Why can't magazines give real reviews about movies?

Question

Everytime you hear a review on tv, it's like "news week calls this move, superb, an action packed thriller". When i go to see a movie and someone asks me how was the movie i usually say "eh, it was ok", "i wouldn't buy it" or "if i were you i'd wait till it comes out on DVD". Why won't magazines give real reviews like normal people would? You know, Newsweek says "eh, it was ok".

Answer 1

It seems whenever reveiws are good the movie sux and when the reveiws suck the movies rock

Answer 2

If you are talking about the reviews used in previews, obviously the production company will only use the best reveiws to promote the movie. To say, "The movie was pretty good. The chicks were hot and the explosions were AWESOME" will never make it to a TV preview. I'm with you on this... it's just never gonna happen. The reviews you are looking for would be from something like movies.com or something similar.

Answer 3

Amazing how far advertising dollars go towards what a magazine will say about the movie. Not to mention that most "movie critics" have very specific tastes that they like and if the movie branches out from that, they become more in tune with what was said at the press junket rather than the picture itself.

Answer 4

many times the magazines are owned by the same company that is producing the movie.

thats why I check with independant critics like Roger Ebert. I dont always agree with his reviews, but he always gives an honest appraisal of the film.

Answer 5

Unfortunately, the media will give you a watered down, reviewed, review of movies. If they were to give you an actual review, like you and I would -- who knows what it might cost them

Answer 6

they get paid to say good things