Understanding Our Reviews
We at FandomWire strive to be your go-to source for informed perspectives on film and television. As part of this mission, we regularly review films and television shows, ranging from mainstream blockbusters to under-the-radar independent gems and everything in between.
Generally speaking, our reviews of movies and shows are released before a film is available to the general public, and because of this, our standard reviews do not include spoilers. If a particular article contains spoilers, we will clearly label it with a spoiler warning.
Our reviews begin with a brief summary of the film’s premise before we begin to discuss things we like and dislike about a film. Elements we evaluate include the screenplay, performances, cinematography, special effects, and any other elements in the film we believe are worthy of discussion — positive and negative. We then conclude with a rating and a concise statement that describes our overall thoughts on the film or show.
The goal of our reviews is to stimulate a discussion about the film or show and provide a more informed perspective for viewers. Although it is ultimately your decision whether you want to watch a movie or show, we hope our perspective can help you make a more educated decision about whether or not you want to watch a film or show.
Who Our Reviewers Are
Our reviewers are, first and foremost, cinephiles. To paraphrase the great Keanu Reeves, “Gosh, we love movies! We love watching movies!” And we at FandomWire also love talking about movies and TV.
The people who write for us come from a variety of backgrounds. Some have been formally educated in film studies, others have been filmmakers themselves, and some are self-taught film lovers. Boasting a variety of different cultural backgrounds and experiences, we take pride in our team’s ability to bring their unique perspectives to every film or show they review.
Our Scoring System, Explained
Every review we write is accompanied by a score and description on a scale of 1-10. The scores are:
10 – Perfect
These films are the best of the best. A 10 is either one of the most entertaining movies of the year, one of the most technically skilled films of the year, or both. While we may point out some criticisms, these minor notes bear no weight on our enjoyment or the quality of the film. This is a film you absolutely should not miss.
Examples:
SLY LIVES! aka The Burden of Black Genius
9 – Spectacular
We consider films or shows that we give a 9 to be fantastic, but not quite perfect. We may have minor gripes about the film or show that detract slightly from the experience, but it quickly recovers and is overall extremely enjoyable and/or effective.
Examples:
Weapons
8 – Impressive
Films or shows that get an 8 do something that sets them above and beyond the pack. Whether it is particularly well-crafted or particularly enjoyable, we think that there is something genuinely special about this film or show. However, there may be some elements that are not as strong as the others.
Examples:
7 – Good
If we give a film or show a 7, it means that we can confidently recommend it. Films or shows that get a 7 may have minor to moderate issues with their technical aspects, but the weaknesses are outweighed by the strengths.
Examples:
6 – Alright
The opposite of a 4. The film or show is not particularly exceptional, and there may be some things about it that frustrate us, but there are more things we enjoyed about it than we disliked.
Examples:
From the World of John Wick: Ballerina
5 – Mid
Films and shows that earn a 5 are middle-of-the-road. Perhaps it is a film with poor or clumsy technical aspects but a strong enjoyment factor. Alternatively, it could be a film that’s “well-made” but not particularly engaging.
Examples:
I Know What You Did Last Summer
Captain America: Brave New World
4 – Disappointing
The opposite of a 6. Although the film or show is not egregiously bad, and there are some solid elements, there are more things that frustrated us about the film than we enjoyed.
Examples:
M3GAN 2.0
3 – Bad
We don’t recommend films that we give a 3. There may be some redeeming elements that keep it from being a complete waste of time, but for most audiences, you would be better off skipping this.
Examples:
2 – Horrible
Films that get a 2 from us are generally not enjoyable or well-made in any way. It’s clear that there was some effort or attempt at artistry put into the film or show, but that potential is not delivered on whatsoever.
Examples:
1 – Intolerable
Films that get a 1 are typically detestable, whether they are completely incompetent or totally devoid of artistic merit. These are films that we would have turned off or shows that we would have quit watching, were it not for the fact that we have to review them. Take it as our sacrifice so you don’t have to.
Examples:
How do you determine scores?
The score in a review is completely at the discretion of the individual critic. Art is subjective, and each critic values and prioritizes different things in their evaluation. Some may give more weight to storytelling, while others may emphasize aesthetics. While scores give an easy way of understanding overall sentiment, they are not an exact science.
Are you paid by the studios to give good reviews?
Never! (And if we have been, we would love to see the check.) Our writers are paid directly by FandomWire. No studio, advertiser, or publicist is able to pay us to change our genuine, honest opinion on a film.
Do you ever change review scores?
Not unless it is a legitimate mistake. For example, if we give a film a score of 6/10 and it is labeled “Perfect,” that is an error we will correct. We do not change our scores for any other reason.
Do you ever write a review off of an incomplete work?
Typically, no. In the case of films, if we do not finish a film, we will not review it. Some television shows only provide a limited number of episodes from a season, and in these cases, we disclose how many episodes of the show have been screened for us for that review.
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