RULES
- My review
system is extremely harsh, so keep that in mind.
- Each
movie will be graded in four categories.
Within each category, there are four possible stars, each having a
corresponding quality.
- Each
sequential star (in a category) is worth more points. It should be difficult for a movie to get multiple
stars in one category.
- If a
movie gets all four stars in a category, it is worth seeing for that accomplishment
alone.
- If a
movie gets no stars in a category, it is awarded the black star. A star with black star is almost worth
avoiding for that reason alone.
- When
reviewing a movie, remember, you are judging that movie for yourself. Don’t get caught up on how others might judge
your decisions.
- As long
as the movie meets at least 60% of a quality, the star may be awarded. If you are looking to find your
ultimate-top-favorite movies, however, I suggest you be as strict as possible
(only awarding the star for movies that reflect 80-100% of the quality).
- Once all
points are tallied, a traditional “5 Star” rating is given based on that total.
PLOT
Characters
- Its characters were people you loved or loved to hate
(apart from acting).
- You never questioned the motives of any character.
- When the characters were in conflict, you felt real
suspense.
- You found yourself rooting for (or against) its
characters.
Universe
- The settings felt like a real places, not movie sets.
- The
culture/science/history represented in the film were authentic without coming
off as forced or unresearched.
Structure
- Every
scene was purposefully made and contributed to the story as a whole.
- The conclusion was satisfying.
- The movie built on itself in an intelligent way from
beginning to end.
- The beginning is better after knowing the end.
- All points of confusion were cleared up by the time the
movie ended.
Genre
- It was
free of clichés.
- Poor elements, if
there were any, never distracted you from the film.
- The film is among the
bests in its genre.
LASTING APPEAL
Historical
- In your opinion, this film will stand the test of time
(or it already has).
- This movie did things you hope other will mimic.
Indelible
- Lines and scenes were memorable and/or quotable.
- When you imagine
key scenes, you can remember the way you felt when you first saw them.
Replay-ability
- You enjoy it more each time you see it.
- After
multiple viewings, the film still invokes and emotional response (humor,
sadness, fear, etc.).
Share-ability
- You often recommend this movie to friends.
- You enjoy watching it with people seeing it for the first
time.
ARTISTIC QUALITY
Talent
- The
characters felt like real people, not actors (beyond the lines of dialogue they
were given).
- All
emotions displayed appeared real.
Sound
- If you closed your eyes, you felt like you’re there.
- The score not only contributed to film, it took it to
another level.
Style
- The film’s presentation was likable and/or unique.
- All parts were clever and/or interesting.
- It clearly guided by vision without being
pretentious.
Ambition
- It accomplished
something beyond its means (budget, year it was made, etc.).
- You forgot you were watching a movie. You got lost in it.
DEPTH OF SOUL
Depth
- The theme
was meaningful within context of the genre.
- It made
you aware of (or reinforced) ideas without being preachy.
- It
stirred and emotional response within you.
- The film affected you in a formative way.
- You will (or do) look back at it nostalgically.
Creativity
- All parts
were engaging. No parts were boring or
slow.
- You were always
excited/scared/interested to see what happened next.
- You were
constantly impressed and surprised by the film (plot, artistic quality, etc).
Synthesis
- All aspects (style, visuals, music, acting, plot) worked
together.
Thirst
- You desire for the movie to live on in any format.
- You keep watching its pathetically derivate sequels
because this movie was so good.
- You collect any merchandise you can get your hands on.
- You find
yourself liking actors/directors/musicians/etc. because they are linked to this
movie.
WILD CARD
- After
taking everything above into consideration, you have four extra stars to rate
the movie. This is more about personal
preferences and tastes than it is concrete numbers.
- This is separate
from, and not in addition to, the process (although it is part of the process). Pretend you only have these stars to rate the
movie.
- If you
don’t think the process has fully captured your love of the movie, now is your
chance to give it a little boost.
However, don’t overdo it. Remain
reasonable with your assessment. The
forth star (and maybe even third) should only be reserved for your favorite
movies.
