What is the point of having movie critics? Do they exist to tell us what cinema we should like or what we should not like? Many respected critics have had conflicting opinions amongst themselves on films that would become classics. 2001: A Space Odyssey came out to mixed reviews. How many critics will criticize the movie now? Have you ever seen a movie that you totally adored and found out that Roger Ebert gave it the finger (thumbs down)? This is especially frustrating if you starred or directed in that movie. No person should base his or her opinions on what a critic thinks is good or bad. It could create an embarrassing situation if you quoted such critics as Rex Reed or Jeff Craig from Sixty Second Preview (4 stars for Tank Girl). Critics should be used as a whole more than the singular. If the majority dislike or like a movie then it can help you decide whether the movie could be possibly worth watching. Movies that are on the top ten lists of reputable critics usually are atypical of formula movies. Since movie critics tend to see hundreds of films a year they like to watch films about people and ideas. That is why a lot of their favorite films will include documentaries, foreign, and independent films. These films include themes that are not often tackled by mainstream purveyors of cinema. Of course, it is their opinion that comes through first and then they use their years of expertise to show that their opinion is right. Since opinions can be highly contradictory many a fight has happened because of the egocentric attitude of the critic. Critics can be like history professors arguing against the Turner Thesis or economists discussing supply side economics. Then you can compare your opinions and thoughts of the movie against a published movie critic such as Ebert or connect online and read dozens of opinions by people willing to tell you what they think. Your opinion is the one that counts. It does not matter what anyone else thinks. I personally like movies that many critics disdain i.e. Three O'Clock High. How many people like watching an Ed Wood or John Carpenter film? It is all just a matter of taste whether you have a doctorate in film or you like watching Steve Austin do his "stone cold stunner" to Jake the Snake Roberts (World Wrestling Federation reference).