Mark Hughes

Tomatometer-approved critic

Publications: Forbes

Movie Reviews Only

Movies
TV

T-Meter	Title \| Year	Review
52%	Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker (2019)	[A] good but flawed movie, and in the final estimation it definitely overcomes those flaws to provide an acceptable and entertaining conclusion to the Skywalker saga. - Forbes EDIT Read More \| Posted Dec 18, 2019
77%	Frozen II (2019)	[I]t's not as good as its predecessor, [but] it's still well within the "good" range for kids, families, and anyone who loved the first film and is happy to spend some more time in that world. - Forbes EDIT Read More \| Posted Nov 21, 2019
92%	Ford v Ferrari (2019)	Films this good grab hold of your heart in their first instant and never let go. - Forbes EDIT Read More \| Posted Nov 16, 2019
40%	Maleficent: Mistress of Evil (2019)	[S]uperior to its predecessor... [but] there's a conversation we need to have about [how]... performers of color are constantly cast in sci-fi and fantasy films/TV as aliens & strange "otherly" creatures. - Forbes EDIT Read More \| Posted Oct 18, 2019
26%	Gemini Man (2019)	Gemini Man is a bad story that makes no sense.... [but] it also contains a charming cast with terrific chemistry... [and] top-notch action sequences pushing the envelop with new technologies you need to see to appreciate. - Forbes EDIT Read More \| Posted Oct 11, 2019
63%	It Chapter Two (2019)	It: Chapter Two still has plenty of creepy moments and big creature scares, but it also has the heart that made the first installment so good and popular. - Forbes EDIT Read More \| Posted Sep 6, 2019
69%	Joker (2019)	Joker is one of the true masterpieces of the superhero cinema, and one of 2019's greatest achievements. - Forbes EDIT Read More \| Posted Aug 31, 2019
53%	The Lion King (2019)	Packed with cutting-edge effects, enjoyable & amusing performances, songs you all know & can sing along with, & a few little surprises, The Lion King is sure to thrill audiences of all ages. - Forbes EDIT Read More \| Posted Jul 12, 2019
91%	Spider-Man: Far From Home (2019)	[E]verything a Spidey sequel needed to be and more. Bold, beautiful, and brilliant... - Forbes EDIT Read More \| Posted Jul 3, 2019
23%	Dark Phoenix (2019)	While it's far from stellar, it's also far from failure, making it both a letdown and a bullet dodged, depending on where you're standing. - Forbes EDIT Read More \| Posted Jun 5, 2019
71%	ANIARA (2019)	[A] spectacular debut of great emotional and intellectual depth, of immense narrative scope and scale, and of gorgeous visual artistry. - Forbes EDIT Read More \| Posted May 17, 2019
94%	Avengers: Endgame (2019)	The scale, emotional weight, visual spectacle, complexity, and power of Avengers: Endgame exceeds everything fans could hope for. - Forbes EDIT Read More \| Posted Apr 24, 2019
47%	Dumbo (2019)	The film's major stumbles arise from two glaring miscalculations -- turning Dumbo into a supporting character, & removing other main animal characters from the story in favor of a human cast whom the story is primarily about. - Forbes EDIT Read More \| Posted Mar 28, 2019
90%	Shazam! (2019)	Shazam! has endless heart & soul, with a pitch-perfect cast who earn our love & support early on, & a childlike sense of awe & wonder that feel like 1980s-era Steven Spielberg filmmaking. - Forbes EDIT Read More \| Posted Mar 23, 2019
78%	Captain Marvel (2019)	[B]lockbuster spectacle, eye-popping visuals, thrilling action, & heroes we care about & root for... with overt & subtle points about equality, diversity, & the power of family & belief... - Forbes EDIT Read More \| Posted Mar 6, 2019
96%	Birds of Passage (Pájaros de verano) (2019)	[A] haunting masterpiece destined to be among the year's finest films... - Forbes EDIT Read More \| Posted Feb 15, 2019
61%	Alita: Battle Angel (2019)	[A] crowd-pleasing popcorn action spectacle with some of the best visual effects and eye-popping 3D put to film. - Forbes EDIT Read More \| Posted Feb 14, 2019
85%	The LEGO Movie 2: The Second Part (2019)	[It's] not the sequel you expected, and we should all be eternally grateful for that. It is something much more, and something much braver and more risk-taking. - Forbes EDIT Read More \| Posted Feb 7, 2019
79%	Mary Poppins Returns (2018)	...Mary Poppins Returns is good and likely to be successful, but not as great as you might think it is... - Forbes EDIT Read More \| Posted Dec 19, 2018
93%	2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)	Among the most important and iconic pictures ever produced... [it] continues to amaze and inspire. - Forbes EDIT Read More \| Posted Dec 19, 2018
65%	Aquaman (2018)	[A] nonstop rollercoaster ride of heart-pounding action, eye-popping visual spectacle, and all-around crowd-pleasing blockbuster entertainment that is insanely enjoyable to watch. - Forbes EDIT Read More \| Posted Dec 11, 2018
97%	Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (2018)	[O]ne of the finest Spider-Man movies ever made... it's laugh-out-loud, clap-out-loud, cheer-out-loud thrilling entertainment from start to finish. - Forbes EDIT Read More \| Posted Dec 6, 2018
93%	Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town (1970)	With terrific set designs and the best musical numbers of any of the old Rankin-Bass animated specials, it really holds up well even to this day. The story of how Santa Claus came to be, it's a must-see if you've got little kids in the household. - Forbes EDIT Read More \| Posted Nov 29, 2018
69%	Bleed For This (2016)	It was the act itself, the willingness to try because they could no longer do otherwise, that draws us in and makes the story a tale of redemption, regardless of whether they ever got further than that dim basement at night. - Forbes EDIT Read More \| Posted Nov 14, 2018
62%	Outlaw King (2018)	Briskly paced, full of gorgeous shots and breathless action, it's high-powered action cinema that happens to be rooted in a real life revolution and love story. - Forbes EDIT Read More \| Posted Nov 9, 2018
29%	Venom (2018)	[A] weak B-movie with A-list talent working gamely to try to elevate the material... [but] in the end it's too much of a mixed bag of tone and erratic plotting to escape its own limitations. - Forbes EDIT Read More \| Posted Oct 5, 2018
90%	A Star Is Born (2018)	[A] magnificent, emotional, beautiful production that entertains and thrills you while it makes you laugh and cheer, but also while it makes you cry and breaks your heart. - Forbes EDIT Read More \| Posted Oct 1, 2018
93%	Sorry to Bother You (2018)	[D]eliciously subversive and unapologetically, righteously militant... be prepared for extremely thoughtful, entertaining, poignant, enraging, laugh-out-loud brilliance. - Forbes EDIT Read More \| Posted Jul 13, 2018
88%	Ant-Man and the Wasp (2018)	[F]ast-paced, laugh-out-loud funny, and packed full of one-size-fits-all blockbuster entertainment sure to excite fans young and old. But what it has more than anything else is heart and soul... - Forbes EDIT Read More \| Posted Jul 4, 2018
70%	Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018)	A pure dose of adrenalin and joy straight to the heart, Solo has kickstarted a whole new corner of the Star Wars universe, and I can't wait to go back again. - Forbes EDIT Read More \| Posted May 18, 2018
84%	Deadpool 2 (2018)	It's funnier, more dramatic and emotional, has a better story, and has a killer supporting cast who all work tirelessly to make Deadpool 2 feel as fresh and surprising as the original. - Forbes EDIT Read More \| Posted May 16, 2018
85%	Avengers: Infinity War (2018)	[T]he most ambitious, most audacious, most mindblowing superhero film ever produced... THIS is why the superhero genre exists. - Forbes EDIT Read More \| Posted Apr 24, 2018
89%	You Were Never Really Here (2018)	[T]he sheer power of artistic skill on the screen is striking and demands attention... This is what we mean when we say we want films that make us feel, and it's something [director Lynne] Ramsay has done consistently through her entire career. - Forbes EDIT Read More \| Posted Apr 14, 2018
81%	Chappaquiddick (2018)	[A] moving, infuriating portrayal of a dreadful moment in history and its shameful aftermath. - Forbes EDIT Read More \| Posted Apr 5, 2018
72%	Ready Player One (2018)	[A] heaping helping of exhilarating summer popcorn spectacle delivered ahead of schedule for springtime... Steven Spielberg at the top of his game... - Forbes EDIT Read More \| Posted Mar 29, 2018
42%	A Wrinkle in Time (2018)	[S]trange, irreverent, and ultimately a family-pleasing heartfelt fantasy tale. There's nothing else like it in theaters... - Forbes EDIT Read More \| Posted Mar 8, 2018
97%	Black Panther (2018)	[A] tour de force, one of the smartest, most original action-packed blockbusters of the decade... bold and visually stunning filmmaking... - Forbes EDIT Read More \| Posted Feb 6, 2018
91%	Star Wars: The Last Jedi (2017)	[G]ets off to a bit of an uneven start, but finds its footing eventually... not the best of the series, and not the best of the new films, but it's still a worthwhile entry in the continuing saga... - Forbes EDIT Read More \| Posted Dec 12, 2017
97%	Coco (2017)	[O]ne of Pixar's all-time greats, a marvelous achievement worth experiencing with your whole family. - Forbes EDIT Read More \| Posted Nov 23, 2017
40%	Justice League (2017)	Fast paced & with its eye always on moving the story forward, Justice League balances frequent humor with equally frequent character exchanges & development... [A] two-hour live-action superhero cartoon made for kids as well as adults. - Forbes EDIT Read More \| Posted Nov 15, 2017
60%	Murder On The Orient Express (2017)	When I walked out, I was left wanting, more mindful of unfulfilled promise than impressed by half a good movie. I cannot claim this is a bad movie, I simply cannot say it is a truly good one overall. - Forbes EDIT Read More \| Posted Nov 10, 2017
93%	Thor: Ragnarok (2017)	[O]ne of the boldest and most sensuous of the MCU releases... outrageously entertaining, sure to please all ages & turn Thor into a far more popular character with mainstream audiences... - Forbes EDIT Read More \| Posted Oct 19, 2017
87%	Blade Runner 2049 (2017)	[A] miraculous, riveting cinematic achievement that does the impossible -- living up to the original film and even at times surpassing it. - Forbes EDIT Read More \| Posted Oct 5, 2017
93%	Dunkirk (2017)	[A] breathless, awe-inspiring depiction of war by land, sea, and air... [O]ne of the few perfect films of the 21st Century. - Forbes EDIT Read More \| Posted Jul 21, 2017
94%	War for the Planet of the Apes (2017)	[A] brilliant, beautiful, breathtaking blockbuster filled with grand performances and gripping emotional storytelling... [T]he must-see movie of the Summer... - Forbes EDIT Read More \| Posted Jul 13, 2017
92%	Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017)	[T]he perfect Spider-Man movie and one of the best films yet in the MCU. Audiences are going to fall in love with it... - Forbes EDIT Read More \| Posted Jul 5, 2017
15%	Transformers: The Last Knight (2017)	[A]t the end of the day it just wants to give you a couple of hours of pure escapism full of exciting action, cool visual effects, a bunch of corny jokes, and leave you feeling like you just stepped off a roller coaster. - Forbes EDIT Read More \| Posted Jun 21, 2017
69%	Cars 3 (2017)	[T]he best of the series, a sumptuous visual treat with great humor, a big heart, and surprisingly strong messages about inclusion and self-worth. - Forbes EDIT Read More \| Posted Jun 16, 2017
93%	Wonder Woman (2017)	[A]n electrifying, breathtaking cinematic achievement... Amazing performances, pulse-pounding action, and outstanding visuals make it one of the best superhero movies of all time. - Forbes EDIT Read More \| Posted May 30, 2017
30%	Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales (2017)	Fans of the originals will recognize enough connective tissue to make them mindful of the first trilogy, & average viewers will find more than enough to enjoy & make them glad they bought a ticket. - Forbes EDIT Read More \| Posted May 25, 2017