MovieChat Forums > Last of the Dogmen (1995) Discussion > Another debacle for movie critic, Leonar...

Another debacle for movie critic, Leonard Maltin

posted 20 years ago by bheyer
8 replies | jump to latest

I came across, "Last of the Dogmen," this morning, on HBO. As is my wont, I checked out Leonard Maltin's Movie & Video Guide to see if it was going to be worth my time. I was surprised to find that Maltin HATED IT, calling it "annoyingly cliched" and "emminently forgettable." He gave it just two stars (out of four). It's funny, though, I was enjoying it! I decided to ignore Maltin's review
(he's been wrong before), and continued to watch the film. I'm GLAD I DID! I thought the acting was VERY GOOD (Tom Berenger & Barbara Hershey), the story was original, the scenery, breathtaking (!!!) and the ending acceptable, though fairly predictable. I would've given "Last of the Dogmen" three stars. Just goes to show you, even movie critics have bad days. Admit it, Maltin,
YOU blew it!

I'm the bad guy? How'd that happen?
Michael Douglas ("D-FENS"), in "Falling Down"

[–] mtnman-1 20 years ago

I have never taken any advice froma film critic. I dont miss alot of good movies that way.

[–] bheyer 20 years ago

Yeah, I sort of agree. However, THEY have SAVED me a LOT of time from watching sh*t that wasn't WORTH my time. Do you understand? It's like the old adage, "sometimes you eat the bear, and sometimes the bear eats you." I've been chewed up by a few "bears" in my time. Thanks for the post, though.

I'm the bad guy? How'd that happen?
Michael Douglas ("D-FENS"), in "Falling Down"

[–] sawyertom 20 years ago

Yeah, just look at how they praised Sideways, American Beauty and the Piano and those movies in my opinion really sucked.

[–] 20 years ago

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[–] lacrescenta 20 years ago

Leonard Maltin I don't know so well, but I tend to take heed of Roger Ebert's reviews, up to a point. I won't refuse to see a movie just on his say-so (sometimes he has little tolerance for movies that I think are great fun), but I find that he and I have a similar taste, most of the time. Very rarely does he love a movie that I despise. (I can't remember when it's ever happened, but I can't say that it hasn't.)

Some essential ways to successfully use movie reviews are:

1. Not take one reviewer's word over your own gut feeling. In other words, if you really want to see it, don't refuse to see it just because so-and-so reviwer didn't like it (unless this reviewer gives you concrete facts about the film that change your mind about it).
2. Read "man on the street" reviews too (Amazon.com customer reviews and Netflix customer reviews can be good resources). Sometimes a reviewer gets too snobby and high-falutin', or gets too caught up in picking apart flaws that the rest of us don't notice or mind so much. If enough "regular people" derive some enjoyment out of it and you like their reasons for liking it, then very likely you'll want to see the film.
3. Find a reviewer that doesn't drive you crazy, that you find writes reviews that you mostly agree with. So far (for me) that reviewer is Roger Ebert. But even so, I always take his opinion with a grain of salt (or two).

As it happens, Roger Ebert gave "Last of the Dogmen" 3 out of 4 stars, so he liked it well enough. I think he liked it a little less than I did, but his review leaves you with the feeling that it's a worthwhile movie to see, if you are of the inclination.

[–] dbellmyer 19 years ago

Agree with you about Roger Ebert,lacrescenta. I get emails of his reviews every week, and I usually agree with him. There have been plenty of films that the critics didn't like, but I liked them very well. You can't always rely on them, and your remark about going with your "gut" reaction is right on.

[–] blakduke 18 years ago

I would not take a movie reviewers word on anything up to and including the sun rising up in the east. None of them would know an entertaining movie if it walked up and bit them. Siskel and Ebert were, IMHO, two of the biggest clowns on record when it came to reviewing movies. In their opinion no movie was worth a flip if it did not send a message. So all of my old 50's and 60's westerns and swashbucklers were crap because they did not convey some socially redeeming meaning, bah humbug. Oh yeah and Maltin is right up there with them. God I have got to stop holding it in and start expressing my opinion more.

[–] Crevan1986 14 years ago

Generally, if I find a film that was critically panned, but relevant to my interests, I end up loving the film. So I've learned to ignore professional movie critics. Amateurs don't even rate on the care-o-meter.

I am a leaf on the wind - watch how I soar.