me_irl

I hate going into a movie with expectations. That’s the quickest way to end up hating it. Even if I might be a fan and am looking forward to a particular film’s release. It’s far easier just to go in to a film with few expectations. Things that make a movie “bad” for me are: bad acting, bad writing, bad effects, or bad plot contrivances. IOW, something so egregious it pulls me out of enjoying what I’m watching and draws my attention to it.

For example - the new Star Wars films. They were fine for a cast of relative unknowns. Yeah, they had some heavy handed writing in spots that was bad, the worst being the pointless casino and kid scenes in the last one. But regardless it was fun. The previous three otoh had a stellar cast yet some of the worst wooden acting, writing, and the abuse of digital SFX was offensive.

(Best SW film made was Rogue One, IMO, tied with ANH because that introduced us to the franchise and had no baggage.)

Of course this is all movie dependent. Spoofs and the like or comedy are entirely different vs something like a drama. One won’t be held to a high standard, the other will need it to keep the audience engaged.

I'm often very enamored by camera work, type of shot and things like how they translate certain things to film with limited options.

Especially when it's Drama related and has to do with heavier emotions or things like disorders and other issues.

But usually i'm just a: "watched movie, had fun" kinda guy.

I watched a stoner movie a while back about some guys that got stranded in their van and hotboxed their asses back or forward(can't remember) 30 years...as an avid non drug user i had fun but i did think it was a shit movie tho.

Sounds like someone who never watched House of the Dead in theatres.

I get you bro

That's why I watch video essays that are longer than the actual movie and explain why it's bad instead of watching the movie

Honestly, that is what matters. There's something to be said about "cinema" versus "movies" lol, not everything needs to have mass appeal to be good, but I think a lot of people rate things high even when they hate it and that's bullshit.

This used to be me. I enjoyed pretty much everything I watched. I figured, since a lot of people put a ton of time, effort, and money into making a film, it must have at least some redeeming qualities. No one trusted my opinion on films because I "loved everything."

It wasn't until I watched a ton of movie reviews from various reviewers that I started to be able to tell the difference between a good film and a bad film. Now I'm pretty critical of films, and even made a review blog to discuss what I like and dislike about certain films.

Yes. This is why I hate movie critics. Your PhD in post romantic Spanish literature does not qualify you to make a determination if the power rangers movie was good or not.

Dude just watch the room and you will get it

And that's awesome!

But please, don't rate the movies you watch 9/10. For those of us who watch most movies, an average of 90% is inarguable insane.

I'm so moved by this post that it consider writing a review of 5/10. Fortunately, I don't have enough to say to reach that IMDb character limit so 7/10 and no comment.

Oh and tv shows...if you're giving every episode 9/10, please stop, some of us are watching these things a decade later and it's best to know if it's actually worthy a 9.

That's also when reviews come in handy, because the reviews become our research. We don't write review for you, don't take it personally.

It's ok to be baffled. Some of us are used to seeing out the answer rather than post our brain droppings.

Turns out I had more to say than I thought.

✅ No spoilers.