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Full Version: Okay what, exactly, is IMDB suppost to provide?
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I can't get any worthwhile information about movies at all from this site! It's got some reviews and information on the people who made it... that's it! No deep synopsis, and most importantly, no list of technical features of the various releases of the movie! How am I supposed to figure out what the best existing version of something is before I buy it? Annoying...

So far, Wikipedia just totally beats this IMDB site. I can't believe so many people consider this the "best" source of movie information...
It's more a technical cinema site than a video site. It's there for you to see complete cast and crew lists and production data, dates, foreign versions, and it's a great way to cross-reference actors and actresses and the productions in which they've starred.

It's great for things you just don't seem to want.
Yeah... Well, you have to remember I consider actors less than human.
That's a scientific fact, but its the crew that makes the film
It has technical information about films and provided people with a place to discuss specific movies [although the latter only happens on an intelligent level about .5% of the time].
I use IMDB if I see some guy on TV or in a movie/game and say "I KNOW I've seen/heard him somewhere before!".

But for actual <i>information</i>, Wiki is by far the better choice.
I like IMDB's trivia and quotes sections.

Quote: Well, you have to remember I consider actors less than human.

Yes, most actors/actresses are self-absorded idiots concerned only with avarice, but what does that have to do with being able to appreciated their acting ability? Sure, Tom Cruise is completely insane [and a Scientologist, but that's a bit redundant], but I still am able to believe that he is a pretty good actor and am able to enjoy movies that he appears in. That's more of a secondary point though.

My main point is this: If you heard that George Lucas was working on a new movie, that would not make you excited? If you found out that Ridley Scott was set to direct a new scifi movie written by Arthur C. Clark or, if you prefer, Matt Groening was set to direct a new animated series written by Johnen Vasquez, this would mean absolutely nothing to you? I find that a little hard to belieive. Everyone has preferences for actors, directors, writers, producers, styles, genres, even countries of origin with regards to movies.

The only way that it's possibly not to have such preferences is if you watch movies in a creative vacuum, judging them based solely on the fact that they exist in a certain form without comparing them to any other movies before or since, which is impossible. There are certain directors I like because they have made movies that I like, there are certain genres that I like because they contain movies that I like. It's all based on experience, which cannot be taken out of the equation regardless of how hard you try.

The purpose of IMDB is this: to give you information about every movie that a certain person is affilliated with, regardless of which capacity. That, and give you quotes, trivia, technical information, short synopses, trailers, pictures, discussion boards, ect.

Quote:but its the crew that makes the film

Who would want to watch a movie with terrible actors, even if said movie has good special effects and story? Of course, the same could be said for a movie with good actors, but poor special effects and story. You need all those elements to make a great movie. Actors don't make the movie, but they do have the potential to break it.
Well, I can love a game that has poor gameplay if the story and characters and atmosphere are great enough to make up for it.

See: Silent Hill 2.
Great Rumbler Wrote:I like IMDB's trivia and quotes sections.



Yes, most actors/actresses are self-absorded idiots concerned only with avarice, but what does that have to do with being able to appreciated their acting ability? Sure, Tom Cruise is completely insane [and a Scientologist, but that's a bit redundant], but I still am able to believe that he is a pretty good actor and am able to enjoy movies that he appears in. That's more of a secondary point though.

My main point is this: If you heard that George Lucas was working on a new movie, that would not make you excited? If you found out that Ridley Scott was set to direct a new scifi movie written by Arthur C. Clark or, if you prefer, Matt Groening was set to direct a new animated series written by Johnen Vasquez, this would mean absolutely nothing to you? I find that a little hard to belieive. Everyone has preferences for actors, directors, writers, producers, styles, genres, even countries of origin with regards to movies.

The only way that it's possibly not to have such preferences is if you watch movies in a creative vacuum, judging them based solely on the fact that they exist in a certain form without comparing them to any other movies before or since, which is impossible. There are certain directors I like because they have made movies that I like, there are certain genres that I like because they contain movies that I like. It's all based on experience, which cannot be taken out of the equation regardless of how hard you try.

The purpose of IMDB is this: to give you information about every movie that a certain person is affilliated with, regardless of which capacity. That, and give you quotes, trivia, technical information, short synopses, trailers, pictures, discussion boards, ect.



Who would want to watch a movie with terrible actors, even if said movie has good special effects and story? Of course, the same could be said for a movie with good actors, but poor special effects and story. You need all those elements to make a great movie. Actors don't make the movie, but they do have the potential to break it.

Well first off I'm not really that big a fan of Lucas, and I have no idea who the rest of those people are, so that should answer that question. The fact is, I never bother reading the credits after a movie. I just don't care about "film" (the pretentious thing movie fans like to call movies, because I guess "movie" is offensive, even though these days you'd be hard pressed to find a single movie on actual film except in theaters) enough to find out who's actually responsible for what's there.
Quote:Well first off I'm not really that big a fan of Lucas, and I have no idea who the rest of those people are, so that should answer that question.

You don't know who Ridley Scott, Arthur C. Clarke, Matt Groening, or Johnen Vasquez are? Good Lord, man, have you perhaps been living under a rock for the past 15 years?

Ridley Scott directed Blade Runner, Alien, Black Hawk Down, Hannibal, Kingdom of Heaven, Legend, and Gladiator. Among other things.

Arthur C. Clarke wrote 2001: A Space Odyssey, Childhood's End, Rendezvous with Rama, and countless other scifi books.

Matt Groening is the creator of The Simpsons and Futurama.

Johnen Vasquez is the creator of Invader Zim and Johnny the Homicidal Maniac.

You never cease to amaze me.
Quote:Johnen Vasquez is the creator of Invader Zim and Johnny the Homicidal Maniac.

I didn't know that one, but I've heard of those other ones of course... Arthur C. Clarke is one of the most famous sci-fi authors ever... (and Ridley Scott and Matt Groening aren't exactly unknowns either... ;))

... you forgot to say that Matt Groening also writes (wrote? I think it's still ongoing) the comic Life in Hell, though... :)
Quote:I didn't know that one

If you were smart [like me], you'd already have Invader Zim on DVD and have listened to the hilarious audio commentaries several times so that you could know things like this.
Great Rumbler Wrote:You don't know who Ridley Scott, Arthur C. Clarke, Matt Groening, or Johnen Vasquez are? Good Lord, man, have you perhaps been living under a rock for the past 15 years?

Ridley Scott directed Blade Runner, Alien, Black Hawk Down, Hannibal, Kingdom of Heaven, Legend, and Gladiator. Among other things.

Arthur C. Clarke wrote 2001: A Space Odyssey, Childhood's End, Rendezvous with Rama, and countless other scifi books.

Matt Groening is the creator of The Simpsons and Futurama.

Johnen Vasquez is the creator of Invader Zim and Johnny the Homicidal Maniac.

You never cease to amaze me.

Well of course I've heard of a number of those movies and shows, but just because I never bothered finding out the name of who was responsible for this or that piece of entertainment I'm suddenly living under a rock? I don't talk ABOUT directors with people either, when would it come up? I also hate the channel "E!" with a passion, and tend to avoid the latest "news from tinsel town" like the plague. Really this has ZERO negative consequences outside of the stupid celebrity jokes they put in shows that I fail to get. I'm sure that lady with a fake eye was loads of funny in that tabloid article Mr. Family Guy, but really I just don't care, get to the actual FUNNY stuff.

Actually in retrospect of course I recognize a few of those names, but really my mind just sort of glazes over when I start hearing credits. It's just not something I care about. Entertain me and go away. I don't want to know your name or life story or personal philosphy. It'll just ruin the story more likely than not if I find out it was all allegory for some idiotic premice.
Quote:I also hate the channel "E!" with a passion, and tend to avoid the latest "news from tinsel town" like the plague.

What does this have to do with "E!" or "the latest news from tinsel town"? It's about at least knowing the NAME of the people who make your favorite movies, books, or TV series. How anyone could be so ignorant of even the most basic and prevelant names is simply incomprehensible to me.

You see, Kevin, while people [like me] generally care very little for what this or that celebrity is doing today or who he or she is currently with, I DO wish to know who makes my favorite books, movies, and TV series so that I can go out and find more things by them because I know that they do good work. It really is no more complicated than that.
Great Rumbler Wrote:You see, Kevin, while people [like me] generally care very little for what this or that celebrity is doing today or who he or she is currently with, I DO wish to know who makes my favorite books, movies, and TV series so that I can go out and find more things by them because I know that they do good work. It really is no more complicated than that.
I like how you use people's real names when you're frustrated and trying to make a point. I do agree with you, though, Jonathan. I use IMDB all the time to see if the guy in the movie I'm currently watching is the same guy from that movie I watched two years ago. I don't care about the latest Brittany Spears haircut news, but I am curious about the names of the people who are entertaining me.
Quote:I like how you use people's real names when you're frustrated and trying to make a point.

Even this long after OB1 left, he's still copying OB1's ideas of how to conduct an argument... :)
Quote:Even this long after OB1 left, he's still copying OB1's ideas of how to conduct an argument...

It's because I use OB1's tactics, along with some of my own, when I'm arguing with him, unfortunately it sometimes spills over into other things as well.

Nevertheless, my point still stands.
Quote:It's because I use OB1's tactics, along with some of my own, when I'm arguing with him, unfortunately it sometimes spills over into other things as well.

While I definitely miss OB1's contributions to this forum, I don't really miss his debating tactics...
Hey, at least I don't call people bad names and ramble incoherently.
That's true. OB1 was indeed worse...