Baxter's SCENT System

A system to help you sniff out a good movie. There are 5 categories each scored on a range from 0 to 5. Total scoring, however, is judged on a range from 0 to 20, although some movies score beyond 20.

• Sensibility: Arguably the most important element of a film; does it make sense? If you ever ask yourself "why did that just happen?" when watching a movie, then you can understand why this category is so important. The sensibility score is directly linked to the ability to suspend disbelief while watching a film. A key factor in measuring Sensibility in a movie is that the characters' actions and the plot development have to make sense in context. That is, lifting a multi-ton X-Wing spacecraft out of a swamp using a mystical power called the force from only your hands and mind doesn't make much sense in the context of Ferris Bueller's Day Off high-school reality, but fits perfectly into the context of the Star Wars universe. Context is crucial. The level of Sensibility is measured by how immersive the film experience is. If you are constantly asking why certain things are happening or being offput by inconsistencies, then you can't pay full attention to or be immersed in the film.
• 0

  1

  2

  3

  4

  5
  Completely nonsensical

  Many issues with large impact on quality

  Many issues with small or medium impact on quality

  Some issues that detract from quality

  Small issues don't detract from quality

  No issues

  
  
• Cinematography: This term I use generously to encompass all technical aspects of the film. The cinematography score encompasses production design, lighting, sound mixing, editing, camera angles, shot choices, and more.
• 0

  1

  2

  3

  4

  5
  No cinematic merit

  Many issues or largely detracts from immersion

  Some issues or somewhat detracts from immersion

  Does not enhance the film

  Enhances the film but small issues present

  Excellent and shining element of the film

  
  
• Energy: This category is a bit abstract. I use the term Energy here to describe the metaphorical, and perhaps literal, vibrations that you feel from watching the film. The energy of a film is directly tied to how long it can hold your attention. The energy of a film is impacted by things such a story pacing, soundtrack, acting performances, and editing. Films with strong energy will often have a very clear sense of style, portrayed through the cinematography, and largely enhanced through the sound editing and soundtrack. Films with strong or highly rated energy are going to be those that capture your attention and hold you there long enough that you forget that you're sitting, staring at a screen. The films with the best energy will give you feelings that stick with you long after the movie is over.
• 0

  1

  2

  3

  4

  5
  No energy

  Little energy

  Some energy but lack of style or focus

  Moderate energy but lack of style or focus

  Strong energy but small issues detract from focus

  Extremely focused energy. The film hums with energy

  
  
• Narrative: This category evaluates the quality of the story. Is the story straightforward? Is the story too complicated to comprehend? Is the story interesting? Is it a new story or a story as old as time? Does the story have deep or important thematic elements? Does the story provide a lens in which we can learn about life, ourselves, and the future?
• 0

  1

  2

  3

  4

  5
  Meritless story or no activity

  Minimal important activity or merit

  Storyline is shallow or clouded with irrelevant or unimportant scenes

  Decent, simple story. Unoriginal or flawed

  Story with thought-provoking events. Minor issues present

  Incredible, deep, thought-provoking narrative without flaws

  
  
• T-Points: T-Points are bonus points. A movie can score up to 5 bonus points. These are personalized "Thompson"-Points awarded for moments of "Transcendence." That is, any scene, shot, or element of a film that is particularly potent, meaningful, or interesting I will award with a bonus "Transcendence"-Point. Obviously, these points are highly personalized and biased, so they are not a necessary part of a film's score (hence why the scoring system is out of 20 and not 25).
• 0

  1

  2

  3

  4

  5
  No bonus points

  1 bonus-worthy element

  2 bonus-worthy elements

  3 bonus-worthy elements

  4 bonus-worthy elements

  5 bonus-worthy elements

  
  

Why all the scoring categories?

I have always hated when people say a movie is simply "good" or "bad." Why was it good? Was the story good? Was it fun to watch? What did you like about the movie? This problem is perpetuated by the modern rating systems. What does a 90% Rotten Tomatoes score tell you about the movie? What does 4/5 stars on LetterBoxd tell you about the film? These types of scores don't give any insight into what made the movie receive said score. That is what the SCENT system is trying to correct. It specifies exactly what elements of the film were "good" or "bad" to give you a better chance at understanding if the movie is worth your watch. The SCENT system breaks down what I believe are the most critical elements of a film to help you pick out a good movie for your next movie night. The system helps you tailor your watches more than just following my opinion. If you find that movies you enjoy are ones that I score low in particular categories, then you can use that pattern to help you inform your next watch more than just the numerical value of my scoring.

Why out of 20?

The "T" category are bonus points that I award for moments/elements of a film that are particularly meaningful to me. Because these points are so personalized, the 5 potential T-Points that can be awarded are not necessary for a film to have a good or perfect rating. The first four categories, S, C, E, and N are mandatory for scoring. With each category scoring on a range of 0 to 5, the score for a "perfect" movie is 20. You'll see that there are many movies that I score higher than 20. These are movies that I think are of excellent quality and are personally valuable/impactful.

Why out of 5 points for each category?

Each category is scored on a range of 0 to 5. You'll notice that with scoring values of 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5, there is no median value. That is, it is not possible for me to score a movie with median or average Sensibility, or Cinematography or so on. This is an attempt to make scoring more honest. It's a lot harder to give a movie a score if there isn't a baseline value for the "average" movie. Having to decide between 2 or 3 for the "average" movie's score in each category forces me to think harder about the quality, lending the system to more genuine, and perhaps more precise, ratings.

Why are the reviews so vague?

I believe the best way to watch a movie is to know almost nothing about it beforehand. The best movie-watching experiences come from watching without expectations, so my reviews won't give plot summaries or have any spoilers unless absolutely necessary.