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The Birth of a Movie-Loving Revolution
You know how you come up with the greatest invention or solution to a problem just because you are sick and tired of it? Well, that is more or less how Rotten Tomatoes came into existence. Picture this: It’s 1998, three guys, Senh Duong, Patrick Lee and Stephen Wang are watching a movie, probably eating some old popcorn and thinking to themselves, “Why can’t there be a website that tells me if this movie is worth my time?”
These guys were tired of having to wade through lengthy critic’s write-ups that in fact did not give them the basics on whether or not a particular film was worth watching. And that’s how it happened that one day, the idea of creating Rotten Tomatoes was conceived. They were not joking- they went ahead and launched the site in August of the same year. Initially it was mainly a collection of all the movie reviews that could be found online all in one place. But let me tell you, it became the latest trend as if there was no tomorrow.
From Humble Beginnings to Hollywood Heavyweight
When Rotten Tomatoes began to expand, they continued to incorporate more and more neat new features. The Tomatometer? That little gem appeared quite early, and it has been the site’s flagship ever since. It is like a movie’s report card – if enough critics recommend it, it gets the shiny red tomato. If not, well, you get the idea or in other words, it is the best of times, it is the worst of times. They also began to engage in something called the Critics’ Consensus, or in other words, it is just a brief of the reviews. It is useful when you have no time to sit down and watch a movie but you want to know what it is all about.
Well, that was when the real excitement started. It did not only remain as this small website for the cinephiles. No, it began attracting the attention of those big boys. I mean we’re talking about the New York Times, the BBC, Netflix, Hollywood, the works. Soon enough, that Tomatometer score was being featured on posters, in commercials, you get the idea. It is like Rotten Tomatoes became the official stamp of approval for movies in Hollywood. 
The Meat and Potatoes: How Rotten Tomatoes Works
The Almighty Tomatometer
Okay, let’s take a closer look at what we can consider the essence of Rotten Tomatoes, namely the Tomatometer. It's pretty straightforward: If 60% or more are positive, the movie is “Fresh. ” If it is less than that, sorry buddy, you’re “Rotten. ” It may be basic, but, oh, it is brilliant.
The first time I started to use the site, I was surprised how quickly I could get an idea about whether the movie is worth to be watched. No more spending ten bucks on a movie only to find out that everything that was shown in the trailer was actually appealing. The Tomatometer was my all-time movie guide.
The Critics' Consensus: Your Movie-Savvy BFF
Finally, let us discuss that Critics’ Consensus. It’s like having a wise friend who has read all the reviews and can tell you in few words what has been said. There are so many times that I have used this so when I am in front of the television on a Sunday morning, afternoon or evening, I will know what to do.
These two features have been so interlinked with the Rotten Tomatoes that it is even hard to explain one without the other. He and she are like the two halves of some movie review team.
How Rotten Tomatoes Changed the Game
Goodbye, Guesswork. Hello, Informed Choices
However, I must admit that, now, thanks to Rotten Tomatoes, there are much more effective ways of choosing the movie you want to watch. Do you recall when we used to select a movie based on the look of the poster or the actors/actresses in the movie? Well, my friend, those days are not anymore. Now, we are all going as far as looking at that Tomatometer score before we consider purchasing a ticket.
You know the type, the person who falls for a nice looking trailer only to find out that the movie is in fact boring. However, the use of Rotten Tomatoes made all that a thing of the past. Today, I’m like a walking encyclopedia, where I have all the information about every new song that is released.
Shaking Up Hollywood
And it’s not only we, the ordinary people – the entire film industry has had to raise its head. I have read many accounts of studios panicking over low Tomatometer scores, getting anxious about altering marketing tactics, or even delaying their movies’ release. One would not believe that this website that was created by three friends who are movie lovers has grown to influence a multi-billion dollar industry in such a way.
The Dark Side of the Tomato
Not Everyone's a Fan
But hey, it is not all that rosy to be in the world of Rotten Tomatoes. Over the years they have faced their share of criticism and have been involved in some controversies. Some people have complained that the site reduces movie reviews to simplistic ‘Fresh’ or ‘Rotten’ opinions; there are others who have accused the site of encouraging herd mentality, where people just follow what the Tomatometer score is without having a mind of their own.
You know what I’m saying? And sometimes a movie can be not only good or bad but there is something in between that is difficult to convey if you use such approach. However, at the same time I believe that Rotten Tomatoes has a useful purpose for all those of us who just need some basic orientation of the given movie.
The Great Critic Debate
People have had quite a number of controversies concerning the way Rotten Tomatoes manages the critic reviews as well. As with, who is considered a critic? So, how they make their choice to pick the reviews they are going to post? It is all rather hazy and as a result some people have started to doubt the credibility of those much-loved Tomatometer ratings.
I recall when one of the major summer blockbusters received a rather poor score and there was this debate if Rotten Tomatoes favored one particular kind of movies. It really made me realise how much influence this site has over our choices of movies to watch.
Rotten Tomatoes: The Next Generation
Beyond the Big Screen
All the same, one must give credit where credit is due: Rotten Tomatoes has not taken the path of least resistance. They have continued to grow and diversify in the number of years they have been in operation. Well, today it is not only the movies that people can get from the Internet, but almost everything else. They’ve gone as far as providing TV show reviews, and they are venturing into other forms of entertainment.
I think I have seen their TV reviews and those are always very useful with so many streaming platforms available now. Sometimes it feels like: when you’re trying to pick the next series or movie to watch on Netflix, for example. Thank goodness for Rotten Tomatoes then!
Of course, I also can’t forget about their mobile application and social media accounts – they are also trying to adapt to the constantly progressing digital environment. I have the app on my phone and it is so helpful when I am in the line to buy tickets in a movie theater and I have no idea what movie to choose.
If one were to look at the history of Rotten Tomatoes, one would not believe how far the site has come. It is quite a journey from a frustrated moviegoer scribbling a few lines on the movie that he/she has watched to become a competitor to the movie producers. And you know what? In my opinion, these brands are as useful and necessary in the contemporary world as they were when they were created.
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