MovieChat Forums > General Discussion > Imdbv2.0 and moviechat, which is better?...

Imdbv2.0 and moviechat, which is better?... Don't forget our real enemy is IMDB

posted 8 years ago by Veloxydiedora (131)
122 replies | jump to latest

Imdbv2.0 is great, it is probably the place where most IMDB rebels are at now, i was very happy that they were very quick to react and give us hope, they even might have inspired this site to be made. As great as it is, it still wasn't what I hope it to be, it didn't feel like the best solution to IMDB, I couldn't find forums dedicated to individual TV series title and the fact there is no way to find old forums discussion about old movies. That was rather worrying as I will have to create a new thread again to discuss my confusion of something that has already been discussed many times on IMDB (I know many threads is missing in this site) and I doubt there will be much replies, as the movie will be very long ago, so having TV/Movies archives is a great +. The familiar style and feel of IMDB on this site was very welcoming compared to v2.0. No hate on imdbv2 but I genuinely Think that this is the BEST ALTERNATIVE to IMDB out there.

I know that this site surfaced very recently and that we should be patient for the arrival of new features but they should seriously secure the login/signup with ssl

I use both and respect v2.0 for it's different approach

[–] NonSequitur (44) 8 years ago

I'm already getting used to the TMDb layout - yeah, it's a bit of a challenge right now, and some of the visual choices are a little objectionable, but the functionality is there. The owner seems to be committed to making the needed changes and updates. Also, you can edit or delete your posts, which is a big plus!

With all that said - Jim is awesome, so I feel bad sending people away from here. :-/

[–] 9 (1235) 8 years ago

[–] PrimeMinisterX (8708) 8 years ago

What's a power grab in terms of online forums?

[–] 9 (1235) 8 years ago

[–] PrimeMinisterX (8708) 8 years ago

IMDB2 seems okay, but as others have mentioned, it lacks that one key feature of each movie having it's own separate discussion area. Though you could argue that with fewer users it might be better to have all discussion more focused near the center, and that if you want to discuss Clue then make a thread about Clue.

The Movie Database, frankly, just looks like garbage to me. I'm sure a lot of work has gone into it, but the interface really does not look conducive at all to discussion and furthermore, a lot of older or more obscure movie have no discussion threads posted despite the site being around since 2008. The aforementioned Clue, for instance, has no discussion threads despite the film being a cult classic.

Personally, I think that MovieChat is the way forward here. BUT the site needs to be polished up a bit in terms of features and we have to get everyone else over here.

High volume is going to be important, especially in when it comes to the individual movie boards getting enough attention to sustain them. There will be no point to having those boards if they're ghost towns.

[–] Kia Willis (31) 8 years ago

I agree about IMBD2 and MovieChat. With TMDB (which I like the most), the site been up since 2008 but wasn't getting as much traffic because 1. People were using IMDB BECAUSE of its msg board plus from what I heard (correct me if I'm wrong) but it didn't really have discussion boards until now when they announced the boards was closing down. The traffic there now is getting better and I've seen older films starting to have discussions now. Not every board is gonna have discussions since the site just started up two days ago give it. So if Clue ain't getting any, that's fine give it time or you start a discussion and start spreading the word about the site period. Simple.

[–] PrimeMinisterX (8708) 8 years ago

I'll keep an eye on the situation over there. There's something about the interface that just doesn't sit right with me though. I'm not sure what it is. It's like it's trying to be too slick and pretty, but at the expense of functionality.

Just give me something simple and elegant.

[–] genplant29 (89) 8 years ago

Hi, Kia. You mentioned that TMDb didn't add the message boards feature until recently. That's accurate. But, to be more precisely accurate, I've read that they were newly introduced to that site (which TMDb is where I've personally chosen for settling in as "home base") only in recent months - I believe last summer (2016) or thereabouts. The pre-IMDb regular users of that site simply didn't personally use the message boards feature, after it was introduced. It wasn't till "The Great IMDb Debacle of February 2017" that, suddenly, all focus fell on the existing message boards capability there, and newcomers (self included) wishing for improvement/adjustments, etc. Just during the last 24-48 hours, a flurry of users there are proactively making a point to add discussion-starter first posts to various specific-title/person boards areas, to make it clear that "come on it - we're wanting to converse." So while the specific-title/person there were a major ghost town 24-48 hours ago, now there's thousands of posts that have been added across an array of different boards.

[–] lennonforever (2453) 8 years ago

and the message boards for each TV or movie is obscured under small heading "discussion". It's too hidden for my liking.

[–] 9 (1235) 8 years ago

[–] Kia Willis (31) 8 years ago

Exactly 9. That's what I keep saying. Don't be afraid to post first just do it and people will follow.

[–] 9 (1235) 8 years ago

[–] PrimeMinisterX (8708) 8 years ago

So you're saying that until just a few days ago the boards were not functional at TMDb? Well that would explain the ghost townery.

Personally, I think this is going to prove itself to be a Highlander situation: There can be only one.

Just as IMDB became THE place for film discussion, I think one of these three--MovieChat, TMDb or IMDB2--will have to consolidate all the film fans and become the new standard. Either that, or we'll just have three sites and a scattered film fandom, which isn't really good for anyone.

[–] 9 (1235) 8 years ago

[–] MarlonBrawndo (122) 8 years ago

@PrimeMinisterX
You might be proven right, eventually, that there will be just one site which will dominate or drive out the others.

For now, I like that there are several options, and that all are dealing with criticism after this shakeup. I'm hoping that all of the sites will be spurred to improve their functionality and service in order to stay competitive.

One thing I like about MovieChat is that, being brand new, it doesn't have an entrenched base to resist change merely because "I like the way we've always done it."

I'm rooting for MovieChat, but I think the most responsive site will, and should, prevail, if it comes down to only one surviving.

[–] 9 (1235) 8 years ago

[–] PrimeMinisterX (8708) 8 years ago

I'd agree with that. Competition is almost always good and I am in favor of these sites pushing each other to improve.

My only concern is traffic. If I post something on the Goodfellas board and have to wait a week to get a reply, well, that sucks and it's just not going to work.

[–] bravo_bravo (187) 8 years ago

While I do think that several of the new discussion sites will eventually become inactive, I don't think that there's only room for one new replacement film discussion site. There are different kinds of film and TV lovers and a site's appeal comes down to the particular tastes of the community and the types of discussions you can have there.

I used to visit both IMDb and TWoP because TWoP had a much better group discussing "The Daily Show" and "The Colbert Report." And I've always loved browsing through Criterion's forum, it doesn't matter to me how old some of the posts are.

That's also why moviechat is most appealing to me--it's a discussion site with an archive. Which means it will (hopefully) KEEP an archive. That's why I loved what IMDb had been. People knew exactly where they should go to talk about any particular film, show, actor, etc., and see what else has been said. Discussions could be joined at any time by anyone. Often a thread would keep going long after the original poster had stopped being active on the site, and it didn't matter, because threads had their own lives and could keep evolving as long as we let them. I loved that! There were many boards on IMDb that had very little or no activity for months or years, but those boards were still valuable. In fact those were the boards people were most upset about losing.

So I guess which site(s) people gravitate to right now might depend on what they prioritize more: instant community activity, or a place that they can take their time to contribute some thoughts to, and let time and serendipity take it from there. Ideally, a site would provide both.

I think moviechat is very promising for providing both, because whereas you can get instant activity lots of other places, you can't get good content lots of other places. We have years of archived posts, and plenty of it is good.

I agree there's a certain minimal threshold of activity and traffic that you need in order to be at all relevant. However, I don't think it will be hard for moviechat to reach that threshold. One week in, and there's already a nice sense of community; plenty of archived content to work with; a clean, intelligent layout; and we're just about to get the last of the important posting features (notifications)). Once notifications are in place, promoting this site will be more effective.

[–] MarlonBrawndo (122) 8 years ago

@ bravo_bravo
Excellent comments! I'm seeing some distinct contrasts emerging between the sites.

My sense is that MovieChat is attracting more articulate and knowledgeable folks, with a greater appreciation for quality in film and TV in the past. I think that's useful in evaluating current product. (Plus, it's nice to find others who have a sense of history.)

Some of the other boards seem to be drawing fans of the latest shows and films. There's nothing wrong with that--it's great if everyone can find whatever appeals to them.

That said, this board feels like it has more "soul", for lack of a better word. I can be patient while more features are implemented.

[–] 9 (1235) 8 years ago

[–] bravo_bravo (187) 8 years ago

Yep. People matter. I'm glad, too, to meet everyone here. :)

[–] bravo_bravo (187) 8 years ago

Thank you, MarlonBrawndo. I feel very similarly, I like the soul of this place.

I'm also going to keep ties to other communities on other sites, because, in light of the past few weeks... I think it's become valuable to recognize that there IS an online film fan community. There have always been and will continue to be different niches on different sites, but one thing that made IMDb great in the past is that it could be the "base" and cover the overlaps. Different types of film lovers bumped into each other as they made their way around the various movie/show/filmmaker boards (that was a lot of the community aspect of IMDb--not just within boards but across boards), and the industry itself knew it was a good go-to place to get a pulse on opinion.

Right now I think there are fractured communities, who don't feel like there is one resource, one reliable meeting place where they can talk film with both friends and strangers, because inclusiveness can only be achieved through comprehensiveness. That was IMDb, it was too big to be exclusive. So now, the only way to maintain that spirit of global connection and global identity among film lovers, is to recognize that there is such a thing as an online film fan community, that ISN'T defined as being on IMDb, but rather, now, everywhere. We aren't scattered if we know about each other, and openly cross paths with each other, and talk film with each other... everywhere. We aren't disconnected if we don't let ourselves be.

[–] [email protected] (1) 8 years ago

I'm messing about with this and TMDb. I don't care for the layout of IMDb2 and the name is mudd in my mind now anyhow.

[–] AtomicReturns (1252) 8 years ago

I can't explain why, but that place (IMDBv2) gives me a headache. Something about the layout, while traditional, still seems hard to read. I think the Avatars are too big and distracting compared the the small text. That could be it.

They do seem to have the most people right now.

[–] Kia Willis (31) 8 years ago

I went on IMDB2 there's a lot but one member told me a lot of them are trolls and he's kinda right. Mind as well rename it IMTB (internet movie trollbase).

[–] micbarry (125) 8 years ago

I found that too. Within 20 minutes of signing up and looking through the threads, there was a really off-color post about Steve Jobs. That put me off.

[–] 9 (1235) 8 years ago

[–] PrimeMinisterX (8708) 8 years ago

I'm a pro-freedom, pro-free speech kind of guy, so heavy moderation has never been my thing, but these boards will at least require SOME moderation if they're going to be worth a shit.

[–] Cookie.L.A. (2117) 8 years ago

Some humorous trolling is okay. For instance, I liked to go to boards for sci-fi like JURASIC PARK or ALIEN and post "Based On a True Story?" Or for the somber, oh-so-serious tearjerker ALBERT NOBS (which has Glenn Close finding freedom by taking on a male identity in Victorian Times) I posted "It's Too Bad She Never Found the Right Man." But then I'd at least acknowledge I was trolling within the thread itself. BUT MY POINT IS, imdb did eventually take a real downturn with so many posts becoming incessantly racist, or attacking of....whoever/whatever. You had to wade through all that dreck to get to any really informative posts. It was, at the least, annoying.

[–] PrimeMinisterX (8708) 8 years ago

Yeah, it's a tightrope.

I feel like people should be able to express their honest opinions, even those opinions that are unpopular or offensive to some. But to troll and just try to piss people off for fun, that just sucks. And when that kind of stuff happens in large volume, it's just not even worth it to post anymore and people leave for greener pastures.

[–] lennonforever (2453) 8 years ago

yep , it didn't take long for the idiots to come around.

[–] Cookie.L.A. (2117) 8 years ago

<< I think the avatars are too big and distracting compared the the small text. >>

Haha...yes, I posted something and was like, "OMG...I've never seen my avatar that BIG before...WHY???"
.

[–] NonSequitur (44) 8 years ago

Well, this place just got more attractive with the addition of nested posting...

[–] PrimeMinisterX (8708) 8 years ago

Agreed.

If we had Likes here, I would Like this post.

[–] lennonforever (2453) 8 years ago

I like this place very much. It has a nice feel to it, and that is important to me. Frankly, the other sites don't feel as comfortable as this place.

[–] Babestation (163) 8 years ago

But with a likes feature, you wouldn't have posted 'Agreed. If we had Likes here, I would Like this post.'
Therefore it limits the amount of [interesting] posts to read. It's like being lazy. I vote for nay.

[–] lennonforever (2453) 8 years ago

OH YEAH!!

[–] Stratego (30499) 8 years ago

While it's definitely improved, I have to be honest, I never used nesting on IMDb, unless I was really confused about who was replying to whom. I'm already seeing to downside of such a mode in a thread with as many replies as this one. it's difficult to find the most recent posts. That's why I always used flat. I'm kind of hoping we'll eventually get that option as well.

[–] kaleidoscope0_0 (483) 8 years ago

I am hoping this site is going to do well. The others are a bit too clunky for me.

[–] micbarry (125) 8 years ago

I agree. This one is lightweight and simple.

[–] genplant29 (89) 8 years ago

I'm liking and appreciating Movie Chat, but TMDb is where I've chosen to personally fully settle in, for adding ratings, content, lists, adding title/person-specific message boards posts (the boards over there are now finally starting to get lots of posts added to them), etc. But, I'll also be visiting and enjoying here, off and on. Both sites can happily co-exist, and we use both of them. It's a shame how fractured the film/t.v. loving former IMDb message boards base has now become, as it's anyone's guess where the various people we now or then used to cross paths with now may be, and if we'll ever see some of our favourites of them again, going forward. So far, I haven't seen anyone I've recognized from prior to The Great IMDb Debacle of 2/19-20/2017. Sad.

[–] PrimeMinisterX (8708) 8 years ago

I'm not loving the interface over at TMDb. It's too busy. But I'll keep an eye on it.

As for running into your fellow IMDBers, don't forgot that some people might choose to change their username, like I did.

[–] genplant29 (89) 8 years ago

Very true, Prime. I've stuck with my same username here and on TMDb as when I was on IMDb. No imagination - I know. lol

Regarding the TMDb interface, I think it's going to rapidly evolve and improve, as I've noticed a number of people have comment on the popular forums there about it, various adjustments they'd like to see made, that would add a more focused sort of presentation style. Meanwhile, I like that "Like" and "Ignore" have been added there during recent hours. Also noticed that on our individual own home pages that now "Discussions" has been relocated to near top of the list of various options. I totally expect that the presentation style of message boards setup will improve there in the coming days. Every day new tweaks are getting introduced. I really like how on TMDb you can see the constantly updated list of what forum/discussion threads are the latest/current ones getting activity, also that have been newly user-added; it's a great way to spot somewhere you might want to chime in, or a topic that you might not otherwise have thought to be adding some comments to the discussion.

[–] bravo_bravo (187) 8 years ago

Hi, genplant29. Yes, the "Let's Chat" feature to quickly join a recently active conversation or to get a feel for the community is great. See you around, I have an account at TMDb, too.

[–] Cookie.L.A. (2117) 8 years ago

I never used the rating system (which is too much like public relations/marketing)...or kept a list. I'd just post about movies and shows, occasionally exchange a pm if someone was handling a troll well or I really liked a post in general. I would mostly use the boards to see what people said of my favorite movies/stars....and then during the election I got sucked into the abyss of the dreaded POLITICS board....where there was a daily brawl about whether transsexuals should be allowed to use the restroom of the gender they identified with.

It was not a glowing period to remember.

[–] wheelin176 (2050) 8 years ago

Op. My answer which is better?

THIS !!