I'm not sure how much attention people pay to film critics, I don't tend to look or care if Empire says it's 4 stars or if Heat magazine reckons it's the best film ever made...
...however, I find if The Sun or The News of the World has given any film really strong praise it tends to be a complete letdown!
I can't even remember the name of the film now, maybe someone else can but The Sun attached "Makes Jeepers Creepers look like the Tweenies" and it was one of the worst horror films I've seen in a long while
The only critic I tend to listen to vaguely is Jonathan Ross, but I find I still disagree with him a lot of the time. I think your better of watching a film for yourself, everyone has different tastes, and make up your own mind if it's a good film or not. Some of the best films I have seen have had "bad reviews" North, with Bruce Willis in it, only gets one star in the TV Times, but personally I think it's one of the best films.
I don't read the reviews. If i see an avert for a movie and it looks good then i will go see it or if it has an actor in it that i like , i will go. I don't listen to critics because they never get it right.
I bought the film "The Reckoning" on DVD at Gatwick Airport for 99p in a sale. It received abysmal reviews when it was released but I really, really enjoyed it - and I'm a very fussy person.
I think that there is something to be said for critics. If the general concensus is that a film is worth seeing then I certainly take that into account, and it also depends on the critics of course. These days is sems that any old tom dick or harry can be a critic, whereas traditionally they have had some background in film studies or critical analysis.
