“Critical Viewing” – the best words I can think of to describe films as more than just entertainment.
It’s very similar to critical thinking which is the ability to effectively analyze information and form a judgment – but on cinema instead of with thoughts.
As much as I love watching movies, I rarely find one that inspires, enlightens or generates insight for me. So for that reason, I’m a tough critic at least for myself. Ironically, uninspiring movies have inspired me to write this post. For example; as I quickly went through a recent film festival guide with speed dating precision, countless films felt unworthy of my attention, sad to say.
So…does that make me a movie snob? Or are there just not that many seemingly great movies out there any more? I’m talking about a majority of just so-so films. Obviously there are some greats past and present – just not an abundance.
I read somewhere that If you can sit through 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY, without blinking an eye, that you are either a movie buff or dead.
Then there’s the much more serious Cinephile. I’m certainly more of a movie buff than a “Cinephile.”
The word “Cinephile” sounds pretentious, although it refers to an educated film consumer with the tool kit needed to distinguish average films from outstanding ones. Yes, I get that too; but the difference is I prefer to focus mainly on the story while appreciating costume, set design, etc. The “cinephile” pays attention to the allover art form for the way it is filmed, edited, the camera angles, and the use of colour and sound. While I appreciate all of this too, if the story isn’t something I’m personally interested in I don’t care about the rest. Sometimes the director gets something in his/her head that they want to convey but which just doesn’t come across clearly to the audience. You’re left guessing as to what they were trying to communicate. And there’s nothing entertaining in that.
Anyway, these days I want something to move me, to make me trigger an insight, educate me or cause me to want to better myself or inspire me to create something, cook something or travel somewhere.
Life that imitates Art. Art that imitates Life – can be either good or bad. You know what I mean? There’s a lot of crap out there. Art for art’s sake is not good enough. I’d much rather watch a low budget documentary than a high budget mediocre Hollywood blockbuster.
Maybe my category is just a “lover of movies that move me.”
Trailer Trashing:
Is watching the trailer important? Depends. It can ruin the surprise as sometimes it gives too much away, sometimes it gives it ALL away, and sometimes it makes you turn away.
Some of my favorite past picks for:
Inspiration: Forrest Gump, The Blind Side, Dead Poets Society, Erin Brockovitch, Rocky.
Enlightenment: Good Will Hunting, Life of PI, Shawshank Redemption, Ghost.
Insight (into people or animals – documentaries are best for this): Searching for Sugarman, My Octopus Teacher, Wolf of Wall Street.
Epic: The Godfather I, II, etc., Gone With The Wind.
Escape: ET, Lost in Translation, Vicky Cristina Barcelona, Dirty Dancing.
Comedy: Bridesmaids, The Producers, Planes, Trains & Automobiles.
How about you? What’s your preference?
My previous post on Critical Thinking:
Has Critical Thinking Gone Out of Style?
Girl Who Would be KING on Life, Style and INSPIRATION. 
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