How to Overthink a Comic Book Movie.

[hermione_vader]

I'm going to see Green Lantern tomorrow, and I've been looking forward to this movie for quite a while.  I've even been planning to review on my movie blog, movie0girl.

Problem: Now I'm freaking terrified.

The reviews are ovewhelmingly negative, and yet I still want to like it.  But it seems like the reviews are basically saying, "If you enjoy this movie, you

Comments

[lotus0kid]

Well, I say, if you see it and genuinely like it, make sure you can back it up with some solid reasoning. If you like it because it's a big 'splode-y action-y flick with pretty CGI and prettier actors, that's fine, just make sure you say so. Movies are great for scratching that itch, right? Of course other people aren't going to agree with everything you say, but that's their problem, not yours.

[hermione_vader]

Thanks for the advice. That's what I want to do (and the reason I started that review blog in the first place), but peer pressure is such a tricky thing to overcome.

Honestly, I think this sort of reaction was bound to happen with at least one of the comic book movies this summer, because there are so many of them. Here are the 9 most scathing reviews. Number 8 is from my local reviewer who hates everything related to any sort of franchise, and this was the pettiest review he's probably ever written (all I got from it is that he secretly wants to be Ryan Reynolds and hates Ryan for that). He's one of those reviews who goes into a movie thinking, "This is going to suck. You have two hours to prove me wrong." That's the kind of mindset I think a lot of these reviews have (and they leave all willing suspension of disbelief at home), mostly so they can use their "wit" to rip in to something. Never mind that that is the exact opposite of why we go see movies.

[lotus0kid]

Welcome. Yeah, I know, but I would really try not letting it get to you.

Ugh, that is.. just kind of pathetic, really. The great thing about movies is they can be as profound as they can be silly, and vice versa. And everyone can like them for vastly different reasons. I have no time for someone who prefers to spend their time recreationally hating things with his/her nose way up high in the air.

[hermione_vader]

I'm trying. I think my "Why do I even care?" side is beginning to take over.

WORD. Unfortunately, now we apparently have to take everything seriously, and if it isn't True Art, it apparently isn't worth anyone's time. Never mind that most of us aren't looking for True Art anyway. What's really sad is that this reviewer mindset has worked its way into fandom---that's why I left the Supernatural fandom and could never get too deeply involved in The Whoniverse fandom.