Genuine Takes, Minimal Spoilers

Our heat meter is not designed to tear down the creators, but we will tell you like we see it. It's a simple 5 flame meter, with 1 being a smolder,  and 5 being absolute FIRE. In a perfect world, every movie we see would have us fired up (Pun intended). But let's face it, not every project is worthy of that.  

Truth be told we aren't move CRITICS. We didn't go to film school and we aren't reviewing these movies from that lens (No pun intended). 

Rather, we are reviewing it from the most important perspective, the ticket holder. Ideally, our heat scores will prompt you to see the movie, and circle back to us on our socials to agree or fight with us. Go through our categories below, and give us your heat scores after you see it. And Remember, it's just movies ;) 

This is our version of "did I get my money's worth?"  Did we walk out of there feeling...anything? Were we moved in some way? Did we laugh hard?  Were we impressed? Blown Away? Ultimately, would we tell someone to go see it, and would be be able to explain why? (foreshadowing)

Story is the heartbeat of any film. We really believe that. Even in a comedy where you wouldn't expect it to be. Just Google Spielberg's comments on his favorite movie The Water Boy. That being said, the story doesn't always come alive when filming. Sometimes that's because the director doesn't have a feel for the vision, but our feeling is that often it's because there is a big difference between story and screenplay. Fundamentally, it all starts here. Is the screenwriter seeing it in the theater of his/her mind?

If the screenplay is the heartbeat of the baby, the acting is what brings the baby to life. Actors have a critical role, which is to connect the character with the audience intimately. If they fail to be believable, or to get us invested, then the exit vibes will almost never be higher than 2 flames. In short, it's the acting that get's us to FEEL. And that's why the great ones get paid the big bucks.

Eye candy. That's what we are looking for here. Yes it has to do with camera work. Yes it has to do with editing. Yes it has to do with special effects. Yes it has to do with costume design. Yes it has to do with set design and lighting. But what REALLY brings the heat, is whether or not we just watched something we've never (or at least rarely) seen before. There is nothing like a unique camera angle, or creative use of space and screenplay. This scene from Joker: Folie à Deux, for example, would get 5 flames.

Have you ever watched a movie with the sound off? We wouldn't recommend it. We're sure silent films had their place in history, but we aren't in that place anymore. If you get a chance, visit Warner Brothers and do their studio tour, you'll see how impactful sound is to a film. That being said, it's the art of matching images to music creates some sort of harmonious energy inside us. Sort of how an ocean view is beautiful, but so much more so when you can smell the beach. Or how a coastal forest is calming, but more so when you smell the Eucalyptus. That's the impact of the score/soundtrack, it completes the (motion) picture.