[Benjamin]

Just wondering this question as I never, ever listen or care what a critic has to say about music, films, tv etc.

If I like or dislike it, I'll make my own mind up and not follow what they say or take it for face value. Now this is my opinion, I know some people follow critics very closely or will be swayed by decisions of them.

[Smithy]

Kind of, if someone gives something a scathing review, it's unlikely I'll go watch it/listen to it

[Locke.]

If it's a comedy then am not bothered what the critics say because it's not often you get one critically acclaimed anyway. I do with most other films though, unless it's got one of my favourite actors in it then I'll watch it anyway.

Not really bothered what music critics say, more than likely will have heard a few songs before listening to an album anyway.

[MTVN]

Music I dont care because it's easy to spend a couple of minutes listening to a song and form an opinion on it. Although with films I use critics to decide what I'm going to watch, dont want to waster 2 or 3 hours watching something which turns out to be utter crap. I find films a lot less subjective than music as well, whether it's good or bad is a lot more black and white

[Stu]

Not really single reviews, but the entire collective score a movie or game or whatever has been rated at is usually pretty telling nine times out of ten. Even in reverse cases when you are seeking out a bad movie for a point and laugh viewing experience. So I'll have to avoid the traditional 'critics dont mean **** to me coz' im a free spirit' stock answer.

That said you can only take critics advice on something like a movie at a certain level. Most movies I find are inherently enjoyable. Criticizing them is a different story. I love movies that I would give a 10/10 to for enjoyment but could still write a scathing review on all it's myriad of faults if I so wished.

Movie critics are just anal like that. But hey, that's their job. But yeah, I find most movies enjoyable.

[Benjamin]

Originally Posted by MTVN

Music I dont care because it's easy to spend a couple of minutes listening to a song and form an opinion on it. Although with films I use critics to decide what I'm going to watch, dont want to waster 2 or 3 hours watching something which turns out to be utter crap. I find films a lot less subjective than music as well, whether it's good or bad is a lot more black and white

When I was younger I used to follow the film critics more, but then I found that a lot of films were being given amazing reviews and I ended up find the film lacklustre or not to my taste.

[Angus]

Originally Posted by ukturtle

Just wondering this question as I never, ever listen or care what a critic has to say about music, films, tv etc.

If I like or dislike it, I'll make my own mind up and not follow what they say or take it for face value. Now this is my opinion, I know some people follow critics very closely or will be swayed by decisions of them.

Same here. I wouldn't care if I was the only one in the world who liked a particular play/film/book/singer, my opinion is the only one that matters to me - why do people need others' validation and approval before they decide whether or not to like something?

[Stu]

You make it - as ever - sound so serious to create a divide between how great you are and how menial the ordinary Joe is.

People don't need critics 'approval' or 'validation' before they allow themselves to like something. They just use them as a useful guide. Especially when it involves spending a massive amount of your hard earned cash on something.

[Niamh.]

If I read a bad review on a film it would probably turn me off seeing the film but If I'd seen a film and enjoyed it, reading a bad review afterwards wouldn't change my view on it. Having said that who ever reviews the films for the cinema I go to has completely different taste to me cos I never agree with their reviews so that particular reviewer wouldn't turn me off

[Callum]

I do tend to read film reviews and they sometimes sway my decision to watch them or not, especially with films I'm not sure that I want to see, but I've seen films which were critically panned yet I really liked. Same with music really, although I tend to care less about reviews these days, some journalists are so biased.

[GiRTh]

Originally Posted by Stu

You make it - as ever - sound so serious to create a divide between how great you are and how menial the ordinary Joe is.

People don't need critics 'approval' or 'validation' before they allow themselves to like something. They just use them as a useful guide. Especially when it involves spending a massive amount of your hard earned cash on something.

I agree. Reviews are only there to guide the user but can be a useful barometer even if a user thinks their views are right 100% of the time.

What do people think is the role of reviews? Is it to tell us whether they enjoyed a film or to tell us if we will enjoy the film. I ask cuz the lines have been blurred over the last few years.

[Shaun]

no have never cared ever x

[LemonJam]

I don't. I kind of compare music to food. People are told frequently that apples are good for you, I like apples but it doesn't mean that I'm not going to indulge in pizza if I like it. Of course when a piece of music has intelligence behind it then I'll appreciate it but that doesn't mean I'm going to download everything somebody like John Cage has ever done because he's an innovator. He's not to my taste but I have respect for what he does.

-reads post, realizes it makes no sense, but posts it anyway-

[Vicky.]

I dont care about reviews at all.

[InOne]

Nah, usually have an idea quite quickly if I'll like it or not anyway

[Kerry]

Very generally but on the most part, no. My taste varies too much so pointless trying to keep up with what Joe Bloggs thinks about what

[King Gizzard]

Nope, I just go on what my mates with the same taste say about it. Critics are generalised in most cases, even the ones that are writing for a set genre.

[30stone]

Not really if its a cheap like b movie type thing then sometimes you know it will be poor, but i always read bad reviews and think the movie is amazing.

[joeysteele]

Films I can enjoy even some of the worst depending what mood I am in. Music as someone said above takes a very short time for you to decide if you like a certain single or album.
I do read reviews but I have often found that I have enjoyed many Films that reviewers really slated.

They wouldn't influence me but I do read them.

[Crimson Dynamo]

I find it hard to read a review of anything I have not seen or heard

[James]

I like to listen to Mark Kermode's reviews on the radio, for entertainment value. Some times I agree with him, sometimes not. There are some print film critics that are pretty good to read too.

(Popular) music reviews though are generally pointless from a criticism perspective, musical taste is just too subjective and a lot of journalists, I find, like things just because they are currently fashionable.

[Tom4784]

I think it depends on the product and the quantity of reviews. A lot of films I'll go see regardless of reviews just because I like the look of it. If I'm unsure about it though and there's a lot of bad reviews from like minded people then I'll just wait until it's on Sky.

Music's a lot easier to judge yourself due to youtube and such so I don't pay any attention to music reviews.