert Roten
|
Splat F
|
Le Voyage du Ballon Rouge (The Flight of the Red Balloon) (2007)
|
"Watching this was a waste of time."
|
Robert Roten
|
Fresh C+
|
The Twilight Saga: Eclipse (2010)
|
"The third in the Twilight series of films may be the best so far, but I still wonder if this series will ever amount to anything besides box office gold."
|
Robert Roten
|
Fresh C+
|
The Last Airbender (2010)
|
"It is no surprise to me it is doing a better business at the box office than most experts anticipated."
|
Robert Roten
|
Splat C
|
Robin Hood (2010)
|
"What is missing from this version of Robin Hood is the fun that usually goes with things like robbing the rich and giving the loot to the poor. This comes across as very serious, and it doesn't need to be."
|
Robert Roten
|
Fresh B
|
Solitary Man (2010)
|
"Douglas gives a tour de force performance here and the rest of the cast is excellent as well. While I couldn't really buy Kalmen's behavior based on his motivations, Douglas does a tremendous job of selling this character anyway."
|
Robert Roten
|
Fresh C+
|
Knight & Day (2010)
|
"This is a summer action film and it does deliver on the promise of action. While the action is so extreme as to border on silliness, this is often done intentionally for comic effect."
|
Robert Roten
|
Fresh B+
|
Toy Story 3 (2010)
|
"The film does go through a lot of extra action sequences just to fill up time (not just one, but three trips in a dump truck) but it is worth the wait for that exquisite ending."
|
Robert Roten
|
Fresh B
|
The A-Team (2010)
|
"Wacky, over-the-top action sequences, self-mocking tone and quirky characters combine to make a good summer action movie."
|
Robert Roten
|
Fresh B
|
The Karate Kid (2010)
|
"A powerful emotional kick, strong performances and pretty scenery overcome the overlong, overstuffed plot."
|
Robert Roten
|
Fresh C+
|
Get Him to the Greek (2010)
|
"Combs, the only breath of fresh air in the film, is the only guy in the whole movie who is in on the joke."
|
Robert Roten
|
Fresh B
|
Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time (2010)
|
"A swashbuckler in the grand tradition, it has the ingredients of a good summer popcorn movie."
|
Robert Roten
|
Fresh B
|
Shrek Forever After (Shrek 4) (2010)
|
"There probably will not be another Shrek movie, but if there isn't, this is a good place to end the franchise, and two out of three is a far better average, as far as quality goes, than most sequels."
|
Robert Roten
|
Fresh A
|
Oceans (Disneynature's Oceans) (2010)
|
"Fantastic creatures, fantastic photography"
|
Robert Roten
|
Fresh C+
|
Iron Man 2 (2010)
|
"Typical popcorn film, except for the huge budget."
|
Robert Roten
|
Fresh A
|
The Nature of Existence (2010)
|
"Nygard has done a terrific job of asking questions, getting answers and finding interesting people to appear in this film."
|
Robert Roten
|
Fresh B
|
Kick-Ass (2010)
|
"Certainly entertaining enough as an action film and it works well enough as a love story, but there are some serious problems with the dramatic portions of the film and its warped moral message."
|
Robert Roten
|
Fresh B
|
Clash of the Titans (2010)
|
"All in all, it is a pretty good adventure. The acting is adequate, but in these kinds of film it really isn't about the acting at all, is it?"
|
Robert Roten
|
Fresh A
|
How to Train Your Dragon (2010)
|
"The characters are the strong suit of this film, and the story is very good as well. The animation and 3D effects are excellent, especially the flying scenes, which are reminiscent of those in 'Avatar.'"
|
Robert Roten
|
Splat C
|
Hot Tub Time Machine (2010)
|
"The story is interesting enough, but the characters are so shallow and venal I couldn't work up any interest in what happens to them."
|
Robert Roten
|
Fresh B
|
The Ghost Writer (2010)
|
"There are number of loose ends that are not tied up and some character motivations don't add up. Nevertheless, Polanski polishes everything until it gleams. This is a very slick, good-looking production."
|
Robert Roten
|
Fresh B
|
The Last Station (2010)
|
"The acting is excellent by this very capable cast, and the story is interesting. The cinematography, by Sebastian Edschmid (Adam Resurrected) is also excellent. The outdoor scenes are lush and gorgeous."
|
Robert Roten
|
Splat D
|
Bangkok Dangerous (2008)
|
"This has the look of a cheap quickie foreign film, not unlike a Hong Kong action film."
|
Robert Roten
|
Fresh B
|
Alice in Wonderland (2010)
|
"The look of the film is electric with amazing creatures and incredibly varied landscapes from lush to bleak."
|
Robert Roten
|
Splat C
|
Green Zone (2010)
|
"In a sense, "Green Zone" is a movie which goes to great pains to point out the obvious."
|
Robert Roten
|
Fresh B
|
Los Abrazos Rotos (Broken Embraces) (Broken Hugs) (2009)
|
"The broken field running of the film's time line requires each viewer to reassemble the story in his head."
|
Robert Roten
|
Splat C
|
The Road (2009)
|
"The dull gray monotony of existence never looked as uninviting as it does in this film."
|
Robert Roten
|
Fresh A
|
Broadcast News (1987)
|
"People often behave foolishly in matters of love and just about everything else. That can lead to heartache and tragedy, but that same foolishness can also be very funny to watch, as it is here."
|
Robert Roten
|
Fresh C+
|
Shutter Island (2010)
|
"Unfortunately, despite clever writing and all of Scorcese's cinematic tricks, this film is not engrossing, compelling or entertaining. It is a slick, but hollow exercise in genre filmmaking."
|
Robert Roten
|
Fresh C+
|
Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief (2010)
|
"An awful lot of acting talent goes to waste in this film, but there is barely enough here to marginally satisfy the younger set."
|
Robert Roten
|
Fresh C+
|
The Twilight Saga: New Moon (2009)
|
"I did find this film to be a little better than "Twilight" because of the romantic triangle aspect. That, and other plot developments add some complexity and suspense, making the film a bit more interesting."
|
Robert Roten
|
Fresh A
|
The Long Goodbye (1973)
|
"The look, the unconventional cast and the unconventional story make this a unique film, one of Altman's best."
|
Robert Roten
|
Fresh B
|
The Book of Eli (2010)
|
"One would have to invoke supernatural influences to make it believable, and that is pretty much what is being invoked."
|
Robert Roten
|
Fresh B
|
The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus (2009)
|
"The story is odd and doesn't really hang together very well, but the film is worth watching mainly to experience the wonder of Mr. Gilliam's fantastic visual imagination."
|
Robert Roten
|
Fresh C+
|
Daybreakers (2010)
|
"Passable entertainment because it is more imaginative than most vampire films and because of Willem Dafoe's performance, but it should have been better."
|
Robert Roten
|
Fresh B
|
Everybody's Fine (2009)
|
"This bittersweet family road film about a man trying to forge new connections to his children and grandchildren is powered by a strong Robert De Niro performance."
|
Robert Roten
|
Fresh B
|
The Ister (2004)
|
"A very ambitious film that journeys up the Danube from its mouth to it's source('s), noting the history of places, people and thought along its 3,000 kilometer length."
|
Robert Roten
|
Fresh B
|
Valentino: The Last Emperor (2009)
|
"The documentary film crew gets remarkable behind-the-scenes access to Valentino's fashion empire."
|
Robert Roten
|
Fresh B
|
Sita Sings the Blues (2008)
|
"The story makes little sense to those unfamiliar with Indian culture and literary traditions, but it is made accessible for westerners by the use of a kind of Greek Chorus of shadow puppets who help interpret the story."
|
Robert Roten
|
Fresh C+
|
Sherlock Holmes (2009)
|
"In this adaptation, the Arthur Conan Doyle character is turned into a slightly crazed superhero, an autistic detective savant, in an action movie."
|
Robert Roten
|
Fresh B
|
The Young Victoria (2009)
|
"Another in the endless stream of movies about the British monarchy, but a cut above the average in terms of story and acting."
|
Robert Roten
|
Fresh A
|
Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire (2009)
|
"A powerful, imaginative film about the rise of a young woman from the depths of despair to the heights of self fulfillment."
|
Robert Roten
|