Impact of Movie Reviews

[Head Mutant]

A writer on GameSpot today wrote the following (in the midst of an article about how game reviewing needs to be taken more seriously):

"For that matter, when was the last time you decided to see a movie based on a movie review? Film critics write to each other."

As a movie watcher, I personally feel this is a blanket statement, and a pretty untrue one at that (I know that countless critics, including ones on MRFH and you guys, have influenced me to see a movie based on their reviews). But since as a critic I can't be 100% objective, I was just curious what is your reaction to this statement.

[Uber]

I find that reviews will often point me to movies I wouldn't have thought about otherwise, especially if I see a common pattern of movie watching between myself and the reviewer. For example, I recently was sent a review of "Remo Williams: The Adventure Begins" from a mailing list I'm on. This reviewer shared my love of Family Guy and gangster films, and he seemed to really enjoy this film. So I thought, what the hay, and put it on the Netflix queue. Well, I was pleasantly surprised when I watched this film last night. I thought it was a fun action movie that could have been the start of an action adventure serial. Unfortunately, this one bombed at the box office and no subsequent chapters were made. Anyway, the point is that I will commonly look for a film that would have otherwise passed under my radar by reading reviews written by people whose tastes I can appreciate and relate to.

[gregslagel]

I would kinda mix and match various elements from your poll. If I am intrigued by a film, one good review from a source I've never heard of can push me in. If a lot of reviews have said the same thing, I begin to put some stock into it.
That definitely goes for MRFH. I'm not sure I can trust any one reviewer, but if the collective tends to agree, I do my best to see it. Well, and if Poolman writes a new complimentary review. Then I run out the door as fast as I can and lie cheat or steal to get it. It really goes way beyond trust. Its like a bond. A bond that can be solidified only when I obtain a lock of his hair. Sigh.

[ThePickleMan]

I don't know if I can say I disagree with the statement, but I try to just go see movies or rent movies that I want to see, with no reviewer influence. Usually that ends up not happening, as so much movie info is passed around in the cafe that It's hard not to hear opinions on films. So I think that it is kind of true.

[PoolMan]

gregslagel said:

Well, and if Poolman writes a new complimentary review.

I am the Buddha of being too nice to movies, as Justin is always keen to remind me. He actually called to tell me he was disappointed that I wasn't meaner to The Rundown.

gregslagel said:

A bond that can be solidified only when I obtain a lock of his hair. Sigh.

And here's the part where I call the police.

AGAIN.

[DarthToad]

I have a select few that I trust (MRFH and I do read Ticket Movies because my friend runs it and it does really show what most people think, even though many times I disagree with most people). Usually they won't detract me from seeing a movie, but sometimes I'll find a movie on here and I'm like "hey, this looks pretty cool" and I go rent it and it really does rule.

[Genetic Mishap]

The three review sites I trust are MRFH first and foremost (Guys! You're my guys!), Arrow in the Head, and Rotten Tomatos.

The latter has the most bearing on very recent releases. (Since Arrow in the Head restricts itself to horror, fantasy and sci-fi, while youse guys vary all the way from old timey video releases to the present. Besides, they've got the advantage of numbers). I normally won't willingly go to a movie if it's the little green splatted tomato. There are exceptions, like Freddy vs. Jason. Man, I'm glad I didn't trust them on that issue.

Of course, I rarely actually go to theatres anyway.

Another thing that concerns me about RT is this... I've seen movies on there that are high in the red, but most of the reviews say that the movie in question was decent, but not great. So, if most of the critics agree that it's mediocre fun, it's still a positive review, and the meter says it's a 98%, or whatever. Giving the impression that the film is God's digitally remastered college film project, instead of just a rainy day watch.

Take Finding Nemo. Saw it for the first time on Friday (absolutly loved it), went to RT, and it's got a 99% (only two official negative reviews!) but most of the positive ones I clicked said it was still the least impressive of Pixar's efforts. Yet, it has a higher Tomatometer rating than Monster's Inc.

Sometimes I wonder what ratings certain movies would get if RT was around when they were released. Take Ghostbusters- would there actually BE any negative reviews?

Anyway, sorry about all the discussion over RT. Will I be forced to do something cruel and embarrasing in MRFH's honor?

[Lissa]

It depends on how much money I'm going to spend.

If it's a 9 dollar movie and we don't have coupons, I let the critics influence me a bit more. I can always see it on DVD or even at a matinee.

When I lived in State College and they had student discounts, and it was a 5 dollar movie, I was a little more flexible. I REALLY liked the reviews I found in the Weekender there and tended to agree (the reviewer and I had very similar taste, I think), but if it was something I really, really, really wanted to see, I'd go anyway because I often had nothing better to do and it was only five bucks.

Renting from Blockbuster, I'll generally let reviews steer me towards stuff I might not have seen, but not necessarily away from something that looks intriguing.,

Renting from Mikes for 88 cents, I get whatever I feel like. Unfortunately, that's how I inflicted Velvet Goldmine on myself (and how Hubby inflicted Night at the Roxbury on me.)

Liss

[jenfrazer]

Heh. I saw Velvet Goldmine at full price in an art theater. Yikes.

Love the soundtrack, though. Went out and bought it the next day.

[Lissa]

I rented it because it has Ewan McGregor.

I have got to learn that that's not necessarily the best criteria for picking out a movie. ::sigh::

But it also had Christian Bale AND Jonathan Rhys-Myers!

Which REALLY should have been a clue that this movie was gonna be freaking wierd. One of em alone, well, let's just say Moulin Rouge!, Little Women, and Bend It Like Beckham. But all three together.....

The soundtrack was reasonably acceptable though, I'll agree with you there!

Liss

[mutantclare]

For me it depends on the movie.
Certain films I'm going to go see no matter what anybody says good or bad (usually if it's got an actor I really like or is by a director I really like).
If I'm on the fence about a movie, I use a few people I know whose opinions I trust (my sister mainly).
I saw Bridgette Jones Diary because Justin gave it a good review.
However, I got burned recently by all the hugely positive things I'd heard about how monumentally amazing Mystic River was so I went out and saw it on opening day. I had been curious about it because I love Sean Penn, but then I heard from all sorts of sources that it was a "masterpiece" and the best movie of the year. So my initial curiosity became an "I have to see this movie right now!" kind of thing.
And while Mystic River was for sure GOOD, I wouldn't by any stretch of the imagination call it a masterpiece or even GREAT.

[Robert]

I don't want to sound like im sucking up, but I only really read the Mutant Reviewers reviews.

[Landatauron]

Well my answer was "Only if a lot of reviewers are saying the same thing".

But usually it's a lot of reviewers saying that a movie sucked. In which case I go just to see how incredibly horrible it really is.

And I'm with Robert on this one too. The Mutants are the only reviews I really read all of and listen too. But again. If they say it sucked. I'll go see it.

[Jade]

Lissa said:

I rented it because it has Ewan McGregor.

I have got to learn that that's not necessarily the best criteria for picking out a movie. ::sigh::

I think that is a valid way of choosing a rental... I once rented "Being Human" because I heard he was in it... and he was--for about a moment while the camera was panning over a group of people.

-Jade