Through the end of 2010, I have rated 1,860 movies and TV shows I have watched on DVD in the last few years. I rated them, to help me remember what I have watched and how I liked it. My rating system is built around the Netflix five star system, but starting a couple years ago, I began adding decimals to make it more accurate. It essentially has evolved into a four star system. A 2.7 or lower movie is one I would not recommend. Ratings of 2.8 and 2.9 are marginal. From 3 to 3.2 are all right for those interested. From 3.3 on up are recommended. Several of the older ratings were done before I started using decimals and they are identified as "no decimal" and should be taken with a grain of salt, since a 2.7 and 3.3 movie would both have been rated three stars.
References to seasons or disk numbers are not meaningful unless more than one rating is made for that title. Some of the movies include the year of release. Numbers following some titles are Netflix or other predictions of how I would rate the movie, as of the time of viewing.
The Netflix star system is designed to make three of the five stars positive ratings (and thus encourage rentals). My reaction to that tactic was to hold my ratings down to mostly three stars (liked it), with a few four stars (really liked it) and a rare 5 star (loved it).
The Netflix star system is designed to make three of the five stars positive ratings (and thus encourage rentals). My reaction to that tactic was to hold my ratings down to mostly three stars (liked it), with a few four stars (really liked it) and a rare 5 star (loved it).
By memory of viewings from many years ago, I have rated about 850 other films at Netflix, mainly for the purpose of helping the Netflix predictions of what I will like. They are not included in the ratings lists on this blog. I could make a list here of those which I top rated, but it might be best for me to first watch them again to see how they stand the test of time and then rate them on the decimal system.
Remember, these ratings are my current opinions of what I want Netflix to recommend to me, based on my most recent viewing of the movie, and also on my mood of that day. In years past I may have rated a movie higher, but recent viewing reduced my opinion. I am not rating based on the historical merit of the movie as of the time it was released. I picked movies to watch that I did not remember seeing and that I thought would at least be marginally acceptable (2.8). Of the movies listed through 2010, I rated 85% at 2.8 or above. I think the toning down of my ratings at Netflix has enabled the Netflix prediction algorithm, which is calculated to one decimal, to more accurately guide my choice of what to watch.
My movie ratings lists are now dated December 31, 2010, and are linked to in the blog side bar, both alphabetically and from high to low rated. The lists may be updated in the future. Some of the movies do not have a year listed, because the year was not included in all my lists I used in compiling this list. In the case of a TV series, sometimes the series is rated as a whole and sometimes the individual seasons are rated. Direct any requests for clarification to me, Tom Blake.
Tom,
ReplyDeleteAn amazing list, so long and so thorough. It represents a lot of time and thought devoted to movies. Your opinions motivate me to watch certain movies, but I'll never be able to enjoy all the movies on this list or even the top 10%.
Jan and I watched Prayers for Bobby tonight at home. I thought it was a very well done melodrama. It must have been a TV movie based on the cuts obviously made for TV commercials.
If you ever retire, you may find more movie watching time.
ReplyDeletePrayers for Bobby was a TV movie, and it sounds good enough to add to my queue. Sigourney Weaver was nominated for an Emmy for her performance.
Jan and I saw The Fighter yesterday. I was reluctant to go because I felt all fight movies are going to be remakes of the Rocky Balboa series. And it turns out The Fighter is a lot closer to the Rocky movies than Raging Bull, a classic fight movie, but we both enjoyed it a lot. I realize today how good a movie it was because I keep thinking about it. Many of the movies I watch are already forgotten by the next day. I read that its makers are angling for Academy Awards. The most likely award winners will be supporting actor Christian Bale, who played the older brother, has-been fighter, and crack head to perfection, and Melissa Leo who played very well the dominating mother and failing fight manager. It might get a nomination for cinematographer or director, but I'm not knowledgeable enough to judge that. I say that because the movie had an interesting documentary feel about it, and much of the story was about a documentary being made of the older brother. So I felt I was watching a documentary within a documentary.
ReplyDeleteI am interested in what you have to say about it, Tom, but I know I'll have to wait until well after the Academy Awards when it makes its way to Netflix. But unlike most movies, I'll remember this one when you write about it.
Netflix predicts a 3.2 for me on The Fighter. I'll see it down the line. Bale and Melissa Leo both just won Golden Globes for their supporting roles. I looked at his filmography and found I have seen five of his movies and given three of them two stars. That probably is more a knock on the movies than on his acting.
ReplyDeleteI had to check Google images to picture Bale and Melissa Leo, since I could not recall them. I have seen her in several films that I rated three stars, but I just don't recognize her. Some of the best actors are people who we never quite recognize as a celebrity. I do recognize Mark Wahlberg and Amy Adams and also like their work, so The Fighter seems to have a very good cast.
Maybe not remembering an actor is a sign of good acting [something you and I previously talked about on this blog], but not remembering a movie is a sign of a bad movie.
I saw a photo of Christian Bale from the Golden Globes show. He is quite good looking. The photo barely resembles his look in The Fighter. Another plus for him as an actor and for the production staff who remade him into a character who is both reviled and loved by the audience.
ReplyDeleteGood make up work has been a respected part of movie making forever and new materials and techniques are constantly expanding the accomplishments. I have seen some pregnant movie bellies that I know are probably fake, and I wonder whether some of the big pecs on movie guys are add ons.
ReplyDelete