Kevin L. Lee
Tomatometer-approved critic
Kevin L. Lee is an Asian-American critic, producer, screenwriter and director based in New York City. In the summer of 2011, Kevin filmed his first project at Universal Studios on the plane crash set from Steven Spielberg's War of the Worlds. He has over 9 years of marketing and writing experience on cinema, ranging from blockbusters to foreign art films, and has developed a reputation of keeping the conversation and film discourse healthy and respectful. Currently, he is pursuing an MFA in film producing at Columbia University and is eager to bring fresh new stories onto the screen.
Movies reviews only
| Rating | T-Meter | Title | Year | Review |
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Joy Ride (2023) |
It is every vulgar, nasty, boundary-pushing R-rated comedy you’ve ever seen, except it is put together on the screen with honesty, heart, and Asian pride. The result is one big Joy Fuck Club. - AwardsWatch
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| Posted Mar 18, 2023
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Tetris (2023) |
[Tetris is] silly enough to embrace the absurdity in the story but is also mature enough to respect and acknowledge the real danger at the time. - AwardsWatch
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| Posted Mar 17, 2023
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Upon Entry (2022) |
Alejandro Rojas and Juan Sebastián Vásquez present Upon Entry not so much as a damning condemnation of the U.S. immigration system as much as it is a deep exploration of psychology, authority, and how easily people in positions of power can abuse it. - AwardsWatch
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| Posted Mar 16, 2023
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Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves (2023) |
It may not be deep in substance, but it’s certainly a fantasy adventure movie that wears its fun on its sleeve, and it asks us all to be 10-year-olds and enjoy ourselves. - Film Inquiry
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| Posted Mar 16, 2023
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Self Reliance (2023) |
Johnson may not be the most precise in his messaging, but his sincerity in wanting to say all those things together in his movie is undeniably felt that by the time we arrived at the film’s ending, it put a smile on my face. - AwardsWatch
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| Posted Mar 14, 2023
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Landscape with Invisible Hand (2023) |
As messy and thematically clunky as it is, it held my attention from start to finish. Though Finley may have fallen a bit short on the writing this time, he tackles the sci-fi genre with the same confidence in his previous films. - Film Inquiry
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| Posted Feb 03, 2023
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The Pod Generation (2023) |
Though The Pod Generation arrives at a third act that is somewhat of a cathartic escape from such corporate power, the film could have and should have been angrier and more articulate with its attitude towards its world. - Film Inquiry
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| Posted Feb 03, 2023
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Talk to Me (2023) |
[...] The script keeps Mia’s plight front and center, as it holds a consistent level of energy to its horror that kept me interested from start to finish. With that level of confidence, Talk to Me may be familiar but it’s a fun scary time. - Film Inquiry
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| Posted Jan 31, 2023
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Run Rabbit Run (2023) |
You can have a great lead performance, but if the film struggles to maintain momentum in its pacing and doesn’t quite know how to handle its disturbing subject matter, it’s hard to be emotionally invested, let alone scared. - Film Inquiry
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| Posted Jan 31, 2023
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Cat Person (2023) |
This is merely the result of a story working much better on one medium than the other. Perhaps Cat Person would’ve worked better as a short film, strictly from a narrative structure sense. But for what we got, this should suffice. - AwardsWatch
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| Posted Jan 26, 2023
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Infinity Pool (2023) |
There is a ton of political commentary and existential dread sprinkled throughout Cronenberg’s companion piece to The Purge, but sadly, he only seems interested in world-building on a vibe level and not a substance level. - AwardsWatch
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| Posted Jan 24, 2023
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Fair Play (2023) |
Nearly every line of dialogue thrown between Emily and Luke is ripe with an undertone of sinister intentions or subtext reading. It’s all thanks to Domont’s subtle direction and dynamite performances from Dynevor and Ehrenreich. - AwardsWatch
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| Posted Jan 22, 2023
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M3GAN (2022) |
M3GAN just proves once again that the folks over at Blumhouse know what they’re doing. With that, they’ve made a new horror icon, and she’s here to stay. Frankly, I’d love to see her again. - AwardsWatch
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| Posted Jan 07, 2023
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Avatar: The Way of Water (2022) |
It is no exaggeration to say that this is one of the most technically impressive films ever made...a spectacular achievement, an epic homecoming in the most affectionate way. - AwardsWatch
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| Posted Dec 13, 2022
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Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2022) |
...every emotional beat in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever still lands. They hit hard because they have been real for us. As a story of loss, legacy, and healing, Wakanda Forever is a beautiful sequel. - AwardsWatch
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| Posted Nov 08, 2022
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Halloween Ends (2022) |
For 44 years, Jamie Lee Curtis has given her all to this series. Finally, after all this time, it feels good to see Laurie have her own sigh of relief and live on through the hearts of everyone who has supported her fight since 1978. - AwardsWatch
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| Posted Oct 13, 2022
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Wendell & Wild (2022) |
At the end of it all, the film offers a heartfelt message that quirky, even spooky individuals can come together to do good. The script may stumble a lot with a busy plot, but, thankfully, Selick helps Wendell & Wild reach its destination at the end. - That Shelf
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| Posted Sep 27, 2022
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Empire of Light (2022) |
A beautiful albeit frustrating case study of Sam Mendes the director vs. Sam Mendes the writer. With a lack of dramatization in the story, the film only has its fantastic performances and technical components to keep it afloat. - Film Inquiry
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| Posted Sep 20, 2022
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Baby Ruby (2022) |
Though it falls into some psychological thriller tropes that are more silly than they are effective, Baby Ruby gets its message across thanks to a phenomenal performance by Merlant and a gentle sensibility by Wohl as it approaches its resolution. - Film Inquiry
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| Posted Sep 20, 2022
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Sanctuary (2022) |
Christopher Abbott and Margaret Qualley sizzle on screen together. They keep Sanctuary fun, suspenseful, and arousing, down to the perfectly delivered last line. - That Shelf
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| Posted Sep 18, 2022
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The Greatest Beer Run Ever (2022) |
The more the film goes on, the more it becomes clear that the filmmakers are afraid of offending one side of the political spectrum than the other. We’re left with a perfectly adequate film that will appeal to the masses. - AwardsWatch
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| Posted Sep 15, 2022
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The Inspection (2022) |
It’s a small little film that is as heavy as it is empowering, with a phenomenal lead performance by Pope and a beautifully restrained maturity by Bratton. - Film Inquiry
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| Posted Sep 15, 2022
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The Menu (2022) |
The Menu is a savage commentary on our materialistic consumerist tendencies, but surprisingly it is also a tale of reclaiming passion for who you are and what you do. Consider me well-fed, and expect me to return for seconds. - AwardsWatch
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| Posted Sep 11, 2022
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Pinocchio (2022) |
More than anything, I’m confused. Confused as to what the filmmakers actually wanted to do with this material. There’s no new take, no new angle, no clear takeaway with this version. And so all we get is a wooden shell. Knock knock. Who’s there? Nobody. - AwardsWatch
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| Posted Sep 09, 2022
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Minions: The Rise of Gru (2022) |
Minions: The Rise of Gru is fortunately very funny. It’s constantly loud and always doing something to keep you entertained from start to finish. - AwardsWatch
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| Posted Jun 29, 2022
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Lightyear (2022) |
You can criticize it for not aiming for infinity and beyond, or you can manage your expectations, respect its modesty, and applaud Lightyear for knowing and pulling off exactly what it wanted to be. - Film Inquiry
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| Posted Jun 18, 2022
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Jurassic World Dominion (2022) |
Jurassic World Dominion is far from where we started in 1993, but I believe the world is big enough to have both kinds of blockbusters. It’s an extremely flawed but admirable effort, full of dumb cheesy moments, plenty of action, and really cool dinos. - Film Inquiry
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| Posted Jun 15, 2022
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Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022) |
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness is one of the messiest, most chaotic Marvel movies to date. It is also the most gnarly, scary, gonzo, insane thing the studio has ever allowed to happen. - Film Inquiry
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| Posted May 06, 2022
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Fire of Love (2022) |
Whether its seeing footage of the eruptions and lava flows to hearing the couple talk about how they first met and how they balance one another, Fire of Love is a fun, informative, and bittersweet story of passion. - Film Inquiry
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| Posted Apr 03, 2022
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The Cellar (2022) |
Unfortunately, The Cellar is that kind of movie destined to join a long catalog of horror titles listed on a streaming platform for you to scroll past, as you try to find a better film thats worth your time. - Film Inquiry
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| Posted Mar 26, 2022
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Jethica (2022) |
Jethica is a film that never loses track of its simplicity and core idea. It comes and goes in a quick 70-minute runtime and leaves a stronger impression than most comedies and ghost stories. - Film Inquiry
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| Posted Mar 26, 2022
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I Love My Dad (2022) |
I Love My Dad could have been a great film. Sadly, with its over-leaning on the obscenities and outrage for comedic effort, we're saddled with a competent, well-intentioned film that works better when being discussed than being watched. - Film Inquiry
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| Posted Mar 26, 2022
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Turning Red (2022) |
The result is a heartwarming treat for the whole family that I so wish could play in the theater, because Turning Red is a total blast. - Film Inquiry
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| Posted Mar 12, 2022
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Emily the Criminal (2022) |
Though the second half falls more into straightforward crime thriller tropes, it remains consistently tense and entertaining thanks to two terrific performances from Plaza and Rossi and an ever-present looming air of financial burden on our characters - Film Inquiry
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| Posted Feb 11, 2022
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Call Jane (2022) |
With good performances, memorable lines, and great care towards its characters, Call Jane is a drama that tackles its heavy subject matter with sheer optimism and the best of intentions. - Film Inquiry
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| Posted Feb 11, 2022
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Resurrection (2022) |
Though it might be a little too vague for its own good, Resurrection is a nail-biting descent into psychological hell. - Film Inquiry
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| Posted Feb 11, 2022
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Master (2022) |
This is a film that takes chances and makes swings. Its full of sophisticated and troubling ideas that make for an important conversation long after its over, that is full of fantastic performances. - Film Inquiry
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| Posted Feb 11, 2022
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Cha Cha Real Smooth (2022) |
Cooper Raiff has made a film that hits all the right notes because you can feel the compassion behind each one. Full of warm performances and an enormous heart, Cha Cha Real Smooth is a crowd-pleaser in all the right ways. - That Shelf
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| Posted Feb 02, 2022
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Sharp Stick (2022) |
It's baffling to see a script this obnoxious and tasteless. It’s a shame because, conceptually, this type of story about female sexuality and self-respect should be celebrated and made more often. It’s just too bad Dunham’s delivery muddles everything. - That Shelf
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| Posted Feb 02, 2022
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After Yang (2021) |
Not only is it one of the best films of the year so far, but it might also already be one of the best films science fiction has to offer. - Film Inquiry
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| Posted Feb 01, 2022
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Girl Picture (2022) |
Guided by three terrific performances, earnest direction, and a soundtrack full of vibrant songs, Girl Picture is a familiar but proud, open, and truthful story that we need to see more of. - AwardsWatch
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| Posted Jan 29, 2022
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Breaking (2022) |
Tense and heartbreaking, 892 sees John Boyega, Nicole Beharie, and the late Michael K. Williams giving powerhouse performances. - Film Inquiry
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| Posted Jan 29, 2022
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Happening (2021) |
Guided by truthful direction and a phenomenal lead performance, Happening is a full-on heart-in-your-throat cautionary tale, a stark portrait of compassion being overpowered by law, forcing people to fend for themselves. - AwardsWatch
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| Posted Jan 27, 2022
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Dual (2022) |
Dual sees Stearns flexing his satirical sensibilities to another level. His jokes have a tinge of horror or cringe to them now because he goes straight for the jugular. - AwardsWatch
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| Posted Jan 24, 2022
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Watcher (2022) |
Watcher taps into a very real anxiety. It’s about not being seen. Or in this case, not being seen except by a stalker who might just be a serial killer. But [Chloe] Okuno isn't interested in reveling in that dread. She's interested in conquering it. - AwardsWatch
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| Posted Jan 23, 2022
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Fresh (2022) |
Though the execution can be all over the place at times, Fresh shows all the signs of a new voice that's eager to tell something different on the big screen. - AwardsWatch
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| Posted Jan 23, 2022
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When You Finish Saving the World (2022) |
Though it's not a film I would say I love, nor would I consider it as an essential viewing, I found much of the film to be a success as a directorial debut. - Film Inquiry
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| Posted Jan 22, 2022
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Emergency (2022) |
The remarkable blend of comedy and sobering drama bears a strong resemblance to films like Blindspotting, where character motivations are shaped by their upbringing and circles of influence. - AwardsWatch
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| Posted Jan 21, 2022
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The King's Man (2021) |
It all builds to a satisfying, at-times breathtaking climax that is some of the best Vaughn has put on screen. - AwardsWatch
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| Posted Dec 22, 2021
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The Matrix Resurrections (2021) |
It's a Matrix sequel with an existential crisis of being a Matrix sequel - exactly the kind of blockbuster that should be celebrated more often, for it takes all kinds of swings and is unafraid if they miss. - AwardsWatch
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| Posted Dec 22, 2021
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