Do reviews from critics or other moviegoers affect your viewing of a particular film?

[cloud001]

As the title says have you ever read a review from a critic about a particular film you might have been looking forward to for months or even years which has resulted in affecting your viewing afterwards.

If possible don't just pick the opinion in the poll and not post let us know which film it was and if possible the review. :)

[TheGibe]

I picked "sometimes." I only ever pay attention to Roger Ebert's reviews, and I only ever look at his rating and read the first paragraph of the review before I go so I'm not spoiled, then the rest after.

If he totally pans it I'll probably not go, otherwise I just like to have an idea and then make up my own mind.

[markdlg]

No offense, but I think that Ebert can sometimes be a little...smug in his reviews. I'm sure he's a nice guy, but that's just what I feel.

The only critics that sometimes affect me are Adam and Matty at Filmspotting.
Filmspotting is an awesome podcast, I recommend it to anyone who is interested in movies..:

filmspotting.net

[TheGibe]

No offence, but I think that Ebert can sometimes be a little...smug in his reviews. I'm sure he's a nice guy, but that's just what I feel.

I know what you mean, but I think the "smugness" you interpret is because he knows so much about screenwriting, filmmaking, and distribution, that his reviews are so demanding and he has the credibility to be very subjective.. I love Ebert because he is the reviewer that isn't afraid to love new movies. He knows what he's talking about, and he rates with an eye that favors technical and artistic merit, but he also knows and embraces pop culture.

As a film (and English) major, I almost always find myself in tune with what he thinks. On only the rarest occasion have I disagreed with him.

[rya86n]

He knows what he's talking about, and he rates with an eye that favors technical and artistic merit, but he also knows and embraces pop culture.

As a film (and English) major, I almost always find myself in tune with what he thinks. On only the rarest occasion have I disagreed with him.

I agree. Its a good ability to have to be able to critic and accept pop culture simultaneously. One of the reasons I also enjoy his reviews, and selected "sometimes" in the above poll. Not all films are oscar contenders and most reviewers need to come to terms with this prior to writing their reviews.

[...and delirious]

If it's a movie I'm really looking forward to, I'll probably go see it no matter what the reviews say. But if it's a movie I think it might be okay, then I can take the reviews in consideration, I mean, more.

[Monkee]

I can honestly say that film reviews have a big impact on whether I see a movie or not, probably because I'm a film reviewer myself :rolleyes: But I think if I was really determined to see a movie, I would, no matter the reviews. Would those reviews affect the way I watch the movie? Probably. But I'd still see it.

[Makeshift Python]

I tend to look at what the critics say just so I can determine whether I should really spend my money.

[Jenechka108]

Sometimes.
Basically I pay attention to the information on a film and only occasionally on criticism.

[razgriz]

Somewhat.

I follow Roger Ebert even though he is a bit smug, but I was suprised to see that he liked John Carpenter's Ghosts of Mars as much as I do(He gave it 3 stars which was decent).

I mainly follow the critics at spill.com. Their an animated bunch of men who seriously crack me up with the reviews they do but are honest in them.

[Lokomotiv]

I always read some reviews before I go to the cinema. Sometimes I think the critics are dead wrong about a movie, though. I voted 'sometimes', because I don't read reviews on every single movie I watch, only those which I have to spend money on to see. :)

[Bladed Thesis]

They never do for me,I make my own mind up.

[seth]

naturally reviews are expected to help you make a decision whether or not a movie is worth your time, but i almost never care for 'em. if a preview entices my interest or if the actors and storyline appear intriguing, then someone else's opinion or review isn't going to persuade me otherwise. i admit there have been movies that i didn't enjoy even though people say it wasn't any good, but i always like to find out for myself and make my own judgments.

[Caroo]

Never. I hardly ever agree with them anyway. And it's not because some people don't like a movie that I won't.

[FnsweetS3]

I gave up on critics a long time ago. They tend to look too far into movies and it is less about entertainment.

[-Lost-]

I'm a critic junkie.
I love rotten tomatoes, Imdb Ebert and Ropert, and my own cities movie times - with reviews...

it doesn't always effect what movies I will see, but recently the reviews have been spot on. But their information and knowlege of comparison to movies is something the average movie goer doesn't normally have so it doesn't have to effect what you see, and other times it should... so to speak if they warn the graphics in a movie are crappy - they probably are... and if they really have merit to not reccomend a movie i listen to why... and then usually agree with what they are saying when I go against their advice and see a movie... Hancock for example.

I tend to disagree more with tv reviews and agree more with the written ones.

I suppose I might be biased because I would love to critic movies as a job.

[Mr Hobo]

NEVER EVER. I usually like movies that critics and friends of mine hate.

[luminous]

It depends on the kind of movie, really. If I see a couple of written (newspaper) reviews saying that a film is horrible and I'm still deciding on whether to see it or not, I'm likely to forget about it. On the other hand, if they say it's really good, it's almost guaranteed you'll see me in that movie theather. I use it mostly as an decision instrument.

For movies I'm gonna see no matter what, I tend to not read reviews before I see it, so it won't affect my opinion. Same for movies I'm not gonna see; I just pass them by happily.

Also, I don't read internet (rottentomatoes, imdb, etc) or see reviews on TV. I trust the reviews on respected newspapers or related magazines. Other than that, I think it's mostly people trying to look smart by dissing someone else's work.

[Boring8Man]

I'm trying not to read any reviews before I watch a movie becasue I might be prejudiced if I read some bad opinions and then during the watch I finding more defects of it.
But there is a exception if it's a very 'boom' movie like Star Wars or smth like this because there will always be a split on two camps :those who loves it and those who hates it. There are always less indifferent people than usually.