tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1463671176628323648.post254860943108577970..comments2024-03-26T20:30:14.110-07:00Comments on Cinematic Catharsis: A Rant About RatingsBarry P.http://www.blogger.com/profile/11251536316431708240noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1463671176628323648.post-31026572954216541082021-11-04T18:23:53.442-07:002021-11-04T18:23:53.442-07:00Awww! Thank you very much, Brian! That really mean...Awww! Thank you very much, Brian! That really means a lot. :) I think you have a good system, which condenses the review into digestible chunks. I also think we're on the same wavelength, focusing on the the unloved setpchildren of cinema. <br /><br />If I had to do it all over again, I probably would have nixed the star ratings altogether, but I'm afraid I'm stuck with it at the moment. If I ever create a Cinematic Catharsis 2.0, or my book project ever gets off the ground, I definitely know what I won't be including. ;) Barry P.https://www.blogger.com/profile/11251536316431708240noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1463671176628323648.post-85522075754442231602021-11-04T10:02:24.391-07:002021-11-04T10:02:24.391-07:00Thanks for sharing this post retroactively, so to ...Thanks for sharing this post retroactively, so to speak. I went through the very same conundrum when I was developing my blog. The problem as I see it with star or numeric ratings is that, while it is a basic indicator of how much the reviewer liked the thing in question, as you point out, it doesn't provide needed context unless, as you've done here, you provide the baseline -- "here's what I mean and here are some examples of things that are 4 star, 3, and so on." <br /> So I went instead with my Pros and Cons section at the beginning of the reviews, which still provides a quick overview of what's to like and what doesn't work. But of course it doesn't provide "closure" -- "so did you like it or not?" -- and it wouldn't fit into any sort of metascore system. The other decision I made early on was to emphasize the cheap, oddball films that hadn't got a lot of attention or love over the years. But I won't review completely irredeemable films, the ones that offend me on "a cellular level." (Good one! :) I always find something to like about the films I write about. <br /> Whatever system you go with, it's the review itself that's the important thing, and I certainly hope that your visitors are treating themselves to your complete insights, as you are one of the very best!Brian Schuckhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08463833554200343247noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1463671176628323648.post-41719642456803654542018-06-23T23:26:17.994-07:002018-06-23T23:26:17.994-07:00Absolutely! I agree that movie ratings are general...Absolutely! I agree that movie ratings are generally meaningless, although I've also fallen into the trap of looking at the ratings alone. Star ratings become particularly meaningless when we consider that four stars from me might not mean the same thing as four stars from anyone else. Barry P.https://www.blogger.com/profile/11251536316431708240noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1463671176628323648.post-5305461297305807442018-06-23T14:16:19.752-07:002018-06-23T14:16:19.752-07:00I have to confess I have a problem with rating mov...I have to confess I have a problem with rating movies too. My problem is that it really doesn't explain why I love or hate a particular film. I might give one film four stars because it has outstanding cinematography and another four stars because it has great performances from the actors. Ultimately, whatever I rate a movie doesn't have that much meaning! That having been said, I am guilty of rating movies without saying anything about them...Terence Towles Canotehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18397088843628331615noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1463671176628323648.post-11515514157040588522018-06-20T16:15:20.415-07:002018-06-20T16:15:20.415-07:00I suspect I need to see this film!!,I suspect I need to see this film!!,John L. Harmonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15356443071657836985noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1463671176628323648.post-73772378688865099532018-06-19T18:53:52.593-07:002018-06-19T18:53:52.593-07:00I've always said life is too short for ordinar...I've always said life is too short for ordinary films. Even though I'm not a big fan of quantifying a movie with ratings (obviously), I like your hybrid system. ...And you're on your own regarding "Birth of a Nation." One viewing could last a lifetime.Barry P.https://www.blogger.com/profile/11251536316431708240noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1463671176628323648.post-25023941522888886942018-06-19T18:49:09.348-07:002018-06-19T18:49:09.348-07:00I think you made the right call by leaving them of...I think you made the right call by leaving them off! <br /><br />Hmmm... That's another issue entirely, but I agree it's a messed up system. Have you ever seen the documentary "This Film is Not Yet Rated"? Fascinating stuff.Barry P.https://www.blogger.com/profile/11251536316431708240noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1463671176628323648.post-18838846272225876352018-06-19T14:09:16.575-07:002018-06-19T14:09:16.575-07:00In my world, I just don't bother commenting on...In my world, I just don't bother commenting on average, uninteresting films. They go from great, to good and odd, to okay and weird, to terrible but still enjoyable [I tried that without all the commas; it doesn't work either way]. I rate from 0-4 stars, with plusses added for those more entertaining than their quality suggests. "The Abominable Dr. Phibes" is **1/2++ for example. I still have problems with "Birth of a Nation" - is it zero stars or four?SteveQhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16943650844671498074noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1463671176628323648.post-65503073300832399222018-06-19T11:23:46.155-07:002018-06-19T11:23:46.155-07:00Wow, Barry, I never thought about how those little...Wow, Barry, I never thought about how those little stars can cause such conflict!<br /><br />Though, perhaps I knew and this is why I never thought about adding a rating to my sporadic reviews. Honestly, I doubt I will for any future reviews. <br /><br />Also, I was expecting a post about the rstings system, such as PG and R. I have an issue or two with that flawed and confusing system.John L. Harmonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15356443071657836985noreply@blogger.com