Robin Hood, Letters To Juliet, & Just Wright - The Rotten Tomatoes Show

I have no interest in any of these movies. Sad.

I am sad they changed the format and I don't like it for all of the same reasons other people have mentioned.

Well it seems that the changes correspond to the overall attitude change of Current. I have to admit new website isn't bad, the changes to rotten tomatoes aren't bad.....when compared to the other commercial network channels...and once i get over the fact that the channel and website that i loved and used to thrive on smart user contributions is long gone......
it turns out that in america anytime a unique group comes together....at some point they become "a market"....and the traditional business model takes over and turns them exactly into what they were running away from...

bottom line current lost its soul, but its still entertaining...although i loved it for being cultivating

it sort of reminds me of when MTV began to slowly kill off music videos

I have to say, it seems to me, that this show *always* was on the path of co-opting the best stuff from average joe reviewers, while gradually leaving them behind. I've followed a haiku movie review blog that has been around for least five years, for example.

As time goes on that is proving more and more correct.

Wrong.
Everyone knows the #1 Russell Crowe line is "ARE YOU NOT ENTERTAINED??!!"

What happened to OUR review show? The reason why I would watch this is not to see some kinda funny duo making jokes, I would watch it to see the many different peoples reviews. I just got a camera for my birthday and literally the first thing I thought was " I can make a video for rotten tomatoes". That next thursday I see this format.... I'm really kind of upset. Now this show is nothing more than a bunch of people who use the dialect of "I really know what i'm talking about becuase I really love movies".....very very boring. Oh just to let you know, talking about how cliche a movie is......is pretty cliche I must say if it doesnt go back to the other format.....I may have to stop watching.......would rather watch Ebert and Roeper reruns...

p.s. What the hell is a professional reviewer....Is it someone who gets paid for having the same opinion as everyone else?

Everyone is entitled to their opinion, including myself. I understand that formats of shows tend to change over time, and not everyone is always on board with those changes. The recent adjustments made to the Rotten Tomatoes Show feel to me like they could be a step in the direction of something that works, but it isn't quite there yet. I hope that Current, having shown its willingness to change and try new things, won't stop here but will keep tweaking.

I am not going to assume the viewer opinions are dismissed by Current's staff, as the format of the web site home page has recently reverted back to something that resembles the layout before the "categories" format was implemented... and that was at the request of users. How many other stations advertise constantly to give them feedback as Current does? Response time may not be immediate, but I have confidence that staff members DO take our points of view into consideration.

Having said that, I must admit I'm having a hard time adjusting to the changes here on RTS. But I also can't see it staying in this format for long, as content on this station is constantly evolving. As we say about my home state of Wisconsin: if you don't like the weather here, just wait five minutes. I think a similar idea applies with most television programs.

( It might even work on a "mostly dead" audience if they're really married to the show )

They really just need to say "bOObies" more than once a show; that word has healing power and can revive an only "partly dead" audience!

get rid of ellen, she is too cemented to that chair, and cold as 5 day old dog shit

Why when something is going so well, do people feel the need to mess with the format? You guys were special and funny and interesting. And now you just blend in with everything else. I agree with most of the other comments - it's not that the professional reviewers aren't good, but they aren't everything. It was the combination of all the small details that made this show unique. What pushed me over the edge so I had to turn off the episode mid-way? The weird, generic "designy" scrolling background.

Sorry to see you go, RTS.

I used to LOVE this show... watched it every week, but this new format is horrible! You changed everything that was great about it and made it just like every other movie review show out there. it is so lame now! Please revert back to the old format or I may have to quit watching.

I used to love this show. However, the charm, the comfort, the homespun humor - all gone. Where are the user reviews? Why are the hosts reviewing movies in front of the lamest screensaver ever created?

Brett and Ellen are still funny, but the new format seriously distracts.

RTS, please fix this now.

I stopped watching the episode once I realized that all the reviews were going to be by people on pay roll (before the end of the Robin Hood review). I thought the staff reviewing thing was going to be a one time thing because Iron Man 2 was a big movie and they wanted to get a review out quick. Hopefully not missing the opportunity to review a mega blockbuster like they did with AVATAR. But now that I see that this change is permanent I will no longer be tuning in.

I don't even watch the channel anymore. Ever since they pulled the plug on VC2 I find the channel pointless.

The site sucks now because of all the old or shit stories people post and also the general lack of intelligent users anymore. Heck, the only reason I have visited the site at all was to watch InfoMania and RTS without commercials. And now my only visits well be for IM. At least until they fuck that up too.

Current. You've changed.
"You're like the drummer from REO speedwagon. No one knows who you are."

Keep up the good work. With this ground breaking new format you’re sure to be picked up by E! entertainment.

Goodbye RTS.

Best drug dealer from a movie- Biggie from Notorious: It takes some serious balls to sell crack to a pregnant woman.

When you did the pre-release thing last week, I thought it was just a special episode or something, but apparently I was wrong. I don't seem to be unique in my dislike for the new format, though. It's not that we don't appreciate the critics, I promise, it's just that the critics are *always* the ones telling us about movies, and if we wanted that, we could watch any other review show, pick up a newspaper or magasine, or just search online. We want to hear about movies from 'normal' people like us, people who might be a little bit snobbier when it comes to film taste than the average person, but no one who's necessarily made a career out of critique. The previous set up gave the show a super friendly air that almost seems to have disappeared now, despite your best efforts, and it was more like "hey what'd you do last weekend?" "oh I saw this movie I'd totally recommend [or not], here's why!", which is what drew viewers in in the first place. Please consider bringing the old style back, because otherwise the show doesn't stand out from the crowd.

Well I'm not going to get my dramatic pantaloons caught up in a bunch (see above) and stop watching the show -- it's still a great show and is still very entertaining with most of the humor kept intact.

As far as I can tell they wanted to preview all the summer movies for us which most of us don't have access to. You can't wrong them for trying to do something cool with good intentions. That's only my assumption and it could be absolutely wrong especially since the latest episode wasn't it that style.

However, I will be looking forward to seeing the show change it's gear back to the viewers. It was nice to see the short clips from the quirky and extremely estranged film critics because it added flavor, but having the review segment surround its core around their conversations takes the concept of the show away.

Isn't that why we're watching RTS and not reading their reviews? I hate to be honest but they are better left to the writing or just very short comments as before: mixed with the viewers. They're distracting and don't even get a chance to show they're usefulness which I'm sure they do as writers.

Bret and Ellen do a much better of a job reviewing than those critics do (any day) and they're only the hosts . PLUS, they're funny and interesting without adding strange things to their appearance like funny glasses and sweaters that were probably (both) worn by my great grandmother(yes--well, honestly I don't know or care to know but it's just down right distracting).

P.S. I miss Hannah

P.P.S. The only critic I think that would rock the show is Ebert ( @ebertchicago ). That or just have Slavoj Zizek madly interpreting each film's significance, always filming him from some absurd location (space stations or massive garbage dumps) juxtaposed with Bret and Ellen's scared faces. Or just keep the same critics and use that format. Would be funny, no?

Dearest rotten tomatoes people,
I use to look forward to watching this show to make me laugh after a scary week of midterms. But now, it's just boring. Honestly, the user reviews were the secret indgredient that made your cake taste good. Sugarless cake is gross. If it's a money thing, just pay people $20 and I'm sure many would do it for free! A lot of people don't watch movies opening weekend so the new format is not incredibly helpful...just dull =(

I write this because I care...and because I had no desire to finish watching this episode =;(

Love always,
Isatu

everyone should let the folks at RT know that we dont care about the reviews being ahead of the release date. and also anyone who would send in reviews should say that they would do it for half the price or for some RT swag. that seems to be the main reason they made this ridiculous change to the show.

the RT in my user name stands for Rotten Tomatoes well now the show is gone for a while!! Hope it comes back but right now the show is dead to me!!

I just wanted to tune in too, as a long-time watcher and first-time commenter, to say that I agree that this new format brings the show down. I want to see the video uploads with fun different people all the time. That's the point. Not that I don't like Brett and Ellen...and what's with the scrolling green and orange backdrops with the show name? Anyone else find that incredibly distracting?

Don't worry, Brett. RTS hit an all-time low before your "boobies" comment. I said I'd abandon RTS last time. This week I clicked through the vid to see if they had listened to how upset many of us were last week with their new format. Looks like we're being ignored by the producers, so you're definitely not worth my time anymore. :( Goodbye, RTS.

Goodbye RT! LAME

Snippiness is the lowest level of internet nerdrage. I think your observations are apt.

I agree the viewer comments make RT a unique film review program. I'm also aware that reviews are handy when they are published before the film opens. I like the variety of critics, the improved look and sound of their takes. I still like much of what I see and hear.

Abandoning RT or Current is pretty drastic given the alternatives. Suggestion: continue to post 2 viewer reviews after the opening weekend -- focus upon whether the RT rating of critics got it right or wrong. Continue to pay for "the best" but bump it to $150 and include technical merit as well. Too many of the viewer takes in the past looked bad and the audio sounded even worse.

To me this would be a minor tweak and a major concession to the core fans. Viewer comments truly make RT special. Improvements can be made if the tech expectations are made more clear. I'm still watching...

Clarification: I in no way meant to imply an endorsement of vh1 but rather that current seems to be drifting from an interesting blend of professional and amateur collaboration into a safe for mid level cable talking head showcase. There is no danger that cable is running out of "professional critic in front of green screen" shows but it's easier. As easy as an offscreen producer tossing softball questions to extremely tired actors at the tail end of a press junket. If they start asking questions in a two camera "the host and the actor are having a conversation but never appear in the same shot for some reason" I will literally punch myself repeatedly in the head.

I really miss how you guys used the fan reviews... With out them the show seems allot more generic.

On second thought, I'm still optimistic. Even a simple news clip can take something like a whole week to coordinate. I can't imagine the time & planning that goes into a half hour show. This show was probably in the works -- or at least planned out -- before the violent commenting backlash to the new format.

Rotten Tomatoes, I'm not giving up on you just yet (maybe because I feel bad that, while Brett always has Viral Video Film school on Current, my girl Ellen only has this segment).

They are funny but it in no way makes up for the lack of flavor of this... pap. People were giving their time, energy, and talent for pennies on the comedy dollar to give RT it's spice. Just move on to Vh1 and get it over with.

wow, 15 sec of actual reviews by users. well done RT, well done.

Even Ellen's "The Anticipatron!" yelp has become lackluster....
R.I.P. Rotten Tomatoes. I will miss watching you on itunes during my lunchbreak. :(

Caine has great taste .

You know,....sometimes Ellen really IS funny.

Well I'm still not digging this new format. Like last week,the humor is completely scarce. And I know you people at Current really like Alonso Duralde and I really like him as a critic,too,but it's kind of annoying to see him in all three reviews and his comments seem pretty biased. The heart of the show is completely gone and I can see this show going,going,gone in the next month or so.

To tell you the truth,I actually had a feeling the show was losing it's touch when the reviews for some movies became so much shorter than they were last year. It seems like they got so short because the showrunners were more interested in thinking about more ways that Brett and Ellen can do more movie-related topics on their own. Remember the review of Star Trek last year? It was 4 minutes 15 seconds and now we have reviews like The Losers which featured only three reviewers and it was 2 minutes 10 seconds long. It seems like they care less about what EVERYONE has to say because the point of the show was to get as many creative opinions as possible.

I hope you can get your act back together for the show and I gotta say,even the Rapper turned Actor part for the users was Boring,too. Everything that made this show great was gone. When I first came across this show when the Wolverine episode premiered,I was instantly hooked and I went on to become part of the show 6 times. Now,after this and the Iron Man 2 episode,I have lost a show that I cared a lot about and now I don't know what to watch on a Thursday night. R.I.P. Rotten Tomatoes Show: Spring 2009-Summer 2010.

I watched the entire show and at the very least, I expected an acknowledgment of all the negative commentary for last week's show. I guess I thought that maybe, just maybe, someone would have read the comments and taken them under consideration. Instead of finding anything to indicate that you even realize you have an audience, what I got was a 22 minute and 2 second version of total and complete boredom. If I hadn't already promised myself that I would watch the entire show, I would have stopped watching halfway through the Robin Hood review. (Talk about torture) My disappointments are wide ranging but I will try and boil them down:

1. I found the humor to be completely lacking. While I would laugh frequently through the old format, there was nothing funny here.

2. Again, the user/viewer content was limited to a segment under 30 seconds. This is an incredible step backwards from the roughly 40% viewer content before.

3. Just a theory, but I'm pretty convinced that Brett and Ellen hate the new format as much as the viewers. They read their lines from the teleprompter like they're reading an obituary. Ironically, it's not that far from the truth.

4. The new green screen background makes me dizzy.

5. At the end, Ellen says that there "are still tons of ways to interact with the show." I think anyone who has followed this show for a while will hear this as simply patronizing lip service. You've obviously shown that you don't give a damn about user/viewer contributions.

Lastly I'd like to point out that before the Weekend Peekend Ellen quips, "Welcome back to the Rotten Tomatoes Show. The only thing on television you can truly trust." Clearly not.

I will not be watching anymore. RIP RTS.

I was expecting some kind of response by the RT staff.Let us know that they care about us, and they listen to our opinions.I wasn't expecting the change to be immediately,but at least they could make a video as a response.
But as we can see they don't give a damn about us.
Even Alonso was more watchable when he was doing webcam reviews.
RIP Tomatoes.

Well... I guess that about does it... I am done. Not that I expected them to undo the changes to the show instantly (or at all). I mean, I know how these things work and I'm sure the just instituted changes only came after weeks of meetings. And having made those changes I'm positive those in charge are loathe to change back because, well, they know they are not wrong! They know that they know what they are doing! That being the case, changing back would only happen after, week after week of declining ratings, then convincing those in charge that... well, not that they are wrong - because they never are - but that perhaps that changing back would be even smarter (hard sell because the first decision to change was so brilliant they can't fathom something MORE brilliant than that), THEN there would have to be, again, weeks and weeks more meetings discussing the change back...

(Likewise I had no expectation of hearing any on air talent say anything negative about the new format. Boss's say this is awesome, you tow that party line, smile, agree and do nothing to indicate it is anything other than awesome)

So, really, did not expect the old show to return. But I guess I was hoping for them to throw their disgruntled audience a bone, Something to at least subtly indicate, yes, we hear you. Like, maybe fixing the diarrhea-tastic graphics? Modifying the new crap format in some ways as a sign that, hey, this is a work in progress and we are still figuring things out, maybe? But no...no. Nothing. They just scoop some more of the same poop and rubbed it in my eyes.

The thing is... I do know that these talkbacks are likely taken worth about a grain of salt. "They don't really represent the audience at large, just the vocal, online minority who are generally cranks and like to complain." I do know that is about the weight these posts are given in any meeting. Best bet? "Ignore them and the cranks will shut up and go away. We're the professionals, we know what we're doing." Yeaaah... watching the show... I'm not sure you do. I was actually hoping that given what Current claims to be about, about how it supposedly embraces its audience and wants them to be active and involved maybe their attitude wouldn't be like that. But apparently it is. Claim they are "current" and different but, really, they're the same as any other channel, their "difference" actually only a branding pose. Too bad.

I am only one viewer and I realize to any station one viewer alone isn't worth worrying over. But I am done with Rotten Tomatoes. And I'm done with Current as well, erasing it from my channel lineup. Again, Current, I know it's nothing to you but it is the one thing I can do in protest. My hope is that since Rotten Tomatoes has abandoned its old format, maybe someone else will snatch it up and run with it. I mean Turner Movie Classics swiped AMC's entire station identity, why wouldn't another network pick up such a strong yet discarded concept.

So, guys, you are right, if you wait long enough the cranks will shut up. But most of us will also have shut off your show. And I think you might be surprised to discover that this vocal minority for once does represent more of the quiet majority than you imagine. I was one of the silent majority myself and setup an account only to try to shout out my displeasure and try to effect change. And I've seen in the postings throughout this week many people posting had done the exact same thing, joining for the sole purpose of raising their voice. I thought Current was about encouraging people to speak out and effect change. But... I guess I was wrong.

Adios, Tomatoes, we hardly knew ye!