[bwind22]

Originally posted by stacilayne
This is one of the most, er, entertaining threads I've read on the boards lately. Obviously, some of you have no idea who I am nor do you read my reviews in their entirety.

Here's my page on RottenTomatoes.com
http://www.rottentomatoes.com/author-4262/

Here's my recent review of Cursed
http://www.horror.com/php/article-849-1.html

As I said, it's a light, entertaining flick. They did take my comments out of context, but who really cares if Horror.com gets on the map. To my knowledge, Horror.com never had any quotes on DVDs before I came along. Also, if people buy the DVD, it helps the horror genre and Wes Craven (whom I admire very much). More people might even come to the site (whether they agree with my quote or not) and more traffic means Horror.com sticks around longer.

I showed the DVD to Wes Craven, and he got a kick out of it. We both laughed (well, me more than him... he's still rather bitter over the whole experience) at how the critics were allegedly shown a different cut.

I've been a "critic" (prefer the word reviewer) for five years now. I write for several print magazines and sites, including Horror.com -- I love horror movies, which cannot necessarily be said of those on the some of the other online critics -- you see a lot of haters out there and wonder why they're even running horror sites.

I am a lifelong fan, but I am also a professional, credentialed film reviewer and the author of several published books in the horror and film genres. I think to slam any person across the board for one opinion that does not conform to yours is rather unfair and certainly unrealistic.

It's a lot easier being a movie fan than a movie reviewer. As a fan, you can watch whatever you want, whenever you want. As a movie reviewer, one has to see everything from the self-financed indies to Hollywood's biggest blockbusters and all sorts of movies in between. Then we have to sit down and write about it. In regards to the Rotten Tomatoes site, sometimes it's difficult to pick between "rotten or fresh" because certain movies are so bland they don't warrant either.

I got a kick out of someone saying my review was "wrong". An opinion can't be "wrong". You may not agree, but to say that any reviewer was "wrong" is just... wrong! Believe me, I read reviews from others that get my blood boiling, but I have never once written a hate mail to any of them. In contrast, I will drop a nice note to a reviewer who I think wrote an exceptionally *good* review, because I understand how hard it is to not be able to please everyone. People are quick to dash off a hateful email or post, but seldom do we say, "Hey, job well done."

No matter what job you have -- say you're a secretary who loves to type and file, but you hate answering the phones -- there are pros and cons. Being a movie reviewer is a pretty time-consuming, involved job, so I seriously doubt that anyone who is not truly commited to it would stay in it for very long. (I'm not talking about just watching movies and writing about them, but the hours upon hours of being stuck in traffic to get to screenings, gas prices, having to get to the the theater 45 minutes in advance, etc. -- to review one movie, it's approximately 10 hours from leaving the house to writing "the end" on your review.)

Also, as one astute person pointed out, Cursed was released in February. Anyone who actually reads that quote and thinks it's really the best movie of the year needs a reality check. Want to know a REAL quote-whore? Look for any quote by Paul Fischer of Dark Horizons.

However, I would never positively quote a movie I didn't honestly like. I thought Cursed was fun. Now, you want to know the BEST movie of the year so far? Check out my review of The Devil's Rejects:

http://www.horror.com/php/article-859-1.html

Staci

P.S. As for Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, I agree it shouldn't have been up there for so long, but it was in the dark fantasy genre with a lot of horror elements. It was definitely scary for kids, and what's wrong with training horror fans early? Not every "horror movie" involves a masked murderer with a machete and a cool theme song.

Alright, your post is long so I'm just going to go right down the line addressing things you mentioned or commented on.

First off, I must say that I am amazed, surprised, and somewhat impressed that you actually take the time to read this forum, as well as respond to posts about you. (That's not sarcasm either. I was genuinely surprised to see a reply from you.)

Secondly, you said...

They did take my comments out of context

I got a kick out of someone saying my review was "wrong".

If they took your words out of the context that you meant them, then I don't see how you could get a kick out of this. It was wrong. To be clear... Your review wasn't wrong, but the words credited to you on the cover of the DVD are, and that's what I was referring to. (Perhaps, I should have worded that more clearly, but I thought my opinion on the matter was explained throughout the course of this thread.)

An opinion can't be "wrong". You may not agree, but to say that any reviewer was "wrong" is just... wrong!

To me, this entire statement is almost laughable. On one hand, you are scolding me and saying how an opinion can't be wrong, but then in the very next sentence, what are you saying about my opinion of your review? Your review is an opinion and therefore it can not be wrong, but somehow my opinion of your review can be? How's that work? :rolleyes:

I apologize if I have misled you or anyone in any way, but I am not actually the ultimate authority on horror movies. Unless I'm discussing an actor or director's specific movie credentials or something along those lines, everything that comes out of my head and on to this site is an opinion and should be regarded as such.

Believe me, I read reviews from others that get my blood boiling, but I have never once written a hate mail to any of them.

I didn't even know you were actually a member of the forum and I certainly didn't send you a hate mail. I merely stated my opinion (There's that word again.) that if you actually thought Cursed was the most terrifying movie of the year then you should be fired because you didn't know what you're talking about. However, if you never said that and they simply took your words completely out of context, then that's a whole different ballgame. I'm fully aware that Hollywood does that type of thing all the time and not even an asshole like me could hold that against you.

Like I already said in this thread, it is pretty cool that you got HDC mentioned on any DVD cover, but I just wish it would have been a more accurate statement about a better movie, that's all.

As long as you didn't actually think Cursed was "The Most Terrifying Movie of the Year", you're okay in my book because my opinion was that it was a Hollywood Ginger Snaps ripoff that was short on scares, gore, and originality.

Okay, I think I've said everything I wanted to say, so let me just wrap up with this...

Sorry if I hurt your feelings, congrats on getting HDC mentioned on a DVD package, Cursed still sucked, but I no longer think you should get fired due to the fact that you were misquoted.

In the future, you may want to start running all of your reviews past me, just to be sure they have my stamp of approval, before making them available to the public, but that's just my opinion. (Just kidding.)