Film Ratings

I rate films on a 0 to 10 scale. My typical rating would be 5/10 for the average film and 6/10 for a film with a few outstanding points, be it script, exceptional acting, excellent art direction, 7/10 and 8/10 for a film with a strong script and some memorable scenes and so forth. Most films from Hollywood would be 5/10. A bell curve. Here is the key to my ratings on a 0 to 10 scale.

9-10 - A cinematic masterpiece which I like. Films that attain this level will include Fellini's 'La Strada', Welles' 'Citizen Kane', Gilliam's 'Brazil', Coopola's 'Apocalyse Now Redux', 'Yojimbo', 'Trainspotting', 'Bleu', 'Blanc', 'Rouge', 'The Fight Club', 'Full Metal Jacket', '2001: A Space Odyssey', 'Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb', 'Amelie from Montmartre'


7- 8 - A strong film with plotting. Above average but generally worthwhile. Films in this category will include 'Hot Fuzz', 'Memento', 'The Machinist', 'American Psycho', 'Raiders of the Lost Ark', 'Zodiac', 'Seven', 'Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels', 'The Ninth Gate', 'In the Mouth of Madness', 'Casino Royale', 'The Brave One', 'L.A. Confidential', 'Delicatessen', 'The Brothers Grimm', 'Lust, Caution', 'Nights of Cabira', 'The Bicycle Thieves', 'Platoon', 'Eyes wide shut', 'eXistenZ', 'Thirteenth Storey'

5-6 - A typical run of the mill piece. It can be competent but nothing extraordinary. The majority of movies released are rated at 5.0. A movie at 5.0 is not necessarily bad, it is merely the median. They are worth watching generally if one enjoys the subject matter and genre. Films in this category will include 'Paycheck', 'First Blood', 'Fantastic Four', 'When Harry met Sally', 'Lost in Translation', 'Chocolate', 'Resident Evil: Extinction', 'Panic Room', 'Transformers', 'Daywatch', 'Nightwatch', 'The Diving Bell and the Butterfly', 'Kung Fu Panda', 'Leaving Las Vegas', 'The Deaths of Ian Stone', 'Angel (The Real Life of Angel Deverell)', 'Narco: The Secret Adventures of Gustave Klopp', 'The Matrix', 'The Transporter', 'The Transporter 2', 'Crank'

3-4/10 - Typical but marred by one or two irritating flaws. Derivative and exploitative possibly. Examples of movies at this score would include 'The Last Samurai', 'Radio On', 'Otoko-tachi no Yamato', 'From Hell', 'The Last Crusade', 'Get smart', 'Mars attacks', 'Batman', 'Batman returns', 'Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon', 'I not stupid', 'Battlefield Earth', 'V for Vendetta', 'The Matrix Revolutions', 'The Matrix Reloaded', 'Superman returns', 'League of Extraordinary Gentlemen', 'Serenity'

1-2 - Abysmal. Incomplete. Marred by technical flaws, bad script, bad acting, bad acting, incoherence. 'The Green Berets', 'Mr and Mrs Smith', 'Knocked Up', 'Equilibrium'

0 - This deserves derision for a variety of reasons. I haven't really found any film that deserves this as of this point.

After watching a film, I find that the immediate exuberance of the film, the images lingering in my mind, the manipulation of the director and everything will usually result in a higher rating from me, usually by an addition 0.5 to 1.0. Upon reflection and also comparison with previous films over the years, I will moderate the score. For instance, 'The Dark Knight' would be a 7/10 for me rather than an 8/10.