Be suspicious of those that quote no reviews at all.
Step3
Be skeptical of critics' comments that are surrounded by ellipses (three dots). A word such as "spectacular" with three dots on both sides could be lifted from a sentence such as "This film is a slick, silly, spectacular flop."
Step4
Rely more on the blurbs that contain complete sentences.
Step5
Pay attention to which critics - and which publications - are quoted. The best reviews appear in major newspapers and magazines.
Step6
Ignore, for the most part, an ad sprinkled with one-word "quotes" from obscure radio and television stations - and ignore the film.
Step7
Choose movies that earn legitimate "rave reviews."
Tips & Warnings
Check movie reviews on the Web for reviewers' complete opinions and to avoid being fooled by clever ad writers.
Find a newspaper critic you trust and rely on his or her reviews.
Never underestimate the value of word-of-mouth opinions about films.
Ads containing only a couple of quotes often indicate that most reviews were negative.
Some so-called critics who appear on television seldom do anything but praise movies. Their opinions are virtually worthless.
on 11/22/2005
Unfortunately, the more movies you watch, the more you will deviate from established critics' opinions. Beware of this observed phenomenon (which I observed after working at a video store for three years). Just learn to trust your own instincts, which are more dependable than the words of critics.
Comments
Anonymous said
on 11/22/2005 Unfortunately, the more movies you watch, the more you will deviate from established critics' opinions. Beware of this observed phenomenon (which I observed after working at a video store for three years). Just learn to trust your own instincts, which are more dependable than the words of critics.