Hype, Expectation, and Projection: The Rules of Watching a Film

Yup yup yup!

There are times when learning all about the movie pre-release is a part of the experience (Star Wars prequels, for example).  That can be fun, but I just don't do much of that anymore.  And with the sheer presence of marketing that surrounds me, it's much harder to go in blind. 

But it can still happen.

I got to see Inglorious Basterds pretty blind.  I mean, I'd seen the trailers and what not.  But I didn't read the script.  Though, in the back of my mind, I did remember that it wasn't all that well-received at Cannes.  That might's actually helped me enjoy the film even more.

So don't be the kind of people who'd spend a long time on sites like CHUD.

MAYBE I WILL !!!

I'd have to get off Facebook too, since that's basically become CHUD 2 for me.

We had some (to me, anyway) interesting discussion on related topics here, but the bottom line is that I agree that seeing movies "pure" is a very rewarding but increasingly difficult thing to pull off.  It's why I hardly pay any attention to the movie news items on the front page that originally brought me here oh-so-many years back.  Hell, so much of what makes it into theaters these days is based off of known properties that I'm already halfway spoiled without reading a single thing.

As satisfying as it can be, I agree it's hard to go in to films totally blind - especially for people like us - but I do think that what everyone who watches movies (or engages any work of art) can and should try to work on is Rule #2. It not only improves the experience of watching and the appreciation we have for what we see, it makes conversations about it better. It's admittedly hard to go in with literally zero baggage even in that regard but it's better to at least try.

I find that by following this essential rule of film-watching, I've enjoyed films that other people seem to hate. 

Rule 2 brings to mind the Ebert quote in my signature. That being said, I don't think, say, a straight-up action movie should get a free pass for a shitty script under this rule *points at Michael Bay*. I can accept these kinds of films not being "deep"; for example, Commando is one of my favorite movies, and it's stupid as hell. But it also has a fun, "why-the-hell-not" and essentially comedic spirit. It *knows* it is silly, and embraces it.

That being said, it's a film-by-film basis type of thing.

Bendrix, I would never follow Ebert's rules.  I have...Plenty of...Expectations for films.  There are alot that I do not care to see as well.

Bwahahahaaha, I guarantee bendrix didn't think when he made this thread that 10 posts in, duke fleed would be the voice championing objectivity and high critical standards amidst a chorus advocating the "shut off your brain" approach to moviegoing.

Whoa, I'm not sure people are saying that, Schwartz. There are plenty of shitty genre flicks that I will unhesitatingly call out for being crap even if they have some good action (I don't think the B-Action Thread crowd would like me very much). But, there are some that do have a place in my heart because they take such great joy in being so damn dumb.

Take it easy.  I just got a whiff of a world where duke fleed was the crotchety old voice of all that is high-falutin, sniffing in disapproval in at the crap the rest of us are watching in his, I don't know, tweed Quicksilver costume or whatever, and it tickled me.

Schwartz, Well I do not wear...Any costumes.  The only...Jersey, I wear are...Miami Dolphin Jerseys!  I never...Turn off my brain!  I also do not put down people because they watch something I do not like. Actually I usually wear either a polo shirt and jeans or a turtleneck and jeans.  I let other fans at NYCC wear their costumes.  Just because I do not care for Scott Pilgrim, does not mean I would denigrate others for their view.  Of course I might...Disagree with them.

Chris Spider, There might be some of the B Action Movie Thread that doesn't like you, but that doesn't include me.  There are terrible films in all categories, including some that win...Academy Awards.  Nobody revels in being dumb.  The B Action Movie Thread revels in...Glorious Action Movies!  It is a shame that...The Expendables didn't win the award for...Best Picture of 2011!  Our opinions are simply different.

Ah, I gotcha.

Quote:

Originally Posted by bendrix 

 

Stelios, I guess where sites like CHUD come in is the discussion of movies I've already seen. And of course, I'm not resisting the temptation to check out trailers and news for movies I'm hotly anticipating. These rules--like all rules--really, apply to the most ideal of experiences, which are rarely achievable in real life.
 

 

What my post meant to say is that we as a crowd here, are kind of a lost cause when it comes to following these rules. No matter our protests and our assurances to the contrary. You don't accumulate thousands of posts on a message board about film if you're not the type of person that would ignore at least two of these rules.

How could we read the front page stories and not expose ourselves to hype? How could we "study" film and film-makers and not develop expectations of their future work simply based on our knowledge and analysis of their past? The projection part is a matter that has been discussed here at length and one I find myself on both sides of the debate at times.

Obviously it's impossible to commit to any of these "rules" 100%, I think the point is just to try your best.

"ssess what the film is trying to say or achieve within the realm of what kind of movie it is trying to be. Do not project your own expectations. Let the film dictate the level of expectation, be that tonally, narratively or conceptually. "

I've been saying this for years.  It's the only reason I can tolerate Hollywood movies.