How to Interpret Critics' Movie Ad Blurbs

Posted by Anonymous , 9/4/2007 Tags:InterpretCriticsMovieBlurbs
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How to Interpret Critics' Movie Ad Blurbs

Introduction

Movie ads often quote reviews. To avoid wasting time and money in your local theaters, learn how to interpret those blurbs. They can be deceiving.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Steps

1

Step One

Check the movie ads in your newspaper.
2

Step Two

Be suspicious of those that quote no reviews at all.
3

Step Three

Be skeptical of critics' comments that are surrounded by ellipses (three dots). A word such as "spectacular" with three dots on both sides could be lifted from a sentence such as "This film is a slick, silly, spectacular flop."
4

Step Four

Rely more on the blurbs that contain complete sentences.
5

Step Five

Pay attention to which critics - and which publications - are quoted. The best reviews appear in major newspapers and magazines.
6

Step Six

Ignore, for the most part, an ad sprinkled with one-word "quotes" from obscure radio and television stations - and ignore the film.
7

Step Seven

Choose movies that earn legitimate "rave reviews."

Tips & Warnings

  • Check movie reviews on the Web for reviewers' complete opinions and to avoid being fooled by clever ad writers.
  • Find a newspaper critic you trust and rely on his or her reviews.
  • Never underestimate the value of word-of-mouth opinions about films.
  • Ads containing only a couple of quotes often indicate that most reviews were negative.
  • Some so-called critics who appear on television seldom do anything but praise movies. Their opinions are virtually worthless.

Overall Things You'll Need

  • VCRs
  • Internet Access
  • DVD Players
  • Newspaper Subscriptions
  • Magazine Subscriptions
  • Computers
  • TVs
Tools: |