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Editor of 'Empire' strikes back...

...with a rather predictable 'favourite film' choice.

Sep 29 2006

We couldn't help but chuckle when we read that the new editor of 'Empire' magazine (you know: the one whose covers and features you can predict according to a movie's projected audience size) has picked and announced publicly as his favourite film none other than 'Empire Strikes Back'.

The man in question is Mark Dinning, who moves from another magazine, 'Total Film' to assume his new job.

Is this man for real? Either his interest in cinema stalled at the age of five or he was forced to give such an answer when questioned purely because of the demagogic nature of his new job.

Either way, it makes us feel rather smug here at Time Out that a) we're staffed by film writers with a deep and broad knowledge of film and b) we're able to write about film according to our own knowledge and taste - not according to box-office receipts and the results of market surveys.

And, anyway, surely anyone with an ounce of common-sense knows that 'Episode II: Attack of the Clones' is by far the best film in the 'Star Wars' series?

Readers, we invite your thoughts...

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User comments on this story

  • Jonathan said...
    For a Time Out reviewer to talk like that about another magazine and reviewer is frankly pathetic.
    I buy Empire along with magazines such as Sight and Sound and Time Out and its refreshing to read a magazine that is knowledgable about film and not up its own arses like Time Out can be.
    Frankly this report reeks of snobbery and the writer should be ashamed of himself. Posted on Oct 12 2006 02:02
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  • Irwin Fletcher said...
    Actually 'Yer Man', that's not true.
    In my case the answer to both favourite film and cock size is the same: Eight and a half. Posted on Oct 04 2006 13:52
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  • Yer Man said...
    Basket Case rules!
    And Empire Strikes Back is amazing and bloody well warrants a place in anyone's No 1 films of all time so take the big poker out yer ass and stop being so stiff. That said, he could well be lying because asking a bloke what the their favourite film is, is like asking him how big his cock is - he's pretty much always going to lie. Posted on Oct 03 2006 17:07
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  • Dolly said...
    He may just be saying that because it makes him look more sophisticated than those fools who pick 'A New Beginning'. Or his favourite film may really be 'Andrei Rubliev,' but it's a love that dare not speak its name. Who knows? Who cares? It's the right answer for a man/boy in his position. Besides, "what's your favourite film?" and "what's the best film ever made?" are very different questions. You'd hope his answer wasn't the same for both. Posted on Oct 02 2006 21:34
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  • Oscar Acosta said...
    But why pick some worthy, arthouse flick if it’s not your favourite? If more people were honest about what their favourite film is, then the vast majority of people would pick something fairly accessible and light. Half the films you give high ratings too turn out to be dull and boring. I like a whole range of films, from kids cartoons to Kurosawa, but my favourite is The Big Lebowski. And so what? It’s about this fella’s favourite, therefore HE IS RIGHT. If your film critics writing was half as engaging as ‘Luke I am your father…’ then maybe your circulation would be holding up a bit better.
    And Anthony, Indiana Jones is a great film! Don't be a film snob. I'm more excited about a new 'Indy' film than 20 film festivals worth of low-buget indie films, and I know I'm not the only one. Posted on Oct 01 2006 13:12
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  • Jenny said...
    I stopped reading Empire the day they put Liz Hurley on the cover. Posted on Sep 30 2006 10:13
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  • Eddie said...
    I´ve heard a rumour that Dave Calhoun´s favourite film is the Stallone arm-wrestling flick Over the Top. Posted on Sep 30 2006 10:07
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  • CP said...
    Yep, sounds like a muppet. But I wouldn't be so smug if I were you. One of you recently wrote that Brian De Palma was one film away from greatness. Excuse me. 'Greatness'? De Palma? Please. You guys don't exactly have strength in depth. Posted on Sep 29 2006 22:50
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