They’re Not the Boss of Me!

Does a movie review really matter? Will a thumbs-up or rotten tomato prod you to go or keep you away from any particular movie?

The less-than-stellar reviews that The Dark Knight Rises is accumulating got me to thinking about this idea. Will a negative review turn fans away from this last installment in the Batman trilogy? I doubt it. Most of the midnight premiers across the country are sold out and scalping has begun with $100.00 per ticket asking prices.

Considering this, how much influence does a film critic really have? How much does their opinion play into my film choices?

I usually see the movies that I want, based on the story and the actors. I consult the reviews and critics more often for actual content of a movie. If a critic remarks about extreme profanity or highly offensive material, I will usually skip the movie. I’m very delicate. (That’s what I keep telling people.)

If the critic didn’t “get” the movie’s theme, or just found the film too confusing, I am willing to give it a chance. If the critic explains that the movie is too high-brow or low-brow, I ask my friends or check out the critic’s other reviews on movies that I loved.

Some reviewers I find myself constantly agreeing with, while others make me wonder from which planet they hail. Finding a source that matches my sensibilities gives me a little more confidence in their suggestions.

But when it comes down to the actual purchase of a ticket, I usually trust my own instinct. If I’m a fan of a particular actor, writer, or director, there’s a pretty good chance that I’ll shell out the cash for a seat.

Sometimes I wonder if the filmmakers themselves hype up the bad reviews for the extra publicity. In the world of celebrity there’s no such thing as bad publicity.

That’s a wrap for this Toast to Cinema. Thanks for reading.

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