If you lived in Romania, like I do, you would probably be subjected to a typical "treatment": you come home from school/work, too tired to even get some leftovers from the fridge, and turn on the TV. Chances are that you will encounter one of these 5 things: the news, a talk show, a contest-type show, commercials or a film. Don't expect a quality picture, though, since you won't get one. However, that depends on which films you deem as "good", because you'll get what you want if you like films with Arnold Schwarzenegger or Jean Claude van Damme.
With these „new” generations, the overall quality of films has dropped substantially. If you don’t believe me, just take a look at any cinema’s programme; most films on that list are nothing new, they simply retell a story, with a different setting and/or characters’ names. These are mainly comedies, since those have more success (this is not the case of every comedy film out there, some are terrible).
So what makes a quality film?
I suppose the first step to explaining what quality films are is to mention what I think of them. A quality film is a film which leaves you thinking long after you finished watching it. It’s a film you don’t necessarily like but which you appreciate for its artistic value. A film that you deem better than the rest, one which captivates you and doesn’t let go of your attention until the credits start rolling.
Themes, plot and popularity
A film does not need an extraordinary plot to stand out from the rest. It may as well feature some ordinary event. It is in the way that event is retold that makes the film special. Let’s take Cidade de Deus, for example. It tells the story of 2 friends who grew up; one became a photographer, the other a locally infamous drug dealer. We all know drug dealers exist all over the world. What make this film special? The way the story is told. In this world (oh, how I hate these typical expressions!) we see only brutal violence on a daily basis. In this film, we are shown the same world, the same violence, but in a different manner. It is not very often that directors can focus on the action and emotional parts of a film in equal amounts.
Not convinced? Here’s another example: the simplicity of Forrest Gump strikes you from the very first moments. Nothing would be easier to tell than the story of a „village idiot” who does everything wrong and always ends up getting himself and the others around him in trouble. However, let’s take a look at the straightforward way the events unfold to reveal a beautiful concept. Sometimes you don’t need special effects or flashy cars to state your point of view, and this is clearly shown here.
Whilst these films might not be the most popular on the „market”, their directors should be given credit for the way they expressed their opinions. There are some quality films which make it to the ‚blockbuster’ status, but these are few. Nevertheless, it is always good to see people appreciate good stuff when they see it.
How to judge films
I would like to mention how I rate films. I chose this method after rigurous trial-and-error sessions which proved this one is the best for me. On a scale from 1 to 10, here is how I grade (remember, I also give 0 points if I hate something or think something is missing):
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1. Originality and creativity (Is this an original idea? Does it show something new?): 2 points
2. Actors/actresses (Do they fit the part they were granted? Do they play their parts well?): 2 points
3. Soundtrack (Does it fit the theme of the film? Is the right song played during the right moment?): 2 points
4. Special effects (Are they appropriate? Are they used with caution and measure?): 1 points
5. How much I liked the film (Did it appeal to me? Did I enjoy watching it?): 3 points
Since it’s difficult to create something original, this section, can be also considered as „how original was the was the story was told?”
Special effects might be entirely missing from a picture. Here is where the skill of the director comes into play. It isn’t exactly easy to create a good film without special effects nowadays, is it?
Note that I gave personal opinion the highest possible mark, since I think it’s important how much you actually enjoyed the film. It would be unfair to give a high rating to a film you couldn’t sit through.
Please think of 2 films now, one you liked and one you didn’t, and share your thoughts about them in the comments 
This way we will compare different films and give a verdict.
In the end, I would like to thank you for reading this article and for commenting on it, if you do. I hope it was pleasant to read and that you found it useful. Take care and have a great day!
