What kind of film fan are you?

[Quintus 5,391]

I went with option 2

Stupid buggy forum wouldn't publish all of the options, at least until I retyped them in a hasty edit

[Charlie Brigden 5]

I voted for 2 as it's generally the closest to my usual philosophy. However I do swing towards 3 occasionally, (usually when Guy Ritchie, Michael Bay or the words "romantic comedy" or "4 stars - Paul Ross, News of the World" occur).

[Ollie 859]

I went with #2 but if I could combine 2, 3 & 4 it would fit perfectly.

[Quintus 5,391]

The French are just as indecisive and look what always happens to them!

[Ollie 859]

Well I'm willing to give it a try but based on past experiences I avoid some films.

[Quintus 5,391]

When you give up on the eternal search for that diamond in the rough, well you may as well give up on film all together. I love it when movies take me by surprise! I love it when I expect to hate a movie but instead end up loving it! Gems are indeed rare, but when they are found, in whatever genre, it's a GREAT feeling.

[Ollie 859]

Sorry, I refuse to sit thru another Michael Bay film.

[Quintus 5,391]

Of course, as I doubt I shall ever watch Lucas fuck up another production. It's easy to be wise to shite. And forgiveable.

[Ollie 859]

Like I said, I'll give some a chance but others, no I've learned my lesson.

[Quintus 5,391]

Out of curiosity:

I love it when I expect to hate a movie but instead end up loving it

Does this sentiment hold true everyone, or are there some here who find this NEVER happens?

[Charlie Brigden 5]

I find it does happen, and it's great when it does, but much less than when I see a film I expect to like that I don't (like IRON MAN). I can't honestly remember the last time it happened.

Edit: I remember, it was KUNG FU PANDA.

[Ollie 859]

I think wary is a term I would use instead of hate. I can't remember ever going into a film hating it.

I know I've gone into a film loving it and then walking out hating it.

[Quintus 5,391]

It's always going to be easier (and more likely) to be disappointed than it is to be satisfied; see any number of hyped movies for further proof of that. In fact I think LotR is one of the few things to go against the grain, recently, at least as far as I'm concerned.

But yeah, wary is the better term.

[Wojo 2,442]

I went with #2 but if I could combine 2, 3 & 4 it would fit perfectly.

Ditto.

Whilst I take film seriously, I'm open minded enough to give any movie a try, from weighty adult dramas to blockbuster rollercoaster action movies

I have to be REALLY bored to go see a random movie at the theater if there's not a reason that I wanted to see it in the first place, or because somebody could twist my arm effectively.

If I dislike the director or star, I will avoid the movie period

I think I only paid to see one Bay on the big screen, and that was Transformers 1. Wasn't impressed and didn't want to see its sequel.

I often make up my mind about a movie before actually seeing it, thus deciding whether or not I will watch it, in advance

Once the reviews of all the Star Wars movies and the Indy sequel were in, there was still no way to not go see them on the big screen. They were still part of the phenomena that are...those phenomena...so I had to go see them.

Likewise, there are a lot of movies that are well received as classics that just don't interest me. I'm happier with waiting for movies to hit video to rent or wait until they show up on TV, than with driving to the cineplex and paying the outrageous sums.

[Charlie Brigden 5]

It's always going to be easier (and more likely) to be disappointed than it is to be satisfied; see any number of hyped movies for further proof of that. In fact I think LotR might be the only thing which has gone against the grain, at least as far as I'm concerned.

I think I was more curious or apprehensive about LOTR than anything, and it was great to see PJ pull it off. I was the same about STAR TREK, and ended up loving that.

[Quintus 5,391]

@Wojo

As far as your example for option 3 goes: I went to the cinema to see Phantom Menace and Attack of the Clones and learned my lesson (the hard way) - eventually going on to instead download the pirate of Revenge of the Sith. Ironic really, since that probably would've been the least disappointing, on the big screen.

It's always going to be easier (and more likely) to be disappointed than it is to be satisfied; see any number of hyped movies for further proof of that. In fact I think LotR might be the only thing which has gone against the grain, at least as far as I'm concerned.

I think I was more curious or apprehensive about LOTR than anything, and it was great to see PJ pull it off. I was the same about STAR TREK, and ended up loving that.

God knows why, but I had a feeling Abrams was going to nail it. I mean, I'm not even a Trek fan, but I WANTED to see his movie, for some reason beyond me. It's not like I was blown away by his previous efforts either. Strange.

[Charlie Brigden 5]

I was utterly depressed after seeing ROTS. Even after TPM and AOTC, I had to see it in the cinema, but it was a painful experience, not necessarily of the film on its own (which admittedly is not great, even if I like it a bit more than most) but what it and its brethren represented. To a die hard SW fan like myself, standing outside the cinema at 2.30am having a fag was a deeply conflicting and introspective moment.

[Ollie 859]

I purposely avoided any hype or even reading anything related to TPM prior to its release. The only thing I knew was that Williams was doing the movie and a few of the stars. I wanted it to be as I was with Star Wars.

I remember sitting in the car after the film and my girlfriend at the time asked me if I enjoyed the film. It took me a few minutes to mumble a half hearted yes. I was thankful I didn't get all hyped up.

I remember the Yoda duel in AOTC and laughing so hard I had tears in my eyes. The problem was, I (and the audience) was laughing at the scene and not with it.

By the time ROTS came I just didn't give a damn anymore. I saw it and fullfilled my obligation.

[Marian Schedenig 5,520]

I went with #2 but if I could combine 2, 3 & 4 it would fit perfectly.

I went with 4, but I could also have picked 2. I'll watch pretty much anything as long as I expect it might be good, regardless of genre. I do have a strong threshold for stupidity and lameness though, which makes me exclude e.g. the Bruckheimers and Bays in advance. And I, unlike most people here, refuse to watch pretty much anything that's dubbed.

[Charlie Brigden 5]

And I, unlike most people here, refuse to watch pretty much anything that's dubbed.

I'm the same with that except for post-1955 Godzilla movies.

[Quintus 5,391]

By the time ROTS came I just didn't give a damn anymore. I saw it and fullfilled my obligation.

After seeing AotC at the cinema I felt I was under no obligation to see any more of Lucas' Star Wars, so I didn't. I'd already wised up after two horrible movies.

And I, unlike most people here, refuse to watch pretty much anything that's dubbed.

I'm the same with that except for post-1955 Godzilla movies.

I've only ever seen the dubbed version of Spirited Away, which is sublime.

[Ollie 859]

I refuse to watch any more dubbed films. Unless I have no choice.

The Godzilla, or any Japanese Sci-Fi films, are horribly dubbed.

Even Leone's Man With No Name trilogy is awfully dubbed. They should have just used subtitles and let Eastwood and Van Cleef speak english.

[Kendal_Ozzel 32]

I vote "all of the above".

[Wojo 2,442]

I can forgive TGTBATU for its horrible dubbing. It's part of what endears it.

[Ollie 859]

A younger me could, now it's really annoying.

[Wojo 2,442]

Note to self: don't get old. Don't stop liking TGTBATU.

[Marian Schedenig 5,520]

I can forgive TGTBATU for its horrible dubbing. It's part of what endears it.

Oh the Leones I do watched dubbed (but not the German dubs). Although I never quite understood the language situation there.

[Red 73]

I went with #2 but if I could combine 2, 3 & 4 it would fit perfectly.

Here! Here!

I'm pretty discerning when it comes to movies, but I can enjoy a wide range of genres and styles.

[Marian Schedenig 5,520]

And I, unlike most people here, refuse to watch pretty much anything that's dubbed.

Clarification: With "here", I meant "here in Austria", where films are usually watched in German, regardless of their original language. Luckily, all my movie-watching fans always go see the originals, at least for movies in English. Although I'm the only one who refuses to watch them dubbed on TV.

[Luke Skywalker 1,284]

I remember the Yoda duel in AOTC and laughing so hard I had tears in my eyes. The problem was, I (and the audience) was laughing at the scene and not with it.

People in my cinema applauded...

[Morlock 9]

I'm closest to Mark on this one. I used to be a 2, but I have become a bit less patient in recent years (3-4 years ago, there's no way I would have missed Transformers 2, if only to righteously condemn it. This year? Life's too short.)

[BurgaFlippinMan 7]

I went with #2 but if I could combine 2, 3 & 4 it would fit perfectly.

I went with 4, but I could also have picked 2. I'll watch pretty much anything as long as I expect it might be good, regardless of genre. I do have a strong threshold for stupidity and lameness though, which makes me exclude e.g. the Bruckheimers and Bays in advance. And I, unlike most people here, refuse to watch pretty much anything that's dubbed.

I think you mean "don't have a strong threshold.."?

As for dubbing (of films in languages I don't understand), I'm in two minds. On one hand, dubbing doesnt sound right. On the other hand, I really hate subtitles because they are so distracting, and on top of that I often have a hard time trying to match up who is saying what I'm reading. Not so much a problem when it comes to a Hollywood film with small smatterings of foreign language bits since those scenes tend to be shot in a simple manner, but its definitely an issue when its a completely foreign film.

[Koray Savas 2,095]

#4

I know whether I want to see a movie or not based on the trailer and other factors such as cast, crew, etc.

#2 was my first instinct, but I am obviously going to have biases and not be open-minded to everything. If someone comes up to me and says, you have to watch this Uwe Boll movie, it's amazing. I'm not gonna give it a try and see if I end up liking it.

[Uni 306]

The trouble with your poll is that there's not a lot of differentiation in the answers. The first two are pretty much the same coin; you're either saying, "I'm easy, I'll watch anything," or, "I'm hard, I'll watch anything." The fourth choice encompasses the third and fifth. If you don't think you're going to be intellectually engaged by a film, or if you don't like the actors or director, then you are by default deciding in advance not to see it. They're saying pretty much the same thing.

For that reason, I couldn't really choose an answer. I belong in the second category--though I'm a tough crowd, I'm open to a lot of things--but there are certainly films I won't go see for your stated reasons and more. For instance, I'm not so open-minded that enough of my brain will leak out to make a Michael Bay movie a tolerable experience. It just can't happen.

- Scott

[King Mark 2,924]

I watch anything but I generally don't like horror films and G rated comedies.

The last few movies I saw at the Cinema:

Zombieland

Whip It

Law Abiding Cidizen

Where the Wild things Are

A Christmas Carol

Men who Stare at Goats.

[Quintus 5,391]

@Uni

Fair enough, it's only a casual poll anyway, a bit of fun. Just something for us to talk about, no big deal. Though judging by your actual answer, I'd say you're option 3

[Uni 306]

That's reasonable, though it's more about the director than the actors, who will sometimes do great films and sometimes to lousy films, making it hard to tell how good or bad their next one might be. A bad director, though, is usually just a bad director. Period.

- Scott

[AC1 3,565]

I couldn't pick one either. The poll seems to be secretly saying, "Those who are critical are not open-minded."

Alex

[Hlao-roo 388]

I only watch films starring Debra Winger.

[BurgaFlippinMan 7]

I couldn't pick one either. The poll seems to be secretly saying, "Those who are critical are not open-minded."

Alex

Its entirely possible for a person to be a tough audience but at the same time not feel a need to question his own existence at every single movie.

[AC1 3,565]

Its entirely possible for a person to be a tough audience but at the same time not feel a need to question his own existence at every single movie.

I agree but I'm afraid I don't get your point. Do you have one?

[Quintus 5,391]

I think you're just paranoid. It's not my fault if you think the poll is suggesting what you claim.

God knows I'll rip into a movie if I don't like it, even if everyone else loves it. Of course that doesn't mean I'm narrow-minded. It just means I disagree.

Trouble is, some people confuse disagreement with I'm right and everyone else is wrong.

[Melange 446]

What kind of film fan are you?

Generally I decide by the description of a movie, if I'll go and watch it. Not by reviews.

Usually that means I end up saving money and not wasting valuable time on rubbish. Occasionally though it means missing a great movie for quite some time, until I happen to see it at a later date where I'm in a position where there is no choice what the movie is (relatives house, social outing, etc). Starsky and Hutch for example, is one that I cynically avoided on hearing about its release, as likely to be yet another doomed to fail attempt of hollywood to grab success stories from the past due to lack of present creativity. When I saw it at a later date, I loved every second of that movie and was in stitches of laughter. It really wasn't what I'd expected, at all

[Koray Savas 2,095]

I thought Starsky & Hutch would be terrible too. My brother blind bought it on DVD and we loved it. Thanks for reminding me, I haven't watched it in ages.

[Marian Schedenig 5,520]

I think you mean "don't have a strong threshold.."?

You could put it either way I guess. What I mean is: I often find a film too stupid to watch when other don't even think about how "intelligent" it is. I have no problem with "dumb" films though (hey, I'm a Python fan). I think it ties into the whole "taking itself too seriously" issue which I loathe so much. The quickest way to a film to loose me is by saying, "hey look how non-seriously we take ourselves". I think that was invented for the Moore Bonds.

As for dubbing (of films in languages I don't understand), I'm in two minds. On one hand, dubbing doesnt sound right. On the other hand, I really hate subtitles because they are so distracting, and on top of that I often have a hard time trying to match up who is saying what I'm reading. Not so much a problem when it comes to a Hollywood film with small smatterings of foreign language bits since those scenes tend to be shot in a simple manner, but its definitely an issue when its a completely foreign film.

I don't mind subtitles. I agree I'm not that picky when it comes to languages I don't understand in the slightest (like Chinese/Japanese, or probably Slavonic languages). But even though I never learned Spanish or French, and have long ago forgotten my school Italian (I do remember some latin though), when watching films in those languages with subtitles I still can make out the rough structure of sentences, meaning I can follow what is said when. And that can make a huge difference, performance-wise. In my opinion, one of the main conceptual problems with dubs (aside from the practical fact that they, with two exceptions, all suck) is that they have to move words around, so the actor's mimics don't fit what they say anymore.

[Uni 306]

Its entirely possible for a person to be a tough audience but at the same time not feel a need to question his own existence at every single movie.

I've never questioned my own existence at a movie. I certainly don't think cinema's that important. Now, I've often had to question the existence of the movie I'm watching, but that doesn't necessarily make me hypercritical or close-minded.

- Scott

[Quintus 5,391]

Posting here is sometimes enough to make me question my own existence.

[Damien F 866]

I chose 2.

I can watch any genre or style as long as the acting, direction and script are good. Two of my favourite movies of 09 are Star Trek and Doubt - 2 widely different movies.

I generally tend not to avoid a movies solely based on a certain actor or director - although I do find Renee Zelwegger the most annoying actor in Hollywood at the moment. To me, she looks like she's always licking sour lemon juice of a nettle.