About Clerkdogs
Clerks' attribute glossary
Action
Does the film brim with car chases, bombs, volcanic explosions, men leaping from tall buildings, or space ships engaged in interstellar combat? Action is distinct from Fast Pace in that Action refers to events, while Fast Pace refers to the dramatic flow.
Movies with high Action ratings:
Hard Boiled, The Road Warrior, Speed, Starship Troopers
Bad Taste
Does the movie revel in extremely crude/envelope-pushing humor, intentionally shocking moments, or racist/offensive themes? Generally, movies are rated for this attribute if the tasteless content is intentional. For example, older movies with era-accurate but now un-PC language or references wouldn't get ranked for Bad Taste.
Movies with high ratings for Bad Taste:
Pink Flamingos; Salo, or the 120 Days of Sodom
Blood & Gore
Blood & Gore is distinct from Violence in that a film can be violent without having any blood or gore. Classic War and Horror films, for example, are generally less visually visceral than their contemporary counterparts. Filmmakers also cut Blood & Gore to earn a PG or PG-13 rating while retaining Action and Violence.
Movies with high ratings for Blood & Gore:
Horror= Dead Alive, Evil Dead 2, Hostel, Saw
War = Black Hawk Down, Saving Private Ryan
Cerebral
Does the movie make you think? Is it complicated and/or academic in nature? If it's scary, are the scary parts due to what you anticipate rather than what you see?
Movies with high Cerebral ratings:
2001: A Space Odyssey, The Lathe of Heaven
Character Depth
How much do we learn about the characters? Are they superficial or nuanced? Stereotypes or unique individuals? Do we understand their motivations? Do they change or grow?
Movies with high ratings for Character Depth:
Lone Star, Monster's Ball, The Mysterious Skin, Sling Blade, The Sweet Hereafter
Cinematography
Cinematography refers to the level of artistry in cinematography, art direction, or animation. Is the cinematography gorgeous? Is the animation astounding? Is the level of artistry significant? Was the film shot in Technicolor? There are a few cases in which the low-end look of the film is faked and extremely important to the feel of the film; one example would be Cloverfield, which earned a 9 for Cinematography.
Movies with high ratings for Cinematography:
Citizen Kane, Fantasia, Lawrence of Arabia, Moulin Rouge!
Complexity
Complexity can refer to plot construction, themes, or conceptual depth. How easy is it to understand what the film is about? How many ideas and concepts are being interwoven? Does the film require a second viewing?
Titles with high ratings for Complexity:
2001: A Space Odyssey, Mulholland Drive, The Sopranos, Syriana, Traffik, The Usual Suspects.
Disturbing
Many different things can make a film disturbing or unsettling. This can be a matter of discomfort based on fear, or it can be uncomfortable subject matter. It may be a high level of gruesomeness or a psychological atmosphere that's difficult to bear.
Movies with high Disturbing ratings:
I Spit on Your Grave, The Piano Teacher, Requiem for a Dream, The War Zone
Downbeat or Upbeat
All movies are rated for one of these two attributes. Is the mood chipper, cheery, and optimistic, or grim, depressing, and pessimistic? Downbeat is different from Disturbing in that a film can be downbeat in tone without making the viewer cringe and squirm. Occasionally, if a film veers wildly in tone, we will rate it for both Upbeat and Downbeat qualities, but most movies are rated for one.
Movies with high ratings for Upbeat:
Down with Love, Elf, Hairspray, The Muppet Movie
Movies with high ratings for Downbeat:
The Accused, In the Bedroom
Fantasy
Is the movie set in a fantasy world? Is it filled with talking animals or kids flying on brooms? Do characters live vivid imaginary lives? Fantasy can take many forms, but we use it primarily for movies that involve magic, Tolkein-esque creatures, and adventures in other worlds.
Movies with high Fantasy ratings:
The Lord of the Rings trilogy, Pan's Labyrinth
Fast Pace vs. Slow Pace
All films are rated for either Fast or Slow Pace. A film can be fast-paced due to rapid-fire dialogue or whiplash editing. It doesn't have to have a high Action rating to be fast-paced, although many Action films do maintain a higher speed.
Movies with high ratings for Fast Pace:
His Girl Friday, Run Lola Run, Speed
Movies with high ratings for Slow Pace:
Solaris (1972), The Straight Story
Geek Factor
Geek Factor is used primarily for Sci-Fi and Fantasy films. Does the plot feature homemade time-travel devices? Is it based on the formula for Pi? Do the characters speak Klingon? If there's math, cyberspace, or DIY gadgetry involved—or a legion of fans staging annual conventions for the film—it probably ranks high.
Movies with high Geek Factor ratings:
Star Wars, The Matrix, Trekkies
Hollywood Feel vs. Offbeat
How offbeat or unusual is the film? Is it quirky and not for all tastes, or is it pitched to the masses? Blockbuster successes are generally high on the Hollywood scale, but some very odd films do become popular, so mainstream success doesn't guarantee that a movie isn't Offbeat. We rate one or the other for all films, but, on some occasions, we do rate a movie for both attributes.
Movies with high ratings for Hollywood Feel:
Mission: Impossible, Pearl Harbor, Titanic
Movies with high ratings as Offbeat:
The Cook, the Thief, His Wife and Her Lover; Crimes of Passion, Prospero's Books, Videodrome
Humor Types:
We rate five different types of humor, combining types where necessary to characterize the precise comedic formula for any given film. Certain types of humor often appear together, such as Dry Humor and Black Humor, or Crude Humor and Slapstick Humor.
Black Humor:
Humor based on death and misfortune or dark irony.
Movies with high Black Humor ratings:
Brazil, Happiness, Kind Hearts and Coronets, The Ladykillers
Dry Humor:
Straight-faced, often ironic, sometimes painful to endure. Classic British humor often falls here.
Movies with high Dry Humor ratings:
Blackadder II, The Loved One, The Office (either one)
Crude Humor:
"Crude" includes toilet humor, gross-out humor, and sex-based humor.
Movies with high Crude Humor ratings:
American Pie, Jackass, Sex and the City, Superbad.
Screwball Humor:
Characters get caught up in a ridiculous chain of events, with one ridiculous action leading to another ridiculous predicament. This attribute is not restricted to the classic screwball comedies that inspired the term—it's relevant for modern movies, too.
Movies with high Screwball Humor ratings:
Bringing Up Baby, Sleeper, Who Framed Roger Rabbit? and It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World
Slapstick Humor:
Pratfalls and physical gags. Slipping on a banana peels.
Movies with high Slapstick Humor ratings:
Anything starring the Three Stooges, much silent comedy, Ace Ventura, Blades of Glory, Big Momma's House
Informative
This is an attribute designed for use in the Documentary genre. How much do you learn from watching the movie? Is it intended to educate or teach viewers about a new subject?
Movies with high Informative ratings:
Control Room, An Inconvenient Truth, No End in Sight
Parental Appeal
This rating applies to Family Films. Will parents run screaming from the room or cuddle up with the kiddies for an all-family viewing? All of the Pixar films rate very highly in this category, being as fun for adults as they are for kids.
Movies with high ratings for Parental Appeal:
Babe, Finding Nemo, The Incredibles, The Wizard of Oz
Political
How much is the movie about politics/negotiations? Does it have a partisan stance? This attribute typically applies to Documentaries but is sometimes rated for dramatic films with political content.
Movies with high Political ratings:
All the King's Men, The Candidate, Frost/Nixon, No End in Sight, Wag the Dog
Revenge
Is the main character out for vengeance? Does getting back at someone fuel the plot? Has a lover been scorned?
Movies with high ratings for Revenge:
Death Wish, Kill Bill Vol. 1 & 2, Payback
Romance
How much romance is there in the film? Most movies in the Romance genre will earn high ratings on this scale, but some will emphasize comedy or tragedy as highly as romance, while others will put love front and center.
Movies with high ratings for Romance:
Pretty Woman, Sabrina, Titanic
Sensuality
Sensuality is mostly applicable to Romance films, where there may not be actual sexual content or discussion. For our ratings, Sensuality must occur within a sexual context. For example, lush cinematography and visuals alone are not considered "Sensual."
Movies with high Sensuality ratings:
Like Water for Chocolate, Moulin Rouge!
Sex
Sex can refer to sex talk and humor, sexual interaction, sexual imagery, or outright nudity.
Movies with high Sex ratings:
9 1/2 Weeks, Emmanuelle, Shortbus
So Bad It's Good
Is the movie widely considered terrible but people still flock to see it at midnight screenings? Is it a candidate for Mystery Science Theater 3000? This attribute often goes hand-in-hand with "cult" status.
Movies with high ratings for So Bad It's Good:
Showgirls, Glitter, Plan 9 from Outer Space
Soundtrack
Is the score memorable on its own? Is it a key element of the film? Most Musicals will rate high on this scale, but sometimes a non-musical film score can be so popular, influential, and important to the film that it rates a 9 or a 10.
Movies with high Soundtrack ratings:
2001: A Space Odyssey, Pulp Fiction, Singin' in the Rain, The Wizard of Oz, and O Brother, Where Art Thou?
Special Effects
Are the characters having dogfights in space? Are aliens blowing up New York in enormous fireballs? Is CGI used to create characters or make them look significantly different? This attribute often goes hand-in-hand with Sci-Fi and Fantasy movies. Older movies with now-dated effects may be rated highly if they were groundbreaking for their time.
Movies with high ratings for Special Effects:
The Star Wars movies, Independence Day, The Lord of the Rings trilogy, Titanic
Suspense
Are you gripping your seat, forgetting to eat your popcorn? On edge, wondering what will happen next? Afraid of what's around every corner?
Movies with high ratings for Suspense:
Aliens, Dead Calm, Dial M for Murder
Tearjerker
Is the film designed to tug at viewers' emotions, either through plot or dialogue? Is it poignantly tragic? Is there a moment so inspirational that it tugs at your heartstrings? This attribute most often applies to Dramas and Romance movies, but we rate it wherever it's relevant.
Movies with high Tearjerker ratings:
An Affair to Remember, Brian's Song, Terms of Endearment
Terror
Are characters the victim of scary and/or violent situations? Are they helpless at others' hands? Are you afraid to look at the screen? Many Suspense and Horror movies will have high Terror levels, but not all.
Movies with high Terror ratings:
28 Days Later, The Exorcist, Funny Games, The Strangers
Truthfulness
How accurate is the movie? Is it presenting straight facts, or is it spinning them with a particular point of view? This attribute is designed for use in the Documentary genre.
Example of a title with a high Truthfulness rating:
The Civil War: A Film by Ken Burns
Violence
Violence can be sweeping and ongoing, such as battlefield combat and death, or it can be brief and intense, such as murder or rape. A single act of brutality can earn a high rating as can a relentless barrage of death and gunfire. Quantity or intensity of violence are both reasons for a high rating. Note that there is a separate rating for Blood & Gore.
Movies with high ratings for Violence:
Apocalypto, Audition, The Killer, Scarface (1983)
