Movie snobbery (could also apply to TV shows)

[LadyBarbossa]

Entertainment snobbery bugs me too. I like, for the most part, movies that are fun. I love fantasy, sci-fi, adventure, etc. Not to say that I won't look at something like Shine every now and then, but I typically watch movies for escapism. Speaking of IMDb, this was recently posted on the Avatar board there -

Haven't any of you seen Casablanca??? The Godfather??? The Jazz Singer??? Don't you know there's MORE to movies than this???

People have been fan-fapping to Casablanca and The Godfather for as long as I can remember, and yet I still have no desire to see either of these movies. Has it ever occurred to them that some people will find the premise of these movies entirely uninteresting? I hate watching a movie and coming away feeling depressed. I get enough 'real life' drama from real life, thanks. I'd happen to much rather spend a few hours aboard a pirate ship, in Middle Earth, or in a galaxy far, far away.

[Rageaholic]

I guess what really bugs me is the competitiveness in some movie circles. They act all superior, thinking their better because they watch (insert movie here). Or they act all high and mighty when someone doesn't want to watch super gory movies like saw, claiming that we are "pussies". They obviously aren't watching for their enjoyment, just seeing how much gory shit they can handle. Good for you, but I don't find that crap entertaining, and I'd rather not be exposed to it.

People have been fan-fapping to Casablanca and The Godfather for as long as I can remember, and yet I still have no desire to see either of these movies. Has it ever occurred to them that some people will find the premise of these movies entirely uninteresting? I hate watching a movie and coming away feeling depressed. I get enough 'real life' drama from real life, thanks. I'd happen to much rather spend a few hours aboard a pirate ship, in Middle Earth, or in a galaxy far, far away.

Or how about movies with surprise bad endings. Then when people give negative reviews for that very reason, they get bashed by those "We hate happy endings" crowd, who brag about the realism of the movie and criticize the critics for actually wanting to be uplifted. Never mind the fact that many people go to movies to be entertained, not be depressed. Just because some people do, doesn't make them better. Actually, in my eyes, it makes them masochists.

[Amanita]

Count me in as another who can't stand the torture porn being passed off as horror movies these days. I just don't have the stomach for mutilation and torture, thanks. Bad past life experience, perhaps? Either way, I just don't want to see it. I don't want the images in my head, even if I know it's all special effects.

And I can't stand film snobs either. If you don't like Star Wars, then fine. But don't imply that I am some sort of intellectual low-brow because I DO happen to like it.

[muses_nightmare]

See I love movies like Saw and Hostel, and I'm a HUGE zombie movie fan. But I'm not going to look down on people that don't like that kind of stuff, I know it's not for everyone. Just like I'm not a fan of some old school horror movies, watched the original halloween and didn't like it, but I'm some kind of horrible person because I'll admit I preferred the remake. Sorry!

And count me among the people that haven't seen The Godfather or Casablanca, sorry they don't intrest me. I watch movies that entertain me, not because they are "classics".

[protege]

..but then there are movies like "The Fast & the Furious." As a car guy, they just piss me off. Ever since they came out, every idiot with a Honduh tries to act like the characters in those flicks! Give me a break

But, what annoys me, is when a sequel comes out...that doesn't fit with the story lines of the previous films. For example, the Bond flick "Casino Royale." Yes, I know it was supposed to have been released years ago. Still doesn't explain why the character of "M" is played by Judi Dench, where in the past films, M was played by a variety of male actors. Also jarring, was how it was set in the current time...rather than in the 1960s. Other than the silver DB5, I really doubt Bond had a 2000-era Aston back then! Otherwise, it was a good flick

[blas87]

I love the SAW movies and any type of overly gory, bloody, nasty movie. Zombie movies are almost always full of win.

I swear the next time someone gives me the "I'm better than you" attitude about my TV show habbits, I might have to give them a metophorical "slap" and drop the bomb that sometimes I watch "How it's made" and "The Universe" just for fun!

[Rageaholic]

And count me among the people that haven't seen The Godfather or Casablanca, sorry they don't intrest me. I watch movies that entertain me, not because they are "classics".

Couldn't have said it better myself.

[HYHYBT]

Answering on scattered points in the thread: I find it amusing rather than irritating when a movie is trying to get the details of the time period right and misses a few things, and of course sometimes you have to substitute what's available. (I'm thinking of, for example, the locomotive in "Coal Miner's Daughter;" there simply aren't that many working steam engines available for filming and it's not like, say, a period dress where you can sew up a new one.)

But I have no room to complain about anyone else's taste in entertainment. Before the reality show, the game show was often considered the lowest form of television. But they've always been my favorite. I watch "Are You Smarter Than A 5th Grader" fairly often, and would still rather see an old episode of Scrabble or The $25,000 Pyramid than anything on today. They're cheerful and fun; if I wanted realistic I'd turn off the TV

[Rageaholic]

But I have no room to complain about anyone else's taste in entertainment. Before the reality show, the game show was often considered the lowest form of television. But they've always been my favorite. I watch "Are You Smarter Than A 5th Grader" fairly often, and would still rather see an old episode of Scrabble or The $25,000 Pyramid than anything on today. They're cheerful and fun; if I wanted realistic I'd turn off the TV

I love game shows. The worst that even happens is the contestant doesn't win anything. And on some game shows, like the Price is Right, the losers still win something! It's just happy entertainment that's puts a smile on my face. Why would it be considered so low?

[Fryk]

Oh my God, Muses, you liked the Rob Zombie remake????? We must stone you to death with pumpkins!

It'll be poetic, you see. Ha.

The only thing I didn't like about his remake was the slavish backstory and humanity they gave him. But that seems to be a modern movie obsession. Every character must have an in-depth origin tale, no matter what. I don't hold it against Rob personally anymore than I would hold your enjoyment of the film against you.

And count me in your camp about Godfather and Casablanca. Never have seen those films, never will. I just don't do well with most older films, the pacing in a lot of them seems to me to be absolutely glacial.

[LadyBarbossa]

I just don't do well with most older films, the pacing in a lot of them seems to me to be absolutely glacial.

A few years ago, my sister sent me a set of James Dean's films on DVD and told me if I didn't like them, to send them back to her. She has them all now, lol. She especially said that Giant was really good but I couldn't wait for it to be over and I'm still not sure what was so 'good' about it. Liz Taylor's character needed a bitch slap if anyone ever did. I guess I'm just not into epic length films about freakishly rich people and their 'problems'. Not that length is a problem, given I enjoy extended LotR films and Titanic, but gah.

[jackfaire]

Titanic, but gah.

Uhm isn't that a movie about rich people and their problems?

[Fryk]

Okay, I'll get specific, too.
You know what is one of my least favorite movies of all time? Breakfast at Tiffany's. I can hear some of the gasps from the romantics all the way up here. I couldn't root for either of the main characters- they were both whores, for christ's sake! The melodrama oozing out of this film was palpable, like being eaten by the Blob. And Mickey Rooney- oh GOD, Mickey, what the hell are you doing? Why do all old asian stereotypes wear buckteeth and cocke bottle glasses? Why is the whole climax of the movie about finding a cat? By the time I was done, I was just depressed. I broke up with the girl who made me watch that filth not too long after.

[jackfaire]

Gone with the Wind one of the biggest bit of drecks I have ever seen.

They were both horrible people who could care less about anyone else and felt the world revolved around them and it was boring.

[LadyBarbossa]

Uhm isn't that a movie about rich people and their problems?

Yes, but when rich people act their smug, smarmy selves, it's portrayed in a bad light