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Google Adds Movie Ratings, Times, Reviews

Mike Skweir writes " I was going to take my daughter to the movies this afternoon and I wanted to find out more about the movie 'Kicking & Screaming'... so I Googled it. To my surprise the following response occurred . When I followed the link, it actually gave me several reviews, movie ratings and the ability to search for a theatre in my area." Once you've entered your zip code, it will also tell you what movies are playing in your area.

7 of 235 comments (clear)

  1. Oh, isn't that old? by presroi · · Score: 4, Insightful

    I remember on spotting this feature (which I am unable to use since google decided only to support the other side of the bath tub) some month ago.

    I might add that there is some (currently unused) synergy to http://video.google.com/ . There is no reason not to extend google video to movie texts.

  2. Data collection... by orion88 · · Score: 4, Insightful

    I just wonder what they're doing with all of this data. Between zip code and links visited, you could assemble some pretty interesting demographics.

    -Ben

  3. Re:Rate web pages by Chiasmus_ · · Score: 5, Insightful

    They should allow people to rate and review websites. That would make a little more sense, don't you think? Plus, it would be original.

    Considering that probably Google's prime concern is creating a tamper-proof search system, I don't think they'd invite a system that practically screamed "Please tamper with our rating system by posting rave reviews for your brochure site for herbal Viagra."

    ...unless, of course, the reviews were presented in such a way that they didn't affect which web sites people decided to click on - in which case the whole rating system would be little more than a waste of resources.

    --
    "Beware he who would deny you access to information, for in his heart he deems himself your master."
  4. Re:Bye Bye Fandango by Chiasmus_ · · Score: 4, Insightful

    but who really wants to buy movie tickets online?

    I would. Walking right past the line is actually pretty nice. But I don't want to pay a dollar over box office for the privilege. Since Fandango is *more* efficient than paying teenagers six bucks an hour to hand out tickets from those little bulletproof booths, it should cost *less*.

    Weird how that concept has been lost on the big chains so far.

    --
    "Beware he who would deny you access to information, for in his heart he deems himself your master."
  5. Re:Such a Great Way to Market by fm6 · · Score: 4, Insightful
    It is true that viral marketing is very effective. But I don't think they're deliberately trying to do that. It's just that their haphazard product development process makes a proper "feature launch" impossible!

    It's curious how Google repeatedly stumbles into extreme success. Early on, they decided to go with low-key text-based ads, not because they thought they'd be more successful than banner ads, but because the people making the decision hated pages with banner ads. We all know how that turned out -- it's the main reason Google turned a profit as early as it did.

    Jeez, as I'm typing this there is this really annoying animated New Egg banner at the top of my Slashdot window. Some people never learn!

  6. Re:Such a Great Way to Market by Jedi+Alec · · Score: 4, Insightful

    but because the people making the decision hated pages with banner ads.

    And there you have it. Right now, the folks making the decisions are folks that think like us. Google still has a really geeky aura surrouding it. Who knows, some day the marketing droids might take over and it's back to the drawing board, but until then...

    --

    People replying to my sig annoy me. That's why I change it all the time.
  7. Re:Nice to see BIAS for endless Google crap. by Jeff+DeMaagd · · Score: 4, Insightful

    I still use Yahoo maps, but the difference is that Google's version is a lot less cluttered, less confusing and easier to use. In short, they are doing the same thing everyone else is doing, but better. The only reason I don't use Google maps is they didn't have direction finding last I checked.

    Google is doing a lot of stuff that is already done by other companies, but with a better look, more sensible layout and overall better ease of use.

    This is, afterall, my opinion, but it seems to be similar to those elsewhere in this forum.

    I just hope that they continue to improve everything they've already established as well, and they don't overextend themselves.