Would the following phrase be considered positive or negative?

appropriately cynical social commentary aside , # 9 never quite ignites .

negative

Would the following phrase be considered positive or negative?

had no effect and elicited no sympathies for any of the characters .

negative

Would the following phrase be considered positive or negative?

the excruciating end of days

negative

Would the following phrase be considered positive or negative?

but it 's hard to imagine a more generic effort in the genre .
negative