I read this article in Wired a couple of months about a contest to improve Netflix’s rating and recommendation system by 10%. Apparently, it is nearly impossible to accomplish, but I would just like to point out the faults in the 5 star (and the words attached to each star) system.
One star-Hated it
Two stars-Didn’t like it
Three stars-Liked it
Four stars-Really liked it
Five stars-Loved it
For instance, 5 star ratings in my account? “City of God,” “Blow Up,” “There Will Be Blood,” “Breathless,” (Godard, not Gere) “Easy Rider, “Apocalypse Now,” etc. Makes sense, to me at least.
Four star ratings? Sure no problem, “2001,” “Adaptation,” “Taxi Driver,” “Requiem for a Dream.” Makes sense.
Three star ratings? This is where it gets tricky. Take this example, David Lynch’s “Inland Empire” and “Rappin’” starring Mario Van Pebbles receive the same rating. Why? Well because I “liked” both of these films. One for it’s its heady, dreaminess, and the other for it’s absurd and horrible raps and a “stickin’ it to the man” attitude.
I do not, however think they are even close in rating, but am forced because I in fact did “like” both of these films. Of course “Inland Empire” is a better movie than “Rappin’.” I did not “really like” either of these, so they are rated the same.
Take for example. Two guys sleep in their respective beds with the same slutty woman on two different nights in the same week. Neither of them fuck her or make a move to. One is a gentleman, cares about stuff & things blah blah blah, the other just isn’t feeling it and will fuck her when he God damn well pleases. They both are lumped into the same category or rating, if you will. Where as I am fucking “Inland Empire” and he is “Rapppin’!”
Fuck, I mean, one is “Inland Empire” and the other is “Rappin.”
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