As summer approaches, so do Hollywood Blockbusters. When we go to the theaters, most of us are disappointed with the money we spend. There could be many reasons for disappointment, but the main culprit is simply that the movie sucked. You can avoid this by doing a little research, and the best way is through the Internet.There are three major movie review websites out there: Rotten Tomatoes, IMDB, and Moviefone. All three are awesome but also are quite different from each other.
Rotten Tomatoes is probably the website I go to most when it comes to accurate movie reviews. I really like their “Tomato Meter,” because it uses all the major film critics and averages the grade percentage. If the movie is below the 60 percent mark, then it is considered rotten, but if it’s above that level, then it is fresh. There are also links to each film critic’s full review, so you can read why the critic liked it or not. Usually my impression of a movie compared to the “Tomato Meter” grade is quite accurate. Sometimes I will have mixed feelings, but generally Rotten Tomatoes’ ratings are quite good.
Another interesting website is IMDB. Just like Rotten Tomatoes, IMDB averages reviews that are made by regular members. I don’t really like this, however, mainly because a person can have odd biases, while critics express their views professionally.
But the unique part about this site is the database they have on biographies of thousands of crew and talent members. You can look up actors like Tom Hanks or Natalie Portman and read their biography, which includes the history of films they have starred in. This goes for directors, producers, writers, composers, and about every position there is in the film industry.
The other popular website is Moviefone. This site functions more like a blog, giving you stories, highlights, and reviews. Moviefone’s articles are fun to read and provide reviews just like Rotten Tomatoes, but only average the top critics. So their percentages are harsher than those from Rotten Tomatoes. It is an entertaining site that leans more towards casual moviegoers rather than the Hollywood enthusiasts.
All three sites are equally good to me. It really depends on what you like more. Do you trust in a median review of all critics, a median review of every person’s opinion, or a median review of just the top critics?
Either way, I am sure you will be better off browsing these websites before spending your cash on a movie.
You can see for yourself at: www.rottentomatoes.com, www.imdb.com, or www.moviefone.com.