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by Incandenza
Is it the cast?
Is it the concept?
How important is the director when making the decision?
Do you pay any attention to the opinions of the critics and if so, do you take a global view by comparing several opinions or is there one critic (or publication) whose opinions you trust?

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I'll be my usual self and sit on the fence on this one... it's a mix of all the above.

Personally I tend to look for a combination of director, concept and to some extent producer and cast. I'm sure a lot of people might say cast first and it is inevitably a factor, Star factor plays a huge part in modern life, we're all captivated by stars and their lives (albeit to different degrees) but I tend to think that with a good director and a good concept, a good film should hopefully be the result, whether there are big stars in it or not. Of course, there are particular stars I like, but whereas I would see a film simply because of who was directing it, I wouldn't go see a film because it had one particular actor in it. Not consciously anyway.

As far as critics go, if I agree with them i'll pay attention, but if I read a bad review but am still interested the review won't stop me going. I tend to read from a variety of sources too, broadsheet reviews, film magazine and internet sources usually.

Interesting question. I definetley don't watch a film for the director or cast. 95% of the films I see I couldn't tell you who'd directed it even after I'd watched it. Sure certain directors material catches my attention (Lucas immediatley springs to mind) but I don't rush to the cinema to see a film because it's directed by so & so. Same with the cast. There are actors I enjoy seeing on film but I don't watch every film they're in. I like Mel Gibson, Harrison Ford to name but two and I'm pretty sure I haven't seen either of their latest movies. The last Ford film I saw was Six Days Seven Nights and I couldn't tell you what the last Gibson film was.

In a way I take onboard the opinion of critics but only in so far as hearing about the films they've seen and what they thought of them. The most important thing to me is story content. I go to the movies to be told a story, to be entertained and thats what I look for in my movies. Sure I'll go check out the latest big hype blockbuster but I'll also go and see a film just because it looks interesting. However because I mainly go to a local cinema the choice is limited to the big hype.

The main thing that makes me decide to go to the cinema is the trailers before a film. If I see a trailer for an interesting film I'll remember and I'll make a point of going back to see it funds permitting. If I didn't enjoy the trailer all that much I'll just wait and 'see it when i see it'. I don't rent videos or DVD's unless I'm seeing somebody as I'd rather go out and meet people than sit in on my own and watch a film. If I am staying in I usually raid my brothers DVD collection for something I haven't seen.

So for me it's concept and a decent trailer that makes me decide what to watch.

(Edited by Milky 28/05/2003 14:02)

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by Milky
The last Gibson film I saw was The Sixth Sense

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Think you'll find that was Bruce Willis

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by Maffrew
(quotes)

Think you'll find that was Bruce Willis

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Ass, Kiss, My...make up the sentence

I got confused..so shoot me

When I used to have a UGC unlimited pass I went 3 times a week at least so the choice thing was never really an issue. I miss those days

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by Maffrew
(quotes)

Think you'll find that was Bruce Willis

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Although he was in Signs which was probably what Milky was thinking about

Cast and Director. Some films I will see just for these. Anything involving Ed Norton, Kevin Spacey, Kevin Smith or Spike Lee I'll probably see (funds and time allowing). But then they rarely make a bad film. Other actors and directors aren't so consistent. I love (in so many ways) Brad Pitt and Guy Pearce, but they have both made films that I wouldn't want to see even if my life depended on it.

I don't read film reviews. Prior advise I take from friends (particularly one who lives in the USA as he has a similar taste in film as me and usually gets to see them 6-12 months earlier), and weight it depending on how similar our tastes are.

Like Milky, trailers play a part. But not always a good one. I missed Usual Suspects at the cinema because it looked like a bad farce from the trailers I'd seen. In fact, I wasn't too keen a couple of years later when my girlfriend and a mate hired it from a video store to watch - got a bit of a shock when I finally watched it. Or on the other end of the scale would be Darkness falls, where I thought the trailer looked pretty good...

But mostly, I see films because the concept sounds interesting. Or because it doesn't sound awful. So anything associated with the appreviations 'Rom Com' get avoided. Anything sounding too mainstream and lacking in originality, or, y'know, a plot. Something that sounds like a lot of thought has been put into or appeals to my interests, those are the types of films I will generally go see.

As for waiting to see on video rather than at the cinema - I do this rarely. If I see a film for the first time on video its because I didn't fancy it at the time, or didn't have the mullah or the time. If a film interests me and a can see it at the cinema then I will.

i tend to ignore critics and *most* peoples comments i like to know if they enjoyed it or not but dont like to hear if "oh it was brilliant oh its so good!" or "utter crap dont go see it" coz i've found that when i've gone to see them the opersit has applied.
sometimes it's the casting mostly its the trailer or having caught a previous summery (before anyones seen it and it's just in production and all they have is the storyline) that sounds good or interesting.
There's only one director/writter that i would go see no matter what and that would be Master Kevin Smith.
When i first saw Mallrats in the video shop many many many many many many many many years a go i wouldnt touch it (i had never heard of Kevin Smith at that point or anything related) because it had shannon doherty on the front and it was not too long after 90210 i hated her lol i always used to look at it but she always put me off, then Slayerslut showed me the way of CLeRKS and then mallrats and have been a loyal fan ever since and will watch anything made by him thats possible for me to get my hands on.

i guess it just depends on what mood im in never fancied Changing Lanes the saw it in the video store and rented it still didnt get the chance to watch it but it does depend on what i'm in the mood for.

(Edited by EvilWillow 29/05/2003 00:34)