Do you read movie reviews?

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   Don Shipposted 14 years ago

   If so, which reviewers do you enjoy? If not, why?

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      RunescapeProposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Nah, not really. I mostly just see what my friends say about the film.

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      N.E. Wrightposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      I use to years ago when I just wanted to read anything.
      
      Now I really do not care.

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         Julie2posted 14 years agoin reply to this

         I dont read them anymore either. Some of the best movies I have seen have gotten crappy reviews.

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      tony0724posted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Never. I find them all to be pompous windbags. So I just usually wait for them to hit redbox and be grateful I didn't spend 10 dollars to see them. I have had my fill of superheroes , sequels and horrible remakes.

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   habeeposted 14 years ago

   Sometimes.

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   mtkomoriposted 14 years ago

   Yes, on a weekly basis. I always check the movie ratings & reviews of an entertainment magazine which comes with the local newspaper.
     I'm not quite familiar with reviewers, but sometimes I check out Roger Ebert's reviews online. He seems to make valid points and is very well informed:)

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   Flightkeeperposted 14 years ago

   I read Stevennix's.

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      Stevennix2001posted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Thanks Flightkeeper, i read a lot of yours too.

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   jokeapptvposted 14 years ago

   no never doo. dont listen to tv people advice either.

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   WildIrisposted 14 years ago

   Yes, I read movie reviews. My personal favorite movie review resource is from The New Yorker. I read both the short reviews and longer articles. I like the short capsule reviews for a quick look at what the movie is about, but I prefer reading the longer articles for background on the movie, film maker, actors, and cinema history.

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   Michael Willisposted 14 years ago

   No. When I use to I found out that I couldn't really go by the reviews. Word of mouth from those who have seen the movie is far better.
   Have seen reviews in the past where a movie was "praised" and it really sucked! lol
   Have seen reviews where the review was "horrible" and loved the movie and it was a huge box office success.

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      KristenGraceposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      LOL I agree with this comment

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   Slushyposted 14 years ago

   I often watch movies and afterwards find out that the reviews totally tore the movie in pieces, although I found it at least decent.
   
   Still I read them for fun

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   Joesy Shmoesyposted 14 years ago

   I read movie reviews all the time.  If the critics don't like it then most likely I will.  It's far and few between (and usually an oscar winner) that I agree with them.

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    Patty Inglish, MSposted 14 years ago

    For some films, before I go to review them, I occasionally look at Rotten Tomatoes review site and see if there are already a couple positive and a couple negative reviews and skim them.
    
    But for films I think will be fyun and very good and don't want any spoilers or opinions revealed beforehand, like "Green Hornet", I won't read a review. I find that a small set of reviewers are trying to make a more-famous name for themselves by slamming any and all movies and actors. It is a little like trolls in hub comments/forums. Waste of time to read, imo.

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    TomC35posted 14 years ago

    I read some from various newspapers and professional websites, but trust mostly in the general public's views on IMDB. 
    
    Though I still like to see things for myself and do not always agree with the general consensus, there are times, like when I watched "I Love You Beth Cooper" where I slapped my head and knew I should have headed the ratings.  Then again I disagreed with most on there who thought "Inception" was so great.

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    Tina Kachanposted 14 years ago

    IMDB is my life

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    StokerXposted 14 years ago

    I do but I don't base my opinion of the movie from them. Most of the time there are reviews for both sides, the good and the bad. Useless to follow them, or you'd never see anything.

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    Uninvited Writerposted 14 years ago

    I used to like to read Pauline Kael's reviews. These days I read them in the newspaper but I don't decide to go to movies based on them.

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    Stevennix2001posted 14 years ago

    To be honest, I actually do read a LOT of film reviews when it comes to movies, but it's usually more for inspiration these days than it is for advice on films and such.  Sure, there a lot I end up agreeing with, and there's others that I don't agree with. 
    
    I can see where someone like Tony is coming from in the sense that many professional film critics that work for prestigious magazines like Rollingstone, Chicago Sun Times and whatnot don't usually factor in the target audiences perception of the movie; unless you count Peter Travers and some of the other hubbers who write reviews.  However, this is kind of why I do read a lot of film reviews by those same said critics to not only try to learn off their strengths, but to improve on their weaknesses as well. 
    
    There's more to it than that folks, but as they say...a great writer never reveals all his secrets.     I probably shouldn't say that, as im sure there's a lot of writers that are better than me at writing about films, but I'm just in a joking mood tonight.

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    Shadesbreathposted 14 years ago

    Never. They are always wrong. Opinions are personal, etc. What's GOOD depends on so much, and most of all MOOD.

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       Stevennix2001posted 14 years agoin reply to this

       Shades, come on, not all critics are wrong.  that would be a statistical anomaly.  i think you meant to say, "they are normally wrong" or "you often disagree with them."  As I can cite several critical reviews where critics don't even agree with each other.  let alone be alone be right about everything.  however, to each their own is what i always say when it comes to anything involving entertainment.  after all, the important thing when you watch any movie is that YOU like it.  every other opinion should be irrelevant.

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          Shadesbreathposted 14 years agoin reply to this

          Yes, I suppose technically you are right. My academic background is in English, so I've read the criticism of centuries. The ones the blew Jane Austin off in her day. The ones that blow Shakespeare off in our day. It's just a lot of noise.
          
          The only critics I respect are the ones who dig in and do the brutal work of literally reading everything, understanding its context and then, champion the new, risking their reputation to spot what matters in the cloud of noise.
          
          Most are parasites, living off the body of those who risk everything.

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             Stevennix2001posted 14 years agoin reply to this

             Well the thing I'm noticing about what everyone, or most people seem to think about critics on hubpages is based on generalizations and stereotypes that are untrue if you ever actually read a lot of film reviews. Not all film critics or any sort of critic will often agree with each other on everything.  Take a look at the film, "Paranormal Activity 2", almost every film critic loved it except for Roger Ebert, who said the movie outright sucked.  Therefore, it would be impossible to say that all the critics were wrong on that movie, as you clearly had a difference of opinion there.  Then there's the review of "Kick-Ass", Peter Travers loved that movie, but Roger Ebert hated it.  Therefore, that kind of defeats the generalization stereotype that all critics have the same opinion, as that's not entirely true.
             
             How can all critics be wrong if they have different opinions on movies?  Hell, there's still critics out there that said "Batman and Robin" was the greatest movie ever, where most critics hated it. Therefore, I think people tend to buy into the stereotypes of what a critic is; which is kind of sad.
             
             As far as the rest of your statement goes, I can see where your coming from on this.  And, I don't disagree with most of it. Shakespeare and Jane Austin were ahead of their times, and most artists throughout history often due suffer intense ridicule because of the risks they make in terms of creativity.  Sure, some of Shakespeares works were adaptations of previous stories, but he implemented so many new dramatic concepts in terms of storytelling and dramatic themes, that one could trace those same said themes in many of today's cinematic films.   
             
             However, this all goes back to what I said earlier.  The important thing is that YOU like the movie your watching.  That's the only opinion that matters.  I can't speak for all film critics, as I don't even consider myself one; ironic as that seems.  lol.  Sure, I joke about it a lot with people but to be honest, I would never outright consider myself one even though I do review films a lot.   
             
             However, I don't even think most critics expect all their readers to always agree with their assessments on everything, as I know I don't.  Hell, my philosophy when it comes to anything entertainment is that people are free to like whatever they want.  If one of my reviews helps someone decide to see or not see a film, then I think it's great.  If it doesn't or they just don't agree with me, then I never take it personal.  Hell, to each their own is what I always say.  All I'm saying is I don't think it's fair people buy into the stereotype that all critics think exactly the same way, as that's just absurd.
             
             However, I get what your saying Shades, as I think everyone should be free to decide for themselves what's good or what's not good, in terms of entertainment.  After all, not everyone can possibly like the same damn thing, right?  Then the world would be boring.

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    SomewayOuttaHereposted 14 years ago

    ....used to pay more attention....not so much now...

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       Stump Parrishposted 14 years agoin reply to this

       Ever since I signed up for netflix I am constantly checking member's reviews before streaming movies. Especially the late night comedies.

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          SomewayOuttaHereposted 14 years agoin reply to this

          ...hey...how's that trip planning going...i know this is off topic...i've been meaning to ask....

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             Stump Parrishposted 14 years agoin reply to this

             Actually get the bike out of the shop on Monday. Need to build the trailer and get my affairs in order. That last part won't take long considering I'm not married and haven't had an affair in years. We've had a couple of rough spots in the family area and it has slowed my progress. Thanks for asking BTW, peace

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                SomewayOuttaHereposted 14 years agoin reply to this

                about getting your affairs in order....
                
                ...hope the family stuff clears up - so you can get on the road, etc.
                
                ....and... i hope you write a hub about getting ready for the trip, as well as the trip....i guess i better sign on as a follower...in case you are already writing about it.... 

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18. 0

    Aleister888posted 14 years ago

    Not usually, but if i do, i generally look around for alternative sources, bloggers etc, so at the very least i know its not a "paid" review.

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    brimancandyposted 14 years ago

    I not only read movie reviews I also write them. I'm not a pro of course, and I only do it for fun. I am a member of rottentomatoes, which is a free online movie review site with thousands of members.
    I have written well over 100 reviews there.
    
    If it is ok, I would like to offer a link to my stuff.
    
    http://www.rottentomatoes.com/user/742491/reviews
    
    You can also read millions of reviews there, depending on what you are looking for. It's really a cool website.

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