Every now and then I'm asked about my rating system for the movies or entertainment I review. So below I've outlined my rating system and what each score means.
First off, I review everything using two categories. The first is Quality. Quality refers to the art and skill level evident in the final product. For movies, this score is an average based on the sound design, visual effects, scripting, acting, cinematography, directing, costuming, musical score, etc.
The second review category is Relevance. Relevance refers to the likelihood of viewers/participants having something of spiritual, ethical or philosophical worth to talk about afterward. (Political themes, unless they have a strong moral component, do not play a role in the Relevance score.) I believe entertainment is, in part, a doorway to conversation about things that really matter. Things like who we are, who God is and what life is meant to be about. I approach life from a biblical, Christian perspective, but this score is not necessarily based on how "Christian" a movie is. Sometimes a movie that has some unintended parallels to Christian thinking, or has very strong "counter-Christian" themes will get a very high Relevance score. A poor Quality score can also affect the Relevance score, since few people like to talk about the themes of a bad movie.
(In many of my early reviews, I used the word "Veracity" instead, but the criteria behind the score is still the same.)
The scores in each category are on a scale of 0.0-10.0, and reflect an educational system of grading. (A through F) If by chance you see my reviews elsewhere using a 1-5 star system, simply multiply that score by two and check the results below.
0.0-5.5: A failing score, with the lower numbers indicating even less quality or value. In Quality, this score indicates how insulting to my personal taste the experience is. In Relevance, it simply represents a decreased likelihood of meaningful conversation based on the material.
6.0-6.5: Major shortcomings result in this substandard score in Quality. In Relevance, it's a big red flag that says "expect very little".
7.0-7.5: This is an okay score. Under Quality, it means "you're not missing out". Under Relevance it means "there are things to discuss if you really want to."
8.0-8.5: A solid score that, under Quality, means "either now or later, this is worth checking out". Under Relevance it indicates that there is some good conversation to be had here that may not take much effort to start.
9.0-9.5: Under Quality, this score means "either now or later, don't miss seeing this one"! Under Relevance, it means that worthwhile conversation could easily be started and may even start spontaneously afterward.
10.0: A rare score in either category. Under Quality, this means "Go check it out NOW! A major achievement in entertainment!" Under Relevance, this score means that the nature of the material almost demands conversation or at the very least will provoke contemplation in almost every viewer/participant.
