Unpopular Geek Media Opinions

[Thourne]

So, like watching John Carter with people who never read Burrough's and listening to them talk about how the flick rips off Lucas?

 

[Bedrockgames]

Coming from a long line of geeks, I can remember a time when "geek culture" was marginalized. When the so-called "cool kids" hated anything that was considered intellectual, or smart, or what we would commonly associate with geek culture. Now, of course, geek culture is mainstream. And now that it is mainstream, we have seen the enemy, and he is us. So we have people saying how comic book movies are the greatest things EVAR, and that people who like other movies are all pretentious snobs. Which ... yeah, it's the same thing, different say. Except it's extra infuriating because it's our group that's now the "in group" and that's behind a lot of this. And for those reasons, I see a lot of dislike of Scorsese because he made the mistake of calling out (disliking) mainstream movies. Nothing to do with his talent, or his opinions- and it reminds me a lot of the old "NERDS!" put downs, except now it's the nerds doing it. There's something gravely wrong with the strain of anti-intellectualism that comes from "our side."

I think he was right when he complained about Marvel movies. If people like them, more power to them. But i have the same reaction he does when I try to watch that stuff (which may just mean I am out of touch or my expectation around film was shaped differently, but I have a hard time not agreeing with the comparison to them with rides). I think the other part of this is, there have always been 'ride' movies. There isn't anything wrong with them. But these days, if you don't like comic book films, it feels like everything put out is filled with CGI explosions, superheroes wrecking cities and more. That is probably a very unfair and broad generalization, but I don't like these movies so I have a slim impression of them to work off of (which i am sure Scorsese is in the same boat, he can't get into the nuances of them like a fan).

I also find it frustrating, whatever one thinks of his opinion, it did kind of make him a favorite pillory

But I find it difficult to call a director who is certainly in the Top 20 all time, easily, to be overrated (and certainly top 5 American Directors). Now, if you wanted to say, "I don't understand why Hollywood keeps giving him these giant budgets for movies that don't make much money," well, that I could certainly get behind.

Overated is one of those red flag criticisms to me when I see it used. It is up there with 'lazy writing'. There is just something not terribly specific about it, and the critique seems very focused on things happening around the work that with the work itself. I think overrated is also a kind of rhetorical technique that gets people to almost feel ashamed or uncool for liking something. And to be fair things can be overrated. It is just one of the more common things you hear now and often applied to targets that are perplexing (I don't personally care much for the Beetles, but I would never call them overrated based on what I know about music for example, and calling them such has become a kind of pastime on youtube apparently)

 

[Snarf Zagyg]

I've heard that there's some really weird financial incentives in moviemaking, but have not followed up on it enough to speak authoritatively. I get the impression that having to write off a poorly performing new Scorsese movie is low enough of a financial hit that the mere possibility of just one more runaway success is worth the risk. Also that, even if it's the same production company, the actual risk expenditure might be a bundled debt and owned by who-knows-who, so each of these poor-performers-in-search-of-a-hit are independent risks taken. If I had more free time, it'd be an interesting* thing to follow up on.
*I was an economics minor BitD, so I do enjoy untangling these financial stories.

Based upon my understanding, it's the Hollywood equivalent of a loss leader. In other words, the companies that are doing it now (such as Apple) are in it for the prestige.

Giving Scorsese all that money to burn (when you have the money to burn) has a lot of collateral benefits. You (the executives) get invited to the swanky parties. This actually matters! And you have a leg up with the high-end talent. And you have the possibility of awards. Not to mention that you're now known as a serious player in the Business.

It's not about the money- it's about the prestige.

 

[Ryujin]

So, like watching John Carter with people who never read Burrough's and listening to them talk about how the flick rips off Lucas?

I was going to post the same, but then thought better of it. Thanks for taking the hit

 

[Thourne]

I was going to post the same, but then thought better of it. Thanks for taking the hit

My pleasure, lol

 

[Thourne]

and since this is the unpopular thread...

John Carter (the movie)wasn't terrible, it was ok.

 

[Snarf Zagyg]

Overated is one of those red flag criticisms to me when I see it used. It is up there with 'lazy writing'. There is just something not terribly specific about it, and the critique seems very focused on things happening around the work that with the work itself. I think overrated is also a kind of rhetorical technique that gets people to almost feel ashamed or uncool for liking something. And to be fair things can be overrated. It is just one of the more common things you hear now and often applied to targets that are perplexing (I don't personally care much for the Beetles, but I would never call them overrated based on what I know about music for example, and calling them such has become a kind of pastime on youtube apparently)

That Billy Shakespeare? TOTES OVERRATED!

Writing a play ain't hard. Guys in my high school used to do it all the time. Riddle me this- when did ol' Billy ever write a good MCU movie? NEVER!

 

[Zaukrie]

and since this is the unpopular thread...

John Carter (the movie)wasn't terrible, it was ok.

I agree.

 

[Thourne]

That Billy Shakespeare? TOTES OVERRATED!

Writing a play ain't hard. Guys in my high school used to do it all the time. Riddle me this- when did ol' Billy ever write a good MCU movie? NEVER!

He goes by Billy Shakes, these days.
You know for modern styles and things...

 

[Ryujin]

and since this is the unpopular thread...

John Carter (the movie)wasn't terrible, it was ok.

Definitely. When you realize that it's not derivative of the things it was actually seminal of, it changes a lot.