Move Over Movie Critics Someone Else Is Doing It Better!

Move Over Movie Critics Someone Else Is Doing It Better!

And that someone else does not feel the restrictions of Hollywood's invisible embargo to keep one's views quiet before opening day. That someone is US!

By jman1977 - Dec 02, 2009 02:12 PM EST
Filed Under: Other
Source: insidemovies.moviefone.com

You always wonder if your making a difference. Meaning does it matter what we do in life? Does it make a positive impact, are our voices heard? Myself and Johnny Love have been reviewing movies since the beginning of 2009. We are lucky enough to have press passes at the Portage 16 IMAX Theater in Portage IN. As it stands we have made it as far as we can with what we have. Which is great. But can we do better? Do we have a chance to make it mainstream? AOL ran an article answering just that question:

"It becomes more apparent with each passing year: When it comes to the box office returns for Hollywood movies, critics just don't matter much. Look at the top ten highest-grossing movies so far year. Did negative reviews deflate 'Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen,' or 'The Proposal' or 'Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian'? Nope. On the other hand, did mostly positive reviews give a big boost to 'Up' or 'Star Trek'? Probably not."

Who needs Siskel and Ebert when you got Jman and Johnny!!! I knew we at least had a shot. AOL goes on to report:

"Case in point: when reviews for Rob Marshall's 'Nine' come out during the week of its December release, the most important one won't be found in The New York Times, the Los Angeles Times, or coming from Roger Ebert. It's already been written, and posted on the Ain't it Cool News website, by someone who wants to be called Tobby, who works in the musical theater industry. He/she attended a DGA screening and, being a non-professional critic, simply ignored the industry-observed embargo on reviews of a film until the actual release of the film.

Because Tobby got there first, and because he/she is on a fanboy site like Ain't it Cool News, his/her (positive, by the way) review has a lot better chance of going viral than the reviews that appear in newspapers on the day of the film's release."

I don't know who Tobby is but that's cool. Because CBM is just as popular as AICN on any given day if not more visited. I like Harry but there is no reason any one of us editors or any of our CBM loyal's can't do the same thing and like Multi so elegantly put it a couple weeks ago "The Time Has Come To Make OUR Voices Heard" this is just proof of what we have been saying all along. That our opinions are heard and taking into account.

Real people want to hear from a real persons point of view. Not someone that has been paid to have a one sided opinion, our some web site who does not report their dislikes because they are scared they won't be asked to return for a set visit. Those opinions are diluted and old. AOL just confirmed the rumor we knew was true all along. Go ahead see for yourself, click the link below.

So, on December 18 we, Jman and Johnny Love, will be at the Portage 16 IMAX Theater in Portage IN to review the years most anticipated Sci-Fi film "Avatar". We'll see you at the movies! Don't forget to send your own reviews in to CBM if it's good enough Galactus grants you a spot on the main page!

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LuvInMiLyfe
LuvInMiLyfe - 12/2/2009, 2:26 PM
sad
BloodredNemesis
BloodredNemesis - 12/2/2009, 2:27 PM
zzzzzzzzzz
LEEE777
LEEE777 - 12/2/2009, 2:34 PM
Cool article @ JMAN bud!

Hey AVATARS gonna blow the whole World up (At the cinema lol).

JMAN/JOHNNY keep on trucking dudes and cant wait for your review!!

Siskel and Ebert ain't got nothing on you two, said that many reviews ago, them silly ol' farts lol, you two tell it the way it is, which is the best way obviously!! : D

rockstar728
rockstar728 - 12/2/2009, 2:38 PM
Makes me wonder if one day all media industry jobs will be lost to the Internet.
MarkCassidy
MarkCassidy - 12/2/2009, 2:42 PM
Viva La Revolution:)

Hey Lee, you know they hated Gi Blow right?;)

Im actually looking forward to Avatar too, at the very least Im sure it will be entertaining.
thwip
thwip - 12/2/2009, 2:50 PM
haha...the first two comments are hilarious.

nothing like knocking the chips off a guy's shoulders. pointless article and blabber, agreed.
ZoloTalar
ZoloTalar - 12/2/2009, 2:58 PM
The industry is changing. More than likely media will merge together into singular platforms. Hopeful cable/satellite companies will start looking at themselves as internet providers first and TV providers second. One day the internet will be reigned in like the "old west" the cowboys/girls of today will give rise new corporate culture of tomorrow. Or it'll implode who knows.

On the fence about Avatar, Cameron has yet to truly fail but everything I have seen about Avatar has left me with a meh felling. Plus I hate having to wear 3D glasses over my glasses.
LEEE777
LEEE777 - 12/2/2009, 3:11 PM
ROR @ You know they hated BORIGINS too right???? ; D
gibbyblaylock
gibbyblaylock - 12/2/2009, 3:17 PM
J-Man

First of all, I agree. It's true that the lack of restrictions on fanboys on the internet allows moviegoers to gain some insight into the possible suckiness or awesomeness or just-okay-ness of a movie. It gives fan posts the power on fan sites to matter and to allow the voices of the true fans, and not some stuffy critic, to be heard.

Second of all SHUT UP!!! As soon as the industry giants get wise to this fact they'll lift that review embargo and before you know it we'll be up to our ears in spoilers and early criticisms that'll damage the relevance of fan sites. The industry types will find out that the readership of sites like aintitcoolnews could be theirs if only they eighty-sixed the embargo. And believe you me, they'll do it if it'll help line their pockets with ad revenue and the like. And the moment the advertisers realize that the corporate giant websites have the resources and opportunity to scoop the little guy, they'll jump ship and opt for the better bet money-wise. Plus the aforementioned stuffy critic's opinions will trump that of the true fan and Hollywood will cease to see joe fanboy as an important source for input on how to improve these pictures.
MarkCassidy
MarkCassidy - 12/2/2009, 3:41 PM
lol, how did I know you were gonna say that Lee? The didn't even do a review for Wolverine ya nut!
peterparker420
peterparker420 - 12/2/2009, 3:55 PM
comic book nerds like us are the best!

Jman and Johnny Love more power to you!

there is no better fans out there then us!

Multi said it best!
"Blessed be comic fans, for they will inherit the earth"
StephenStrange
StephenStrange - 12/2/2009, 4:07 PM
lol @ Ror, Keven, LEEE..

Actually you know what? Just LOL @ the whole thread
DrDon
DrDon - 12/2/2009, 4:37 PM
Pointless. Get over yourself already!
Talontd
Talontd - 12/2/2009, 5:04 PM
F*ck off all you twats with your hate! Yes you DRAPER, THWHIP, HYBRID, & R3ANIMATOR.

It's really easy to critize when you don't contribute sh!t to the site, isn't it? I can't remember reading one article from the lot of you! It really says alot about you personally when you attack the people that are working hard to make this place great. They're taking the time out of THEIR lives to give US a forum to talk about the topics WE ALL love. Why attack them?

And I bet out of all you b!tches, only DRAPER has the nuts to reply (always love a good arument with you DRAPER but you really were a douche on this one ;)


JMAN & JOHNNY KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK....YOU ARE APPRECIATED!!!
ecksmanfan
ecksmanfan - 12/2/2009, 5:19 PM
^^^Wow. You tell 'em Talon!

Jman & Johnny-Keep up the good work. I am a wanna be "critic" and am very jealous you have press passes!!!

I hate that every critic is so one sided and closed minded, basically because they are paid to be. It's obnoxious. I truthfully dis-regard anything the popular critics say, because they are usually way off.

Spock
Spock - 12/2/2009, 5:36 PM
Its ok to toot your own horn from time to time. Nicely done.
MarkCassidy
MarkCassidy - 12/2/2009, 5:56 PM
haha, Iv been on a few of the articles and Draper has really done the rounds today! Bitching and moaning about everything he possibly can..I swear he must be taking the piss.
realfirstavenger
realfirstavenger - 12/2/2009, 6:07 PM
I like the reviews you guys do, and the fact that their video and you guys are clearly fanboys makes them all that much better. But you guys seem to be acting more and more like gods gift to cbm.com

keep up the good reviews, its awesome you have press passes and your an editor now, but what was the point of this article?

i visit this site multiple times a day and will comment when I feel like I should (but with the rise in popularity keeping up with the comments is just way too much work) but this article just comes off like your looking for some kind of glory for what you do.
we all love your reviews good sirs, that should be enough
realfirstavenger
realfirstavenger - 12/2/2009, 6:09 PM
oh and I will go back to adding content when there is Hellboy news to add :)
or if there is a demand for comic book battles once again, but they were a lot of work for what seemed like 10 people
so noone can say Ive never added content
Ryden
Ryden - 12/2/2009, 6:20 PM
cool but I don't see how this made front page to be honest...
TheGeekFiles
TheGeekFiles - 12/2/2009, 6:23 PM
We need to be logical about this. There's a place for professional media reviews as well as fanboy reviews online. Early fan reviews are sometimes faked just to hype up interest, so they can't just be taken as gospel and more real. Reviews in mainstream press are aimed at that newspaper's demographic, reviews on geek sites are aimed at those sites' demographic.

Not everything is online - printed material such as comics, books and newspapers is still around, even if some of it is struggling. I've found great information and articles in newspapers and magazines that doesn't exist online. For example, Empire doesn't put everything online - they create an entirely different experience for their website than they have in their magazine.

You guys on here have to remember where most news on sites such as this ultimately comes from. Usually it's from other sites, and those sites usually get it from professional sites such as Variety, Empire, the LA Times. Journalists for those organisations have worked hard (and been paid) to get that material.

Where would most blog sites be without the source sites they rely on? Very few blog sites have their own original content.

I'd be interested to know how US movie blogs and news sites are run and financed. Some sites (like i09) have a large team of staff with official titles, others like /Film and Collider have large numbers of contributors and seem to be around all day posting stuff. Is that their main job? Are they doing it all for free or are they run as businesses? If the staff are paid, where does the money come from? Is advertising enough to pay for all those people? I'm really curious how internet sites fund themselves. Some are obviously just small blogs done as a hobby, but others seem like businesses. Does anyone know more about this?
KeithM
KeithM - 12/2/2009, 7:01 PM
The article's spot on. It's happening all over.

Newspapers are dying because real people are capturing real shit, as it happens, on their phones, and Twitter and Facebook and comments on websites disseminate news faster than any newspaper or magazine can possibly compete with - and beyond the means of any studio to keep a lid on. No wonder Marvel are all black-ops with their movies...

We ain't getting paid - and that makes us powerfully free to say it like it is.

Professional journalists all over are shitting their pants, big time.

It's bad for them, but it's good for us and for the studios (if the movies are any good, that is) and therefore ultimately for the movies we get - because we're a noisy lot for a bunch of supposedly meek geeks. No 5 star reviews for Superman Returns from you guys, right? (Right?)

More and more so, sites like this are becoming THE place where people like me get the skinny on films we might want to see - or not.

The news from sites like watchmencomicmovie.com was much more important to me for judging whether it was worth going to see - and more importantly, whether I'm spreading the word and dragging my dont-have-a-clue-what-Watchmen-is friends along too (they all loved it btw), than anything Empire had to say (SR, IJ&TKotCS anyone? pfft can't trust those media whores*) - and sites like this one are similarly invaluable in getting the lowdown on any superhero type stuff coming out.

I don't necessarily always agree with what you guys (or AICN, SHH, etc.) think, but at least on the t'internet we can voice our opinions. And we know, collectively, they get heard... sometimes. :)

You provide a valuable service. Keep up the good work.

*I actually like Empire for its articles and news, I just don't trust their reviews... there is a place for professional news media, but it has to be something we can't get from the 'amateur' side - inside access; genuine 'exclusives'. They need to really convince us these days to buy something we can often get better for free online.
TheGeekFiles
TheGeekFiles - 12/2/2009, 7:10 PM
But you're already a geek, KeithM. So the views of geeky places interest you.

But someone who reads the New York Times or The Sun or The Boston Globe won't want to listen to what a load of obsessive nerds think. Nor will they be rushing to Twitter.

You act as though geekville is the only thing that exists.

The other thing is that so much stuff online is fabricated and can't be trusted. (yes, and sometimes in tabloid rags too).

I like online sites, but i also like the more normal places to get a balance. I am also an exception probably because I never listen to reviews. I know in advance if it's the sort of thing I'd be interested in seeing, and i don't care what a review on this site or AICN or Empire says. I only look at reviews after I've seen a film and i often wonder if they saw the same movie.
KeithM
KeithM - 12/2/2009, 7:18 PM
Geekville isn't the only thing that exists, no, but it is increasingly having a more powerful voice.

It's not a black and white thing. It's degrees of influence. And sites like this are growing in influence, of that there is no doubt.
StephenStrange
StephenStrange - 12/2/2009, 7:40 PM
Stuck up Hollywood chumps like Brett the Rat don't think so, Keith. But they'll learn soon enough.
MarkCassidy
MarkCassidy - 12/2/2009, 8:39 PM
I actually find Empire and Total Film decent for reviews..I don't always agree obviously, but if they give a movie 5 stars I will usually go along and not be disappointed..similarly, a 1 star review from either of them will tend to be a load of shit. They have a team of reviewers so its different opinions all the time.

Either way, reviews from anyone should be taken with a pinch of salt..unless, they come from people that you would usually have similar taste as and generally trust their opinion. If you think something looks good go see the damn thing!

When i post reviews on here there are people baying for my blood sometimes! But Im just giving my take on it, I never tell anyone not to go see a movie..Just urge them not to:)
BloodredNemesis
BloodredNemesis - 12/3/2009, 3:57 AM
haha lmfao exactly......zzzzzzzzzzzzzz.....i wanna hear some exciting news, i aint a hater lol
Growler
Growler - 12/3/2009, 4:38 AM
@ROR: The reason both of those publications give decent, well thought-out and honest reviews is that they're both British magazines and not subject to the kind of censure that American Magazines are if they don't toe the company line.
The fact that the same multi-national companies that run the studios also run the major U.S. publishing houses may have something to do with the witless and by-the-numbers 'reviews' you have to suffer over on your side of the Atlantic, whereas over here, if a reviwer thinks a film is a waste of screen time, they'll give the movie the kicking it deserves because their integrity, and their respect of their readership, means more than Rupert Murdoch(or some other such evil, grab-nasty bastard)'s cash-flow oriented interfering.
KeithM
KeithM - 12/3/2009, 5:11 AM
So how do you explain Empire's (a British mag) clearly biased reviewing of big Hollywood tentpoles such as Superman Returns and Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crock of Shit and others? I say "clearly", because the actual reviews for those read like the reviewers WANTED to tell us they were shit, but somehow couldn't...

We had to rely on South Park to tell us like it was in Indy's case.

(I believe Empire have retroactively marked both those films down since, but only after the movies have done their business at the BO) :cynical:

British magazines are no less susceptible to Hollywood lucre and "exclusives" bribery than their American counterparts. Perhaps there is slightly less of that, because they're not American, but it's there all the same. And that makes their reviews - especially of big name tentpole films - suspect. I'm sure it doesn't happen on every big film, and sometimes it IS only a matter of taste, but that kind of favourable bias has happened enough to call their 'journalistic integrity' into question, that's for sure.
MarkCassidy
MarkCassidy - 12/3/2009, 8:33 AM
So its inconceivable that the reviewers may have actually..shock/horror...liked those movies! I loved Superman Returns and although Empire's was a bit too glowing, I agreed with their review of it. Crystal Skull I didn't but Im sure the person that reviewed it liked it. After all, if they were bound by this "bribery" then after dedicating about 4 issues, 10 interviews and hyping the shit out of Wolverine, wouldn't they have given it more than 2 stars?
jman1977
jman1977 - 12/3/2009, 8:40 AM
gibbyblaylock dude, are you sure you have the slightest idea of what your talking about? We are already up to ears in spoilers and reviews about this or that before the movie gets out. That's part of what this site is all about. Before you start telling people to shut up, dude, take a step back from the computer, take a deep breath and then shut the hell up yourself. Just kiding, wait no Im not. Any movie production company in the world knows that the total gross of the opening weekend of any movie will blow any ad revenue from a website such as this or AICN or rotten, or whatever one you can wrap your mind around, out the water. Meaning that movie will make a ton more money then any ad revenue you think is happening. The secret is out guys, the internet is were it's at for reviews from common people, like me and you. That's why I wrote this article. All you haters your just that haters, it's to bad you waste your talent on your empty comments when you could actually be contributing something constructive. I know to many big words Im sorry.
jman1977
jman1977 - 12/3/2009, 8:44 AM
Keith M, Ror, Multi, Lee, Spock, ecksman, peterparker420,and Keven: sounds like you have a grasp on reality. Thanks for supporting the views in this article. I wrote it for fans like you crazy bastards. (I mean that in a good way)
jman1977
jman1977 - 12/3/2009, 8:47 AM
Hey Thwip: They didnt knock shit off of anyones shoulders. Nothing has changed since they left their comments. It's cool if that is there view, everyone is entitled to their own opinion. Even though they missed the point of this article completely (Viva La Revoloution) The crap tastic point Im making is theres nothing worse then an idiot that follows another idiot without the revealation of their own opinion. But hey good luck with that!
XmutantX
XmutantX - 12/3/2009, 8:55 AM
If ur getting paid 2 review movies, than im sure u can be pursuaded by even more money 2 giv an untruthful review...ppl who actually look 2 movie reviews as a means on deciding whether 2 see the movie or not r dumb...we all hav different interests...u should let the trailor make up ur mind on whether a movie looks good or not..isnt that what they r there 4?...the fact that ppl can make money on simply giving there opinion is dumb..and the fact that ppl rely on this is even more dumb...in the end ur going 2 hav ur own opinion of the movie anywayz..no disrespect 2 J-man and Jonny Love (cus u guys contribute great stuff on here!)...but i dont get this...i hope atleast ur segments r entertaining...not jus ur opinion of a film
~X
XmutantX
XmutantX - 12/3/2009, 9:00 AM
J-Man@wheres ur video from the halloween at the hall?? i was looking 4ward 2 that...did i miss it??

once again i hope u didnt take my las comment as a diss...i luv what u guys do on here and i support u 100%!!!!!
~X
jman1977
jman1977 - 12/3/2009, 9:15 AM
not at all xmutantx. Everyone has their own opinon and thats a god giving right. We try to make it entertaining but also to give our honest opinion of the movie, thats what people want, they dont want the "studio influenced so they can take 10 bucks of your back" review. Our whole point for starting the reviews was to have a down to earth feel. Our formula we go see the movie and then go film the review fresh, not sit on it for days but have a fresh take and an honest opinion.

I ran an article with as many pics as I could but the video was too dark and you really couldnt see what was going on. I wanted to post something but unfortunately it didnt work out. The quality just wasnt there:) No worries we are doing more with super al in the months to come.
XmutantX
XmutantX - 12/3/2009, 9:53 AM
J-man@sweet! super al is the sh!t...I am saving up 2 visit his museum..(i liv in maine)...r u seeing avatar the day it opens or do u get 2 see it be4?...I look 4ward 2 ur post either way
how come jonny love is neva on here? tell him we all said whats up!
take care
~X
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