What to watch, what not to watch... That seems to be the question for a movie buff like me every Friday.
Earlier it used to be so easy to choose. Read a few genuine reviews, and make up your mind where you are going to spend that 100 Rupees, which mind you included post movie dinner cost too. Or simply still, just watch every film of Hrishi da, Basu Bhattacharya, Prakash Mehra, Manmohan Desai etc... How wrong will they go. And for the art and regional cinema, DD was the prime choice.
Now, of course, there are thousands of reviewers posting their thoughts, 20 who are respectable, maybe 5 who you really think know what they are talking about. And there are a possible 2 who don't care about any production house or producer or director, and give a no holds barred review.
But I always feel a reviewer can only suggest a movie you should watch or junk. The ultimate decision is always an individuals. I will not go watch a movie just because the reviews are great. They present the pros and cons, and then if I decide to go, and hate the film, I cant blame it entirely on the review.
Now, Having said that, I do believe it is the responsibility of a true reviewer to present a no frill, unbiased review of the film. Their personal likes, dislikes, agendas, favorites, future producers etc etc can not color the truth when writing a film review. But sadly, this seems to be the case with most of the reviewers.
The coterie exists and we can not deny it. There are reviewers who look down upon certain stream of Hindi Cinema and go ga-ga over even an average film of another school.
Ours is a country where a "EMAET" co-exists with a "Paan Singh Tomar", a LPNY co-exists with a "Kahaani" a "Sholay" co-exists with "Shatranj Ke Khiladi". Vive La Difference,and next time you read a review, just treat it like one. Make up your OWN mind, see what You like.
After all, its your money you are going to spend, not a private screening like they probably had it for that name appearing as the reviewer!
Earlier it used to be so easy to choose. Read a few genuine reviews, and make up your mind where you are going to spend that 100 Rupees, which mind you included post movie dinner cost too. Or simply still, just watch every film of Hrishi da, Basu Bhattacharya, Prakash Mehra, Manmohan Desai etc... How wrong will they go. And for the art and regional cinema, DD was the prime choice.
Now, of course, there are thousands of reviewers posting their thoughts, 20 who are respectable, maybe 5 who you really think know what they are talking about. And there are a possible 2 who don't care about any production house or producer or director, and give a no holds barred review.
But I always feel a reviewer can only suggest a movie you should watch or junk. The ultimate decision is always an individuals. I will not go watch a movie just because the reviews are great. They present the pros and cons, and then if I decide to go, and hate the film, I cant blame it entirely on the review.
Now, Having said that, I do believe it is the responsibility of a true reviewer to present a no frill, unbiased review of the film. Their personal likes, dislikes, agendas, favorites, future producers etc etc can not color the truth when writing a film review. But sadly, this seems to be the case with most of the reviewers.
The coterie exists and we can not deny it. There are reviewers who look down upon certain stream of Hindi Cinema and go ga-ga over even an average film of another school.
Ours is a country where a "EMAET" co-exists with a "Paan Singh Tomar", a LPNY co-exists with a "Kahaani" a "Sholay" co-exists with "Shatranj Ke Khiladi". Vive La Difference,and next time you read a review, just treat it like one. Make up your OWN mind, see what You like.
After all, its your money you are going to spend, not a private screening like they probably had it for that name appearing as the reviewer!
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