I say that the movie critics usually don't know what they are talking about. My friend follows what they say heavily, therefore he missed alot of good movies. like ghost rider.

Its all about finding a critic you have a similar opinion with.

I usually can't get enough movie talk so I like them, but there has been a mix bag of going to see a bad movie off a good review or avoiding see a good movie from a bad review.

My problem tends to be if they give too much away in the review or not enough for me to make a decision.

Artist tend to hate critics and I can't blame them. I especially find it funny when their best movies of the year are movies that have never made it into a US theater making us somehow peasants not able to appreciate great art.

I like real people critics, like our own Tina. I feel like any professional critic can get too high and mighty and totally self-important. I mean, have you read a wine critic's column? "Then came another highlight, a Giacosa Collina Rionda Riserva, that was sensuous and ethereal, with aromas of truffles and leather."

I mean, COME ON.

I feel like that's exactly what movie critics do to movies. And I just don't like it. Did you like the movie? Did it make you feel emotion? How was the acting? Overall, is it worth the $8 ticket? That's what I want to know. I don't want to know about character archetypes, or read phrases like "such are the perils of voyeurism." I want a friend that I trust to tell me their opinion.

I don't agree every time with Tina, but I think she's a pretty good barometer. And since she consistently sees movies before I do, I'm pretty set! :)

I do pay attention to the critics, but the only one that I read regularly is Little Red Death. Anything else... I just kinda whatever is in front of me.

I used to go by the reviews in Nashville Scene. They were always dead on way back when (esp Noel Murray - who is sadly no longer there). But I haven't read a single review by that group since we left Nashville.

You can always tell when a critic knows what they're talking about and when they're just talking to be talking.

Obviously I like reviews and I intend to work in the words "sensuous" and "ethereal" to my next review. :)

But I agree with Buffs, I used to read reviews religiously my whole life and would say in college that I wanted to write reviews that weren't so stuffy... more of a real person critic.

But I'll also admit I like the stuffy literature stuff too sometimes...my entire senior project in college was on stuffy literature themes in film actually. ;)

I don't think there's anyone I read faithfully though and I usually know what I want to see before I read anything. I always find it amusing when I completely disagree too.

So...with that in mind, what has been a movie that you disagreed about the most with the critic audience?
It's hard to say for sure, but I tend to disagree a lot when it comes to David Lynch movies...

EDIT
Just noticed you posted this in another thread...I will discuss Lynch over there. :)

I have to admit that I do watch "At the Movies" Siskle/Ebert/Rooper/Guest host show.

There is another show called "Reel Talk" on NBC, but I just can't stand it. You never quiet sure what exactly they liked or hated, but they are snobby all the time.

The problems with most reviews is how much of a spoiler do you need to have in order to convince someone to see it.

Tina's are great, but I do have to squint in order not to catch the ending.

I read movie reviews for terrible movies just for the entertainment value.. but I don't generally consult them for an opinion on whether or not I should see something.

the only reviewers i listen too anymore are the ones here at hishe, and the movie preview critic on youtube. You guys know your stuff. Ive only disagreed with you once, and that was for halloween( i think it was terrible, not worthy of 3 stars).