Kevin Smith shares his opinion on the current state of filmmaking for independent creators

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Kevin Smith (Clerks, Mallrats) joins us this week to share the duality of having immense gratitude for everything he’s been able to accomplish throughout his career, all the while being cursed with ambition that drives him to create more. Being a trailblazer in independent film, Kevin gives us his opinion about the current state of filmmaking post pandemic, the cyclical similarities between major sci-fi franchises, and the problem with today’s movie rating system. We also talk about creating a legacy off of a basic name, bottoming your way through life, and embracing fandom.

[@qtip4747]

The problem with Rotten Tomatoes is nobody understands how it works. 90% Does not mean it's a 9/10 aggregate. It means that 90% of critics/audience thinks it's at least a 5 or 6/10. So a perfectly 'fine' movie looks like a masterpiece to someone who looks at the score and does not realize what it means. It sucks though, hate that site. Dunno why people use it as a gauge at all.

[@stevenbarritz5455]

Yep. I learned a long time ago that *how* information is displayed is as important as the information itself.

[@rustincohle2135]

Why hate the site? There's nothing wrong with Rotten Tomatoes. It's the dummies that don't know how to interpret it that's the problem. There's a percentage of who liked it and the average score of all the critics who reviewed it. It's pretty straight forward. Plus, Rotten Tomatoes feels more accurate how reviewers generally feel about a movie. It tells you that most people either liked it, disliked it or if it divided viewers. People say Metacritic is better but it's not. For example, _Predator_ (1987) used to be a 3.6/10 on Metacritic (generally unfavorable reviews) for several years until Metacritic finally added some more reviews to it recently. It's still only 4.7/10 (still mixed or average). But if you went by Metacritic, you'd have avoided _Predator_ and it's considered one of the best and most iconic action movies from the '80s. Whereas _Predator_ is 80% on Rotten Tomatoes indicating that 80% of reviewers at least liked it, with an average rating of 6.3/10. Gives you a much better impression of what viewers generally thought about the film than Metacritic where it seems like everyone hated it. And the reason this is so is cuz Metacritic would only use critics' reviews from the time the movie came out and rarely incorporated retrospective reviews to determine the Metascore. Same with _Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid,_ an American classic. But it only had a 5.8/10 on Metacritic forever, so it seemed like most people thought it was forgettable. While Rotten Tomatoes had it at 90% with an average rating of 8.2/10 for years, indicating that most people love it (which they do).

[@qtip4747]

@@rustincohle2135 Because the rotten tomato score is usually the headline or what's highlighted as how great/bad a movie is. I guess I hate all the 'rating' sites. It's just a really weird way to judge if I'm going to see something or not. Or how good/bad a movie is. And it's kind of annoying how blindly people use rotten tomatoes as a barometer, just using this arbitrary score, that can be manipulated so easily, to tell them whether it's a masterpiece or trash and nothing in between. Personally I usually go by critics/film twitter people/youtube reviewers that I like and follow and have kind of grown to know what their sensibilities are. And I'm never 100% going to agree with them, and not going to love everything they love or vice versa but at least I have an idea if the stuff they like, and if the stuff I like lines up more than not. They can also articulate why they praise or criticize something, so you know where they're coming from even if I disagree. But people just want to point to a stupid boiled down score and go 'see!'.

[@rustincohle2135]

@@qtip4747 _"just using this arbitrary score, that can be manipulated so easily, to tell them whether it's a masterpiece or trash and nothing in between."_ Well, the fact that the percentage score ranges from 0 to 100% means that films are NOT just either masterpiece or trash with nothing in between on the site. If it's 97 to 100%, then yea it might be a masterpiece. If it's around 70 to 75%, well some people have problems with it but overall, people do seem to like it. If 50 to 65%, people overall are mixed on it-- many like it and many have issues. If it's below 20%, more than likely it's total trash and so on. See how that works? Movie studios misusing Rotten Tomatoes in their TV promos is a misgiving of the studios. Not the site itself. Rotten Tomatoes is merely an aggregate site. It just gathers available reviews of said film and gives you the stats on how reviewers feel about it, and how the reviews average out into an overall rating out of 10. That's all it is.

[@lloroshastar6347]

I was gonna make this exact point, the review aggregate system is flawed and people need to realise that. Most of these critics don't work for Rotten Tomatoes they just have their reviews posted on it. Some critics probably are bought and paid for, but this idea that most are is ridiculous like you get someone say you have to sign a waiver or something. Unfortunately it's true that the system in place is imperfect and there are people who will give good reviews unfairly, but there are still honest critics as well. There are also plenty of dishonest audience reviewers, the amount of times I've seen 'worst movie ever' for a movie that's mid or even pretty good is ridiculous. Then you have the people who want to hate on a movie for a specific reason and they get told to go review bomb it to give a bad review even though they haven't actually seen it.

[@evanerichards]

Rotten Tomatoes is owned by Fandango, which is a subsidiary of NBCUniversal. NBCUniversal is itself a division of Comcast. Not Fox.

[@masterofallgoons]

And about 25% is owned by Warner Bros.

[@tomthalon8956]

So? Who cares who owns it. Are you implying there's tainting of the reviews we read there?

[@darklordbobSmoke]

​@@tomthalon8956 yes. Or did you forget about all the Disney interference when all their new shows got blasted by viewers for being crap?

[@jaritime1406]

Still take things down super Quick for Disney Rotten Tomatoes is unreliable and fuill of "Critics" who have 12 subs on YOuube pass

[@dannyrivera2]

@@tomthalon8956dude, of course. Positive reviews may put someone on the fence to go view the movie. That could be hundreds of thousands or a couple million extra tickets sold.

[@KaiCrafted]

I used to love going to the theatre, cell phones and bad manners changed that. Can't get through any film now without multiple phones going off, people texting and taking calls, smart watches strobing an LED every few minutes- it's more distracting than being at home. Forget about asking them to save it for later, people think causing a public disturbance is an inalienable right. I only go to empty shows like Kevin describes, if I'm going to a movie i specifically pick shows that will be sparse

[@theebonymaw]

not to mention - digging their fat fingers into the bottom of their candy bags instead pouring it out into their palm! a small gripe, i know, but i can't even. i demand silence for these high-ass ticket prices 😅

[@masterofallgoons]

My theater of choice has been the Alamo Drafthouse, and they have a strict no phones/no talking policy. I'd heard people complain about people acting like this in theaters and thought they were exaggerating, but then I went back to a multiplex recently and it was clear that this is a real problem

[@PlottingTheDownfall]

I'm with you. I too used to love going, so much so, that in 2007 I was in negotiations to buy a theater 8 plex - small, indie - deal fell through. Glad I didn't. In my opinion, the theater is dead. I have a 75in TV theater seating, a nice surround system. My experience at my home is far better. And, the cost of paying Prime for to watch a new release, is still far less than taking a date to the theater. The only time I go to theaters now is opening night, when you have hardcore fans doing the mignight shows of the BIG blockbusters.

[@Bat_Boy]

I love plays, and I've only been to two in my old age. Before I die, I'm going to see many more. Conversely, nothing beats a few cold beers, at home, and watching a deeply moving film. And pausing, to take a bathroom break.

[@snowman22ism]

100%. Every time I go to the movies some fuck face or multiple fuck faces have their fucking phones out. Including one time the guy directly beside me and when I asked him to put his phone away you just ignored me and kept playing on his phone. I've never wanted to physically harm somebody so badly in my life.

[@Hakman78]

Met Kevin Smith like 6 years ago at a comic con with my brother. One of the better celebrity interactions I’ve had, took time to talk to us during the photo op for probably longer than the photographer wanted us to stick around for.

[@DeadButDreaming666]

That's cool. Who gives a shit what the photographer thinks or wants? He gets paid. You paid for the opportunity, im sure, so it isnt like its a burden to anyone. Glad you were able to meet him. I would like to some day. He seems to take time for all his fans.

[@willshaw3493]

I've heard nothing but good stuff about him with fans.

[@Elwaves2925]

@@DeadButDreaming666 It's not about what the photographer wants, it's about others missing out on getting a photo because the star talked and talked. It's about empathy and consideration to others. Imagine if you paid and queued for a photo but they had to call it quits before they got to you, leaving you and others without that photo you queued for. The photographer is paid for their time, not by the photo, it's a job and they have a life outside of it. Who gives a shit if you didn't get yours? You can get your money back, who cares how long you waited to get nothing. Having said that, I do appreciate that Kev gives his fans the time and he is certainly known for his talking ability. :-)

[@DeadButDreaming666]

@@Elwaves2925 Fair enough. Perhaps my response sounds dismissive. I agree with what you say, I guess I just suppose that the artist can say when they're finished, and since Kevin is known to be a talker, he's going to make sure he gets to everyone. So, yes, to have to wait for extended periods of time would be obnoxious on that end. But, the photographer is paid for time, so I'm less inclined to feel too bad for them. I'm not someone who would want anyone to lose out an on op they paid for and are excited for, that would be a jerk move. Hopefully this comes across more empathetic.

[@Elwaves2925]

@@DeadButDreaming666 It is more empathetic and I may have put more on your comment than was actually there. I just know a photographer and know from them how their time can be mistreated. And to be clear, I agree that for the time period a photographer is paid for at those types of fan events, they don't get any say on how long the star and fan talk for, or anything like that.

[@B-Edwards499]

The problem with Rotten Tomatoes and other aggregate website like it, is they stoped aggregating legitimate film educated Critics with expanded knowledge of film and arts for Marketers. Who have as much knowledge about film and arts as the average film gower therefore can't give a complex and insightful opinion on the subject. But Kevin is also right, in the end only your own opinion matter on what you like.

[@colt5189]

My local theater closed up a couple of years ago. So instead of going to the theater like 3-4 times a year. I'll only be going maybe twice as you have to go to the next town over, and it's double the cost not counting the gasoline. It used to cost me $20 to go to the theater, now it's more like closer to $50.

[@80sKid.]

Love going to the movies! But geez, cinema etiquette leaves a lot to be desired these days. When I saw Indy 5, ppl were taking selfies in the cinema, lighting up the joint with a blinding bright flash, and talking rock concert loud the whole way through. That was pretty much the last time I went to see a new release. Still go to old movies tho - most recently _Star Wars_ marathons and _An American Werewolf in London_ - they seem to attract a different audience. So yeah, I mostly watch movies at home on my big screen TV now. Nah, it's not the same. But at least I can enjoy the movie...

[@daveb4446]

People don’t have disposable income anymore. Price gouging has made everything a luxury now.

[@bigboss9150]

Kevin Smith is just the wrong person to ask this question to. People are still willing to go to the theaters, but no one (in the filmmaking/Hollywood scene) wants to admit that the quality of the movies is just pure dogshit. They're soulless, agenda-driven and feature-length advertisements to sell merchandise. The people have had enough and will only show up to movies they truly feel passionate about (which is once or twice a year, at this point)

[@NicholasBrakespear]

Also, I don't know how it is in other places, but in the UK the quality of the cinema itself has bottomed out - barely any staff around, the place is not tidy, the snacks are hugely overpriced, the sound quality is not assured... and all the while, the ticket price creeps up and up.

[@Rockky67]

He bought a cinema in New Jersey and actually shows films but he’s not the person to ask?

[@Finfection]

Kevin literally addresses that and makes fun of it in "Jay and Silent Bob Reboot". He definitely agrees with you.

[@stevenobrien557]

​@@Finfection"makes fun of it" by trying yet again to force his talentless daughter on us...

[@ERMediaOfficial]

I am an indie filmmaker. I have a home theater, projector, sound system, al that jazz. I agree with Kevin, cinema will become like theater. And then it will be good again. Select films, appreciating audience.

[@bryannimmo8548]

So you're one of the, like, 20 indy filmmakers in the whole world who can actually afford all that stuff?

[@JoeDouglas]

So multiplexes, which destroyed independent cinemas, are now being destroyed by streaming, which helps more indie films be seen. Can't say Im particularly moved.

[@jeremyfoote8638]

The 90's were a special time for indie films..with Smith and Tarantino breaking out

[@michaelmorningstar8645]

Tarantino never did an independent movie.

[@jeremyfoote8638]

@@michaelmorningstar8645 Reservoir Dogs was financed in part by him selling the script for Natural Born Killers and True Romance as well Pulp Fiction is considered Independent.

[@MrGittz]

@@michaelmorningstar8645dude. Reservoir Dogs was 1000% independently financed. Google is your friend

[@noahpeterlin4235]

​@@michaelmorningstar8645 Reservoir Dogs is considered one of the greatest Independent Films of all time.

[@davebudge4526]

@@jeremyfoote8638 By the end of the 90's social media was still a few years away, smartphones were in the realm of science fiction and young people's toxic interaction with digital social media sites wasn't a thing ,people went to the cinema to see our lives reflected back to us in an engaging way.

[@happybuzzent]

Kevin Smith replied to my email when I was in college wishing me luck with filmmaking. Cool guy.

[@nacantremember]

Massive respect for Kevin

[@mthomsonkiwi]

I get annoyed with the constant assertion that the public must just be tired of these kinds of films, and that's why they're not coming to the theatre. No its the $25 a head ticket, plus food, drinks, whatever. It's moved into the realms of luxury now, so you can't go see everything all the time.

[@MarkHWillson]

I will respectfully disagree on some aspects of your claim here. AFAIK, it's only $25 a ticket if you are going to an IMAX release in the most expensive city in the country. (I should know, I live in it. Unless we have been dethroned now. I will concede that is possible? ) Minimum wage is $20 an hour here now where I am. Regular movie tickets in my area are like $18-$20 (at nice theaters too, like our Alamo Drafthouse). It should not be considered a luxury. Movie tickets have always been more or less in lockstep with base hourly wages in my experience, everywhere I've lived (lots of places). Willing to be shown to be wrong on this point. If tickets are massively out of proportion with wages in your area, then you are getting screwed by your local exhibition house, and they don't deserve your business anyway then. If that's happening somewhere, I'd be interested to know.

[@mthomsonkiwi]

@@MarkHWillson yeh I’m in Australia. So quite expensive by our standards.

[@bryannimmo8548]

IMAX movies cost the same here in Texas... where minimum wage is $7.25 per hour. And even the cheapest theater tickets are still at least ten or twelve bucks. It's simply out of the price range for poor families who might want to bring the kids.

[@michaelkelley7826]

@@bryannimmo8548 especially when you tack on the food and drinks that come with bringing a family to theater. I used to laugh when my mom would tell me all she could get with 10$ when her and her friends went to the theater. Now if i take my family i'm like damn...i coulda went to a few movies and got snacks when i was a kid for the price i'm payin now

[@alexanderscott6332]

@@mthomsonkiwi100% in Australia it’s disgusting how expensive it has gotten. Just greed…

[@dylanthrillmour866]

I love Kevin to bits as a person, but he fundamentally represents a disgusting direction the industry almost took by promoting Killroy as an NFT. it's just a total betrayal on every level.

[@itcouldbelupus2842]

Kevin Smith: "Nothing about the entertainment industry concerns me" Then ge goes on to list problems with the industry for the next 5 min

[@DeadButDreaming666]

I'll never stop going to the theater because I've just always loved the experience and love film. But there has never been a better time to go because of what Kevin said; there just aren't that many people in the theaters. So I'm ok with paying a little more because the experience is 10 times better now that all the annoying people stay home.

[@mikefeltner4216]

Yes

[@fakshen1973]

Kevin has nothing but "respect" for the critical community... unless you're calling Kevin on his BS when he turns in sub-par work.

[@Poisonous_Plants15]

He literally nonstop makes fun of his movies that ppl hated. Wtf are u talking about.

[@Toastybees]

When I was a kid I'd be at the movie theater every week. Saturday matinees, watch two movies for 5 bucks. With the options available and the prices nowadays it's just not worth it any more.

[@JERSEYBOYPLAY2HARD]

Nah it’s worth it

[@PJVids83]

@@JERSEYBOYPLAY2HARD Just saying something is worth it without giving reasons why is not enough.

[@JimKnight-x8y]

I disagree there’s nothing more of a downer when a movie you’ve been waiting for for years for a sequel or whatever and you you find out it comes out on Netflix and you know the production quality is gonna suck and the movie going experience is gone …Kevin sh** ing on what made him great and scared to say critics suck

[@sol20006]

Michael’s been hanging out on Film Twitter for too long

[@chaospoet]

God Kevin pisses me off. Right out the gate "Why the fuck should you care what other people think?" then mere seconds later saying he'd practically give BJs to film critics. Why should you care what other people think, Kevin? PICK ONE!

[@djvoid1]

You should be able to review the reviews

[@skullfullofbats]

I love the cinema going experience and have always tried to support it. When my local independent cinema closed I stop going and the main reason was my lack of interest in big Hollywood movies being shown at the chains and people just flat out being rude and having zero regard for other cinema goers. No one seems to behave or for the most part actually watch the film they paid for. I would love to say its kids but most of the time its adults talking, looking at their phones or acting like giant slobs. At least with a small independent place I knew it was people who really wanted to see the film and cared for their fellow movie goer. Its just seems to be missing now

[@GoodnightwithGlomstad]

"thats just noise" God Bless Kevin Smith

[@EyeTunz]

How refreshing to hear Kevin talk from the wallet.

[@merickful]

I will watch the move out of admiration for Kevin Smith. If I don't like it, oh well. I like Kevin Smith, and that was worth it.

[@MarkHWillson]

Michael: The number on Rotten Tomatoes does not reflect the quality of the film. A very mediocre film can have a 90% on RT because that simply means 90% of critics thought it was "better than bad". How do you not know this already? Rotten Tomatoes is an absolutely archaic consensus tool. Fellow Cinephiles: It is well past time to switch to a new model. Metacritic seems to "get it" from what I can tell. ( I am no shill for them. If someone has a better alternative, please tell.)

[@luchagain3424]

I am definitely a once in a blue moon theater guy. I have installed home theaters for 30 years. I have what some people would call a man cave. I popped my head out to see the force awakens. And I haven’t been out since. Even with a good size, Walmart TV in your standard living room, the theater can’t compete. Unless you are a theater buff or on a date, which by the way a movie on a date is the worst idea. Hey let’s go not talk to each other for three hours. 😂

[@Wynner3]

I bought a used Samsung Freestyle projector, and mounted a screen at the end of my bed, so I can enjoy movies comfortabl. It's hard to beat that.

[@meladgoat]

actually, movie dates are the best idea. Most guys will talk their way out of a girl liking them. Not talking protects the man from himself.

[@JERSEYBOYPLAY2HARD]

Bro you was never a person going to the theater to watch cinema. You just watching Star Wars and big events . Your tv don’t have shit in Theaters .

[@misteral1083]

I love seeing a film in the cinema. But many years ago I started with surround sound in the living room, and over the years my TV guy bigger and the sound system got better. I can watch any movie, with excellent sound on a big sharp screen. With my wife, and we can pause and pee when we want. It's not the same, but it's excellent.

[@luchagain3424]

@@JERSEYBOYPLAY2HARD my tv doesn’t but I literally install theaters in peoples homes. And that’s what I did in my house. I’m not talking about a Walmart tv and a sound bar.

[@RetroView66]

Anybody who uses RT as a metric is already in trouble.

[@sardonicspartan9343]

Smith is a sell out

[@ZOMBGiEFart]

As a parent of a teenager who's a film lover, my kid and her movie nerd friends do not have any sort of attachment to the cinema the way I did when I was their age in the 90s. They don't specifically feel they have to see a movie on a big screen because most of the media they consume is consumed on their schedule, on their own devices, almost for free. I think the fact that the youth have lost this sort of connection for the cinema is a big reason why theaters are struggling to fill seats. When I was a kid, going to the theater on a Friday night was the thing to do for people my age, today there's just so much other stuff competing for eyeballs, spending the money and time to travel to Gen Z probably feels archaic.

[@PJVids83]

I agree with you about the reasons why people are losing their love for the cinema. But, I also need to say that as a guy who practically lived in a movie theatre for a good four year span. I went to the movies daily, saw everything on menu, and even got to know the staff at the megaplexes that I frequented, and yet, for all that, I much prefer being able to watch films at home. Now, it may be true that some movies need that crowd experience, but those are rare. Most films I find that I can get by without that audience there. I suspect this is how a lot of today's young film lovers feel.

[@MrBigrob420247]

I think its even worse,i think these kids now would rather watch someone else on youtube living life then actually live it them selves!!!

[@lindamawdsley6130]

Times are changing quite rapidly but I’m sure movies will still play a big part in our lives however we watch them😊

[@harrycahill2140]

It’s gonna lose relevance and it won’t be any different than content on TikTok or KZbin.

[@ejbalshan]

Godzilla Minus One. Amen.

[@runamonk]

I love going to the theatre but I also loving sitting at home and watching movies on my big ass 70" tv without having to listen to some asshole talk or chew or just be an uncourteous jackass. :)

[@crosslink1493]

I can relate to Kevin on the opening night 'crowds'. I went to see Godzilla Minus One at the Saturday late-afternoon matinee on its opening weekend and I think there were 15 people in the theater. Big comfy seats, too, maybe 100 in that theater of the multiplex. Action movies like Godzilla and James Bond are the kind I like to see in a theater on a big screen with great sound. Also add that a lot of movies these days don't tell a story and close it out - no introduction to set it up, no closing to tie everything together. Even a franchise like James Bond does that with each individual film.

[@tomthalon8956]

'Ol Kev has shriveled into an American version of Orlando Bloom. You know it.

[@ClichéGuevara-2814]

a.k.a. Orloomdo Bland.

[@mikefeltner4216]

Still Go to The Theater Love it!!!

[@anthonytobin2337]

I think the problem is most people don’t know how Rotten Tomatoes gets the score. Let’s say 10 critics review a movie using a 5 point scale. If all ten of them give a 4 out of 5, Rotten Tomatoes says they are all positive reviews and it gets 100%. If 9 of them give 5 out of 5 and 1 gives 1 out of 5, then it will have 90%. Like Kevin said, don’t see a movie based on the reviews. Go to the movies you think you’ll enjoy and hope for the best.

[@masterofallgoons]

Critics serve a purpose though, but a thumbs up or thumbs down isn't the best barometer. Actually reading the review of a critic who knows how to describe why the movie is good or bad without spoiling everything is great. You can't see everything, so having a little bit of a description of the quality of a film is helpful. Sometimes you may even read a negative review and come away knowing you'll like the movie more than the critic, because this critic is a good writer who explains the movie well.

[@tylerdurden783]

Bro.... Learn how RT works. 90% just says what percentage of critics gave the film a positive review. It could be a mildly positive review, it doesn't mean it is a GLOWING or HIGH review. Example: Inside Out 2 is 90% on RT. If you actually click on the big ole score number, it will SHOW YOU the actual rating average, which in this case is 7.5 out of 10, or *drum roll* 75% Another film may be 90% and have a higher rating (9/10) or a lower rating (7/10). Seriously, just look into it a bit XD

[@smoothkaos3384]

he sounds like hes on drugs

[@AI_Image_Master]

Call me old school, but I preferred old school critics like Siskel and Ebert. They may not always be right but you understand their sensibilities and how it matched to you and they were a good gauge. The big studios and especially the big streamers like Netflix and Amazon do not want movie theaters. To them they are middle men taking their profits. They are on a slow plan to destroy them.

[@StudioCreations]

I totally agree with Kevin Smith on his analogy of movie theaters eventually becoming like Broadway theaters... you will be able to have that movie theater experience, but it'll cost you big money to do so. And if you think Broadway-style theater is expensive, try seeing an Opera in person. :D

[@IanHollis]

Last movie I saw at the cinema was Spider-Man: No Way Home. Home vs. Cinema was one thing in the past (for me, the '90s and '00s), but now Home > Cinema.

[@conneralphin3014]

So tired of people in Hollywood blaming streaming as an excuse for why theaters are having Less and less turn out. It’s not fucking accessible, people can not afford an $8 soda and the theaters refuse to lower their prices. People still love having a movie experience but it shouldn’t cost $50 plus

[@edwardwilliams2438]

Great channel...Always enjoy me some Kevin Smith. Bright,emotional and genuine. He always came across as a relatable guy. The movie theater genre has evolved over the years. From the double featured 50/60's fare. I am old enough to remember Drive In venues that were crowded...with cars and trucks. And you could stay all night..from dusk til midnight. Those days are forever gone. Just as the old cinema scenario...oh yeah..the COVID adventure... just helped along the downfall of decent movie fare. The Marvel magic is gone,also...poor DC..never stood a chance. The Blockbuster era has pasted....sorry to say. Hearing Kevin's prediction about the niche post is true..I mean...really, $70 bucks for a family movie experience!!? DVD's are good enough for me..and I'm a senior citizen. Dark comfortable home..my own caramel corn..milk duds..come on. Cinema recliner seats..and over priced drinks...oh,hell no. I wish all you fellas well...the movie Industry is going to self destruct. Always enjoy the overviews...continue!!

[@My2Cents1]

"slobbering respect for the critics..." ***barf*** Wow... Kenin Smith used to be my fave director of all time. Any movie of his was a given watch as well as disc purchase. Now look at him. He's lost something, and I'm not talking about the weight.

[@Mogorman87]

Then what is it he lost? Go ahead, say it.

[@seanjones180]

Wow that joke flew right over your head didn't it

[@stevenobrien557]

​@@Mogorman87talent.

[@Mogorman87]

@@stevenobrien557 I’ve never been a big fan of his movies they were never great. He just seems like a really nice guy.

[@davebudge4526]

I'm a serious film buff, have been for decades and the amount of films I've seen in an empty cinema in the last 4 years shocks me (maybe 40 to 50 thereabouts ) my theory, covid and the cost of absolutely everything going up food ,mortgage, rent ,car/ health insurance plus highly formulaic films Mission impossible 18 ect ect PLUS even basic streaming services becoming very sophisticated and wide reaching and quite affordable to most is reflected in the death of modern cinema, certainly the 1980s ,1990s cinema crowd that Kevin came up in is being washed away, its like Granny showing you her Peter Rabbit picture books she got back in the 1940s.

[@stevekenna]

Kevin Smith gets a TON of clout for a guy who has made 3 good movies.

[@snowman22ism]

Maybe you should make three good movies since you have no clout.

[@stevenobrien557]

​@@snowman22ism maybe you should gargle Kevin's now even more wrinkly balls?

[@xlargetophat]

Kevin sell out

[@wormhunter89yt74]

Rotten Tomatoes the audience loves and the critics don't like it Rotten Tomatoes goes to every single digital source from critics that have written digital reviews or archive reviews like Ebert and Siskel there's a massive disconnect between critics and audience,let say I don't like a movie or TV show there a few a don't honestly like yet I am not trying to convince everyone they shouldn't go see it.I just write based on my experience what I didn't enjoy about that film and today films lack 2 things being fun and being escapist just like today horror films they lack suspense atmosphere and genuine build up tense.I would say good marketing of a film finds an audience and bad marketing of a film you go well thanks now I have nothing to look forward or hey let give away all the good parts of film thanks saved money by watching 3 min trailer.When they give away everything I still go out see it even though they showed me everything in a trailer.

[@MaheshPagar0]

If 5 of 6 critics found movie watchable that translates to 83 percent fresh rating. The Fresh criteria is generally 3 stars out of 5. So basically watchable or average film[not bad not too good]. Let's say film has 2 reviews , 2 out 2 critics thought film is watchable as in "not garbage" that would translate to 100 percent fresh rating. It doesn't mean the film has 10/10 stars. So next time you see Rotten Tomatoes score. First check how many critics have rated it. And if you see 80 percent score on RT with 40 reviews: It just means 80 percent of 40 critics thought this feel is not garbage. But it definitely does not mean the film is 8 stars out of 10. Your next step should be glance at audience score. It also has similar translation. Then see a teaser - trailer, may be who made it like screen writer, director, cinematographer etc. May be look up their previous film and then decide.

[@KeanuPitt]

No jokes, I never understood why people take rotten tomatoes so serious. A movie comes out and it’s like “98% fresh, based on 8 reviews” like why tf would I go off of 8 people reviewing it? Even if it was 27% on RT, I wouldn’t care. If I want to see a movie, I’m going to watch it, idc what anyone says about it

[@Kilroy_5150]

Lol, i've been saying Rotten Tomatoes was "sold out" since the early 2000s. I love to hear it when an industry person confirms something i said :) But Kevin did sorta 'sell out' when he did the latest He-Man cartoon, that can't be argued. But hey, i don't harbor so....(shrug) nuff said?

[@alloydcyber557]

Wasn’t rotten tomatoes messing with the algorithm by deleting reviews? For me, the reason I stopped going to the movies was the price, tickets are around £15 each and medium popcorn with drink is £20 and the bags of sweets are £4+ for normal size. It just isn’t worth the money IMO

[@freemagicfun]

I have never understood why anyone pays attention to the troll tomato site. It has always been a cesspool. But I do agree with Kevin (no surprise there) - I see the trailer, I know if I want to see it or not. I rarely pay attention to real critics, I never pay attention to rando interweb "critics". My wife and I have regularly been the only people at a movie screening, even pre-pandemic. They have been fading out for quite a while. I will be one of the last to give up on the theaters, though. 😎

[@johnnyw525]

I used to swear by Rotten Tomatoes. Then they cheapened everything by including anyone with a blog. Now the score is so unreliable and unpredictable it's basically useless. People who love movies don't like it, and people who don't care about movies don't use it... so what was the point in adding junk into the algorithm? So annoying. So dumb. And the user score is often completely hacked, too (I don't care what they say -- anyone can find fake reviews easily, I've seen indie movies pumped full of fakes reviews). At one point RT was actually very helpful, but now it's noise. (And still, after all this time, people don't even understand that the score is simply the percentage of positive reviews: 90% = 90% of critics who reviewed the film liked it.)

[@ed1rko17]

I think it's hilarious when people see a movie with a 90% Rotten Tomatoes score that they don't like and then go "THAT'S WRONG!" ... Like buddy, you're saying that your one, singular opinion is more valid than the average of hundreds of other opinions lmao. How much more arrogant than that can you get?

[@cjmittele855]

He doesn’t know how rotten tomatoes works… that 90% doesn’t mean that the rating is a 90%… it just means that 90% of the audience liked it… “liking it” means the actual quality of the movie could be anywhere between a 5/10 movie, or a 10/10 movie… the rotten tomatoes system doesn’t differentiate. Which is flawed in general… so you could have an okay 5/10 movie with 95%… all that 95% means is that 95% of the critics “like it enough”… but this is all irrelevant because movie critics are fucking morons anyways… If I use that site, I only go by audience score and even then it ain’t all that.

[@franciscotoro827]

I think an argument could be made that marvel movies were artificially propping up theaters for the last couple years. And probably would have continued to do so had they not decided to rely on the fact that just being a marvel movie would generate enough interest for people to show up and they lost direction and site of what they were trying to do. Obviously a 15 -year run is still a good run. But they took it for granted that they still had to produce exceptional quality films. I really like the movie going experience I just haven't had a movie that I really feel like I need to go see in the theater for a couple months now.

[@UURevival]

Rotten Tomatoes and movie critics like Ebert and Siskel are useful because we have limited dollars. If a movie looks good to me, as like an action movie, then the public better like it. If I'm not sure about a movie the critic score better be close to the public score. If it's a heady movie that looks interesting it's going to have a higher critic score than a public score. Love Kevin Smith- Red State was brilliant and entertaining. Well I just looked up Red State on Rotten Tomatoes and now I see why Kevin Smith is sour about the site. 61% Critics is favorable but seems unreasonably low. 54% Audience seems like a fraud.

[@cuppiesaur]

Kevin Smith just released a movie as an NFT. He just added fucking ALL THE OXIGEN IN THE WORLD to that fire 🥴🤮

[@AetheriusComics]

I disagree. I think the primary reason for people not going to theatres much anymore, is because Hollywood now makes movies for too wide of an audience. Namely, to both hetero and non hetero audiences. Which dramatically ruins the focus of a film, which has caused people to loose faith in trusting what the movies present to you for watching. Example: The latest Ghostbusters film. Non hetero love seeing non hetero content. Hetero's hate it. So many Heteros were turned of by the film because of the ghost girl thing, and the dishonest marketing. Barbie movie. It was marketed for all women, but was really written for a very particular political crowd of women, which turned off the women who are not part of that crowd. The last Dr. Strange film. It was marketed to be about Dr. Strange, but was instead mainly about Scarlet Witch and a few other female characters. The Matrix 4. Self explanatory. After a while people start to not want to spend a bunch of money just to be tricked by watching something that was marketed for them, but wasn't created for them. This is what the real problem is. It's why films like Oppenhimer and Spiderverse did so well, because there were done really well, and stayed true to what was being marketed.

[@Ratigast99]

“Wasting all this money” cmon dude you just talked about that lex Luther money 😂. Spending 30 dollars on a movie on Tuesday night ain’t hurting Lex bro

[@film_magician]

While I agree a bit with Kevin, the numbers look a lot more promising that he's saying. Pre-pandemic we were doing 10-11 billion a year. last year we did almost 9 billion dollars in sales with way less releases. The numbers have been going up and the sales we're doing now are about the same as 2000-2009. We're still on the up swing. We had 2, billion dollar movies last year - one was a doll movie, one was a talk-heavy, science heavy, half black and white drama. People just want to see good movies. Period.

[@Kuhlio1313]

Theater's have always been overrated in my opinion. I haven't been since 2008. Even before streaming, I would just wait for the dvd.

[@discod992]

Critics have become ideological activists that value diversity more than they do good writing and directing.

[@arghjayem]

05:06 Smith is right. The old model of the big multiplex theatre showing to hundreds of people is dead. There are a number of cinemas open still near me, but most of them cater to a very specific audience. They all have the big armchair style seats (some have whole sofas), some serve proper bar food as well as the usual popcorn stuff and some (not all) but a lot have bars so you can buy a beer/glass of wine/gin & tonic or a whiskey with your viewing. And whilst they do show some current movies, they’re usually pretty limited as to which they show (tends to be anything aimed at an older audience) but they mostly show classic films! It’s good in some ways, bad in others. Harder to find a family film to go to with the kids. But as an adult film fan it’s great (save for the price of course which is extortionate for everything- the ticket, the drinks, the food…everything!) 😂

[@one_of_the_Bobs]

Problem is nobody actually understands the RT aggregation score. If a movie gets a 99 on RT from 100 reviews that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s one of the greatest movies of all time. It just means enough people liked it to give it a passing score. The movie itself could get a solid 7/10 from all the reviews and it could still get a 100-99 RT score.

[@zoriononline]

As for the cinemas though, if they lowered the price though, and offered more crazy "menu" than just 4 mainstream pr quarter - maybe more ppl would go out to test the waters. Dont get me wrong price wouldnt help in my case - I prefer to see movies alone(like fully alone) and just absorb it all. So I'll wait until it comes to stream.

[@jackthenarrator4735]

I used to have a great deal of admiration for Kevin Smith. But over the years his attitude about Hollywood is all over the place, one minute he's vowing to never work with studios again, the next he's shilling for the latest souless $200 soft reboot. His opinion of moviegoers is also deeply mean-spirited and cynical. Why would anyone want to be a movie fan listening to him talk this way?

[@eltravos99]

That's not how Rotten Tomatoes works. It is showing the percentage of critics who gave it a fresh review. It is not the same as a score the critics give. For example, it is not the same as Roger Ebert sayin something is 4 out 5 stars. It works like this. If Bob the Critic gives it a C+ then that counts towards the fresh reviews. If Jan the Critic gives it an A- then that also counts towards the favorable reviews. SO FAR it is a 100% on Rotten Tomatoes because both reviews measured to be fresh. Even though one is two letter grades lower. Then let's say Brian the Critic comes in and gives it an F. Which would count towards the rotten score. Then Jill the Critic comes in with a B+. That would count toward the fresh score. Thus making the score of a fresh 75%.

[@leonlee877]

I don't trust rotten tomato ratings. It's absolute crap and it doesnt work. Imdb ratings is the most accurate for me. Anything 7.2 and above I watchable regardless of genre. Any comedy 6.8 and above enjoyable. Anything below that, avoid unless you're trying to learn what mad a movie bad and how to avoid it

[@anthonyrowland9072]

I just hate IMDB for taking the forums away because weirdos were weird in them about Anne Hathaway that month whenever that was. Thanks Amazon for deleting so much information.

[@punchtalestudio]

I’m glad and relieved that he still firmly believes that it was a pandemic 🤓

[@chrismccurry8924]

Rotten Tomatoes isn’t giving a true score. Say 90 out of 100 people gave a movie an average score of 7.5/10. RT will say the movie is 90% fresh or positive score, so really the movie is 75/100

[@BadNewsYouNeedToKnow]

Why watch a movie in the theater when you can sit at home for the same price and cheaper food. Theaters are getting more expensive which also puts pressure on the movie. If I get dinner with a movie and the movie sucks I feel like I pissed away 30$! Why take that chance when movies arrive to streaming sooner and sooner. ESPECIALLY with so many aholes playing on their cells at the theater.

[@Latham74]

Considering the downright laughable state of Kevin Smith's work, I don't really think he has much room to criticize. He has only increased the amount of crap in the entertainment industry.

[@Mike80528]

re: the vinyl analogy. Music can and generally is a very personal experience that you can share. Movie theaters are a group experience and the *group* has become insufferable. Younger generation cannot stay off their fucking phones for 5 minutes and ruin every damned movie I try to go to. Screw that. I'd rather watch at home now because people have become selfish, self-absorbed assholes.

[@AlexPoutineVids]

Just saw dp3 in the theatre, and there were people talking, playing on their phones, and generally being inconsiderate to those around them. It ruined the entire experience for me. THAT is what killed cinema for me. In my home, I can control the environment around me and do not have to suffer fools (besides myself).

[@RoyBright]

Never forget: Big Trouble in Little China was a critical failure. Yeah. That’s how much faith should be taken with “critics” 😂

[@untethered24]

Theaters suck. Sticky floors and seats. People chewing with their mouths open. Too expensive.

[@alkaline3mc]

I tend to only look at the audience score, I do not trust critics at all. Only once or twice is the audience score bin, I thought, grossly off the mark. Mad Max Furiosa got some pretty low audience scores, and in general it was A very good movie that flashed out a lot of the backstory of the Mad Max universe portrayed in fury Road

[@UURevival]

You can not get the same experience at home as the theater. It's called a big screen for a reason- can't be duplicated at home. You can duplicate the poor sound of vinyl - nostalgia for worse mediums is not applicable to movies. I get the trend is killing the industry for some very good reasons but it's not equivalent to vinyl records. But if you can convince fools to buy a $45 inferior sounding record we can make movie theaters popular again.

[@Juan_Teppa]

'You know what you wanna see, you see a title, a trailer, you know if you wanna see it or not. Don't read anybody else opinion'. Exactly my mindset about watching movies for the last 10 years, and after working many of them for the entertainment business.

[@kvol1668]

The problem with RT is that a good number of the critics are favorably reviewing or torpedoing films based solely on the political and/or identity of the filmmakers and characters. They are no longer reviewing whether or not there is a compelling story or a fun movie to watch. That's why I watch Jeremy Jahns, the dude doesn't miss.

[@rckstr8888]

Kevin Smith is a corporate shill that lost all credibility when stating that The Suicide Squad was a good movie. He's such a terrible liar. I never trust the opinion of anyone that can't be honest about something that sucks.

[@SeemoreDunkan]

100%

[@rjgiddings]

Smith now wearing a navy blazer. Now he needs to lose the baseball cap. He's in a different place now - than he was in 1993.

[@ianlassitter2397]

And right there, Kevin Smith shows his integrity about critics and how he thinks in life. Bend over for those you want support from, regardless of the truth.

[@theebonymaw]

i don't quite understand the problem here. when you go into the theater, it's a gamble whether you're going to like it - no matter what anyone says or if you liked the marketing or not. awesome concept/director/cast movies can fall flat just like flicks with none of that can be sleeper hits. i know there may be shills in the mix but it will always come down to luck of the draw for the individual viewer, man

[@burn435353]

Rotten Tomatoes was pretty accurate, until a few years ago, when they let a lot of new critics in, who judge movies based on whether the movie matches their political opinions, not whether its actually a well crafted, well told, visual story. Studios basically decided to cater to a female audience by producing, what was formerly, male targeted content for women, like female led action movies, heist films, ect. And this pretty much alienated both men and women.

[@patrickhurley5604]

Y'know, a lot of people smash Kevin Smith, but he's a really intelligent dude 😎 but intelligence is seen as superior these days, and that's a shame ☹️

[@KellenMaicher]

A 90% rating on RT means 90% of people who watched a movie liked it… it doesn’t mean it got a 90/100 rating…

[@rushmore3927]

His lies about the He Man cartoon and shilling ruined it for me. He even lies about Rotten Tomatoes and knows it is through a woke lens of approval. He's now a woke card-holder.

[@transformerstuff7029]

I don't understand how Kevin didnt understand He-man.....wtf happened there man!?! You were supposed to be the chosen one!

[@white.lodge.dale.cooper]

Who the hell listens to Rotten Tomatoes, where most "reviewers" are about as smart, studied, and accomplished as Tik Tok influencers?

[@mrfixitishere]

Ill be that guy im sick of the messaging being less subtle then captain planets. I'm tired of racists lecturing me on racism, im tired of everything i love being used to tell me im a piece of shit. Reality is distopian enough you don't have to make it more miserable. This nostalgia bate is like ordering pizza and they serve you a bowl of tomato soup with cheese crutons. I don't care if its the greatest soup ever i exspected something else . Make the movie you want ,just sell me the soup not tell me its pizza.

[@marcus_ohreallyus]

Rotten Tomatoes is a pretty good way to find out if you should watch a movie or not. But you have to look deeper than the tomatometer number and read the first paragraphs of the reviews they post. Let's say a movie is at 60%, which for me is my borderline cutoff where I could decide either way. I read the posted review paragraphs and see if the positive reviews have a negative slant. Or do the negative reviews have a positive slant? Sometimes a review that is actually positive will have a green tomato for some reason...and it goes the other way also. You should read the blurbs and see if you can label it yourself with a green or red tomato becuase honestly sometimes it appears that the curator of the reviews has an agenda either biased for or against the movie.