Monday, October 22, 2007

BENJAMINS 'R US

Unless I've been unable to access the option, it appears that Amazon has deleted the opportunity once accorded to users to comment on new movies still in theaters under the category "Theatrical Releases." I wanted to comment on the grossly overpraised indie film "Lars and the Real Girl," a finely acted but dully developed and finally stupid two hour ordeal, ideally suited to the Lifetime or Oxygen Channel. Amazon, most likely because it can't sell anything but the soundtrack for brand new films, seems to have dropped the category of "Theatrical Releases" for its reviewers. Ars Gratia Pecuniae!

6 comments:

Malleus said...

I've never seen this category there! Where is it?

Btw, I think a good idea would be to post your review elsewhere regardless of what Amazon does -- instead of or in addition to posting there. Post it here or start another blog, but don't rely on Amazon, at least not exclusively. The reasons for that are many; the primary two being the inavoidable (self-)censorship, and the fact that long term, three-star (and below) reviews tend silently to disappear.

Stanley H Nemeth said...

Malleus:
There used to be a readily accessible category called "theatrical releases" which, unless my computer's on the fritz, recently, and silently, has disappeared. Now new films for review come up when DVD dates have been announced, not when they open in theaters. And how can anyone honestly review a DVD before seeing its quality and extras? I reviewed as a theatrical release Mike Judge's "Idiocracy," for instance, long before a DVD was even thought of. I don't believe this sort of activity is possible any longer. Check out "Lars and the Real Girl," for instance, and you'll see Amazon currently has no information on it besides that for the already commercially available musical soundtrack. When it has DVD listings and pre-order availability, I suspect the opportunity to review will then "magically" occur.

Malleus said...

Amazing! I never knew any of it. Where was this category shown in the past?

Stanley H Nemeth said...

Time was when you clicked "see all categories," there was one for theatrical releases. I don't see it any more, but take my word for it. I used to access it regularly. If you look, for example, at my review of "Idiocracy," you'll see Amazon's usual identification by movie title has now dropped off since it's not for a DVD but was written for the theatrical release. I haven't checked, but I think the only way to access this unnamed review is by scrolling through "see all my reviews." Don't you just love commerce at the cutting edge?

Malleus said...

Oh, I get you, I remember it now. Was it something you brought up then too? Like, you could see some movie info and you could search for the theaters in your area.

Stanley H Nemeth said...

Yes, and you could also review the movie.