It’s Blusterin’ Time!
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 are the basics:
What I do is list a site; you 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.
And remember: Blustering should be a two-way street; if you’ve asked to be blustered, you better be a blusterer.
Site: Dave’s Blog About Movies and Such
LAMB#: 55
URL: http://daveenkosky.blogspot.com/
If you would like to have your blog blustered by fellow LAMBs, please send me an email containing your site’s info and “Bluster Me!” in the subject line.
I don’t understand the rating system. He rates one movie “Amelie” and another movie “It’s a Wonderful Life” but these don’t indicate how much he likes or hates the reviewed movies. There should be a section of the sidebar that explains what the ratings mean. Look at Demented Doorknob or Blog Cabins for examples.
The name, honestly, too indecisive
Name: As someone said above. Removing “As such” would be a minor improvement. Brainstorm something more original?
If you are going to center parts of the post (pictures), also center the YouTube videos.
The rating system doesn’t instantly make sense so it’s not a good one. One shouldn’t even have to go and check the sidebar or a link to get a hang of it. Make it simple.
Headline Titles: Make them bigger
I like it! I’ve never been to the site before, but I will again. I disagree that ratings systems have to be formulaic. In my experience people look at a score, a star-mark or whatever and skip the review. This way, people actually have to read what he’s said, and isn’t that the point?
I like the writing style and the personal nature. Good blog, duly bookmarked.
Wow, I didn’t realize someone submitted my blog to this feature; I just saw it after checking the lamb. Thanks for the comments, everyone. Very helpful.
I very much agree about the name of my site. It was something I tossed off half-assed when I first started this blog and meant to change at some point. For some reason, though, even though the blog name makes me cringe, I’ve kinda grown attached to it. I do know I need to change it, though.
The ratings system: I kinda did that as a joke on ratings systems. I don’t really have a desire to change that.
This may be a pet peeve, but I don’t like the three column layout you have. It’s way too busy… everything in the three columns seems to blend together in a chaotic mess. Maybe if you made the headlines on the posts bigger (as has already been suggested) it would be easier for focus on the important stuff–your articles.
I had the same reaction to your rating system that others did. Maybe you need to create a sidebar link explaining them? While I go with a straight 0-10 scale, I can appreciate the hook in having a system that’s a little more creative. But it needs to be comprehensible as well as creative. I mean, is a picture of a guy with kids crawling on him a sign that a movie is good or bad? (You can’t count on readers recognizing “It’s a Wonderful Life,” and even if they do, they might understand what you’re trying to convey. (And if you HAVE a link to an explanation of your system, I failed to find it… which may reinforce the need for a redesign.
I disagree that the title is too generic… but then my blogs have pretty generic names, so I’m probably not one to judge.
And if I’d seen the blog’s owner commenting on the rating system, I would have kept my yap shut.
So you were lazy about naming your blog and you created your rating as a joke? Why are we even wasting time ripping you apart then?
That’s awfully close to nasty, Anon.
As I said before, I actually didn’t submit my blog for this feature. I’m not sure how it ended up in here (though, I do really appreciate the feedback; it’s been helpful).
By the way, this is probably a really dumb question from someone who’s been blogging for three years, but how do I center youtube videos and how do I make the headlines on my posts bigger?
Thanks again for your help, everyone. I’ll make sure to participate in this feature from now on (though, considering my apparent blogging naivete, I don’t know how much of a help I’ll be).
Needs better use of white-space. The main body feels really crowded by the sidebars. Also when scrolling, its difficult to see where one post ends and the next one begins.
Maybe think about adopting/adapting a newer fixed width template.
I was just reminded that I did sign up for this feature. I feel foolish now. Sorry about that.
I want to comment on everyone’s criticism of the rating system. I think it’s intriguing and doesn’t need much modification. Stars, thumbs, and rating scales be darned. I don’t know if this is what the blog owner intended, but I find the rating system to correlate to an intangible feeling the film left him with – either depicted by the facial expression in the still, or the tone of the particular film the still is from, or maybe the mood of the character in that still. I think it’s pretty creative and cool.
I like this blog. The writer has a good sense of humor and is obviously intelligent.
I don’t get the new name either, maybe you could explain that?
And yes, blue and orange .. not that great together. The layout would be alot better if you’d change the background colour…
Other than that I really dig the content and a lot of the features are great. Fun reads aswell!
“Anonymous said…
So you were lazy about naming your blog and you created your rating as a joke? Why are we even wasting time ripping you apart then?”
I am going to go out on a limb and say this blogger spends far more time on the blogs content, than you did “reviewing” it. – Chip