I completely understand where you're coming from Evan, so yes, that is correct.

HDK, I was cracking up at some of those reviews. Absolutely priceless. Maybe I'll make an intentionally horrible movie, just so I can get reviews like that and laugh all day long. Oh boy. Funny stuff.

Your always going to get mixed reviews no matter how good or how bad, simply because Video is an art and can appeal differently to certain people.

That said I don't mind "bad" reviews at all, because I'm certain my work isn't great and I need as much incentive to do a better job on my next film as possible. And it's great fun creating a video that you know is way better then your previous video, and then seeing hopefully some of those reviewers scoring you even higher


EDIT: My Quicktime is purple and I definitely reviewed a few films thinking the directors filmed them in purple...

If someone takes the time to get out of their self-obsessed world and actually pay enough attention to someone's movie--YOU ARE BLESSED BECAUSE YOU HAVE SUCCEEDED AS AN ARTIST.

Relax...
Jeffrey Mitchell

"History writ with lightening."
--D.W. Griffith

quote:

Originally posted by Jeffrey Mitchell:
If someone takes the time to get out of their self-obsessed world and actually pay enough attention to someone's movie--YOU ARE BLESSED BECAUSE YOU HAVE SUCCEEDED AS AN ARTIST.

Relax...
Jeffrey Mitchell

"History writ with lightening."
--D.W. Griffith

*Loud Applause*

Thankyou,Thankyou!

*More Applause*

I have already succeeded as an artist in quite a few ways. I don't need someone leaving a bashing review with 1s across the board to tell me that. I'm nowhere NEAR my goal and nowhere near being as good a filmmaker as I can be, but I've succeeded enough that a retarded review is not, for me personally, a very exciting thing.

It's quite simple. If you rate low, or speak negatively, BACK IT UP!

Short of making the reviews available to registered users only and making it mandatory for their name to be posted with the comments we're always going to have some sensless reviews. But doing that would suck because people wouldn't be real about their opinions.

BUT I think its clear when a film is successful on this site, it usually has 50 plus reviews and a good average overall, like The Liars or Spring Heeled Jack. And honestly if you only want praise only show your movie to your Mom, other than that its nice to have anonymous reviewers tell you the their perspective, good or bad.

You know what we need is an official studentfilms.com critic. Some one who makes a point of being constructive but honest and preferably has some experience or some sort of Film writing or theory degree. And Chris could have a section on the homepage with this particular critics reviews updated weekly. It would also serve as good promotion for the better quality films that sometimes get lost in the shuffle.

What do you all think?

That would be awesome, but very subjective. The critic would probably be right most of the time, but still have the occasional bias against a genre or whatever.

The solution to the review problem is simply to apply stricter standards to review approval.

The more I think about it the more strongly I feel an official educated critic would be a logical progression for this site! Stricter standards wouldn't help qualify the point of view. In other words if a knucklehead junior high student from Kansas says I suck I could care less. But If someone with a film theory background can point out flaws or understand that a certain shot or story may be an homage or can identify influence than we can get better feedback.

So I think keeping the everyday reviews the same is fine but just add a critic or critics with some official background that can be held accountable to their reviews.

Plus we can all throw stones at him or her when they say we suck.

I've said many a time, that we should make it manditory to be a member to leave a review. Yeah, it would cause some people to just say "screw this" and they'd not bother, but the people who actually care would leave reviews.

I hate seeing a crappy movie with a ton of 5s across the board with a simple "ANAZING I LUV THIS MOVIE THE DIRECTORs IS MY FRIND AND HE TOUCHS ME INAPROPRRIATELY." (ok, maybe they're not that bad, but you get the gist.)

Stricter standards would be awesome. If I leave a review, it explains what I like, what I don't like, basically going down the list of criteria. I'm also constructive about what I dislike, and leave on the positive note of "Keep at it, I'd like to see what comes next" or something along those lines. Yeah, sometimes it's untrue, but I'll still watch it and see if it got any better.

I think it's stupid that anyone can review a film, with no credentials or anything. If it was made into a members only thing, at least then there'd be a little more control over things.

I agree with Paul. I'd rather have five quality, well-consructed reviews than 20 crappy, single sentenced reviews.

If you can't figure out which reviews were written by said junior high kid from Kansas and which were written by 'professional critics,' I'm not sure an in-house reviewer would make that much of a difference.

The only reviewer that matters is the person who made the film.

quote:

Originally posted by Evan Kubota:
If you can't figure out which reviews were written by said junior high kid from Kansas and which were written by 'professional critics,' I'm not sure an in-house reviewer would make that much of a difference.

I agree with Evan. Member or not, if people are going to leave a well thought out, informative review, they will do just that. Making it a members only site is not going to give you well-constructed reviews like Mark said. If people respond to the film, they'll review it. If people can't cipher through the one-line, "OMG I LUV THIS MOVIE 4EVER LOLZ IT'S A MASTERPIECE! I LIKE YOUR HAIR BUY THE WAY!" type stuff and find the actual reviews...well, frankly that's a bit lazy.

quote:

Michael Karelis would have a heyday with that statement...

lmao

It sucks to make the site members only, but at the same time, many people who'll just leave stupid reviews will have to take the time to sign up. It eliminates the possibility of someone vote stuffing, since you'd only be allowed to review one time per account.

I'm not sure who that is, but I'm speaking in a subjective sense. Obviously some 'films' are without a doubt awful. No review is needed to determine that

You know, a lot of people are quick to get angry at the bad reviewers, but how many of you thank the good reviewers.
Seriously, if someone gives the time to watch a film on the net by some 'nobody' they've never even met, and they give a good/helpful review and leave an email adress, wouldn't it be good to thank them for it. That's what I would do anyway, but maybe I am just a nerd after all.

quote:

Originally posted by Evan Kubota:
If you can't figure out which reviews were written by said junior high kid from Kansas and which were written by 'professional critics,' I'm not sure an in-house reviewer would make that much of a difference.

Easy homey. I never said I couldn't tell the difference, just thought a featured reviewer would generate interest and discussion and simply add another feature this site!

But the site needs to be open for all reviews the idea of being members only would simply limit the audience and go against the free spirit of the site. But a featured critic would just be a great way to spotlight the good and bad films in a different light.

If we all knew there an official review being posted every Friday I'm sure we'd all be logged in reading it and making comments. That's all I was saying.

Joe Conrad strikes again! Leaving another rather uselessly negative review, this time on one of my films. Sort of a shame he makes it a point to leave only negative reviews on any film that shows up on the Best Reviewed list.

if you're out ther joe conrad i give u an open invitation to review every single one of my films. i need the boost in overal ratings if im ever gunna make the top 5 again.

yea, the guy's clearly got it out for all the good films. he's probably got a film on the site or his kid does. his review for "one headlight" reveals he's a father, probably some jealous loser of a dad who's either posing as a student filmmaker or has on older child who's a filmmaker.