Fresh 2.5/4
| Rotten 32%
| Fanboys (2009) | "
Even geeks enjoy poking fun at geeks. And they really know how." — Houston Chronicle Posted Feb 6, 2009 |
Rotten 2/4
| Rotten 0%
| Surfer, Dude (2008) | "
Surfer, Dude is a bizarre throwback. It feels 25-30 years out of date and seems to be meant to be watched on VHS, oops, make that DVD, while stoned." — Houston Chronicle Posted Sep 12, 2008 |
Fresh 3.5/4
| Fresh 77%
| Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2007) | "
Partly due to its intensity, Order of the Phoenix is better than the first four in the series. Also credit a much tighter, meatier script and better acting." — Houston Chronicle Posted Jul 10, 2007 |
Fresh 3/4
| Fresh 81%
| Die Hard 4: Live Free or Die Hard (2007) | "
Live Free or Die Hard is the most creative and exciting Die Hard film since the original, though it's hardly the original's equal." — Houston Chronicle Posted Jun 26, 2007 |
Rotten 2/4
| Rotten 5%
| Broken Bridges (2006) | "
When you can get just as good on the Hallmark network, why drive all the way to a theater?" — Houston Chronicle Posted Sep 8, 2006 |
Fresh 3/4
| Fresh 92%
| Lassie (2006) | "
This new Lassie is no match for the original MGM production (Roddy McDowell, Donald Crisp, Elizabeth Taylor, etc.), but there are many compensations that make it fine family entertainment." — Houston Chronicle Posted Sep 1, 2006 |
Rotten 2.5/4
| Rotten 22%
| Barnyard: The Original Party Animals (2006) | "
Adults will get enough laughs to survive gags such as the chickens using a Col. Sanders dartboard but will likely lose patience waiting for the very predictable story and sentiments to slowly play themselves out." — Houston Chronicle Posted Aug 4, 2006 |
Fresh 2.5/4
| N/A | Paradise, Texas (2005) | "
Joe Conway's script needs more dramatic edge and motivation and a less easy resolution, but we're glad when things work out the way we knew they would." — Houston Chronicle Posted May 3, 2006 |
Fresh 3/4
| Fresh 85%
| Slither (2006) | "
Slither is seriocomic horror, alternating laughs with gooey, creepy scares." — Houston Chronicle Posted Mar 31, 2006 |
Rotten 2.5/4
| Rotten 19%
| Firewall (2006) | "
If you're in the mood for a thriller, Firewall will suffice -- barely." — Houston Chronicle Posted Feb 10, 2006 |
Fresh 3/4
| Fresh 81%
| Serenity (2005) | "
The best summer thrill ride since Batman Begins, Serenity roars in a late but mighty welcome considering this year's sub-fun slate." — Houston Chronicle Posted Sep 30, 2005 |
Fresh B-
| Fresh 67%
| Alice et Martin (1998) | "
Techine keeps a tight rein on his actors' dramatics." — Houston Chronicle Posted Jul 21, 2005 |
Fresh
| Fresh 70%
| Frequency (2000) | "
Why gripe about a few minor inconsistencies? Just relax and enjoy the show." — Houston Chronicle Posted Jul 21, 2005 |
Rotten B
| Fresh 84%
| Chuck & Buck (2000) | "
All the people of Chuck & Buck feel very human." — Houston Chronicle Posted Jul 21, 2005 |
Fresh
| Fresh 95%
| The Life and Times of Hank Greenberg (1999) | "
It seems too much to ask a movie to entertain, inform and inspire. For it to also work as sports story, social history and biography is a home run with men on base." — Houston Chronicle Posted Jul 21, 2005 |
Rotten
| Rotten 14%
| Dudley Do-Right (1999) | "
Dudley is merely a dud." — Houston Chronicle Posted Jul 21, 2005 |
Rotten
| Rotten 18%
| I'll Be Home For Christmas (1998) | "
None of the cast comes off well, but they have little to work with, since the dialogue sounds like it was made up on the spot and performed without rehearsal." — Houston Chronicle Posted Jul 21, 2005 |
Fresh
| Fresh 68%
| Keeping the Faith (2000) | "
The ending gets a little too cute, and isn't true to Anna's independent nature. Oh well, to forgive is divine." — Houston Chronicle Posted Jul 21, 2005 |
Fresh
| Fresh 77%
| Fellini Satyricon (1969) | "
Those who don't weaken and bolt for the door experience a one-of-a-kind visual adventure they are unlikely to forget." — Houston Chronicle Posted Jul 21, 2005 |
Fresh
| Fresh 76%
| Mansfield Park (1999) | "
While this version plays somewhat fast and loose with the original story, and even more so with the heroine's character, it is still much more Jane Austen than not." — Houston Chronicle Posted Jul 21, 2005 |
Fresh B
| Fresh 81%
| Love and Basketball (2000) | "
Satisfying, enjoyable and smart." — Houston Chronicle Posted Jul 21, 2005 |
Fresh B+
| Fresh 97%
| Blood Simple (1984) | "
The movie is as dark, ironic and fatalistically comic as modern film noir comes." — Houston Chronicle Posted Jul 21, 2005 |
Fresh B
| Fresh 88%
| Girlfight (2000) | "
It's obvious Kusama knew what she wanted and was in control, because all the key roles and scenes are played with a uniform tone and conviction." — Houston Chronicle Posted Jul 21, 2005 |
Fresh B+
| Fresh 90%
| 42 Up (1998) | "
One of the best movie series ever is a true-life drama like no other. Miss it at your peril." — Houston Chronicle Posted Jul 21, 2005 |
Fresh
| Fresh 76%
| Without Limits (1998) | "
Without Limits wins as a sports film precisely because it's not really about sports or a great victory." — Houston Chronicle Posted Jul 21, 2005 |
Fresh
| Rotten 40%
| Miss Congeniality (2000) | "
Caine may save the movie, but Bullock is the movie. The confection rests on her considerable off-center charm and beauty." — Seattle Post-Intelligencer Posted Oct 24, 2003 |
Fresh
| Rotten 47%
| Better Than Sex (2001) | "
The director and actors get away with this fluff thanks to the nimble, whimsical way it's played." — Houston Chronicle Posted Nov 9, 2001 |
Rotten
| Rotten 18%
| On the Line (2001) | "
On a whole, the movie stays as blandly inoffensive (albeit sometimes annoying) as possible." — Houston Chronicle Posted Oct 25, 2001 |
Fresh
| Fresh 82%
| Innocence (2001) | "
It's about grown-ups and for grown-ups." — Houston Chronicle Posted Oct 25, 2001 |
Rotten
| Rotten 22%
| Bones (2001) | "
As a horror film, Bones is a half-hearted bust, not likely to really frighten anyone over age 12. It works better if watched tongue in cheek as a supernatural pot boiler." — Houston Chronicle Posted Oct 23, 2001 |
Rotten
| Fresh 76%
| Audition (2001) | "
There will be many people who consider Audition an atrocity, and a few who find it a stimulating cinema experience." — Houston Chronicle Posted Oct 19, 2001 |
Fresh
| Rotten 53%
| My First Mister (2001) | "
It's hard not to enjoy the amusing and sometimes touching turnarounds [Jennifer and Randall] do." — Houston Chronicle Posted Oct 12, 2001 |
Rotten
| Fresh 77%
| Our Lady of the Assassins (2001) | "
We never come to care about these characters, perhaps because they seem to care so little about themselves." — Houston Chronicle Posted Oct 9, 2001 |
Fresh
| Fresh 60%
| Haiku Tunnel (2001) | "
A low-budget, mild-mannered comedy, often amusing and at times laugh-out-loud funny." — Houston Chronicle Posted Oct 9, 2001 |
Fresh
| Fresh 72%
| Training Day (2001) | "
Director Antoine Fuqua, whose credits include the unimpressive The Replacement Killers, keeps a kinetic pace with visually exciting immediacy." — Houston Chronicle Posted Oct 5, 2001 |
Rotten
| Rotten 46%
| Greenfingers (2001) | "
It's just too bad the intended charm is applied with a shovel instead of a trowel. Romantic comedy is a delicate flower that can be smothered by too much fertilizer." — Houston Chronicle Posted Sep 28, 2001 |
Fresh
| Fresh 71%
| Bread and Tulips (2001) | "
It's a feel-good movie to see with a friend on a rainy afternoon when you both need a little getaway." — Houston Chronicle Posted Sep 21, 2001 |
Fresh
| Fresh 83%
| Lakeboat (2001) | "
More play than movie. But it's unusual for either. It's neither plot-driven like many plays nor action- and image-driven like most movies." — Houston Chronicle Posted Sep 14, 2001 |
Rotten
| Rotten 21%
| The Glass House (2001) | "
Like Ruby, The Glass House is in conflict with itself. It's confused about what kind of film it wants to be." — Houston Chronicle Posted Sep 13, 2001 |
Rotten
| Rotten 10%
| The Musketeer (2001) | "
Often, in the fight scenes, it's hard to tell who is doing what to whom, but since it's all glitz and no content, it hardly matters." — Houston Chronicle Posted Sep 6, 2001 |
Rotten
| Rotten 19%
| John Carpenter's Ghosts of Mars (2001) | "
Ghosts of Mars, hah. More like Turkey of Mars." — Houston Chronicle Posted Aug 23, 2001 |
Rotten
| Rotten 29%
| Jackpot (2001) | "
Its audience is a very narrow spectrum of filmgoers amused by tiny hints at a joke, or the minor peculiarities of a slightly unusual character. All others, beware." — Houston Chronicle Posted Aug 17, 2001 |
Rotten
| Rotten 43%
| Rat Race (2001) | "
If you don't think Hollywood movies have gone all soft in the head and heart, compare the sticky sweet ending of this with the finale to It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World." — Houston Chronicle Posted Aug 17, 2001 |
Rotten
| Rotten 13%
| American Outlaws (2001) | "
A poor script and lame direction leave most of this Western deader than a dogie at a poisoned watering hole." — Houston Chronicle Posted Aug 17, 2001 |
Fresh
| Fresh 77%
| Keep the River on Your Right: A Modern Cannibal Tale (2001) | "
Schneebaum, a dull and helpless-looking nonentity at first glance, proves to be an amazingly courageous, inquisitive, remarkable man." — Houston Chronicle Posted Aug 10, 2001 |
Fresh
| Fresh 70%
| Made (2001) | "
Amusing in the offbeat humor that comes from the wackiness of odd but believable characters." — Houston Chronicle Posted Jul 27, 2001 |
Rotten
| Rotten 54%
| Everybody's Famous (2001) | "
Often loses focus and wanders, unsure of where it wants to go." — Houston Chronicle Posted Jul 27, 2001 |
Rotten
| Rotten 49%
| Jurassic Park III (2001) | "
It's disappointing that the competent, toned-down, mildly exciting third installment, Jurassic Park III, is little more than a re-rehash of the first movie and much of the second." — Houston Chronicle Posted Jul 18, 2001 |
Fresh
| Fresh 67%
| Legally Blonde (2001) | "
Well-crafted, good-natured silliness." — Houston Chronicle Posted Jul 13, 2001 |
Fresh
| Fresh 86%
| The Closet (2001) | "
Anyone expecting a serious reflection on gay or social themes or the current state of sexual attitudes in France will not find it. This sweet-natured movie is mainly for laughs." — Houston Chronicle Posted Jul 6, 2001 |
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