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Are you seeing stars?
Published: 6/5/2007 2:12 PM
Last Modified: 6/5/2007 2:12 PM

You’ve heard that you can’t believe what you read in the newspaper? Don’t believe it.

But when it comes to the movies section of the Tulsa World’s Web site, you’re seeing too many stars – if you see any at all.

Visitors to www.tulsaworld.com can easily find the entertainment section, and from there the spot to click for movie information. What immediately pops up is a listing of films showing in Tulsa, which seems handy.

But immediately beneath the movie name is a collection of stars, which most are familiar with in regard to a quality rating for films.

To clear up any confusion – which I’ve had to do on several occasions for readers – these star-ratings on the Web site are not entered by myself, James Vance or Kim Brown, the World’s film writers.

The calls usually go something like this: “Mr. Smith, you gave “Shooter” three stars, but on the Web site, you gave it two stars. You gave “Georgia Rule” one star, but on the Web site, you gave it two stars. That doesn’t make sense.”

You are correct, caller. You’re also right about these Web site star-ratings using five stars, a system used by, oh, practically no one anymore. We use the more universal four-star ratings at the Tulsa World.

When we give something two stars out of four, and the Web site lists two stars out of five, it just doesn’t add up.

So just who is this Web site judge of film quality? Nobody seems to know. The best answer I’ve received is that these ratings are included by the company that supplies our show times for Tulsa movies.

The show times are helpful to all, as many of you looking for a movie on the weekend have found by checking our site. But these anonymous reviews help no one. Don’t trust them.

Some movies on the site have no star-rating at all. One example is “The Ultimate Gift,” the film by Tulsa native Jim Stovall to which I gave a three-star rating, but on the Web site it’s given no stars. I’ll assume this means that Mr. or Mrs. Anonymous didn’t see the movie.

However, consider the case of the horror film “Vacancy,” also listed with no stars. This putrid picture could have earned that score from some, but is that the case here? Or was it also not reviewed? It’s a mystery.

Tulsa World Web site guru Jason Collington says that someday this will all change. The movies will include Tulsa World reviewers’ star-ratings. Any films that we don’t review will say “Not reviewed” rather than no stars.

This sounds easy enough. However, I understand that with all the procedural changes occurring at the Tulsa World these days, our little film rating system probably rates about one star on the list of priorities.

But the newspaper business is one in which we hold people accountable when they say they’re going to do something. So good luck, Jason.

Everyone else, stay tuned, and when you visit our site, take that one extra step by clicking on the “movie reviews” icon to see our full film write-ups – and stars – that you can trust.

Reader Comments

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Courtney Crockett (6 years ago)

I, personally, think that you are one of the most gifted film aficionados in this part of the country and am relieved to hear your explanation behind these occurrences. Now I know which rating to trust and which to ignore. Thank you for the page as well. This will ensure to help all of us decided which films are worth our time and which films are better left unseen.

Courtney

Jason Ashley (6 years ago)

I, too, think you rock the Casbah or however it's spelled. Keep up the good work!

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I See Movies for Free

“I was born a poor, black child” … not me, actually, but Steve Martin’s character in the “The Jerk.” That absurd opening line is just one of the absurd number of film facts, quotes and minutiae contained in movie critic Michael Smith’s brain, at his disposal to toss out on a moment’s notice. It’s a key requirement as Tulsa World film critic to know these things. Michael learned a few other life facts along the way (seven years as a Crystal’s Pizza & Spaghetti manager) before attempting journalism and joining the Tulsa World in 1996, where he’s covered everything from a school shooting in Fort Gibson to a tornado in Stroud to witnessing an execution. A little community theater coverage was sprinkled in there, too. Movies engender many of his happiest memories, from standing in line for “Star Wars” and “Grease” at the Southroads Cinema to the James Bond and Pink Panther movies that always premiered at the enormous Continental Theater.

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Past Articles By Michael Smith

2/16/2013		Broken Arrow movie theater moves to discount showings
2/15/2013		Review: 'Amour'
2/15/2013		Review: 'A Good Day to Die Hard'
2/15/2013		Review: 'Beautiful Creatures'
2/14/2013		Review: 'Quartet'
2/14/2013		Shirley MacLaine to speak at Osage Casino
2/14/2013		Weekly rewind: February 14
2/14/2013		REVIEW: 'Beautiful Creatures'
2/12/2013		Belgian best picture hopeful 'Amour' opens in Tulsa on Friday
2/10/2013		'Die Hard' marathon at AMC Southroads on Wednesday ends with new film
2/9/2013		Review: 'Identity Thief' a stupid movie from stupid idea
2/8/2013		Oscar audit: Critics choices for best picture hold up over time

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