Documentary Reviews: 2000-2009

BEST OVERALL DOCUMENTARY


BEST POLITICAL DOCUMENTARY


BEST SOCIAL SCIENCE DOCUMENTARY


BEST SPORTS DOCUMENTARY


BEST TRUE CRIME DOCUMENTARY
Capturing The Friedmans

BEST MUSIC-RELATED DOCUMENTARY


BEST BIOGRAPHY


DOCUMENTARY LIST:
Street Fight (2005): A
Who Killed the Electric Car? (2006): A
Spellbound (2002): A
Word Wars (2004): A
Bigger Stronger Faster (2007): A [Human Interest / Current Events]
Maxed Out (2006): A-
The Future of Food (2004): A- [Current Issues]
Biggie & Tupac (2002): A-
Fahrenheit 9/11 (2004): A-
No End In Sight (2007): A- [Recent History Retelling]
Who Killed The Electric Car? (2006): A-
e-Dreams (2002): A-
Capturing The Friedmans (2003): A-?
Beef (2003): A-?
An Inconvinient Truth (2005): A- [Speaker(s)]
Welcome to Deathrow (2001): B+
Super Size Me (2004): B+
Backstage (2000): B
Bowling for Columbine (2002): B
March of the Penguins (2005): B [Science]
The Heart of The Game (2005): B
Life and Debt (2001): B [History]
Outfoxed: Murdoch's War on Journalism (2004): B
This Film Is Not Yet Rated (2006): B [Investigative Journalism]
So Goes The Nation (2006): B [Story of 2004 Election from Ohio POV - A Retelling]
Can Mr. Smith Get To Washington Anymore? (2006): B
Everything's Cool (2007): B [Current Issues]
Confessions of a Superhero (2007): B [Human Interest]
Control Room (2004): B [Recent History Retelling]
ENRON: The Smartest Guys In The Room (2005): B?
Hacking Democracy (2006): B?
In Debt We Trust (2006): B-
Beef 2 (2004): B-
McLibel (2005): C+ [Legal Retelling]
The Business of Being Born (2007): C+ [Lopsided conversation about how one chooses to give birth - Also, has story aspects]
The Future We Will Create (2007): C+ [Speaker(s)]
The Corporation (2004): C
The Hunting of the President (2004): C?
Gonzo: The Life and Work of Dr. Hunter S. Thompson (2008?): TBD [Biography]


OLDER DOCUMENTARIES:
Hoop Dreams (1994): A-
Manufacturing Consent: Noam Chomsky (1993): B?
Roger and Me (1989): B-?
The Show (1995): B
When We Were Kings (1996): B?

DOCUMENTARIES TO SEE:

The Invisible (2007)

"Ghost With Troubled Teens"

PRO: ACT;
CON: PLOT;
The movie does a great job in the first Act 1 setting up the characters; infusing them with personality and giving us sympathy for them. Some of it is a bit heavy-handed, but it works, and efficiently.

One lesson a screenwriter could learn from a movie like this is that a writer must be conscious of what previews and promotions are likely to tell the viewer before they watch the movie. A bit of the second act is spent watching the protagonist catch up with what the viewer was almost explicitly told in previews. This actually didn't take up a lot of time, but it felt like a long time.

Another lesson is that a movie can be ruined by faulty, dishonest promotion. I see this all of the time and 'The Invisible' is another victim. It is sold as a Stir of Echoes / Sixth Sense type of super-natural thriller but has more in common with 'Ghost'. I came in expecting a thriller, but there are few thrills and the plot itself is a bit shaky.

As a drama, I found the character development in Acts 2 and 3 not entirely convincing. The characters have clear cut start and end points, but their journeys have something to be desired.

This movie kinda works as an super-natural drama, but I'd rent Ghost instead: C

Bonus Note: I watched the deleted scenes and they left out an important dinner sequence with his Mother. It isn't very long and explains an important decision later in Act 1. Some of the stuff did need to go, but the last deleted scene should have stayed in. It has dramatic impact.

Heart of the Game (2005)

PRO: N/A
CON: N/A
A solid documentary about a Women's High School Basketball team under the direction of an excentric new Head Coach. The documentary's biggest weakness is the lack of character exploration of the individual characters. In fact the DVD shows some of that very detail that was cut out. The documentary can't seem to decide if it is about the one Black player on an otherwise White team or about all of the players. Ultimately, it chooses a middle ground, giving more focus to the Black player than any other but otherwise giving some "shine" to everybody involved, including a rival's coach. Balancing the different focus points is difficult but the movie is mostly successful.: B

Fantastic Four (2005)

PRO: SFX;
CON: DIA; PLOT
I came into this movie expecting the worst, but what I got was a solid superhero movie that just wasn't ambitious enough. Looking at the previews, I though the casting was horrible. However, their choice of the guy from Nip/Tuck as Doctor Doom worked better than I expected and Johnny Storm was cast very well. The major problem with the movie is that it just wasn't tryin to do very much. It is an origin movie and that's it. I will say I am looking forward to the sequel. If you are a fan of comic books and you don't mind a very simple plot, I recommend this movie. It is an enjoyable experience.: C+

The Break-Up (2006)

Starring Vince Vaughn and Jennifer Aniston
Pros: N/A
Cons: END; NFUN;
Review: When I saw the previews, I expected a romantic comedy. I love to laugh, and I enjoy all types of comedies. I did not expect what I got, a romantic movie that couldn't decide through much of it whether it wanted to be funny or taken seriously. I guess it wanted to be both, but that is a tall task, rarely executed well. As for this film, it just isn't very funny. The serious relationship stuff is average, but not done well enough to be notable. Also, the ending isn't very good: C+

Movie Reviews: 2007

BEST MOVIE
300

BEST DRAMA
Michael Clayton

BEST ACTION / ADVENTURE
300

BEST COMEDY
Knocked Up

BEST THRILLER
The Lookout

BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT
Spider-Man 3

WORST MOVIE
Next

SPECIAL AWARD FOR UNIQUE FILMAKING
300

SPECIAL AWARD FOR UNIQUE FILMAKING (1st Runner-Up)
Grindhouse: Deathproof

ALL MOVIES

300 (2007): A-
Knocked Up (2007): B+
The Bourne Ultimatum (2007): B+
The Lookout (2007): B+
Gone Baby Gone (2007): B+
Live Free or Die Hard (2007): B
Disturbia (2007): B
Perfect Strangers (2007): B
Saw IV (2007): B
I Am Legend (2007): B
Shrek 3 (2007): B
Pirates of the Carribean: At World's End (2007): B
3:10 to Yuma (2007): B
Michael Clayton (2007): B
In The Name of Elah (2007): B
Rendition (2007): B
Transformers (2007): B
The Kingdom (2007): B
Smokin' Aces (2007): B
Juno (2007): B
National Treasure: Book of Secrets (2007): B
I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry (2007): B
30 Days of Night (2007): B
Superbad (2007): B
Blades of Glory (2007): B
A Mighty Heart (2007): B
88 Minutes (2007): B-
AVP: Requiem (2007): B-
Lions for Lambs (2007): B-
Good Luck Chuck (2007): B-
Shooter (2007): B-
The Simpsons Movie (2007): B-
Rattatouie (2007): B-
Eastern Promises (2007): B-
Grindhouse: Deathproof (2007): B-
Grindhouse: Planet Terror (2007): B-
Norbit (2007): B-
Fracture (2007): B-
The Reaping (2007): B-
Zodiac (2007): B-
The Vacancy (2007):B-
American Gangster(2007): B-
Breach (2007): B-
No Country For Old Men (2007): B-
1408 (2007): B-
There Will Be Blood (2007): B-
Ocean's 13 (2007): C+
Hot Fuzz (2007): C+
Resident Evil: Extinction (2007): C+
Mr. Brooks (2007): C+
Balls of Fury (2007): C+
The Brave One (2007): C+
Spider-Man 3 (2007): C
The Brothers Solomon (2007): C
Evan Almighty (2007): C
Shoot 'Em Up (2007): C
Sunshine (2007): C
The Invisible (2007): C
Hot Rod (2007): C-
Rush Hour 3 (2007): C-
Premonition (2007): D
Next (2007): F


MOVIES TO SEE
-We Own The Night
-Flawless
-Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer (2007) - (Missed it in Theaters)
-Charlie Wilson's War (2007) - (DVD)
-Beowolf (2007) - (on DVD)
-Bee Movie (2007) - (on DVD)
-Halloween 2007 Remake (2007) - (on DVD)
-Mr Bean's Holiday (2007) - (on DVD)
-Rescue Dawn (2007) - (on DVD)
-28 Weeks Later (2007) - (on DVD)
-Are We Done Yet (2007) - (on DVD)
-Bug (2007) - (on DVD)
-The Ex (2007) - (on DVD)
-Meet the Robinsons (2007) - (on DVD)
-TMNT (2007) - (on DVD)
-Surf's Up (2007) - (on DVD)
-Reno 911!: Miami (2007) - (on DVD)
-Stomp The Yard (2007) - (on DVD)
-The Ex (2007) - (on DVD)
-I Think I Love My Wife (2007) - (on DVD)
-War (2007) - (on Cable)
-Dead Silence (2007) - (on Cable)
-Stardust (2007) - (on Cable)
-Lucky You (2007) - (on Cable)
-Wild Hogs (2007) - (on Cable)
-The Condemned (2007) - (on Cable)

Movie Reviews: 2006

BEST MOVIE
Dreamgirls

BEST DRAMA
The Departed

BEST ACTION / ADVENTURE
Casino Royale

BEST COMEDY
Scary Movie 4

BEST THRILLER
V for Vendetta

WORST MOVIE
Snakes On A Plane



ALL MOVIES

Dreamgirls (2006): A
The Departed (2006): A-
Casino Royale (2006): B+
V for Vendetta (2006): B+
The Prestige (2006): B+
Blood Diamond (2006): B+
Catch A Fire (2006): B+
Little Miss Sunshine (2006): B+
Glory Road (2006): B+
United 93 (2006): B
Deja Vu (2006): B
Children of Men (2006): B
Stranger than Fiction (2006): B
Smokin' Aces (2006): B-
Saw III (2006): B-
Underworld: Evolution (2006): B-
The Da Vinci Code (2006): B-
Mission: Impossible III (2006): B-
Cars (2006): B-
Borat (2006): B-
Dave Chappelle's Block Party (2006): B-
Inside Man (2006): B-
Miami Vice (2006): B-
Rocky Balboa (2006): B-
Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest (2006): B-
Scary Movie 4 (2006): B-
X-Men 3: The Last Stand (2006): C+
Failure to Launch (2006): ~C+
16 Blocks (2006): C+
The Break-Up (2006): C+
A Scanner Darkly (2006): C+
Silent Hill (2006): C
Superman Returns (2006): C-
The Ice Harvest (2006): D
Grandma's Boy (2006): F
Snakes On A Plane (2006): F



MOVIES TO SEE
-The Illusionist (2006) - (Missed in Theater)
-The Fountain (2006) - (on DVD)
-Fast Food Nation (2006) - (on DVD)
-Renaissance (2006) - (on DVD)
-Apocalypto (2006) - (on DVD)
-We Are Marshall (2006) - (on DVD)
-Akeelah and the Bee (2006) - (on DVD)
-The Queen (2006) - (on DVD)
-Eight Below (2006) - (on Cable)
-The Fast and The Furious Tokyo Drift (2006) - (on Cable)
-Alpha Dog
-Running Scared (2006)
-Letters from Iwo Jima (2006)
-Flags of Our Fathers (2006)
-Happy Feet (2006)
-The Last King of Scotland (2006)
-Invincible (2006)
-Gridiron Gang (2006)
-Ice Age 2: The Meltdown (2006)
-Final Destination 3 (2006)
-ATL (2006)
-Let's Go to Prison (2006)
-Dealing Dogs (2006)
-Civic Duty (2006)
-Rescue Dawn

Movie Reviews: 2005

BEST MOVIE
The 40-Year-Old Virgin

BEST DRAMA
Hotel Rwanda

BEST ACTION / ADVENTURE
Star Wars: Episode III

BEST COMEDY
The 40-Year-Old Virgin

BEST THRILLER
Saw 2

WORST MOVIE
XXX: State of the Union

ALL MOVIES
The 40-Year-Old Virgin (2005): A
Hotel Rwanda (2005): A-
Walk the Line (2005): A-
Star Wars: Episode III (2005): B+
Saw 2 (2005): B+
Serenity (2005): B+
Sin City (2005): ~B+
Flightplan (2005): B
Wedding Crashers (2005): B
Hustle & Flow (2005): B
Kingdom of Heaven (2005): B
Batman Begins (2005): B
Kiss Kiss Bang Bang (2005): ~B
The Exorcism of Emily Rose (2005): B
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005): B
Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room (2005): B
Wal-Mart: The High Cost of Low Price (2005): B
Heart of the Game (2005): B
Coach Carter (2005): ~B
The Lion, the Witch & the Wardrobe (2005): B
The Longest Yard (2005): B
Lord of War (2005): B
War of the Worlds (2005): B-
Syriana (2005): B-
Stealth (2005): B-
The Ring Two (2005): B-
Hostage (2005): B-
Dark Water (2005): B-
Assault on Precinct 13 (2005): B-
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005): B-
Good Night, and Good Luck (2005): B-
The Island (2005): B-
King Kong (2005): B-
Harsh Realm (2005): B-
Two for the Money (2005): B-
Munich (2005): B-
Fantastic Four (2005): C+
Rebound (2005): C+
Red Eye (2005): C+
Mr. and Mrs. Smith (2005): C+
Idiocracy (2005): C+
Hitch (2005): C+
Freedomland (2005): ~C+
The Constant Gardener (2005): C+
Bad News Bears (2005): ~C+
Constantine (2005): C+
Four Brothers (2005): C+
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (2005): ~C+
Fun with Dick and Jane (2005): C
Sahara (2005): C
XXX: State of the Union (2005): D

MOVIES TO SEE

-Domino (2005)
-North Country (2005)
-Miss Congeniality 2: Armed and Fabulous (2005)
-Grizzly Man (2005)
-A History of Violence (2005)
-The Ice Harvest (2005)
-Into the Blue (2005)
-The Dukes of Hazzard (2005)
-Waiting... (2005)
-Broken Flowers (2005)
-The Legend of Zorro (2005)
-The Cave (2005)
-The Transporter 2 (2005)
-Hide and Seek (2005)
-Corpse Bride (2005)
-Thank You for Smoking (2005)
-Wallace & Gromit: Curse of the Were-Rabbit (2005)
-Rent (2005)
-Murderball (2005)
-Beef 3 (2005)
-Murder on a Sunday Morning (2005)
-The Jacket (2005)
-Get Rich or Die Tryin' (2005)
-Deuce Bigalow: European Gigolo (2005)
-Bewitched (2005)
-House of Wax (2005)
-Robots (2005)
-Self-Destruction of the Ultimate Warrior (2005)
-Kim Possible Movie: So the Drama (2005)
-Hard Candy (2005)
-Unleashed (2005)
-Are We There Yet (2005)
-Derailed (2005)

Movie Reviews: 2004

BEST MOVIE
The Incredibles

BEST DRAMA
Million Dollar Baby

BEST ACTION / ADVENTURE
Spider-Man 2

BEST COMEDY
Meet the Fockers

BEST THRILLER
The Butterfly Effect: Director's Cut

WORST MOVIE
The Chronicles of Riddick

ALL MOVIES
The Incredibles (2004): A
Fahrenheit 9/11 (2004): A-
Shrek 2 (2004): A-
Million Dollar Baby (2004): A-
Kill Bill: Vol. 2 (2004): B+
Spider-Man 2 (2004): B+
The Bourne Supremacy (2004): B+
Super Size Me (2004): B+
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004): B+
Troy (2004): B+
Meet the Fockers (2004): B
Harold and Kumar Go To White Castle (2004): B
Shaun of the Dead (2004): B
Saw (2004): B
The Butterfly Effect: Director's Cut (2004): B
Dawn of the Dead (2004): B
Shark Tale (2004): B
Collateral (2004): B
I, Robot (2004): B
The Aviator (2004): ~B
Maria Full of Grace (2004): B
The Day After Tomorrow (2004): B
National Treasure (2004): B-
Walking Tall (2004): B-
The Village (2004): B-
The Terminal (2004): B-
Mean Girls (2004): B-
Eurotrip (2004): B-
Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story (2004): B-
Soul Plane (2004): B-
King Arthur (2004): B-
Cellular (2004): B-
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004): B-
Ocean's Twelve (2004): B-
Saw (2004): B-
Hellboy (2004): B-
Alien vs. Predator (2004): B-
Sideways (2004): B-
Starsky & Hutch (2004): B-
House of Flying Daggers (2004): C+
Team America: World Police (2004): C+
The Perfect Score (2004): C+
Mr. 3000 (2004): C+
White Chicks (2004): C+
The Manchurian Candidate (2004): C+
Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004): C+
Finding Neverland (2004): ~C+
Man on Fire (2004): ~C+
Taking Lives (2004): C
Taxi (2004): C
Suspect Zero (2004): C
Blade: Trinity (2004): C-
Resident Evil: Apocalypse (2004): C-
The Chronicles of Riddick (2004): D
Friday Night Lights (2004): N/A (Definitely Good)
Twisted (2004): N/A
The Forgotten (2004): N/A
Breakin' All the Rules (2004): N/A
Against the Ropes (2004): N/A

MOVIES TO SEE

-Crash (2004)
-Never Die Alone (2004)
-Garden State (2004)
-Jay-Z: Fade to Black (2004)
-The Passion of the Christ (2004)
-The Punisher (2004)
-The Machinist (2004)
-Napoleon Dynamite (2004)
-Wicker Park (2004)
-The Cookout (2004)
-Saved! (2004)
-Spanglish (2004)
-The Assassination of Richard Nixon (2004)
-Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle (2004)
-Along Came Polly (2004)
-Slasher (2004)
-Word Wars (2004)
-She Hate Me (2004)
-Metallica: Some Kind of Monster (2004)
-Secret Window (2004)
-Barbershop 2: Back in Business (2004)
-Welcome to Mooseport (2004)
-13 Going on 30 (2004)
-National Treasure (2004)
-Farmingville: POV (2004)
-Chisholm '72: Unbought and Unbossed (2004)
-Michael Moore Hates America (2004)
-Melinda and Melinda (2004)
-Bill's Run: POV (2004)
-Inside the U.S. Secret Service (2004)
-The Year of the Yao (2004)
-Tupac Vs. (2004)
-Trekkies 2 (2004)
-F.E.D.S. (2004)
-Howard Zinn: You Can't Be Neutral (2004)
-March of the Penguins (2004)
-Two Brothers [Tiger Cubs] (2004)
-Baadaassss (2004)

Movie Reviews: 2003

BEST MOVIE
Lord of the Rings: Return of the King

BEST DRAMA
The Last Samurai

BEST ACTION / ADVENTURE
Lord of the Rings: Return of the King

BEST COMEDY
Bruce Almighty

BEST THRILLER
Out of Time

WORST MOVIE
Daredevil



ALL MOVIES
Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003): A- (9/10)
Underworld (2003): B+ (8/10)
Capturing the Friedmans (2003): B+ (8/10)
Out of Time (2003): B+ (8/10)
Gothika (2003): B+ (8/10)
X2: X-Men United (2003): B+ (8/10)
2 Fast 2 Furious (2003): B (7/10)
The Matrix: Reloaded (2003): B (7/10)
Kill Bill: Vol. 1 (2003): B (7/10)
Bruce Almighty (2003): B (7/10)
Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines (2003): B (7/10)
Pirates of the Caribbean: Black Pearl (2003): B (7/10)
The Last Samurai (2003): B (7/10)
Identity (2003): B (7/10)
Shattered Glass (2003): B (7/10)
The Life of David Gale (2003): B (7/10)
The Italian Job (2003): B (7/10)
Master and Commander (2003): B (7/10)
Timeline (2003): B-/C+ (6/10)
Stuck on You (2003): B-
S.W.A.T. (2003): B-/C+ (6/10)
Shanghai Knights (2003): B-/C+ (6/10)
The Cooler (2003): B-
Scary Movie 3 (2003): B-
Lara Croft: The Cradle of Life (2003): B-
Pieces of April (2003): B-
Beef (2003): B-
Mona Lisa Smile (2003): B-
Final Destination 2 (2003): B-
The Core (2003): B-
Cabin Fever (2003): ~B-
The Recruit (2003): B-
Bad Boys II (2003): B-/C+ (6/10)
American Wedding (2003): B-/C+ (6/10)
Paycheck (2003): B-/C+ (6/10)
Old School (2003): B-
Runaway Jury (2003): B-
Matchstick Men (2003): B-
The Matrix: Revolutions (2003): B-
Elephant (2003): C+
Tears of the Sun (2003): C+
Once Upon a Time in Mexico (2003): C+
The Rundown (2003): C+
Basic (2003): ~C
Elf (2003): C
Cradle 2 the Grave (2003): ~C
National Security (2003): ~C
A Man Apart (2003): ~C-
Malibu's Most Wanted (2003): C
Anger Management (2003): ~C
Lost in Translation (2003): C
The Hunted (2003): ~C
Mystic River (2003): C
Marci X (2003): C-
Deliver Us From Eva (2003): C-
Legally Blonde 2: Red, White & Blonde (2003): C-
Daredevil (2003): F


MOVIES TO SEE

-Finding Nemo (2003)
-Bad Santa (2003)
-Cold Creek Manor (2003)
-The School of Rock (2003)
-Open Water (2003)
-Thirteen (2003)
-Overnight (2003)
-American Splendor (2003)
-Freddy vs. Jason (2003)
-Bulletproof Monk (2003)
-The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2003)
-Seabiscuit (2003)
-Bringing Down the House (2003)
-The Last Round: Chuvalo vs. Ali (2003)
-Aileen: Life and Death of a Serial Killer (2003)
-Touching the Void (2003)
-Girlhood (2003)
-Peter Pan (2003)
-How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days (2003)
-21 Grams (2003)
-Love Don't Cost a Thing (2003)
-Radio (2003)
-Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star (2003)
-The Battle of Shaker Heights (2003)
-Just Married (2003)
-The Missing (2003)
-Open Range (2003)
-Duplex (2003)
-Something's Gotta Give (2003)
-Cheaper by the Dozen (2003)
-Monster (2003)
-Shade (2003)
-Cold Mountain (2003)
-Wonderland (2003)
-Freaky Friday (2003)
-DysFunktional Family (2003)
-Star Wars: Clone Wars: Vol. 2 (2003)
-The Yes Men (2003)
-Unchained Memories: Slave Narratives (2003)
-The Fog of War (2003)
-Raising Victor Vargas (2003)
-Cold Mountain (2003)

Movie Reviews: 2002

BEST MOVIE
8 Mile

BEST DRAMA
8 Mile

BEST ACTION / ADVENTURE
Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers

BEST COMEDY
Undercover Brother

BEST THRILLER
The Ring

WORST MOVIE
Windtalkers

ALL MOVIES
8 Mile (2002): A (10/10)
The Ring (2002): A (10/10)
e-Dreams (2002): A (10/10)
City of God (2002): A- (9/10)
Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002): ~B+
28 Days Later (2002): B+ (8/10)
Minority Report (2002): B+ (8/10)
Spellbound (2002): ~B+
Narc (2002): B+ (8/10)
Red Dragon (2002): B (7/10)
Signs (2002): B (7/10)
Star Wars: Episode II (2002): B (7/10)
Spider-Man (2002): B (7/10)
Martin Lawrence Live: Runteldat (2002): B (7/10)
Die Another Day (2002): B (7/10)
Hero (2002): B (7/10)
We Were Soldiers (2002): B (7/10)
Phone Booth(2011): B-/C+ (6/10)
Extremely lite plot for a thriller, Phone Booth never-the-less goes down easy with it's brief running time and accelerated pace. It sucks you in, but after it's over, you think, "That's it?"
Undercover Brother (2002): B-/C+ (6/10)
Swimfan (2002): B-/C+ (6/10)
Resident Evil (2002): B-/C+ (6/10)
Super Troopers (2002): B-/C+ (6/10)
Austin Powers 3 (2002): B-/C+ (6/10)
The Sum of All Fears (2002): B-/C+ (6/10)
Orange County (2002):B-/C+ (6/10)
I Spy (2002): B-/C+ (6/10)
Murder By Numbers (2002): B-/C+ (6/10)
Reign of Fire (2002): B-/C+ (6/10)
Paid in Full (2002): B-/C+ (6/10)
Brown Sugar (2002): B-/C+ (6/10)
Bowling for Columbine (2002): B-/C+ (6/10)
Catch Me If You Can (2002): B-/C+ (6/10)
Equilibrium (2002): B-/C+ (6/10)
Halloween: Resurrection (2002): B-/C+ (6/10)
Panic Room (2002): B-/C+ (6/10)
Insomnia (2002): B-/C+ (6/10)
One Hour Photo (2002): B-/C+ (6/10)
Road to Perdition (2002): B-/C+ (6/10)
Blade 2 (2002): B-/C+(6/10)
The Scorpion King (2002): C (5/10)
Black Knight (2002): C (5/10)
I recall this movie having a few good "Martin Lawrence" moments and being easy to sit thru.


NON-SPECIFIC GRADES (Grandfathered-In)
The Bourne Identity (2002):Kinda Good (6-7/10)
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002): Decent (5-6/10)
25th Hour (2002): Decent (5-6/10)
XXX: Special Edition (2002): Decent (5-6/10)
Sniper 2 (2002): Decent (5-6/10)
Unfaithful (2002): Decent (5-6/10)
Friday After Next (2002): Decent (5-6/10)
Eye See You (2002): Decent (5/6/10)
Blood Work (2002): Maybe Decent (4-6/10)
Collateral Damage (2002): Maybe Decent (4-6/10)
All About the Benjamins (2002):Half Decent (4-5/10)
Men in Black II (2002): Half Decent (4-5/10)
Mr. Deeds (2002): Below Average (2-4/10)
Windtalkers (2002): Sucked (2-3/10)
Adaptation (2002): I Don't Know
Biggie & Tupac (2002): Never Graded
High Crimes (2002): Never Graded
Ghost Ship (2002): Never Graded


MOVIES TO SEE
-Ice Age (2002)
-Run Ronnie Run (2002)
-About Schmidt (2002)
-Gangs of New York (2002)
-Bus 174 (2002)
-Punch-Drunk Love (2002)
-The Transporter (2002)
-Changing Lanes (2002)
-Modern Warriors: The Martial Way (2002)
-Devil's Playground (2002)
-Confessions of a Dangerous Mind (2002)
-Real Women Have Curves (2002)
-Bend It Like Beckham (2002)
-Empire (2002)
-Frailty (2002)
-Secretary (2002)
-Raising Victor Vargas (2002)
-Antwone Fisher (2002)
-The Hot Chick (2002)
-40 Days and 40 Nights (2002)
-Barbershop (2002)
-Monday Night Mayhem (2002)
-Our America (2002)
-The Pianist (2002)
-My Big Fat Greek Wedding (2002)
-Frida (2002)
-The Rookie (2002)
-Two Weeks Notice (2002)
-Chicago (2002)
-Unprecedented (2002)
-Stevie (2002)
-Jim Brown: All-American (2002)
-Path to War (2002)
-The Weather Underground (2002)
-Horns and Halos (2002)
-Tupac Shakur: Life of an Outlaw / Thug Angel (2002)
-Big Shot: Confessions of a Campus Bookie (2002)
-Knockaround Guys (2002)

Movie Reviews: 2001

BEST MOVIE
Ocean's Eleven

BEST DRAMA
A Beautiful Mind

BEST ACTION / ADVENTURE
Swordfish

BEST COMEDY
American Pie 2

BEST THRILLER
Ocean's Eleven

WORST MOVIE
What's the Worst That Could Happen?

ALL MOVIES
Ocean's Eleven (2001): A
Training Day (2001): A-
American Pie 2 (2001): ~B+
A Beautiful Mind (2001): B+
Shrek (2001): B
Welcome to Death Row (2001): ~B
Along Came a Spider (2001): B
Swordfish (2001): B
Monsters, Inc. (2001): ~B
Black Hawk Down (2001): B
Blow (2001): B
Enemy at the Gates (2001): B
Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back (2001): B
John Q (2001): B
Joy Ride (2001): B
Vanilla Sky (2001): B
Ali (2001): B
Heist (2001): B-
Baby Boy (2001): B
Shallow Hal (2001): B-
Behind Enemy Lines (2001): B-
The One (2001): B-
The Others (2001): B-
The Score (2001): B-
Rush Hour 2 (2001): B-
Saving Silverman (2001): B-
The Mummy Returns (2001): B-
Jeepers Creepers (2001): B-
Ghost World (2001): ~B-
The Fast and the Furious (2001): C+
Hannibal (2001): C+
The New Guy (2001): ~C+
LOTR: Fellowship of the Ring (2001): C+
A.I. Artificial Intelligence (2001): C+
Planet of the Apes (2001): C+
Spy Game (2001): C+
Exit Wounds (2001): C+
Two Can Play That Game (2001): C+
Tomb Raider (2001): C+
Zoolander (2001): C
Scary Movie 2 (2001): C
Kiss of the Dragon (2001): C
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (2001): C
From Hell (2001): C
Don't Say a Word (2001): ~C
The Royal Tenenbaums (2001): ~C
Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within (2001): D
What's the Worst That Could Happen? (2001): ~D
Fifteen Minutes (2001): N/A
Donnie Darko (2001): N/A

MOVIES TO SEE

-Go Tigers! (2001)
-Joe Dirt (2001)
-Formula 51 (2001)
-61* (2001)
-Double Take (2001)
-Prison Song (2001)
-Mulholland Drive (2001)
-Pearl Harbor (2001)
-Bandits (2001)
-Manic (2001)
-Monster's Ball (2001)
-In the Bedroom (2001)
-The Brothers (2001)
-The Animal (2001)
-The First Year (2001)
-The History of Organized Crime: Disc 1 (2001)
-Tupac Shakur: Before I Wake (2001)

Movie Reviews: 2000

BEST MOVIE
Gladiator

BEST DRAMA
Gladiator

BEST ACTION / ADVENTURE
Mission Impossible II

BEST COMEDY
Scary Movie

BEST THRILLER
What Lies Beneath

WORST MOVIE
Shaft

ALL MOVIES
Gladiator (2000): A
Memento (2000): A
Scary Movie (2000): A
Traffic (2000): ~A-
Man on the Moon (2000): A-
Mission: Impossible II (2000): B+
Pitch Black (2000): B+
Meet the Parents (2000): B+
Next Friday (2000): B+
Road Trip (2000): B+
What Lies Beneath (2000): B
X-Men (2000): B
Big Momma's House (2000): B
Erin Brockovich (2000): B
Backstage (2000): B
Love & Basketball (2000): B
The Original Kings of Comedy (2000): B
Me, Myself & Irene (2000): B
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000): B
U-571 (2000): B
The Hurricane (2000): B-
Unbreakable (2000): B-
The Perfect Storm (2000): B-
The 6th Day (2000): B-
Gone in 60 Seconds (2000): B-
The Replacements (2000): B-
Snatch (2000): B-
Final Destination (2000): B-
Cast Away (2000): B-
Boiler Room (2000): B-
Bedazzled (2000): B-
Impostor (2000): B-
Miss Congeniality (2000): B-
Rules of Engagement (2000): ~B-
Vertical Limit (2000): ~B-
The Tao of Steve (2000): ~B-
Reindeer Games (2000): B-
Bait (2000): C+
The Whole Nine Yards (2000): C+
Shanghai Noon (2000): C+
Scream 3 (2000): C+
Held Up (2000): ~C+
Nurse Betty (2000): ~C
Romeo Must Die (2000): ~C
Hollow Man (2000): C
American Psycho (2000): D
Charlie's Angels (2000): D
Shaft (2000): F
Almost Famous (2000): N/A
The Contender (2000): N/A
Frequency (2000): N/A


MOVIES TO SEE

-Bamboozled (2000)
-The Gift (2000)
-Growing Up Brady (2000)
-The Patriot (2000)
-Lumumba (2000)
-Finding Forrester (2000)
-Quills (2000)
-No Maps For These Territories (2000)
-Call to Witness (2000)
-Hate.com (2000)
-When the Sky Falls (2000)
-The Yards (2000)
-The Gift (2000)
-Echo of Murder (2000)

Movie Reviews: 1999

BEST MOVIE
The Matrix

BEST DRAMA
Fight Club

BEST ACTION / ADVENTURE
The Matrix

BEST COMEDY
Office Space

BEST THRILLER
Stir of Echoes

WORST MOVIE
End of Days

ALL MOVIES
The Matrix (1999): A
Fight Club (1999): A-
Any Given Sunday (1999): B+
Office Space (1999): B+
Blue Streak (1999): B+
Girl, Interrupted (1999): ~B+
The Best Man (1999): B+
Stir of Echoes (1999): B+
Galaxy Quest (1999): B
The Sixth Sense (1999): B
Austin Powers 2 (1999): ~B
Election (1999): ~B
American Beauty (1999): B
The Wood (1999): ~B
Arlington Road (1999): ~B-
The Thomas Crown Affair (1999): B-
Deuce Bigalow: Male Gigolo (1999): B-
Sleepy Hollow (1999): B-
The Thirteenth Floor (1999): ~B-
The Bone Collector (1999): B-
The Blair Witch Project (1999): B-
Analyze This (1999): B-
Dogma (1999): ~B-
Entrapment (1999): ~B-
Stigmata (1999): ~B-
Summer of Sam (1999): B-
Bowfinger (1999): C+
Big Daddy (1999): C+
Star Wars: Episode I: The Phantom Menace (1999): C+
Three Kings (1999):C+
End of Days (1999): ~C
Pushing Tin (1999): N/A (Not Good)
Toy Story 2 (1999): N/A
Varsity Blues (1999): N/A
The Insider (1999): N/A
In Too Deep (1999): N/A

MOVIES TO SEE
-The Green Mile (1999)
-The Hurricane (1999)
-A Murder of Crows (1999)
-Double Jeopardy (1999)
-Magnolia (1999)
-The Boondock Saints (1999)
-Titus (1999)
-Being John Malkovich (1999)

Movie Reviews: 1998

BEST MOVIE
There's Something About Mary

BEST DRAMA
Saving Private Ryan

BEST ACTION / ADVENTURE
Blade

BEST COMEDY
There's Something About Mary

BEST THRILLER
Enemy of the State

WORST MOVIE
Star Trek: Insurrection

ALL MOVIES
There's Something About Mary (1998): A-
The Waterboy (1998): B+
The Wedding Singer (1998): B+
Saving Private Ryan (1998): B+
Rounders (1998): B+
A Civil Action (1998): ~B+
Rush Hour (1998): B
Enemy of the State (1998): B
The Siege (1998): B
Blade (1998): B
Lethal Weapon 4 (1998): B
He Got Game (1998): B
Sliding Doors (1998): ~B
The Truman Show (1998): B
A Bug's Life (1998): ~B
The Mask of Zorro (1998): ~B
Why Do Fools Fall in Love (1998): ~B
The Replacement Killers (1998): B-
BASEketball (1998): B-
The Negotiator (1998): B-
Snake Eyes (1998): B-
U.S. Marshals (1998): B-
Wild Things (1998): ~B-
I Still Know What You Did Last Summer (1998): C+
Hard Rain (1998): C+
Armageddon (1998): C+
Star Trek: Insurrection (1998): C
The Big Lebowski (1998) : N/A
Mercury Rising (1998): N/A (Not Good)
A Simple Plan (1998): N/A
A Perfect Murder (1998): N/A
Dark City (1998): N/A
American History X (1998): N/A (Very Good)

MOVIES TO SEE
-None listed yet.

Movie Reviews: 1997

BEST MOVIE
As Good As It Gets

BEST DRAMA
As Good As It Gets

BEST ACTION / ADVENTURE
The Lost World: Jurassic Park 2

BEST COMEDY
Liar Liar

BEST THRILLER
The Game

WORST MOVIE
Batman & Robin

ALL MOVIES
As Good as It Gets (1997): A
Donnie Brasco (1997): ~A-
L.A. Confidential (1997): A-
Good Will Hunting (1997): ~A-
Liar Liar (1997): B+
Soul Food (1997): B+
Austin Powers (1997): B
The Game (1997): B
The Lost World: Jurassic Park 2 (1997): B
Scream 2 (1997): B
Face/Off (1997): B
The Devil's Advocate (1997): ~B
Contact (1997): B-
Con Air (1997): B-
Def Jams' How To Be A Player (1997): B-
Money Talks (1997): B-
Jackie Brown (1997): ~B-
Kiss the Girls (1997): B-
Starship Troopers (1997): B-
Absolute Power (1997): B-
Air Force One (1997): B-
Alien: Resurrection (1997): B-
Nothing to Lose (1997): B-
Men in Black (1997): B-
Titanic (1997): ~B-
Mimic (1997): C+
Spawn: The Movie (1997): C+
Volcano (1997): C+
The Jackal (1997): ~C+
Conspiracy Theory (1997): C+
Cop Land (1997): ~C
Batman & Robin (1997): D
The Fifth Element (1997): N/A
Private Parts (1997): N/A
Rhyme & Reason (1997): N/A
Chasing Amy (1997): N/A (Didn't Like)
Romy and Michele's High School Reunion (1997): N/A (Not Good)
Wag the Dog (1997): N/A
U-Turn (1997): N/A
Mr. Bean (1997): TBD

MOVIES TO SEE
-Rosewood (1997)
-Boogie Nights (1997)
-Gang Related (1997)

Movie Reviews: 1996

BEST MOVIE
Scream

BEST DRAMA
Jerry Maguire

BEST ACTION / ADVENTURE
The Rock

BEST COMEDY
Don't Be A Menace to South Central...

BEST THRILLER
Scream

WORST MOVIE
N/A (no bad movies reviewed)

ALL MOVIES
Scream (1996): A
Jerry Maguire (1996): A-
The Rock (1996): B+
Star Trek: First Contact (1996): B+
Don't Be a Menace to South Central … (1996): B+
Fargo (1996): ~B+
Executive Decision (1996): B
Broken Arrow (1996): B
Get on the Bus (1996): ~B
A Time to Kill (1996): ~B
Mission: Impossible (1996): ~B
Eraser (1996): B-
Ransom (1996): ~B-
Escape from L.A. (1996): C+
Twister (1996): C+
Thin Line Between Love & Hate (1996): ~C
The Cable Guy (1996): ~C
Happy Gilmore (1996): N/A
Welcome to the Dollhouse (1996): N/A
When We Were Kings (1996): N/A
The Juror (1996): N/A
Set It Off (1996): N/A
Swingers (1996): N/A
Bulletproof (1996): N/A
The Fan (1996): N/A (Didn't Like)

MOVIES TO SEE
-Bottle Rocket (1996)

Movie Reviews: 1995

BEST MOVIE
Heat

BEST DRAMA
Heat

BEST ACTION / ADVENTURE
Die Hard With A Vengeance

BEST COMEDY
Friday

BEST THRILLER
Se7en

WORST MOVIE
N/A (no bad movies reviewed)

ALL MOVIES
Heat (1995): A
Apollo 13 (1995): A
Casino (1995): A
Friday (1995): A
Se7en (1995): A-
Waiting to Exhale (1995): A-
Die Hard With a Vengeance (1995): B+
Bad Boys (1995): B
12 Monkeys (1995): B
Crimson Tide (1995): B
Clueless (1995): B
Just Cause (1995): B
Halloween 6: The Curse of Michael Myers (1995): ~B
The Usual Suspects (1995): B
The Show (1995): ~B
Under Siege 2: Dark Territory (1995): B-
Assassins (1995): B-
Tommy Boy (1995): B-
Dead Presidents (1995): ~B-
Outbreak (1995): B-
Batman Forever (1995): C+
Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls (1995): C+
Copycat (1995): ~C+
The Net (1995): C+
The Tuskegee Airmen (1995): N/A
Strange Days (1995): N/A
GoldenEye (1995): N/A
Nixon (1995): N/A
Toy Story (1995): ?????


MOVIES TO SEE
-Braveheart (1995)
-The Basketball Diares (1995)
-Leaving Las Vegas(1995)

Movie Reviews: 1994

BEST MOVIE
Pulp Fiction

BEST DRAMA
The Shawshank Redemption

BEST ACTION / ADVENTURE
True Lies

BEST COMEDY
Ace Ventura Pet Detective

BEST THRILLER
Disclosure

WORST MOVIE
N/A (No bad movies reviewed)

ALL MOVIES
Pulp Fiction (1994): A
The Shawshank Redemption: Special Edition (1994): A
Ace Ventura: Pet Detective (1994): A
Dumb and Dumber (1994): A
Hoop Dreams (1994): A
True Lies (1994): A-
Clerks (1994): B+
Speed (1994): B+
Disclosure (1994): B+
Fear of a Black Hat (1994): B
Stargate (1994): ~B
Blown Away (1994): ~B-
Surviving the Game (1994): B-
Clear and Present Danger (1994): B-
Martin Lawrence: You So Crazy (1994): B-
Above the Rim (1994): B-
A Low Down Dirty Shame (1994): B-
Star Trek: Generations (1994): B-
The Client (1994): C+
Sugar Hill (1994): ~C
Beverly Hills Cop III (1994): C
Jason's Lyric (1994): N/A

MOVIES TO SEE
-Forrest Gump (1994)

Movie Reviews: 1993

BEST MOVIE
Groundhog Day

BEST DRAMA
Menace II Society

BEST ACTION / ADVENTURE
Jurassic Park

BEST COMEDY
Groundhog Day

BEST THRILLER
In the Line of Fire

WORST MOVIE
N/A (no bad movies reviewed)

ALL MOVIES
Groundhog Day (1993): A
Menace II Society (1993): A-
In the Line of Fire (1993): A-
What's Love Got to Do with It (1993): ~A-
Jurassic Park (1993): B+
The Firm (1993): B+
Falling Down (1993): B+
The Fugitive (1993): B+
Carlito's Way (1993): ~B+
The Joy Luck Club (1993): ~B+
Tombstone (1993): ~B
The Pelican Brief (1993): B
Naked Gun 33 1/3: The Final Insult (1994): B
Hot Shots! Part Deux (1993): ~B
True Romance (1993): ~B
Robin Hood: Men in Tights (1993): B-
Demolition Man (1993): B-
National Lampoon's Loaded Weapon (1993): ~B-
Cliffhanger (1993): B-
Rising Sun (1993): B-
Striking Distance (1993): B-
Army of Darkness (1993): ~C+
CB4 (1993): N/A
Manufacturing Consent: Noam Chomsky (1993): N/A
Philadelphia (1993): N/A

MOVIES TO SEE
-Schindler's List (1993)
-Mi Vida Loca (1993)
-Searching for Bobby Fischer (1993)
-What's Eating Gilbert Grape (1993)

Movie Reviews: 1992

BEST MOVIE
Unforgiven

BEST DRAMA
Unforgiven

BEST ACTION / ADVENTURE
Passenger 57

BEST COMEDY
My Cousin Vinny

BEST THRILLER
Basic Instinct

WORST MOVIE
N/A (no bad movies reviewed)

ALL MOVIES
Unforgiven (1992): A-
Reservoir Dogs (1992): A-
Aladdin: Platinum Edition (1992): ~A-
Basic Instinct (1992): A-
A Few Good Men (1992): A-
White Men Can't Jump (1992): B+
My Cousin Vinny (1992): B+
A League of Their Own (1992): B+
Malcolm X (1992): ~B+
Deep Cover (1992): B+
Under Siege (1992): B+
Sneakers (1992): ~B
Glengarry Glen Ross (1992): B
Passenger 57 (1992): B-
Alien 3 (1992): B-
Batman Returns (1992): B-
Lethal Weapon 3 (1992): C+
Patriot Games (1992): C+
Mo' Money (1992): C+
The Hand that Rocks the Cradle (1992): N/A
Juice (1992): N/A
Wayne's World (1992): N/A

MOVIES TO SEE
-American Me (1992)
-Scent of a Woman (1992)
-Singles (1992)

Movie Reviews: 1991

BEST MOVIE
The Silence of the Lambs

BEST DRAMA
Boyz N The Hood

BEST ACTION / ADVENTURE
Terminator 2: Judgement Day

BEST COMEDY
City Slickers

BEST THRILLER
The Silence of the Lambs

WORST MOVIE
N/A (no bad movies reviewed)

ALL MOVIES
The Silence of the Lambs (1991): A
Boyz N the Hood (1991): A
Terminator 2: Judgement Day (1991): A-
City Slickers (1991): A-
What About Bob? (1991): A-
The Last Boy Scout (1991): B+
Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country (1991): B+
Jungle Fever (1991): ~B+
Ricochet (1991): B+
New Jack City (1991): B+
Naked Gun 2 1/2: The Smell of Fear (1991): B
Hot Shots! (1991): ~B
Point Break (1991): B-
Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (1991): B-
Flight of the Intruder (1991): B-
Hook (1991): B-
Hudson Hawk (1991): B-
Out for Justice (1991): C+
Cape Fear (1991): N/A
JFK (1991): N/A

MOVIES TO SEE
-Rush (1991)

Movie Reviews: 1990

BEST MOVIE
The Hunt for Red October

BEST DRAMA
GoodFellas

BEST ACTION / ADVENTURE
The Hunt for Red October

BEST COMEDY
Quick Change

BEST THRILLER
Narrow Margin

WORST MOVIE
N/A (no bad movies reviewed)

ALL MOVIES
The Hunt for Red October (1990): A-
House Party (1990): A-
GoodFellas (1990): ~B+
Total Recall (1990): B+
Ghost (1990): B+
Narrow Margin (1990): B
Die Hard 2: Die Harder (1990): B
Presumed Innocent (1990): ~B
Quick Change (1990): B
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Movie (1990): B
Hard To Kill (1990): B
My Blue Heaven (1990): ~B
Kindergarten Cop (1990): B-
RoboCop 2 (1990): B-
Hard to Kill (1990): B-
Look Who's Talking Too (1990): B-
Three Men and a Little Lady (1990): B-
Predator 2 (1990): B-
Marked For Death (1990): B-
Young Guns II (1990): ~B-
Dick Tracy (1990): ~B-
Another 48 Hrs. (1990): ~C+
Back to the Future Part III (1990): C+
The Godfather, Part III (1990): C+
Lionheart (1990): C+
Days of Thunder (1990): N/A

MOVIES TO SEE
-Miller's Crossing (1990)
-The Grifters (1990)
-Jacob's Ladder (1990)

Movie Reviews: 1985-1989

Die Hard (1988): A
Aliens: Collector's Edition (1986): A
Lethal Weapon (1987): A
Ferris Bueller's Day Off (1986): A
Predator (1987): A
The Princess Bride (1987): A
Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989): A-
The Naked Gun (1988): A-
Spaceballs (1987): A-
Batman (1989): A-
Top Gun (1986): A-
Parenthood (1989): A-
Eddie Murphy: Raw (1987): A-
Coming To America (1988): A-
Back to the Future (1985): A-
Three Men and a Baby (1987): A-
The Untouchables (1987): A-
RoboCop (1987): ~A-
A Fish Called Wanda (1988): ~A-
Who Framed Roger Rabbit? (1988): ~A-
Pee-Wee's Big Adventure (1985): ~A-
I'm Gonna Git You Sucka (1988): ~A-
Beverly Hills Cop II (1987): B+
Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home (1986): B+
The Golden Child (1986): B+
Lethal Weapon 2 (1989): B+
Shoot to Kill (1988): B+
Young Guns (1988): B+
Big (1988): B+
Back to the Future Part II (1989): B+
Major League (1989): B+
Beetlejuice (1988): B+
Look Who's Talking (1989): B+
Spies Like Us (1985): ~B+
Short Circuit (1986): ~B+
The Running Man (1987): B+
National Lampoon's European Vacation (1985): B
Ghostbusters 2 (1989): B
Uncle Buck (1989): B
Throw Momma From the Train (1987): ~B
Brewster's Millions (1985): ~B
Dragnet (1987): B
Willow (1988): B
Full Metal Jacket (1987): B
Innerspace (1987): B
Rocky IV (1985): ~B
Tango & Cash (1989): B
Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers (1988): ~B
Halloween 5: The Revenge of Michael Myers (1989): ~B
Good Morning, Vietnam (1987): ~B
Three Amigos (1986): ~B-
Harlem Nights (1989): B-
The Money Pit (1986): B-
UHF (1989): B-
Weekend at Bernie's (1989): B-
Weird Science (1985): B-
F/X (1986): ~B-
Commando (1985): B-
Roger & Me (1989): ~B-
School Daze (1988): B-
Amazon Women on the Moon (1987): B-
Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure (1989): B-
Clue (1985): ~B-
Planes, Trains and Automobiles (1987): ~B-
Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (1988): ~C+
Vice Versa (1988): C+
Above The Law (1988): C+
Glory (1989): N/A
The Package (1989): N/A
The Great Outdoors (1988): N/A
Fletch (1985): N/A
Akira (1988): N/A
Sea of Love (1989): N/A
Dead Poets Society (1989): N/A
Casualties of War (1989): N/A
Frantic (1988): N/A (Didn't Like)



MOVIES TO SEE:
-Bat 21 (1988)
-The Color of Money (1986)
-Hoosiers (1986)
-Born on the Fourth of July (1989)
-Prizzi's Honor (1985)
-No Way Out (1987)
-Jagged Edge (1985)
-The Accused(1988)
-The Breakfast Club (1985)
-St. Elmo's Fire (1985)
-Empire Under the Sun (1987)
-Brazil (1985)
-Dead Calm (1989)
-Wall Street (1987)
-Better Off Dead (1985)

Movie Reviews: 1980-1984

Airplane (1980): A
Ghostbusters (1983): A
National Lampoon's Vacation (1983): A
Bill Cosby, Himself (1983): A
Scarface (1983): A
Beverly Hills Cop (1984): A-
Star Trek II : The Wrath of Khan (1982): A-
The Terminator (1984): A-
Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981): A-
Mr. Mom (1983): A-
Rocky III (1982): A-
48 Hrs (1983): B+
Superman II [Theatrical Release] (1980): B+
Top Secret (1984): B+
Airplane II (1983): B
Blade Runner (1982): B
I know I'm going to catch some wreck for this one. I didn't see it when it first came out, but when I finally did see it, I appreciated the story but just didn't find it to be a great movie experience. And yes, I have seen both the narrated and unnarrated versions.
Indiana Jones and The Temple of Doom (1984): ~B
Police Academy (1984): B
Wargames (1983): ~B
The Toy (1982): ~B
Conan The Destroyer (1984): ~B
Conan The Barbarian (1981): ~B-
Between the two Conan movies, this is the more popular one. I think because it didn't have cheesy things like Wilt Chamberlain. I personally enjoyed the sequel more at the time but I've seen neither since the 1980s. This one may have the better story, which I would appreciate more now than I did then.
Trading Places (1983): ~B-
Escape From New York (1981): B-
Splash (1984): ~B-
Star Trek III (1984): B-
Halloween II (1981): ~B-

Movies-To-See:
1. Caddyshack (1980): I've seen it, but not for a very long time.
2. The Cannonball Run (1981): I've seen it, but not for a very long time.
3. The Road Warrior (1981): I don't think I've ever seen it all the way through.
4. Superman II [Donner Re-Cut] (1980)
-Uncommon Valor (1983)
-This is Spinal Tap (1984)
-The Shining (1980)
-Raging Bull (1980)
-THe Deathtrap (1982)

Movie Reviews: The 1970s and Earlier

The Godfather, Part II (1974): A
The Godfather (1972): A-
Star Wars (1977): A-
Blazing Saddles (1975): A-
Rocky (1976): A-
Rocky 2 (1979): ~A-
The Exorcist (1974): A-
Alien (1979): B
I think I need to say something about this. This movie came out when I was 5 years old. So I did not see it in the theater. In fact, I saw it after I saw Aliens. My feeling is that the slow build is a bit too slow but the story and the performances are very good.
Superman: The Movie (1978): B-
Halloween (1978): B-
Kentucky Fried Movie (1977): ~B-
Dirty Harry (1971): C+
All The President's Men (1976): TBD
The French Connection (1971): TBD


MOVIES-TO-SEE LIST:
-Chinatown (1974)
-The Hustler (1961)
-Dr. Strangelove (1961)
-Taxi Driver (1976)
-Slapshot (1977)
-Serpico (1973)
-Apocalypse Now (1979)
-Kramer vs, Kramer (1979)
-The Outlaw Josie Wales (1976)
-One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest (1975)
-...And Justice for All (1979)
-Mean Streets (1973)
-1941 (1979)
-Citizen Kane (1941)
-Network (1976)
-Chinatown (1974)
-A Clockwork Orange (1971)

Movie Reviews: Pre-1970

GoldFinger (1964): A
Anatomy of A Murder (????): N/A
I did not like this movie. It was incredibly slow and I didn't think the acting was very good. I'm not going to give it a rating, because I've seen very few movies from this era. However, I clearly do not recommend it, despite its Academy Award.

MOVIES-TO-WATCH LIST:
1. Re-Watch the Sean Connery Bond Movies

Purpose of Blog

I've being reviewing movies for myself and my friends and family for a long time. And I've kept track of these grades with the hope of one day publishing them or showing them to the world somehow. I'm going to try blogging as a method of doing this.

THe first thing I'm going to do is post my legacy reviews. I'm fairly young, 30 years old, so my pre-1990 grades are going to be sparse. Post 1990, I am going to seperate them by year. That's about 18 historical posts that I'm going to start with and permalink on the side bar. I'm also going to post my grading criteria and permalink that as well. Then, I'm going to post brief reviews of the last couple movies I've seen and really get the blog rolling. I love TV too and from time to time, I mention tv shows as an aside.

Peace,

ParadigmPro