EricNoah said:
You sound kind of angry ... at me or people like me who liked the movies you don't (or aren't likely to) like.
Well, I don't think I am. I know that I like plenty of movies other people hate. I loved
Deep Rising, for heaven's sake, and bought
The Scorpion King, so believe me, I'm not sneering at anyone's tastes.
Maybe it's just me, but the message I hear coming across (not just here but in your Matrix posts too) is, "why isn't everyone else in the world smart enough to see the flaws that I see?" Or maybe it's more like, "85% of the viewers liked the Matrix? Then 85% of viewers are dumb because it's so obviously not a very good movie."
See, that's important for me to know. Because it's not what I think, even if it's what I'm putting across. I tried to be really clear that while I thought the Matrix was a bad movie, I also thought there were perfectly good reasons for people to like it. They're just not reasons that matter much to me. I don't like video games, either, for much the same reasons -- but that's not to say I think people who like video games are dummies.
Look, I feel strongly about movies. They mean a lot to me and I spend most of my time thinking about them and how to make them and what I want to see in them.
But big deal. So do you, and so do lots of people, and I really like hearing people's opinions, especially when they are different than mine. I don't dislike or resent people because they have different tastes or opinions than mine -- at least I try really hard not to.
But I do feel strongly about my opinions and I express them as strongly as I feel them.
Do you fear (maybe that's too strong a word, but still) that if people do enjoy a movie like the Matrix (for example) that this will keep studios from producing movies that you would find stimulating?
Not really. Again, I think.
(as an aside, I'm reasonably convinced that we are all the worst observers of our own behaviour, so take my statements about my intentions or feelings with large salt crystals)
I do worry that we'll never make movies that will find much of an audience, but I figure that if
The Mummy is any indication, we might do okay. Because I'd be awfully proud to have made that movie. And there's lots of movies that get made that I really enjoy. I think I enjoy more movies than I hate. I liked
Chicago just fine. And
The Core got a serious thumbs-up from me.
I don't think I have better taste than anyone. All I know is that after I see a film I spend a good deal of effort trying to figure out why I felt the way I did about it -- whether I liked it or hated it. If it becomes popular, or flops, I usually try and figure out why.
I don't believe most people are stupid and I don't believe that people go see crap because they don't know any better. Movies become popular for good reasons. That may not have anything to do with their quality, but they're still reasons.
I do think that many people are unused to hard conversation, to defending their opinions and assessing new ideas with rigour. I like doing that and so I know that sometimes it seems like I really jump on peoples' heads. I'm just enthusiastic and I've gotten better at keeping things civil. I hope.
Well, apparently there's room for improvement. I will keep trying.
