Giant Magazine
Giant Magazine is not a Tomatometer-approved publication. Reviews from this
publication only count toward the Tomatometer when written by the following
Tomatometer-approved critic(s):
Ethan Alter
Rating
Title/Year
Author
1
3.5/5
Michael Jackson's This Is It (2009)
This is It provides a valuable service-it allows a gifted musician to deliver the career-capping performance he wanted the world to see, but never got the chance.
Posted Oct 27, 2009
2
3/5
Paranormal Activity (2009)
A very clever, very compelling and very creepy haunted house tale.
Posted Oct 9, 2009
3
4/5
More than anything though, Precious is a remarkable showcase for its all-female ensemble cast.
Posted Oct 2, 2009
4
2.5/5
Jennifer's Body (2009)
A horror comedy that's neither very scary nor very funny.
Posted Sep 17, 2009
5
1/5
Whiteout (2009)
You'd think that a movie that opens with a gratuitous Kate Beckinsale shower scene couldn't be all bad. But you'd be wrong.
Posted Sep 13, 2009
6
2.5/5
I Can Do Bad All By Myself (2009)
If Perry continues to surround himself with great talent like this, maybe it'll force him to step up his own game and make a movie that departs from his increasingly tired formula.
Posted Sep 13, 2009
7
1.5/5
The Final Destination (2009)
The biggest sin of The Final Destination is its general lack of imagination.
Posted Aug 28, 2009
8
4/5
Passing Strange (2009)
If you passed up the opportunity to catch this Tony-award winning rock musical during its Broadway run, don't make the same mistake with Spike Lee's vibrant film adaptation.
Posted Aug 21, 2009
9
3/5
Inglourious Basterds (2009)
Inglorious Basterds is a meatier movie mash-up than his recent run of flicks, but it's still first and foremost a platform for Tarantino to indulge his very particular whims.
Posted Aug 21, 2009
10
2.5/5
Deadgirl (2008)
Screenwriter Trent Haaga takes the premise to some dark, disturbing places. Unfortunately, the film itself doesn't do full justice to Haaga's script
Posted Jul 24, 2009
11
2/5
The Ugly Truth (2009)
A movie without a single memorable scene or quotable line.
Posted Jul 24, 2009
12
3/5
Filled with a number of crowd-pleasing moments that are sure to have the franchise's legion of fans clapping and cheering delightedly.
Posted Jul 15, 2009
13
2/5
I Love You Beth Cooper (2009)
It made perfect sense to bring Doyle's book to the big screen--unfortunately the humor and emotion got completely lost in translation.
Posted Jul 9, 2009
14
3/5
Bruno (2009)
15
3.5/5
Public Enemies (2009)
Even if specific elements disappoint, the movie as a whole lingers in your head long after the credits roll.
Posted Jul 2, 2009
16
2/5
When the film finally ends, the audience doesn't feel so much elated as beaten into submission.
Posted Jun 24, 2009
17
1.5/5
Year One (2009)
Devoid of any energy or enthusiasm either in front of or behind the camera.
Posted Jun 19, 2009
18
3/5
The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3 (2009)
While the original film offers superior thrills, Scott's Pelham functions just fine as diverting entertainment.
Posted Jun 12, 2009
19
2/5
The Hangover (2009)
It's hard to think of any truly memorable moments from this creatively challenged outing.
Posted Jun 5, 2009
20
5/5
Up (2009)
Only Pixar could take a simple adventure story and turn it into a profound statement about life's infinite possibilities.
Posted May 29, 2009
21
2.5/5
Dance Flick (2009)
It would be easier to recommend the movie if it weren't so inconsistent, sometimes aiming for real wit but more often settling for the lowest common denominator.
Posted May 22, 2009
22
2/5
Overstuffed with gimmicks, but short on charm and creativity.
Posted May 21, 2009
23
2.5/5
Terminator Salvation (2009)
It's a largely empty moviegoing experience because the characters and story don't demand any emotional investment.
Posted May 20, 2009
24
2/5
Angels & Demons (2009)
A glum, by-the-numbers potboiler distinguished only by its admittedly handsome production values.
Posted May 15, 2009
25
1.5/5
Next Day Air (2009)
A messy and unpleasant genre mashup that needed at least two or three rewrites before shooting started.
Posted May 8, 2009
26
4/5
The Limits of Control (2009)
The Limits of Control casts a hypnotic spell that will entrance some viewers--myself included--while leaving others searching for the nearest exit.
Posted May 1, 2009
27
1/5
X-Men Origins - Wolverine (2009)
Wolverine is a complete and utter mess.
Posted May 1, 2009
28
2.5/5
Fighting (2009)
Wait for DVD or, better yet, cable television, where you can change the channel every time Tatum stops fighting and starts talking.
Posted Apr 24, 2009
29
2/5
The Soloist (2009)
Ironically, it's Foxx's gift for mimicry--the same skill that made him a perfect Ray Charles--that defeats him here.
Posted Apr 24, 2009
30
2.5/5
Obsessed (2009)
Obsessed is best enjoyed as glossy, campy fantasy
Posted Apr 24, 2009
31
3/5
State of Play (2009)
I'd still encourage viewers to check out the series, but the movie is an above-average Cliffs Notes version.
Posted Apr 17, 2009
32
2/5
Fast & Furious (2009)
Like a souped-up show car, Fast & Furious is all gleaming surfaces and muscular detailing, but there's absolutely nothing going on under the hood.
Posted Apr 3, 2009
33
3/5
Goodbye Solo (2009)
While Goodbye Solo is an easy film to admire, I have to admit that it never really had me riveted.
Posted Mar 27, 2009
34
3.5/5
Monsters vs. Aliens (2009)
This is an example of a mainstream studio blockbuster done right%u2014it effectively balances humor and action, as well as small character beats with big set-pieces.
Posted Mar 27, 2009
35
3/5
Tokyo! (2008)
There has yet to be an anthology film made where all of the shorts are of equal quality and that's certainly the case with Tokyo!.
Posted Mar 11, 2009
36
Crossing Over (2009)
Once the plot mechanics kick into gear, it becomes increasingly difficult to take the movie seriously.
Posted Mar 1, 2009
37
2.5/5
Madea Goes to Jail (2009)
Obviously Perry's fanbase will turn out to support his latest morality play, but don't expect Madea Goes to Jail to bring any new converts to the Church of Tyler Perry.
Posted Feb 20, 2009
38
3/5
Two Lovers (2008)
Strong performances and the gritty Brooklyn setting make this an above-average romantic drama.
Posted Feb 13, 2009
39
2/5
The International (2009)
There are a number of reasons why this thriller fails to thrill, beginning with Eric Warren Singer's script.
Posted Feb 13, 2009
40
Coraline (2009)
On a technical level alone, Coraline is a stunning achievement and may just be the finest example of stop-motion animation yet put onscreen.
Posted Feb 6, 2009
41
3/5
Taken (2009)
42
2.5/5
I wouldn't say that Rise of the Lycans redeems the Underworld franchise, but at least it shows that a solid movie can be made from this material.
Posted Jan 23, 2009
43
3/5
Notorious (2009)
44
1/5
The Unborn (2009)
Using the Holocaust as the basis for a horror movie is pretty distasteful, but what offended me the most about The Unborn is how sloppy it is.
Posted Jan 9, 2009
45
3/5
The Spirit (2008)
The best thing about The Spirit is that it was directed by [Frank] Miller....The worst thing about The Spirit is that it was written by Frank Miller.
Posted Dec 20, 2008
46
3/5
Seven Pounds (2008)
To say that Seven Pounds is an odd film is an understatement--it's often downright bizarre. What's even crazier is that the damned thing kinda sorta works
Posted Dec 20, 2008
47
2/5
48
2.5/5
Quantum of Solace (2008)
As a James Bond movie, Quantum of Solace disappoints, but as a drama about an angry, angst-ridden spy, it's pretty solid.
Posted Nov 14, 2008
49
3/5
Changeling (2008)
Changeling succeeds as both a compelling mystery and a period piece that still feels relevant today.
Posted Oct 24, 2008
50
1.5/5
Good Dick (2008)