LAMB #419 - Ciné Critique Américain

This site is no longer associated with the LAMB.

A message from Ryan Matsunaga of The 8th Circuit

Yesterday, one of our writers and founders (Brendan Kutler) passed away in his sleep at the age of 17. We have started a post where his friends and fans can leave their respects in the comments section. It has come to my attention that his family is watching the thread, and I know it would mean a lot to them to see how many people he has touched.

The post can be found here: http://8th-circuit.com/?q=content/rip-brendan-kutler.

The LAMB sends its best wishes out to Brendan's family, friends and members of The 8th Circuit.

LAMB Chops!

Happy New Year everyone! Today's Choice Chop comes from the blog Obscure movie thoughts from an obscure movie fan. It was submitted by Tom Clift of Plus Trailers, who is an admirer of the article: Best of the 00's: The Eleven Most Under-Rated Films of the Decade. While there are lists abound this time of year, I haven't seen one quite like this before. It includes titles like Frailty, Wonderboys, and (my personal favorite) Inland Empire. Here's a gobbet from the article:

An overlooked movie is a terrible thing. All these great movies condemned unfairly to mere cult success while something like A Beautiful Mind can win a best Picture Oscar. Goes to show that truly no-one in the film industry knows what they're talking about. Except me of course. Faux-arrogance plays to the back rows I'm told so there you go.

See what else made this overlooked list here.

The rest of the chops!

Site Name: Invasion of the B Movies

Post Title/Link: Post 500 is for... THE FUTURE!!! Part 1

Submitted By: Invasion of the B Movies

Site Name: Goregirl's Dungeon

Post Title/Link: Goregirl's TOP Ten Favourite Horror Films of 2009

Submitted By: Goregirl's Dungeon

Site Name: Anomalous Material

Post Title/Link: Sherlock Holmes (2009): A (Long) Review

Submitted By: Anomalous Material

Site Name: Life of a Cinephile and Bibliophile

Post Title/Link: Celebrity Comparisons

Submitted By: Life of a Cinephile and Bibliophile

Thanks everyone. Send more submissions to weeklylambchops@gmail.com. And have a great New Year's.

Brutally Blunt Blog Blustering #26: He Shot Cyrus

It's Blusterin' Time!

And remember: Blustering should be a two-way street; if you've asked to be blustered, you better be a blusterer.

If you're new to this feature or need a refresher, click the label at the bottom of this post and see the first few posts. Otherwise, here's the basics:

What I'll do is list a site; you're asked to critique it. But here's the catch: to induce the most honest reactions, don't leave the comment using your normal alias/login - instead, go anonymous, and be as brutally honest (or complimentary) as you wish to be. Also, be specific, and naturally, don't be rude. If I deem anything inappropriate, I'll have no problem deleting the comment.

So, go to the site listed below, familiarize yourself with it for a few minutes, then come back and leave some constructive criticism and/or comments that you have.

Site: He Shot Cyrus
LAMB#: 121
URL: http://www.he-shot-cyrus.blogspot.com/



















If you're up for this treatment for your site (and you're a LAMB), send me an email with the subject "Bluster Me!" If you've already done so, no need to do it again - you're on the list, and these will be going up in order of when I received your email (by the way, it could take a while for your site to be Blustered, since I don't run this more than once a week or so).

LAMB #418 - Gatto Reels

URL: http://gattoreels.blogspot.com/
Site Name: Gatto Reels
Categories: Reviews and the occasional commentary
Rating: PG-13

What is the main focus of your site?
Reviews of theatrical and older film releases.

What are your blogging goals, personally and/or professionally? In other words, what, if anything, are you trying to get out your blog?
I'm basically just having fun with it. I'm an education major at college and journalism was one of the interests I had that was left on the back burner. I designed this blog to focus my passion and love for the movies. Although I plan on becoming a teacher one day I might find myself pondering a career in the film criticism industry. If that day ever comes about, I have this blog to add to the resume. However, on the whole, Gatto Reels is just a place I visit to get away from the everyday hassles of life.

Do you prefer an interactive community for your blog or are you the teacher and your readers the students?
Interacting with a community is terrific. I always encourage feedback and hopefully I can get some feedback with this project. Debate always conjures interest, and I'm always a willing participant to listen to both sides of a story.

How long have you been movie blogging for, and how frequent do you post updates to your site?
I started writing mini-reviews on the Facebook application Flixster for about two years until about July of this year. A friend of mind suggested making a blog and I quickly obliged.

Name up to three of your favorite movies (and no more).
Pan's Labyrinth
Pulp Fiction
The Wizard of Oz

How did you hear about the LAMB?
Various movie blogs I browse when bored.

Any additional comments, or give yourself an interview question that's not listed above.
None.

LAMBcast #8 (the "lost" episode)

Host Jason Soto and the rest of the gang on the latest LAMBcast were putting on a hell of a show. Unfortunately, it was so much show that Jason's computer just couldn't handle it. All was going smoothly until around the 25-minute mark, where some sort of glitch with his recording software crept up and sabotaged the 'cast from there on out, causing a delay between Jason's audio and that of the other participants. It starts off subtly but sadly gets worse as the show goes on.

The entire show has been published, both for posterity and in the interest of the podcasters, some of whom were taking part in their first podcast. Despite the incident, my thanks go out to Jason for supreme hosting duties. At the least, have a listen to the unaltered portion and get to know LAMBcast noobies Rachel and Travis a little bit.

The topic at hand was Christmas movies, of which the gang dissected to no end. Also on tap, though a bit harder to hear was a round of Trailer Talk and a game of Last Man Standing.

In it, Jason was joined by fellow LAMBs:

* Tom Clift of Plus Trailers,

* Rachel Thuro of Rachel's Reel Reviews,

* and Travis McCollum of The Movie Encyclopedia.

Join us either as a listener or as a fellow podcaster! For more information on the LAMBcast, check out the topic at the LAMB Forums.

As usual, the music, as provided royalty-free by Kevin MacLeod's Incompetech website, is the bomb. Big thanks to Kevin for providing this service.

You can listen by playing it in the widget in the left sidebar; if you'd like to add it to your site (you would), click the "Add to my page" link. Also, you can find us on iTunes; just go to the Podcasts section and search for "LAMBcast." And hey - while you're on iTunes, who don't you go ahead and either rate the LAMBcast or write a review of it. Better yet, do both! It'll help us get noticed by the overlords at Apple and earn worldwide fame...or something like that.

If you have any questions, comments, or suggestions, we'd love to hear them.

LAMBScores: Fantastic Mr. Fox, The Road & Precious

Sarahnomics
Bitchin' Film Reviews


This Guy Over Here
Blog Cabins
The Dark of the Matinee
Marshall and the Movies


The Rest Is Cream Cheese
Insight into Entertainment
Not Just Movies
Nevermind Pop Film


The Movie Encyclopedia
8th Circuit


Phil on Film
Entertain Me


Lets Go to the Movies


Average LAMBScore out of five, rounded to nearest half-LAMB: (15 sites)


Median LAMBScore:


Submissions for this film are now closed. To submit your rating & review for other new releases, visit the LAMB Forums (must be an existing LAMB to join).




Dark of the Matinee
Cut the Crap Movie Reviews
Gatto Reels
The Movie Encyclopedia


Film Forager
Stop the Planet of the Apes...I Want to Get Off
The Flick Chick


Big Thoughts from a Small Mind


The Cynical Blog
Sarahnomics


Phil on Film
Cut Print Review


Average LAMBScore out of five, rounded to nearest half-LAMB: (12 sites)


Median LAMBScore:


Submissions for this film are now closed. To submit your rating & review for other new releases, visit the LAMB Forums (must be an existing LAMB to join).




He Shot Cyrus
JDB Records
The Dark of the Matinee
The Critical Critics


Foolish Blatherings
Cut the Crap Movie Reviews
Marshall and the Movies
The Flick Chick
Film Forager


Big Thoughts from a Small Mind


Blog Cabins


Not Just Movies


Average LAMBScore out of five, rounded to nearest half-LAMB: (12 sites)


Median LAMBScore:


Submissions for this film are now closed. To submit your rating & review for other new releases, visit the LAMB Forums (must be an existing LAMB to join).

LAMB Chops!

Today's Choice Chop is written by Univarn at A Life in Equinox. It's a very thoughtful critique of Avatar. It certainly is the film of the moment and Univarn tackles it with some serious insight. He doesn't bother hiding that he's as giddy as a twelve year old girl about it either (his words, not mine). An excerpt:

For at its heart Avatar is Cameron's criticism on modern corporatism, and the lack of environmental appreciation in modern times. Cameron's high action, strong emotion, narrative comes at the backlash of walking out of the theater to see a handful of trees, paved parking lots, and resemblances of what was once a rich forest area. Will many even realize it? Somehow I doubt it...

Whether you've seen the movie or not, this is fantastic review. Read the whole article here.

The rest of the chops!

Site Name: The Lightning Bug's Lair

Post Title/Link: 8 1/2: The Bugg Goes From the Grind House to the Art House

Submitted By: The Lightning Bug's Lair

Site Name: Movie Mobsters

Post Title/Link: Top Fifty Movies of 2000-09

Submitted By: Movie Mobsters

Site Name: Phil on Film

Post Title/Link: That Was The Decade That Was

Submitted By: Phil on Film

Site Name: Dark of the Matinee

Post Title/Link: Back to Basics: Magnolia

Submitted By: Bitchin' Film Reviews

Send your submissions now to weeklylambchops@gmail.com

LAMB #417 - Cinematically Correct

URL: http://cinematicallycorrect.wordpress.com/
Site Name: Cinematically Correct
Categories: Reviews, Humor, Editorial, Television
Rating: PG-13

What is the main focus of your site?
At first, I was hoping to be "discovered" as a critic. Now, I just write how I talk to my friends & family about movies, TV, music, etc. I'm really just hoping to make people laugh a little bit while talking about pop culture.

What are your blogging goals, personally and/or professionally? In other words, what, if anything, are you trying to get out your blog?
Personally, my blog is a way for me to share my thoughts about movies, TV, etc., long after my wife & friends are done talking about it. Basically, I write instead of annoying them with it.

In my perfect, ideal world, I would be writing professionally & making a living doing it.

Do you prefer an interactive community for your blog or are you the teacher and your readers the students?
I would very much like an interactive community. Of course, it would help if I had a few more readers.

How long have you been movie blogging for, and how frequent do you post updates to your site?
I have been blogging for a bit over three years & I post daily.

Name up to three of your favorite movies (and no more).
1. Almost Famous
2. Butch Cassidy & The Sundance Kid
3. Rushmore

How did you hear about the LAMB?
I noticed the link on the Ross V. Ross blog.

Any additional comments, or give yourself an interview question that's not listed above.
None.

LAMB #416 - Midnight Confessions

URL: http://reverendphantom.com/
Site Name: Midnight Confessions
Categories: Exploitation, Horror, Reviews, B-movies, Foreign, Eurotrash, Sleaze
Rating: R

What is the main focus of your site?
I review exploitation and horror films and feature both written and video or “live” reviews.

What are your blogging goals, personally and/or professionally? In other words, what, if anything, are you trying to get out your blog?
The purpose of my blog is to meet other eccentric trash-cinephiles like myself and introduce the uninitiated to the fun-filled world of trash cinema…and to hopefully entertain.

Do you prefer an interactive community for your blog or are you the teacher and your readers the students?
I love interacting with other film bloggers and movie fans, but I’m as much the teacher as the student sometimes. I know my movies, but I’m always learning and discovering all the time.

How long have you been movie blogging for, and how frequent do you post updates to your site?
I’ve been movie blogging since ’07. I do not post as much as I’d like to, but it averages about 1 to 6 times a month depending on my schedule. My live reviews take a lot of time and I do have a life.

Name up to three of your favorite movies (and no more).
A Clockwork Orange, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, and The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly.

How did you hear about the LAMB?
Through other blogger friend’s sites, I believe The Lightning Bug’s Lair may have been the first one.

Any additional comments, or give yourself an interview question that's not listed above.
I am not a movie snob, and I do not pass judgment on others who may have different tastes than I. I go my the code, “To each his/her own” and I stick by it.

Final Reminder: LAMB Top 10s

Subtle reminder (as subtle as a pic of Carrot Top can be):
Voting for your Top 10 films of 2000-2009 ends 12/31.
Go here for more details and to submit your picks!

LAMB #415 - Classic Movies

URL: http://classicmovieblog.blogspot.com/
Site Name: Classic Movies
Categories: Reviews, News, Classic Film
Rating: PG

What is the main focus of your site?
Classic Movies (roughly the silent age through the mid-sixties). I post reviews, tributes, links and video clips.

What are your blogging goals, personally and/or professionally? In other words, what, if anything, are you trying to get out your blog?
I’d love to make a living writing this blog, wouldn’t we all? Personally, I like having a place to process all the movies and books I consume—otherwise, I think my head might explode! Other than that, I love being a part of and promoting a community of fellow classic movie geeks, and bringing more attention to this important period in moviemaking.

Do you prefer an interactive community for your blog or are you the teacher and your readers the students?
Interactive. It makes my day when I get comments—even if it’s just someone correcting me.

How long have you been movie blogging for, and how frequent do you post updates to your site?
I started the blog in 2007, but I never did much with it until this summer. Now I’m hooked. I have a few weekly features that help me to organize all the stuff I find online: Monday Serenade—where I post a great classic song, TV Tuesday—which includes clips of old talk shows, game shows and commercials with classic stars, and Saturday Morning Cartoon—where I share interesting old ‘toons. I post classic birthdays and links to classic movie-related blog posts and news every day. I also post one or two lengthier pieces a week.

Name up to three of your favorite movies (and no more).
My Man Godfrey
Notorious
Red Dust

How did you hear about the LAMB?
I saw the link on Out of the Past.

Any additional comments, or give yourself an interview question that's not listed above.
Nope. I don’t like to question myself too much.

Poll results; new poll

Solid turnout for the latest poll, folks - thank you for that. Avatar made a late push - after languishing in 3rd place for most of the duration - to tie Sherlock Holmes for the win, with 22 votes (27%). Those votes must have been taken away from The Lovely Bones, which itself was pushing for the lead yet slipped to a distant 3rd with 13 votes (16%), one ahead of Nine.

And some joker actually voted for the Squeakquel. Confess!

New poll is piggybacking on the Choice Chop from today's LAMB Chops, taking its cue from LAMB Cut. Print. Review. in asking you what your favorite poster of 2009 was. I've limited the options to the 10 that Cut gave us, but if a favorite of yours is missing, post it in the comments section here. Due to our own unique tastes and such, there's sure to be, what, tens of them that have been "left out!"

Like, where's the representation for Black Dynamite!?! ;)

LAMB Chops!

Just a few more days before Christmas! And this is your last chance for chops before the big day. Luckily, I was sent some very nice articles which should satisfy your need until Saturday. Today's Choice Chop comes from the site Cut Print Review, run by Anders. The post, simple and interesting, goes through what he feels are the best 10 and the worst 10 movie posters of the year. It's not surprising that Inglourious Basterds shows up on the best of list. This is what Anders had to say about it:

Inglourious Basterds had a fantastic advertising campaign all round, but this poster gets right down to business; a bloodied baseball bat and a Nazi helmet. It’s striking, twisted and gory. Thus, it could only be advertising a film by Quentin Tarantino. As one of few auteurs working in Hollywood, that’s a big selling point.

Please, take the time to read the full review here. There are some very interesting choices there.

On to the rest of the chops!

Site Name: Bargain Bin Reviews

Post Title/Link: Christmas Special Four-Pack (Animated Edition)

Submitted By: Bargain Bin Reviews

Site Name: The Flick Chick

Post Title/Link: Friday's Top 5... Fellini Actresses

Submitted By: Bitchin' Film Reviews

Site Name: Marshall at the Movies

Post Title/Link: Review: Up in the Air

Submitted By: Marshall at the Movies

Site Name: Movie Mobsters

Post Title/Link: Top Ten Christmas Movies

Submitted By: Movie Mobsters

Have a very Merry Christmas. And if you think of it, send more submissions for Saturday. Weeklylambchops@gmail.com

LAMB #414 - gmanReviews

URL: http://www.gmanreviews.com/
Site Name: gmanReviews
Categories: Movie Reviews (Theatrical and Otherwise), Interviews, Film Podcast, Editorials, also random General Film Blogging
Rating: PG-13 (rarely does a post include expletives except in our podcast which is marked as explicit in iTunes)

What is the main focus of your site?
To review theatrical releases of films and post my (and any other writers who join the site) thoughts for the internet to read.

What are your blogging goals, personally and/or professionally? In other words, what, if anything, are you trying to get out your blog?
I hope to improve as a writer and eventually become a semi-professional film critic and broadcaster.

Do you prefer an interactive community for your blog or are you the teacher and your readers the students?
I want to site to be interactive and be open to discussion with my posts inspiring the commentary on either a specific film, filmmaker or idea in film in general.

How long have you been movie blogging for, and how frequent do you post updates to your site?
The website has been running on the internet since March 2008, first post was made on March 16th, 2008. I post anywhere between 4 to 15 posts per week on the website (with hopes of increasing the frequency).

Name up to three of your favorite movies (and no more).
The Godfather, Reservoir Dogs & Apocalypse Now

How did you hear about the LAMB?
Through Univarn from http://univarn.blogspot.com/.

Any additional comments, or give yourself an interview question that's not listed above.
I would just like to say that I enjoy blogging and reviewing films. My sole intention of submitting myself to LAMB is to find some objective outsider to critique my website in it's entirety to help show me where I need to improve on and keep doing to push the website in a forward moving direction so as to increase my readership on the internet and eventually improve my chances of making some form of a living from this work whether locally (in Kingston, Jamaica) or on the internet.

LAMB #413 - Le Mot du Cinephiliaque

URL: http://cinephiliaque.blogspot.com/
Site Name: Le Mot du Cinephiliaque
Categories: Reviews, Some Editorials, Movie Lists
Rating: none given

What is the main focus of your site?
Review films, bring information about Cinema, and share my point of view on Cinema.

What are your blogging goals, personally and/or professionally? In other words, what, if anything, are you trying to get out your blog?
Share my opinion and my curiosity about Cinema and filmakers.

Do you prefer an interactive community for your blog or are you the teacher and your readers the students?
As my day job I teach once in a while so I like to think that I teach a little about films to my readers, but I think it's even more satisfying and constructing to have the readers interact to add and maybe confront their visions to mine. I think it's a little of both.

How long have you been movie blogging for, and how frequent do you post updates to your site?
I changed from Yola to Blogspot early October this year but I started at the end of august 2009. I try to maintain a 3 to 5 posts a week.

Name up to three of your favorite movies (and no more).
Taxi Driver (Martin Scosese, 1976), Dr. Strangelove (Stanley Kubrick, 1964), The Royal Tenenbaums (Wes Anderson, 2001)

How did you hear about the LAMB?
Hugo Stiglitz Makes Movies.

Any additional comments, or give yourself an interview question that's not listed above.
It's A two languages Blog in French like Cahiers du Cinéma and in English like the LAMB!

Brutally Blunt Blog Blustering #25: The 8th Circuit

It's Blusterin' Time!

And remember: Blustering should be a two-way street; if you've asked to be blustered, you better be a blusterer.

If you're new to this feature or need a refresher, click the label at the bottom of this post and see the first few posts. Otherwise, here's the basics:

What I'll do is list a site; you're asked to critique it. But here's the catch: to induce the most honest reactions, don't leave the comment using your normal alias/login - instead, go anonymous, and be as brutally honest (or complimentary) as you wish to be. Also, be specific, and naturally, don't be rude. If I deem anything inappropriate, I'll have no problem deleting the comment.

So, go to the site listed below, familiarize yourself with it for a few minutes, then come back and leave some constructive criticism and/or comments that you have.

Site: The 8th Circuit
LAMB#: 295
URL: http://8th-circuit.com/



















If you're up for this treatment for your site (and you're a LAMB), send me an email with the subject "Bluster Me!" If you've already done so, no need to do it again - you're on the list, and these will be going up in order of when I received your email (by the way, it could take a while for your site to be Blustered, since I don't run this more than once a week or so).

LAMB #412 - Chris's Film Blog

URL: http://chrisfilm.wordpress.com/
Site Name: Chris's Film Blog
Categories: Reviews, Classic Film, and General
Rating: PG

What is the main focus of your site?
To review all of my recent viewings as well as some older viewings, and to display lists of my favorites in the film world.

What are your blogging goals, personally and/or professionally? In other words, what, if anything, are you trying to get out your blog?
I just want people to read about movies they wouldn't normally know anything about. Every now and then I'll review some mainstream movies, but that's just to show that I really am a normal guy.

Do you prefer an interactive community for your blog or are you the teacher and your readers the students?
I prefer interactive. I love it when people express their opinions of the films I watch.

How long have you been movie blogging for, and how frequent do you post updates to your site?
I have been reviewing movies for approximately 3 years, but just went to the blogging format 3+ months ago. I update my blog every time I see a movie which is almost every day. I rarely skip more than 2 days in between posts.

Name up to three of your favorite movies (and no more).
One per director - 1. The New World (Terrence Malick, 2005), 2. Paris Texas (Wim Wenders, 1984), 3. George Washington (David Gordon Green, 2000).

How did you hear about the LAMB?
I honestly can not remember, but I think a friend or co-worker directed me towards it when he found out I had started a film blog.

Any additional comments, or give yourself an interview question that's not listed above.
None.

LAMB #411 - Radiation-Scarred Reviews

URL: http://radiation-scarred-reviews.blogspot.com/
Site Name: Radiation-Scarred Reviews
Categories: Horror, Reviews
Rating: R

What is the main focus of your site?
Reviewing horror movies, with a tendency towards lower-budgeted "B" movies.

What are your blogging goals, personally and/or professionally? In other words, what, if anything, are you trying to get out your blog?
I enjoy sharing my thoughts on films in a manner both informational and entertaining.

Do you prefer an interactive community for your blog or are you the teacher and your readers the students?
I would like to build a more interactive community -- I don't know everything about the films I review, and as such I'm always interested in learning more about them from other contributors.

How long have you been movie blogging for, and how frequent do you post updates to your site?
I've been movie-blogging for eleven months now, and am currently trying to keep to a schedule of no less then two updates a week.

Name up to three of your favorite movies (and no more).
Creature from the Black Lagoon
The Abominable Dr. Phibes
Jesus Christ Vampire Hunter

How did you hear about the LAMB?
Link button on the Bearded Weirdo Reviews site.

Any additional comments, or give yourself an interview question that's not listed above.
Pretty much anything I watch is fair game, though I focus a little more on "creature features" in what I review. I've reviewed some exploitation films, and came to the conclusion that Radiation-Scarred Reviews was not the appropriate home for some of these films. My loose rule is "if there's not a monster, weird science or a supernatural serial killer, it's not right for Radiation-Scarred Reviews."

LAMB Chops!

Welcome to another edition of LAMB Chops. Christmas is getting nearer (only one more LAMB Chops until the big day, send in your Christmas themed articles now!). So today's Choice Chops hails from the site Ross v Ross. It's an unexpected take on the Christmas-themed listed going around right now: Top Five Christmas Villians! When I read the subject matter, I thought he'd have a hard time coming up with holiday bad guys, but he got five of them, and they're all pretty scary. For example, number five (don't worry, I won't give the whole list away) is Frank Cross from Scrooged:

Forget the happy ending where Frank (Bill Murray) gets all touchy feely – he’s at his best when he’s being mean. From the writing on his office wallpaper (‘Cross: (n) A thing they nail people to’) to his solution for fixing antlers to a mouse (‘Did you try staples?), he really is one of the bad guys.

Read his full review here to find out what the rest of the holiday season's worst villains are.

Now to the rest of the chops!

Site Name: Japan Cinema

Post Title/Link: Top 10 Anime Films of the Decade

Submitted By: Japan Cinema

Site Name: Chuck Norris Ate My Baby

Post Title/Link: Review: Black Christmas

Submitted By: Chuck Norris Ate My Baby

Site Name: Cold Fusion Video Reviews

Post Title/Link: Review: Men Who Stare at Goats

Submitted By: Cold Fusion Video Reviews

Site Name: Only Good Movies

Post Title/Link: 20 Reasons Not to See Avatar

Submitted By: Only Good Movies

Send in more submissions now! Please! Weeklylambchops@gmail.com

LAMBScores: New Moon

Random Ramblings of a Demented Doorknob


Cut Print Review
Lets Go to the Movies
Just Chick Flicks


The Movie Encyclopedia
Not Just Movies


Average LAMBScore out of five, rounded to nearest half-LAMB: (6 sites)


Median LAMBScore:


Submissions for this film are now closed. To submit your rating & review for other new releases, visit the LAMB Forums (must be an existing LAMB to join).

Looking back at LAMBScores

This is a project I've been working on for months, albeit mere minutes at a time. Finally, over the course of the past week, I became motivated to get it completed, so I forced myself to spend the time necessary to do so.

What I've done is catalogued every LAMBScore given to date. Specifically, all 959 of them. By 81 different raters (sites) on 115 different movies, starting with Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull on June 9th, 2008 and culminating with Pirate Radio on December 11, 2009. Not the biggest number of movies or the longest time span, but certainly a healthy start to this feature, now helmed by Rachel of Rachel's Reel Reviews.

Being a daily, excessive Excel user, having this mini database is geeky fun. Aside from the easy Highest Average Score for a film or Average Rating Given by a rater, I can compare any number of ratings given by any number of raters on a selection of films, creating a kind of sub-junior version of Flixster's compatibility quiz. If you're interested in seeing a full rundown of the scores you've given (I don't know why you would, but you might), comment here and I'll post it.

For now, though, here are some of the big picture statistics - enjoy:

10 Most Active Raters
59 - Blog Cabins
54 - The Dark of the Matinee
53 - Random Ramblings of a Demented Doorknob
53 - Bitchin' Film Reviews
47 - From the Front Row
41 - Sarahnomics
41 - The Critical Critics
34 - Reel Whore
34 - Cut. Print. Review.
33 - Film Forager

10 Highest-Rated Films (# of votes in parenthesees)
4.90 - The Hurt Locker (5)
4.82 - Slumdog Millionaire (14)
4.56 - Wall*E (16)
4.38 - Up (12)
4.33 - The Dark Knight (30)
4.30 - Happy-Go-Lucky (10)
4.25 - Kung Fu Panda (6)
4.23 - Zombieland (13)
4.23 - Moon (11)
4.21 - Antichrist (7)

5 Highest Score-givers (minimum 5 ratings; number given in parenthesees)
4.15 - Rachel's Reel Reviews (13)
4.06 - The Flick Chick (24)
3.88 - Big Mike's Movie Blog (21)
3.86 - Random Ramblings of a Demented Doorknob (53)
3.83 - Pluck You, Too! (24)

5 Lowest Score-givers (minimum 5 ratings; number given in parenthesees)
2.11 - Tractor Facts (27)
2.40 - Korova Theatre Presents (5)
2.71 - Let's Go to the Movies (7)
2.83 - The Stop Button (18)
2.97 - Phil on Film (18)

Top 10 Lowest-Rated Films (# of votes in parenthesees)
1.25 - The Day the Earth Stood Still (8)
1.67 - The Women (3)
1.71 - Max Payne (7)
1.83 - G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra (6)
2.00 - Death Race (5)
2.00 - Fast & Furious (6)
2.00 - The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor (5)
2.00 - Underworld: Rise of the Lycans (3)
2.08 - The Happening (12)
2.13 - The Strangers (4)

I'll do my best to update my database on a regular basis, and will likely post this again in a year or so. To submit your rating/review for other new releases, visit the LAMB Forums (must be an existing LAMB to join). Many, many thanks to those 81 raters that have contributed thus far.

LAMB #410 - Big Thoughts From A Small Mind

URL: http://bigthoughtsfromasmallmind.blogspot.com/
Site Name: Big Thoughts From A Small Mind
Categories: Reviews, News, Drama, Science Fiction, Animation, Horror, Humor, General
Rating: PG

What is the main focus of your site?
The main focus of my site is film review. Eventually I would like to branch out it to more film news related stories, trailer news, etc.

What are your blogging goals, personally and/or professionally? In other words, what, if anything, are you trying to get out your blog?
At first the blog was just a way to combine my love of film and writing. Now I would like to expand my content and eventually add other writers to the site. I feel that film is a very subjective thing and the more diverse views you have regarding a film, the better discussion it generates overall.

Do you prefer an interactive community for your blog or are you the teacher and your readers the students?
I prefer an interactive community.

How long have you been movie blogging for, and how frequent do you post updates to your site?
I have been blogging since 2006 and I try to post an update at least once a week.

Name up to three of your favorite movies (and no more).
Magnolia, Delicatessen, Farewell My Concubine.

How did you hear about the LAMB?
I came across LAMB via a blog that had a "LAMB" log listed at the bottom.

Any additional comments, or give yourself an interview question that's not listed above.
None.