I guess there's no need for movie critics any more

Just saw the latest commercial for the movie "We're the Millers."

Juxtaposed between scenes from the movie were the usual quotes raving about the movie. They're only on the screen for a second. And then I realized why when I paused.

Every quote was attributed to a Twitter user, not a movie critic.

 

Bogus thumbs-up from dubious sources have been part of movie ad campaigns for several years. The usual is about 4-5 quotes from some blogger.

 

I guess that's appropriate since #steamingpileofexcrement fits nicely into 140 characters

 

Man, if Jeff Craig of 60 Second Reviews passed on We're the Millers, something must be wrong.

I'm thinking Peter Travers of RS might be the only critic now who might get me to a movie I otherwise wouldn't see. There are some movies I'd be leaning toward that a good review might give me a nice push, but there isn't another Ebert out there.

 

With print media dying, where are the next generation of big critics going to come from?

 

They're becoming superfluous, just like editorial cartoonists.

 

and copy editors ... and reporters.

 

There are plenty of good critics. As revered as Ebert was, he tended to over praise, I thought. A.O. Scott and Manola Dargus (sp?) are a good 1-2 punch. Michael Phillips is tremendous. Dana Stevens is interesting. Also lots of great commentary on the Web. I feel like we're in a bit of a golden age of film criticism, to be honest.

 

#verywelldone!

 

Peter Travers has never, ever seen a mainstream movie he wouldn't blow effusively. It stuns me people don't see that.

 

I'd lay cold cash that 75 percent of moviegoers have never heard of Rotten Tomatoes.

 

Uh....I'll take that wager.