I typically rate films based on how well a given movie accomplished what I believe it set out to accomplish. I also take into account how valuable I believe a film’s aspirations are in the first place. Obviously, I consider artistic value, technical achievement, intellectual/emotional resonance, thematic/narrative quality and originality, etc… and finally entertainment value (if a film’s meant to be entertaining, obviously not all of them are).
Anyway, I guess that’s my inarticulate way of saying that different films offer different things, and I try to rate them accordingly, on their own terms.
One star – Not worth seeing.
Two stars – Overall, didn’t like it/didn’t find much to grab onto – the film wasn’t a total waste as there was at least something to enjoy or appreciate, but overall a failed effort in my book.
Three stars – I either liked it or appreciated what it attempted/offered – but substantial aspects didn’t work.
Four stars – Really liked it/most of it worked well for me/this film has a lot going for it – but there’s something holding it back.
Five stars – Loved it – To me this is the most interesting rating. No film is “perfect,” I hate it when people say something like “oh it was really good, but not perfect.” No film is… because there is no objective way to critique a movie (unless you focus solely on the technical aspects), considering art is subjective. When I rate something “five stars,” it’s because that film really resonated with me, either as entertainment and/or art. -———————————————————————————————————————————
I pride myself in being able to enjoy or appreciate a spectrum of films – from well-crafted blockbusters to avant garde, etc. One thing that really bothers me about most cinephiles/film snobs is that they automatically look down upon anything that could be considered mainstream. They fail to realize that art can exist in within the “Hollywood” system; it’s just rare is all.
Even though I’m constantly watching, I realize I’ve only seen a small margin of what’s out there in the grand scheme of things. But it’s exciting to have an entire gamut of art waiting for me to discover, and I’m doing it right now. And I think this site will help me track my progress, growth and cinematic experiences.
