Kissingfingertips rating system

5 Stars = Awesome. Sell your soul to see this.
4 Stars = Excellently done!
3 Stars = Entertaining and worthwhile.
2 Stars = Has some OK moments but mostly pretty average.
1 Star = Drivel. Avoid! Avoid!

I've never given a film a zero rating and I never will. The fact that somebody makes a film at all is impressive enough to earn some credit. Making films is hard. If someone has pointed a camera at some lesbians for a reason other than porn and tried to tell our stories to improve our representation and visibility, respect is owed.

How do you rate films?

I revisited my top ten to try and get a handle on what I think makes an excellent lesbian film, and these common themes emerged:

1. It can't be just about being gay.
   That means pure coming out stories have to be sensationally good. I don't really get into stories where the heroine frets about being gay and nothing else. This is becoming even more important over time, so older films get a bit of a free pass on this one.

2. Films that are not afraid of showing sexuality and sexual difference.
   Show me emotion and passion that is all about the the human need for connection.

3. The lead female characters are strong.
   I don't mean they all have to be butch babes with guns, I'm saying they need to have a strong sense of self, or work towards that sense of self. In short, films that are character-driven.

4. It's not about money, it's about talent.
   I will admit that my top ten is filled mostly (but not exclusively) with films that had budgets and production values to match. However, I've panned many films that had money, and praised many films that were made with nothing. It's about the story and the characters, not the budget.