Reviews typically provide a meager one-dimensional value call that requires you to know the reviewer well to know if you will agree with the review:
- Two thumbs up for the movie
- 3 out of 5 stars for the book
- 91% rating for the video game
However, this type of rating seems insufficient when comparing two very different movies such as Children of Heaven and Tucker and Dale vs Evil.
Children of Heaven thoughtfully depicts poverty in modern day Iran and the entire movie centers around a boy losing his sister’s shoes. Since the family does not have the money to purchase a new pair, the siblings must share a pair of shoes and the boy is desperate to find a way to obtain a new pair of shoes for his sister. Touching, heart-warming, charming and delightful! Even though the spoken language is Farsi and the film is subtitled in English, I watched this with my children when they were in grade school. My daughters could read and understood how the poor family suffered how rich we were in comparison – I was able to get them to stop asking for a cell phone for an entire year! My son, in kindergarten, didn’t bother reading but enough of the story carried through that he understood and enjoyed the movie. This wonderful movie was nominated for the Oscar for Best Foreign film in 1998 and I recommend it to anyone who wants to cry and laugh with a truly human drama. Thumbs Up!
On the other hand.
Tucker and Dale vs Evil spoofs the traditional teen slaughter film by centering on the two simple country boys (Tucker and Dale) who encounter a group of college kids on their spring break. Tucker and Dale display simple needs: fishing, beer, bowling and a desire to remodel the decaying shack they just purchased on the lake. The college kids start their camping with beer, pot, a story of how the woods are haunted by a serial killer, and a trip to go swimming in the pond in their underwear. Misunderstanding after ridiculous misunderstanding leads to the teenagers hilariously killing themselves all over the property. Tucker and Dale vs Evil provides a smart, very funny send up of the horror genre and various stereotypes and I highly recommend it to anyone who needs a laugh. Thumbs Up!
Both are ‘Thumbs up,’ but comparing a thumbs-up recommendation between the two movies is like comparing a suave tuxedo with my favorite underwear. Just because both are excellent does not mean that they are anything alike. Therefore, any reviews I do from here on (for music, books, games or movies) will be made along two dimensions – fun and substance. Fun represents roller-coaster enjoyment and personal satisfaction for the emotional part of our being – what makes our lizard brain happy. Substance represents the importance of prestige, symbolism, emotional complexity and intellectual depth. It is the difference between a cool flick and a cinematic gem!
Looking back at the two examples above:
Children of Heaven feeds the brain and the soul, but with subtitles and serious content, may not be a fun ride for most people. I rate this movie 5/5 for Substance and 4/5 for fun (for those who don’t like subtitles, it may be a 2/5 or 3/5 depending upon their dislike).
Tucker and Dale vs Evil makes me laugh with its cleverness and with its low-brow slapstick humor. The acting takes dark, ridiculous situations and makes them hilarious. I must rate this film 5/5 for fun, but only 3/5 stars for Substance (it gets two extra stars for the subtext commentary regarding the rural versus urban conflicts in the USA). Everyone in my family has enjoyed this movie and we have introduced it to many of our friends.
Are these perfect reviews? No, of course not. But hopefully you have increased understanding of how you might like the film. It also gives me a chance to outline the context for all future reviews. Meanwhile, if you are looking for a pleasurable way to spend an hour and a half, check one of them out!