Hard-hitting Netflix issue, because I'm not afraid to ask the tough one.

[jobycom]

So if you watch a movie that you didn't like, but you think others probably would like it, do you rate it based on your preference or on what others thought of it?

I know, I know, this is hard fodder for the Lounge, but it might just be too volatile for GD.

I just watched "Moon." Boringest, most predictable, most repetitive thing I've seen all day. The director--David Bowie's son--has an obvious hatred of any emotional substance, and seems to think that banal intellectual insights bludgened with a sledgehammer rather than developed at any depth are a good substitute (they aren't, that's why God invented non-fiction). On the other hand, despite being a sophomiric idea of a mind-blowing dilemma, it was well-acted, well shot and edited, had great sets, a very good premise, and honestly, though it's not my cup of tea, I can see how a lot of people would like it.

What to do, what to do? Oh well, I think I'll drink a coke and worry about it a few more hours, then put off the decision a while longer. It's a tough one. I need your advice, Loungaholics.

[Forkboy]

1. Tell everyone to fuck off and stop being so nosey about what you just watched.

Signed,
Someone not yet on Netflix

[Crystal Clarity]

2. Rate it on your own taste

I like the rating system because it helps customize my choices. But that's just me. :-)

[flvegan]

3. A pile of shit, no matter how well formed, sitting in the most beautiful field

and surrounded by the tastiest apples on the biggest trees is still a pile of shit.

[siligut]

4. One man's pile of shit . . .

Is this guy's banquet

jobycom, I view Netflix's rating system as kind of like the first sorting at the post office. It will get your country and zip code right but after that it is a crap shoot. It seems to want to try, with all of the feedback it requests, but it is general, it pretends not to be, but it is and I don't see it refining the process anytime soon. So, don't take it too seriously.

I liked Moon. Throw-away people, memory implants, the instinct to survive . . . all of that interests me.

[TreasonousBastard]

5. Rate it the way YOU liked it-- the system is designed to...

come up with recommendations for you, not the rest of the world. Besides, why would you presume to know what others think? Even if they told you?

You could, of course, muddy the waters by writing on of those mini reviews.

[elocs]

6. I don't know if I've ever rated anything.

Still waiting for the DU online streaming group with the promise that it might have been done the week of December 20: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=437x887

[Tikki]

7. I liked it....not the best I've ever seen...hardly the worst...

I don't rate every show they ask me to rate...even when they ask nicely.


Tikki

[blogslut]

8. I loved Moon

But you should rate a film however you want. If you didn't like it, you didn't like it.

[bikebloke]

9. Rate it what you want.

The director will never track you down...well, one caught up with me and gave me a thrashing...:)

I notice the freeps might be giving low star ratings to films that haven't even been theatrically released - like unrec's here. Especially if they're foreign.

[LoZoccolo]

10. Those other people who like it will rate it high.

If there really are as many of them as you think then it will be reflected in the aggregate rating. Everyone should rate it as they like and if it wins a high rating it wins.

[Forkboy]

12. Thinking that anyone's subjective opinion equals a "win" is your first mistake.

[LoZoccolo]

13. Tell that to Mary Lou Retton, who scored a perfect "10.0" based on the opinions of judges.

You want to take Mary Lou Retton's gold medal away!

[Forkboy]

14. LOL!

Happy New Year, LoZo!

[struggle4progress]

11. Just edit what you said:

If you want to see a well acted but banal, well shot but boring, well film but predictable and repetitive film, with great sets and a very good premise, that is nevertheless without any emotional substance, you'll love it!

:shrug:

[KT2000]

15. give it an OUCH!

that is what you get when you give it a 1 or whatever the lowest score is.

[NV Whino]

16. It's your rating

not every Tom, Dick and Mary's. Don't like it, mark it down.