It's hard out here for a pimp

CRASH

It's a good day.



Just kidding......Sort of

To clarify what I meant, it seems that the people who really hate Crash are the ones who most detest the #1 movie at the BO each week. What increasingly has annoyed me is the attitude that audiences are stupid, and/or have bad taste for preferring films that differ from those favored by the self-proclaimed arbiters of film quality. For some reason Crash seems to be a microcosm of this issue and is an especially apt example of it since it won best picture on what is sacred ground for “movie snobs.” The reaction to Crash's win seems to be the sort of response I would expect to genocide.

What this is about is the pretentious stance that one’s own opinions should be reflected in the BO proceeds and industry accolades. I have come to despise the mind-set that movie tastes are a basis on which to judge others.

I think that is completely off.

In general it's quite apparent to me that the Crash haters are most likely to attack the studios for making the films they do, and moviegoers for consuming them. If someone's disappointed about BBM not winning, I'm fine with that; I have not even seen the movie honestly. But the people who keep making bad jokes about Zingaling’s movie tastes seem to be the same ones who are acting like this is a travesty.

*Looks at Post*

*Looks at Loyal*

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

I didn't mean loyal whatsoever actually. I don't remember him ever judging anyone for their tastes.

Well. I don't think its funny. Its about easy ledgibility, simplicifaction, and distraction. You guys can ruin a medium all you want and then laugh your way to the bank. I'm not going to be part of it anymore.

Seriously, so apparently since I dislike Crash I dislike every movie that opens at #1, okidokie. I'm with andaroo what's the point in staying and making comments around here.

WHy does my dislie of Crash have to have greater implications about my like or dislike of movies? Maybe I just didn't like because I thought it was a bad movie.

Why is a simplification? Why does it ruin film?

There is a chasm between audiences and movie critics; between the average moviegoer and those on the internet who equate Michael Bay with Uwe Boll. I don't mean to direct this at politics. Making this an issue between Hollywood and the religious right would be an oversimplification IMO. Increasingly films are aimed at niche audiences, and it’s inevitable that these chasms widen. With the increased power of marketing and the greatly improved ability for WOM to spread over the internet with online rating systems, the influence of critics has waned. The studios therefore less often cater to them, and we have seen the results. In my mind this is a good thing; people are getting more of the films they want.

I'll step out of line with defenders and say I don't *usually* like the opener either. And I'm proud of that, just like I don't often run and buy the #1 selling book of the week. It is, in fact, a question of oversimplification. People want to be spoonfed, go for it. You are what you eat? You are what you expose yourself to. Everyone can talk about escapism all they want, but if that's what you do three (or more) days of the week, it does infact train your mind. Then something like this comes along, and you deem it profound, because its been coded as "intelligent." Speaks miles about what we've come to expect of our viewing experiences, and I'm not ready to go down that route. You be the new reviewer for the site sine you're so happy and proud about where the industry spends its attentions, Big Momma's House 2 and Crash.

Ok, that didn't clearify it as I wished. I don't want this to be personal. It seems that avoiding names didn't do anything to help that.

I wouldn't imply anything about your tastes. Listen, this is what it's about for me:



Don't leave because of me or what I said. I've always been upset about this thing, but lately I've had enough of it, and comments about how terrible Crash is came across as quite ridiculous to me. It’s the same sort of complete disrespect for the opinions of others that I’ve seen time and time again.

Well ok, that's one thing; judging people for seeing it is another.



Well, to an extent, but if you aware of what a movie is trying to communicate both explicitly and subtly there's not much chance of it controlling the way you think. I can watch Underworld: Evolution and later read about evolutionary theory, Rome in the 3rd century, or wonder in the line at the grocery why societies are organized as they are. That probably sounds nerdy as hell, heh, but I've always secretly been this way even if I wouldn't tell most of my friends about this stuff. I don't look towards "art" to exercise my mind. I look at movies as entertainment, and to be quite honest an entertaining movie will make me think more clearly (probably simply because it puts me in the right mood). But it's ultimately entertainment, and I don't look for anything beyond that. If something else comes along I'll appreciate it, but that's rare frankly.



I never said I consider Crash profound or intelligent. I think it's a superbly crafted and poignant movie with a number of good stories and some interesting things to say. I don't like it because because I thought it was smart, in many ways I thought it was not.



Interestingly, I wouldn’t be caught dead in a theater watching BMH 2. But I'd be a hypocrite to criticize the people who watch it. Do many "stupid people" watch that sort of thing? Well, probably, but I wouldn't make any assumptions about anyone because they like it. The moviegoer in me will tolerate BMH2 if it means there are the thrillers, dramas, and action movies that I like. The supporter of capitalism in me will cheer on the free market for giving people products they want.

Anyway, as to all the stuff about leaving the site, I'd have done it many times, more often because of this exact issue then anything else, even the flame wars. Except I can't quit the forum as I always need my BO debate fix.

Perhaps the reason it infuriates me to hear “people are stupid” for liking/seeing some movie because it reminds me of the sort of attitude I grew up with. I was born into an extremely religious environment; the things people were expelled from my high school for included seeing movies, talking to girls, and being gay. Yeah. They judged the rest of the world from an extremely narrow POV. In fact your comment about training your mind reminds me of many lectures. Apparently seeing movies, thinking about sex, or being influenced by secular culture were to lead you to a life as a drug addicted, hateful, anti-semite before being sent to hell. Having a group judge and condemn the rest of the populace is exactly what will get on my nerves. It's just that for me, not about being tolerant or politically correct.

Anyway, after seeing Crash again now my opinion on it stays the same.

Um, I'm the person who spent nearly a thousand dollars to see Revenge of the Sith a week early.

I don't get this thread. What's your point again?

DP07... don't mask your words. If you want to call me out, just do it.

I don't get what the point is either. DP07 wants it both ways. He bemoans people for judging others, comparing them to the religious right of his youth, but at the same time is casting judgement down upon them. He calls people who dislike the film "snobs" and in return, I would say that the Academy excersized their "snobbery" and their political clout by nominating it and giving it a win in the first place. A non-snob move would have been to nominated Narnia or Star Wars or even Walk the Line.

Crash is not Big Momma's House 2 or Underworld. The problem with Crash is that certain members of the audience have deemed it profound and of great importance, when clearly, its tactics are questionable. It is just that the movie is critical and demands being looked at critically, and when it fails, people fall back on the "it's just entertainment" or "you are taking it too literally" arguments.

Do I think people like baumer and Lecter are morons because they liked Crash? No. I think it's pretty well established on this forum that the "Crash Bashers" don't wish the Crash lovers to fall into the sea.

Do I think people on this site have bad or narrow taste? Clearly. Do I have any qualms about saying that? No, why should I. The fact that you use the word "snobs" confirms you have done the same thing.


I have come to despise the mind-set that because I think people have bad taste in movies that some people take that to the next level and assume that I think they are horrible people in real life.

What's worse than "film snobbery" is the idea that everyone on this board needs to have the same temperment and the same ideals or the same opinions about *everything* or the same level of sensitivity about issues.

I don't understand this thread.

ANd not just what dp07 said but other comments in here as well.

Why must one feel they have a superior taste in films, whether they watch a mainstream anderson flick or watch a critically acclaimed film no one has heard of. there is nothing to be 'proud' about it. its just taste. Dolce says she doesn't 'support' mainstream so much. Zingy does. I haven't seen Crash cause I'm personally not a fan of films such as those. Ofcourse, arguing over the quality is fine but it doesn't neccessarily mean there, we everyone, need to be proud we're like that .. there is nothing to be proud about. you haven't achieved much.

Sometimes, I wish I'm more like Bradley. The guy enjoys anything and everything. If there was a situation anyone needs to be proud of, its the one he is in. More often than not, he goes home satisfied. all of us hoping for something out there that caters to our taste and find superior go home disappointed.

DAMN YOU BRADLEY!!

For the record, Its hard out here for a pimp was easily the least deserving winner.

"In the Deep" by Bird York was the better song of the year.

The academy are still snobs, because Crash was the second leading contender for big prize in the Best Picture category.
But everyone agreed that BrokeBack Mt. was more deserving.

Myself included.

Pride is a whole different issue. I don't really understand that either.

Obivously there is differing of opinions on film, and political opinions on what films should try to get made and expose people to certain types of cinema. And some people are more vocal about that.

As much as we all like Dolce, there is a an elitist attitude that comes from those that like the film noirs, and the non Hollywood films. I like ARmageddon and think it is one of the best films of 98, yet I get teased all the time. I'm no different. I think I haev better taste in horror film, actually, I know I have better taste in horror film that most others. You can't get away from y0ur opinion. So in a way we are all elitists. But what we enjoy should not make us better than one or the other.

See, I would agree with that baumer.

And I like Armageddon too

[quote="Michelangelo"]For the record, Its hard out here for a pimp was easily the least deserving winner.

Au contraire. This was most deserving song of the evening. You'd have to see the film and put the song in context to understand why it won. I jumped up and down when they announced that it won.

i'm not refering to dolce's comment. i'm refering to the general attitude here. Yes .. i hate Aeon Flux and I'll argue to death why its a horrible film. But at most, I'll make fun of another user for liking it only in good fun or to say something witty (where i usually fail) .... same with jarheads. i mean it still boggles my mind why people like it but hey, its there taste and if they walked out happier than i did, they spent their 10 bucks better than I did. Just because I preferred King Kong and thought Aeon was scum doesn't mean my taste in any way was just far more superior. At most, I would think that my taste is more in accords with what society would think. Of course at this point, we can all start a whole new lengthy debate on if being in sync with society equates to superior taste or not : )

Of the songs nominated. The Pimp song had more emotional impact in the movie and was more an actual facet of the movie than the other two.

nothing wrong with teasing : )