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Ah, ratings...That system whereby we cast judgement upon performances - indeed, sometimes
even entire careers - of film actors, directors, writers, studios, and in effect - of all that is
Hollywood! Ratings take many forms, from word-of-mouth jabberwocking at the local supermall to elite
print magazines. Yep, everyone's a critic, whether they receive a paycheck for it or just the personal
satisfaction of sharing our opinion.
OHLand's rating system is pretty simple:
* Get the Picture?: The Movie Lover's Guide to Watching Films by Jim Piper © 2008 Published by Allworth Press, New York NY
OHLand Ratings Guide
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Four reels means that the cinematic experience was - well, exceptional in every detail and aspect, from
characters and plot, to theme, musical score, editing, script, and oh yes - direction! Not only do we remember
and recommend a four-reeler film, but we find ourselves watching it time and again. These winners keep us up at
night, replaying scenes for all their subtle nuances. And a funny thing happens, with each viewing, our love
for the four-reeler becomes permanent and unconditional.
Noteworthy films are simply not to be missed, nor ignored. Our three-reeler leaves us wanting just
a bit more in terms of overall film achievement. Something is missing with a three-reeler, that
rubs us the wrong way. Maybe it was the actor who failed to get under the character's skin. Perhaps
it was the script that started out so confident and end up over-extended in both plot and theme. And
of course, it could very well have been the director, who perhaps lacked a cohesive approach. Yes,
we walk away from the three-reeler, willing to like the film but not champion it with our whole spirit.
A two-reeler film is a diamond in the rough, a missed opportunity, or whatever else we can muster up
our feelings enough to say about it. In Jim Piper's "Get the Picture?" * opening remarks, he observes,
"...Movies and films? We Americans don't use those terms interchangeably. We seem to want to save
"film" for motion pictures that are somehow more serious than mere movies, which are just for entertainment."
OHLand is unsure about making such a sweeping artistic statement as Mr. Piper's, yet there is, for
some films, a two-reeler movie gently tugging at our heart-strings.
Some would say that a one-reeler is a real piece of sorry cinematic trash.
Yet let's remember that even the one-reeler movie began with a cast that was excited about their artistic
project. The writer and director truly believed in miracles and the actors sought to find their inner motivation.
Hey, we can't all be Brando (and even he made a couple of one-reelers, too!), and not every film is destined for an Oscar™ nod.
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