S. Woody, as a former film critic, it was important for me to enter films with no preconceived notions which meant I often would not read best sellers if I knew they were going to be made into films. Sometimes, if it was a book I had already read, there was nothing I could do about it, but as much as was possible, I avoided books that I knew were going to be films.
Sorry if you think that's wrong. For me, it was and IS right. I'm just a creature of habit.
Sorry, Matt, but this doesn't sail. You're a former teacher, as well. If a film was based on a classic book, or play, your statement suggests that your knowledge of the book or play would prejudice your opinion of the film. But your other occupation
demands a knowledge of the printed works.
Every good critic I know of keeps abreast of what is happening in the world around him/her. This includes reading books, seeing films, keeping up with news articles. I'd be very wary of a film critic who was unaware of the previous incarnations of
War of the Worlds, although there appear to be a number of critics on the Internet who have reviewed it thus. Part of any intelligent film review is an understanding of what the director/performers/screenwriter has/have brought to the project.
And I too have been a critic, years ago at Sondheim.com. I wrote a column reviewing CDs called
Track by Track, and made a point of researching the discs as thoroughly as I could. Context is a major part of reviewing any work.
