If you’ve followed this website long enough, you know I have issues with how different genre of movies are rated within the same numeric scale system by movie reviewers.
On one hand, I understand there being one numeric scale for all movies, as professional movie critics have a reference of which to compare all movies. If “Bob Smith” gave Transformers a 5/5, on the same scale as The Passion of the Christ or Forrest Gump, then he sends a huge signal the Transformers is as good of a movie as any other dramatic work. But as one friend on Twitter put it,
“If Lincoln rates 4* and Avengers gets 5* is Avengers a better movie? Not likely, but that’s film critics 4 u.”
And I concur.
127 Hours vs Transformers: Both brilliant in their own terms. One, for the tale and journey the character goes through, the other, for the brilliant few hours it takes the viewer on a truly enjoyable escapist experience. But alas, though hugely popular, the 2007 film, Transformers received a 57% from the collective of critics over on Rotten Tomatoes, while the audience gave it an 89%.
But Why Should It Matter?
The above example, where that huge disparity exists, to me, is a huge indicator why the movie-going audience can’t depend on movie critics to make choices about movies. They’re either on their on opening weekend, hoping not to be disappointed. Or wait for familiar forums to chime in, and go from there.
Or as I see it, will the consumer’s money be wasted or worth it?
There’s always been a huge split between a movie critic artistic/quality reference and the fan reference of enjoyment. There seems to be a flaw when critic-panned movies dominate the top-50 all time box office movies in the US. (Forrest Gump, in 27th, seems to be the first dramatic telling in the list, behind the various Batman, Spiderman, Transformers, Jurassic Park, Lord of the Rings movies, etc..)
Hence, each movie, in their own category type of movie, can be at the top of their game, but which one is really better, when put on the same scale?
Therein, I suggest a single scale is not a reflective true score. In fact I see it as a disservice to the millions of genre fans who would possibly like to depend on critics to help make their judgement calls.
As I see it, it’s the apples vs. oranges thing, or Lincoln vs Iron Man. You can find yourself sucked into the telling of one man’s history and another fictional character’s spun tale.
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