Your Movie viewing Standards

[Knerys]

So all this discussion about movie and people standards has got me thinking.


What are your standards for movies? Do you expect more from certain movies than others? Do you have a preference? Basically discuss whatever you want to find when you walk into the theater.


For me I know different movies will call for different standards. I'm good at turning off my brain I watching something Tranformers and really enjoying myself, and I love action/adventure and historical movies (despite their inaccuracies), those are my favorites to watch.

I think it's becasue I have always associated going to the movies as fun, and I grew up with a dad who was always telling me about military history and ancient history, science, and I just found it all interesting. And who doesn't want an adventure? ;) Going to the movies was something to look forward to as a kid. Only when I got older did I look at certain movies as a way to be inspired or as a piece of art. That open whole other doors for me as a way to "enjoy" films. Something can be watched and make you think outside the box, or beautiful to look at instead of just a fun way to spend two hours. And I don't want to say waste, I really never think it's waste of time watch a movie. Even if it's bad. You have the right to leave or turn it off if you don't enjoy it so really it's your choice. There have been serveral movies that I really love that one no else seems to like so I believe almost every movie deserves to be seen once. Alot of people put work into it so I willing to give it a chance. There is so much variety, why sample it all?

Also, I read alot so I think that I gravitate more towards books if I want to have a deep thoughtful connection with the matrial. There's more to take in, they aren't as confined by running times and MMPA regulations so you get a much more undiluted view of what you reading about.

As movies have become increasingly commercial over the years (and yeah there is a lot of crap), I still enjoy sitting down and just letting my mind go for a couple hours. I tend to enjoy a lot of movie this way but I will say there has only been handful in the last decade that have really blown me away and I consider exceptional. Those are pleasant suprises, and serve to remind me of what a film can do for the human condition.

It doesn't always happen but I try to walk in a theater with no expections to what I will see. Now I don't mean I have no standards, but I rather would like to see how the material is handled with clean perspective. Sometimes though I do let them get the better of me and I come out feeling let down (like with the new Star Wars movies and X-3), but you can't help that at times.

So in a nutshell, I watch whatever peaks my interest.:redface:

I kinda rambled on there, heh, (and please forgive my typing) but take the question as you will. :)

And remeber: no one can discount an opinion, so play nice. :p

[Oliver Queen]

basically all I ask for is character development and solid writing all the way through

I mean it could be something simple as Doom or complex as Pan's Labrynth. If the characters make me care and I am entertained that is all that matters

[hammerhedd11]

^That's pretty much the same for me.

[prizm]

i dont mind if there are plot holes or if the actors aren't great all the time, all i want is just enough that i can suspend my belief for a while and get caught up in what is going on in the movie
i am the same way about books.

then again i generally know what will interest me and know what i would end up not liking, and avoid the ones i feel i wont like for whatever reason

it isnt even a matter of "turning off my brain", rather if it has just enough of the characterizations/plot/atmosphere that i can roll with it, i am fine

then again i also feel that going to a theater for some quiet talky talky movie is a huge waste of time and something i would rather save for dvd

[moviebuff801]

What I seek from watching movies are interesting and sometimes unique storylines, good (if not great) acting, solid writing, and a real sense of entertainment. I pretty much go into each movie I see with an open mind, wanting to enjoy what I see. As long as the film gets done what it sets out to accomplish, then in my eyes, it is worth the watch.

[Boiiinng]

Consistency and competence.

[Matrix_Fan]

If the film catches my attention, keeps me interested, moves at a steady pace, and above all is entertaining, then I would consider the film good.

[FranklinTard]

my standards are circumstantial. overall quite high, however it all depends on the movie.

[SaltyDog]

my standards are circumstantial. overall quite high, however it all depends on the movie.

I don't have any standards or expectations when i decide to see a film unless the movie is heavily hyped as if to say "you can't miss seeing this". Then I go in with somewhat higher expectations and am usually let down. I go to a movie because I have nothing else to do and or need something to do therefore go in with low expectations. So if the film entertains beyond that then I consider my money well spent and sometimes see it again if i have the time or need something to do, again. Of course for conversation sake I like to comment on the film after.

[Carnage Escobar]

Eh, I don't really have any standards. I've never held any expectations for any movie cause I go into almost every movie I see with an open mind. Basically, any movie that catches my interest is welcome. Although, of course there are movies I go see just for pure entertainment (i.e. POTC, Transformers, Live Free or Die Hard) all of which delivered to me. The rest, if they have an interesting story, decent plot, good writing, and/or complex characters, I'll be watching it.

[Andrey83]

For me it mostly about characters.

I guess a good example could be Pirates. I loved the first one, it had great characters. I hated the last 2, they also happend to have sucky characters (yes i know its the same characters, but they wasnt well written in the last 2).

This is probably the reason I've started to like TV series (on DVD, not on a week to week basis) better then movies. Cause the characters are often much better developed.

In mindless action it is also about the characters for me. I loved Die Hard 1 because of John Mclane. I loved Rambo because of Rambo. I loved Predator because of the team. If I dont like the characters, then I certanly wont like the movie. But say, if the CGI is bad then the movie can still be good. Characters is everything for me.

[GreenvilleTexan]

I think it really all depends on the movie.
With Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, for example, I went in (not having read any of the books) thinking it would be a dark, but exciting movie, with a lot more character development than say, Transformers.
I went in to Transformers expecting a popcorn movie that would be loud, with big special effects, where a lot of s**t gets blown up.
I got what I expected in both movies, therefore I was not disappointed. My standards would also hold if I was going to see "Rush Hour 3" vs. "Rescue Dawn" for example. A lot is going to depend on what I am expecting to see going in.

[Dracula]

I try to go in with no expectations.

[GreenvilleTexan]

Ideally, that would be great. But you have to have some idea of what type of movie it is that you just plunked $10 to see.