I am currently working on a DVD review portion of my site. If you have a chance, could you just view one of the below reviews and let me know if you like the layout and/or review. Also - do I need to add anything? Any other information you'd like to see?

DVD Reviews Front Page
» Blade DVD Review
» Mallrats DVD Review
» 8MM DVD Review
» Austin Powers 1 DVD Review
» Apollo 13 DVD Review
» Ferris Bueller's Day Off DVD Review

I'm terribly sorry if this belongs in the Other forum because there really isn't a DVD review in my post, but I thought that I'd get more feedback here. I should know the rules by now - so move me if you like...

=Blake=
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I checked out the review for APOLLO 13. Nice layout, and I love the ability to add my vote for the disc's quality--that's something completely unique. I only have a few possible revisions. I would move the sypnosis of the film up top, before the review proper. I would specify that "Lost Moon: The Making of APOLLO 13" is a documentary featurette, and possibly list its running time. I would also list any "Easter eggs", such as the fact that James Horner's entire score for the film plays over the main menu in Dolby Digital 5.1. Otherwise, you're in good shape!

I read your Blade Review & I must say, I really like both the review & the page. It's a plus that you have so many retailers links attached to the review. Additionally, I really liked being able to "rate" the film not only for myself but for those who may be thinking about picking up this title. A++ all the way around!

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42...Level 42




[This message has been edited by buckee1 (edited 11-24-1999).]

I personally don't think your subjective opinion on a movie's quality should have any sway in the overall rating. Tastes and opinions are different for everyone and it imposes a false rating for the titles.

Just my two cents

Mostly, I thought your reviews were quite well organized and full of information. Which is good. The only things I can think of to make them more helpful to the casual observer is:

(a) make it clear what the DVD rating is for (the one that we vote on) because some people seemed to have interpreted it as what they thought of the MOVIE (based on the low rating for Blade--I can see how someone might dislike the film, but the disc is reference quality in every respect) whereas I interpreted it as what I thought of the DISC (i.e., quality of picture/sound/extras)

(b) your price-factor is sort of irrelevant unless you mean "value" because anyone can look at the MSRP (which you listed) and note that it is either $20 (good) $25 (average) $30 (poor) or > $30 (unacceptable).

(c) I admit I only have the benefit of looking at the reviews linked to in this article, but I noticed that the scores seemed kind of inflated such that it's hard to tell a great-extras movie from a fair-extras movie, for example. Clearly, opinions may differ on this, but I'd give Austin Powers a "10" in extras, because it has pretty much everything you could want. You gave it an "8" and then a "7" to 8mm, which just had a commentary. I'd figure that with such little extras, it would merit more like a "4". But maybe I'm just a hard grader. Anyway, I can't really tell if you're being fair by just looking at those reviews--it'd be nice to see a DVD you didn't like so much, to get a feel for where you stand. Because if you give everything high marks, then you lose credibility. Just a suggestion.

--Apparition

Blake, what I would like to see (and maybe it's listed somewhere) is a page of your home theater equipment that you use to evaluate the quality of the video and audio content of the DVD in question. On the video side, I'd like to know if the picture looks good in the standard 4:3 downconverted mode (and what size TV was used in watching the DVD), or if you are able to watch the video in 16x9 mode with a 16x9 TV. Also I'd like to know how the audio sounds (whether it be in mono, stero, pro-logic, dolby digital 5.1, dts 5.1, etc) and what kinds of equipment was used to listening to the audio.

I ask this because there are some really crappy DVD transfers of movies I like, and I'd like to know which ones to avoid like the plaque, and which one to snap up in a hurry.

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PatCave ;HT Pix ;Pat's DVDs

Thanks for all the replies - keep them coming. I'm just gonna address some subjects raised here:

» Filmmaker - I have to find somewhere to put the easter eggs, but I'll add them - thanks for the suggestion and I know there's a site that lists them - anyone have the URL?

» Gallant Pig & Apparition - I'm in the process of adding definitions for all of the different rating criterias. I'll look into how I factor in the Movie Rating as it definitely is subjective.

» Apparition - I'll change the price factor to "value" because that is what I meant. Also, as stated above I'm going to add definitions for each rating. My extras rating was a bit skewed for the 8MM disc because I loved the commentary and even though that's the only extra, it's worth it.

» I'll add a page stating the equipment used to review the discs. Basically, it's a 36" Sony (Non-Widescree) with a Dolby 5 channel surround system. I'd love to be able to review these in 16x9, but until a studio sends me one to review them on, it'll be a while.

=Blake=
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Blake, there are several, but this one is my favorite, and seems to be the most comprehensive:

www.dvdreview.com/html/hidden_features.shtml

Did some code tweaking and just wondering if the ?'s help for ratings and user rating.

Ferris Bueller Review

=Blake=
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You need to include more than just language but also have DD 5.1 or Stereo etc.

In terms of how the different factors relate to one another, I'd go with Gallant Pig's suggestion and remove your opinion of the movie from having an effect on the overall rating. Then, the overall rating should be (Picture + Audio + Extras + Value) / 4.

And Value should be a function of P, A and E as they relate to PRICE. For example, a DVD that has 10s in P,A, and E should only get a 10 in value if it meets the perfect price point ($20). I hate those sites that give Bug's Life:CE (to pick an example) a 10 in "value" just because it's a great disc otherwise. That's completely bogus. Maybe it should get a 10 in everything else, but a 10 in value should only come when there's 10s in P, A and E AND the good price is met. Personally, I've NEVER seen a 10 in value because to get that I'd have to find a reference quality disc at $19.99 MSRP. I have seen a bunch of 9 values (e.g., Matrix). Bug's Life may be better technically than the Matrix (another great disc), but in terms of VALUE, I'd think the Matrix would be way ahead at 1/2 the price. Bugs Life would probably get about a 5 in value, a 0 being horrible price and bad ratings and a 10 being great price and great ratings.

Also, if I was the reviewer, a DVD would not be eligible for a 9 or 10 in video unless it is anamorphic (except for intentional 1.33/1.66 DVDs) and would lose major points for being in the WRONG aspect ratio (e.g., Karate Kid) and would not be eligible for a 10 in audio unless it is 5.1 digital. Granted, Casablanca therefore is not going to get a great rating in audio, but that's life. Most people wouldn't buy it for the audio anyway.

The most important thing in my mind is to not let your opinion of the FILM sway your opinion of the DVD because most people are looking whether they should get the movie on DVD (based on the picture, audio, etc.) and already know whether they like the movie or not. You hating a movie and saying therefore value = 4 is not going to matter to someone who loves the film. Thus, you'd probably have to give Wild Wild West a great review and a recommendation to purchase IF the reader likes the film. Nobody should get a movie they don't like.

Ok, I'll shut up now.

--Apparition