At the Movies...
The Good Movies, the Bad Movies and the Ugly Movies
Here's a list of over 400 movies viewed over the years, with numeric ratings and summaries. Many of these films were on someone's “recommended” list. We suffered through some stinkers to provide a good resource, if you want to see something but don't know if it's a waste of time. Note that the James Bond franchise is reviewed in its own blog, (with a different scoring system).
The ratings give a somewhat objective assessment of each movie.
The Columns
The columns include, Title and Year, S (Score, numeric, from 0-10), Genres, W (Watchable, numeric, from 0-2), R (Re-watchable, 0-2), Q (Quality, 0-2), P (Pioneering, 0-2), M (Memorable, 0-2), C (Compelling, 0-2), Notes and % (the final percentage rating out of a total of 22 points).
- Title and Year: listed in alphabetical order, except series. Series are marked with a solid• or hollow◦ bullet and listed in chronological order. Note that not all movies in a particular series are necessarily rated in this table.
- Score (S): is the base score, an assessment based on superficial impressions, tempered by looking at what other reviewers and the public are saying
- Genres: So many of these, such as: Action, adventure, animated, bawdy, biography, black comedy, caper, cinema verite, classic, comedy, crime, disturbing, documentary, drama, epic, erotic, exploitation, family/children's, fantasy, farce, fetish, fiction, fight, gore, grindhouse (exploitation/schlock), historical, horror, martial arts, medieval, melodrama, moody, mystery, mystical, neo-noir, noir, pornographic, prehistoric, prison, propaganda, quirky, religious, revenge, romance, satire, sci-fi/fantasy, shock/gross-out, slapstick, slasher, speculative, sports, surrealist, suspense, technical, thriller, titillation, tragedy, twist, violence, war, Western. Animation is generally fantasy unless otherwise noted. Exploitation/grindhouse, are pretty much the same, usually combine gore/violence, titillation, farce, fight, black comedy, horror, mystical, quirky, schlock and satire.
- Watchable (W): indicates if you can at least sit through it and be entertained
- Re-watchable (R): does it stand up to repeated viewings? Perfect example here is The Sixth Sense. Watchable, but once you know the twist, there's little point in watching again.
- Quality (Q): timelessness/classic. Includes acting, direction, sound, music and “look and feel.”
- Pioneering (P): innovative: does the film introduce something new, or something old in a new way, or have new technical achievements?
- Memorable (M): just that — if it can be remembered without reviewing clips and summaries. In these ratings, we're speaking of “memorable” only in a good way. For example, there's a scene in Lone Wolf McQuade of Chuck “Lone Wolf” Norris stomping the gas pedal to free his pickup from hopeless entombment, an impossible feat, but unforgettable for its stupidity.
- Compelling (C): if, for example, it makes you stay up late to watch to the end
- Notes: optional comments
- %: 100 * (S + W + R + Q + P + M + C)/22), the final rating, in percent
So, let's look at the data, then discuss the results afterwards.
(Hover your cursor over any title for a listing of the column headers.)
| At the Movies… Summary Reviews | ||||||||||
| Title and Year | S | Genres | W | R | Q | P | M | C | Notes | % |
| 13 Assassins (2010) | 3 | Adventure, Shock, Martial Arts | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 18 | |
| 16 Blocks (2006) | 7 | Crime, Thriller | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 59 | |
| 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968) | 9 | Sci-Fi | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | you know, there’s sweet bugger-all happening, but it's still interesting | 86 |
| 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea (1954) | 7 | Sci-Fi, Adventure | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 64 | |
| A Bug's Life (1998) | 7 | Animation, Adventure | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 68 | |
| A Place in the Sun (1951) | 7 | Romance, Melodrama, Crime | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 55 | |
| A Taxi Driver (2017) | 8 | Drama, Suspense, History | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 73 | |
| Aces ‘N’ Eights (2008) | 2 | Western | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | made for TV | 9 |
| Adventures of Robin Hood, The (1938) | 9 | Adventure, Medieval | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | timeless classic | 86 |
| Adventurers, The (1970) | 3 | Adventure | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 18 | |
| Alien (1979) • | 10 | Horror, Sci-Fi | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 100 | |
| Aliens (1986) • | 9 | Action, Horror, Sci-Fi | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 91 | |
| All About Eve (1950) | 5 | Drama | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 32 | |
| All-Star Superman (2011) | 8 | Animation, Fantasy | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 73 | |
| Almost Famous (2000) | 8 | Comedy, Drama, Musical | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 68 | |
| American Beauty (1999) | 9 | Black Comedy, Drama | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | as one critic described it, suburban satire | 82 |
| An Education (2009) | 6 | Drama | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | more narrative than movie | 45 |
| Annie Hall (1977) | 7 | Comedy, Drama | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 50 | |
| Ant-Man (2015) ◦ | 7 | Action, Sci-Fi, Comedy | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 55 | |
| Ant-Man and the Wasp (2018) ◦ | 7 | Action, Sci-Fi, Comedy | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 55 | |
| Antz (1998) | 7 | Animation, Comedy, Adventure | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 50 | |
| As Good as It Gets (1997) | 7 | Drama, Comedy, Romance | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 59 | |
| Assassin X (2016) | 4 | Action, Twist, Martial Arts | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | low-budget, a.k.a. “The Chemist” a.k.a. “The Target “ | 27 |
| Asteroid City (2023) | 8 | Comedy, Surreal, Farce, Sci-Fi | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | if you want an example of a polarizing movie… | 73 |
| Au Pair Girls (1972) | 5 | Bawdy | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 32 | |
| Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015) • | 6 | Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 41 | |
| Avengers: Infinity War (2018) • | 8 | Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 59 | |
| Avengers: Endgame (2019) • | 7 | Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | too pat a story | 50 |
| Baby Driver (2017) | 5 | Action, Crime | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | overrated, annoying, borrows from better movies like “The Transporter” (2002) | 27 |
| Bananas (1971) | 3 | Political Satire | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | self-indulgent, not Allen’s best, “a few pretty funny parts” | 18 |
| Barton Fink (1991) | 9 | Drama, Surreal, Crime | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | has Hollywood ever been this self-aware? | 91 |
| Batman, The (2022) | 7 | Action, Adventure, Fantasy | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | overrated – at some point, retelling Batman’s origin has to get tedious | 50 |
| Batman Begins (2005) • | 7 | Action, Adventure, Fantasy | 2 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | overrated – at some point, retelling Batman’s origin has to get tedious | 59 |
| Dark Knight, The (2008) • | 8 | Action, Adventure, Fantasy | 2 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | overrated | 64 |
| Dark Knight Rises, The (2012) • | 6 | Action, Adventure, Fantasy | 2 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 55 | |
| Batman: Return of the Caped Crusaders (2016) | 8 | Animation, Action, Fantasy | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | plenty of fun nostalgia | 77 |
| Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, Part 1 (2012) ◦ | 9 | Animation, Action | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | groundbreaking story; adaptation of Frank Miller’s 1986 comic | 82 |
| Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, Part 2 (2013) ◦ | 9 | Animation, Action | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | sets higher standard for animation | 82 |
| Batman: The Killing Joke (2016) | 3 | Animation, Titillation, Shock | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | pointless failure | 18 |
| Batman: Under the Red Hood (2010) | 5 | Animation, Action, Revenge | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 41 | |
| Batoru rowaiaru (2000) | 5 | Thriller, Melodrama, Black Comedy | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | “Battle Royale,” Japanese | 36 |
| Battlefield Earth (2000) | 5 | Sci-Fi, Farce | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | not quite as bad as they say | 36 |
| Baytown Outlaws, The (2012) | 6 | Action, Comedy, Grindhouse | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | violent but fairly entertaining; not as bad as reviewers say | 45 |
| Being There (1979) | 9 | Fantasy, Comedy, Satire | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | excellent | 86 |
| Ben-Hur (1959) | 8 | Epic, Religious, Drama | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 77 | |
| Best Years of Our Lives, The (1946) | 7 | Melodrama, War Propaganda | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 50 | |
| Big Bad Mama (1974) • | 6 | Titillation, Action, Crime, Farce | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 50 | |
| Big Bad Mama II (1987) • | 6 | Titillation, Action, Crime, Revenge | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 50 | |
| Big Lebowski, The (1998) | 7 | Farce, Comedy, Crime | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | original, absurdist stoner movie | 73 |
| Big Short, The (2015) | 7 | Biography | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | whitewash of the criminal malfeasance that led to 2008 economic meltdown | 55 |
| Billy Elliot (2000) | 7 | Drama | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 55 | |
| Billy Jack (1971) | 4 | Action, Drama | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | preachy slog | 23 |
| Black Adam (2022) | 6 | Action, Fantasy | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 50 | |
| Black Dynamite (2009) | 5 | Farce, Martial Arts, Action | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 32 | |
| Blackberry (2023) | 7 | Biography, Drama | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 59 | |
| Blade Runner (1982) | 10 | Sci-Fi | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | amazing achievement, best seen on the big screen | 95 |
| Blade Runner 2049 (2017) | 8 | Sci-Fi | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | interesting in its exploration of sentiment, romance, affection | 68 |
| Bourne Legacy, The (2012) | 9 | Action, Adventure, Mystery, Thriller | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | underrated, perhaps it hits too close to home for some | 82 |
| Breakdown (1997) | 7 | Thriller | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | borrows from “Duel” (1971), poor ending, but Kurt Russell always improves a movie | 55 |
| Bring Me the Head of the Machine Gun Woman (2012) | 5 | Action, Farce, Exploitation | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | Chilean | 32 |
| Bronco Billy (1980) | 8 | Western, Satire | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | “entertaining and unusual” | 68 |
| Bucktown (1975) | 4 | Action, Farce | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 23 | |
| Bullet to Beijing (1995) | 5 | Spy, Adventure | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | made for TV | 32 |
| Butch Cassidy & the Sundance Kid (1969) | 8 | Western, Crime, Drama, Comedy | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | classic buddy movie | 82 |
| Butterfield 8 (1960) | 5 | Melodrama, Schlock | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | silly, strictly a vehicle to ogle Liz | 32 |
| Cabin in the Woods, The (2011) | 8 | Thriller, Twist, Sci-Fi | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | original | 82 |
| Call (2020) | 7 | Thriller | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | South Korean | 64 |
| Capricorn One (1978) | 8 | Drama, Thriller | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | underrated conspiracy film created panic among the sycophantic lying “critics” | 64 |
| Carpetbaggers, The (1964) | 7 | Melodrama | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | silly fluff that doesn’t have the impact it had in the day | 64 |
| Cell 211 (2009) | 6 | Prison, Action, Suspense | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 50 | |
| Cellular (2004) | 6 | Action, Crime | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | early Chris Evans effort when they were making him into a star | 45 |
| Charley Varrick (1973) | 8 | Adventure, Caper, Twist | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 68 | |
| Chicago (2002) | 8 | Crime, Drama, Musical | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | better than expected, sly wit & social commentary; songs could’ve been more inspired | 77 |
| Child's Play (1988) ◦ | 8 | Thriller | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | good series, worth watching in full despite one dud | 77 |
| Child's Play 2 (1990) ◦ | 6 | Horror | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 50 | |
| Child's Play 3 (1991) ◦ | 4 | Horror | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | disappointing: very poor movie, but at least it has Chucky | 23 |
| Bride of Chucky (1998) ◦ | 8 | Horror, Comedy | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 82 | |
| Seed of Chucky (2004) ◦ | 7 | Horror, Comedy | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | underrated | 64 |
| Curse of Chucky (2013) ◦ | 7 | Horror | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 64 | |
| Cult of Chucky (2017) ◦ | 5 | Horror | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 36 | |
| Child's Play (2019) | 7 | Horror | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | unnecessary remake | 41 |
| Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (1968) | 7 | Adventure,Family, Fantasy | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | classic that’s too long for children – and adults | 64 |
| Circle, The (2017) | 4 | Sci-Fi, Drama, Thriller | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | disappointing | 23 |
| Citizen Kane (1941) | 3 | Drama, Propaganda | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | overrated nonsense | 23 |
| City Lights (1931) | 9 | Comedy, Drama, Romance | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | great silent film, though writer/director/actor Chaplin often overdoes the pathos | 86 |
| Cleopatra Jones (1973) | 3 | Action, Farce, Fetish | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 23 | |
| Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977) | 9 | Sci-Fi | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 86 | |
| Coffy (1973) | 6 | Action, Crime, Revenge, Titillation | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 59 | |
| Commuter, The (2018) | 6 | Action, Thriller, Crime | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 45 | |
| Crank (2006) • | 8 | Action, Farce | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | Cranky is gleeful hardcore lunacy at its best | 86 |
| Crank: High Voltage (2009) • | 8 | Action, Farce | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | “nothing succeeds like excess” “played to the heights of idiocy” | 86 |
| Crash (1996) | 6 | Drama, Fetish | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | clinical, Matt Brunson appropriately called it "exploitation chic" | 41 |
| Crash (2005) | 6 | Drama, Crime | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | wasn’t as bad as I though it’d be, but very forgettable | 41 |
| Crime Story (1993) | 7 | Action, Crime | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 50 | |
| DC League of Super-Pets (2022) | 5 | Animation, Adventure, Comedy | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 32 | |
| Dances with Wolves (1990) | 9 | Western | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 82 | |
| Darby O'Gill and the Little People (1959) | 8 | Adventure, Romance, Fantasy | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | some clever tricks and twists, particularly in final act, surprise and delight | 77 |
| Dead Man (1995) | 7 | Surrealist, Western | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | definitely different | 64 |
| Dead Man's Shoes (2004) | 4 | Drama, Revenge | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | unlikable characters, seems low budget, amateurish | 23 |
| Deep, The (1977) | 4 | Adventure, Thriller | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | routine, uninspired | 27 |
| Despicable Me (2010) | 7 | Animation, Family, Comedy | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | yes, a little bit trite | 59 |
| Destination Moon (1950) | 6 | Sci-Fi | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | of historical interest | 59 |
| Dirty Harry (1971) ◦ | 8 | Action, Thriller, Police | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | “Every dirty job that comes along.” | 82 |
| Magnum Force (1973) ◦ | 6 | Action, Thriller, Police | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | very typically seventies movie | 45 |
| The Enforcer (1976) ◦ | 7 | Action, Thriller, Police | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 50 | |
| Sudden Impact (1983) ◦ | 7 | Action, Thriller, Police | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | “Go ahead. Make my day.” | 68 |
| The Dead Pool (1988) ◦ | 5 | Action, Thriller, Police | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | somewhat modernized Harry, lacking that special something | 32 |
| District B13 (2004) • | 7 | Action, Martial Arts | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 55 | |
| District 13: Ultimatum (2009) • | 6 | Action, Martial Arts | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 45 | |
| Doctor Strangelove (1964) | 9 | Satire, Suspense, Propaganda | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | suddenly relevant again? | 95 |
| Doctor Zhivago (1965) | 5 | Romance, Melodrama, War, Epic | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | unimaginative and lacks curiosity; dull, unlikable lead | 32 |
| Don’t Breathe (2016) | 7 | Suspense, Thriller, Crime, Shock | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | and don’t swallow | 73 |
| Down by Law (1986) | 6 | Prison, Drama, Comedy | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | peculiar, quirky arthouse film, often descends to dullness | 45 |
| Drive (1997) | 7 | Action, Martial Arts, Sci-Fi, Comedy | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 55 | |
| Drive (2011) | 7 | Action | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | remake or ripoff of “The Driver” (1978) | 50 |
| Driver, The (1978) | 7 | Crime, Drama | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 50 | |
| Duck Soup (1933) | 4 | Comedy, Slapstick | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | What a piece of crap! Mirror routine only good part. Laughing at us, not with us. | 27 |
| Dumbo (1941) | 7 | Animation, Family | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | typical Disney fare, somewhat maudlin and overrated | 55 |
| E.T. - The Extraterrestrial (1982) | 10 | Sci-Fi, Fantasy, Family | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | undeniable classic | 91 |
| Easy Rider (1969) | 7 | Drama, Crime | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | plotless stoner road movie, of its era, not so compelling these days | 55 |
| Edge of Tomorrow (2014) | 9 | Action, Sci-Fi | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | epic and fresh Science Fiction | 91 |
| Eraserhead (1977) | 8 | Shock, Disturbing, Surrealism, Horror | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | a challenging picture | 82 |
| Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004) | 10 | Sci-Fi, Romance | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | this picture is a triumph | 91 |
| Event Horizon (1997) | 5 | Sci-Fi, Mystery, Thriller | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | stylish but pointless bore | 32 |
| Every Which Way But Loose (1978) | 8 | Slapstick, Action, Fight | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | underrated, not meant to be Shakespeare | 77 |
| Evil Dead (2013) | 5 | Horror | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 41 | |
| Evil Dead, The (1981) ◦ | 7 | Horror, Farce | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | cult classic | 64 |
| Evil Dead 2 (1987) ◦ | 7 | Horror, Farce | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 64 | |
| Army of Darkness (1992) ◦ | 7 | Adventure, Fantasy, Action, Comedy | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | offbeat | 64 |
| Exorcist, The (1973) | 8 | Shock, Horror | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 82 | |
| F9 (2021) | 2 | Action, Farce | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | an embarrassment, easily among the worst movies of all time | 14 |
| Fantasia (1940) | 5 | Animation, Fantasy, Propaganda | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | watchable only for some segments | 41 |
| Fargo (1996) | 9 | Crime, Drama | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 86 | |
| Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw (2019) | 7 | Action, Adventure, Comedy | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | cartoonish; goes overboard on the quips and rivalry | 55 |
| Faster (2010) | 6 | Action | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 41 | |
| Faster, Pussycat! Kill! Kill! (1966) | 7 | Comedy, Exploitation, Farce | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 59 | |
| Fiddler on the Roof (1971) | 6 | Musical | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 36 | |
| Fight Club (1999) | 9 | Suspense, Drama, Satire | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 91 | |
| Fist of Legend (1994) | 7 | Action, Martial Arts | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 55 | |
| Fitzwilly (1967) | 4 | Caper, Comedy | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 27 | |
| Florida Project, The (2017) | 8 | Drama | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 77 | |
| Forbidden Planet (1956) | 9 | Sci-Fi | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | wonderful, classic Sci-Fi adaptation of Shakespeare’s “The Tempest “ | 95 |
| Ford v Ferrari (2019) | 9 | Biography | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 68 | |
| Formula 51 (2001) | 4 | Action, Comedy | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | a.k.a.: “The 51st State” | 23 |
| Founder, The (2016) | 7 | Biography | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 59 | |
| Foxcatcher (2015) | 8 | Biography, Drama, Suspense | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | great performance by Steve Carell | 77 |
| Foxy Brown (1974) | 7 | Action, Exploitation, Farce, Fetish | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 59 | |
| From Dusk Till Dawn (1996) | 7 | Action, Crime, Horror | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | interesting genre-mixer most notable for Salma Hayek’s dance | 68 |
| From Paris With Love (2010) | 7 | Action, Crime, Thriller | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 59 | |
| Gambit (1966) | 8 | Twist, Caper | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 77 | |
| Gambit (2012) | 5 | Twist, Caper, Comedy | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | remake; even after reading a plot summary I barely remember it | 36 |
| Gaslight (1944) | 6 | Suspense, Drama | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | dated, but a saucy Angela Lansbury perks things up a bit | 55 |
| Gattaca (1997) | 8 | Sci-Fi, Drama, Thriller, Romance | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | remarkable and memorable movie that goes somewhat unappreciated | 82 |
| Get Out (2017) | 9 | Horror, Satire, Twist | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 86 | |
| Get the Gringo (2012) | 8 | Action, Crime, Prison | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 73 | |
| Getaway, The (1972) | 7 | Action, Adventure, Crime, Romance | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 59 | |
| Getaway, The (1994) | 8 | Action, Adventure, Crime, Romance | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | underrated remake of the 1972 McQueen/MacGraw film, far surpassing the original | 77 |
| Girl on the Third Floor (2019) | 7 | Horror, Suspense | 2 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | especially good if you’re a Phil Brooks (“CM Punk”) fan, weak ending | 64 |
| Girl Vs. Monster (2012) | 3 | Family, Adventure, Fantasy | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 18 | |
| Gladiator (2000) | 7 | Action, Adventure | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | good but doesn’t quite deliver epic status | 68 |
| Godfather, The (1972) • | 10 | Crime, Drama, Epic | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | classic crime picture | 100 |
| Godfather, The Part II (1974) • | 10 | Crime, Drama, Epic | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 100 | |
| Gods Must Be Crazy, The (1980) | 7 | Slapstick, Family, Comedy | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | pleasant surprise | 68 |
| Goin' South (1978) | 6 | Comedy, Western | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | didn’t mind Nicholson’s mugging for the camera, but no real substance here | 45 |
| Gone Girl (2014) | 8 | Drama, Crime, Mystery, Thriller | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 68 | |
| Gone with the Wind (1939) | 10 | Epic, Melodrama, Historical | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | one of the all-time greats | 91 |
| Good, the Bad, and the Ugly, The (1967) | 9 | Western, War, Adventure, Epic | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | can get slow at times, but a classic | 91 |
| Great Escape, The (1963) | 8 | Adventure, Suspense, Drama, War | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 77 | |
| Great Train Robbery, The (1978) | 7 | Drama, Caper, Historical | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | slow-paced but never boring | 68 |
| Grey, The (2011) | 5 | Drama, Action, Adventure | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 36 | |
| Guardians of the Galaxy (2015) • | 8 | Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 82 | |
| Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017) • | 7 | Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 64 | |
| Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (2023) • | 7 | Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi | 2 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 64 | |
| Halloween Pussy Trap Kill! Kill! (2017) | 4 | Horror, Farce, Titillation | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | satire or knock-off of “Saw” (2004) & “Faster, Pussycat! Kill! Kill!” (1966) | 32 |
| Harold and Maude (1971) | 7 | Black Comedy, Disturbing, Fetish | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 59 | |
| Harry Brown (2009) | 7 | Thriller, Crime, Revenge | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 55 | |
| Hell Night (1981) | 6 | Horror, Suspense | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 45 | |
| High-Rise (2015) | 4 | Sci-Fi, Drama | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | disappointingly failed concept | 32 |
| High Sierra (1941) | 8 | Crime, Drama, Film Noir | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 73 | |
| His Girl Friday (1940) | 2 | Propaganda | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | cheap, absurd and wildly overrated | 9 |
| Hobbit, The: An Unexpected Journey (2012) | 7 | Fantasy, Adventure | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | tedious, soured me on seeing any sequels | 59 |
| Hobo with a Shotgun (2011) | 6 | Grindhouse, Farce | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | low-budget, teased as a fake trailer in “Grindhouse” (2007) | 45 |
| Hot Fuzz (2007) | 7 | Comedy, Action, Farce, Police | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 55 | |
| Hot Spot, The (1990) | 8 | Thriller, Crime, Romance | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 68 | |
| House of Dark Shadows (1970) | 5 | Suspense, Drama, Horror | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 27 | |
| How Green Was My Valley (1941) | 8 | Drama | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | another pleasant surprise, considering the era | 77 |
| Hud (1963) | 10 | Western, Drama, Epic | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | classic masterwork | 95 |
| I Came By (2022) | 6 | Thriller | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 50 | |
| Imitation of Life (1959) | 6 | Melodrama | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 45 | |
| In Bruges(2008) | 7 | Drama, Comedy, Crime | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 64 | |
| In the Mood for Love (2000) | 6 | Drama, Romance | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Chinese film not to my taste but popular with those who like the genre | 32 |
| In the Name of the Father (1993) | 7 | Biography, Drama | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 59 | |
| Inception (2010) | 9 | Action, Sci-Fi, Thriller | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | fantastic movie, stunning and original | 91 |
| Incredibles, The (2004) • | 8 | Animation, Action, Comedy | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 82 | |
| Incredibles 2 (2018) • | 7 | Animation, Action, Comedy | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 73 | |
| Injustice (2021) | 2 | Animation, Action | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | dopey, trite, misguided and poorly executed | 14 |
| Irishman, The (2019) | 6 | Drama, Crime, Biography | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | overrated, another fake bio. – different story from that in the movie, “Hoffa” (1992) | 45 |
| Iron Girl: Ultimate Weapon (2015) | 5 | Action, Martial Arts, Titillation | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 41 | |
| It's a Wonderful Life (1946) | 5 | Drama, Family, Fantasy | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | overrated – too simplistic and unrealistic – seems derivative of “A Christmas Carol” | 36 |
| JFK (1991) | 9 | History, Drama | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | doesn't solve anything, but amazingly evocative | 91 |
| Jacob's Ladder (1990) | 5 | Disturbing, Mystery, Thriller, Horror | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 41 | |
| Jaws (1975) | 10 | Suspense, Horror, Adventure | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | modern classic | 95 |
| John Carter (2012) | 8 | Adventure, Fantasy, Action | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | underrated; historically important & influential concept invented by E. R. Burroughs in 1912 | 73 |
| John Wick: Chapter 2 (2017) | 4 | Action | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | intolerable, an insult to movie fans | 27 |
| Joker (2019) | 6 | Crime, Drama, Fantasy | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | thought I was watching some other old DeNiro movies | 45 |
| Justice Society: World War II (2021) | 6 | Animation, Action, War, Propaganda | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 36 | |
| Kentucky Fried Movie, The (1977) | 5 | Comedy, Farce, Titillation | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | gratuitous nudity helps this dated skit comedy | 36 |
| Killers, The (1946) | 7 | Crime, Drama | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 68 | |
| King’s Speech, The (2010) | 8 | History, Drama | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | predictable but watchable with good performances | 64 |
| L.A. Story (1991) | 8 | Fantasy, Comedy, Romance | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | ingenious, highly original | 82 |
| Lamborghini: The Man Behind the Legend (2022) | 5 | Biography, Drama | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | lacks depth | 41 |
| Last Action Hero (1993) | 7 | Action, Fantasy, Comedy, Satire | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | underrated but could use a few tweaks | 64 |
| Last Tango in Paris (1972) | 7 | Titillation, Drama, Moody Romance | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | controversial, obviously not for everyone | 64 |
| Lawrence of Arabia (1962) | 8 | Biography, History, Epic | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | yes, yes, magnificent, blah, blah, but I learned nothing of Lawrence or history from this | 68 |
| Legend of Drunken Master, The (1994) | 8 | Martial Arts, Comedy | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 64 | |
| Legion of Super-Heroes (2023) | 6 | Animation, Action, Adventure | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 50 | |
| Life of Emile Zola, The (1937) | 7 | Drama, Biography | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | yeah, not an accurate bio, so what’s the point except false glorification? | 45 |
| Living with Chucky (2023) | 7 | Documentary | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | about Chucky the killer doll from the “Child’s Play” series | 59 |
| Lone Wolf McQuade (1983) | 6 | Martial Arts, Farce, Western | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | ridiculous, but amusing | 41 |
| Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring, The (2001) ◦ | 10 | Fantasy, Adventure, Epic | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | modern classic | 95 |
| Lord of the Rings: Two Towers, The (2002) ◦ | 10 | Fantasy, Adventure, Epic | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 95 | |
| Lord of the Rings: Return of the King, The (2003) ◦ | 10 | Fantasy, Adventure, Epic | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 95 | |
| Lost in Space (1998) | 5 | Sci-Fi, Adventure | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 32 | |
| MacGruber (2010) | 3 | Action, Comedy, Farce | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | No. Predictable, misguided, falls flat. | 18 |
| Machete (2010) • | 7 | Grindhouse, Farce, Titillation | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | just a fun bloodbath | 64 |
| Machete Kills (2013) • | 7 | Grindhouse, Farce, Titillation | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | waiting for, “Machete Kills Again... In Space.” What’s the ^*@#$ hold-up? | 64 |
| Man from Nowhere, The (2010) | 7 | Action, Crime | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 55 | |
| Man on the Moon (1999) | 9 | Biography | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | award-worthy performance by Jim Carrey | 77 |
| Man Who Shot Liberty Valance, The (1962) | 8 | Western | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 73 | |
| Man Who Would Be King, The (1975) | 9 | Adventure | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 86 | |
| Many Saints of Newark, The (2021) | 7 | Crime, Drama | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | a bit pointless, some bad execution, but not that bad, but I’m a sucker for period pieces | 45 |
| Marksman, The (2021) | 6 | Action, Adventure | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | road trip movie reminiscent of “No Country for Old Men,” but a little bit tired | 45 |
| Marnie (1964) | 6 | Melodrama, Psychological Thriller | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | good performances, but needs something extra, and a bigger budget | 55 |
| Mary Poppins (1964) | 7 | Classic, Family, Musical, Fantasy | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | needs a bit of editing | 59 |
| Matrix, The (1999) • | 10 | Adventure, Sci-Fi, Martial Arts | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | modern escapist classic | 100 |
| Matrix Reloaded, The (2003) • | 9 | Adventure, Sci-Fi, Martial Arts | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 91 | |
| Matrix Revolutions, The (2003) • | 7 | Adventure, Sci-Fi, Martial Arts | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | wearing out its welcome at this point | 64 |
| Maximum Overdrive (1986) | 5 | Sci-Fi, Farce | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | Whaaa? Not quite as bad as they say, similar in concept to “Tremors” or “Friday the 13th” | 45 |
| McCabe & Mrs. Miller (1971) | 6 | revisionist Western | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 50 | |
| Mean Girls (2004) | 8 | Teen Comedy | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | pleasant surprise | 77 |
| Medium Cool (1970) | 7 | Drama | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | cinéma vérité-style combining fictional and non-fictional content, a bit aimless | 55 |
| Meet John Doe (1941) | 4 | Comedy, Drama, Romance | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | unbelievable, cloying, mawkish schmaltz from Frank Capra | 27 |
| M3gan (2023) | 6 | Sci-Fi, Thriller | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | mash-up of “Terminator,” “Child’s Play” & “Westworld,” but still compelling | 59 |
| Melvin and Howard (1980) | 8 | Comedy, Drama | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 59 | |
| Memento (2000) | 8 | Mystery, Thriller | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 77 | |
| Metropolis (1927) | 10 | Sci-Fi | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | iconic, epic work of art | 95 |
| Minority Report (2002) | 5 | Action, Sci-Fi, Mystery | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | somewhat boring and aimless | 45 |
| Mission: Impossible (1996) ◦ | 5 | Action, Adventure | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | the real Jim Phelps was no sell-out. | 45 |
| Mission: Impossible – Fallout (2018) ◦ | 8 | Action, Adventure | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | improbable but not half bad | 68 |
| Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One (2023) ◦ | 7 | Action, Adventure | 2 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | stunt-driven (great stunts); story and character interaction mishandled, preposterous | 59 |
| Modern Times (1936) | 10 | Comedy, Slapstick, Satire | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | classic Chaplin comedy masterpiece | 95 |
| Moneyball (2011) | 8 | Sports, Drama | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 73 | |
| Mortal Engines (2018) | 7 | Sci-Fi, Adventure | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | started off so well, but story fizzled | 68 |
| Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939) | 5 | Drama, Propaganda | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | vastly overrated, unrealistic… oh, right, it’s Frank Capra again | 45 |
| Mulholland Drive (2001) | 9 | Mystery, Suspense | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | surreal and dreamy, sometimes bizarre, and an artistic vision from David Lynch | 91 |
| My Left Foot (1989) | 9 | Biography | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | monumental, award-winning performance by Daniel Day-Lewis | 82 |
| Nashville (1975) | 5 | Musical, Drama | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | vastly overrated | 36 |
| Natural, The (1984) | 7 | Sports, Drama | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 45 | |
| Network (1976) | 8 | Drama, Satire | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | timeless message but somewhat dated presentation | 68 |
| Nightmare Alley (2021) | 7 | Drama, Thriller, Crime | 2 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | limited by its dated source material | 64 |
| No Holds Barred (1989) | 2 | Sports, Action | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 14 | |
| No Way Out (1987) | 6 | Thriller | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | remake of “The Big Clock” (1948) | 36 |
| Nobody (2021) | 8 | Action, Suspense | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | fun, but derivative of “John Wick” (2014) and “Mr. & Mrs. Smith” (2005) | 64 |
| North by Northwest (1959) | 9 | Adventure, Mystery, Suspense | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | probably Hitchcock’s best | 91 |
| North Sea Hijack (1980) | 6 | Adventure | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | Roger Moore picture, also titled “ffolkes” | 45 |
| Northman, The (2022) | 4 | Adventure, Action | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 27 | |
| Notorious (1946) | 5 | Drama, Propaganda, Suspense | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | implausible, shameless, overrated nonsense | 36 |
| Now, Voyager (1942) | 8 | Romance, Melodrama | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 64 | |
| Nude Nuns with Big Guns (2010) | 4 | Action, Exploitation, Farce, Fetish | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 32 | |
| Once Upon a Time in America (1984) | 5 | Crime, Drama | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 45 | |
| Once Upon a Time in Shanghai (2014) | 7 | Action, Martial Arts | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 41 | |
| Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood (2019) | 9 | Drama, Fantasy | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 86 | |
| One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975) | 9 | Drama, Black Comedy | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | biting critique | 82 |
| Ordinary People (1980) | 7 | Drama, Propaganda | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | good performances from Sutherland and Moore; ending quite moving; some scripting flaws | 59 |
| Paper Moon (1973) | 8 | Comedy, Caper | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | award-winning performance by Tatum O’Neal | 73 |
| Papillon (1973) | 8 | Biography, Adventure, Prison Drama | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 82 | |
| Paprika (1991) | 6 | Erotic, Drama | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 59 | |
| Parasite (2019) | 10 | Comedy, Disturbing, Twist | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 95 | |
| Parents (1989) | 8 | Suspense, Comedy, Satire | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | real movie-making: evocative, good acting, transports you | 77 |
| Patton (1970) | 9 | War, Biography, History, Drama | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 86 | |
| Pelican Brief, The (1993) | 5 | Mystery, Thriller | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 32 | |
| Planet of the Apes (1968) | 9 | Adventure, Sci-Fi | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | Way better than expected. “Ah, damn you! God damn you all to hell!” | 86 |
| Point Blank (1967) | 8 | Action, Crime | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | somewhat dreamy or surreal which slows it down but great ‘60s feel | 73 |
| Project X (1968) | 4 | Sci-Fi | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 23 | |
| Project X (2012) | 2 | Teen Comedy | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 14 | |
| Psycho (1960) | 9 | Suspense, Drama, Thriller | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | Hitchcock didn't really have a great ending that this deserved | 82 |
| Pulp Fiction (1994) | 9 | Drama, Thriller, Crime, Shock | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 91 | |
| Pumping Iron (1977) | 7 | Biography, Bodybuilding | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 68 | |
| Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981) | 9 | Action, Adventure | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 91 | |
| Rain Man (1988) | 9 | Drama | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | surprise casting sure worked in this film, deservedly a big hit | 82 |
| Raising Arizona (1987) | 7 | Comedy, Crime | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 68 | |
| Ratatouille (2007) | 9 | Animation, Family, Comedy | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 77 | |
| Rear Window (1954) | 7 | Mystery, Suspense | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | decent, but overrated, could be a TV movie of the week | 55 |
| Rebecca (1940) | 7 | Mystery, Suspense | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | amusing, if you can tolerate the goofiness, and Olivier, who must be an acquired taste | 50 |
| Recoil (2011) | 6 | Violence, Action, Revenge | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 50 | |
| Red Dawn (1984) | 6 | Adventure | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 50 | |
| Redemption (2013) | 7 | Action, Crime, Drama, Thriller | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | a.k.a.: “Hummingbird” | 55 |
| Reefer Madness (1936) | 2 | Propaganda | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | so bad it’s good, then back to bad again | 14 |
| Return to the Batcave (2003) | 7 | Comedy, Nostalgia, Biography | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | full name: “Return to the Batcave: The Misadventures of Adam and Burt” | 64 |
| Rock, The (1996) | 7 | Action, Adventure | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 64 | |
| Rocky Horror Picture Show, The (1975) | 7 | Fantasy, Comedy, Musical, Farce | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | quirky old stoner pic, notable for Tim Curry’s great performance and singing | 59 |
| Romancing the Stone (1984) | 6 | Fantasy, Adventure, Romance | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 41 | |
| Route Irish (2010) | 5 | Action, Drama, War | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 27 | |
| Run All Night (2015) | 4 | Action, Crime, Drama | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | probably better to run in the other direction; nothing you haven’t seen before | 32 |
| Savage Streets (1984) | 7 | Action, Revenge, Farce | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | enjoyably trashy Linda Blair movie | 55 |
| Scarecrow (1973) | 7 | Drama | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 70s buddy picture | 59 |
| Scorched Earth (2018) | 4 | Sci-Fi, Action | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | insipid | 23 |
| Scott Pilgrim vs. the World (2010) | 6 | Teen Comedy, Action, Fantasy | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 50 | |
| Searchers, The (1956) | 6 | Western, Drama, Epic | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | unusually boring for such a beautifully filmed picture | 50 |
| Seconds (1966) | 8 | Sci-Fi, Thriller | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | intriguing, could be more compelling | 68 |
| Seven Samurai (1954) | 7 | Martial Arts, Drama, Epic | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | somewhat too long | 64 |
| Sex, Lies, and Videotape (1989) | 6 | Drama | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 55 | |
| Shakes the Clown (1991) | 3 | Comedy, Crime | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 18 | |
| Shakespeare in Love (1999) | 8 | Romance, Comedy | 2 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | better than expected; nicely novel approach and lush costuming but leads don’t inspire | 64 |
| Shazam! (2019) | 7 | Action, Fantasy, Comedy | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | predictable but mostly fun | 45 |
| Sheba, Baby (1975) | 5 | Action | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | Pam Grier movie that disappoints after her other films | 36 |
| Shining, The (1980) | 7 | Horror | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 55 | |
| Shocker (1989) | 3 | Horror, Satire | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | lame | 18 |
| Shoplifters (2018) | 8 | Drama | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 73 | |
| Shoplifters of the World (2021) | 4 | Teen Drama | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | infomercial for “The Smiths” musical group | 23 |
| Sicario (2015) | 4 | Police, Thriller, Propaganda | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | overrated – leads nowhere – false glorification of law enforcement | 27 |
| Silence of the Lambs, The (1991) | 7 | Crime, Thriller, Quirky | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 73 | |
| Silent Running (1972) | 8 | Sci-Fi | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | excellent, melancholy, perhaps a bit much propaganda, but required for the story | 82 |
| Sin City (2005) | 9 | Neo-Noir | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | intensity – not for everyone – stunning adaptation of the Miller comic | 86 |
| Singin’ in the Rain (1952) | 4 | Musical | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | vastly overrated, only watchable for the fantastic dance numbers | 50 |
| Sixth Sense, The (1999) | 8 | Suspense, Drama, Twist | 2 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 77 | |
| Slumdog Millionaire (2008) | 7 | Drama, Romance, Crime | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 50 | |
| Smash Palace (1981) | 7 | Drama | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 59 | |
| Smokey and the Bandit (1977) | 5 | Action, Comedy, Farce | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 41 | |
| Something Wild (1986) | 8 | Comedy, Drama, Twist, Caper | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | almost magical ride, perhaps Liotta’s best role | 77 |
| Song of the South (1946) | 6 | Fantasy, Musical, Family | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 55 | |
| Sorcerer (1977) | 8 | Adventure, Drama, Suspense | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 82 | |
| Sound of Music, The (1965) | 6 | Classic, Family, Musical, War | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 45 | |
| Southern Comfort (1981) | 7 | Action, Thriller | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 64 | |
| Spartacus (1960) | 8 | Adventure, Drama, Historical, Epic | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 77 | |
| Spider-Man: Far from Home (2019) ◦ | 7 | Sci-Fi, Action, Adventure | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | overrated disappointment | 50 |
| Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021) ◦ | 7 | Sci-Fi, Action, Adventure | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | overrated disappointment | 50 |
| Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (2018) | 5 | Animation, Action | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | justifiably proud of their animation, but their ability to compose a compelling story is ass | 41 |
| SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of Water (2015) | 8 | Animation, Comedy, Adventure | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 77 | |
| Stalker (1979) | 2 | Drama, Surrealism | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | cinematic equivalent of chronic constipation; to critics who praise it: seek help | 14 |
| Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope (1977) • | 7 | Sci-Fi, Adventure | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 68 | |
| Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980) • | 8 | Sci-Fi, Adventure | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 82 | |
| Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi (1983) • | 6 | Sci-Fi, Adventure | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 55 | |
| Stick (1985) | 3 | Crime, Drama | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 14 | |
| Straight Outta Compton (2015) | 7 | Biography, Drama, Musical | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | unfortunately whitewashed and sanitized but still watchable | 55 |
| Stranger, The (1991) | 6 | Drama | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | Indian movie that doesn’t seem to understand its own message | 55 |
| Stranger, The (1995) | 5 | Action | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 32 | |
| Strangers on a Train (1951) | 7 | Crime, Suspense, Drama | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | more than a little fanciful – and swishy! – and carousels don’t work like that | 64 |
| Striking Distance (1993) | 6 | Action, Crime, Mystery | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 36 | |
| Suicide Squad, The (2021) | 6 | Action, Fantasy | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | copying the Marvel formula | 50 |
| Sunset Blvd. (1950) | 9 | Drama, Suspense, Crime | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | old classic and a pleasant surprise | 86 |
| Superbad (2007) | 6 | Teen Comedy | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 36 | |
| Superman (1978) • | 10 | Action, Adventure, Fantasy | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 91 | |
| Superman II (1980) • | 9 | Action, Adventure, Fantasy | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 82 | |
| Superman II: The Richard Donner Cut (2006) • | 10 | Action, Adventure, Fantasy | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 91 | |
| Superman III (1983) • | 5 | Action, Adventure, Fantasy | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | lost the plot | 32 |
| Superman IV: The Quest for Peace (1987) • | 2 | Action, Adventure, Fantasy | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | hopeless | 9 |
| Surrogates (2009) | 7 | Sci-Fi, Thriller | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 55 | |
| Swiss Family Robinson (1960) | 8 | Adventure, Family | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | hard to fault this one | 82 |
| Taken (2008) ◦ | 9 | Action, Suspense | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | Neeson shines. Sure, it’s simple & fanciful, but sometimes that makes the finest result. | 86 |
| Taken 2 (2012) ◦ | 8 | Action, Suspense, Farce | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | Still fun. You have to understand they’re playing it for laughs now | 73 |
| Taken 3 (2014) ◦ | 7 | Action, Suspense, Farce | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | see above; would still like to see #4, where they take Granny | 59 |
| Taxi Driver (1976) | 8 | Drama, Violence | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 77 | |
| Team America: World Police (2004) | 8 | Comedy, Satire, Puppets | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 73 | |
| Tears of the Sun (2003) | 3 | Action, War, Melodrama | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ridiculous | 14 |
| Teen Titans Go! To the Movies (2018) • | 8 | Animation, Action | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | TTG! is one of the freshest, most intelligent cartoons today | 68 |
| Teen Titans Go! Vs. Teen Titans (2019) • | 7 | Animation, Action | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 64 | |
| Terminator, The (1984) ◦ | 10 | Action, Sci-Fi, Suspense | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 95 | |
| Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991) ◦ | 10 | Action, Sci-Fi | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 95 | |
| Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines (2003) ◦ | 7 | Action, Sci-Fi | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | bit of a downer though | 68 |
| Terminator Salvation (2009) ◦ | 2 | Action, Sci-Fi | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | pointless | 9 |
| Terminator Genisys (2015) ◦ | 2 | Action, Sci-Fi | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | pointless | 9 |
| Terminator: Dark Fate (2019) ◦ | 2 | Action, Sci-Fi | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | one of the biggest flops of all time | 9 |
| They Live (1988) | 9 | Action, Sci-Fi | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 82 | |
| Thing, The (1982) | 9 | Action, Horror, Sci-Fi | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 91 | |
| Third Man, The (1949) | 5 | Drama | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | overrated, billed as a thriller but hardly so; Harry’s speech to Holly somewhat interesting | 32 |
| Third Person (2013) | 5 | Drama, Romance | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 27 | |
| This Island Earth (1955) | 4 | Sci-Fi | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | you can skip this one without much fear | 27 |
| Thor (2011) • | 6 | Action, Fantasy | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 36 | |
| Thor: The Dark World (2013) • | 7 | Action, Adventure, Fantasy | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 50 | |
| Thor: Ragnarok (2017) • | 9 | Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | terrific – this is the way to do Science Fiction | 86 |
| Tokyo Story (1953) | 7 | Drama | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | slow, melancholy little drama film | 55 |
| Tom Jones (1963) | 5 | Comedy | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | dated, preposterously overrated, unfunny, falls flat; hunting scene well-done though | 32 |
| Total Recall (1990) | 10 | Sci-Fi, Action | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | classic that never lets up nor lets you down | 100 |
| Total Recall (2012) | 2 | Sci-Fi, Action | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Why, oh why? Pointless drivel & time waster | 14 |
| Toy Story (1995) | 10 | Family, Fantasy, Adventure | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 95 | |
| Train to Busan (2016) | 8 | Horror, Thriller | 2 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | Chinese zombies on a train movie | 73 |
| True Romance (1993) | 8 | Crime, Romance, Action | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 68 | |
| UHF (1989) | 2 | Comedy, Satire | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | lousy movie – we do get Michael Richards before an extreme makeover | 9 |
| Ultimate Avengers (2006) | 5 | Animation, Action | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 36 | |
| Unforgiven (1992) | 10 | revisionist Western | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 95 | |
| Upgrade (2018) | 8 | Sci-Fi, Action, Crime | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | pleasant surprise | 73 |
| Used Cars (1980) | 7 | Comedy | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | okay, but would have been better with more emphasis on car dealer scams | 59 |
| Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets (2017) | 5 | Sci-Fi | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | pretty but pretty confusing | 41 |
| Vertigo (1958) | 8 | Mystery, Thriller, Romance | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | overrated, hard to care about story or characters | 73 |
| Village of the Damned (1995) | 4 | Horror | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 23 | |
| Way of the Gun, The (2000) | 7 | Crime, Drama | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 64 | |
| Werewolf by Night (2022) | 8 | Action, Fantasy | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | short (1 hr.) but clever, fun monster movie | 82 |
| What We Do in the Shadows (2014) | 8 | Comedy, Spoof | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 77 | |
| White Line Fever (1975) | 4 | Cornball Action, Melodrama | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | not very nuanced | 27 |
| Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (1966) | 5 | Melodrama, Twist | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | overwrought | 36 |
| Widows (2018) | 5 | Crime, Caper | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 41 | |
| Wild Bunch, The (1969) | 6 | Western | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | vastly overrated | 41 |
| Wild Card (2015) | 4 | Action, Crime, Melodrama | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | remake of Burt Reynolds’ “Heat” (1987) and just as bad | 27 |
| Winter Kills (1979) | 8 | Comedy, Satire, Twist, Mystery | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | clever, but was confusing to audiences | 68 |
| Wizard of Oz, The (1939) | 10 | Fantasy, Musical | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | outstanding classic | 100 |
| Wrongfully Accused (1998) | 2 | Farce | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | lousy movie | 9 |
A Few Notes
Out of a sense of magnanimity, and in the spirit of the director who says he stands up and applauds at the end of every movie he sees, because he knows how hard it is to actually create a movie, it looks like everyone gets at least two points.
Evaluating this by the tier system which groups movies of essentially the same merit together, the tiers shook out as follows:
Top tier: 90%+
Second tier: 75 - 89%
Third tier (still generally worth watching): 45 - 74%
Fourth tier (worst): 0 - 44%
Dishonorable mention (some go beyond just bad, or are such a betrayal that they have to be really condemned): Batman: The Killing Joke, Citizen Kane, Duck Soup, Eternals, F9, His Girl Friday, No Time to Die (reviewed in the James Bond blog), Stalker, Stick, Superman IV, all Terminators from 2009 on, UHF.
Naturally, these are my opinions, though other opinions were usually considered as well, so there is considerable objectivity. If you find my evaluations correspond to your tastes, then you can probably trust my other ratings for movies you haven't seen. This is the format all reviewers should have, summarizing all their reviews and notes in a table so they can be referenced and tested against your own assessments.
About the rating, “Re-watchable,” in preparing this, I've found many films I thought were re-watchable, aren't, when I actually consider doing so! For some, that may be the result of a high “Memorable” score! No point re-watching those if you remember them so well. So... I reviewed the “re-watchable” scores a little more strictly. With some of the movies, it's the journey, others, the destination. The “journey” ones are bound to accrue a higher re-watchable score.
One thing I've learned: Don't watch crap if it can be avoided! I may have avoided Dr. Zhivago and Fiddler on the Roof, and possibly even Mary Poppins, and others as well, if I'd known they would be so boring! I did persevere with them, for purposes of these reviews, since those are big-name flicks. It's interesting how tedium actually piles up, coloring things, making you reluctant to watch movies at all, out of apprehension!
Watch your genres. If you don't like particular genres, you may not like even highly-rated movies of that type. Crank, Eraserhead and Sin City, for example, are going to alienate whole swaths, but are good movies.
Notable failures include Citizen Kane and His Girl Friday. Those two flops are ridiculously, relentlessly praised by critics, but there's a story behind that. There's a post devoted to Citizen Kane, see below for more on His Girl Friday.
The Grey
This, I probably wouldn't have bothered with. Exploitative, since they've found Liam Neeson strikes a chord with his everyman + superman portrayals, so now they're trying to shoehorn that into every possible movie variation to exploit the audience draw. I can see how some people might rate it well, but I wouldn't recommend it to anyone, except to kill time.
Meet John Doe
Another disappointment from Frank Capra. Once again, Hays era restrictions were at least partly to blame in ruining this picture. If they had any guts, the only way to redeem this film was for Cooper's character to suicide.
Crapra, I don't for a minute buy the crap you're peddling.
Now, if the story is actually an insidious reversal, actually mocking and satirizing the mercurial, frenzied, selfish, pandering “little guy,” it purports to champion, then it's a near-masterpiece. If he's satirizing the fickle, hypocritical general public, the picture suddenly makes sense. Imagine, “every day like Christmas.” That's infantile, and a tall order when every day is already occupied by April Fools.
An online comment sums it up wonderfully.
An excellent premise, but the message ultimately falls short. Instead of making a poignant commentary on corruption or faith in the goodness of people or the ability of people to improve their own conditions through conscious action, it ends up falling into no-man's land, as neither comedy or tragedy, falling into the message that no man should try to make a difference, the masses are just sheep and incapable of seeing through smear, and that individual action is ultimately meaningless. John ultimately decides to avoid suicide, but does not propagate his message beyond just a handful of devoted followers. He abandons his purpose in the name of his desire for Ann's love -- her affection based solely on sympathy and illusion -- and in compliance with the will of his destroyers. While the movie pretends to have a happy ending, every character is ultimately “evil”. I can think of no alternate ending that could have been a greater surrender, a greater message of uselessness and despair.
Eternals (2021)
Not rated because I couldn't bear to sit all the way through this crap, though I've always loved superheroes and comics. Can there be anything more annoying than a passel of B-actors skittering around flailing their arms in a show of their “godly super powers,” and faking gravitas?
Not to mention my dismay and profound disgust at “Time” being appropriated. What a shallow misuse of that tune.
Exploiting the emotion engendered by good songs is a cheap and easy scam for lazy writers. They certainly didn't earn the right to use it here. And what of Waters and Gilmore et al? Are the boys hurting for cash? Do they even control their own material?
Metropolis
There's some controversy on whether the dystopian system described in Metropolis is viewed as some sort of ideal by the sponsors of the movie. However, the film is still a great achievement regardless.
His Girl Friday
Praise for this and Citizen Kane remind me of South Park, when Butters wrote The Poop That Took a Pee, and the attendant hoopla, except praise for The Poop is much, much more justified. Without going into detail, HGF is insidious, low-budget, ugly and crappy.
The Northman
Here, they're making a movie, because it's what they do, not because they have anything of any import to tell. Verdict: just because you can do something, doesn't mean you should. A waste of time, but you can appreciate the effort in the construction of the sets.
Batman: Return of the Caped Crusaders
Very clever writers on this one. Entertaining, funny, nostalgic, with a hint of slyness. Left me hoping for another one in this vein.
Singin' in the Rain
A peculiar picture, in that it would get around 100% from me, were it just the song and dance numbers. Otherwise, fuggedaboutit.
Annie Hall
Annie Hall is okay, but as a critic said, Woody Allen isn't as clever as he thinks, and one of the things that reviewer must have meant is that Allen follows the same pattern with all his movies, in that they're all like an amalgam of skits and comedy routines, with a very superficial, gossamer, coherence, not strong enough to be called a “plot.”
All About Eve
This is another one of those inexplicably praised duds that is so prevalent from that era (1930s-50s). (And, surprise-no surprise, the writer was the brother of the writer for Citizen Kane.) The pretentious and fey dweebs are out in force for this one, with lots of 10/10s. In the real world, it is not a very good movie.
Ordinary People
I called this one out as propaganda, re: its sneaky promotion of psychiatry, which is a pseudo-science. Sure it may help some people, but almost anything might sometimes help people, as we know from “placebos.”
Notorious
This one gives rise to some thoughts:
- They praise all this trash to give the impression Hollywood is producing all this great art and is worth watching!
- They especially praise some of the worst, obvious, crap, (Citizen Kane, Notorious, My Girl Friday...), because it's their most pernicious propaganda!
- They also, often, give short shrift to the best movies, (Gone with the Wind, Wizard of Oz, Hud...), because they aren't politically correct or are not propaganda that serves the current purpose.
- A lot of these movies are just to keep the studios working, churning out whatever, since that's what they do, and they have to keep the business running.
- If people weren't so gullible, they wouldn't get away with it, and we wouldn't have to put up with so many bad movies.
Stalker
Meet the director, a creepy, vain, dork ass's hole with a camera who unwittingly vents about the miseries of oppression via creation of an inept version of Eraserhead, eventually killing himself and half his cast and crew by exposure to toxic waste in his filming locales. Typical Bolshie-Russian trap of posing questions he can't answer and thinking/pretending he's answered them. There are a couple of (unintentionally) amusing scenes, one where principle characters careen unscathed through a hail of bullets in a rickety railway car. The other where an angry/upset woman convulses on the floor in a tantrum.
Mouthing twaddle as momentous philosophy doesn't make it so. The dialogue's speculative blathering is posed as questions, but it's vapid, because no answers are offered. Oh, yes, this thing is objectively bad; those who like it seem to be liars or clowns, and they reveal themselves in their speech, with such quotes as, “I can see how people might say it's boring...”
Remember our rule: if most anyone can reproduce it, it ain't art. And, this, anyone could make, or remake, given the same location and a directive to linger excruciatingly on meaningless, mostly static scenes. First movie I've reviewed that I considered giving less than “2” to! Don't waste one second of your time.
There is one thing, that shouldn't be a spoiler since no one should watch this utter bollocks, but, *Spoiler Alert* (speculating here, hoping to salvage something from this disaster), it looks like “The Stalker” and his clients are actually in “The Room,” or do go in “The Room that grants unconscious wishes,” and The Stalker's unwitting wish is that his daughter (whom he looks at lovingly? at the start of the movie) get psychokinetic powers to allow her to break the few meager items in the family's possession. Perhaps the guy with the mini-nuke's actual dream was that he did not blow up “The Room,” and he got his wish, too.
Star Wars (the first trilogy)
As a series of children's movies, this franchise rapidly became just too much of a cynical cash grab, pushing the unnecessary sequels and “merch” like Ewok toys and the like. The story, while not too bad, leaves something to be desired, but Lucas has the ultimate cop-out/excuse, where he can always go, “Hey, it's just modeled after the old Sci-fi serials.” Brilliant ploy, really.
Other than the first trilogy, I've only seen one other Star Wars movie, The Phantom Menace (1999), and it was pretty bad. I remember liking the underwater sequence though. I was dragged down there, reluctantly, by a Star Wars fanatic. So I look over and what is this? Golden slumbers filled his eyes. Snoozing like a baby through this “great movie” he was so anxious to see again. WTH?
It's not just the ratings that are often skewed. You can't seem to trust anything to do with movies, for example the legends of Tom Cruise. They're claiming he did 10,000 jumps, seven takes of jumping off a cliff on a motorbike for a spectacular stunt. How is that possible, particularly for a 60-year-old? It isn't. We're speaking of the “Making Of...” featurette for the last Mission Impossible (2023).
Has anyone sat down to analyze the time it takes to do all this? And every tick of the clock burns up the green. What about the debris of seven or more motorcycles at the bottom of the cliff? Then they say there's no speedo on the stunt bikes, which is needlessly unsafe, when they could put an indicator light, or use a radar gun and billboard like those info boards on the roads. Hello, relay the speed to him through a earpiece. Such BS. If the first take is good, which they indicated it was in the featurette, no need to take chances and re-do, just for vanity's sake. Just stupid.
Does he have no direction at all, just does whatever he wants? When these movies are a huge financial endeavor, and you don't risk your star, your meal ticket. The banks and insurers certainly don't tolerate that kind of nonsense.
Another Gripe
And it's an embarrassment how many movies or types of movies don't get considered for awards, particularly comedies, horror and action films, that should be. Malin Akerman gave a fantastic performance in The Heartbreak Kid (2007), and her antics like the “deviated septum” thing made the movie. In fact it's hard to imagine how she managed to pull that off and keep her composure.
A Note about Film Budgets and Profits
Of course they're lying about those. People were wondering how Hollywood loses money on billion-dollar hits. Well, they investigated, to find they actually make money (of course, or how would they stay in business to make yet another big-budget film?) but Hollywood has creative accounting to make it look like they've lost money.
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