Reviewer, Your Ignorance is Showing
It is better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to open one's mouth and remove all doubt. Abraham Lincoln
Last week I read a review of a movie that hadn't yet been released. The reviewer hadn't seen it, but he had already made up his mind that it was going to be garbage because he had never heard of the book, the author, and thought the director and main actor were second rate.
What movie you ask?
If this guy had been in whack range I would've slapped him in the back of the head. Is it the new protocol to pan a movie on pure speculation? Whatever happened to making a value judgment on the actual material?
I regret not taking note of this reviewer's name or keeping the link. All I remember is that I read it on MSN.com.
I regret not taking note of this reviewer's name or keeping the link. All I remember is that I read it on MSN.com.
For the record, I love Edgar Rice Burroughs. I love his stories. With all due respect to the authors of today, I miss stories like his. They were high adventure, sexy, and fun. Sure, the narrative is dated. It was written in a different era (even before my time), but the stories are passionate and thrilling.
I have no idea whether Disney will do his book justice, but they have the money to throw at it. (Note: Disney's marketing department dropped the ball on the trailer though. I've seen fan-based trailers of John Carter that were better made.)
I have no idea whether Disney will do his book justice, but they have the money to throw at it. (Note: Disney's marketing department dropped the ball on the trailer though. I've seen fan-based trailers of John Carter that were better made.)
But getting back to the reviewer--what really irritated me is when he said the movie was based on a book nobody ever heard of. How completely arrogant and ignorant can you be?
Even if he hadn't heard of the book, if you're going to write a journalistic review (for money), at least do a little research. Edgar Rice Burroughs isn't just some schmuck.
I seriously doubt I'll watch Hunger Games (it's not the kind of story I like) but I will definitely see John Carter, if only to rekindle a little bit of my youthful fantasies.
It probably won't come close to how I imagined all the beloved characters I grew up reading, but I know I won't pass judgment on it without seeing it first.
It probably won't come close to how I imagined all the beloved characters I grew up reading, but I know I won't pass judgment on it without seeing it first.
Has anyone out there read Edgar Rice Burroughs? Do you plan to see the movie?
Remember Dimensions, that indie film I told you about last week? I just heard from Ant Neely that it WON the Gort Award for Best Festival Film for 2012. I really hope it gets released nationally. Here's a picture of Mr. Neely's wife, Sloan U'Ren, the director of Dimensions with their award.
I am so happy for them. Congratulations to the Dimensions creators!
Comments
But then, I am a lover of sci fi and fantasy. Thank you for putting that clip up for us to watch.
Found you on Claudia's tagged list, so I thought I'd pop by and say 'hello' to my fellow bloggers on the list :)
Look forward to reading more from your blog :)
I shall definitely catch the film. I saw the trailer at the cinema last night and it looked good on the big screen.
I'll admit, I've never heard of that book and that movie, and it doesn't sound like my cup of tea so I will most likely not be seeing it. However, I'm not going to trash this as I've never read the book or seen this movie. Actually, from my experience, if the movie is based on the book, it was a great book. They don't make movies out of bad books. Out of all the books out there, they chose this one to base the movie on so clearly this book had to have something that appealed to them.
Ignorant reviewers ignore me. The way I see it, is if you have no idea what you're talking about, then it's best not to talk at all.
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Shirley: I was just appalled at his lack of research. His review appeared on a major web site. The comment stream I saw after his column really put him in his place though. :)
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Angelina: You touched on an excellent point. They don't make movies out of bad books.
...but sometimes they make bad movies out of good books. I hope that won't be the case here. I'll wait and see.
What a ding-bat reviewer.
Huge congrats to the Dimensions folks! That's so exciting and I'll be watching for it...so want to see it.
Linda: I know! Right! I realize Burroughs was a long time ago for most people, but he left behind some iconic figures.
I think it's fine to be skeptical... for instance, if I heard that Steven Seagal was playing Father Ralph in a movie of "The Thorn Birds", I'd be cringing in advance. But I still wouldn't pan the film until I'd seen it. And, um, never having heard of John Carter and Deja Thoris? That reflects on the reviewer rather than the book.
I'm looking forward to the film. I've seen the trailer and reckon I'll enjoy it. I don't listen to reviews. I prefer to see it and make my own mind up whether I enjoyed it or not. I'm easily pleased when it comes to films
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DRC: To be fair, I should've been a better reporter and kept the link. I was going to leave a comment on that article, but I was running late for an appointment and closed my browser. It just kept bothering me this guy got on a big site and was able to pass this off as a professional opinion.
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KarenG: Sad, but true. The only recommendations I trust implicitly now come from friends who have the same tastes as I do.
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Margo: I wish I had the foresight to have left a comment on that site, at least I would've had a link back to post here. The dozen or so comments I read really let him have it though.
Mike: The first Barsoom book was written in 1912. That was a long time ago. But this is a classic. It's one of the foundations for all the SF and fantasy fiction that came after it. Any film critic worth his salt should know this.
I agree with you. It's frightening how quickly we forget.
The film makers couldn't have asked for better publicity for a film based on a classic book many young people haven't read. This incompetent reviewer has boosted buzz!
Barbara: You know, I've never read Tarzan. But I couldn't get enough of Barsoom.
...and aren't you supposed to be in bed recovering.
:wags finger at Barbara:
Good on you to remind the world that not only is bad to judge people before you get to know anything about the individual, it's equally ignorant to pass judgement on a movie one hasn't even seen. Seriously, Maria, the reviewer hasn't even seen the movie? What the sam-hell were they reviewing? Their own imagination-on-a-stick?
I passed no judgement on Twilight until I read it. Then I applauded Stephenie Meyer for being so lucky to have filled a vampire love story vacuum at the right time and being able to ride that book all the way to the bank. If I went into the writing, I'd be here a while upsetting some folks who probably loved the book. But for heaven's sake, judging this movie on speculation only had to be the stupidest move (note I didn't say the reviewer is stupid as tempting as it is lol!!!) If you ever do get to remember the name, please let me know. I'll make sure to ignore whatever else they decide to "speculate" upon.
More than a few people must've liked the story or she wouldn't have been as successful as she was.
Sometimes I think people aren't happy unless they can say something nasty.
Cool news on Dimensions, you are now a part of it's early promoters and should be proud.
Not sure why people think it is okay to trash things they know nothing about, sadly it will not be the last time someone has the nerve to do so either.
Seriously though, people are asshats. I always doublecheck myself before i ever make a factual statment on the interwebs, so i don't come off looking like an ass.
I hope John Carter is good. Crossing my fingers for it
Jackie: You said it. It won't be the last time. It's just sad it's come to that.
Ref: Dimensions
Wasn't that great? I am so happy for them.
Sarah: Ref: Hunger Games
It was soooo depressing! I can take some depressing stories in books, but not at the movies.
Dru: It's got to be people under 30. ERB was too ingrained into our culture before then.
The Hunger Games isn't my cuppa either.
And that's great about Dimensions!
Jennifer: I think Dimensions' success is well deserved.
Broken Biro: We live in an ephemeral world. I don't think people worry about their reps anymore. They can always reemerge somewhere else down the line forgiven.
John Carter doesn't look like something I'd want to sit through in a theater, but I'd certainly make sure I'd seen it before I attempted to review it. Yeesh.
Boogie, boogie.
Happy writing :)
It's as if they see the word "critic" in their job description and decide never to do anything else.
Surprising that reviewers can "review" a movie without having seen it. Makes me think he won't be a reviewer for long.
Suzanne: That was always one of my more favorite quotes.
Misha: You might have something there about the title of critic. Maybe he doesn't understand the job description. ;)
Cate: If the trailer can tell a story, I am not surprised in the least they won.