MovieChat Forums > General Discussion > Rate my rating systems please

Rate my rating systems please

posted a year ago by StoneKeeper (27085)
48 replies | jump to latest

Here I am once again, questioning my rating system for movies and asking for your opinion. You might be thinking. “Hey, if this Stonekeeper guy really thinks his rating system has any importance whatsoever on the surface of earth, well he’s wrong?” To this I would reply “Well, it depends on the perspective because from where I sit, it’s very important!”

And then to this you could reply “ But Stonekeeper you’re crazy, can’t you see that…” But then I would interrupt and say…Aaargh, I’m done kidding away. Let’s be serious about this. This is my life we’re talking about.

Which of these two rating systems do you prefer, A (my previous system) or B (my current system)?

A (Edited after reading comments below):
10: Masterpiece/Favourite
 9:  Most excellent
8: Very good   
7: Good
6: Above average
5: Average  
4: Below average  
3: Bad  
2: Very bad  
1: Terrible

B:
10: Masterpiece/Favourite  
9.5: Near Masterpiece
9: Absolutely Outstanding
8.5: Most Excellent 
8: Great
 7.5: Very good
7: Good  
6.5: Pretty good 
6: Fine/Fun
 5.5: Average
 5: Below average
4.5: Mediocre
4: Bad
3: Very bad
2: Pure rubbish 
1: Dreadfully Abysmal and insulting/Not even worth watching

What I don’t like about my system rating A is the fact that 7 doesn’t really sound like a “very good” to me.

I have a sub question:

Put in a few words how you would describe those two ratings:
6/10
7/10

Thanks

[–] FredBurroughs (21600) a year ago

I think on any 1-10 scale, integers or without, should have 5 be the baseline of a movie. Anything below that is missing a fundamental component, but a 5 is kind of like recognizing that a movie is a technically complete and competently made final product.

A 6 would be something that you enjoy but hesitate to recommend, with a 6.5 something you'd tentatively recommend. A 7 is where we start getting into the territory of movies you both enjoy and would recommend to others. Higher ratings build upon those established merits.

[–] samoanjoes (57041) a year ago

I agree with all of this.

[–] Kowalski (76248) a year ago

FRED NAILED IT...ALSO...NUMBERS ROCKS...LETTERS ARE WEIRD...MY MOST COMMON RATINGS ON LETTERBOXD ARE 6 AND 6 1/2...MOST OF WHICH ARE FILMS I VERY MUCH ENJOYED.

[–] VinceD (9887) a year ago

Fred totally nailed it.

The only thing I can add is that, at least for me, anything rated a 4.5 and under is essentially a failed movie, and the actual numerical score becomes somewhat moot. Kind of like how the grading system in US schools works, where anything below 65% is an F, regardless of whether you score 15% or 55% — it's still an F.

Only in the case of movie reviews, it makes more sense to use 5 as the cutoff mark for a failed or passable movie for the reasons Fred laid out.

[–] FredBurroughs (21600) a year ago

Thank you, thank you, Vince!

The reasons might be granular, but indeed anything below a 5 would be an incremental way of rating a movie that doesn't work.

I think we can agree that Miracle Beach (1992) needs to be included in the MovieChat Movie Club lineup, though... if only for the cast alone!

[–] TrentnQuarantino (9218) a year ago

That makes sense. There also has to be a re-watchability factor.

A movie that is a 10 ( and get rid of the decimal point ) should be
more than a classic in that one can watch it over and over and
never get tired of it and always see new things in it.

For example
10 - Casablanca - historical classic that excels in every dimension
and can be watched and discussed over and over.
9 - 2001: A Space Odyssey - undoubtedly a classic, but is so slow
moving and hard to watch over and over and new aspects to.

On the other end a 1 should be something that is unwatchable. Maybe a 2 should be something that is unfinishable, or with severe problems.

This is all in my opinion of course.

I agree that a good movie should be a 5.
5 should be the baseline.

[–] samoanjoes (57041) a year ago

B. I think 7 should be considered "good". To me, a 5 would be an average film and a 6 would be above average. At least with a 7 it's entered the territory of the film actually being good.

[–] Kowalski (76248) a year ago

🙄THIS GUY SOUNDS LIKE HE HAS A SKULL FULL OF ROCKS AND A MOUTH FUL OF DICKS.

[–] samoanjoes (57041) a year ago

How can I have Dick's Sporting Goods buildings in my mouth?

[–] sslssg (34325) a year ago

What is your basis for good?

[–] StoneKeeper (27085) a year ago

Not sure I understand the question but I think it’s my own overall enjoyment and entertainment.

Is that what you meant?

[–] sslssg (34325) a year ago

That's exactly what I meant. 😁

[–] aliensalmon (5649) a year ago

I personally don't like numerical ratings, but whatever. I'll say I prefer B because of the higher precision of the ratings.

My reply to your subquestion:

6/10: Could use some work.
7/10: Decent

[–] StoneKeeper (27085) a year ago

Do you think “decent” and “average” are synonyms.

[–] aliensalmon (5649) a year ago

No. Decent is a little better than average, in my opinion.

[–] StoneKeeper (27085) a year ago

Thanks, that helps me.

What do you think of this updated system A:

10: Masterpiece/Favourite
 9:  Most excellent
8: Very good   
7: Good
6: Decent  
5: Average  
4: Mediocre  
3: Bad  
2: Very bad  
1: Terrible

[–] aliensalmon (5649) a year ago

It's fine. Provides enough information I guess. But then again, I prefer to use more...qualitative ratings rather than numerical ones - basically words over numbers. But that's just me.

I hope what I said now is also helpful.

[–] StoneKeeper (27085) a year ago

I’m french so that’s why sometimes words can be unclear to me.

Thanks again.

[–] TrentnQuarantino (9218) a year ago

You have to tie the ratings to something measureable, not just different adjectives that may be different for different people, or confusing for people who are not experts with English - like half the Americans here. ;-)

[–] OnanTheBarbarian (12133) a year ago

Throw out A.
10 Perfect and  9 Masterpiece  are usually the same thing.
4 is not Bad. It's just below average.

[–] Alocirp (683) a year ago

I’m skeptical that a movie can truly be perfect, so I don’t include that as a descriptor in my personal rating system. If you removed the “perfect 10” from your first system and then basically just bumped the other descriptors up by 1 point each, we’d pretty much be on the same page. My system looks something like this:

10: Masterpiece
9: Excellent
8: Very good
7: Good
6: Decent
5: Mediocre
4: Poor
3: Very poor
2: Horrible
1: Unbearable

[–] StoneKeeper (27085) a year ago

I like it!

[–] Moderator5 (1471) a year ago

I think the 10-point system is the better choice of the two.

When I review a movie, I find it hard to distinguish between even just 10 grade levels and various characterizations like "excellent, very good, etc.", so I use a 5-point system focused on whether or not I would tell future me to watch it again.

5 - Perfect or close. Don't miss it, watch ASAP.

4 - Very enjoyable. Add to watchlist, see it soon.

3 - Enjoyable, better than average. Add to watchlist for Flu week.

2 - Tolerable, average or just below. Watch if circumstances dictate (date night, etc)

1 - Trash. Do not watch.

[–] StoneKeeper (27085) a year ago

Thanks for the input.

I find that the gap between your “tolerable” and “trash” is too big. Something missing there.

[–] 123Guy (7380) a year ago

I'm a 1 to 5er also

[–] PersistentViewer (2406) a year ago

A is mine as well.