I know most of us out there love to criticise movies, so let me ask you, what makes a good movie good to you? What is your little criteria for grading a movie? Do you base your critical ratings on complete self opinion, or do you take into account that, yes it may have been good, but it just wasn't your type of movie. Please, I'm itching for an answer.

You may call me a liar, but my opinions are as objective AS IS HUMANLY POSSIBLE. Sure, I may have my sacred cows and my pariahs (although I don't REALLY think so, but I try to leave them out of my opinions.) I HAVE seen LOTS of movies, so I am pretty opinionated in what I think is good and have probably felt that way for too long for any LIVING being to be safe in that regard, but I don't feel the need to penalize myself for being knowledgeable and having concocted my own criteria.

I admit that I love films which tell a story and have wonderful, witty dialogue. I also greatly enjoy any type of film which is artistic in ANY way, but I do believe that THE ARTIST should be able to convey something about how he/she ACTUALLY FEELS about his/her own art, so anything which is COMPLETELY AMBIGUOUS I feel takes the lazy/easy way out.

I have no prejudices as far as subject matter, country of origin, budget, cast, director, writer, source material, etc. other than anything which I mentioned above (if you consider those prejudices.) I will try to answer any further questions if proffered here.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: mark f,

I agree with Mark in that I try not to discriminate based on country, style, director, etc. I judge movies almost soley about whether I care about the characters and the plot. A good movie should make you care about the people/events that are being acted out on screen, regardless of whether it is a Spielberg blockbuster or a Kieslowski Polish morality play.

Call me a baby, but this board was sparked by my recently watching the animated "Beauty and the Beast"... I was crying by the end of the darned thing, and I thought, why hasn't any other movie I've seen done this to me? The answer came clearly, it was that the idea of love was handled so tenderly. It felt unforced, and perfect, I just can't believe that there aren't more movies that have done things like this. I don't think there is another Disney movie that can be so beautiful, artistically or otherwise.

I actually thought that Beauty and the Beast was the best film of its year. That year included Silence of the Lambs, Bugsy, JFK, Prince of Tides, Barton Fink, Thelma & Louise, Rambling Rose, etc.

i loathe films that are passed off as fiction when they are in fact poorly veiled agitprop, especially when i disagree with the p.o.v.

There are alot of facts that go into rating movies. I think that the plot is huuge. Probably the biggest part of it. A movie has to have a realistic(a better word would be beleivable), and interesting. Character development and interaction must also be present and done well, this includes dialogue. I hate awkward dialogue, and I want to get to know the characters (depth) that I am watching a little bit, it puts you in the movie. For me I think it might all be about atmosphere. If the movie pulls you in and makes you want to keep watching and want to keep learning about the story.