Comments about ‘News movie critic examines 2007’

Thank you, Mr. Vice, for presenting your favorites. Now I understand why I have to read between the lines anytime you review a truly good movie, one with an uplifting message or one that inspires me to accomplish more in life. You would rather watch a smutty movie about an unintended pregnancy. I loved Chris Hicks because when he said a movie was worth watching he was rarely wrong. I get more good movie reviews from talking with friends and family than I do from reading Jeff Vice. I also find it interesting how many times readers love a movie and then criticize Jeff Vice when they comment in the movie section of desnews.com

I agree totally with Rich. I have almost never agreed with Jeff Vice. Thankfully I have seen many wonderful movies because of it.

Rich - The point of a film critic isn't to find a reviewer that exactly matches your opinion. The point is to find a critic whose taste and knowledge is consistent so you can read a review and have an idea of what you will think of a film. It sounds like it is working for you with Jeff.

90% of Vice's top 10 list are movies that I wouldn't even consider watching. The Deseret News needs to get a critic that is a bit more balanced and that better represents the Utah subscriber base.

Rich, if you come back to here I would love to see your list of top 10 (or 5 or 3) movies of the year. I am not trying to argue with your opinion of Vice, I would just be curious what you have to say. I should make my own list as well and just might.

My husban and I have only seen three movies on your list. A couple of the others look promising for future video rental, but mostly your list inspires us NOT.

that's all

I agree; I'd like to see Rich's top 10 too.

Most mainstream movies are ridiculous and boring so aside from those on Jeff's list, I am curious what movie all these other "mainstream Utahns" are liking.

Most movies are a waste of time to begin with, but I have seen about half of Jeff's top 10, and they were all very well done, interesting stories.

What movies should be bumping them off the list??

I haven't seen any of the movies on Vice's list and hadn't even heard of most of them. I must be living in a different world than he is. I think I'll keep it that way.

From Rich: "I get more good movie reviews from talking with friends and family than I do from reading Jeff Vice."

Pretty sure you're not going to injure Mr. Vice's tender sensibilities--and yes, I'm sure he has them--with your comments on this thread. Nor will anyone disagreeing with a critic. That's their job.

How boring would it be for a critic to solely list films in the mainstream, or that were purely wholesome and delightful. Have you seen "Juno"? I have. What's your opinion on the film? If you haven't seen it, how can you presume it is "smutty"? Because of a teen-aged pregnancy? It's called life, it happens.

Just because a critic doesn't share your exact value systems doesn't mean he's totally worthless.

And before I get flamed for being Mr. Vice's defender, no, I don't agree with all of his film reviews. In fact, only about 50/50. "Juno", however, like many on his list, deserve a second chance, regardless of your prejudicial conceptions and spouting off before even ever seeing the film.

P.S. As always, if you don't like a writer, critic, TV show ... don't read, listen or watch. Do something else.

My Top 10 list coming.

Don't be so mean to Jeff. Although, I agree, his list has the same problem with many critics. They choose their best of list by selecting mostly movies that many people dont see. Then they throw in stuff like the Knocked Up, the rat cartoon or Bruce Willis cashing a check just so we dont accuse them of being elitists. But for the most part, many of these movies never played anywhere in the state but in Salt Lake City. They also always drop in a documentary, a true story, a foreign film all predictable.

While Jeff extolls the virtues of The Diving Bell and the Butterfly, it will be outsold on DVD 1,000-1 by Spiderman 3, which really wasn't that great.

At least hes not as bad as Aint it Cool News. The head geek over there spends hundreds of hours every week pumping up films like Alien vs. Predator, and then picks a bunch of obscure films from Japan hes never mentioned on his Web site in his top 10 lists.

Someone care to explain to me why, in the words of a poster above, "The Deseret News needs to get a critic that is a bit more balanced and that better represents the Utah subscriber base."

A critic doesn't represent anyone--even whom he's employed by--but himself with his work. It's his opinion. Not the community's, not the employer's, not the subscribers.

As a side note, it would be interesting to know what exactly the newspaper's subscriber base truly portrays. My bet (pun intended) is that it can't be blindly generalized into a pigeon-holed, neatly fit little box that you might imagine it to be.

We're not all automatons here. Well, most of us aren't anyway.

I agree pretty much all those movies I wouldn't watch and wouldn't even consider for the running of best of the year. Luckily I already made a list of my favorite movies of the year. Here they are (somewhat in order of ranking):

The Bourne Ultimatum
Enchanted
Bridge To Terabithia
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
Transformers
Ratatouille
Stardust
Meet The Robinsons
Evan Almighty
Ocean's Thirteen

I tend to agree with all of the comments made thus far. There were only two movies on Jeffs list that I saw. I can only speculate on what makes a movie good for Mr. Vice; as for me, it all boils down to whether or not I was entertained; and to be truly great: whether or not I would be willing to pay to see it again. An excellent movie is one that I want to see again and take someone else to see it with me. Its rare that Hollywood releases 20 movies in one year that can even make my list. So here is my list (in reverse order):

10. The Ultimate Gift
9. Transformers
8. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
7. Ratatouille
6. Evan Almighty
5. The Bourne Ultimatum
4. National Treasure: Book of Secrets
3. Dan in Real Life
2. Stardust
1. Freedom Writers

My best of the rest in alphabetical order: August Rush; Enchanted; Martian Child; Mr. Magoriums Wonder Emporium; No Reservations; Oceans Thirteen; Pirates of the Caribbean: At Worlds End; Premonition; The Seeker: The Dark is Rising; Spider-Man 3

As promised, my top 10 films (+ 1) of 2007:

Once
Juno
Enchanted
Into the Wild
There Will Be Blood
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
The Darjeeling Limited
No Country For Old Men
Atonement
National Treasure: Book of Secrets
+
The Devil Came on Horseback

You missed two great movies, that are entertaining, inspiring and uplifting.

1. Amazing Grace

2. Miss Potter

Have a little heart; Mr. Vice is expanding your horizons. If anyone can go to a blockbuster film and say "wow, that was great!" or "not so much," then we would have a very narrow view of what's available. These other lists include nation-wide releases that anyone can see and form an own opinion about. I'd have no greater insight to my viewing options by looking at the previous two lists. As I've seen all those movies, I have my own opinions as to whether they are worth my time and money.

What Mr. Vice has done with this list is to open your options. Perhaps some of the previous posters have a Netflix queue? Maybe some of you actually attend Sundance, which is right in your back yard? You don't have to like every film you see in order to appreciate it. Some of the best-crafted films I've seen are crap to watch, while some of the lowest budget, raw films are succinct and life-altering. If using Mr. Vice's list as a filter of what-not-to-see, then why bother reading reviews? It sounds like you are going to see what you want to, regardless.

Movies are the best!!!!!

While I don't agree with Jeff Vices' opionion most of the time, I do understand his taste for films. I tend to like alot of the movies he gives terrible reviews for. (I.E. Hostel II and Vacancy I really enjoyed.) But that's my taste. I can usually tell by the preview of the film that I'll like or dislike a movie. Not based on those of critics. I read reviews to get their opinion. I do agree some of the time. Into The Wild is the best film of 2007 if not the 2000's thus far. Jeff isn't saying that everyone will like or dislike a movie that he reviews and people who think that don't understand a job of a critic.

I appreciate critics who are consistent because then I can judge fairly well whether I would enjoy seeing a particular flick based on their reviews.

Just for grins, in no particular order, my favorite movies of 2007 that I felt deserved to be seen in the theater and which I will also likely see again on DVD.

Stardust...one of the most inventive movies in a long time
August Rush...ahh! the music, and a dastardly Robin Williams
The Bourne Ultimatum
Waitress
300...I thought the queen was an amazing towanda
Hairspray...there were a lot of us literally dancing in the aisles :o)
Live Free or Die Hard...actually bought this DVD for its stress relieving properties
Knocked Up
Ratatouille
Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium

Most disappointing movie for me...Premonition