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
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
2
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
3
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
4
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
5
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
6
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
7
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
8
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
9
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
10
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
11
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
12
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
13
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
14
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
15
3/4
1BR (2020)

Kevin A. Ranson

As a character trying to hold onto her morality and humanity while surviving in an unfathomable situation, Bloom plays Sarah with surprising strength in a believable arc that elevates the source material beyond its modest concept and financing.
Posted Jul 19, 2020
16
3/4
The Beach House (2020)

Kevin A. Ranson

... lingers in the psyche longer than one might expect... like the opening chapter of a new streaming series or part of a Creepshow anthology.
Posted Jul 9, 2020
17
4/4
Hamilton (2020)

Kevin A. Ranson

Compared to over-cinematic reinterpretations from 1978's Grease to 2019's ill-fated Cats, how can this not be the preferred template for bringing any post-theatrical Broadway experience to the masses?
Posted Jul 5, 2020
18
1/4
Artemis Fowl (2020)

Kevin A. Ranson

At one point (in the film), the fairies express dismay that humans no longer took them seriously; wait until they find out the Artemis Fowl movie hasn't done them any favors... and Hellboy will accept your apologies now.
Posted Jun 14, 2020
19
3/4
The Hunt (2020)

Kevin A. Ranson

... this explosive bloodfest is equal parts education and entertainment... an ultra-violent allegory within an allegory where everyone is a target, both literally and literarily.
Posted Mar 14, 2020
20
4/4
Onward (2020)

Kevin A. Ranson

... for all the gags and gimmicks, the film isn't only solidly scripted but also heartfelt and honest, trusting the audience with a sophisticated story and an emotional punch imbued with maximum fun while exploring their concept.
Posted Mar 5, 2020
21
4/4
Color Out of Space (2020)

Kevin A. Ranson

... this eldritch tale seems ready-made for a Nic Cage vehicle... a beautiful picture of a descent into madness, an acceptance of inevitability, and a family truly brought together as none have before.
Posted Mar 3, 2020
22
1/4
Mandy (2018)

Kevin A. Ranson

... there is a sense of raw filmmaking and imagery herein coupled with throwbacks to 1980s post-apocalypse sci-fi and fantasy, but the underfunded and under-edited final cut drags like a battleship anchor holding back a rowboat.
Posted Mar 1, 2020
23
4/4
The Invisible Man (2020)

Kevin A. Ranson

With tricks of misdirection, creative camera angles, and spot-on editing to tighten an already above-average script, this thriller is far better than the trailers suggest and earns every moment of attention...
Posted Feb 29, 2020
24
3/4
Brahms: The Boy II (2020)

Kevin A. Ranson

While dropping the occasional plot point, the sequel successfully builds to a more satisfying conclusion than the original but leans heavily upon established tropes for execution - figuratively and literally.
Posted Feb 22, 2020
25
1/4
Fantasy Island (2020)

Kevin A. Ranson

Like two mashed-up scripts hijacked by a worse third, the setting and mystical trappings of the classic show exist herein, but those can't overcome a lack of cohesion and the loftiest sin of remakes: disregarding the source material.
Posted Feb 21, 2020
26
4/4
Sonic the Hedgehog (2020)

Kevin A. Ranson

With Schwartz's pitch-perfect vocals coupled with Carrey's familiar but wallowing-in-evil antics... a tight script and attention to detail... yields a predictable but satisfying adventure.
Posted Feb 15, 2020
27
2/4
The Lodge (2020)

Kevin A. Ranson

Full of wintry imagery, religious iconography, and a heartbreaking performance by Riley Keough, this bait-and-switch slow-burn thriller delivers the dread while failing at logic.
Posted Feb 11, 2020
28
3/4
Gretel & Hansel (2020)

Kevin A. Ranson

... a tedious watch for those expecting a running-screaming slasher-horror, this atmospheric slow-burn thriller suggests more than it shows, feigning complexity but doing it very well.
Posted Feb 3, 2020
29
3/4
The Farewell (2019)

Kevin A. Ranson

Playing a character who allows endless opportunities to speak her heart pass her by, Awkwafina displays her full heartbreaking range dealing with the worst situation imaginable.
Posted Jan 18, 2020
30
2/4
Dolittle (2020)

Kevin A. Ranson

Between manic and/or silly scenes with too much happening and a story with not enough, this mess of a movie has a very narrow audience in mind while still having its heart in the right place.
Posted Jan 18, 2020
31
3/4
Underwater (2020)

Kevin A. Ranson

... edited to the bone for a trim running time, this fun time-waster is good enough for a matinee if only by using what it steals better than the films it stole from.
Posted Jan 15, 2020
32
4/4
Parasite (Gisaengchung) (2019)

Kevin A. Ranson

... playful until it becomes diabolical... only then does (writer/director) Bong Joon Ho show exactly the cards he's holding.
Posted Jan 13, 2020
33
3/4
Uncut Gems (2019)

Kevin A. Ranson

... an endurance test foreshadowing the final five minutes of the film; while observant viewers won't be too surprised by the plot, they might be by the performance.
Posted Dec 27, 2019
34
4/4
Little Women (2019)

Kevin A. Ranson

... celebrating young women dealing with life, circumstance, and personal decisions from their own point of view, Gerwig's new adaptation may be the best version of Alcott's novels as the most relatable take.
Posted Dec 25, 2019
35
4/4
1917 (2020)

Kevin A. Ranson

... the theater was how this was meant to be seen: no stopping, no respite, and no escape... a two-hour no-cutaway immersion into war.
Posted Dec 25, 2019
36
3/4
Bombshell (2019)

Kevin A. Ranson

... keeping silent to keep your spoils rather than sound the alarm to protect others as a central theme... the ripped-from-the-headlines motif is timely but not as compelling as it wants to be.
Posted Dec 25, 2019
37
2/4
Cats (2019)

Kevin A. Ranson

More is less, but sure - let's go all in... looking like a remake of The Wizard of Oz as a 1980s interpretive-dance video on MTV where all the characters have been replaced by human-feline hybrids...
Posted Dec 24, 2019
38
4/4
Harriet (2019)

Kevin A. Ranson

Whether you believe the Man Upstairs guided Harriet or not, you'll believe in the woman who believed it herself and found the courage to do the impossible, sometimes with as little as a song.
Posted Dec 24, 2019
39
3/4
Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker (2019)

Kevin A. Ranson

... giving Carrie Fisher top billing, the big Skywalker finale isn't the best film of the series but does manage closure of every current character arc, topping it off with a perfect coda...
Posted Dec 19, 2019
40
4/4
Knives Out (2019)

Kevin A. Ranson

In spite of such a complex story with so many great characters, Johnson makes it look too easy as it effortlessly unfolds.
Posted Dec 18, 2019
41
0/4
Black Christmas (2019)

Kevin A. Ranson

... one of the worst films of the year... again... trying to pass off an after-school special as a slasher film.
Posted Dec 15, 2019
42
2/4
The Lighthouse (2019)

Kevin A. Ranson

... refusal to commit to any revealing detail undoes the goodwill, leaving a thick atmosphere without tangible meaning while blaming "madness" for lacking cohesion.
Posted Dec 11, 2019
43
4/4
Jojo Rabbit (2019)

Kevin A. Ranson

... using satire to set up a series of gut punches, Waititi succeeds in the impossible: a positive journey toward understanding -- and a stark reminder of what's at stake if the world ever forgets...
Posted Dec 9, 2019
44
4/4
Dark Waters (2019)

Kevin A. Ranson

... pushed front and center is corporate disconnection and plausible deniability, confronting the people who profit from lives being lost... happy as long as they don't have to see the damage done.
Posted Dec 8, 2019
45
2/4
Charlie's Angels (2019)

Kevin A. Ranson

With antics too violent for empowering 'tweens and too pedestrian for adult audiences, trying to please both satisfies neither.
Posted Dec 7, 2019
46
2/4
The Irishman (2019)

Kevin A. Ranson

... like Scorsese trying to out-runtime Quentin Tarantino... the retreaded framework of 1995's Casino... plus two hours of indulgent padding.
Posted Dec 7, 2019
47
2/4
Maleficent: Mistress of Evil (2019)

Kevin A. Ranson

... a feast for the senses and the mind in terms of pure fantasy and imagination... buries significant character opportunities, as if the writers were tasked to combine three different scripts that defied being strung together.
Posted Dec 7, 2019
48
3/4
Frozen II (2019)

Kevin A. Ranson

While making bold in-story choices continuing to break Disney conventions... leans heavily on visual spectacle and characterization, a safely world-expanding part two in set-up for the inevitable part 3.
Posted Nov 24, 2019
49
3/4
Midway (2019)

Kevin A. Ranson

... paints a bleak historic picture of how the balance of power in the world shifted in only six months, tempered with a necessary glimpse into the human cost and the courage of those facing overwhelming odds.
Posted Nov 11, 2019
50
1/4
Pearl Harbor (2001)

Kevin A. Ranson

... sensationalizing real events for a meaningless film, then coasting on a huge budget and advertising to lure in moviegoers thinking they'll see historic accuracy and drama.
Posted Nov 11, 2019