Can we believe Critics' endorsements?

Part of me would really like to see War Horse Tegan while part of me can't bear the awful things that happened to the horses. I've been absolutely amazed by the clips I've seen of the puppets. They had one on Breakfast last week to celebrate Michael Morpurgo's birthday and it was so hard to remember that it wasn't real. Even my husband commented on how brilliant it was - and he makes a point of never being impressed by anything!

When 'Sound of Music' first came out all those years ago, I was the only I knew who didn't like it. Also did not like Mamma Mia, Shirley Valentine, The King's Speech, refused to accompany a friend to Les Mis because I knew I would hate it, don't watch Downton Abbey, avoided The Queen (Helen Mirren doing her maj really gets on my nerves)

I did like Big School which got luke warm reviews in The Guardian.

The bit where Mandras swims out to sea is so moving and yet was missed out of the film as well. I now understand why they chose Penelope Cruz because she is a very good actress, but I don't think her English was very good at that stage of her career. I assume they missed out the pine marten because they couldn't find one that could act. All in all a complete disaster of a film for me and one that I'd been really looking forward to.goldengirl; I don't think you'd be disappointed by the stage version of War Horse..I've yet to hear a negative comment about it [unlike the film].

I'm always wary of films of books. I loved Captain Corelli's Mandoline, but the film was a disaster. Her little pine marten who was very important in the book never appeared at all and there was a big sex scene when the point of the book was that they couldn't possibly risk her getting pregnant and sex was right out.

Generally, the most you can hope for is a film version that takes on a life of its own and has the same relationship with the book as tinned pears do do fresh, (nice but quite different).

If it's a film of a book I've read then I generally give it a miss whatever the reviews - Warhorse being a case in point. I loved the book and cried buckets and didn't fancy actually seeing it on stage nor in a film as it would have spoiled my own vision of the story. I do read critics but don't usually base my choices on what they've said.

I also enjoyed the book but I have not seen the film.

I have had 2 attempts at reading Gone Girl but no joy- I hate it.

I liked Chocolat though I preferred the book. Sometimes I need a fairytale

I was sure everyone and their auntie had seen Sound of Music!

I liked Chocolat! A complete fairytale!

I have never seen Sound of Music except at a sing a long version with all the words on the screen and dressed up as a brown paper parcel tied up with string

Jendurham I did not go and see the film. I watched it on DVD in my friend
I was keeping her company while her husband worked.
At that time she was too ill to be left on her own.
The choice of film was hers not mine.
Sadly my friend has since passed away.

As for critics having to see films when they are ”anti " towards the topic of the film I don't know. As I am not a professional film critic I am unable to comment.

I post honest reviews of hotels, excursions, etc. on Tripadvisor and I have exchanged pms with some other people who wanted more information, or when I wanted some myself. I do realise that rival owners often pretend to be customers, or friends of owners post glowing reports. I look at a wide selection of views and so far I have not been disappointed.

I was bored silly by the Lord of the Rings series. Particular the battles and those "f***ing" elves. That goes right against the adoration of all things Tolkein.

It's clear from this thread, that as we all have wildly differing tastes and opinions, only some of us can "believe the critics' endorsements".

It's good to have somebody to blame though!

I watched a film years ago called Shining Through which the critics had slammed. I loved it. 11 years on, found the DVD on amazon and watched it again, still love it.

Hated Mamma Mia.

When a film has too much hype I tend to avoid watching it

Whatsgoingon, I do not understand. Why did you go to see Mamma Mia when you do not like the music?
Do critics have to do that, go to see films when they know they are anti before they go?

Did not like Mama Mia, Captain Corelli or Chocolat and neither did I enjoy the book by Joanne Harris. Everyone I know says how great her books are but I just can not get into them. I usually find that the more the press hype a new film the less I enjoy it.

I hated Mama Mia also. I know it got wonderful reviews but after 20 minutes or so into the film I was ready to bang my head against the wall if only to drown out the noise of the film.
I have to admit that I am not the biggest Abba fan in the world so perhaps that may well have had something to do with it.
As for critics endorsements....... I usually make my own mind up and I refuse to like something just because some "expert "says I should.

Love Mama Mia, dislike Captain Corelli but loathe Chocolat most of all.

I'm so pleased to see two gransnetters at least hate Mama Mia as I do. After the way my friends had built it up, I'd really looked forward to it. I gave up after 20 excruciating minutes of simpering twittery and have been made to feel that I'm a poor excuse for a woman ever since. I also loathed Captain Corelli's ruddy Mandolin, the book (I wouldn't have put myself through the pain of watching the film).

I went to see Mamma Mia with a group of friends because it had been well received. I started to watch it thinking "Oh dear! This is really not my sort of film at all", but I just got carried away by it's sheer enthusiasm.
It was just enjoyable fun not complicated or pretentious at all no message just great fun.

I was dubious about Mama Mia but my friend wanted to see it. The audience ranged from young teenagers to pensioners and everyone was singing along the whole way through ............. brilliant!

I don't normally find that film reviews are too far wrong - depending on what I know about the reviewer, but I often find that I seem to have watched completely different TV programmes from the ones being reviewed.

Yes; I can't stand Mama Mia. Tried to watch it on the telly once but gave up very quickly. It isn't even 'so bad it's good'; I just find it embarrassing.

I love M Hulot though prefer Jour d Fete! &DDs used to love Mon Oncle.

Worst film ever: Mama Mia!

Film: M. Hulot's Holiday. I LOATHE mime
Book: Martin Amis; Money. Gave up after 4 chapters

We went to see The Great Beauty last night; I enjoyed it [it was very Fellini'esque which is why I wanted to see it] but the S.O. was extremely bored [which took the edge of it a bit as it was a very long film and I could sense it]. Mind you, I could easily have seen Rush again, which has had rave reviews and deserves every one of them.

I'm extremely cynical usually (who me? ), so if a film/play gets gushing reviews I avoid it like the plague.
I only went to see Blue Jasmine because my friend was so keen. I would have refused, but she is inbetween chemos at the moment so I was being nice!

Several of us went to see Sweeney Todd a while ago and two of us loved every blood spattered minute and the other two were nearly sick!
Lust for Johnny Depp overcame the reviews then!