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BostonNOW's idea of movie reviewing
Aug. 5th, 2007 12:19 amOn my way home after the Aquarium trip, I found that I was not in the mood for any of the illustrated animal stories in my bag, so I picked up a copy of _Boston Now_ to read while waiting for the bus. Yikes.
I hardly ever watch movies, but I read a fair number of movie reviews. I realize that it can be harder than it looks to write a good review, because the qualities of review are different from the kind of book report people get practice writing in school. Then again, some combinations of sentences aren't good reports, and aren't useful reviews either.
The review of _Becoming Jane_ is by John Black.
Fans of the author--who rank among the most die-hard and dedicated fans of anyone--already know what happens, and far be it from any poor reviewer to reveal the secret in a review.
Oh, really? So it's still taboo to disclose "spoilers," even where they are well known to the audience and the story does not depend on suspense?
It's a good story, but does it make for a good movie?
Surprisingly, the answer is yes. Director Julian Jarrold and his cast do a great job of making this literary material palatable to a modern audience.
Is it surprising now, that a good story can also be a good movie? Or is the surprise that a movie can be good without lots of special effects?
I turned a few pages, and happened to see the movie add for this thing. I don't know if the publication has any influence on what ad they publish, or if they just sold a rectangle of empty space on the page to the (whatchamacallit. Like a publisher, only for movies) or if there are several ads and BostonNow picked the one they thought would appeal to their readers. The reviewer quote that seems to be emphasized is the top one:
"Guys, take her to see this one. She'll love you for it." (Details about the actors in small print with the citation.)
Right. Because obviously no man would ever want to see a movie about Jane Austen for its own sake. Or a romance for its own sake. *rolls eyes* Men aren't supposed to admit to being sentimental. They can't sell the movie to men with the movie, so they have to offer some unnamed whore who will put out for the price of a movie ticket.
I hardly ever watch movies, but I read a fair number of movie reviews. I realize that it can be harder than it looks to write a good review, because the qualities of review are different from the kind of book report people get practice writing in school. Then again, some combinations of sentences aren't good reports, and aren't useful reviews either.
The review of _Becoming Jane_ is by John Black.
Fans of the author--who rank among the most die-hard and dedicated fans of anyone--already know what happens, and far be it from any poor reviewer to reveal the secret in a review.
Oh, really? So it's still taboo to disclose "spoilers," even where they are well known to the audience and the story does not depend on suspense?
It's a good story, but does it make for a good movie?
Surprisingly, the answer is yes. Director Julian Jarrold and his cast do a great job of making this literary material palatable to a modern audience.
Is it surprising now, that a good story can also be a good movie? Or is the surprise that a movie can be good without lots of special effects?
I turned a few pages, and happened to see the movie add for this thing. I don't know if the publication has any influence on what ad they publish, or if they just sold a rectangle of empty space on the page to the (whatchamacallit. Like a publisher, only for movies) or if there are several ads and BostonNow picked the one they thought would appeal to their readers. The reviewer quote that seems to be emphasized is the top one:
"Guys, take her to see this one. She'll love you for it." (Details about the actors in small print with the citation.)
Right. Because obviously no man would ever want to see a movie about Jane Austen for its own sake. Or a romance for its own sake. *rolls eyes* Men aren't supposed to admit to being sentimental. They can't sell the movie to men with the movie, so they have to offer some unnamed whore who will put out for the price of a movie ticket.
