Movie Reviews: Consistency?

[Amel]

So the guy who reviewed Shawshank gave the movie itself 3.5 stars, while the guy who reviewed Elf gave the movie 4 stars?

LOL,comon

[Sussudio]

Originally Posted by Amel

So the guy who reviewed Shawshank gave the movie itself 3.5 stars, while the guy who reviewed Elf gave the movie 4 stars?

LOL,comon

different people have different tastes in movies. simple as that. i've always utilized dvd/bluray reviews for the reviewer's analysis of the PQ/AQ/Special Features, because that's where I believe their knowledge and expertise is most useful to me. I know which movies I like and which ones I don't, so while reading someone else's take on a movie can be interesting and insightful, I generally rely more on a reviewer's ratings of everything else.

[bageleaterkkjji]

will a warner movie ever really deserve a 5 for picture quality? im sure dark knight was given a 5 because it was the dark knight

[JJ]

Very true, each person has different tastes, however, I seem to have 95% agreement with Martin Liebman's reviews, so I usually take his well. Everyone elses, I hold judgement until Ive seen it.

[AppleCrumbDlite]

i agree OP, elf was a terrible movie and shawshank needs at least a 4.5, it's phenomenal.

[Amel]

sure, we all have a different taste for anything

but comon, those two movies are like night and day...

its kinda sad

[JasonR]

Meh, I like Elf but hated Shawshank (like most other Stephen King movies besides The Shining). To each his own....

[jw]

I liked Elf and so did the kids....Shawshank was good, but probably will never watch it again unlike Elf

[Gremal]

Originally Posted by jwbbud

I liked Elf and so did the kids....Shawshank was good, but probably will never watch it again unlike Elf

Vindication!

[Slec]

Originally Posted by DoYouBlu

different people have different tastes in movies. simple as that. i've always utilized dvd/bluray reviews for the reviewer's analysis of the PQ/AQ/Special Features, because that's where I believe their knowledge and expertise is most useful to me. I know which movies I like and which ones I don't, so while reading someone else's take on a movie can be interesting and insightful, I generally rely more on a reviewer's ratings of everything else.

Couldn't agree more with this. Kiskiboy has never led me astray, so I trust his judgment on the merit of a movie, but otherwise I head to rottentomatoes and start there.

[MountainBlu]

Originally Posted by DoYouBlu

different people have different tastes in movies. simple as that. i've always utilized dvd/bluray reviews for the reviewer's analysis of the PQ/AQ/Special Features, because that's where I believe their knowledge and expertise is most useful to me. I know which movies I like and which ones I don't, so while reading someone else's take on a movie can be interesting and insightful, I generally rely more on a reviewer's ratings of everything else.

+1
PQ and extras analysis are definately what I rely on the ratings for. Shawshank will be a first day buy for me.

[Sir Terrence]

Originally Posted by Gremal

Vindication!

LOLOL...hehehehe....

[Sir Terrence]

The fact that everyone who has posted has had a different opinion about each movie, underscores why different movies get the ratings they do from different reviewers. I liked both Elf and Shawshank, but different movies appeal in different ways.

[kiskiboy97]

You also have to remember that movies are generally not scored absolutely. That is to say, they are based on their own merits, how they fit into a genre, the production values, how well they convey their themes, etc., and of course, how much the reviewer personally likes or dislikes the film plays a role in how it is rated. Even if the same reviewer had rated Shawshank and Elf and given them the same scores, that does not necessarily mean that in an absolute list of best to worst movies, Elf would be ahead of Shawshank. Scores are very superficial and can even sometimes be a little misleading if not taken in the context of the text that accompanies them.

I think we have a fabulous team of reviewers here. We don't always agree amongst one another, but I think that, in most cases, looking beyond the score and reading what a reviewer has to say about the movie reveals some pretty intelligent insight into why the score was given. Agree or disagree, the reviewers do a great job of defending their position, which is what makes the reviews here so good.

[Sir Terrence]

Originally Posted by kiskiboy97

You also have to remember that movies are generally not scored absolutely. That is to say, they are based on their own merits, how they fit into a genre, the production values, how well they convey their themes, etc., and of course, how much the reviewer personally likes or dislikes the film plays a role in how it is rated. Even if the same reviewer had rated Shawshank and Elf and given them the same scores, that does not necessarily mean that in an absolute list of best to worst movies, Elf would be ahead of Shawshank. Scores are very superficial and can even sometimes be a little misleading if not taken in the context of the text that accompanies them.

I think we have a fabulous team of reviewers here. We don't always agree amongst one another, but I think that, in most cases, looking beyond the score and reading what a reviewer has to say about the movie reveals some pretty intelligent insight into why the score was given. Agree or disagree, the reviewers do a great job of defending their position, which is what makes the reviews here so good.

Amen to this. Now pass the plate around, and everyone contribute please

[Gremal]

Yes, that was very well said indeed.

Reviewers are an easy target. It's a tough job, but someone's gotta do it.

[mrgreed202]

It is truly impossible to be un-biased. But hey I love the reviews here. A lot of them are the reason I've bought blu-rays, and the movies usually do turn out like the review.

[Stubblecat]

You also have to compare films to others in the genre. Elf is compared to other comedies, while Shawshank is reviewed as a drama.

You can't compare, say, Texas Chainsaw Massacre to Citizen Kane. They're both excellent films in their own genre.

[Gremal]

Good point, Stubblecat.

[ThePhantomOak]

That is ok. Blu-ray.com let some idiot get into the politics of nomenclature of America vs United States of America Vs North America vs South America vs Central America as a movie review.

I am interested in buying this movie... Though, I wonder if the title is politically correct, because, really, that is what matters to me.



Blu-ray.com is joke when it comes to movie reviews. One can understand the idea that a reviewer will often dislike a movie that the reviewer sitting next to him loves, it is a shame when the reviewer uses a review to cry about some percieved injustice. An individuals preferences is not as much a problem as some of them wandering off of a review and onto a political soapbox.