How do you deal with a movie you aren't enjoying?

[Charlie Don't Surf]

I hopefully covered everything in the poll options. I am just curious about this since I saw someone mention fast forwarding through a movie. I vaguely remember having this go-round argument maybe a year ago, but I just wanted to rip open those old wounds. I can't fathom fast-forwarding through a movie and in any way being able to say you've "seen" it.

I have never walked out of a movie in theater. I have wanted to only once, for Gods and Generals, which I was going to as a school field trip/for extra credit. I honestly thought about ditching it during the intermission, but I was too yellow to.

As far as turning off movies, I have wanted to do this a handful of times. Napoleon Dynamite, a couple random terrible B Movies that ended up not being as riffable as we thought, and maybe a couple others I can't recall.

 

[Wahad]

I watch it patiently until it is done, then never watch it again. I don't like leaving stories unfinished, whether they are books, comics or movies.

 

[Charlie Don't Surf]

Also I mean in general, things you do often. Or any thing you consider regular or an open option.

 

[ThatNickGuy]

It depends. If I don't want to bother with it at all, I'll just turn it off. For example, a friend of mine tried to get me to watch Napoleon Dynamite and Nacho Libre (different times). Both times, at about the half hour mark, I turned to my friend and asked "So, when does this movie get funny?" and asked if we could shut it off.

Other times, I'll just get bored with it but curious enough to see how it ends. The third Resident Evil, for example. Or Dark Water. Movies I'm not going to lose sleep jumping ahead.

 

[ElJuski]

Yeah I haven't turned off too many movies. Fever Pitch, I recall. I stopped paying attention to Year ONe, but I didn't turn it off. Only walked out of a movie theatre once in my life, and that was for Orange County. Later in life, when I watched the movie again, I regretted that decision.

As far as books go, I've stopped some, but always have them at the ready to finish. One day.

 

[Cajungal]

If I've rented a movie, I'll always see it through eventually. I might not be able to take it that first time, but I always go back.

I LOVE staying in a theatre when the movie's really bad. It's a painful adventure, like breaking a limb.

 

[North_Ranger]

Depends. I never walk out of a cinema, because I either a) believe the film will get better or b) want to see how bad it gets. I don't think asking for a refund is any kind of an alternative, it's not the movie theater's fault that the film sucked like a kneeling prostitute.

At home, I usually rewind the movie if it gets boring or stupid; in the slowest rewind setting I can still see and read the subtitles. The only movie I've ever decided NOT to finish because it was so bad was Napoleon Dynamite. I mean, I expected something really humorous but deep, not a rehash of Beavis and Butt-head without Beavis.

 

[Hailey Knight]

I pay too much at the theater to walk out, though I try to only see movies I'm sure I'll enjoy. If there's any doubt, I put it on the rental list.

I will turn off rentals, or leave if they're movies the family is watching that I get sick of. If it's bad but interesting, I'll stick it out to find out what happens.

 

[bhamv3]

I generally give the movie a chance to get better. This means I pretty much never walk out or fast forward.

A good recent example would be Slumdog Millionaire. I saw that at the theater, and I remember thinking it was such a horribly depressing movie, and I was wondering why I paid money to depress myself.

Then the ending made it all worthwhile.

 

[Philosopher B.]

I almost always stick that shit out. That way I can legitimately have rant-revenge on something later.

There were two exceptions; I only watched three-quarters of Event Horizon on DVD, and I only read a quarter of Peter Benchley's Jaws. I tried to read Jaws so long ago, though, that now I can't remember why I thought it was bad. That makes me want to go back and try again.

 

[Seraphyn]

At home I'll just fast forward, though that doesn't happen often as I like to read up on movies I'm about to watch, so if it's horrible it won't get watched at all. If I'm with a couple of friends at home we'll just gut it out, make fun of the lame parts and drink more.
In theaters, well I paid for it so I'll finish it. I rarely go to theaters and when I do it's mostly part of an evening so sitting out a bad movie and then going to a pub and talking about how horrible it was is still a fun evening.

There's only one movie that I never finished (and never will) and that's Meet the Spartans. My housemate wanted to see it, but about 15 minutes in I could see that not even a drunken haze could make this movie even remotely entertaining. So we ended up playing Catan instead.

 

[SpecialKO]

At home, I just change the channel or switch it off. Do this all the time, don't even have to think about it.

In theaters, thanks to reviews, friend reccos, and whatnot, I tend not to see movies that are that boring or bad, and when they're bad they're usually so bad that my friends and I spend the entire time making fun of it. If I think a movie is actually boring, I'll walk out. The Hours got me to walk out, and I didn't even dislike it, was just plain not interested.

 

[Steve]

If I've rented the movie I'll fast foward through a bad horror movie or action movie to see the ending. If it's a bad comedy I'll just turn it off as there is no reason to watch the end. If I'm in a theater I'll sit through it no matter how bad the movie is. Think it's because I've paid more and am not as inclined to walk away.

 

[phil]

I'll usually just sit it out. If it's bad and i'm at home I'll probably start doing something else while it plays in the background. I had to fast forward through parts of Terror Toons. There was this one part where Satan and the main girl start talking and we probably watched it for 5 minutes before just fast forwarding and that went on for maybe another 5 minutes. Dear god that was probably the worst movie anyone could ever shit out.


At the theaters I'll just try to pick something out that I can appreciate and focus on that or something. The only time I'll ask for a refund is if the theater itself messed up, like during Passion of the Christ when the film burned up ('cause it was so bad, amirite?) they gave out free admission tickets.

 

[klew]

If I (or someone else) paid for a theater show or rental, I'll watch it all. If it's on tv or free from the library, I'll quit if it isn't enjoyable.

 

[Rovewin]

At home I try to watch the movie through at least 1/3 of the way. Then I have no problems turning it off after that. I stopped trying to gut movies out after seeing Gerry, the most boring shit ever made.

For theater, on the rare occasion it turns out bad I usually stay because I figured I paid for the comfy seats and the good air conditioning. Some movies I only saw in theaters because it was stifling hot in my house.

 

[TwoBit]

I almost always suffer through a film, no matter how bad it is. The only movie I can remember switching off half-way through was "Kung Pow! Enter the Fist." While it had a few amusing scenes in the beginning, it quickly degenerated into mind-shattering stupidity.

There's really no reason to keep watching after the gopher-chuk scene.

 

[Philosopher B.]

What. How can you disparage gopher-chucks.

Edit: Or are you saying that was the last good bit. Also, is it just me or can't posts be deleted?

 

[Kitty Sinatra]

I will happily

I can't fathom fast-forwarding through a movie and in any way being able to say you've "seen" it.

I've read Moby Dick. Stopped before the end of the first chapter. I can't say I haven't read it, can I?

I've seen Armageddon. Wished I'd walked out of it, though.

Because of the investment of time, I more readily put down a book that doesn't engage me than quit a similar movie. Still wish I had that time from Armageddon back, though. I would've put it to better use.

the film sucked like a kneeling prostitute.

 

[Wyrminarrd]

At home I will just stop the movie unless I'm watching it with someone who really wants to finish it.

In theaters I've never walked out of a movie. The only time I've almost done that was when they re-released "The Exorcist". I'd been told the movie was good but I found it so incredibly boring that I almost got up and left, only the fact that I was with someone and was sitting in the middle of my row in a theater with not enough space to get out without pissing of a lot of people made me stay in my seat. Fortunately besides that movie (which I was seeing for free anyway) I've usually done my homework and know in advance whether or not the movie will be ok to watch.

 

[ElJuski]

No, you read the first chapter of Moby Dick.

 

[Espy]

I read the first chapter of Moby Dick. I read the SHIT out of it.

 

[Chad Sexington]

I read all the chapters of Moby Dick...

Anyways, I almost always finish a film. However, I've turned off a few horrible movies, and I've left friends' houses when they want to watch something stupid and abysmal that I've seen before.

It's rare though. The last movie I remember turning off was Smokin' Aces in 2007 and I ended up seeing the whole thing later anyways.

 

[Kitty Sinatra]

No, you read the first chapter of Moby Dick.

You're right. But you'll note that I said I stopped before the end of it. So going with the reasoning behind what you're saying, I read Moby Dick.

 

[Dave]

Am I the only one who thinks that Napoleon Dynamite is hysterical? There are so many subtle funny parts to that movie that I can never believe people don't like it.

At home: I turn the movie off.

In the Theater: I usually stick it out. I've only walked out of 1 movie ever and that was Pulp Fiction. My wife and I were on a date and it was nothing but drugs and shooting and cursing so we said, buh-bye. Later we watched it again on video and loved it. Context was everything. It didn't help that people were dressing up and dancing in the aisles in the theater. Fucking weirdos.

 

[@Li3n]

Where the Theater - Make Fun of How Bad It Is option?

At home i usually skip ahead bit by bit to see what the rest is about...

 

[ElJuski]

No, you read the first chapter of Moby Dick.

You're right. But you'll note that I said I stopped before the end of it. So going with the reasoning behind what you're saying, I read Moby Dick. [/QUOTE]

and the masturbatory semantics continue.

 

[Steven Soderburgin]

Where the Theater - Make Fun of How Bad It Is option?

The poll optimistically - one might argue foolishly - assumes that you aren't enough of an asshole to ruin the movie for all of the other people who paid good money to see it and might actually be enjoying it.

 

[Espy]

Where the Theater - Make Fun of How Bad It Is option?

The poll optimistically - one might argue foolishly - assumes that you aren't enough of an asshole to ruin the movie for all of the other people who paid good money to see it and might actually be enjoying it.[/QUOTE]

When me and my buddies were in our undergrad program we used to go on Monday afternoons to the downtown theater and go see whatever terrible Uwe Boll-ish massacre was in. We'd get Taco Bell and other crap, sneak it all in to the most ghetto theater in town where NO ONE went on Monday afternoons and watch the movie alone and loudly make fun of it. So if done properly no one is annoyed

 

[Hylian]

Even if a movie is really crappy I usually try to finish t because I hate having half of a story.

 

[Oddbot]

Am I the only one who thinks that Napoleon Dynamite is hysterical? There are so many subtle funny parts to that movie that I can never believe people don't like it.

I liked Napoleon Dynamite. You're not alone Dave. At some parts I feel it tries TOO hard to be a cult movie, but I still find it funny.

The only movie I've ever walked out on was Syriana. I was with my friends and about halfway through we just looked over at each other knowingly, silently nodded, and got up and left. Nothing even needed to be said. But usually I sit through a movie at the theater no matter how bad.

 

[drawn_inward]

I only read a quarter of Peter Benchley's Jaws. I tried to read Jaws so long ago, though, that now I can't remember why I thought it was bad. That makes me want to go back and try again.

It's not bad. What stood out to me when I read it, was that it was not really like the movie at all. There was a lot more focus on the relationship between the sheriff and his wife, and a lot less about the shark. I think there was only 3 deaths in the book as well. It's not bad. It's real short. You should be able to buzz through it quickly.

As for movies, I will turn off a movie fairly quickly if I don't like it. If my wife is in to it, I'll just go find something else to do. She really doesn't like it when I do that though.
I have only walked out of one movie, Spike Lee's basketball movie. I can't remember what it was called, but it made me not want to see another Spike Lee movie again. Though I did see the 25th Hour and liked it quite a bit.

 

[Charlie Don't Surf]

Lots of people liked Napoleon Dynamite.

 

[Baerdog]

I've seen Armageddon. Wished I'd walked out of it, though.

Because of the investment of time, I more readily put down a book that doesn't engage me than quit a similar movie. Still wish I had that time from Armageddon back, though. I would've put it to better use.

The Criterion Collection version of Armageddon apparently has a commentary track with the NASA consultants talking about all the advice they gave Michael Bay and how he ignored every bit of it. I want to see this commentary. I want to see it so hard.

OT: At home I usually change the channel or wander out of the room. In the theater I stick it out. I can't think of a time I've walked out of the theater halfway through a movie.

 

[Espy]

I walked out of one movie.

The Mummy.

I expected a shade more supernatural Indiana Jones, I got stupid. I was with my new girlfriend at the time and we decided there were much more interesting things we could be doing than sitting through that POS.