Cognitive Biases

Jerry Martin19 said:I gave it a 1/10 on IMDb☕

Well, you’ve basically said it all yourself—you clearly don't have the slightest clue about cinema. Honestly, do yourself a favor: go pick up a magazine and try forming an actual opinion based on what you read for once. A 1/10? Seriously, you have to be a complete moron to think that. And it’s honestly no surprise when I see those bizarre ratings online; they’re always driven by people like you—folks who spend their nights tossing and turning in some pathetic internal struggle over whatever some critic happened to write. You don't actually have an opinion of your own, period. If you did, you wouldn't even be bothering to start this thread in the first place. In fact, the title alone tells me more about your lack of insight than anything else you could ever write about a movie.👎

Richard Wilson4 said:Koreans, Japanese, and even Hong Kongers (though not like they used to be) are just superior to the Chinese when it comes to cinema...

You say that like you're some kind of authority on what's universally accepted. It’s like if I pointed at a glass and said, "this is a glass," and you replied, "no, it's a mug," and somehow you were right.

Superior in what way?

The Korean film Lost brotherhood is one of the best war movies I've ever seen—it's actually a realistic story, and I'd go as far as calling it a drama.
Takeshi Kitano is one of the greatest Asian actors and directors out there...
Hong Kong's glory days might be fading, but they're still hanging in there...

I haven't seen Lost brotherhood, but I have seen some of the more famous Korean hits like Oldboy and Memories of a Murder, and both are absolute masterpieces. To me, Takeshi Kitano is also a genius director. I'm actually glad they've been showing him on American TV over the last couple of months, though they could really use better scheduling... 😠

Everything you mentioned is brilliant, sure, but nothing is more brilliant than Hero or House of Flying Daggers or any other movie with similar choreography. One thing is what you, me, or someone else thinks, and the other is what is actually true. You can't just state it as an objective fact like that, and honestly, I don't think anyone on the planet is qualified to make that claim.

irongardener12 said:Honestly, you nailed it. You clearly have zero clue about cinema. Go buy a magazine or something and try forming an actual opinion based on what you read for once. 1/10. Seriously, you're something else... idiot...

Jerry Martin19 said:Be glad it wasn't someone else. They would've absolutely wrecked you...

It’s honestly no surprise seeing those trash ratings over there when they're coming from people like you—guys who spend all night tossing and turning because you can't handle some critic's take. You don't actually have an opinion, period. If you did, you wouldn't even be wasting everyone's time starting this thread. Honestly, the title alone tells me more about you than anything you could ever write about a movie...👎

Look, keep that kind of talk to yourself. I’m not out here disrespecting anyone, so there's no reason for you to come at me for no reason either. And just to be clear, this isn't a request—it's an insistence. By any standard, you have no business calling me an idiot, especially over a movie rating. If I felt like giving every single one of Kubrick's films a 1/10, I'd do it, and nobody's stopping me... least of all someone named irongardener12...
You totally missed the point. If you think it’s bad, why even bother weighing in? That's your problem... I made it clear I'm not looking for unsolicited advice or anyone trying to force their take on me. I have my own views, yet you're acting like you can read my mind and telling me I'm wrong about my own thoughts. Maybe people let you talk down to them, but they won't do that with me. Get that straight...

Alright, enough with all the personal biases...

And what exactly makes you think I don't know the first thing about movies?... 🙂

I didn't report your post even though I could have... mostly because I'm hoping you'll stop acting like that...

Give me a break. By dismissing 300 like that, you’re just proving you don't have a clue what makes a movie work. It's exactly this kind of critic that drives people away from cinema. Fortunately, not everyone here feels the need to talk trash constantly, otherwise, I wouldn't have even bothered watching it. Luckily, I did, and the film is excellent. It isn't chasing an Oscar, it doesn't care about historical accuracy, and there isn't some profound subtext hidden in the shadows—though I know the "intellectuals" and pretenders here are more than capable of projecting deep meaning onto absolute garbage, right? The acting was solid, the visual effects were top-tier, and the atmosphere was spot on. If I had one gripe, it's that the pacing felt a bit disjointed because the entire thing is essentially one massive battle, and the characters lack real depth. In my opinion, the film needed to hit at least the three-hour mark to let everything breathe and settle properly. All things considered, I'd give it a 6 out of 10. I'd still recommend it, though; I sat through an hour and a half and genuinely enjoyed myself.

Not everyone has the temperament to sit through something like Eraserhead or that kind of nonsense.

northernangler17 said:To be perfectly honest, it actually hurts when some critic writes something scathing—and why? Because for me, watching movies has a specific purpose, and that is—that I LIKE THE MOVIE! Even if that film might not be "objectively" anything special (though, let's be real, objectivity doesn't exist), even if everyone else is spitting on it just to stroke their own egos and prove how much they know about cinema "to the heavens," what do I care, if there’s something in that movie that I—actually enjoy?! Something that pulls me in. Something that stirs an EMOTION inside me! THAT is the whole point of film, THAT is what matters most! It’s not about dissecting a movie into a million tiny pieces and analyzing every single one individually, because then you just kill the magic of the experience. What matters is that feeling you carry with you after the credits roll. People are different, which means tastes are different. Take me, for example—I love all sorts of genres. When I’m not in the mood for something "serious" and just want something relaxing to make me laugh, I’ll watch a romantic comedy, no matter how cliché, formulaic, or downright stupid it might be. If those clichés bother me too much, though, I won't enjoy the ride, and thus, the movie won't stick with me or be anything special, and that's that—moving on. On the other hand, if I find myself checking the clock more than once an hour, it means something is wrong (because when I truly like a movie, I get completely lost in it, mentally and emotionally). So, I watch movies for myself and for my own enjoyment. Sure, it’s nice to read a glowing review of a film I loved, but it isn't decisive—in fact, it's not important at all! Beauty is in the eye of the beholder 😉 and if I like something for my own reasons, who cares if someone else doesn't?

Well, at least that’s how I look at it 😍

So, this is roughly how it should go. I’ll give 🙏 , since there are clearly still people out there who know how to enjoy a movie without being weighed down by complexes. This person hit the nail right on the head. We could close our eyes and argue that talking about purpose or intent is pointless, but honestly, it's not. Who is going to tell me which movie should move me and which shouldn't? Some person who wrote a few sentences in a newspaper? That’s just one person, with their own specific range of emotions. And that other person is just another person with theirs. I am another person entirely. I don't react to situations, stimuli, or flavors the same way someone else does. At the end of the day, everyone has their own opinion, shaped by a massive variety of factors. There is no objective yardstick to decide whose opinion carries more weight. Every opinion is equally (un)important. I don't like chocolate, I don't like pastries, and I don't have a sweet tooth. Why should anyone find that strange? If someone else loves them, they should enjoy it as much as they want...

irongardener12 said:So, this is more or less how it should be. I’ll give 🙏, because at the end of the day, there are still people out there who actually know how to enjoy a movie without being weighed down by hang-ups or complexes. That person hit the nail on the head. We could all just close our eyes and claim that debating purpose or intent is pointless, but that's really it. Who are they to tell me which film should move me and which shouldn't? Some critic who wrote a few sentences in a newspaper? That’s just one person, operating within their own specific emotional spectrum. Someone else is just another individual with their own. I am another individual entirely. I don't react to situations, stimuli, or even tastes the same way someone else might. Everyone’s perspective is shaped by a unique set of factors. There is no objective yardstick that makes one opinion more valid than another. Every viewpoint is equally (un)important. Personally, I don't like chocolate, I don't care for pastries, and I don't have much of a sweet tooth. Why should anyone find that strange? If someone else loves it, they should enjoy it as much as they please...

I agree. I'd just add that while you certainly have your own take, if your job is to decide whether a film is worth ninety minutes of my time, you can't just dismiss a movie simply because it doesn't suit your personal taste or because you feel it isn't "intellectual" enough.

irongardener12 said:Yeah, this is pretty much how it should go down. Giving 🙏 credit where it's due—there are still people out there who actually enjoy movies without all the baggage and overthinking. They hit the nail on the head. We could close our eyes and argue that debating purpose or intent is pointless, but honestly, whatever. Who are they to tell me which movie should move me and which shouldn't? Some critic with a few lines in a magazine? That’s just one person with their own set of emotions. Someone else is just another person with theirs. I'm just another guy. I don't react to things, tastes, or vibes the same way everyone else does. Everyone’s got an opinion shaped by a million different factors. There's no gold standard for whose take matters more. Every opinion is equally (un)important. Personally, I can't stand chocolate, I don't do sweets, and I'm not a cake guy. Why would anyone find that weird? If someone else loves it, let them enjoy it as much as they want.......

Didn't you see I started the whole thread with that exact mindset? 😕

I find myself constantly coming back to this specific paraphrase by Mihovil Pansini, which really builds on Peter Bichsel’s take on what literature should actually be about:

"If film criticism can hold any actual value at all, then its true purpose is to act as a public conversationalist for those lonely viewers—to be a companion in the experience. It’s such a shame that so many critics aren't willing to view their job through that lens. Because, let’s face it, even when you're absolutely floored by a movie, it can still feel like a pretty solitary experience..."

lonelynx16 said:I personally live by this paraphrase of Mihovil Pansini based on Peter Bichsel’s take on literature:

"If film criticism can actually mean anything at all, it's probably just acting as a public conversationalist for lonely viewers—basically being a witness alongside them. It's a shame so many critics don't see their job that way. After all, viewers know exactly what it feels like to be alone even when they're totally blown away by a movie..."

👍

Jerry Martin19 said:Should I really be sticking to that rule?

When it comes to movies, sometimes there’s a real virtue in just letting your imagination morph to fit what’s on screen. If you don't allow yourself that flexibility, you're going to miss out! You'll never truly grasp why Kurt Russell, better known as Snake Plisken, is such an absolute icon of cinema, or why Schwarzenegger manages to deliver the greatest action sequences of all time despite any critiques of his acting chops—or even why a flick like "300" hits so hard. But honestly, why am I even lecturing you? By overthinking things with all this philosophy, you're just getting in your own way and robbing yourself of the fun.

Jerry Martin19 said:''opinions are like assholes. everybody 's got one'' (I can't recall who originally said this, though I suspect it might be Brian Molko, the frontman for Placebo)

Well, if he actually said it, then you should probably take his word for it; the guy looks like he’s seen plenty of action in that particular department. 😁

Back to the topic at hand: I’ve never had any interest in reading film reviews, flipping through movie magazines, or sitting through shows about cinema. I don't need some critic explaining to me how much I'm going to enjoy a flick or telling me what specific details I should be looking for. It just kills the whole vibe for me. 😳

edit: Just noticed someone else posted something pretty similar up above 😳 I didn't copy anyone, honestly; I just hadn't scrolled through the entire thread yet. 🙈

Jerry Martin19 said:P. S. That statement is listed under the personal quotes section on his IMDb profile. 🙂

larry flint

David Price5 said:Larry Flint

Brian Molko 😉

Maybe he was quoting a movie line, or maybe she was quoting him... hard to tell since I can't find the date he actually said it...🙂

P. S. All in all, props to whoever said that... 🙏

From what I've heard, that's actually a quote from Clint 🙏 🙏

Honestly, I can't stand the whole concept of an art "critic" 🤮—it’s just not my thing. Art isn't a hard science where you can hand out "final" grades, right? I mean, take any movie—anything from the most blatant trash to the films everyone calls masterpieces—there's always going to be some "critic" finding something to complain about. Plus, I think a lot of people struggle to tell the difference between movies meant to convey a message (and let's face it, you can find a "message" in literally anything—like, you could argue Dude, Where's my Car is actually a sharp critique of weed culture 😬 ) and movies that are strictly there for the ride. So, which is better: a mediocre "art house" flick or a fantastic movie that has zero deep meaning but is incredibly fun to watch? For me, I'll take a great entertainer over a bad "art" film every single time.

In my book, critics are only useful if you happen to vibe with them on the same wavelength; then you can read them just to see if they flag something worth your time. Beyond that? They aren't worth a dime.

Jose Chase2 said:From what I've heard, that's actually a Clint quote... 🙏 🙏

Personally, I can't stand the whole concept of art "critics." 🤮 Art isn't some hard science where you can hand out "final" grades. Seriously, take any movie—from the absolute trashiest flick to the ones labeled masterpieces—you'll always find some "critic" looking for something to complain about. Plus, a lot of people struggle to tell the difference between movies meant to deliver a message (though, let's be real, you can pull a message out of anything, like how 😬 Dude, Where's My Car is clearly a sharp critique of weed culture) and movies that are strictly there for the ride. So, what's better: a mediocre "art" film or an awesome movie with zero message that's just pure fun? I'll take a great popcorn flick over a bad "artistic" movie any day of the week.

In my book, critics are only useful if you happen to vibe on the same wavelength as them, maybe as a heads-up on something worth watching. Beyond that, they aren't worth a dime.

👍

and what's better: a mediocre "art" film or an awesome movie with zero message that's just pure fun? I'll take a great popcorn flick over a bad "artistic" movie any day of the week.

Back to talking about Peter Greenway again, huh?
🙂

😬

Back to the topic: I'm with you on all counts. You can squeeze a message out of any movie depending on how much you care to look for one. If you can't figure that out yourself, you shouldn't need some "expert" to guide you through it anyway. Critics are pretty much useless. 🙂

Jerry Martin19 said:Critics are totally useless. 🙂

That's nonsense. You can actually learn a lot from them. If someone makes an argument so solid I have to tip my hat, I'm more than willing to rethink my own take on a movie.
Besides, I don't even trust my own memory when it comes to a film if I saw it more than three years ago...

Henry Campbell5 said:That's nonsense—there's actually quite a bit you can learn from people like them.

You don't really need critics for that, either.😕

Honestly, I don't even bother reading film reviews anymore. There isn't a decent print publication left since they axed the dedicated movie sections. Most blogs have very little substance—hardly any quality writing worth the time. And the mainstream press? It’s a disaster. Studios just recycle the same tired tropes; for instance, calling *In the Mouth of Madness* "based on Stephen King" is just sheer stupidity, considering the IMDb trivia clearly states Lovecraft was the actual inspiration. 🙄 The *New York Times* is useless now, padding articles with hundreds of filler words that have nothing to do with the movie itself. It’s an exhausting read. At this rate, you might as well call *Superman* or *Spider-Man 3* religious films... 🤣 🤣 *The Wall Street Journal* is just as bad—barely enough text there to satisfy a toddler. *USA Today* isn't any better. Take their review of *TCM Beginning*: they claim the film is garbage simply because it features blood and violence. They spend the entire piece obsessing over that, ignoring the acting, the plot, or anything else of substance. Just a repetitive loop of "it's bloody," "it's sick," "it's violent," therefore it's a bad movie.
I mostly stick to the reviews on IMDb, though even that feels unreliable lately. For example, the *King Kong* remake holds a 7.0 rating, yet it remains the most tedious, mindless piece of trash released this year. Three agonizing hours of pure boredom...

crimsonmoose3 said:The King Kong remake holds a 7, which is wild—considering it’s easily the most boring, mindless piece of garbage released this year. And it drags on for a hellish 3 hours.

:asshole:

crimsonmoose3 👍

@Henry Campbell5/">@@Henry Campbell5, sounds like movies are only made to please critics if we're going by what you're saying... 🙂