Being a critic is a tough gig if you’ve struggled with being a people pleaser like me. I know how much work goes into creating even a bad product–be it a book or a meal. I also know that judgment, by definition, is subjective. So I fall into the kinder, gentler category of critics when I review a book or even a restaurant. If I don’t care for a dish, I usually counter my opinion with my dining companion’s take.
On the other extreme, there are critics who make their names by savaging whatever they’re reviewing. Bad reviews are certainly merited, but ego is not. Neither is advancing oneself at the expense of someone else. Those critics should be sentenced to actually write a book or run a restaurant. Of course, that’s just my opinion.
Then there are those people who praise the worthy while elevating criticism to a deadly art. For some of the best pans I’ve ever read, check out these highlights (perhaps lowlights is the better term) from Roger Ebert’s movie reviews. My particular favorites:
- “This movie doesn’t scrape the bottom of the barrel. This movie isn’t the bottom of the barrel. This movie isn’t below the bottom of the barrel. This movie doesn’t deserve to be mentioned in the same sentence as barrels.”
- “If you want to save yourself the ticket price, go into the kitchen, cue up a male choir singing the music of hell, and get a kid to start banging pots and pans together. Then close your eyes and use your imagination.” [About Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen]
- “Battlefield Earth is like taking a bus trip with someone who has needed a bath for a long time. It’s not merely bad; it’s unpleasant in a hostile way.”[About Freddy Got Fingered]
Have you heard a particularly effective (and absolutely fair) bit of disparagement or praise? Do share.
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