| |
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 |
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A- |
|
A Scanner Darkly (2006) |
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"A thing of unique beauty and free-floating menace, A Scanner Darkly is also about the transmutation of good into evil and back into good, and the willful surrender of freedom in the name of propagandistic safety and betterment." | |
Brent Simon | |
 |
 |
 |
| |
B- |
|
ABC Africa (2002) |
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"A deeply felt movie -- and one still worthwhile -- but one that also doesn’t completely live up to your expectations of what it could be." | |
Brent Simon | |
 |
 |
 |
| |
A- |
|
Ace in the Hole (2005) |
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"Military hawks, armchair data analysts and, yes, fans of criminal procedurals like Law & Order will all spark to Ace in the Hole..." | |
Brent Simon | |
 |
 |
 |
| |
C- |
|
Adventures of Sharkboy and Lava Girl in 3-D (2005) |
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"The 3-D glasses are destined to end up under the seat of your car 15 minutes after the screening... lost and forgotten, along with any lasting memories of this film." | |
Brent Simon | |
 |
 |
 |
| |
-- |
|
Aeon Flux (2005) |
|
"Producer Gale Anne Hurd on the Challenge of Translating Aeon Flux" | |
Scott Collura | |
 |
 |
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| |
C- |
|
After Image (2001) |
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"An art house movie pretending to be [a thriller]." | |
Tony Whitt | |
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 |
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| |
C |
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After School Specials: 1981-1982 (1981-1982) |
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"Shticky template programs..." | |
Brent Simon | |
 |
 |
 |
| |
B- |
|
After the Sunset (2004) |
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"After the Sunset has the good fortune of having director Brett Ratner -- the sugar-rush peddler of the Rush Hour movies, among others -- on its side." | |
Brent Simon | |
 |
 |
 |
| |
B+ |
|
After the Sunset (2004) |
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"The kind of film that asks very little of its audience but offers much in return." | |
Scott Collura | |
 |
 |
 |
| |
B- |
|
The Agronomist (2004) |
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"Perhaps the sort of movie that most belongs in a classroom rather than a cineplex, but is that really such a bad thing?" | |
Brent Simon | |
 |
 |
 |
| |
B |
|
Airline - The Complete Season One |
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"You won't be seeing a plane crash on Airline, obviously, but you get the human equivalents of train crashes." | |
Tony Whitt | |
 |
 |
 |
| |
C |
|
Airwolf - Season 1 (1984) |
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"It's Knight Rider-style plots with a 'copter instead of a car..." | |
Tony Whitt | |
 |
 |
 |
| |
A+ |
|
Akira Kurosawa's Samurai 7 - Vol. 1: Search for the Seven (2005) |
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"Has the makings of being a classic in its own right." | |
Troy Roberts | |
 |
 |
 |
| |
B |
|
Alexander (2004) |
|
"Makes its big screen debut with all the pomp and circumstance expected of most sword and sandal epics..." | |
Eric Moro | |
 |
 |
 |
| |
B |
|
Alf - Season 2 (2005) |
|
"Remains a mostly love-it or loathe-it proposition." | |
Brent Simon | |
 |
 |
 |
| |
A- |
|
Ali The Fighter (1971) |
|
"You’ll be in a ringside tizzy, no matter your predilection for pugilism." | |
Brent Simon | |
 |
 |
 |
| |
B |
|
Alias - The Complete Fourth Season (2004-2005) |
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"Overall, the bite-sized nature of this season may frustrate longer-time fans wanting more payoff..." | |
Brent Simon | |
 |
 |
 |
| |
A- |
|
Alien Planet (2005) |
|
"Offers viewers the opportunity to indulge in speculative science and take a fascinating, fun-filled journey to a world seven light years away." | |
Brent Simon | |
 |
 |
 |
| |
D+ |
|
Alien vs. Predator (2004) |
|
"It’s as if AvP woke up from the long slumber of development hell only to learn that it had one of those Alien chestbursters gestating inside it." | |
Scott Collura | |
 |
 |
 |
| |
B+ |
|
All in the Family - The Complete Fifth Season (1974-1975) |
|
"The brilliance of the show ... was in the manner in which it located and successfully mined the comedy rooted in narrow-mindedness and personal fears." | |
Brent Simon | |
 |
 |
 |
| |
B+ |
|
All in the Family - The Complete Fourth Season (1973-1974) |
|
"All in the Family would in its fourth season mine rich, contrariwise seams of comedy..." | |
Brent Simon | |
 |
 |
 |
| |
B |
|
Almost Peaceful (2004) |
|
"There's a lot of rumbling under the surface going on in this story, but... it never breaks the waters..." | |
Tony Whitt | |
 |
 |
 |
| |
F |
|
Alone in the Dark (2005) |
|
"So maniacally, fervently awful that you have to step back and cackle with glee at humanity’s teeming capacity for irrelevance and self-delusion." | |
Brent Simon | |
 |
 |
 |
| |
F |
|
Alone in the Dark (2005) |
|
"They say that even ugly babies have faces their mothers love, but this is truly a film that not even hardcore genre fans could appreciate." | |
Brent Simon | |
 |
 |
 |
| |
B |
|
The American Astronaut (2001) |
|
"If you’re in the mood for something really out there, this one delivers many rewards." | |
Brian Thomas | |
 |
 |
 |
| |
B+ |
|
American Chopper: The Series - Season 1 (2002-2003) |
|
"I was blown away by the brusque charisma and surly charms of the show." | |
Brent Simon | |
 |
 |
 |
| |
B+ |
|
American Chopper: The Series - Season 2 (2004) |
|
"I was blown away by the brusque charisma and surly charms of the show." | |
Brent Simon | |
 |
 |
 |
| |
A- |
|
American Experience - FDR (2006) |
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"[Requires only] an open mind and desire to learn more about ... the men who helped burnish this great land." | |
Brent Simon | |
 |
 |
 |
| |
D+ |
|
The Amityville Horror (2005) |
|
"The only lasting horror in The Amityville Horror is in what it takes from your wallet." | |
Brent Simon | |
 |
 |
 |
| |
C |
|
Andrew Lloyd Webber's The Phantom of the Opera (2004) |
|
"It’s just a trip down memory lane, someone recounting a story for which you hold much more vivid and beloved memories yourself." | |
Brent Simon | |
 |
 |
 |
| |
B |
|
Andrzej Wajda War Trilogy (1955-1958) |
|
"Each films stands firmly and boldly on its own as a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the struggle for both personal and national freedom." | |
Brent Simon | |
 |
 |
 |
| |
A |
|
The Andy Griffith Show - The Complete Fourth Season (1963-1964) |
|
"Great family entertainment, and still definitely worth exploring if you haven't had the chance." | |
Brent Simon | |
 |
 |
 |
| |
A- |
|
Angel - Season 5 (2004) |
|
"Season five was a strong year for Angel, and one that reminds us what a shame it was that the WB cancelled the series when it did." | |
Scott Collura | |
 |
 |
 |
| |
C- |
|
Animal Farm (1954) |
|
"A Road Runner short this decidedly isn’t." | |
Brent Simon | |
 |
 |
 |
| |
B- |
|
Anna Karenina (2001) |
|
"Refreshingly modern..." | |
Brent Simon | |
 |
 |
 |
| |
B |
|
Annapolis (2006) |
|
"[Franco's] flinty eyes speak volumes in Annapolis, a punchy drama that connects." | |
Brent Simon | |
 |
 |
 |
| |
A |
|
Apollo 13 (1995) |
|
"A great movie, a real-life drama that tugs at the heartstrings and reminds you of the extraordinary cooperation that humankind is capable of in moments of great duress." | |
Brent Simon | |
 |
 |
 |
| |
B+ |
|
Appleseed (2004) |
|
"Like many action oriented games and movies, this will serve its purpose for a good hour of mindless entertainment..." | |
Troy Roberts | |
 |
 |
 |
| |
B- |
|
Archie Bunker's Place - The Complete First Season (1979-1980) |
|
"[Archie has] realistically aged, and the show is richer for this recognition." | |
Brent Simon | |
 |
 |
 |
| |
C- |
|
Are We There Yet? (2005) |
|
"It’s an energetic, broad and indefatigable movie. But in the end, it isn’t really all that good." | |
Brent Simon | |
 |
 |
 |
| |
C- |
|
Are We There Yet? (2005) |
|
"All the requisite spilled drinks, squirmy bladders, projectile vomit and rosy, one-day life lessons learned that you might expect." | |
Brent Simon | |
 |
 |
 |
| |
B |
|
The Aristocrats (2005) |
|
"You’ll exit laughing. And shaking your head in disgust." | |
Brent Simon | |
 |
 |
 |
| |
A |
|
Arrested Development - Season 2 (2004-2005) |
|
"A show that works on every level on which it chooses to operate." | |
Brent Simon | |
 |
 |
 |
| |
A- |
|
The Assassination of Richard Nixon (2004) |
|
"One of the better character studies of 2004." | |
Brent Simon | |
 |
 |
 |
| |
A- |
|
The Assassination of Richard Nixon (2004) |
|
"Penn -- with his angsty, swallowed depression -- elevates the movie into a gripping portrait of uniquely American estrangement and alienation..." | |
Brent Simon | |
 |
 |
 |
| |
D- |
|
Assault on Precinct 13 (2005) |
|
"An embarrassment for all involved." | |
Brent Simon | |
 |
 |
 |
| |
B+ |
|
Assault on Precinct 13 (2005) |
|
"It’s highly unusual for an action movie to be driven so much by performances, but Assault fits that rare niche." | |
Brian Thomas | |
 |
 |
 |
| |
A |
|
Astro Boy - The Complete Series (2003) |
|
"Lavished with more care and cash than the usual anime series, Astro Boy is a stunningly beautiful series that is also very well directed..." | |
Brian Thomas | |
 |
 |
 |
| |
B+ |
|
The Aviator (2004) |
|
"With Hughes’ life, literally anything could happen -- colorful successes or wild failure. Scorsese’s film is the former." | |
Brent Simon | |
 |