Comments on: Zero Stars For Star Ratings http://www.martynpedler.com/2009/11/zero-stars-for-star-ratings/ "All I want is the answer to one simple question before I run screaming back to the bughouse. Is this real or isn't it?" Cliff Steele, DOOM PATROL #21. Wed, 18 Jan 2012 06:09:32 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Martyn http://www.martynpedler.com/2009/11/zero-stars-for-star-ratings/comment-page-1/#comment-99 Martyn Wed, 25 Nov 2009 12:04:16 +0000 http://www.martynpedler.com/?p=1008#comment-99 Manolis: That's actually a fantastically good point, and one that hadn't even occurred to me. I agree that reviews are always more interesting after the fact, though I don't mind a few thematic spoilers, I guess, so long as the critic is careful to not reveal the plot. Maybe we need some kind of separation between pre-reviews (a quick teaser synopsis and 'yes it's worth your time' assurance) and post-film critiques... And Ian: I think you're onto something. Out of three instead of out of five, or more accurately, ten halves? I think I could probably make that work without too much pain. Manolis: That’s actually a fantastically good point, and one that hadn’t even occurred to me. I agree that reviews are always more interesting after the fact, though I don’t mind a few thematic spoilers, I guess, so long as the critic is careful to not reveal the plot.

Maybe we need some kind of separation between pre-reviews (a quick teaser synopsis and ‘yes it’s worth your time’ assurance) and post-film critiques…

And Ian: I think you’re onto something. Out of three instead of out of five, or more accurately, ten halves? I think I could probably make that work without too much pain.

]]> By: Manolis http://www.martynpedler.com/2009/11/zero-stars-for-star-ratings/comment-page-1/#comment-97 Manolis Wed, 25 Nov 2009 09:39:49 +0000 http://www.martynpedler.com/?p=1008#comment-97 I never read a whole review before I've seen a film. Generally speaking, I want to know nothing about the film except whether it's good or not before having seen it. Stars and the short comment, i.e. "commendable crime thriller that keeps you guessing, 3.5 stars", is all I really want from a review. But I do love reading reviews after I've seen a film. In fact, I go out of my way to find them if I thought it was a thoughtful or terrible film (I love reading critical film reviews and was disappointed to find not a single one critical of Beautiful Kate, which I hated immensely). I never read a whole review before I’ve seen a film. Generally speaking, I want to know nothing about the film except whether it’s good or not before having seen it. Stars and the short comment, i.e. “commendable crime thriller that keeps you guessing, 3.5 stars”, is all I really want from a review.

But I do love reading reviews after I’ve seen a film. In fact, I go out of my way to find them if I thought it was a thoughtful or terrible film (I love reading critical film reviews and was disappointed to find not a single one critical of Beautiful Kate, which I hated immensely).

]]> By: Ian Gordon http://www.martynpedler.com/2009/11/zero-stars-for-star-ratings/comment-page-1/#comment-96 Ian Gordon Wed, 25 Nov 2009 08:07:27 +0000 http://www.martynpedler.com/?p=1008#comment-96 Sort of like grading students' work. I know colleagues who grade papers like the Michelin critic and others who grade like you award stars. My system: It sucks; It has redeeming qualities; it's amazing Sort of like grading students’ work. I know colleagues who grade papers like the Michelin critic and others who grade like you award stars. My system: It sucks; It has redeeming qualities; it’s amazing

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