Movie Reviews

In Theatres

Movies A–B

Movies C–F

Movies G–L

Movies M–R

Movies S–Z

FAQs

Movie Reviews: Frequently Asked Questions

1. Do you review all the movies you see?

2. Why do you indicate whether you saw the movie in a theatre or as a rental?

3. Does Jean really say all of that stuff?

4. Are the ratings based on quality or “enjoyability”?

5. Why do most of the movies have a high ratings?

6. Has you ever given a movie no stars?

7. Why so many “art films”? Don't you go to any normal movies?

1. Do you review all the movies you see?

All the movies we see in theatres, yes. All the movies we rent, or see on TV, or catch on an airplane, no. Those ones don't always get the attention they deserve for a proper review.

2. Why do you indicate whether you saw the movie in a theatre or as a rental?

Because it's a different experience that can cause a different reaction. Some movies work fantastically on the big screen, but are kind of dull on the little TV. Other movies actually work better on TV.

3. Does Jean really say all of that stuff?

The “He says” is based on things Jean actually says, but sometimes it's edited for space and maximum humour. (The whole thing is getting harder now, because he's getting really self-conscious about it.)

Top

4. Are the ratings based on quality or “enjoyability”?

More on “enjoyability,” but quality also plays a role. For example, if we had reviewed Schindler's List, it likely would have earned four stars, even though it wasn't exactly “enjoyable” to watch. But it evoked the appropriate emotion without being more extreme than it had to (the black and white). But movies without the obvious high quality of Schindler can also earn four stars just by being excellent, highly entertaining examples of their genre.

5. Why do most of the movies have high ratings?

Not being professional movie critics, we don't have to go see movies we know we'll hate. By limiting ourselves to seeing movies we have a reasonable chance of liking, we end up with mostly highly rated movies on the site.

Top

6. Have you ever given a movie no stars?

Not yet. It's likely we'd leave or stop a movie if it was that bad. We did see a movie on an airplane once that might have earned zero stars if we'd bothered to review (or could even remember what it was). Mind you, it was so stupid it did make us laugh a few times, so maybe that would have earned it half a star.

7. Why so many “art films”? Don't you go to any normal movies?

We like the Princess (a reperatory cinema). It's cheaper, it doesn't show commercials, it's nearby, the screen is big but not too big to sit close to. But when you mostly go to the Princess, the hazard is that you mostly see art films. Besides, most “normal” movies are aimed at teenage boys, something I've never been and Jean hasn't been in a long time.

Top