Posts by Jesse Thomas7

a-ha, listen up everyone, I’ve actually got the BASICS ready for a lawsuit! Obviously, there’s a 99.99% chance I’ll end up as a punchline in the local papers under some "ridiculous" headline right next to that guy who tried to argue in court that he actually owns the sun, but hey, I can still sue them. If I somehow manage to pull off a scheme where the judge is forced to watch Tron: Legacy the night before making his ruling, my chances of winning this suit are absolutely MASSIVE, haha.
So if I actually pull the trigger on this, you guys can all point and laugh at me when they publish my photo with a caption like: The girl who thought she could force Universal to preview their products before actually paying for them!

Btw, I see people are still totally missing the point. You’re all obsessing over how easy it is to stay INFORMED these days—which, fine, nobody is disputing that—but I’m just saying that out of all that noise, none of it matters to the one person who ends up NOT liking the movie. I mean, isn't half of those critics getting paid to sing the praises of absolute garbage? Don't they have their own little circles of bloggers and forum trolls doing the exact same thing? But noooooo, of course everyone is just writing the truth, pure truth, and nothing else...

Roger Allen3 said:A movie doesn't require any more research before buying than any other product on the market.

Look, if I'm buying a house in some fancy neighborhood, why would I have to act like a private investigator, checking out millions of tiny details like the layout, the local shops, parking spots, or the social makeup of the neighbors? Because I don't want to screw up and throw my money away.

Whatever, man. If you see the apartment and it's a total dump—just DON'T BUY IT. You're left with that choice.
The fact that a film studio thinks they can throw you in jail just because you downloaded their movies without permission proves they acknowledge they HAVE A PRODUCT they want to SELL. So, they should be held to the exact same laws and regulations as anyone else selling a product—namely, that the buyer actually knows what they're getting, and gets compensated if they were misled about what they bought. I'm heading to see my lawyer right now; I'll let you guys know how it goes tomorrow. This could honestly be the biggest legal precedent in the entire US judicial system when I sue them all down the line for denying us this right! It's Me vs. Universal Pictures. I'll buy you all Ferraris once I'm done with them, thanks to all the motivation you guys gave me, hahahahaha

Walter Grant5 said:They have "money coming out of their ears" because society exists, which is why they do what they do and get paid. Feel free to stay in your rebellious little bubble and stop feeding their pockets with your attention.

By the way, that analogy is a stretch—that would be like soccer players running onto the pitch and playing basketball instead, or if Inter Miami CF showed up instead of Barcelona.

Analogy holds up fine. If soccer players played basketball, they'd be playing non-soccer. You watched a bad movie at the movie theater, not a non-movie.

I once watched a film where the creators swore up and down it was a soccer movie, but it was basically just basketball on screen. 👍
Trust me on this one. It's exactly like that. And honestly, it's not even the first time they've pulled that stunt.

Henry Campbell5 said:It’s honestly such a pain having to research a movie before you even watch it just to avoid spoilers. It’s a pretty interesting topic, though. And sure, the self-righteous cops and the symbiote fans can go ahead and act all high and mighty about it. 😁

Just kidding. Heh... 🙄. Instead of just tearing into a young lady (presumably 🙂), there could have been a much more interesting debate regarding ticket prices for an art event. I think someone mentioned the possibility of a commission being formed to decide those rates. Though, technically, if a movie is total garbage, they should probably charge more for it—which kind of defeats the whole point of asking for a refund if the "art" turns out to be crap. 🤔

HALLELUJAH! Amen to that. Seriously, WHY on earth should I have to spend days playing detective, scouring forums, and reading reviews—which, let's be real, won't actually tell me if *I'll* personally enjoy it—when I could just walk in, feel the vibe, sense the direction of the film, and decide for myself whether it's my thing?
It's like people have stopped caring about the actual cinematic experience itself. Now, everyone's obsessed with the chat threads, the bonus features, trivia from the set, how much weight an actor lost for a role, what the director's next or previous projects were, and so on and so forth...

Lisa Ross65 said:There is no fixing subjective perception. For instance, I actually had fun watching Wanted with Angelina Jolie, even though based on my own logic and principles, I shouldn't have liked it—it was mindless, cliché, overproduced, and illogical. Still, I enjoyed it; it was a total "guilty pleasure." Most people I talked to thought the movie was trash. Whether you like a film or not is entirely your own business, which is ultimately shaped by your education, what you've read, your film knowledge, and your personal tastes.

That’s exactly my point—since everything is so subjective, why on earth should I feel forced to rely on what everyone else thinks? Just let me sit through the first 15 minutes; if I'm feeling it, I'll happily pay full price to see it through to the end. Besides, being highly educated or having "refined" cinematic tastes doesn't always go hand in hand. I personally know a PhD in physics who is absolutely obsessed with Jim Carrey and basically rolls on the floor laughing the second he shows up on screen. He's his favorite actor, hands down. Then again, I also know a long-haul trucker who could probably rattle off every single Romanian, Russian, Dutch, or New Zealander art-house film ever made and explain the deep subtext you completely missed... The paths to the human heart are strange, haha.

Walter Grant5 said:Seriously, after all the trailers you've watched, you still haven't learned your lesson?

I think it would be awesome—and yeah, I’m putting on my bulletproof vest because everyone's gonna want to shoot me for this idea—if studios were forced to release the first 15-20 minutes of a movie for FREE instead of wasting money on useless trailers. That's enough time to see if you're actually interested or not. If someone wants to watch the rest, they can pay.

What if soccer players played the first 20 minutes for free? You know, just check it out, and if you like it, you pay. If not, you don't.

See, it’s because of that exact mindset—honestly, please, keep lying to me, I really don't mind, sell me a bridge, don't even bother scoring goals, just film garbage...—that soccer players and Brad Pitt end up with money coming out of their ears, while we sit here yapping away and praying to God that inflation finally stops rising...
Besides, your analogy is totally off base—it would be like soccer players running onto the field and starting to play basketball instead, or like Inter Miami CF showing up to play against a local high school team from San Francisco.

Lisa Ross65 said:Look, there is the actual film industry and then there is the factory line churning out mindless junk. It’s on you to choose. Some people here tell you they have endless pages of reviews to browse through. Personally, I rely heavily on Rotten Tomatoes. These days, dropping $25 or $30 at an AMC Theatres for some absolute garbage is a hard pill to swallow. For years now, I've been selective about what I see in theaters—I steer clear of the trash because I refuse to waste money on a bad ticket. That said, I'll happily pay for Paramount Pictures, Warner Bros., Netflix, or Disney. Occasionally, I'll go into a movie knowing it might not be great, but I go in prepared and I don't complain.

Yeah, okay, fair enough, but I’m going to say it for the hundredth time: just because the masses love a movie, or because it has *stellar* reviews, doesn't mean you're going to enjoy it. It’s like how a certain pair of jeans might look killer on everyone EXCEPT you. You can try those jeans on before you buy them to see if they actually work for your frame, rather than just trusting that they look great on someone else. Whether those jeans suit you is a SUBJECTIVE opinion, and liking a movie is exactly the same way.
The real kicker is that trailers and advertisements are specifically engineered to mask every single flaw in a film—they're basically selling you a product that doesn't even exist.
I honestly think it would be amazing—and hey, I'll go ahead and put on my bulletproof vest now because I know people are going to come for me for suggesting this—but it would be great if studios were forced to release the first 15-20 minutes of a movie for FREE instead of pumping out these mindless trailers. That’s more than enough time to figure out if you're being played or not. If you still want to see the rest? Fine, pay the price then.

Jerry Martinez50 said:It doesn't matter, welcome! Even if nothing comes of it, you’ve made a truly groundbreaking impact... just look at how much dust you've kicked up😁

Haha, well... here I go again, standing alone against the entire crowd. Honestly, I’m surprised I even made it through that last round without getting shut down. But look, let’s get back to the actual point before everyone starts trolling me—do you guys seriously believe that movies, on a global scale, haven't just become nothing more than mass-produced commodities designed to be shoved down as many people's throats as possible? I mean, sure, there are always those rare exceptions that break the mold, but for the most part, it's just a product being pushed.

Jerry Martinez50 said:Hehhehe. Now I'm starting to think you're the one trolling. 😁 There's an entire thread on the forum—just go find it! There are plenty of opinions there...
Or just ask in the chat room.

Don't take it personally, but Christian Taylor3 is basically the moderator over on that board.😬

Thanks. My bad, everyone—I'm pretty new here, so I haven't quite wrapped my head around why everything gets split into so many different threads. It feels like the second your mind drifts even slightly toward a related topic, people label you a troll... but hey, I guess I'll get the hang of it eventually.

Christian Taylor3 said:Once again, for those who actually bothered to listen:

"Life sucks. Get a F**king helmet, okay?"

There isn't much else intelligent or constructive to say here; the whole thread is basically turning into a playground for trolls (it's definitely ready to be locked). 😁

The chat is extremely active, so feel free to go hunt for attention over there instead. 😬

If the whole point of this topic is treating film as a commodity, then how is discussing it considered trolling?
Maybe it would be easier if you just wrote out exactly what we should all be saying in our posts, and we’ll all just copy-paste it? Then everyone can be happy and satisfied.
Also, I have one specific question, if possible—I'm really curious. Has anyone actually sat down and watched Enter the Void, and if so, can you give me your take on it?

Jerry Martinez50 said:So, the trolling just keeps on going, doesn't it?☕
Watch out, Jesse Thomas7, you really stepped into this one yourself. There are people on this forum practically salivating at an opportunity like this...

At the end of the day, just download it online. Forget buying tickets and heading to the theater—unless, of course, you're absolutely certain about what you're spending your money on.

HAHAHA, well, hey—glad to be of service.😍 It’s always a little boost to have someone to tear apart; makes the day feel a bit brighter. Or what, are you all living in some kind of perfect symbiosis here or something?

Christian Taylor3, thanks... even though your post is totally condescending and dripping with irony toward me, I’m just gonna look the other way and take everything you suggested and dump it into my spreadsheet...
P.s. Does it seriously have to be a grid-style sheet?

northerncrane4 said:No, I'm simply pointing out that what you consider a masterpiece might be absolute garbage to someone else. It really highlights the absurdity of your stance—thinking you should get a refund just because a movie didn't meet your personal standards.

Do you honestly think I’m dense enough to believe that actually getting a refund for a movie ticket is a realistic thing? That wasn't my point at all. I was talking about some kind of accountability for blatant lies, which is something we demand in pretty much every other part of life. Like, if the producers behind a flick like 'You've Got Mail' slap a label on it calling it a "hilarious comedy" when it's clearly not, wouldn't it be great if they had to deal with Mirko Filipović, Mike Tyson, and Chuck Norris showing up at their door to force them to tell the truth? Hahahaha... okay, okay, I'm joking, but you totally get where I'm coming from...

northerncrane4 said:That isn't "extra payment"—it's just an additional purchase. Extra payment would be walking up to the theater box office after the credits roll and saying: "That was so good, here's another $6.75!"

By the way, I watched Nightwatch—which was indescribable garbage—and after that, I wouldn't watch Daywatch even if I were tied to a radiator. Your mention of The Matrix and Quentin Tarantino as things you don't mind paying extra for just labels you as a consumer of the highest order.

So don't come around trying to recommend anything to me, because it's pretty obvious we aren't on the same page... and look, I'm not insulting you or your taste, so maybe you could try being a little less aggressive in how you talk... though, I guess you're one of those people who thinks anyone who disagrees with them is just straight-up stupid.
Also, how is buying a DVD not just paying extra for the same damn movie? Most of that cash ends up in the same pockets as the theater ticket money anyway. I can borrow a disc, I can rip it, and the fact that I haven't done that just shows I actually think the people who made the movie deserve the extra cash....

northerncrane4 said:I think your issue is this general life misconception that you always get exactly what you pay for. That attitude usually crops up when you feel like you've been shortchanged. I doubt you argue the same way when you feel like you got more than your money's worth—as if you should somehow owe extra in those cases.

Deal with it. Sometimes the best things in life are free; other times, you pay a premium for absolute trash. That's Life. ☕

Nah, you've got it all wrong... when a movie actually blows my mind, I'll Buy being original, which means that movie makes even more money off me. If the soundtrack is killer, I'll pick that up too—so, more money for them. Basically, anything that actually impresses me ends up earning an extra buck from my pocket. So yeah, I "pay extra" specifically when I feel like I've gotten way more than my money's worth.

neonsurfer6 said:If we're talking about mainstream American cinema, you might be onto something, though I’d argue this isn't a new trend—it’s always been this way. But if we're discussing film as an art form in general, that statement is nowhere near the truth.

High-quality ideas definitely find their way to the people who care. However, you’ll only find them if you look beyond the latest promotional flyer from AMC Theatres.

Besides, nobody is attacking you here. We're just having a discussion; it's a forum, not a battlefield.

I'm with you on that, and honestly, it's such a damn shame that the quality of a movie seems to have become inversely proportional to its marketing budget, media coverage, and how much it's shoved down our throats. I mean, look at Daywatch or Night Watch—how many people actually sat down to watch those, and why did they get such little attention?
So, the takeaway is that I basically have to dodge Hollywood spectacles at all costs. But then again, if I did that, I would've missed out on The Matrix, which would've been a massive waste...
As for staying informed, unfortunately, we're back to the subjectivity of the viewer. Of course, whether it's the critics or the general public, you're going to run into completely conflicting opinions and reviews, none of which actually tells me whether *I* am going to enjoy it or not.
Now I probably sound like some bitter, perpetually dissatisfied killjoy, which isn't really me, but... well, here we are. It's too late to try and backtrack now....😍

I just hope we can all agree on one thing here: much like how professional football has evolved, movies have completely stopped caring about the "art" of filmmaking. It’s nothing but pure business now—just money, money, money. Let’s be real, it’s going to be nearly impossible to get a major studio to greenlight some small, heartfelt story when they can just pump out another superhero flick or some high-tech CGI spectacle instead. That’s exactly why so many fresh, actually quality ideas never even stand a chance at reaching an audience...

neonsurfer6 said:Jesse Thomas7, you keep missing the point people have been trying to make: watching a movie is a deeply subjective experience. Your taste is yours alone, and nobody else is responsible for it but you. Maybe try doing a little more homework before dropping $12 on something; obviously, you're going to be disappointed if you head to the theater based solely on some damn trailer.🙄

And what am I supposed to do when everyone starts dogpiling me just because of "subjective experiences"? All I was trying to ask was if anyone else feels like it's kind of messed up how the film industry basically dodges any responsibility toward a dissatisfied customer. That’s it. But apparently, the answer is "no," nobody thinks that way, everyone’s perfectly happy, and it's all purely my own fault. You guys act like if a movie sucks, it's my own damn fault because I didn't "do my research" or whatever. Fine.
Thanks for the input, and honestly, don't come at me just because I don't see eye-to-eye with you all and think the whole setup is pretty unfair.

northerncrane4 said:And then colon cancer hits after those five bags of Walmart chips. 👍

Personally, I think anyone heading to an AMC Theatres to see "Tron: Legacy" should be charged a parking fine for every single minute they spend inside—on top of the ticket, of course—and then have their credit card interest rates spiked and their house facades smeared with industrial sludge. 😁

Has it ever happened to you where a movie totally blows your mind even though you expected absolutely nothing from it—like, you were dead certain it was going to be total garbage, and then suddenly... boom.
Or on the flip side, have you ever been positive, based on your own tastes and what you actually like, that you'd have a blast, only to end up feeling completely let down?

William Lee34 said:On what grounds would you even complain to anyone? Based on a mere subjective impression? Surely, someone out there finds that film excellent. It’s akin to visiting a museum to see Picasso's Guernica, deciding it isn't to your taste, and then demanding a refund for your admission fee. Film is art, and we know how that works—certain works are universally acclaimed, like Blade Runner, while others appeal to a more niche audience, such as Tron: Legacy.
Next time, perhaps avoid going in blindly and expecting a feature to mirror a two-minute trailer. Besides, you have Rotten Tomatoes at your disposal to check the critics' consensus.

A-ha, sure! By that logic, you and I could both buy the exact same TV, yours works like a dream while mine dies after two hours, yet I should still be able to return mine just because it's the "same model" as your perfectly functional one. Or I could walk into a store, return a pair of pants just because "they don't really suit me," and nobody would have the nerve to ask, "Wait, why did everyone else love them?"
Of course, it’s impossible to bring any kind of order to this chaos, which is exactly why filmmakers are rubbing their hands together in glee. They just churn out piece after piece of garbage because they know the only thing that matters is pumping their product up to insane heights—as long as the money keeps rolling in, they're happy.