El Despairado
12-27-2007, 03:52 PM
I suggest we add this to the common review criteria. Basically Wow Factor would be a score representative of the films combined overall Sensory Appeal, both visually and sonically.
I know we are already rating the PQ of the films, but honestly, that is very subjective to begin with. Also, most HD DVD's are going to be 4.0 to 5 in PQ anyway, because the overall PQ of the format is simply wonderful all the way around. Very few HD DVD releases have actually had "way below average" PQ rating, and unless it is extremely poor by most standards, not many will tell the difference.
Also, I understand we are also currently rating Audio Quality as well. However, this is also subjective and really depends more upon the reviewers Audio Setup and quality of their components and speakers than anything else. I think the Audio ratings are even more subjective than PQ ratings, by a wide margin. Honestly, unless the reviewer has a set up on par with my own (and I trust that it has been calibrated and tweaked appropriately) I view the Audio rating as basically pointless because their sound experience will most likely be completely different than my own anyway.
However, a Wow Factor rating is one that is going to be relevant to most people and I think will also be less subjective. Take films like King Kong, Batman Begins, Children of Men, Hulk, etc... No matter what you thought of the actual film itself, and no matter what set up you are using, when you see and hear those films you have to sit back and at least admit, "WOW, this really looks and sounds awesome!"
I'm not saying Wow Factor is the be all end all rating for a film, because tons of people are actually totally turned off by films that are more about visuals than the story. However, I would guess there are MANY people who only own HDTV's and who only purchased HD DVD because they want to experience the "Wow Factor", and to also showcase that to others. So, I really think it's an important rating. Possibly even the most important rating. Does anyone else agree?
I know we are already rating the PQ of the films, but honestly, that is very subjective to begin with. Also, most HD DVD's are going to be 4.0 to 5 in PQ anyway, because the overall PQ of the format is simply wonderful all the way around. Very few HD DVD releases have actually had "way below average" PQ rating, and unless it is extremely poor by most standards, not many will tell the difference.
Also, I understand we are also currently rating Audio Quality as well. However, this is also subjective and really depends more upon the reviewers Audio Setup and quality of their components and speakers than anything else. I think the Audio ratings are even more subjective than PQ ratings, by a wide margin. Honestly, unless the reviewer has a set up on par with my own (and I trust that it has been calibrated and tweaked appropriately) I view the Audio rating as basically pointless because their sound experience will most likely be completely different than my own anyway.
However, a Wow Factor rating is one that is going to be relevant to most people and I think will also be less subjective. Take films like King Kong, Batman Begins, Children of Men, Hulk, etc... No matter what you thought of the actual film itself, and no matter what set up you are using, when you see and hear those films you have to sit back and at least admit, "WOW, this really looks and sounds awesome!"
I'm not saying Wow Factor is the be all end all rating for a film, because tons of people are actually totally turned off by films that are more about visuals than the story. However, I would guess there are MANY people who only own HDTV's and who only purchased HD DVD because they want to experience the "Wow Factor", and to also showcase that to others. So, I really think it's an important rating. Possibly even the most important rating. Does anyone else agree?