Welcome To THE IDIOT REVIEW Webpage
UPDATE: 10/07/06:
On this webpage, you will find movie reviews from one JJ Gauthier, myself in fact. Lacking any credentials for running a movie-review website other than a love of movies and internet access, I have no problem with calling this website what it is: a site whereby I can rant about what movies I like and don't like. Enjoy. Or don't.
My opinion will be different from either ordinary critics or ordinary teenagers. The former have a tendancy to give high marks to films that are intelligent and have good intentions, regardless of entertainment value. The latter, of course, like the exact opposite: energized, mindless action flicks and rude, crude, and socially unacceptable comedies. Essentially, critics usually like high-brow films, and teens like low-brow films. Of course, this isn't always the case: some mindless action flicks are given good reviews, and most teenagers will appreciate a well-made intelligent film like The Pianist provided you actually get them to sit down in front of it.
Personally, I try to be open to pretty much all genres. If I think a mindless sci-fi action flick, a silly comedy, or a zombie movie was the best film of the year, it'll be at the top of the year's top-ten list.
To my mind, a good film has three criterea on which to succeed: entertainment, emotion, and intelligence. It doesn't need all three to succeed, it just has to succeed on one. Preferebly, however, intelligence should not be the only one on which it works, or even the primary one; movies like that are boring. There are exceptions: there's 2001: A Space Odyssey, and then there's um... ah... well... Note to filmmakers: unless you're Stanley Kubrick, don't go for intelligence over audience involvement. Now, my preference for a film is to be entertaining, involving, and intelligent, but if it does either of the first two really well, as far as I'm concerned, it's a pretty good flick.
However, obviously, my tastes will affect what movies I like and don't like. I don't generally enjoy crude, raunchy comedies. There are exceptions, of course; I do like Kevin Smith's films, because, in addition to the disgusting humor, there's also wit, intelligence, and likeable characters. Also, they're frickin' hilarious.
My favorite kinds of films are big, long epics, preferebly of the historical brand, although non-historical ones are fine with me. Consequently, among my favorite films are Gone With The Wind, The Godfather Trilogy, Once Upon a Time In America, The Last of the Mohicans, The Longest Day, Heat, Ben-Hur, The Ten Commandments, Spartacus, and El Cid. I also have a special place in my heart for science fiction.
And, as a romantic, I do like really good romantic dramas like The Wings of the Dove and The Remains of the Day. However, despite these, I generally am willing to sit through just about any kind of film if well-made. I don't like slasher films, but I do like Psycho, Halloween, Nightmare on Elm Street, and Wes Craven's New Nightmare.
I have a habit of going back in time and writing top ten lists for previous years. It's annoying to never really know what James Berardinelli thought were the best films of 1990, or Roger Ebert thought of the movies of 1964. So, when I think I have a half-way decent list, I'll throw that on.
I should also note (don't worry - I'm almost finished) that I am a Christian, so I do find language, onscreen sexuality, nudity, and extreme or gratuitous blood and guts to be offensive and a flaw in filmmaking. I don't always mention it, but keep in mind that my reviews do come form that worldview. I do try to include the MPAA rating on the information bars on the left of the screen when I remember, and put what I think it was rated for, rather then what they say, since the MPAA is not very good at being distinct with their reasoning.
Finally, remember, this is from someone with a love of movies and talking about them. My opinion may not be high-brow; it's just my opinion. If it gets you to go out and see a movie you never would have, and then enjoy it, or see something good or bad in a film you hadn't thought of, or if you're just entertained, my job is accomplished.
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