Films/DVD Asylum

Posted by RGA (A) on January 07, 2006 at 13:23:25

In Reply to: He's not the top movie guru because of his written reviews posted by DWPC on January 6, 2006 at 16:14:17:

There are three types of critical print reviews.

1) A film criticism or University structured 7,000 - 10,000 word essay completely analyzing a film from virtually every conceivable angle

2) A film review which is about 750-2000 words which is set up in an "I liked it and here is why" and is often persuasive -- Here is a good movie and these are the two to three main reasons you should go see it.

3) The 1 minute one paragraph review (like Leonard Maltin's books) if you as the reader trust Leonard Maltin then you trust if he gives it 3 stars it's worth seeing)

Ebert does all three. The TV program is essentially number 3. There are TWO critic and roughly 19 minuites to discuss 5 movies, and about 2 dvd releases and both have to get their words in with argument and showing the clips.

Even then on a film where camera work cinematography was essential to the film or a driving force they will talk about it and how it influenced positively on the movie.

His paper reviews are number 2 and some of his great movies would be number 1 (or in some of his books) - at the back under essays.

For TV it is not possible to do "explains how that director uses the medium to direct and manipulate the audience's perceptions." Nor do I think 98% of the audsience really cares.

I love movies and have about 220 DVD's but to tell you the truth I don't sit and listen to director commentaries or the making of -- because I don't care. I care about the end result. I don;t care how the mechanic fixes my car or the plumber fixes my toilet -- i care that after they do their JOB that it works. This is the same for the writing process direction and actor inspiration. Occassionally if something really stands out or I really love the movie I will check out some of these aspects. I recently watched the effects make-up section of the movie Land of the Dead. Neat.

But really I don't care because I don't intend to make films. I might even talk to a mechanic about how something works -- but my eyes are going to glaze over I suspect. Yeah but does it go?

Plot and character are the singular most important aspects of the vast majority of films. That is what Ebert focuses on primarily and I think in a 19 minute net after ads tv show where he speaks for 8-10 minutes or 2 minutes per miovie if that -- is about all you can expect. He's been on for 30 years and I'd make the case it works pretty well.

Besides with DVD all the making of techno stuff art direction set design what a grip does is on the DVD's and you can do a google search if you want to know about Cinematography.

and remember the Academy Awards usually has the segment of some aspect -- what does a sound editor do for example. This is usually the time 90% of viewers flip to another channel or take a leak. Because who cares? Tell me a good story - make me think or entertain me or make me feel something or do all of these. Why you used a wide angle lens or a close-up or a dolly-shot etc is to most irrelevant.