JoBlo.com - AbsoluteAstronomy.com

JoBlo.com is a website

Website

A website, also written as Web site, web site, or simply site, is a collection of related web pages containing images, videos or other digital assets. A website is hosted on at least one web server, accessible via a network such as the Internet or a private local area network through an Internet...

primarily focused on the film industry

Film industry

The film industry consists of the technological and commercial institutions of filmmaking: i.e. film production companies, film studios, cinematography, film production, screenwriting, pre-production, post production, film festivals, distribution; and actors, film directors and other film crew...

.

JoBlo.com was started in 1998 by Berge Garabedian (aka JoBlo), a movie reviewer who is known for critiquing movies from the perspective of an average movie-goer. The website's name is, in fact, a play on the term Joe Shmoe

Joe Shmoe

Joe Shmoe is one of the most commonly used fictional names in American English. It is used to identify the typical, everyday person who does not have any special status, frequently in contrast to some group...

, and registered users of the website are known as 'schmoes'. In addition to JoBlo's own reviews, the site also features, but is not limited to: movie trailers, film scripts

Screenplay

A screenplay or script is a written work that is made especially for a film or television program. Screenplays can be original works or adaptations from existing pieces of writing. In them, the movement, actions, expression, and dialogues of the characters are also narrated...

, previews of upcoming movies, screensaver

Screensaver

A screensaver is a type of computer program initially designed to prevent phosphor burn-in on CRT and plasma computer monitors by blanking the screen or filling it with moving images or patterns when the computer is not in use...

s, desktop wallpaper, interviews with celebrities, and a message board. This is in addition to its daily news articles and “DVD Clinic” featuring thousands of DVD reviews, DVD release dates and latest digital news items. The site also includes a sub-site called “Arrow in the Head”, which is run by The Arrow aka John Fallon, and focuses on horror movies including daily news updates, reviews and commentary.

The web site has received notability over the years. It was referenced in Entertainment Weekly
Entertainment Weekly
Entertainment Weekly is an American magazine, published by the Time division of Time Warner, that covers film, television, music, broadway theatre, books and popular culture...

as one of their "25 favorite online entertainment sites" and Garabedian is quoted in publications such as USA Today
USA Today
USA Today is a national American daily newspaper published by the Gannett Company. It was founded by Al Neuharth. The newspaper vies with The Wall Street Journal for the position of having the widest circulation of any newspaper in the United States, something it previously held since 2003...

. By the 2000s, Joblo.com was quoted on movie posters, DVD/Blu-ray covers and in commercials.

In 2001, the site started holding an annual award's presentation for films that were most enjoyed by its visitors. These became known as "The Golden Schmoes". Often the winners of these awards were films that had large fan-bases, but limited critical praise.

In February 2009, JoBlo.com started a weekly podcast called The Good, The Bad, and The JoBlo Movie Podcast. Guests have included Bobcat Goldthwait

Bobcat Goldthwait

Robert Francis "Bobcat" Goldthwait is an American actor, comedian, screenwriter, and film and television director. He is commonly known for his energetic, ravenous stage personality, his dark, acerbic black comedy, and his gruff but high-pitched voice.- Early life :Goldthwait was born in Syracuse,...

, Duncan Jones

Duncan Jones

Duncan Zowie Haywood Jones , also known as Zowie Bowie is an English film director, best known for directing the science fiction films Moon and Source Code .-Childhood and family life:...

, and Clifton Collins, Jr.

Clifton Collins, Jr.

Clifton Craig Collins, Jr. is an American actor.-Life and career:Clifton Craig Collins, Jr. was born in Los Angeles, of half Mexican descent and the grandson of actor Pedro Gonzalez-Gonzalez. He has sometimes been credited as Clifton Gonzalez-Gonzalez to honor his grandfather...

and listeners win DVDs/Blu-rays every other week.

In 2009, JoBlo.com started a social networking site for movie fans called Movie Fan Central. Currently there are around 54,000 registered schmoes. Users are able to post blogs, reviews, pictures, videos,top ten lists, and their DVD/Blu-ray collection.

A book, JoBlo.com Presents... the 50 Coolest Movies of All Time was released in 2002 featuring a foreword by film director Kevin Smith

Kevin Smith

Kevin Patrick Smith is an American screenwriter, actor, film producer, and director, as well as a popular comic book writer, author, comedian/raconteur, and internet radio personality best recognized by viewers as Silent Bob...

, and in-depth reviews of fifty select titles.

See also