"How should I choose a movie?" Topic

I am not one for watching films (nor TV) but recently I have been getting stuck in a city for 2+ hours in the morning (starting about 10). I am trying watching a movie at a cinema as a relatively cheap way to pass the time.

The first I tried for this (Alita, Battle Angle) blew my mind. The first visit to a cinema in 20years what have I been missing was the thought. Since then every movie has been a let-down. One good (Captain Marvel) but not up to the trailer I saw while watching Alita. The rest were better than walking the streets or sitting on a park bench in winter and probable cheaper than 2hrs in a pub but only just.

So I need suggestions of where to look to get information that will let me judge which movies to watch.

x42

Rotten Tomatoes is a decent site for this, as it gives an array of critics to peruse, but also gives you the audience reaction. (Which, depending on the film, I weigh higher.) Plus, you can use it to see what's showing where you are. rottentomatoes.com

You also might check and see if there is local library which has devices and comfortable viewing spaces, as well as either DVD or digital downloads you can use on site. Depending on the city, you might hit a jackpot with that.

I seldom go to the cinemas these days, as I work at a library and have a giant flat screen at home, not to mention that the DVD/Blu-Ray releases these days are within a handful of months of the screen showings. I just watched Spider-man: Into the Spider-verse this way (which also allows me to subtitle the film), and it was in theaters just a few months back. (Surprisingly good animated film, with a lot of humor, truly imaginative mix of animation styles, and considerable heart.)

What city are you working in?

I have looked at Rotten Tomatoes. For Alita the critics there would have had me giving it a miss. It was almost as if they were watchibg a different film but the audience reaction was like mine. For Captain Marvel the critics to my mind over praised but not by much (perhaps me not used to how they write)and something wierd was happening with the audience reaction stuff and they were blaming trolls.

If this was not normal I'll give it anouther try.

The City is Edinburgh Scotland. I'm fairlly knowledible about what I can use but the time I have to waste things are either not avialable or crowded.

Thanks

x42

Does that read all right. My spell checker and dylexia soft ware seem to have swtched off

Okay, wow, Edinburgh. I can't help you there. But if I were stuck with three or so hours to kill in Edinburgh everyday, it'd be a long time before I wound up selecting the movies as a way to pass time! But then, I'm an American who dreams of visiting there, not a native, so I'd be in full born tourist mode. (Guess I should have snuck a peek at the profile, eh?)

You might look and see if there's a local "classic" cinema that shows original films from earlier decades. We've got a couple here in the Nashville area, and their picks range widely in genre and time period, but are generally always fun.

80 years is enough time for familiarity to breed contempt. All the touristy bits of Edinburgh have been well covered.

I really am ignorant of everything to do with films, videos on YouTube have been about my limit and only short ones. Judging what will keep me happy for two hours is not easy and the internet does not seem to be helping.

The next choose seems to be between ‘Dumbo'and ‘Alita' again.

x42

Yegads, no! Save yourself, man!

If you have access to a computer and can logon in to utube go to the "Dust" channel. It shows independent SF and Fantasy films, some of which are cinema quality. These are short films (15 to 25 minutes) and the cost is free.

on previous visits to Edinburgh i remember that there were lots of interesting bookstores that i spent a lot of time in.

i don't know how many are still open but it is easy to spend a few hours just browsing

StoneMtnMinis
Thanks. I'll make use of that but it does not help with this problem which is as much to get a roof over my head for the two hours as anything else.

Redblack
Yes I do that but the smaller more specialist ones open a bit late and there is a limit to how often and long that entertains as does any other window shopping.

It's a mater of getting as many different things to fill those hours as I can and the cinema is a relativly cheep one that I am ignorant as to the best way to use it.

Thank you both

x42

Does that read OK my dyslexia soft ware picked up nothing which is practically unheard off

Looks fine to me.

Rotten Tomatoes … For Alita the critics there would have had me giving it a miss … but the audience reaction was like mine.

Rotten Tomatoes provides the audience reaction ratings to offset the critics ratings for exactly this situation. It is also helpful to 1) watch the trailer to see if the movie looks good to you; and 2) look at the top few positive and negative reviews which usually summarize each point of view so you can decide whether the negative reviews come from a perspective you don't share. Or do.

For Captain Marvel the critics to my mind over praised but not by much … and something weird was happening with the audience reaction stuff and they were blaming trolls.

This is a relatively new phenomenon which so far has only happened for a couple of movies. Essentially some highly motivated trolls tried to sabotage the movie ratings. (Actress Brie Larson made some public pro-inclusive comments and apparently a vocal minority of anti-Social Justice Warriors felt upset enough to try to sabotage the film's success.) To the site's credit, they took public action to control the effect.

CeruLucifus

I think I'll give the critics ratings a miss as I've now read quite a number of their reviews of the films I've watch this last month and in general they do not fit my opinions. I'll read the audence ones after the first week and judge from them. I'm not sure about the trailers Alita's ones (viewed after seeing It) would not have encouraged me to see it.

With better weather I might give a miss altogether so only if it rains.

thank you

x42

Check out my blog for encapsulated comments: link

I will add two new reviews tonight for 'Hotel Mumbai' and Justin Peele's 'Us.'