At MoviePatron.com myself and the other writers at this site try to stray slightly from the norm of the typical movie review style. First off, I don't like to assign ratings to a film; i.e. 3 stars, 2 1/2 stars or a thumbs up/thumbs down. Instead, I like to review movies that I see as a friend or a co-worker might describe it to you "around the water cooler." I just tell it like it is without all the flowery language of say an A.O. Scott or Roger Ebert would use. - Update 11/17: I've just implemented a star rating (out of 5) to all reviews from now on. Had to. Everyone nowadays wants to know right away if we liked a film or not; they don't care to read the whole review ...sigh.

      I'm also not a movie snob. I didn't take college courses that try to teach me what a good film is (actually, I did, I just hated those classes). I know when I see something I like. I don't need some college professor or someone who is supposedly a "pro," telling what is good and what isn't. Either do you I don't think. That's not to say I don't read some reviews for perspective or an early idea of what may be in store for me when I see a particular film, but generally, I think Roger Ebert can stuff it!

      I don't mind the occasional big budget F/X film. I can sit and enjoy a movie like "Stealth" or "Mr. & Mrs. Smith." However, I also appreciate the magnificence of films such as "American Beauty" or "Good Night, and Good Luck." I really am just a lover of movies. I see as many as time and money will allow. That said, I don't see films just for the sake of seeing a film to review. I generally only see movies that look interesting or good to me. However, I will go see some of the big blockbusters, simply because I want to be able to say I saw them and I want to be able to let everyone know what to expect before heading to the theater and laying down their hard earned cash. Unfortunately I also don't see too many independent films. I'll go when there's a real buzz or something peaks my interest; but they're simply too risky for my time and money. When I see one though, you'll read about it.

      Again, I go to movies for my enjoyment; I won't go see something randomly just because it's there. Still, I've probably seen more movies than most people you know. So I have a lot of experience and knowledge of movies post 1980. I haven't seen a lot of "the classics," and in my experience, most of those are pretty dull anyway. To see my interests and decide if you'd like to come back, read a couple of reviews of recent films or DVDs. Also, be sure to check out my TOP 100 films I've had the pleasure of viewing.

      There are no annoying pop-ups or ads on my site. Unless they really "show me the money," there never will be. This is my hobby, not a business. I do it simply for the love of film. Enjoy...

A brief history of MoviePatron.com

12.97	- A close friend sends me an email of his 10 favorite music albums of the year
	- I copy-cat this, but with 10 best films. I send this to a few friends.
06.99	- I begin a boring job in a cubicle with access to the internet and email
	- Send out mass email of new top 10 movie list
07.99	- Start sending out mass emails of pop culture and other entertainment news tid-bits. I title the email "Bird's Entertainment News" (Bird was my nickname then).
08.99	- Begin sending bi-weekly emails with short movie reviews and entertainment news
	- Revise title to snappier, "Bird's Eye re-View."
04.01	- A friend builds me my first web site at www.birdseyereview.com
	- Site is difficult to maintain and update
06.02	- Site dies slow, horrible and messy death
10.03	- I discover blogs; start one at www.birdseyereview.blogspot.com (which is still up and running as my everything pop-culture blog).
11.03	- readership doubles to about 6 people
06.04	- Blog becomes too political in the heat of the Presidential campaign.
	- Readership drops to 3 people
09.04	- Pledge to keep my blog movie related only
10.04	- Readership goes up by 1 person.
11.04	- Attempt to evolve blog into a working website with links to my various reviews and such.
	- Attempt fails miserably and site sucks.
	- Readership drops to 2 people
04.05	- Learn HTML better and teach myself Photoshop
05.05	- MoviePatron.com is born
	- 57 unique visitors in May
	- Site continues to evolve and grow, gaining about 150 new unique visitors each month
07.05	- Incorporate the Movie Patron blog to work directly with the main site
	- Blog works well
09.05	- Begin recording audio editions
	- Readership continues to grow
10.05	- Site breaks the 1000 unique visitors in one month barrier with 1265 readers
11.05	- Site is completely renovated and made easier to use with fully animated flash navigation bar and sanppier look.
12.05	- Audio editions are officially available on iTunes or as an RSS feed subscription and become known as podcasts.
01.06	- Unique visitors in one month breaks 2000.
06.06	- Misael Soto and Mara Baker sign on as new Movie Patron Contributors
07.06	- Movie Patron starts a myspace profile for fans to join on the friend list and keep in touch with updates and special bulletins.
08.06	- The MP FORUM is started for readers to discuss, fight and bitch about everything movies, flicks and film.
12.06	- Kurt Halfyard from Twitch joins as a regular, weekly co-host to the Movie Patron Cinecasts.
02.07	- 4 to 10 minute audio reviews are now available on the main page for select films.
	- 5000 unique visitors per month.
03.07	- Andrew Dykstra signs on as a new Movie Patron Contributor
currently	- You're reading this