I'm of the notion that there's an audience for every, single bit of cinema released. I never pan a film, but also try to feature those that move me and speak to themes I'm passionate about. The best thing about art is that it's so varied and inconsistent. I hope it always remains that way and that creatives find ways to buck tradition, around the loudest critics and into the hearts and minds of those in search of their particular vision of this circus we call life. I know some of my favorites would be considered real stinkers if judged by some of the most discerning voices in the arena. Great read, thanks for sharing.
I love this piece. You have no idea how many times I talk movies with a friend and get hit with "Well Rotten Tomatoes says that it's bad" and I just completely disengage from the conversation... you are the judge, don't let the algorithm tell you what you should like and not like! We would be living in such a boring world if we all loved the same things.
Appreciate the convo Jeff. I don't agree with some of your points but that's OK. I don't think any critic or anyone is the definitive "truth" but I don't hold someone's opinion who rarely watches movies the same as someone who watches a ton and knows more about cinema. I would hold the same perspective on sports, food, any hobby. I see movies as a lot more than simply entertainment. Kids movies too. I can be entertained by something that doesn't have much substance. Eating a perfectly grilled steak is not the same as carnival fried dough, but they both are food and both might fill you up for a brief time. I hold movies to a higher standard. I also believe that personal enjoyment and preference are not equivalent to quality- I can knowingly like a bad movie, as well as acknowledging how a very good movie wasn't for me. Also - While I acknowledge many issues with Solo, it was a lot better than how you're describing it. Donald Glover was amazing. The train robbery was fun and thrilling. I have it ranked above the atrocious ep. 9, Attack of Clones, and about even with Phantom Menace with my Star Wars rankings. Nothing is worse than ep. 9. Woody Harrelson is always entertaining.
I'd be curious to know how you would feel about or rate films that might offend (offend you personally, I mean). Could you (again, personally) reconcile a film that offends you - or your values - and still call it good? Or would its offensive nature be precisely why you might subjectively call it a 'bad' film. For example, 'Dogma' - I rank that as a bad film, even as most others do not. I think it offends, intentionally and knowingly. Whatever humor was intended seems like only bitter snark to me. Like a bully making fun of someone in class: lots of kids laugh at it... but not the kid being picked on. Or 'I Spit on Your Grave'. Much discussed and dissected. I see slop, only intending to shock and offend. Low, low merit. On the flip side, something like 'Goodfellas' might objectively seem to glorify violence, exalt the mafia, or even stereotype Italians. And even though one can acknowledge that, he can also equally acknowledge that it's a good film. How might offending media inform your ranking assessment?
I can’t think of many things I find offensive. It’s art - it’s not real life. There are a small handful of movies I won’t watch just because I don’t want to subject myself to the subject matter. But I don’t get offended by artistic choices.
I'm of the notion that there's an audience for every, single bit of cinema released. I never pan a film, but also try to feature those that move me and speak to themes I'm passionate about. The best thing about art is that it's so varied and inconsistent. I hope it always remains that way and that creatives find ways to buck tradition, around the loudest critics and into the hearts and minds of those in search of their particular vision of this circus we call life. I know some of my favorites would be considered real stinkers if judged by some of the most discerning voices in the arena. Great read, thanks for sharing.
I love this piece. You have no idea how many times I talk movies with a friend and get hit with "Well Rotten Tomatoes says that it's bad" and I just completely disengage from the conversation... you are the judge, don't let the algorithm tell you what you should like and not like! We would be living in such a boring world if we all loved the same things.
Appreciate the convo Jeff. I don't agree with some of your points but that's OK. I don't think any critic or anyone is the definitive "truth" but I don't hold someone's opinion who rarely watches movies the same as someone who watches a ton and knows more about cinema. I would hold the same perspective on sports, food, any hobby. I see movies as a lot more than simply entertainment. Kids movies too. I can be entertained by something that doesn't have much substance. Eating a perfectly grilled steak is not the same as carnival fried dough, but they both are food and both might fill you up for a brief time. I hold movies to a higher standard. I also believe that personal enjoyment and preference are not equivalent to quality- I can knowingly like a bad movie, as well as acknowledging how a very good movie wasn't for me. Also - While I acknowledge many issues with Solo, it was a lot better than how you're describing it. Donald Glover was amazing. The train robbery was fun and thrilling. I have it ranked above the atrocious ep. 9, Attack of Clones, and about even with Phantom Menace with my Star Wars rankings. Nothing is worse than ep. 9. Woody Harrelson is always entertaining.
I'd be curious to know how you would feel about or rate films that might offend (offend you personally, I mean). Could you (again, personally) reconcile a film that offends you - or your values - and still call it good? Or would its offensive nature be precisely why you might subjectively call it a 'bad' film. For example, 'Dogma' - I rank that as a bad film, even as most others do not. I think it offends, intentionally and knowingly. Whatever humor was intended seems like only bitter snark to me. Like a bully making fun of someone in class: lots of kids laugh at it... but not the kid being picked on. Or 'I Spit on Your Grave'. Much discussed and dissected. I see slop, only intending to shock and offend. Low, low merit. On the flip side, something like 'Goodfellas' might objectively seem to glorify violence, exalt the mafia, or even stereotype Italians. And even though one can acknowledge that, he can also equally acknowledge that it's a good film. How might offending media inform your ranking assessment?
I can’t think of many things I find offensive. It’s art - it’s not real life. There are a small handful of movies I won’t watch just because I don’t want to subject myself to the subject matter. But I don’t get offended by artistic choices.
Fair enough.