Star-Democrat (Easton, MD)
Star-Democrat (Easton, MD) is not a Tomatometer-approved publication. Reviews from this
publication only count toward the Tomatometer when written by the following
Tomatometer-approved critic(s):
Greg Maki
Rating
Title/Year
Author
1
B
Onward (2020)
The world-building is where the movie shines the brightest.
Posted Mar 6, 2020
2
A
The Invisible Man (2020)
... This version feels urgent, necessary even, in the #MeToo era.
Posted Feb 27, 2020
3
B+
Bad Boys for Life (2020)
Not just acknowledging but making its stars' age - Smith is 51, Lawrence 54 - a central point gives "Bad Boys for Life" a reason to exist beyond pure nostalgia.
Posted Jan 15, 2020
4
A
1917 (2020)
... Gripping to the point you almost forget about the gimmick that pulls it all together.
Posted Jan 10, 2020
5
B
"The Rise of Skywalker" is one last look back, and while not triumphant, it is a satisfying end of an era.
Posted Dec 18, 2019
6
A
Knives Out (2019)
A modern take on a classic brand of storytelling, "Knives Out" is incredibly well crafted and endlessly entertaining.
Posted Nov 22, 2019
7
A-
The Good Liar (2019)
What treasures Helen Mirren and Ian McKellen are, and what a gift director Bill Condon has given us by pairing them up in "The Good Liar," a delightfully twisty tale.
Posted Nov 15, 2019
8
C-
Doctor Sleep (2019)
9
B
Terminator: Dark Fate (2019)
... Gets enough right that it feels like it belongs in this franchise, which is a compliment and something you couldn't say about the three previous installments.
Posted Nov 1, 2019
10
D
Gemini Man (2019)
Having the means to do something doesn't always mean it should be done.
Posted Oct 11, 2019
11
A
Joker (2019)
"Joker" stays with the viewer, forcing you to consider it more carefully. The picture you'll get is dark - haunting, disturbing and all too real.
Posted Oct 3, 2019
12
C+
Abominable (2019)
... the Chinese setting of "Abominable" seems perfunctory at best, chosen only for its relative proximity to the Himalayas.
Posted Sep 27, 2019
13
B-
It Chapter Two (2019)
The casting is impeccable, and the characters' personalities are so well defined as this point, that ... it truly feels like a reunion of long-lost friends.
Posted Sep 5, 2019
14
A-
Ready or Not (2019)
15
A-
Good Boys (2019)
Tremblay, Williams and Noon are terrific as the central trio, and it takes a confident director who knows exactly what he wants to get such performances out of actors this young.
Posted Aug 15, 2019
16
C
The Kitchen (2019)
17
B
18
A-
The Farewell (2019)
"The Farewell" drips with authenticity as it examines - and gives equal weight and respect to - the disparate traditions and values of its two colliding cultures.
Posted Jul 25, 2019
19
A
The Lion King (2019)
"The Lion King" feels fresh and vibrant, alive and vital in 2019 in a way I would not have thought possible.
Posted Jul 12, 2019
20
C+
Stuber (2019)
The laughs mostly come from the heavy lifting of Kumail Nanjiani ...
Posted Jul 11, 2019
21
B+
Yesterday (2019)
The dramatic material is heavier than might be expected, but it works because Patel and James are such a winning pair.
Posted Jun 28, 2019
22
A
Spider-Man: Far From Home (2019)
...The perfect palate cleanser after the monumental "Endgame."
Posted Jun 27, 2019
23
C-
Late Night (2019)
... Everyone seems to be simply waiting for their turn to speak rather than engaging the material and their fellow performers.
Posted Jun 13, 2019
24
C+
... What begins as awe-inspiring spectacle becomes routine.
Posted May 29, 2019
25
A
Booksmart (2019)
... One of the great coming-of-age comedies of its era.
Posted May 24, 2019
26
B-
Pokémon Detective Pikachu (2019)
Reynolds easily is the best thing it has going for it.
Posted May 8, 2019
27
C-
Tolkien (2019)
"Tolkien" supposedly details the inspiration for fantastical worlds and adventures, yet there's no magic here.
Posted May 8, 2019
28
A-
Long Shot (2019)
Breathing new life into a tired formula, "Long Shot" nails both aspects of its rom-com label ...
Posted May 3, 2019
29
A
Avengers: Endgame (2019)
... A spectacle and feat of storytelling unlike anything the movies have ever seen.
Posted Apr 23, 2019
30
D+
Hellboy (2019)
... While the movie laboriously dragged itself from one unappetizing scene to the next, I couldn't shake a nagging thought: It didn't have to be this way.
Posted Apr 10, 2019
31
B
Pet Sematary (2019)
Directors Kevin Kölsch and Dennis Widmyer capture the dark, grieving spirit of what many regard as King's scariest work.
Posted Apr 4, 2019
32
B+
Shazam! (2019)
The refreshing tone and a wonderfully winning performance by Zachary Levi combine for a delightful experience ...
Posted Apr 3, 2019
33
C-
Dumbo (2019)
... There simply isn't enough story to sustain this live-action "Dumbo," which, at just under two hours, runs nearly twice as long as Disney's 1941 animated classic.
Posted Mar 27, 2019
34
A
Us (2019)
With minimal gore, Peele prefers to get inside his viewers' heads. Scaring you is the first thing he wants to do, but he'll ask you to think while he's there, too.
Posted Mar 20, 2019
35
B+
Captain Marvel (2019)
36
D
Greta (2019)
"Greta" feels regressive and irresponsible, treating mental illness as an evil that must be defeated rather than as a serious personal and societal issue.
Posted Mar 1, 2019
37
A
Toothless' initial flirtation with the Light Fury is a wondrous bit of wordless, physical comedy.
Posted Feb 21, 2019
38
B+
The warning is clear: Our greatest enemies often are by our own making.
Posted Feb 21, 2019
39
B
Glass (2019)
... Looks and feels nothing like the superhero movies that have taken over Hollywood in the past decade.
Posted Jan 17, 2019
40
B
The Upside (2019)
Hart and Cranston play off each other nicely, and the movie works to the extent it does because they work so well together.
Posted Jan 12, 2019
41
B
Aquaman (2018)
It took a while, but the DC Extended Universe finally has embraced the inherent silliness of superheroes.
Posted Dec 20, 2018
42
C
Mary Poppins Returns (2018)
The movie begins and ends with Jack singing about London's skies, and even though Mary Poppins is the magical one, he does more to impact the plot than anyone else.
Posted Dec 20, 2018
43
C-
Mary Queen of Scots (2018)
Ronan and Robbie are pros, but everything around them feels like the work of amateurs.
Posted Dec 20, 2018
44
A
... Exactly the superhero movie we need in 2018.
Posted Dec 20, 2018
45
A-
Anna and the Apocalypse (2018)
... The best zombie musical comedy Christmas movie ever made.
Posted Dec 20, 2018
46
A-
Creed II (2018)
It uses a well-worn formula to create a fresh, invigorating experience.
Posted Dec 20, 2018
47
A-
Rowling knows her audience, and she packs each scene with so much delicious information for her devoted fans.
Posted Nov 14, 2018
48
B
Bohemian Rhapsody (2018)
The movie is at its best when the focus is on the music ...
Posted Oct 25, 2018
49
B+
Halloween (2018)
... The film is mighty suspenseful, due in no small part to stronger performances than we're used to getting in slasher films
Posted Oct 18, 2018
50
A
First Man (2018)
... Reminds us that some things are bigger than what drives us apart.
Posted Oct 12, 2018