Every critic needs to find a rating system or framework that works for them. Clearly communicating and addressing the rating system is a great way to avoid any unnecessary confusion between the critic and the audience. What constitutes a movie receiving a "7 out of 10" rating will vary dramatically depending on who is giving said rating. And as much as I'd like to think that what is actually written within the reviews themselves will help to clarify why a movie was given that rating, sadly, I don't believe that is the case. In a world where most readers scroll to the very bottom of a review, gathering all the information they need from a number or score - a clear rating system seems like a necessity.
Film-FTW's Rating System (out of 10-Stars)
10 Stars - Masterpiece / Instant Favorite
9 Stars - Amazing / Exceptional
8 Stars - Great / Memorable
7 Stars - Very Good / Compelling
6 Stars - Better Than Average / Moderately Successful
5 Stars - Mediocre / Mixed Feelings
4 Stars - Uninteresting / Trifling
3 Stars - Bad / Thoroughly Flawed
2 Stars - Horrible / Enraging
1 Star - The Worst / Cinematic Atrocity
Please note that with my system, 7 stars does not mean a movie is average - Film-FTW's rating system considers 5 stars to be an average movie. Any film scoring 6 stars or higher should be considered a movie that's worthy of your time for one reason or another.
Another note, if a movie receives a high rating, it does not mean that you will necessarily enjoy it for yourself. Similarly, if I give a movie a low rating, it's not proof that the movie awful and therefore you should no longer see it. Nor do I believe that you are a lesser film-goer for enjoying something that I didn't. Varying opinions and different perspectives often offer some of the best film criticism through challenging one's views. At the end of the day, the main reason that I enjoy criticism is that it not only serves as an outlet to fully express my thoughts on an art form I love, but I also get the privilege of taking in other (sometimes conflicting) opinions from equally passionate fans. The communal discussion of art is healthy, often leading to more richly informed readings and interpretations of that art.
"I am often asked at what point in my love affair with films I began to want to be a director or a critic. Truthfully, I don't know. All I know is that I wanted to get closer and closer to films." - Francois Truffaut