But is that a function of the Usual Suspects, or the hype that surrounded it? Expectations going in certainly is a part of the film experience. I would hazard that barsoomcore would have thought far less of the Scorpion King, if he had expected a different kind of film than what was delivered. If everyone you know has gone to see a film and told you it's brilliant, amazing, stunning!, and when you get there, it's not quite as thrilling to you, expectations color your feelings about it. The friend who saw it and enjoyed, without anticipation, will have a radically different view compared to the anticipation you had. The film may be fine, just not the brilliant movie you were waiting for; your friend was expecting an OK movie, and was suprised, and perhaps jumped up his expectations.
Personally, I think Singer has accomplished what few directors have been able to do...which is to show people what I find compelling in the X-men, and to deliver to a larger audience. Schumacher's sin wasn't just his poor treatment of the material...it was his fundemental lack of understanding of the characters and the material. The parts of X-men that stood out for me weren't the fight scenes, but instead were the character moments. Hugh Jackman's scenes with Anna Panquin, for example: "Does it hurt when they (his claws)...?" "Every time."
I think reviewing a film like CTHD without taking into account the differences in both US and Chinese filmmaking, as well as the story-telling styles in both cultures, kind of misses the point.
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