Now I’ve been promising this article for a few friends for a while and I’ve finally decided to get around to writing it. Some people are always criticizing me for my criticisms and even more my ratings at times. Some would say that my scale is ‘broken’ and others might say it leans on the side of horrible bias. However, I disagree.

I think that I try my best to tell you about my personal feelings about the films that I review here on this blog. Now some people will jokingly call me a ‘critic’ and I must say I definitely don’t think of myself as one. The word critic is so official and makes me sound like I’m the guy who will always let you know what’s good and not. Now when I put it like that I guess I am a critic in a sense. However, I feel that from my first review all the way up to today I still haven’t stopped stating that everything I like or dislike about a movie are personal opinions, and that is all they are. Of course they are subjective because my perspective is the only one that I can give you. I can’t write reviews based on what someone else thinks of a movie, if so then every movie would get a 10/10 because I’m sure there is someone out there who actually enjoyed 88 Minutes and Fast & Furious as much as I enjoyed films like The Dark Knight and Let the Right One In.

I’m sure if I were to send applications to lots of other online/print publications for the position as a film journalist or critic I’m sure they would reject me not only for my lack of knowledge of film – still have tons to see that I’m working on – and also my writing which ranges from piss poor to below average as far as I can see. However, I’m almost okay with this because even though I try to make this site seem like I know what I’m talking about all the time, trying is enough for me. Week to week I will improve my film knowledge as well as my writing with the help of you, the reader, shouting at me when I make ridiculous typographical errors and even more atrocious grammatical ones and even worse when I decide to admit things like “I have never seen Citizen Kane” or “my favourite director ever is Quentin Tarantino”. Then when the internet finds these statements, which I’m amazed they do sometimes, you all make your suggestions for me to see what most would call better films, which I love most of the time.

For all of you out there who want to say that I’m wrong about certain films I’ve reviewed. Keep reminding yourself that this is a subjective medium. I’m trying to give you my feelings on movies and that’s it no more no less.

Now for the discussion of what my ratings actual mean, Before I try and sink the entire of the five people who read this blog these are more guidelines than actual rules and I reserve the right to throw these out the window whenever I see fit and it’s always nice to actually read the review rather than just reading my rating and pointing fingers.

0.0 – 3.0 – The movie was horrible and I never want to see it again

3.5 – 5.0 – The movie was a regular film which may have had specific problems but generally average

5.5 – 6.5 – The movie kept my attention but overall nothing especially special

7.0 – 7.5 – The movie was pretty good for what it was and might have a few original ideas

8.0 – 8.5 – A must watch and probably worth a DVD buy

9.0 – 10 – Stop asking questions and go see this movie already because I probably have already pre-ordered the DVD.

In the end I try to follow the words of the great Lester Bangs from Almost Famous where he says “You have to make your reputation on being honest, and unmerciful.” In the end all I hope to do is enjoy what I love, which is watching films, and keep letting you know how I feel honestly and unmerciful.