The problem with reviews are that they are very often written in "artistic" language.. by people who usually do not know what they are writing about.
The lens review you can trust (but you still have to appreciate the inevitable tolerances introduced in manufacturing process) should look like this:
http://www.astrosurf.com/buil/50mm/test_us.htm
or like this:
http://www.pbase.com/samirkharusi/canon_mtf_curves
more specifically here:
http://www.samirkharusi.net/tv60_canon.html
I tried to report unbiased quick&short review of one lens here:
http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/s...74&postcount=5
If report does not contain data like above, it is just words, nothing more...