Michael A. Smith

Agrees with the Tomatometer 65% of the time.

Biography:
I started doing film reviews while a student at H.B. Plant High School in Tampa, Florida. I got a great deal of help from Tampa Times movie guru Steve Otto. I moved to Baltimore in 1982 and, on a whim, purchased a chance to attend a movie with then Baltimore Sun film critic Stephen Hunter from a PBS sponsored auction. The movie was "Beastmaster." Not the best, but the lunch and discussion afterwards was more then memorable. More then 20 years later, I'm proud to still think of Stephen as a friend and mentor. He is currently reviewing films for the Washington Post and recently won the Pulitzer Prize for criticism!
Favorites:
Jaws
Publications:
MediaMikes , Moviehole , Nolan's Pop Culture Review
Critics' Group:
Kansas City Film Critics Circle
Total Reviews:
641
Total QuickRatings:
164
Location:
Lee's Summit, MO

Listing Of All Reviews & Articles

Showing 1 - 50 of 641
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Rating T-Meter Title | Year Add Date
3/5 33% The Family (2013) " Well cast and sharply directed by Besson, who also co-wrote the script, "The Family" flows easily for the first half." — MediaMikes
Posted Sep 26, 2013
5/5 80% Prisoners (2013) " Villenueve crafts and molds the story into a thing of beauty. His pacing is brilliant, giving the audience just enough clues to keep them guessing at every twist and turn." — MediaMikes
Posted Sep 26, 2013
4/5 56% My Lucky Star (2013) " Director Gordon keeps the story flowing smoothly and the photography, by cinematographer Armando Salas, is picture perfect." — MediaMikes
Posted Sep 26, 2013
5/5 88% Rush (2013) " (Howards) latest film is yet another jewel in the crowns of one of the finest filmmakers of the past quarter century" — MediaMikes
Posted Sep 26, 2013
4.5/5 81% Ain't Them Bodies Saints (2013) " Beautifully presented and skillfully acted, "Ain't Them Bodies Saints" is a small, solid drama featuring strong performances and picture post card photography" — MediaMikes
Posted Sep 7, 2013
3/5 26% Jobs (2013) " Kutcher bears a striking resemblance to Jobs and manages to embody him in full. It is an often emotional performance that could have very easily been turned into a characterization." — MediaMikes
Posted Sep 7, 2013
3/5 30% Kick-Ass 2 (2013) " Sometimes funny and extremely violent, "Kick Ass 2" is a by the book sequel that continues the concept of regular citizens becoming heroes. " — MediaMikes
Posted Sep 7, 2013
4.5/5 91% The Spectacular Now (2013) " And credit the filmmakers for not dramatizing the fateful "first time." In so many films it's portrayed as serious and painful, almost like a punishment. Here it is shown the way I remember it...nervous banter and a lot of giggling." — MediaMikes
Posted Sep 7, 2013
2.5/5 3% Getaway (2013) " The plot holes are huge, most notably one that the writers stole directly from "Speed." " — MediaMikes
Posted Sep 7, 2013
3/5 60% Riddick (2013) " With a standard "Action Film 101" script and some impressive visual effects, "Riddick" is everything you think it is." — MediaMikes
Posted Sep 7, 2013
4/5 68% Elysium (2013) " Visually the film is packed with powerful images." — MediaMikes
Posted Aug 9, 2013
4/5 22% Rushlights (2013) " Based on a true story, "Rushlights" could have been a very standard, by the book imitation noir film. Instead, Stutz packs it with genuine surprises and emotion. " — MediaMikes
Posted Jul 20, 2013
3.5/5 67% World War Z (2013) " Carried by Pitt's performance, "World War Z" is a sometimes intense story of the rise of the undead." — MediaMikes
Posted Jul 20, 2013
5/5 78% Monsters University (2013) " Directed by Dan Scanlon, whose PIXAR association includes stints working on "Cars," "Brave" and the short film "Mater and the Ghostlights," "Monster's University" is a worthy prequel to what is arguably one of PIXAR's greatest achievements." — MediaMikes
Posted Jul 20, 2013
4/5 65% The Heat (2013) " The script is sharply funny, with the contrasting styles (what is this, "Training Day?," Bullock asks as McCarthy attempts to bond with a drug dealer) of both leads front and center. " — MediaMikes
Posted Jul 20, 2013
5/5 75% Despicable Me 2 (2013) " THIS is what 3D should be." — MediaMikes
Posted Jul 20, 2013
3.5/5 58% Stuck in Love (2013) " A little heavy-handed at times, "Stuck in Love" is saved from the maudlin pile by its stellar cast. " — MediaMikes
Posted Jul 20, 2013
4/5 —— Our Wild Hearts () " In this summer of big blockbuster films with robots, monsters and men of steel you may need a break from all of the loud noises and bright lights. May I suggest "Our Wild Hearts," a quiet family film with a message." — MediaMikes
Posted Jul 20, 2013
4/5 86% The Conjuring (2013) " The cast puts their all into the film, turning what could have been a cliché'd filled blood-fest into a modern horror gem." — MediaMikes
Posted Jul 20, 2013
5/5 88% Springsteen And I (2013) " One fan defines him as a Working Class Hero. But the words most fans, myself included, want to pass on to Springsteen come straight from the heart: Thank you!" — MediaMikes
Posted Jul 20, 2013
5/5 85% The Way Way Back (2013) " Faxon and Rash are more than competent behind the camera and the film flows smoothly, easily mixing laughter with tears without being heavy handed. I wouldn't be surprised to see it on Oscar's short list next year." — MediaMikes
Posted Jul 20, 2013
3.5/5 8% Grown Ups 2 (2013) " Some of the gags are childish but really, isn't that why you go to a movie like this in the first place? I know that's why I do." — MediaMikes
Posted Jul 12, 2013
5/5 79% Iron Man 3 (2013) " Packed with virtually non-stop action from start to finish, "Iron Man 3" is the best film in the "Iron Man" series and among the best Marvel-inspired films ever " — MediaMikes
Posted Jun 13, 2013
3/5 49% The Great Gatsby (2013) " For some reason every time someone mentions Gatsby's name for the first time someone else has to say it questioningly, which to me sounds like a perfect condition for a drinking game" — MediaMikes
Posted Jun 13, 2013
3/5 35% The Internship (2013) " ...the concept of team first is driven home by Vaughn, who apparently has a vault full of inspirational "Flashdance" references" — MediaMikes
Posted Jun 13, 2013
2.5/5 11% After Earth (2013) " Visually impressive but sadly incredulous, "After Earth" is only redeemed by the performances of the Smith family." — MediaMikes
Posted Jun 13, 2013
4/5 50% Now You See Me (2013) " ...the illusions, as presented, are spectacular." — MediaMikes
Posted Jun 13, 2013
2/5 69% Fast & Furious 6 (2013) " At least a half-hour too long, "Fast and Furious 6″ is not fast, which made my backside furious." — MediaMikes
Posted Jun 13, 2013
4/5 56% Man of Steel (2013) " Like Robert Shaw in "From Russia With Love," Shannon comes across as a villain who can actually kick the Man of Steel's butt! " — MediaMikes
Posted Jun 13, 2013
4.5/5 87% Star Trek Into Darkness (2013) " ...this is one voyage that Enterprise fans will be happy to take." — MediaMikes
Posted May 16, 2013
5/5 93% Jurassic Park (1993) " The film is a classic and the chance to see it on the big screen again (or for the first time) should not be missed" — MediaMikes
Posted Apr 19, 2013
2/5 82% The Place Beyond The Pines (2013) " Basically a two act play, "The Place Beyond the Pines" attempts to be a clever puzzle but by the time the pieces are put into place you just want to sweep the whole thing off the table" — MediaMikes
Posted Apr 19, 2013
4/5 79% 42 (2013) " Boseman hits just the right notes as Robinson. He's not a saint. He's a man, with many of the same flaws all men have. He wears his emotions on his sleeve and he's not afraid to show them." — MediaMikes
Posted Apr 19, 2013
2.5/5 54% Oblivion (2013) " If only as much time was spent on the too-predictable story as was spent on the special effects." — MediaMikes
Posted Apr 19, 2013
1.5/5 9% The Host (2013) " One of the side effects of having a soul take over your body is the appearance of beautiful blue eyes, shining brighter than a star. Which means unless you're Yancy Butler or Jeff Fahey you have to hide your eyes lest you be discovered.Or wear sunglasses!" — MediaMikes
Posted Mar 28, 2013
4/5 36% The Incredible Burt Wonderstone (2013) " A sweet film with a message of never giving up on your dreams, "The Incredible Burt Wonderstone" gets by on the magic of a game cast. " — MediaMikes
Posted Mar 26, 2013
3/5 47% Olympus Has Fallen (2013) " Director Fuqua, who guided Denzel Washington to an Oscar in "Training Day," has a great eye for action and stages the initial attack on the nation's capital with some breath-taking special effects." — MediaMikes
Posted Mar 26, 2013
2/5 38% Admission (2013) " The script was adapted from a novel but I can't imagine the book (or the characters in it) being this un-interesting." — MediaMikes
Posted Mar 26, 2013
3.5/5 59% Oz the Great and Powerful (2013) " Visually spectacular, "Oz: The Great and Powerful" is a beautifully created film that really takes advantage of both super-sized screens and 3-D. " — MediaMikes
Posted Mar 10, 2013
3/5 55% Snitch (2013) " ...this is probably the most impressive performance that Johnson has given on film." — MediaMikes
Posted Mar 1, 2013
1.5/5 28% 21 And Over (2013) " Only Chon get's off lightly, mostly because he's unconscious for parts of the film and doesn't have to perform." — MediaMikes
Posted Mar 1, 2013
4/5 80% Quartet (2013) " The film is quiet and personal, as are others based on Harwood's work ("The Dresser," "Taking Sides") and that trait is enforced by Hoffman's straightforward and unforced direction." — MediaMikes
Posted Jan 27, 2013
4/5 60% The Last Stand (2013) " "The Last Stand" could be an old episode of "Gunsmoke," with its theme of the law versus the bad guys." — MediaMikes
Posted Jan 27, 2013
3/5 15% Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters (2013) " Full of exploding heads and set in that weird movie land where the people still ride horses, light their homes with candles and possess automatic weapons..." — MediaMikes
Posted Jan 27, 2013
4/5 92% Silver Linings Playbook (2012) " Having gone from unknown actress to Oscar nominee to "The Hunger Games" in what seemed like a blink of an eye, Lawrence shows herself a master of timing and plays off Cooper brilliantly." — MediaMikes
Posted Jan 6, 2013
2/5 48% The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 2 (2012) " I may not be a doctor but believe me there is no way that Stewart and Pattinson would ever produce a baby this ugly." — MediaMikes
Posted Jan 6, 2013
5/5 89% Lincoln (2012) " As one of this generations greatest actors, two time Oscar winner Day-Lewis is a shoo-in for a chance at a third trophy." — MediaMikes
Posted Jan 6, 2013
2.5/5 38% The Guilt Trip (2012) " Mildly funny in parts (and those parts are so few and far between that I could name them all), "The Guilt Trip" is a step by step formulaic movie...Hollywood 101." — MediaMikes
Posted Jan 6, 2013
5/5 70% Les Misérables (2012) " "Les Misérables" will surely take its place among the greatest musical adaptations ever made." — MediaMikes
Posted Jan 6, 2013
Showing 1 - 50 of 641
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