Tomato 2.5/4 |
Captain Abu Raed (2008) |
"Despite the film's flaws, there's something winsome about Abu Raed in his captain's hat, entertaining kids with visits to cities that exist only in his imagination." |
Annie Young Frisbie |
Tomato 3/4 |
Caramel (2008) |
"A gooey, insubstantial confection, often sweet, occasionally cloying, sometimes sticky- -- in many respects about on a par with the likes of Beauty Shop." |
Steven D. Greydanus |
Tomato 3/4 |
Cars (2006) |
"This isn't a bad story, but it's a bit hokey, and not nearly as imaginative as Pixar's previous triumphs.
" |
Russ Breimeier |
Splat 2.5/4 |
Casanova (2005) |
"Casanova is just a farce, true, but there's a smugness to the proceedings that leaves a bad aftertaste." |
Peter T. Chattaway |
Tomato 3.5/4 |
Casino Royale (2006) |
"The greatest origin of drama in Casino Royale has nothing do with torture or espionage at all. Instead, it is the drama occurring inside Bond." |
Todd Hertz |
Tomato 3/4 |
Cassandra's Dream (2008) |
"Farrell and McGregor deliver remarkably nuanced performances in and through their mundane one-dimensionality, taking average Joes and give them average strengths and weaknesses." |
Brett McCracken |
Tomato 2.5/4 |
Catch and Release (2007) |
"A big-hearted light-headed story that isn't as deep as it wants to be, but still manages to entertain." |
Carolyn Arends |
Splat 0/4 |
Catwoman (2004) |
"The summer that gave us what is arguably the best comic book movie of all time—Spider-Man 2—has now choked up what is arguably the worst.
" |
Jeffrey Overstreet |
Splat 1.5/4 |
The Cave (2005) |
"About what you'd expect from a low budget, B-movie destined to reside among the direct-to-video releases at Blockbuster and the Saturday night features on the Sci-Fi Channel." |
Russ Breimeier |
Splat 2/4 |
Cellular (2004) |
"Neither Macy nor Basinger nor the intriguing setup nor the bursts of situational wit can rescue this thriller from joining the category of movies that are so bad they're good." |
CT Staff |
Tomato 3/4 |
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005) |
"A funny and sweet adventure for kids and parents, thanks to Burton's ability to stir the imagination and tell a sweepingly charming story." |
Todd Hertz |
Tomato 2.5/4 |
Charlie Bartlett (2007) |
"Although much of the film is exaggerated for satirical purposes, somehow, in the eye of the farcical storm, a compelling story gets told." |
Carolyn Arends |
Tomato 3.5/4 |
Charlie Wilson's War (2007) |
"A smart, funny, sophisticated story for grown-ups that steers clear of Iraq-fatigue and instead buries its sardonic message beneath bourbon and bimbos." |
Brandon Fibbs |
Tomato 3.5/4 |
Charlotte's Web (2006) |
"Fortunately, this version gets it right. To quote another classic involving an adorable little swine, "That'll do, pig."" |
Russ Breimeier |
Splat 2/4 |
Che (2008) |
"If Soderbergh's goal was to demystify Che Guevera and de-romanticize "revolution," he's succeeded. But unfortunately the result is a film that is just not very compelling." |
Brett McCracken |
Splat 2/4 |
Cheaper By the Dozen 2 (2005) |
"Its heart is in the right place, but a reliance on gimmicks and sentiment undermines the story. In the end, both the laughs and the tears here come just a little too cheap.
" |
Carolyn Arends |
Tomato 3/4 |
Cheri (2009) |
"Stellar cast, topnotch director, impressive design%u2014all the components for a rich satisfying movie, but without a compelling story it's somewhat forgettable." |
Annie Young Frisbie |
Tomato 3/4 |
Chicago 10 (2008) |
"The filmmakers' hope, presumably, is that kids will see Chicago 10 and get stirred into action%u2014taking to the streets to take down The Man, Yippie style." |
Brett McCracken |
Splat 2.5/4 |
Chicken Little (2005) |
"It lacks a good, old-fashioned story -- the fourth dimension every 3-D feature needs to be a classic." |
Carolyn Arends |
Tomato 4/4 |
Children of Men (2006) |
"Fans of the novel may argue about Cuarón's many departures. Some heighten the story's connections to present-day crises; others cloud James' moral vision." |
Jeffrey Overstreet |
Tomato 2.5/4 |
The Chorus (2005) |
"Les Choristes isn't quite as forced and syrupy as Mr. Holland's Opus or Music of the Heart, but it's not a classic like To Sir with Love or Goodbye, Mr. Chips either." |
Russ Breimeier |
Splat 2/4 |
Christmas in the Clouds (2005) |
"The plot is just too pedestrian, the writing just too limp, and most of the characters just too boring for this to be anything more than a modestly entertaining diversion." |
Josh Hurst |
Tomato 2.5/4 |
The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian (2008) |
"In steering the film closer to his own vision, director Adamson steers it away from C.S. Lewis's, and so it loses some of the book's core spiritual themes." |
Peter T. Chattaway |
Tomato 3.5/4 |
The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe (2005) |
"This movie cannot be dismissed, like preachy 'Christian films,' as religious propaganda. ... It is best enjoyed as a symphonic and delightful fantasy." |
Jeffrey Overstreet |
Splat 2.5/4 |
Chronicles of Riddick (2004) |
"Like the heat on Crematoria, little is fleshed out. But I suppose it really doesn't matter because -- wow, isn't Riddick cool?" |
Todd Hertz |
Tomato 4/4 |
Cinderella Man (2005) |
"A fine alternative to the louder and more brainless summer movies competing with it -- an excellent drama that relies on heart and action instead of schmaltz and melodrama." |
Russ Breimeier |
Splat 1.5/4 |
A Cinderella Story (2004) |
"I took a friend's 10-year-old daughter to see the film, and she found it 'too childish.' And who am I to argue with a member of this film's target audience?
" |
Peter T. Chattaway |
Tomato 3/4 |
City of Ember (2008) |
"The movie brings DuPrau's visionary world of wonder alive with fervor and energy. The story moves quickly: hitting plot points at a sprint and creating great tension." |
Todd Hertz |
Splat 2/4 |
The Clearing (2004) |
"[Mirren, Redford, and Dafoe] cannot get a fire going in this cliché-soggy kindling.
" |
Jeffrey Overstreet |
Tomato 2.5/4 |
Click (2006) |
"Click has its heart in the right place but its head in the toilet, and thus works against itself despite some great moments." |
Russ Breimeier |
Tomato 2.5/4 |
Closer (2004) |
"It's ugly, but true. Closer is like the 'smoker's lung' billboard. But instead of showing diseased lungs, it exposes hearts ruined by lies, pride, and jealousy.
" |
Jeffrey Overstreet |
Tomato 3.5/4 |
Cloverfield (2008) |
"Cloverfield puts you on the ground level of a disaster: face-to-face with the dangers of this night. It's a fun, fast ride, but also poignant and strangely affecting." |
Todd Hertz |
Tomato 3/4 |
Coach Carter (2005) |
"Its main flaws are an overabundance of sports-movie clichés and hackneyed phrases, but at least the final game doesn't have a predictable ending; I'll give it that much." |
Mark Moring |
Tomato 2.5/4 |
Coco Before Chanel (2009) |
"A bit more of Coco becoming Chanel was what I expected, and what would have elevated this film beyond the typical period-piece love story fare." |
Camerin Courtney |
Splat 2/4 |
Code 46 (2004) |
"What keeps Code 46 from living up to its fascinating premise is the lack of empathy we feel for William and Maria. They are almost like benign video game characters." |
Stefan Ulstein |
Tomato 2.5/4 |
Cold Souls (2009) |
"While Cold Souls doesn't answer any of the questions it raises, it does provide a thought-provoking narrative framework from which to begin." |
Alissa Wilkinson |
Tomato 3/4 |
Collateral (2004) |
"Foxx's performance is a revelation: he is completely convincing and understated, moving effortlessly through a wide range of ... conflicts both comical and severe." |
Jeffrey Overstreet |
Splat 2.5/4 |
Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen (2004) |
"Only the 13-and-under set will buy into the Confessions vision of teen-hood. Most actual teens have already noted the lack of opportunities for air-guitar montages." |
Lisa Ann Cockrel |
Splat 1.5/4 |
Connie and Carla (2004) |
"The movie does offer some genuine guffaws as it trips over itself to be all things to all people." |
Lisa Ann Cockrel |
Tomato 3/4 |
The Constant Gardener (2005) |
"Fiennes does a brilliant job of communicating his character's inner turmoil through subtle facial expressions and inflections of his voice." |
Peter T. Chattaway |
Splat 2/4 |
Constantine (2005) |
"By the time Peter Stormare appears [as] Lucifer, the story has become so convoluted, we can't take it seriously. Judging from his campy performance, neither can Stormare." |
Jeffrey Overstreet |
Tomato 3.5/4 |
Coraline (2009) |
"This is a rich, intricate world of microscopic detail, nothing short of complete, immersive enchantment." |
Brandon Fibbs |
Splat 1.5/4 |
Couples Retreat (2009) |
"Somewhere in all of this, there is the potential for a pretty good comedy, but this movie isn't it." |
Peter T. Chattaway |
Tomato 2.5/4 |
Crash (2005) |
"Haggis weaves various threads together in a remarkably cohesive narrative ... but his characters seem incapable of talking about anything but prejudice.
" |
Jeffrey Overstreet |
Splat 2/4 |
The Cross (2009) |
"Director Matthew Crouch piles up Blessitt-story after Blessitt-story, but never finds The Story. It's just a mess." |
Annie Young Frisbie |
Tomato 3.5/4 |
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008) |
"An artistic and narrative triumph and one of the most beautiful love stories set to screen in a very long time." |
Brandon Fibbs |
Tomato 3/4 |
Curious George (2006) |
"A great kids' film, and a vehicle for a beloved character that will hopefully send parents scurrying to the bookstore for the genuine article.
" |
Stefan Ulstein |
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