Fresh Question #42: Movie Reviews

**James Harvey** · 06-11-2001, 12:56 PM

Hey everyone,

Just a small update. A new background should be gracing this board anytime now. It's a complete departure from the current, although in the same vein as the Batman Beyond Board background. Hopefully it'll be up soon. Here's the next Fresh Question:

Since we're on the topic of movie reviews. hows does a movie review effect your choice in seeing movies? Does it raise or lower expectations?

**joker** · 06-11-2001, 02:24 PM

i really dont ever pay attention to movie reviews untill after i see the movie, after ive seen a movie and liked/hated it i like to see what the reviers thought, so they dont really influence me at all.

**Calhoun07** · 06-11-2001, 04:44 PM

If it is a moive I know I will see, no matter what, such as a Star Wars movie or a Kevin Smith movie, or a Dreamworks animated movie, I don't really read up on the reviews before I see it and really don't give a rats tail what they have to say anyway!

Now, if it is a movie like Pearl Harbor, where I only know it has cool CGI and not much else was gained from watching the trailer, I will read up on it. In those instances, if it is a movie I don't know much about going in, I do have to admit that reviews will sway me for the most part in one direction or another. The reviews for Pearl Harbor let me know it was more of a love story than a war movie so I decided that's not what I wanted to see and decided not to see it based on reviews. But there are movies like Welcome to the Dollhouse that I watched because of the good reviews it got and it sounded like a movie I would really like (and I did!)

Now, as for which reviews I read, I tend to listen to what people have to say about the movie before I read any critic (and the only critic I read movie reviews by is Roger Ebert.) If it is a movie that's out on DVD and I don't know much about it, I pretty much rely on customer comments on Amazon.com to let me know if it is a movie I would like or not. I have some movies in my collection that I got because of the reviews customers gave it on amazon.com.

**RockItShipper** · 06-11-2001, 07:50 PM

I really don't get hung up on reviews myself. Same with box office numbers. I mean, I liked Tomcats and Freddy Got Fingered. No interest in Pearl Harbor until I can rent the DVD and go straight to the action scenes. And in the case of The Mummy Returns, there was enough of pgymy mummies, violence and slashy undercurrents to get me seeing it twice.

**James Harvey** · 06-11-2001, 10:19 PM

I think reviews are sometimes pointless becuase not all films appeal to everyone. A Tom Green film isn't gong to appeal to the 80 and over crowd, and films like Eyes Wide Shut won't appeal to kiddies. Not all films are for everyone.

**Calhoun07** · 06-12-2001, 12:09 PM

Just a question for those of you who say you never read reviews....How can you stand it? Aren't there movies you think might be interested in but you hadn't heard anything about it so you seek out a couple reviews to see what the movie is about? Maybe I am the only one here who likes to seek out independent films and more non-commercial pieces, and sometimes the best way to find out what is out there is to read, read, and do some more reading.

Then again, I have a thousand CDs of probably more artists you never heard of than you have heard of. I like to seek out the independent and more daring movies and music. If you never heard of the movie Happiness, how would you know you'd want to see it unless you read up on it? Unless you only go to what is on commercials and is playing at the local cineplex, which would be a crying shame.

**James** · 06-12-2001, 03:12 PM

I keep clear of reviews, teasers and trailers until AFTER the film - I find that even the most basic review can give away plot points that are best left uncovered. That's not to say I don't enjoy reviews - they just spoil the film if I read them prior to the event.

There is nothing better than going to see a film and knowing sweet FA about it. Even the most basic story movements can become unpredictable.

Naturally there is the urge to peep at a review or two - something I've founf myself doing for the SpiderMan teasers at the moment - but I try not to. Besides, I don't imagine Spider-man is going to have a story that taxes the noodle will it?

**Calhoun07** · 06-12-2001, 04:04 PM

Originally posted by SJJ
There is nothing better than going to see a film and knowing sweet FA about it. Even the most basic story movements can become unpredictable.

Total agreement there! If I do read a review for a movie I don't know about but think I might be interested in, I will skip past the section where the review covers what the story of the movie encompasses.

A good way I find to find new movies I have yet to see is to go to Amzon.com, type in favorites I already have seen or own, and the see what gets listed on the "listmania" lists that come up and in their recommendations. Quite a few treasures have been unearthed that way, in both movies and music.

**freakboy86** · 06-12-2001, 09:43 PM

I trust NO ONE when it comes to movie reviews.
Wait, strike that. I do have a select group of friends that I will trust ONLY IF THEY'VE SEEN THE MOVIE.
As for 'Professional Critics', they're all full of it. And the ones that aren't don't exist. Just check out all the flak Sony's getting over their 'professional' critic that they INVENTED to sell their movies!

"I'll see it when I belive it."

**Vigo Sprax** · 06-13-2001, 03:42 AM

I don't try to put too much faith into reviews but I do visit two sites before I see a movie, usually just to see how many stars they give a film (Like said, I try to avoid anymore since it can reveal plot details). Both IGN & Maxim have excellent reviewers, I've been using IGN's movie reviews for some time now and just recently came across Maxim's review section. IGN has been a little off though lately, like giving "Whats the Worst That Could Happen?" a one or giving Swordfish a three - both in ball park, but off by a half or one.

I don't usually trust Ebert, he liked Scary Movie! I tend to trust his co-host however, he seems to be more in with the times.

**Vigo Sprax** · 06-13-2001, 03:46 AM

Originally posted by freakboy86
Just check out all the flak Sony's getting over their 'professional' critic that they INVENTED to sell their movies

Oh, come on! It was a fake reviewer to put little blurbs on posters etc... we're talking full reviews such as in the newspaper & online. Who goes and sees a movie because the poster or commercial has quotes saying "Its the best thing ever"? Its my understanding the blurbs weren't even that great, just generic "Best film of the summer" type crap.

**freakboy86** · 06-14-2001, 07:21 PM

True, the fake reviews WERE limited to posters and ads, but you've gotta realize that a large portion of the populace DOES rely on advertising of a movie rather than sitting through a critic's show or, heaven forbid, reading a newspaper. We live in a lazy society, so many will be more than happy to take the easy way out.

"AHHHHH! We've got movie sign!"

**Bud 'n Lou** · 06-14-2001, 10:04 PM

I like indie movies too. I loved Welcome to the Dollhouse. And I like uncommon music too. I recommend Cat Power. :-D
Movie reviews are usually the opposite of my take on a movie. For instance, I can't believe Charlie's Angels got good reviews....why? No character development there that I noticed. Predictable....and just bad. I like the actresses in it, but again it was....just...bad.
And as for them giving dumb "gross-out teen movies" good reviews... What...*five minute pause*...ever.

NewMaxFranklin · 06-15-2001, 12:44 AM

I go to Rotten Tomatoes and read the reviews before I see a movie and I see a lot of movies (two a week on average.) I like reading reviews, especially if a movie is particularly interesting to me. I

was really excited about seeing The Mummy Returns, because the trailer was so cool and I liked the cast. SO, I red pretty much all the reviews listed before seeing it, the day after it opened. I really liked it and ended up seeing it again and again and again, and it was nice to go back to RT and read new reviews and even visit the forum, where fans slammed critics for panning the film.

I really think the internet is a movie fan's best friend. You can download trailers, read reviews, visit fan sites, even read the screenplay for Pete's sake! Not to mention the fact at all major motion picture's have official websites' now days.

For the most part I think reviews are harmless. Most people don't listen to them. If there's a movie they want to see, they're going to see it. But, like someone else said, reading positive reviews for a film you liked is fun and so is reading scathing reviews for a film you loathed.

NewMaxFranklin · 06-15-2001, 12:47 AM

I go to Rotten Tomatoes and read the reviews before I see a movie and I see a lot of movies (two a week on average.) I like reading reviews, especially if a movie is particularly interesting to me.

I was really excited about seeing The Mummy Returns, because the trailer was so cool and I liked the cast. So, I read pretty much all the reviews listed before seeing it (the day after it opened.) I really liked TMR and ended up seeing it again and again and again and it was nice to go back to RT and read new reviews and even visit the forum, where fans slammed critics for panning the film.

I really think the internet is a movie fan's best friend. You can download trailers, read reviews, visit fan sites, even read the screenplay for Pete's sake! Not to mention the fact at all major motion picture's have official websites' now days.

For the most part I think reviews are harmless. Most people don't listen to them. If there's a movie they want to see, they're going to see it. But, like someone else said, reading positive reviews for a film you liked is fun and so is reading scathing reviews for a film you loathed.

**Vigo Sprax** · 06-15-2001, 01:42 AM

Originally posted by freakboy86
...you've gotta realize that a large portion of the populace DOES rely on advertising of a...

While I think its true that they rely on advertising, I think that what people look at is whether the trailer/ad/poster makes the film look good, and if that sort of story/genre interests them - not many go "Oh well, the commercial said its this summer most awesome movie so I think I'll go see it, even if the trailer looks like crap and I hate that type of story".

**Calhoun07** · 06-15-2001, 12:15 PM

Originally posted by Bud 'n Lou
I like indie movies too. I loved Welcome to the Dollhouse. And I like uncommon music too. I recommend Cat Power. :-D
Movie reviews are usually the opposite of my take on a movie. For instance, I can't believe Charlie's Angels got good reviews....why? No character development there that I noticed. Predictable....and just bad. I like the actresses in it, but again it was....just...bad.
And as for them giving dumb "gross-out teen movies" good reviews... What...*five minute pause*...ever.

You know, come to think of it, there are some movies that I will want to see because of the negative reviews it generates. People who hate Happiness hate it for all the reasons I like it, and the same with Being John Malcovich. Some people just don't get that movie, and it's those odd ball films that I like to seek out and watch.

Cat Powder, huh? I always like to find out about new music! I might have to check them out.

You know, I had a dream once where I had a CD by the Nixons, but I have never heard of them or listened to them. I got on amazon.com after the dream and found out there is actually a band called the Nixons. Is that a sign I need to buy their music?

**DR. BELCH** · 06-15-2001, 01:01 PM

There are some actors you'll watch in anything. Winona Ryder, for me, is a prime example.

Rocky's piqued my interest to see Freddy Got Fingered; although Tom Green's schtick wears thin at times and I don't see how he can carry a whole 90 minutes which his tomfoolery (pun not intended), he still gets off a good one now and again, and I thought "Road Trip" was a hoot.
I remember thinking North wasn't nearly as abyssmal as Siskel and Ebert made it sound, but I agreed with them on Clifford. Martin "Ed Grimley" Short at his worst.
I never watched the series Charlie's Angels, so unless I get involved with a woman who's a Lucy Liu or Drew Barrymore fan, I likely won't see that movie. Speaking of Liu, she was on an episode of Futurama, and I wondered in a review on another forum if it's too soon in her career for that sort of thing. It could go either way--that show could cement her as a pop culture reference, or plunge her into the hell of has-beendom (after all, Hammer was the host and guest on Saturday Night Live and look where he is now).
I don't go to theaters for a myriad of reasons, not the least of which is that if I take a woman to see The Exorcist or Hannibal

or some other horror flick (which I love), I don't want her to get us kicked out of the place because she can't control herself. Some women either don't like those kind of movies or have--ahem--really strange reactions to them.

**Joker85** · 06-15-2001, 10:49 PM

If critics give a movie high praise then I am usually wery of it. Most of the time if I love a movie then the critics hate it.

Crazy8s · 06-16-2001, 04:17 PM

It doesn't take much more than a snippet of movie trailer for me to tell if I'm going to like it or not. I enjoy seeing what the critics say, but only from a curiousity standpoint. There seems to be so much pomposity involved with movie reviews--especially when it comes to animation.

I'm pretty particular. I like movies that end on an up note. If I want reality and depressing endings, I'll watch the news. I like fantasy, action adventure and romance (NOT sex). And I usually make good calls on movies. The worst movie-if one could call it that- which critics roped me in was the crapola known as Blair Witch Project. And the critics were in on that one--they had to have been to have raved so mightily about the creativity behind this pile of dreck. Because the reviews made this movie sound like something innovative and new, I was curious. What a mistake!

I absolutely loved Shrek because it was crammed with humor and heart. I avoid like the plague war movies like Private Ryan and downer disfunctional fodder like American Beauty. I'm an escapist--I want to be entertained and sent away smiling.