Film criticism 1

Film criticismFilm criticism is the analysis and evaluation of films, individually and collectively. In general, this can be dividedinto journalistic criticism that appears regularly in newspapers, and other popular, mass-media outlets and academiccriticism by film scholars that is informed by film theory and published in academic journals.

Journalistic criticismFilm critics working for newspapers, magazines, broadcast media, and online publications, mainly review newreleases. The plot summary and description of a film that makes up the majority of any film review can have animportant impact on whether people decide to see a film. Poor reviews can doom a film to obscurity and financialloss.In recent times, the impact reviews have on a film's box office performance and DVD rentals/sales have become amatter for debate. There are those who think modern movie marketing, using pop culture convention appearancesand social media along with traditional means of advertising, have become so invasive and well financed thatestablished reviewers with legitimate criticism cannot be heard over the din of popular support. Moreover, this hasled, in part, to a decline in the readership of many reviewers for newspapers and other print publications. The vastmajority of film critics on television and radio have all but disappeared over the last thirty years, as well. It can beobserved that most of the discussion of film on television is focused on the amount of box office business a filmdoes, as if financial success were the only criterion needed to define artistic success. Today arts criticism in generaldoes not hold the same place it once held with the general public.Conversely, it's been claimed positive film reviews have been known to spark interest in little-known films. Forexample, independent films with smaller marketing budgets, such as The Hurt Locker, are promoted more widelythanks to the positive reviews they received. There are those who believe critics are biased towards art-house films(examples: The Hurt Locker, Blue Valentine) and against commercial blockbusters (examples: Pirates of theCaribbean, Cowboys & Aliens). However, many critics analyze a film by its inexhaustibility, or the range of itsimpact and appeal on to generations of fans beyond its original release date.Today, fan-run film analysis websites like Box Office Prophets and Box Office Guru routinely factor in generalpublic film review opinion with those of more experienced reviewers in their projections of a film. Other websites,such as Rotten Tomatoes, combines all reviews on a specific film published online and in print to come up with anaggregated rating known as a "freshness rate."Some well-known journalistic critics include: James Agee (Time (magazine), The Nation); James Berardinelli;Vincent Canby (The New York Times); Roger Ebert (Chicago Sun-Times, At the Movies with Ebert & Roeper);Pauline Kael (The New Yorker); Derek Malcolm (The Guardian); Michael Phillips (Chicago Tribune); and JoelSiegel (Good Morning America).

Online film reviewsSome websites, such as Rotten Tomatoes and Metacritic, seek to improve the usefulness of film reviews bycompiling them and assigning a score to each in order to gauge the general reception a film receives. Other sites suchas Spill.com review sites with ratings such as "rent it" or "matinée" to tell the viewer in what setting to watch thefilm rather than a numerical score. Some go so far as to recommend the number of beers you will need to enjoy amovie such as MovieBoozer. The Online Film Critics Society, an international professional association ofInternet-based cinema reviewers, consists of writers from all over the world. For Independent Films sites such asIndyRed[1] offer reviews for amateur/independent film titles and then rely on social to spread the word. Sites likethis are filling the gap between Hollywood and Independent film makers.

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A number of websites allow internet users to submit movie reviews and scores to allow a broad consensus review ofa movie. Some websites specialize in narrow aspects of film reviewing. For instance, there are sites that focus onspecific content advisories for parents to judge a film's suitability for children (e.g. Screen it!). Others focus on areligious perspective (e.g. CAP Alert). Still others highlight more esoteric subjects such as the depiction of science infiction films. One such example is Insultingly Stupid Movie Physics by Intuitor. One website, Everyone's a Critic,allows anyone to publish film reviews and comment on them. There are even websites for special interest groupssuch as the Christian review site, Movieguide [2].Blogging has also introduced opportunities for a new wave of amateur film critics to have their opinions heard.These review blogs may focus on one genre, director or actor, or encompass a much wider variety of films. Friends,friends of friends, or complete strangers are able to visit these sites, and can often leave their own comments aboutthe movie and/or the author's review. Although much less frequented than their professional counterparts, these sitescan gather a following of like-minded people who look to specific bloggers for reviews as they have found that thecritic consistently exhibits an outlook very similar to their own.Community driven review sites have allowed the common movie goer to express their opinion on films. Many ofthese sites allow users to rate films on a 0 to 10 scale, while some rely on the star rating system of 0-5 or 0-4 fourstars. The votes are then culled into an overall rating and ranking for any particular film. Some of these communitydriven review sites include Movie Attractions [3], Flixster, FilmCrave, Flickchart, and Rotten Tomatoes.Some online niche websites, such as Cinefile Review, provide comprehensive coverage of the independent sector;usually adopting a style closer to print journalism. They tend to prohibit adverts and offer uncompromising opinionsfree of any commercial interest. Their film critics normally have an academic film background.

Academic criticismIt has been claimedWikipedia:Avoid weasel words that journalist film critics should only be known as filmreviewers, and that true film critics are those who take an academic approach to films. This work is more oftenknown as film theory or film studies. These film critics try to come to understand why film works, how it works,what it means, and what effects it has on people. Rather than write for mass-market publications their articles arepublished in scholarly journals that tend to be affiliated with university presses; or sometimes in up-marketmagazines.Some notable academic film critics include André Bazin, Jean-Luc Godard and François Truffaut (all writers forCahiers du Cinéma); Kristin Thompson; David Bordwell; and Sergei Eisenstein.

Footnotes[1] http:/ / www. indyred. com[2] http:/ / www. movieguide. org[3] http:/ / movie-attractions. com

Further reading• Hennig-Thurau, Thorsten, André Marchand, and Barbara Hiller. The Relationship between Reviewer Judgments

and Motion Picture Success: Re-analysis and Extension (http:/ / www. marketingcenter. de/ lmm/ research/publications/ download/ Hennig-Thurau_Marchand_Hiller_JCE_2012_professional_critics. pdf) Journal ofCultural Economics, 36 (3), 249-283, 2012.

• Haberski, Raymond J. Jr. It's Only A Movie!: Film and Critics in American Culture, University Press ofKentucky, 2001.

• Rosenbaum, Jonathan. Movie Wars: How Hollywood and the Media Conspire to Limit What Films We Can See, ACappella Books, 2000.

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External links• The Online Film Critics Society (http:/ / ofcs. rottentomatoes. com)• New York Film Critics Circle (http:/ / www. nyfcc. com/ )• Kansas City Film Critics Circle (http:/ / www. kcfcc. org/ )• Los Angeles Film Critics Association (http:/ / www. lafca. net/ )• National Board of Review (http:/ / www. nbrmp. org/ )• Peter Bradshaw gives advice (http:/ / arts. guardian. co. uk/ youngcritics/ story/ 0,,2289650,00. html) to young,

aspiring, would-be film critics (The Guardian, 8 July 2008)• Independent Red Film Reviews (http:/ / www. indyred. com/ ), reviewing and indexing independent films and

web series• Plugged In Online (http:/ / www. pluggedin. com/ ), a service of Focus on the Family• London Film Critics' Circle site (http:/ / criticscircle. org. uk/ film/ )• Online Film Criticism, Part One (http:/ / www. filmlinc. com/ film-comment/ article/

online-film-criticism-part-one-the-living-and-the-dead) and Part Two (http:/ / www. filmlinc. com/film-comment/ article/ online-criticism-part-two-we-have-the-technology), by Paul Brunick, Film Comment,July/August 2010 and September/October 2010, supplemented at The House Next Door with The Top FilmCriticism Sites: An Annotated Blog Roll, Part One (http:/ / www. slantmagazine. com/ house/ 2010/ 07/its-alive-the-top-film-criticism-sites-an-annotated-blog-roll-part-one/ ) and Part Two (http:/ / www.slantmagazine. com/ house/ 2010/ 07/ its-alive-the-top-film-criticism-sites-an-annotated-blog-roll-part-two/ )

• WhichCritic (http:/ / whichcritic. com/ ) allows users to compare their movie tastes to popular movie critics.• The Highest Rated Films by the Critics (http:/ / www. youroscars. com)• Exclusive Movie Reviews (http:/ / emasti. in/ forums/ exclusivereviews/ )• Cinefile Review (http:/ / www. cinefilereview. com/ ) specialising in innovative films of cultural significance.

Hubs for film journalism• Movies (http:/ / movies. nytimes. com/ pages/ movies/ index. html) at The New York Times• Movies (http:/ / www. washingtonpost. com/ wp-dyn/ content/ artsandliving/ movies/ index. html) at The

Washington Post• Film reviews (http:/ / www. independent. co. uk/ arts-entertainment/ film-and-tv/ film-reviews/ ) at The

Independent• Film (http:/ / entertainment. timesonline. co. uk/ tol/ arts_and_entertainment/ film/ ) at The Times• Film reviews (http:/ / filmpulse. net/ reviews/ ) at Film Pulse• Film reviews (http:/ / www. telegraph. co. uk/ arts/ main. jhtml?menuId=564& menuItemId=9126&

view=PICHEADLINESUMMARY& grid=F7& targetRule=10) at The Daily Telegraph• Film (http:/ / film. guardian. co. uk/ 0,,423571,00. html) at The Guardian• Film Reviews (http:/ / criticschoice. com) at Critics Choice• Film (http:/ / www. slantmagazine. com/ film/ ) at Slant Magazine• Roger Ebert (http:/ / rogerebert. suntimes. com/ ) at Chicago Sun-Times• Homepage (http:/ / www. cahiersducinema. com/ ) for Cahiers du Cinema (French)• Movie Reviews (http:/ / timesofindia. indiatimes. com/ entertainment/ movie-reviews) at The Times of India• Movie Reviews (http:/ / itsfilm. com/ ) at itsFILM.com• Movie Attractions (http:/ / movie-attractions. com/ ) at Movie Attractions• Movie Reviews (http:/ / movieboozer. com/ ) at MovieBoozer• Cinema Reviews (http:/ / www. cinebava. com/ ) at CineBava• Cinefile Review (http:/ / www. cinefilereview. com/ ) at "Cinefile Review"

Article Sources and Contributors 4

Article Sources and ContributorsFilm criticism  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=562717207  Contributors: *drew, Aditya19988, Alan Liefting, AlbertSM, Alexf, AlistairMcMillan, AmericanCitizen,AnakngAraw, Anaraug, Anclation, Anders H, Asparagus, Avraham, BKH2007, Blooshoe, Bodnotbod, Bonadea, Brekbrak, Brianhe, Bricke321, Broadway1620, Bryan H Bell, Buchloe, C777,CafeJava, CalculatinAvatar, CapitalR, Capricorn42, Cbennett1989, Cindery, Cinemahudson, Cinemonbun, Ciphers, Ckatz, Clngre, Cnota, Conversion script, Creator22, Crystal2007, Dagrossla,Damfino52, Dan Cedar, Dan aka jack, Datastage, Dave.seidner, DavidLevinson, Davidals, DeadTotoro, Design, Dobie80, DoctorWho42, Doctordestroyer, Dreamster, Drewbacca35, Driscoll,Drunkenpeter99, Dryguy, Dylan Lake, Ecoleetage, Edwardx, El C, EurekaLott, Evano1van, EvilCouch, Fbc21ca, Film ed, Filmcriticismresearch, Filmpulse, Fintler, Foobarnix, For An Angel,Fountain09, Gaius Cornelius, Galoubet, Garkbit, Garners5, Gary4362, Gavri, George100, Gershwinrb, Girolamo Savonarola, Glen, Gobeirne, GraemeL, Graham87, Gurch, Guthrie, Haakon, HalRaglan, Hansengel, Happysailor, Heartiscontentious, Hellosandimas, Henrik, Henry Flower, Heron, Horzer, Hypermagic, Ian.yesup, Irishlaw, Irk, Itsfilmstaff, Jagdfeld, Jagged 85, Jahsonic,Jamesarthurconrad, Jason Quinn, Jay-W, Jeremy Butler, Jetam2, Jhamford, Jim1138, Jj137, Jmu2108, Johandesilva, John powderly, Jonathan F, Jorunn, Jschnur, Juansmith, Karthikndr,Kchishol1970, Kchrai1234, Keenigan, Keskipper, KnightRider, KoyaanisQatsi, Krizanovich, Larapod, Leomirani, Leszek Jańczuk, Liabukabil, Lifefeed, Lincolnite, Llanerorebelde, Locuviche,Loonymonkey, MER-C, Mad283, Makecat, Manvi111, Marco.rambaldi, Markmearin, Matty j, Maurreen, Michael Hardy, MichaelCheritto, MickMacNee, Mlaffs, Mmhrycak, Morgan Hauser,Movie771, Moviemouse, Mramsey1, NailPuppy, Nantoine106, NawlinWiki, Nehrams2020, Neilc, Netoholic, Niles1091, Nminow, Noliver, Ohnoitsjamie, Oldag07, Omicronpersei8,OnBeyondZebrax, Ortolan88, Ovenknob, Pamri, Patiwat, PaulLev, Paulinboots, Pearle, Pinktulip, Pjoef, Plainsong, Pmoney, Prokrity, Puca, Pufferfish101, Pumpkin4brekfast, Purealex, Rcraycroft, RJASE1, Raafael, Ravichandar84, Red Act, Rich Farmbrough, RichLindvall, RoyBoy, Rray, Rsingh1969, RubyQ, RuthieK, Sam, Sangak, Sashal, Scanlan, Scarfighter6, Schahara,Scribbleandtype, Sean.hoyland, Shshshsh, SidP, SimonP, Sinlechuga, Sjwegg, SkaTroma, SkyWalker, Smithers45, Sopoforic, Sorezki, Spacegirl352, Spiby, Spidey104, Sridharsattiraju, SteveFarrell, Steven J. Anderson, Steven Walling, Stevew2022, Stitchill, Strayan, Tallulahdor, Tbmreditor, Tccandler, The Human Trumpet Solo, The JPS, TheKoG, TheLeopard, Thebaristhebomb,Theredrighthand, Tinmonkey, Toolroom, Tregoweth, Truegent, Uclaboyz, Udzu, Uncle Dick, Versageek, VictoriousD, Viriditas, Vyom25, Wechselstrom, WikiWalsh, Will556877, Wiwigald32,Woohookitty, Wtml, Wwoods, X96lee15, Yamamoto Ichiro, Yasmina101, Zafiroblue05, Zanimum, 345 anonymous edits

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