At 12:07 PM 10/6/96 -0400, Simone wrote: >Time again for one of my open-ended conversation starters. I >would like to engage the list in a discussion of the role >of movie reviewers. Good topic, Simone. The thing that bothers me most about the convention of movie-reviewing is the consistent need to give away the plot. The bulk of reviews is the plot itself. I have developed a knack for skimming reviews for the pertinent words that will clue me in as to whether or not the film in question is one that I'd want to see. I do want to know the basic, what type of plot it is, but beyond the first 10 minutes of the film, I do not what to know what is going to happen. The Worst is when they tell you the end. Sometimes my skimming techniques fail and I accidentally read the-big-giveaway -- who done it; the they break up; they get back together; he DIES at the end. Ugh. How not to fill up a 500 word review!!! (Oh, and I can't even watch tv, reviews, for it is already too late once they've said something I didn't want to hear.) >3) Reviewers who use the review to show-off their >knowledge of irrelevant trivia, instead of addressing >the movie as a whole. For me, this one is more about the condescending/snyde/sarcastic style that has become a staple of reviewing. >4) Reviewers who deem a movie "not funny" because >the humor presented doesn't appeal to them personally. >There are many different types of humor - some people >can't stand Benny Hill, or Monty Python, but to call >them "not funny" seems to me most unhelpful to the >people who do like that kind of humor. This one I don't see much of. Any reviewers in particular, Simone? I do see a general moodiness in certain particular reviewers. There are reviewers I don't trust because their taste that week seems to be dependent on an overriding mood. But, on the pro-reviewer side, I can generally get the idea I am going for by looking at a review. I learn the genre, style, and enough about its execution to let me know, in most cases, if and when I want to see the film. There's more, of course, but I'll stop here for now... Thanks for the topic, Jennifer ---- To signoff SCREEN-L, e-mail [log in to unmask] and put SIGNOFF SCREEN-L in the message. Problems? Contact [log in to unmask]