How do you deal with a movie you aren't enjoying?
- Thread starter Charlie Don't Surf
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Chibibar
I either don't watch the movie to begin with, but if I am going to see, sit down, or start a movie, I usually finish it.
S
Soliloquy
At home, I turn it off.
In the theater, I do one of two things -- if its a pretty empty theater, and I'm with friends, AND it's pretty obvious that no one is enjoying the movie, then we start adding our own MST3K-style commentary. I've only done this twice (Fantastic Four 2, and one other that I can't quite remember). I have never once received an angry glare from a fellow audience member for this, so I think I've got good judgment as to when it's appropriate.
If I'm on my own, or some of the audience is enjoying the movie, I start to look at it from the perspective of a writer. I ask myself: why does this suck? What would I do differently to make the story less convoluted/idiotic/derivative/etc. I usually take a notepad along with me to movies for this exact reason, and I sometimes get some good writing ideas from it.
Of course, I sometimes get good ideas by doing a similar thing with good movies.
In the theater, I do one of two things -- if its a pretty empty theater, and I'm with friends, AND it's pretty obvious that no one is enjoying the movie, then we start adding our own MST3K-style commentary. I've only done this twice (Fantastic Four 2, and one other that I can't quite remember). I have never once received an angry glare from a fellow audience member for this, so I think I've got good judgment as to when it's appropriate.
If I'm on my own, or some of the audience is enjoying the movie, I start to look at it from the perspective of a writer. I ask myself: why does this suck? What would I do differently to make the story less convoluted/idiotic/derivative/etc. I usually take a notepad along with me to movies for this exact reason, and I sometimes get some good writing ideas from it.
Of course, I sometimes get good ideas by doing a similar thing with good movies.
If I'm considering renting a movie that has the potential to be a pretty terrible movie then I'll usually rent a second one to try and redeem my evening if it's been that bad. In a rare case I'll have to pull a classic out of my own collection to watch rather than finishing a bad movie at home.
At the theater, I have zero shame getting up and walking out. I won't ask for a refund. As has been said, it's not the theaters fault.
I've only walked out once or twice, and I can't remember what movies they were, I just remember that I would have preferred being violated with a pussing lamppost than to sit through the remainder of them.
At the theater, I have zero shame getting up and walking out. I won't ask for a refund. As has been said, it's not the theaters fault.
I've only walked out once or twice, and I can't remember what movies they were, I just remember that I would have preferred being violated with a pussing lamppost than to sit through the remainder of them.
S
Soliloquy
I had an oddly topical moment this evening. I was watching Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow at suggestion of some friends. I struggled through a good portion of it, hoping it would get better, but after an hour fifteen minutes, I just had to shut it off.
Seriously though, why do I hear that people like this movie? The female lead has no redeemable characteristics, the male lead has no characteristics at all, the action lacks any sense of energy, the dialogue is laughable, the acting is even worse, the scenes are often cringe-inducingly stupid (Dead end?! You're in a plane. Go up.), and the plot barely even exists. Am I missing something?
No, it sucked. People like it because of what it could have been, not what it is. After the first half-hour, the movie died.
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