SPLING MOVIES
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RABBIT HOLE - A solid 7! Bleak yet compelling script, restrained direction and excellent performances help smooth over this domestic family portrait stage adaptation. Like: Reservation Road
RACE TO WITCH MOUNTAIN - A satisfactory 6! Disney's Witch Mountain "remake" lacks magic, but it's family-friendly with a talented cast. Like: Escape to Witch Mountain
RACHEL GETTING MARRIED - A solid 7! Fantastic performances headline this dysfunctional, American docudrama version of "Monsoon Wedding". Like: Margot at the Wedding
RAILS & TIES - A flat 5! This emotional drama is slightly forced, but alleviated by good performances from a solid cast. Like: Reservation Road
RAINBOW SKELLUMS - A flat 5! Good-natured, yet inconsistent South African candid camera Schuster spin-off from producer of Panic Mechanic. Like: You Must Be Joking!?
RAISIN IN THE SUN, A - A satisfactory 6! African-American classic distinguishes itself with strong direction and performances. Like: A Raisin in the Sun (1961)
RAMBO - A satisfactory 6! Stallone's bloodiest and most violent sequel in the Rambo franchise. Action junkies only! Like: Rambo: First Blood
RAMEN GIRL, THE - A flat 5! Culture clash comedy drama about Japanese cooking starts with great promise, but lightweight and lacks heart. Like: Simple Irresistible
RAMONA AND BEEZUS - A satisfactory 6! Charming, magical, feel good adaptation of popular children's book series about a little girl's misadventures, backed by some sterling performances. Like: Matilda
RANGO - A solid 7! Brilliant visuals, a smart script and a fine voice cast raise the bar in this dark, surreal animated Western tribute. Like: Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas
RATATOUILLE - A near-perfect 9! Heart-warming and crisp animation about a talented sewer rat and his apprentice chef in Paris. Like: The Incredibles
REACH FOR ME - A flimsy 4! A solid cast and good intentions fall flat to formulaic, second-rate comedy/drama. Like: Away From Her
READER, THE - A solid 7! Intimate summer young man/older woman romance turns into compelling court drama, anchored by Winslet's Oscar role. Like: Nuremberg
REBEL, THE - A satisfactory 6! Solid 1920s martial arts action, good performances and fine cinematography all add up to great entertainment. Like: Lagaan
REBOUND, THE - A satisfactory 6! Older woman-younger man New York romantic comedy boasts heartfelt performances, a funny script and substance! Like: The Proposal
REC - An excellent 8! "Home-made" zombie horror outclasses the Blair Witch Project, filled with adrenalin-pumping scares. Like: Quarantine
RED - A satisfactory 6! Bruce Willis leads a rogue team of retired black ops agents in this light, entertaining and tongue-in-cheek action-comedy. Like: The A-Team
RED MERCURY - A flat 5! Low budget British crime thriller with decent cast, subdued by TV direction and production values. Like: Rendition
RED RIDING HOOD - A flimsy 4! Although visually appealing, this dark fairy tale adaptation is clunky with cheesy dialogue and uninspired supporting performances. Like: Twilight
REDBELT - A solid 7! Entertaining mixed martial arts drama skillfully combines the power of intellect and action. Like: Spartan
RELIGULOUS -A solid 7! Documentary on world's current state of spirituality is funny, but may offend. Inspires conversation, not change. Like: Dogma
REMEMBER ME - A flat 5! A middling romance melodrama with good chemistry and likable characters is dashed in the home straight. Like: Dear John
REPO MEN - A flat 5! Great cast, great premise and style... but bogged down by unsure script and mediocre direction. Like: Surrogates
RENDITION -A solid 7! An absorbing, insightful and topical film about US foreign policy, with a great ensemble. Like: A Mighty Heart, Syriana
RESCUE DAWN - An excellent 8! True war survival adventure. Herzog's direction compelling and Bale's performance immersive. Like: The Great Escape
RESERVATION ROAD - A satisfactory 6! Solid performances are undermined by a melodramatic tone to this drama/thriller about loss/guilt. Like: Mystic River
RESIDENT, THE - A flat 5! This paint-by-numbers thriller lacks tension, opting for middling horror rather than leaning on its star. Like: When A Stranger Calls
RESIDENT EVIL: AFTERLIFE - A solid 7! Breathtaking 3D visuals, action-intensive zombie mayhem, a cool cast and slick Matrix-inspired style make this a welcome addition to the video game franchise. Like: Resident Evil: Extinction
RESIDENT EVIL: DEGENERATION - A solid 7! Only fans of RE video game or zombie movies will be impressed by this anime sequel. Like: Dead Space
REUNION, THE - A flimsy 4! Another inept, par-boiled WWE action "comedy" star vehicle with John Cena. Like: 12 Rounds
REVOLUTIONARY ROAD -A solid 7! An emotionally taut script and great ensemble performance. Powerful novel adaptation on '50s suburbia. Like: American Beauty
RIGHTEOUS KILL - A flat 5! Even legends can't save this dull crime "mystery". Poor script, shallow characters and a predictable story. Like: 88 Minutes
RIO - A solid 7! Amazing animation, a great voice cast, an upbeat tempo and entertaining slapstick feel good fun add to this familiar tropical bird animated feature. Like: Ice Age
RIPPLE EFFECT, THE - A flat 5! Vanity piece with redemptive story and decent cast, but feels more like a soap opera than a drama. Like: Hollywood Buddha
RISE OF THE FOOTSOLDIER - A satisfactory 6! Ugly, yet gripping British working class thug exploitation film, complete with drugs, nudity and ultra-violence. Like: Football Factory
RISE OF THE PLANET OF THE APES - A solid 7! A powerful lead performance from Andy Serkis and excellent visual effects carry this action-packed epic. Like: Planet of the Apes
RITE, THE - A flat 5! Disappointing and not scary enough, considering the exorcist material and director-actor talent involved. Like: The Da Vinci Code
RIVER QUEEN, THE - A satisfactory 6! Standard performances are relieved by rich cultural, historical and natural beauty. Like: The Last of the Mohicans
ROAD, THE - A solid 7! Terrific performances underline this powerful, harrowing and often depressing adaptation of Cormac McCarthy's novel. Like: No Country For Old Men
ROAD TRIP 2: BEER PONG - A flimsy 4! Light, straight-to-video college comedy with a few chuckles and brief nudity for the frat boys. Like: Van Wilder 2: Rise of Taj
ROBIN HOOD - A satisfactory 6! Scott and Crowe deliver an epic, "factual" and charmless account of the hero behind the legend. Like: Kingdom of Heaven
ROCK THE PAINT - A satisfactory 6! A decent indie underdog drama about basketball, racial relations, and family. Like: Coach Carter, Save the Last Dance
ROCKER, THE - A flat 5! Light, predictable rock music comedy with a mediocre cast and script. Like: Wayne's World, School of Rock
ROCKNROLLA - A solid 7! British Tarantino, Guy Ritchie, returns to his roots with a strong blast in this fun action, comedy, crime caper. Like: Snatch
ROEPMAN - A beautifully shot and acted Afrikaans coming-of-age drama about a '60s railway community through a child's eyes. Like: Angela's Ashes
ROGUE - A solid 7! Gripping and gorey Australian horror/thriller with a real edge. Like: Jaws, Lake Placid, Wolf Creek
ROGUE ASSASSIN - A flat 5! Classic showdown amounts to a mediocre action/thriller. More bullets than kicks from Li and Stratham. Like: Chaos, The One
ROLE MODELS - A solid 7! Great chemistry makes this funny, yet crude big brother comedy seem smart with Paul Rudd on target. Like: Forgetting Sarah Marshall
ROMPER STOMPER - A solid 7! Raw, unique, gripping and interesting Australian action drama. Gritty performances, led by Crowe. Like: American History X
RON CLARK STORY, THE - A solid 7! Perry's fine performance couples with an inspirational and touching "Dangerous Minds" true story. Like: Freedom Writers
ROOMMATE, THE - A flimsy 4! A predictable, cliched psychological thriller that's as tame as its title. Like: Single White Female
ROXY HUNTER - A flat 5! Middling made-for-TV Nancy Drew-type family mystery with some well-crafted comedy/romance for all ages. Like: Nancy Drew
RUINS, THE - A satisfactory 6! This holiday horror is creepy and gorey enough for genre fans. Solid cast foiled by slack script. Like: Apocalypto
RUN FAT BOY, RUN - A satisfactory 6! Enjoyable and silly feel good movie that is funny, but formulaic and predictable. Like: Bend It Like Beckham
RUNAWAYS, THE - A satisfactory 6! Girl rockers get down-and-dirty in this gritty, formulaic sex, drugs and rock 'n roll biopic. Unlike: Josie & The Pussycats
RABBIT HOLE - A solid 7! Bleak yet compelling script, restrained direction and excellent performances help smooth over this domestic family portrait stage adaptation. Like: Reservation Road
RACE TO WITCH MOUNTAIN - A satisfactory 6! Disney's Witch Mountain "remake" lacks magic, but it's family-friendly with a talented cast. Like: Escape to Witch Mountain
RACHEL GETTING MARRIED - A solid 7! Fantastic performances headline this dysfunctional, American docudrama version of "Monsoon Wedding". Like: Margot at the Wedding
RAILS & TIES - A flat 5! This emotional drama is slightly forced, but alleviated by good performances from a solid cast. Like: Reservation Road
RAINBOW SKELLUMS - A flat 5! Good-natured, yet inconsistent South African candid camera Schuster spin-off from producer of Panic Mechanic. Like: You Must Be Joking!?
RAISIN IN THE SUN, A - A satisfactory 6! African-American classic distinguishes itself with strong direction and performances. Like: A Raisin in the Sun (1961)
RAMBO - A satisfactory 6! Stallone's bloodiest and most violent sequel in the Rambo franchise. Action junkies only! Like: Rambo: First Blood
RAMEN GIRL, THE - A flat 5! Culture clash comedy drama about Japanese cooking starts with great promise, but lightweight and lacks heart. Like: Simple Irresistible
RAMONA AND BEEZUS - A satisfactory 6! Charming, magical, feel good adaptation of popular children's book series about a little girl's misadventures, backed by some sterling performances. Like: Matilda
RANGO - A solid 7! Brilliant visuals, a smart script and a fine voice cast raise the bar in this dark, surreal animated Western tribute. Like: Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas
RATATOUILLE - A near-perfect 9! Heart-warming and crisp animation about a talented sewer rat and his apprentice chef in Paris. Like: The Incredibles
REACH FOR ME - A flimsy 4! A solid cast and good intentions fall flat to formulaic, second-rate comedy/drama. Like: Away From Her
READER, THE - A solid 7! Intimate summer young man/older woman romance turns into compelling court drama, anchored by Winslet's Oscar role. Like: Nuremberg
REBEL, THE - A satisfactory 6! Solid 1920s martial arts action, good performances and fine cinematography all add up to great entertainment. Like: Lagaan
REBOUND, THE - A satisfactory 6! Older woman-younger man New York romantic comedy boasts heartfelt performances, a funny script and substance! Like: The Proposal
REC - An excellent 8! "Home-made" zombie horror outclasses the Blair Witch Project, filled with adrenalin-pumping scares. Like: Quarantine
RED - A satisfactory 6! Bruce Willis leads a rogue team of retired black ops agents in this light, entertaining and tongue-in-cheek action-comedy. Like: The A-Team
RED MERCURY - A flat 5! Low budget British crime thriller with decent cast, subdued by TV direction and production values. Like: Rendition
RED RIDING HOOD - A flimsy 4! Although visually appealing, this dark fairy tale adaptation is clunky with cheesy dialogue and uninspired supporting performances. Like: Twilight
REDBELT - A solid 7! Entertaining mixed martial arts drama skillfully combines the power of intellect and action. Like: Spartan
RELIGULOUS -A solid 7! Documentary on world's current state of spirituality is funny, but may offend. Inspires conversation, not change. Like: Dogma
REMEMBER ME - A flat 5! A middling romance melodrama with good chemistry and likable characters is dashed in the home straight. Like: Dear John
REPO MEN - A flat 5! Great cast, great premise and style... but bogged down by unsure script and mediocre direction. Like: Surrogates
RENDITION -A solid 7! An absorbing, insightful and topical film about US foreign policy, with a great ensemble. Like: A Mighty Heart, Syriana
RESCUE DAWN - An excellent 8! True war survival adventure. Herzog's direction compelling and Bale's performance immersive. Like: The Great Escape
RESERVATION ROAD - A satisfactory 6! Solid performances are undermined by a melodramatic tone to this drama/thriller about loss/guilt. Like: Mystic River
RESIDENT, THE - A flat 5! This paint-by-numbers thriller lacks tension, opting for middling horror rather than leaning on its star. Like: When A Stranger Calls
RESIDENT EVIL: AFTERLIFE - A solid 7! Breathtaking 3D visuals, action-intensive zombie mayhem, a cool cast and slick Matrix-inspired style make this a welcome addition to the video game franchise. Like: Resident Evil: Extinction
RESIDENT EVIL: DEGENERATION - A solid 7! Only fans of RE video game or zombie movies will be impressed by this anime sequel. Like: Dead Space
REUNION, THE - A flimsy 4! Another inept, par-boiled WWE action "comedy" star vehicle with John Cena. Like: 12 Rounds
REVOLUTIONARY ROAD -A solid 7! An emotionally taut script and great ensemble performance. Powerful novel adaptation on '50s suburbia. Like: American Beauty
RIGHTEOUS KILL - A flat 5! Even legends can't save this dull crime "mystery". Poor script, shallow characters and a predictable story. Like: 88 Minutes
RIO - A solid 7! Amazing animation, a great voice cast, an upbeat tempo and entertaining slapstick feel good fun add to this familiar tropical bird animated feature. Like: Ice Age
RIPPLE EFFECT, THE - A flat 5! Vanity piece with redemptive story and decent cast, but feels more like a soap opera than a drama. Like: Hollywood Buddha
RISE OF THE FOOTSOLDIER - A satisfactory 6! Ugly, yet gripping British working class thug exploitation film, complete with drugs, nudity and ultra-violence. Like: Football Factory
RISE OF THE PLANET OF THE APES - A solid 7! A powerful lead performance from Andy Serkis and excellent visual effects carry this action-packed epic. Like: Planet of the Apes
RITE, THE - A flat 5! Disappointing and not scary enough, considering the exorcist material and director-actor talent involved. Like: The Da Vinci Code
RIVER QUEEN, THE - A satisfactory 6! Standard performances are relieved by rich cultural, historical and natural beauty. Like: The Last of the Mohicans
ROAD, THE - A solid 7! Terrific performances underline this powerful, harrowing and often depressing adaptation of Cormac McCarthy's novel. Like: No Country For Old Men
ROAD TRIP 2: BEER PONG - A flimsy 4! Light, straight-to-video college comedy with a few chuckles and brief nudity for the frat boys. Like: Van Wilder 2: Rise of Taj
ROBIN HOOD - A satisfactory 6! Scott and Crowe deliver an epic, "factual" and charmless account of the hero behind the legend. Like: Kingdom of Heaven
ROCK THE PAINT - A satisfactory 6! A decent indie underdog drama about basketball, racial relations, and family. Like: Coach Carter, Save the Last Dance
ROCKER, THE - A flat 5! Light, predictable rock music comedy with a mediocre cast and script. Like: Wayne's World, School of Rock
ROCKNROLLA - A solid 7! British Tarantino, Guy Ritchie, returns to his roots with a strong blast in this fun action, comedy, crime caper. Like: Snatch
ROEPMAN - A beautifully shot and acted Afrikaans coming-of-age drama about a '60s railway community through a child's eyes. Like: Angela's Ashes
ROGUE - A solid 7! Gripping and gorey Australian horror/thriller with a real edge. Like: Jaws, Lake Placid, Wolf Creek
ROGUE ASSASSIN - A flat 5! Classic showdown amounts to a mediocre action/thriller. More bullets than kicks from Li and Stratham. Like: Chaos, The One
ROLE MODELS - A solid 7! Great chemistry makes this funny, yet crude big brother comedy seem smart with Paul Rudd on target. Like: Forgetting Sarah Marshall
ROMPER STOMPER - A solid 7! Raw, unique, gripping and interesting Australian action drama. Gritty performances, led by Crowe. Like: American History X
RON CLARK STORY, THE - A solid 7! Perry's fine performance couples with an inspirational and touching "Dangerous Minds" true story. Like: Freedom Writers
ROOMMATE, THE - A flimsy 4! A predictable, cliched psychological thriller that's as tame as its title. Like: Single White Female
ROXY HUNTER - A flat 5! Middling made-for-TV Nancy Drew-type family mystery with some well-crafted comedy/romance for all ages. Like: Nancy Drew
RUINS, THE - A satisfactory 6! This holiday horror is creepy and gorey enough for genre fans. Solid cast foiled by slack script. Like: Apocalypto
RUN FAT BOY, RUN - A satisfactory 6! Enjoyable and silly feel good movie that is funny, but formulaic and predictable. Like: Bend It Like Beckham
RUNAWAYS, THE - A satisfactory 6! Girl rockers get down-and-dirty in this gritty, formulaic sex, drugs and rock 'n roll biopic. Unlike: Josie & The Pussycats
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