Unlike most critics out there, I’m not looking for the typical things that make a great movie. Stuff like the quality of the special effects, acting, big name directors, or popularity don’t really mean anything to me. I have my own review criteria for what makes a great piece of entertainment. For the most part, I review Movies and Televisions series and each medium requires a slightly different approach to review, which I’ve explained below.
Movie Criteria
When it comes to movies, I’ll watch most movies. I try to stick to movies between the G to PG-13 rating and I avoid the graphic or obscene like horror movies. I look for movies that I feel I can enjoy and feel good watching. My favorite genres are Adventure, Sci-Fi, or Fantasy. I enjoy the classics or old comedies, but I don’t do well with modern comedies. I don’t shy away from thrillers or intellectual films, but I’m not really interested in movies that are trying to make a statement. I just want to be entertained. But that’s my personal taste in films. Whatever I do end up watching. I ask myself these five questions to determine my final feelings.
Did I Like It?
My overall feeling towards the show.
The most important thing to consider is how much I liked the movie. Whatever it is, if I liked it then the movie was a success. It entertained me for the duration and that’s all that really matters. Most films will have parts that I like and parts that I don’t. It’s rare to find movie that I like 100%. At that point, I try to compare the good to the bad and determine if everything I liked is worth forgiving everything I didn’t. Depending on how that balances out, will determine the final verdict of how I feel towards the show.
Napability?
How easily could I sleep through this.
Napability, or how easily/likely I am to fall asleep during the film, tells me how excited or engaged I am in the film. Movies should have a low napability or else what’s the point of turning it on, unless it’s helping me fall asleep. Chick Flicks or Rom-Coms have a really hard time because they start with a really high napability and have to work hard to get past that.
What’s It Worth?
How much effort/money would I put towards this show.
Is it worth at least a watch? Is it worth owning or just to rent it? Would I recommend it to someone else or is it worth putting in effort to help others avoid it? I try to determine how much a film affects my life or my wallet. There are some movies I feel are worth advertising and getting others to watch because I feel so passionately about them or would spend money to get additional merchandise. Others are simply worth a watch if you’re interested or just plain avoided at all costs.
How Often Would I Watch It?
The frequency that I would watch this.
You can tell a lot about a movie by how often it is watched. Another way to look at it is “rewatchability”, but I try to go a step further and decide how often I actually watch it. The reason is because a movie could be very rewatchable and there’s no doubt I’ll enjoy seeing it again, but if it only gets watched every 5 years that says a lot.
Any “I’m Out!” Moments?
Moments where I mentally or physically check out of the show.
“I’m Out!” moments are things that cause me to take a step back or disengage from the show, either mentally or physically. Examples would be if it’s not holding my attention and I turn to my phone, or if something ridiculous happened. These moments can be anything really. Some are minor, like having a lull in the film that bores me. Some are major that make me decide to turn off the film or leave the room. I never know when an “I’m Out!” moment will show up, but I know them when I see them.
Series Criteria
Watching a Series is a little trickier than watching a Movie. Most movies stay around 2 hours long and are easy to commit to. On the other hand, a series has multiple episodes that range from 30 mins to 2 hours each. Plus, you don’t always get the full story in each episode which makes a series a much bigger commitment. With several seasons, the commitment level increases. Luckily, I have a plan to minimize that commitment.
When it comes to a series, I review a series episode by episode until I know if I’m going to see the series through to the end or I’m going to drop it. I feel that each episode offers me an opportunity to become more deeply attached or a chance to cut my loses. Either way, I try to follow my Series Criteria to determine how I feel about the show, which helps me decide whether I continue or not.
Do I Like It, So Far?
My feelings towards the show up to this point.
No matter how far into a series I should be able to tell if I like the show. It could be for any reason, but if I do find reason to like the series there is a good chance that I’ll continue. If I don’t like it, I don’t feel there is much chance that a show can make a comeback.
Has It Met My Expectations?
Has it lived up to what originally interested me.
There is always something that catches my interest about a TV show. It could be because everyone seems to be talking about it or the synopsis was snappy and intriguing. Whatever it is, that first impression forms certain expectations. Each episode should help meet my expectations and recommit my interest. If it doesn’t, there is something wrong.
How Much Is My Favorite Character Involved?
Is my favorite character a big or small part of the show.
A favorite character can save a show for me. Forming a connection with a character and joining them on their journey is really fun. Sometimes though, my favorite character doesn’t get as much screen time as I would like. That’s why I need to know if my favorite character is going to be there for me. The worst is when my favorite character leaves or gets killed. If that happens, there may not be a chance for redemption.
Would I Recommend It?
Will I be telling anyone else to watch.
Recommending a series to a friend is a big deal. You’re inviting someone to hopefully join you as a fan so you can share the experience. At some point, there should be a reason that I just want to go tell someone else about it. Hopefully, it’s early on so that there isn’t a lot of lost time waiting for your friend to catch up.
Do I Plan to Continue Watching?
After watching the episode, will I keep watching.
After all is said and done, the big question is if I plan to keep watching. Do the good things that I like outweigh the things I don’t? Is it worth my time or is the commitment too big? Of all the criteria, this is the most critical question because it will determine the final fate of the show in my book.