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How do you decide what to see?

Mazarine

16:22 / 07.03.02

I don't know about the rest of you, but being of limited financial means, I have to pick and choose what movies I go to see in the theater and what I wait for on video. Those of you that don't have to: curse you and your financial stability for which I'm sure you've worked very hard.

In any case, I'm curious as to how other people who also have to pick and choose decide what to see.

I read reviews on The Brunching Shuttlecocks, which tend to be funny and pretty helpful.

Margin Walker

16:45 / 07.03.02

I rarely go to the movies. If I do, it's usually for something that there'd be an advantage to see in the theatre (y'know, special effects, stunts, watching thrillers in THX sound, etc.). And even then, if it's a big enough movie, I'll wait until it reaches the budget theatres. That way, if Harry Potter, The One, etc., suck, I'm only out $2 instead of $7.50 & the feeling that I wasted the evening.

Comedies & Dramas I almost never see in the theatre. Why would I? There's no advantage at all--other than being able to see a movie before it hits the rental shelves. Besides, I haven't seen a great comedy since forever.

videodrome

10:57 / 08.03.02

If I'm going to see a film, I see it in the theatre. Watching at home is shite - I'd happily destory everything that goes along with VCR culture to bring back widespread tiered-released cinema.

That being said, deciding what to see is fairly easy. If it looks like shite, I don't see it. <shrugs>

I have two friends who run theatres and they're good about giving me tips. I also check sites like Rotten Tomatoes to get a general consensus on how people feel. If people really like or hate something, I'm generally in. (As long as it's not a Britney Spears picture, you know.) Anything that generates a solid middle-of-the-road review base I typically avoid.

The sundance kid

10:57 / 08.03.02

step 1. open paper.
step 2. try to find the film least likely to kill braincells
step 3. realize this is futile. go see a steven seagal doublefeature and invent your own movie in your head.

Cat Chant

12:25 / 08.03.02

Me, I do as I'm told when it comes to going to the cinema. I exercise a little more critical judgment when it comes to watching videos, but at the pictures I go see the stuff capitalism tells me to, ie movies aimed at the niche market I'm in (queer fangirl). If it has Orcs, spaceships and/or dykes in it, I go see it. Or Jennifer Connelly, but that's because I can't believe she's still acting. I remember Labyrinth even if the rest of you whippersnappers don't. Hence, last few movies seen at the cinema: Harry Potter, Fellowship of the Ring, Aimee & Jaguar (or whatever it was called), Crouching Tiger.

On more whimsical days, I apply the Alison Bechdel three-part rule: I will watch a movie if

1. There are at least two women in it, who
2. Talk to each other, about
3. Something other than a man.

Unfortunately this usually wipes out the fangirl films so it has to go to a tie-breaker.

Shortfatdyke

13:29 / 08.03.02

actually i've seen so few dyke films my membership of the lesbian community could be revoked at any moment.

these days i tend to make a conscious effort to check out non american/hollywood films as much as i can, basically because there's often much more to them. i have a good local cinema who run frequent film festivals focussed on different countries which is an excellent way of seeing *good stories* from around the world.

weekday matinees are affordable and quiet - the best way to see any film!

[ 08-03-2002: Message edited by: shortfatdyke ]

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