novelty!

This is very exciting for me.  Blogging is something I have always wanted to do - I'm not going to lie.  But, like journaling, I have inevitably given up time and time again.  These days, everything is on my computer.  I have submitted to the wonders of gmail and g-calendar, and there is no question that I am a huge fan of the ole' facebook.  The only time I ever exercise my own handwriting anymore is during class.  Thankfully, I am frequently impressed with the preservation of my penmanship.  But I digress...

This blog has a lot to do with me.  Objectivity is overrated, and, I think, nonexistent anyway.  I have discovered that I am increasingly interested in my own process of judging the movies I watch.  I think a lot and I remember more than I even think I know.  I'm considerate, and I mean that in 2 ways.  First, I don't tolerate distracting people in movie theatres, and I don't leave during the credits (-- I could rant about this for hours, and may do so at some point).  Second, I really think about what I'm experiencing during, and after, a movie.  I don't make judgments lightly and I regard myself a pretty fair judge.  

I have invented a pair of grading rubrics which mimic my thought process.  That is, they are written based on my already-developed process of judgment, not the other way around.  I recognize that people have varying criteria, but I think mine are pretty solid.  Thus far, I have one for narrative film and one for documentary film.  Regardless, any feature length movie is capable of reaching 50 points maximum (-- I will modify a rubric if I decide to review any short films or fundamentally experimental work).  So, once I have a total score out of 50, I can also simplify that into a five-star rating, which is common on a lot of movie review sites.  I probably will use half-stars though... we'll see.

NARRATIVE RUBRIC

STORY  = {writing / 5} + {insight / 5}

SOUND  = {effect / 5}

AESTHETIC  = {cinematography / 5} + {art direction / 5}

ACTING  = {casting / 5} + {direction / 5} + {performances / 5}

EMOTIONAL IMPACT  = {concurrent emo effect / 5} + {extended emo effect / 5}

DOCUMENTARY RUBRIC

STORY  = {worthy / 5} + {flow / 5} + {insight / 5}

SOUND  = {effect / 5}

AESTHETIC  = {cinematography / 5} + {creativity / 5}

CHARACTER  = {subject focus / 5} + {direction / 5}

EMOTIONAL IMPACT  = {concurrent emo effect / 5} + {extended emo effect / 5}

Questions?  Comments?  Clarifications?  I'm really interested to see who's checking this out!  I will include my first entry soon enough, probably over the weekend.  Love to hear from you!  Another reason I wanted to do this is to hear others' opinions as well -- so vocalize!  That's half the fun.