The fall of imdb

Cadaverous Pallor · 03-31-2008, 10:11 PM

Back in 1998, I experienced the World Wide Web for the very first time. Before I heard of eBay, before I joined a message board, before I visited Amazon.com....there was the Internet Movie Database.

Even as the 'net evolved, the IMDb only grew stronger. More and more info, more ways to search, and at lightning speed. Sure, they were always ad heavy, but totally worth it. We used to jog from the living room to the back room where the computer was to see just who that actor was, when that movie came out, what else that director did. When we got our first laptop and put it in the living room, we realized the full potential of a movie database next to our home entertainment center. When we decided to get internet on our phones, it was because, as GD put it, "it's worth it just to have IMDb in your pocket."

IMDb was THE personification of the power of the internet. But no more.

These days, I find incomplete listings. In all the years I've been checking the site, I never felt that it needed me to assist - except within the past 6 months. On finding facts missing that I ACTUALLY KNEW, I created an account and tried to edit it. Turns out - it's a major pain in the ass. If you're adding a character to a TV show, you need to know exactly which episodes that character was in. Um, ok, I don't know that, guess I can't help.

So I turned - reluctantly - to Wikipedia. The lack of solid structure there has been a turnoff for me regarding movie/TV info, up until now. In having to go there just to verify major characters in major TV shows, I've come to prefer it. The format allows all kinds of referencing. I've learned, oh, so much from it. I've linked and linked and linked, just like the old days of IMDb.

I still go to the old schooler for my first shot....but mostly for sentimental reasons. In the last month or so, it has become inevitable that I'd get annoyed at the gaps and end up at the all-knowing Wikipedia...and even add a link or two myself with two clicks.

Sigh.

You're still around but no longer the standard. I suppose there can be only one. Goodbye, Internet Movie Database. I'll tell my kids about you.

<sniff>

Moonliner · 03-31-2008, 10:30 PM

Every TV show, every movie, every actor, every roll, every production detail.... That's a pretty tall order. We'll never find perfection so I'll settle for pretty damn good. IMDB is a hell of a lot better than the old Leonard Maltin Movie Guide.

Ghoulish Delight · 03-31-2008, 10:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Moonliner

Every TV show, every movie, every actor, every roll, every production detail.... That's a pretty tall order. We'll never find perfection so I'll settle for pretty damn good. IMDB is a hell of a lot better than the old Leonard Maltin Movie Guide.

Of course there are going to be gaps, but the gaps have been getting bigger.

I think much of the community has moved on to Wikipedia where updates are immediate.

mousepod · 03-31-2008, 10:31 PM

It's been slowly going downhill since Amazon bought it, ten years ago.

I don't think I ever really used it for television information.
Even though it's a sloppy replacement for TvTome, I still use TV.com and epguides.com for television info, btw.

Chernabog · 03-31-2008, 10:46 PM

Yeah I use Wikipedia for most of it, especially episode guides and whatnot. There ARE better Wiki sites for specialized things (i.e. for Battlestar Galactica, the Battlestarwiki.org is AMAZING) but in general, I only go to imdb to browse the news.

Alex · 03-31-2008, 10:56 PM

Interesting. I don't use it much for individual TV episodes but for movies I still find Wikipedia woefully inadequate. Great sometimes, particularly for trivia, but wildly inconsistent. Especially once off the beaten path.

But then I really do remember when IMDb was woefully incomplete and we loved it still (back when it was the Cardiff Internet Movie Database) and I was emailing my transcription of Jackie Chan movie credits in.

I was really worried when Amazon bought them but I'm surprised at how much it has been left alone instead of being fully integrated into Amazon.

Bornieo: Fully Loaded · 03-31-2008, 11:34 PM

I use IMDB just to see what else someone's done if I'm watching or just watched a film.

blueerica · 04-01-2008, 05:24 AM

I, too, have found that imdb has gone downhill in the worst way. I rarely use it, unless there's little else on a subject.

innerSpaceman · 04-01-2008, 09:11 AM

Since i don't use any internet source for TV info (a subject I care zero about), i find IMDb remains adequate for movie info. I've yet to find a blank spot that's not in the plot synopsis area. What I'm looking for is participation credits, and that's pretty much always been complete every time I check.

Granted, I'm not a fervent user. But it's never let me down. There's something about Wikipedia that I just don't trust. The 90% accuracy rate I've found there on any given subject is just not gonna cut it when I'm doing research for a true result.

cirquelover · 04-01-2008, 10:07 AM

I'll have to go with iSM on this one. I don't trust Wikipedia all that much so when I'm looking for movie info I go to IMDB. Usually I'm looking for the bit part actors or something and it has always given me the answers I needed.

The last thing I remember looking up there was to see if the cute boy from Heroes was actually the same boy from Daman Wayans old show, the name escapes me right now, but it was him.

03-31-2008, 10:11 PM	#1
Cadaverous Pallor ohhhh baby Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Parental Bliss Posts: 12,364	The fall of imdb Back in 1998, I experienced the World Wide Web for the very first time. Before I heard of eBay, before I joined a message board, before I visited Amazon.com....there was the Internet Movie Database. Even as the 'net evolved, the IMDb only grew stronger. More and more info, more ways to search, and at lightning speed. Sure, they were always ad heavy, but totally worth it. We used to jog from the living room to the back room where the computer was to see just who that actor was, when that movie came out, what else that director did. When we got our first laptop and put it in the living room, we realized the full potential of a movie database next to our home entertainment center. When we decided to get internet on our phones, it was because, as GD put it, "it's worth it just to have IMDb in your pocket." IMDb was THE personification of the power of the internet. But no more. These days, I find incomplete listings. In all the years I've been checking the site, I never felt that it needed me to assist - except within the past 6 months. On finding facts missing that I ACTUALLY KNEW, I created an account and tried to edit it. Turns out - it's a major pain in the ass. If you're adding a character to a TV show, you need to know exactly which episodes that character was in. Um, ok, I don't know that, guess I can't help. So I turned - reluctantly - to Wikipedia. The lack of solid structure there has been a turnoff for me regarding movie/TV info, up until now. In having to go there just to verify major characters in major TV shows, I've come to prefer it. The format allows all kinds of referencing. I've learned, oh, so much from it. I've linked and linked and linked, just like the old days of IMDb. I still go to the old schooler for my first shot....but mostly for sentimental reasons. In the last month or so, it has become inevitable that I'd get annoyed at the gaps and end up at the all-knowing Wikipedia...and even add a link or two myself with two clicks. Sigh. You're still around but no longer the standard. I suppose there can be only one. Goodbye, Internet Movie Database. I'll tell my kids about you. <sniff> __________________ The second star to the right shines in the night for you
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03-31-2008, 10:30 PM	#2
Moonliner 8/30/14 - Disneyland -10k or Bust. Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 9,022	Every TV show, every movie, every actor, every roll, every production detail.... That's a pretty tall order. We'll never find perfection so I'll settle for pretty damn good. IMDB is a hell of a lot better than the old Leonard Maltin Movie Guide. __________________ - Taking it one step at a time.
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03-31-2008, 10:31 PM	#4
mousepod You broke your Ramadar! Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 4,635	It's been slowly going downhill since Amazon bought it, ten years ago. I don't think I ever really used it for television information. Even though it's a sloppy replacement for TvTome, I still use TV.com and epguides.com for television info, btw. __________________ "Give the public everything you can give them, keep the place as clean as you can keep it, keep it friendly" - Walt Disney
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03-31-2008, 10:46 PM	#5
Chernabog Biophage Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: The Moon Posts: 2,679	Yeah I use Wikipedia for most of it, especially episode guides and whatnot. There ARE better Wiki sites for specialized things (i.e. for Battlestar Galactica, the Battlestarwiki.org is AMAZING) but in general, I only go to imdb to browse the news. __________________ And they say back then our universe Was a coal black egg Until the god inside Burst out and from its shattered shell He made what became the world we know ~ Bjork (Cosmogony)
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03-31-2008, 10:56 PM	#6
Alex . Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 13,354	Interesting. I don't use it much for individual TV episodes but for movies I still find Wikipedia woefully inadequate. Great sometimes, particularly for trivia, but wildly inconsistent. Especially once off the beaten path. But then I really do remember when IMDb was woefully incomplete and we loved it still (back when it was the Cardiff Internet Movie Database) and I was emailing my transcription of Jackie Chan movie credits in. I was really worried when Amazon bought them but I'm surprised at how much it has been left alone instead of being fully integrated into Amazon.
	Submit to Quotes

03-31-2008, 11:34 PM	#7
Bornieo: Fully Loaded Lego Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Disneyland, USA Posts: 3,704	I use IMDB just to see what else someone's done if I'm watching or just watched a film.
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04-01-2008, 05:24 AM	#8
blueerica Nueve Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 6,497	I, too, have found that imdb has gone downhill in the worst way. I rarely use it, unless there's little else on a subject. __________________ Tomorrow is the day for you and me
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04-01-2008, 09:11 AM	#9
innerSpaceman Kink of Swank Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Inner Space Posts: 13,075	Since i don't use any internet source for TV info (a subject I care zero about), i find IMDb remains adequate for movie info. I've yet to find a blank spot that's not in the plot synopsis area. What I'm looking for is participation credits, and that's pretty much always been complete every time I check. Granted, I'm not a fervent user. But it's never let me down. There's something about Wikipedia that I just don't trust. The 90% accuracy rate I've found there on any given subject is just not gonna cut it when I'm doing research for a true result.
	Submit to Quotes

04-01-2008, 10:07 AM	#10
cirquelover Cruising around in my automobile... Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Oregon Posts: 2,617	I'll have to go with iSM on this one. I don't trust Wikipedia all that much so when I'm looking for movie info I go to IMDB. Usually I'm looking for the bit part actors or something and it has always given me the answers I needed. The last thing I remember looking up there was to see if the cute boy from Heroes was actually the same boy from Daman Wayans old show, the name escapes me right now, but it was him.
	Submit to Quotes