When judging a film ...

[Hairy Lime]

How do you judge films?

With all these "best", "worst", "overrated", "underrated", etc. threads I'm curious how you fine folks make your decisions.

Do you simply allow your gut response to a movie judge for you?

Do you base it simply on how much it entertains you?

Do you consider a variety of pieces to the puzzle instead of a global "feel"? Like take into account acting, dialogue, script, cinematography, editing, soundtrack, etc?

Something else?

I try to judge a film on its own terms. For example, I'd never buy Sisterhood of the Travling Pants, but considering what it was and who the intended audience was, I think it succeeded as a film. On the other hand, The Perfect Score did not. I also try to use a global "feel" within these confines. I'm willing to overlook sloppy editing if the story holds together, etc.

[Evan S]

I agree. I don't really enjoy Gone With the Wind, but you'll never see me saying it was a horrible film. I just don't feel it was for me. I judge a film like you, on its own terms. I understand that a lot of people loved lord of the rings and I can see how and why they like those films, I just don't. However, I realize its brilliance.

[The Machinist]

I like to say I always try to judge a film on "its own terms" but I'll be honest my impulse can get the best of me and sometimes its solely the gut reaction.

[eignacio]

Hmm..judging films..

I guess if I watched a movie that I enjoyed so much...so much that I WISHED I was the guy who directed or wrote it. Those are the kinds of movies that would be in my "best list".

[Tony D'Amato]

I judge a film on what it has done, has it moved fast and in that way did it in a good way, did a notice that it was a movie if you know what I mean?

If it has a yes on everything it's a good movie evan if I liked it or not.

That's why I like Potc2 better than Superman 2 but I think that Superman 2 is a better movie than Potc2 because I notice a few times I was in a movie theater on Potc2 and that didn't happen under Superman and Superman had a better pace.

[Huy Vu]

Just basically whether I enjoyed the film or not. It's gotta hold my interest.

[donkathon]

I judge it by if I wasnt holding my fingers in a pistol shape up to my head throughout the movie.

Then I overanalyze it, and give it a review. I generally dont like any movies I see in theatres, cause its all poop nowadays, except for the occasional "okay".

[uhrgl]

For a comedy, one of the things I use to judge the film is when I laugh out loud involuntarily.

[Brandon Rice]

I judge a film by if I like it or not.