Will You Ever Watch A Poorly Reviewed Movie?

[tasha99]

I don't have mainstream tastes so I have to take reviews with a grain of salt.

 

[themilesfamily]

The two movie reviewers who I do tend to listen to are Roger Ebert and A.O. Scott from the New York Times. I find I agree with them more often than not.

That said, there have been some poorly-reviewed movies that I really enjoyed:

The Great Outdoors (1-star)
The Women (1-star for the remake)
Bride Wars (1-star)
The Stepford Wives (1-star for the remake)

Almost all of John Hughes movies are only given 2-stars -- Sixteen Candles, She's Having a Baby, etc. I love those movies.

So if there is something that appeals to me about a movie, I'll give it a shot, regardless of reviews.

 

[Saphire]

I watch a LOT of movies. Several a week. At least once a week in the theater. I would say that I agree with the majority about half the time.

I tend to not listen when people tell me what I'm supposed to think. That definitely goes for movies... I like reaching my own conclusions.

I don't watch a lot of movies (maybe 2 a month), so don't have a lot of time to wade through the losers. I am sure I am missing some gems, but...oh well.

I have found that I trust the 'majority' when it comes to reviews. Sure, there are some that I hated that most have loved, and vice-versa. But in general, if I am going to choose those two movies a month, I will go for the 4-5 star rating.

 

[dislaney]

Yes I will watch a movie with bad reviews. Sometimes, the subject matter appeals to me or I want to see a particular actor or actress. And I too have liked some movies that have gotten some bad reviews.

 

[kathie859]

Reviews are just another persons point of view. I may read and consider their opinion but wouldn't allow a review to deter me from seeing something that interests me. I find that I often disagree with the experts!

 

[FlightlessDuck]

Sometimes, if I see a preview and a movie looks interesting, and then I don't bother to look up the rating.

On the other hand, sometimes I don't even watch high regarded movies. I think I average one Oscar nominee a year.

 

[Rora]

I will absolutely watch a poorly reviewed movie.

I see so many movies that critics don't like but I actually enjoy. On the other hand, I've watched so many movies that critics like that I think stink.

Basically, if it looks interesting to me, I'll see it, regardless of the review.

DH and I really dislike any review of anything...

 

[powellrj]

It depends on what kind of bad review it is. I listen to 3 movie podcasts every week so I pretty much know what I am getting into before I go. I have seen some movies that get really good reviews like The Kids Are Alright and didn't really enjoy it as much as the critics, but then a movie like Valentines Day that got really bad reviews I enjoyed. I didn't love it, but I didn't feel like I wasted my money.

Even as a kid I never liked movies that everyone else was seeing. I grew up during the 70's and never saw a disaster movie. I have never seen any of the recent blockbuster types like Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, Avatar or any of the superhero ones either. I like what my DH refers to a movies that talk too much!

 

[Saphire]

I have never seen any of the recent blockbuster types like Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, Avatar or any of the superhero ones either.

Didn't see Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings was OK, but Avatar was terrible! Despite good ratings! So yes, sometimes I don't agree with the 'majority'! But in general, I look to reviews first.

 

[Agri]

I would and I have. Like a PP said, I don't have mainstream tastes. A lot of reviewers don't like the same things I do, so their reviews are fairly meaningless for me. I generally take reviews with a grain of salt - I don't know these people, so their opinions don't mean that much to me. If my best friend, with whom I share interests told me that a movie was a waste of time, I'd put more weight on that than Ebert. My friends and I have liked quite a few movies that did not receive rave reviews from the mainstream press.

I guess I really do not like letting someone else decide what I like.

Same goes for books.

 

[Magic Mom]

I watch movies that are rated grade Z. I find them entertaining.....What can I say, some of us are bad movie fans. Especially the horrible campy corny stuff. Oh so funny....

Ex. "Tokyo Zombie" anyone? So bad, but so funny....Or how about "Meteor", "Volcano", or "Stonehenge Apocalypse".
I do like good movies as well. I just like movies.

I LOVE apocalypse movies....but Stonehenge Apocalypes was the worst movie ever! ever!it was awesomely awful.

 

[mistyt]

I will absolutely watch a poorly reviewed movie.

I see so many movies that critics don't like but I actually enjoy. On the other hand, I've watched so many movies that critics like that I think stink.

Basically, if it looks interesting to me, I'll see it, regardless of the review.

DH and I really dislike any review of anything...

My mom and I just finished watching Avatar tonight and let me tell you that I personally thought it was one of the worst films ever. Hated it...almost 3 hours of my life I will never get back from that and everyone else raved about it! I had a friend who went to see it in the theater 7 times!

 

[Feralpeg]

I rarely agree with the critics. Some of their top rated movies, I have considered the worst. So, in answer to your question...most definitely!

 

[Wall-E1]

I'm a huge John Waters fan, so yes.

 

[KristaTX]

My mom and I just finished watching Avatar tonight and let me tell you that I personally thought it was one of the worst films ever. Hated it...almost 3 hours of my life I will never get back from that and everyone else raved about it! I had a friend who went to see it in the theater 7 times!

We watched Avatar finally when we had an HBO free weekend a while back. It was WAAAYYY tooo long and I don't ever need to see it again. I thought it would never end. I kept looking at the timer thing on the DVR to see how much of the movie was left. I couldn't believe that after 2 hours there was still an hour left . That third Pirates of the Caribbean movie was the same way to me. Both movies should have been an hour and a half at the maximum.

 

[CourtasanSatine]

I love those really awful made for cable movies!

 

[mistyt]

We watched Avatar finally when we had an HBO free weekend a while back. It was WAAAYYY tooo long and I don't ever need to see it again. I thought it would never end. I kept looking at the timer thing on the DVR to see how much of the movie was left. I couldn't believe that after 2 hours there was still an hour left . That third Pirates of the Caribbean movie was the same way to me. Both movies should have been an hour and a half at the maximum.

I totally agree! I told my mom it could of been 45 minutes and I would of been happy! I agree that the 3rd Pirates was the same was too!

So glad it wasn't just me that didn't find it appealing!

 

[katesorad]

I'm a bit of a film snob.. but I decided to watch the supposed "worst movie of all time", Plan 9 From Outer Space. There aren't even words to describe the experience I had while watching it.

 

[Handbag Lady]

Yes. Most reviewers have a chip on their shoulders or only like one particular kind of movie or they are not educated enough in film history for me to bother with their opinions. I think every time Variety pans a picture, I really like it. Even when it is a different reviewer. Is that odd or what?

I tend to agree with Leonard Maltin, though, more often than not. Then again, we've crossed paths a few times so I'm assuming that presses his honest opinion further. He's such a nice guy.

Also, I have strong morals so I have issues with some film runners and I won't see their movie even if it is the greatest thing since pureed peas. Woody Allen, I'm looking at you.




ETA: I was thinking about this and a few years back, everyone I knew was RAVING about In the Bedroom. So, I settled in to watch it and I hated every slow moving uninteresting moment of that bore fest.

 

[LuvCuteBoys]

I tend to agree with Leonard Maltin, though, more often than not. Then again, we've crossed paths a few times so I'm assuming that presses his honest opinion further. He's such a nice guy.

I love watching him on Hollywood Dailies, so I'm happy to hear that he really is a nice guy because he certainly seems to be!!!

Richard Roeper is the one who drives me nuts. I have no opinion of him personally, but he reviews every movie as if it's main purpose in being greenlit should be to win an Oscar.

Drives. Me. Bonkers.

I love Oscar-bait movies. But also understand and appreciate the value of entertainment for the sake of entertainment. I just watched Going the Distance tonight and it was awesomely, realistically raunchy and a quick scan on Rotten Tomatoes reveals that I am, indeed, in the minority when i say that I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Not every movie needs to leave you breathless or mad at the world.

ETA: I was thinking about this and a few years back, everyone I knew was RAVING about In the Bedroom. So, I settled in to watch it and I hated every slow moving uninteresting moment of that bore fest.

That is exactly how I felt about The Cider House Rules.