Some look askance at the “thumbs” update, as well as the site in general. That includes a recent investigation by Vulture.com that cast plenty of shade on the platform.

Part of the story has teeth.

Vulture reveals efforts by a PR company to game the RT system, paying critics for more favorable film reviews. … That’s important to expose for film fans, but it’s something RT has little control over. …

Other issues are more troubling for the site, like how comic book movies get an early boost from geek-friendly critics.

[Be sure to read it all, as Christian Toto has good practical advice for using Rotten Tomatoes more purposefully and critically. Be sure to read the Vulture exposé as well, though, because it looks at the manipulations in depth. — Ed]