How do you rate movies?

I use Letterboxd to rate everything I see, so I use the 1/2 Star to 5 Star system. I use 4-5 Stars for movies I love. 3-3/12 for movies I like. 2-2 1/2 are movies I’m lukewarm on or didn’t like. Anything below is something I would never even consider watching again.

The way my brain works, I have trouble getting a firm grasp on my thoughts of a film outside of how much I enjoyed it until the 2nd watch. That’s just how my brain works, so I definitely encourage rewatches. But if you’re serious about watching movies with a critical mind, then read and watch a lot. Read criticism or essays online. Buy some books on film form, style, history, on specific directors or genres you like. Take classes if there are some in your high school or college. Or even take advantage of the free yearly summer class that TCM holds every year. Try to learn as much as you can.

When you’re watching films think about the film in context of the history of film or the genre or the country it was made in. Think about how the artists are using image, sound, acting, movement, composition, etc to tell the story or to express their ideas.

Definitely just watch a lot and pay attention to what you’re watching, and talk about films with other people.

Most of the time, after watching the movie I read about it on reddit. To see other people's perspective. To check on some key moments or details I might have missed or didn't catch on. Last movie I watched and immediately read about it here was Blue Valentine.

A 5-point scale. No half points, you have to commit.

5 - Masterpiece, something I'll watch over and over. Blade Runner 2049.

4 - Very good. A must see if you like the genre. Arrival.

3 - Decent, a weeknight time waster. Any Liam Neeson movie since Taken.

2 - Pretty bad but maybe something entertaining if you are kind of in the mood for a shitty movie. Jurassic World.

1 - Hot garbage, nothing redeemable. Justice League.