thedriveintheatre

The following was posted in reply to a P Planeteer’s enquiry about the nature of my prolific film-watching:

As most of you who know me online and in real-life would be aware of by now, I am a student contributor to my university magazine. Essentially, we contact the editor and enquire if there’s anything that needs reviewing in the office. Sometimes, she will tip us off if there’s a concert or gig ro attend, or a DVD screener or book sample that needs previewing. Usually I grab the film premieres and advance screenings. :)

I watched Rango at Paramount Studio’s theatrette and watched an advance screening of Hoodwinked Too! and Justin Bieber on their behalf. Most of my published reviews though are unsolicited (ie I wanted to submit a review of a film I recently watched with my own money). So basically all the films you see on my list except for the ones I mentioned, as well as Season of the Witch and Big Mommas (which I saw through my friend’s illegal copies while staying over at their place) are all paid for with my own money and seen in cinemas with my friends or alone. Oh, and Water for Elephants was a free redemption with a voucher I got from a loyalty programme.

I’ve even seen Rio and Cars 2 twice legitimately (with my 2nd viewing of Cars 2 in IMAX) and Kung Fu Panda 2 and Thor twice uh… illegitimately (theatre sneak-ins with friends after watching the first movie). So you can imagine how much cash I’ve spent in one cinema chain alone, especially since tickets typically go for $15 on weekends there.

I’m aware some people (like Harry Knowles, Peter Travers, or a Pixar blogger whose name I won’t mention) are invited to attend press screenings by the studio and they write glowing reviews to promote the movie. Of course, sometimes they may feel honest about their opinion, but then there’s always the possibility that they were simply impressed by the fact that they got to watch a movie before everyone else and hence rave about it.

I’m not that kind of person, if I hated a movie, I’ll say I hate it, whether I got a free pass or not. I gave Bieber 6/10 and Hoodwinked 4/10, for example. I’ve priased other movies like Kung Fu Panda 2 and Cars 2 which I forked out ridiculous amounts of my own cash (or to be exact, my parents’) to attend the premiere screening or see in a large-format like IMAX. If I like a movie, I will still try to think what aspects could be improved on. And of course, I try my best to remain objective. On a personal level, I enjoyed Hoodwinked Too! thouroughly because I dig spy movies and spoofs and parodies and mash-ups, but if I want to be professional, i’ll have to say it was an abysmal movie with sub-standard CGI and storytelling.

I think as reviewers, we must be confident in the knowledge that our opinions can’t be bought. We have to have that sort of integrity and conviction in our assessment of a film, and not be swayed by a studio giving you a free pass, or your university for that matter. A critic is not a PR-spokesperson.