Scoring movie reviews
Steve has suggested that I use a rating scale (stars? numbers?) in my movie reviews. In the past I’ve specifically avoided that; I think a movie deserves discussion, not just a number attached to it. But if enough people want me to start doing this, I will. (I definitely won’t do just a “thumbs up/thumbs down” thing, though.) Let me know what you think of in the comments.
I’ve always avoided numeric ratings, myself. I figure if I’m not going to evaluate on several criteria, why bother? It’s not like it’s an objective value, anyway.
To keep it simple, a scale of three might work. One “Adam” would mean don’t go. Two would be “go if you like Tom Cruise and impalings”, but you didn’t like it. And three “Adams” would denote a ringing endorsement and recommendation.
I am all for discussion. I’m never exactly sure how to interpret a scale. There are so many gradiations of opinion and so many axii (axises?) on which to judge a movie.
I like the discussion. I don’t like things to be overly simplified. I like your way.
i actually much prefer a pro/con thumbs if there must be a rating scale. numerical ratings are SO arbitrary. a simple “recommended/nor recommended” is better. with numerical ratings i always end up with this “but i liked that movie so much!” when i’m reading a review.
and it brings up situations where a “better” movie gets a lower rating than a favorite movie of mine that’s not necessarily as “good”. which seems wrong somehow. so anyways, that’s just my view, i think a low rating often overshadows things people liked about a movie, and vice versa.
i think you should have a scale of one to five thumbs.
I don’t care if you rate them, but as we have discussed – well I discussed you didn’t – I want all your movie reviews as a link – if I’m in a hurry it’s hard to scan through the rest to find them fast. Which is a statement of this age of “get me what I want NOW or else” – the or else in this case means I’ll just go to Ebert instead. 🙂
As I have said repeatedly til I’m blue in the face about it (and the archive of my original post is long lost in the Ether to website changes) ONE person cannot give THUMBS (plural) up or down. Roger has one thumb. Gene had one thumb. The sum being TWO, but each individual only contributing ONE thumb. You can’t give THUMBS, only a thumb.
Having said that, here’s my personal movie rating system: When and where to see a movie, ranging from “Now In the nicest theater you can find (taking into account speakers etc.),” through “Rental,” down to “Cable, maybe, if it’s on,” ending at “Don’t bother.”
roger and gene both lost a hand? wacky. reminds me of mitch hedberg’s line…
“i don’t think you should ever wave to someone.. i mean you never know if they won’t have a hand… they’ll think your cocky.. like WOAH HEY BUDDY … check this thing out… this thing is USEFUL, i think imma go pick somethin’ up”