MovieCrypt.com - Rotten Tomatoes

MovieCrypt.com

MovieCrypt.com is not a Tomatometer-approved publication. Reviews from this publication only count toward the Tomatometer when written by the following Tomatometer-approved critic(s): Kevin A. Ranson
Rating
Title/Year
Author
1
2/4
Jungle Cruise (2021)

Kevin A. Ranson

... plays like a fantastic tale fit for toddlers fleshed out with sequences giving those same children nightmares... any goodwill the film earns is squandered in dropped story threads and plot execution.
Posted Aug 1, 2021
2
4/4
The Green Knight (2021)

Kevin A. Ranson

For those who delight in the manipulations of court politics... and the scourge of societal roles pushed upon those with no understanding of them, this is the deep-cut spooky Arthurian art house film they only dreamed might one day exist.
Posted Aug 1, 2021
3
3/4
Old (2021)

Kevin A. Ranson

While a much-needed denouement provides a bare minimum amount of closure, the film's bread and butter is an actor's class in shuffling off one's mortal coil, whether going quietly into that good night or fighting to the last breath.
Posted Jul 23, 2021
4
3/4
Jakob's Wife (2021)

Kevin A. Ranson

Twisted, unusual, and often unpredictable, the few missteps that slipped into the final cut doesn't take away from the accomplishment of this little vampire story that could.
Posted Jul 19, 2021
5
2/4
The Tomorrow War (2021)

Kevin A. Ranson

Cool critters foiled by every time-travel trope ever... as if someone transplanted a great idea for a monster movie into the cheapest derivative script available...
Posted Jul 15, 2021
6
3/4
Black Widow (2021)

Kevin A. Ranson

... feels too much like a back door pilot... (otherwise) a solid thriller in the James Bond vein featuring good actors doing a great job with the material given... making it look as good as modern technology can safely allow.
Posted Jul 15, 2021
7
3/4
In the Heights (2021)

Kevin A. Ranson

... other than a welcome slant in character ethnicity, the rest feels no more exceptional than average (read: successful) Broadway fare... which now exists in the shadow of the superior filmed stage version of Hamilton.
Posted Jul 11, 2021
8
4/4
A Quiet Place Part II (2021)

Kevin A. Ranson

... parallel action ramping up the drama in a feat of precise editing. Adding prologue context with a bit of world building helps the sequel improve the original while excelling on its own.
Posted May 28, 2021
9
4/4
Cruella (2021)

Kevin A. Ranson

... Disney's best live-action attempt to date reimagining their own iconic animation... the familiar beats of a superhero origin story... built upon Stone's raw power and killer fashion...
Posted May 28, 2021
10
2/4
Army Of The Dead (2021)

Kevin A. Ranson

... interesting ideas constantly getting dropped... the script doesn't matter as long as all the money shots deliver coolness. Even the denouement feels like a cheat...
Posted May 28, 2021
11
2/4
Those Who Wish Me Dead (2021)

Kevin A. Ranson

... feels hamstrung and with its heart ripped out, the last act hinting at a Die Hard-style denouement or sequel-informing revelation that never materializes as the film ends with a whimper.
Posted May 21, 2021
12
3/4
Profile (2021)

Kevin A. Ranson

... as someone susceptible to recruitment while trying to expose it... the real terrors unfold in how technology can be used against someone... and how even a casual slip up can be fatal in a world of undercover amateurs.
Posted May 16, 2021
13
3/4
Spiral: From the Book of Saw (2021)

Kevin A. Ranson

... the ninety-minute runtime keeps tension ramped up between clue reveals and trap sequences... leaves little time to care about plot-related father-son relationships or offer up would-be victims as anything more than meat to be wasted.
Posted May 16, 2021
14
3/4
Benny Loves You (2021)

Kevin A. Ranson

The final act payoff not only pulls the story together but recalls every detail, tugging on each dangling plot thread up until the final frame as an act of sheer will... in a good way.
Posted May 13, 2021
15
2/2
Wrath of Man (2021)

Kevin A. Ranson

Seventy-percent too mysterious for its own good... a confusing letdown as the most interesting bits go unexplored and the surprises are reduced to near zero.
Posted May 9, 2021
16
4/4
Nomadland (2021)

Kevin A. Ranson

... a peek behind a forbidden curtain ironically hidden in plain sight... a different tale of conquering the West: self-reliance as a way of life where the destination is making it another day.
Posted Apr 25, 2021
17
2/4
Mortal Kombat (2021)

Kevin A. Ranson

... feels small, less like it has anything to do with "the fate of billions" and more like a series of incidental grudge matches... the opening scene feel(s) like a deplorable bait-and-switch.
Posted Apr 24, 2021
18
4/4
The Mortuary Collection (2019)

Kevin A. Ranson

... these individual spine-tinglers strike the perfect discord between humor and horror, including some rather sophisticated storytelling and a willingness 'to go there.' Happily unrated and gleefully graphic... this isn't for the squeamish.
Posted Apr 18, 2021
19
3/4
The Unholy (2021)

Kevin A. Ranson

(An) over-reliance on jump-scares does the film no favors... the cast, plot, and music pull together a creepy and atmospheric story with real consequences, light humor where appropriate, and champions adherence to the genre rules.
Posted Apr 18, 2021
20
4/4
Raya and the Last Dragon (2021)

Kevin A. Ranson

Something amazing was created in spite of everything working against it, both mirroring and informing Raya's story, a plea for trust and an inclusive celebration of differences... emotional, entertaining, and powerful.
Posted Apr 4, 2021
21
4/4
Godzilla vs. Kong (2021)

Kevin A. Ranson

... concentrating on fewer critters to fight raises the stakes and gives fans more of what they want... begs to be seen on the biggest screen possible coupled with an ear-bleeding surround-sound system.
Posted Mar 31, 2021
22
3/4
Zack Snyder's Justice League (2021)

Kevin A. Ranson

... needlessly overlong yet all the better for it. It still needs a good editor and significantly fewer scenes in slow-motion, but Snyder's vision does restore the most important thing Whedon cut out of Justice League: its heart.
Posted Mar 20, 2021
23
3/4
PG: Psycho Goreman (2021)

Kevin A. Ranson

... fans of old-school horror comedy will both cheer and groan at this sci-fi fantasy cheese-fest and its cast of costumed alien warlords worthy of a midnight matinee.
Posted Mar 16, 2021
24
4/4
The Vigil (2021)

Kevin A. Ranson

... a truly Jewish horror film in every sense... Fans of horror and genre detail will find much of interest here... (and) how much research went into getting it all perfectly correct.
Posted Feb 28, 2021
25
1/4
Tom & Jerry (2020)

Kevin A. Ranson

... searching for ways to shoehorn a cat and mouse back into a mediocre plot which has no need of them... the only boon this film offers anyone else is a hint of nostalgia for the better (if politically incorrect) original shorts it borrows from.
Posted Feb 28, 2021
26
3/4
The Little Things (2021)

Kevin A. Ranson

... doesn't trust the audience to make a firm commitment on any particular conclusion... Leto pitted against Washington and Malek still provides a relatable enough scenario... to cross the finish line.
Posted Feb 26, 2021
27
4/4
Willy's Wonderland (2021)

Kevin A. Ranson

Needlessly gory and imaginatively graphic, the just-under ninety-minute feature burns on all cylinders, not just using common horror tropes but gleefully abusing them; no sin goes unpunished as The Janitor cleans Willy's house.
Posted Feb 20, 2021
28
4/4
Promising Young Woman (2020)

Kevin A. Ranson

... a dark chocolate-coated pill designed to churn one's stomach after swallowing, the only relief being that intended audiences won't realize what they've learned until it's far too late.
Posted Jan 2, 2021
29
2/4
The Midnight Sky (2020)

Kevin A. Ranson

Not to undermine the gorgeous photography or intense acting, this Christmas release echoes the revelation of Ebenezer Scrooge clutching his headstone: "Why show me this, if I am past all hope?"
Posted Dec 27, 2020
30
4/4
Soul (2020)

Kevin A. Ranson

Amazingly animated, perfectly voice-cast, and managing to surprise without losing focus, the more one thinks about Soul, the better it becomes.
Posted Dec 25, 2020
31
1/4
Wonder Woman 1984 (2020)

Kevin A. Ranson

Clocking in with a two-and-half hour runtime, WW84 feels as bloated as it is, with senseless combat sequences, random occurrences, and a new McGuffin for every act. There shouldn't be four Fantastic Four movies better than this.
Posted Dec 25, 2020
32
3/4
Mank (2020)

Kevin A. Ranson

While the average film-goer may lack the requisite attention... those willing to spend a little time in the monochromatic Tinseltown of olde... will be rewarded with transporting performances and attention to detail.
Posted Dec 6, 2020
33
3/4
The Wolf of Snow Hollow (2020)

Kevin A. Ranson

For a story about a small town cop buckling under the pressures of being everything to everyone all the time, (it) could have been great instead of good if the filmmaker had learned the very lesson his main character also suffered through.
Posted Nov 15, 2020
34
4/4
Freaky (2020)

Kevin A. Ranson

More intent on entertaining than making a statement... gleefully hits all the high-note screams in a semi-grounded story that earns its winks at the audience.
Posted Nov 13, 2020
35
4/4
Noise in the Middle (2020)

Kevin A. Ranson

... honors its inspirations with wild abandon. A bit of The Shining, a dash of Paranormal Activity, and a captivating performance by Faye Hostetter in a gorgeous location contribute to a nail-biting thriller...
Posted Oct 27, 2020
36
3/4
The Witches (2020)

Kevin A. Ranson

... never rises to meet Anne's energy in her too-few scenes, coasting on casting that fails to push the envelope further than good enough... but adequate for Halloween.
Posted Oct 25, 2020
37
3/4
Honest Thief (2020)

Kevin A. Ranson

What should have been a simple throwaway matinee combines a chick flick, a buddy flick, and a revenge flick into a slick little waste of time, easy to swallow yet tastier than it ought to be.
Posted Oct 17, 2020
38
1/4
Hubie Halloween (2020)

Kevin A. Ranson

... suffers from all the earmarks of an under-baked series of SNL skits that each run too long with no hope of catching anyone cracking up trying to stay in character. Bleh, bleh, bleh.
Posted Oct 17, 2020
39
2/4
Alien Addiction (2020)

Kevin A. Ranson

... all the wonderful alien antics and innovative filmmaking can't make up for a disjointed script and final cut that actively resists any sense of cohesion.
Posted Oct 17, 2020
40
2/4
The Curse of Audrey Earnshaw (2020)

Kevin A. Ranson

... appears aimless due to the lack of whys. Good visuals, well-acted, and a few decent moments of horror, but like so many, this curse asks to be avoided.
Posted Oct 4, 2020
41
4/4
Tenet (2020)

Kevin A. Ranson

... asks viewers to trust what's going on will make sense once it reveals its secret... one of those rare instances where seeing the film more than once actually reaps a reward...
Posted Oct 3, 2020
42
3/4
On The Rocks (2020)

Kevin A. Ranson

... showcases a mature relationship fraught with Shakespearean miscommunication while successfully sugarcoating it with a needy parent taking advantage of a dire situation... and alcohol, of course.
Posted Oct 3, 2020
43
3/4
The Owners (2020)

Kevin A. Ranson

The real crime committed herein is any British citizen ignoring the single rule all sci-fi fans know: never underestimate The Doctor.
Posted Sep 15, 2020
44
4/4
Bill & Ted Face the Music (2020)

Kevin A. Ranson

... squeezing every drop of entertainment out of each ridiculously escalating moment. With superior effects, cool cameos, and a renewed emphasis on the music itself... this band's reunion is resplendently non-non-non-heinous.
Posted Aug 31, 2020
45
3/4
Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey (1991)

Kevin A. Ranson

Having an actual bad guy changes the dynamic to something less fun and more serious... but the inclusion of Death as a wild card provides a new too-serious foil for Bill and Ted to happily torment.
Posted Aug 31, 2020
46
4/4
Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure (1989)

Kevin A. Ranson

It's hard not to love unaccomplished would-be heroes who prove to be amazingly resourceful when under the gun, and their timeless little movie is defiantly fun and precious as a result.
Posted Aug 31, 2020
47
1/4
Vivarium (2020)

Kevin A. Ranson

... full of quirkiness and nihilism, yet it can't seem to settle on any particular point; in fact, it tries to embrace them all... misses the mark of anything coherent and settles upon weird for the sake of being weird.
Posted Aug 24, 2020
48
3/4
Unhinged (2020)

Kevin A. Ranson

... required viewing for all drivers education and personal safety courses, it plays like an after-school special, too - where the celebrity villain looms larger than life because the generic would-be victim is actually the viewer.
Posted Aug 21, 2020
49
3/4
Uncle Peckerhead (2020)

Kevin A. Ranson

While by no means perfect and focused upon an 1980s slasher vibe, this tale of zero-level punk heroes and villains vying for scraps with a box of homemade mix tapes strikes the right power chords blending fun and gore.
Posted Aug 8, 2020
50
3/4
The Old Guard (2020)

Kevin A. Ranson

... the camaraderie between characters and backstory details are organic enough to carry the weight of Theron's brooding until she can start kicking ass... and that's when it gels together.
Posted Jul 20, 2020