I generally don't, but there is one particular reviewer that I could count on for solid takes without intruding on my own experience. His name is Steve Persall and he's the long-time critic for the St Petersrburg Times. Here's his Top Ten list for '08:

10Waltz with Bashir---9Gonzo: The Life and Work of Dr. Hunter S. Thompson---8Frost/Nixon---7Rachel Getting Married/Happy-Go-Lucky---6Let the Right One In---5Milk---4The Wrestler---3The Dark Knight---2The Reader---1Slumdog Millionaire

Based on his reviews of these films (that you can read  here), the one I'm most looking forward to seeing is "The Wrestler", based on what he calls an astonishing performance by Mickey Rourke. (remember him?).

Other than that (and a few reviewers here), I avoid reading reviews.

Doesn't mean a thing to me. I choose my own programming, then critique it for myself.

Ok, but consider that picking movies based off trailers on television is even less likely to be effective, and friends recommendations are not likely to be much better than a movie critics.  Outside of a very small number of us, no one sees everything that comes out, so on what basis do you make a decision? 

Personally, I read movie reviews, and enough of them to have as sense of the critics tastes and predilictions.  While that will not be my only judgement before choosing to go to the theatre, it certainly is a factor in the decision.

Anything having to do with the arts, at least from my vantage point, is all in the eye of the beholder. What one may see as a masterpiece might be junk for the other.

true. I have seen movies they raved about and hated it. and movies they did not like and i really liked the movie. sometimes we do like and hate the same movie. would not go by a critic to decide if I wanted to see a movie. all a matter of opinion.