Taste in Movies.

[joshaube]

Okay, I need a medium to vent my rage a little. Since the topic actually warrants discussion, I thought I'd post it here... and see what you all think.

Taste in movies. There was a quote once, which compared taste to that of an asshole. I don't remember it word per word, so I won't bother typing it out. I might have heard it here, I'm not sure.

I'm becoming really fed up with people I know in real life. The people I am friends with... well, they don't share my love for film. They could care less about it. I have one friend who declares herself a movie buff, but her "all-time favourites" change week by week, depending on what's in theatres. She can call herself what she likes.

They all ridicule me for my taste in film.

They go out and see what's playing in theatres. Your typical comedies, your blockbusters, your PG-13 horrors. They don't venture into any other material. They stick with movies starring people they know. Movies backed by big studios.

And then they turn around and shit on the movies I like.

Apparently, they've gotten it into their head... that the reason I dislike a movie, is because it's not a horror movie. Somehow, the entire world thinks I am this big horror fan, and won't watch anything else. I like horror, yes, but it's not the be-all-and-end-all... that's for sure. Hell, my all-time favourites has less horror on it then any other genre (excluding Westerns... haven't really seen any. Honestly.)

Because my list includes Amelie, works by David Lynch and Pedro Almodovar, Pan's Labyrinth, films with titles in other languages... because of this, I guess they decided that my taste pretty much sucks.

When I tell them I just saw an excellent movie, they say "Oh ya?" and laugh. I tell them what it's about, and that they should see it, and they shit on it. They say it sounds terrible. The latest example. Gone Baby Gone.

"That sounds lame."

And then they turn around and talk to me for 30 minutes about how Epic Movie was the best comedy they saw last year.

They all say I have bad taste without even seeing any of the films I like. They just decide based on a one-sentence summary. They never even give them a chance. Don't they realize that they could digest an actual film in the same time it takes to sit through two shitfests?

I guess it just pisses me off double, not only for shitting on my taste in movies, but because they don't do what I tell them. Dumb, I know. I get kind of offended when I recommend something and they never take the chance with it.

What really gets me is when I recommend something, that person recommends it to others, and everyone congratulates them on having such great taste. I don't get mention... and I'm like... eh?

Does anyone else experience this? Do you get criticized a lot for your taste in movies? Or do you all manage to keep wonderful cinema-inclined friends?

I showed my friends Snakes on a Plane, Evil Dead, Planet Terror, Santa's Slay. Movies that are intentionally hilarious. They all said they were terrible. I told them the point of them were to be 'terrible.' They just don't fucking get it.

But then again, who's to say I'm right? Maybe Epic Movie was excellent. Maybe Pan's Labyrinth is complete shit because you have to read it. Maybe the Oscar this year should go to The Comebacks. Just maybe.

So I guess the question I'm asking is... do you experience anything similar? And how exactly does taste work? Who's to say one film is excellent while another is not?

[fortunato]

Originally Posted by joshaube

Okay, I need a medium to vent my rage a little. Since the topic actually warrants discussion, I thought I'd post it here... and see what you all think.

Taste in movies. There was a quote once, which compared taste to that of an asshole. I don't remember it word per word, so I won't bother typing it out. I might have heard it here, I'm not sure.

I'm becoming really fed up with people I know in real life. The people I am friends with... well, they don't share my love for film. They could care less about it. I have one friend who declares herself a movie buff, but her "all-time favourites" change week by week, depending on what's in theatres. She can call herself what she likes.

They all ridicule me for my taste in film.

They go out and see what's playing in theatres. Your typical comedies, your blockbusters, your PG-13 horrors. They don't venture into any other material. They stick with movies starring people they know. Movies backed by big studios.

And then they turn around and shit on the movies I like.

Apparently, they've gotten it into their head... that the reason I dislike a movie, is because it's not a horror movie. Somehow, the entire world thinks I am this big horror fan, and won't watch anything else. I like horror, yes, but it's not the be-all-and-end-all... that's for sure. Hell, my all-time favourites has less horror on it then any other genre (excluding Westerns... haven't really seen any. Honestly.)

Because my list includes Amelie, works by David Lynch and Pedro Almodovar, Pan's Labyrinth, films with titles in other languages... because of this, I guess they decided that my taste pretty much sucks.

When I tell them I just saw an excellent movie, they say "Oh ya?" and laugh. I tell them what it's about, and that they should see it, and they shit on it. They say it sounds terrible. The latest example. Gone Baby Gone.

"That sounds lame."

And then they turn around and talk to me for 30 minutes about how Epic Movie was the best comedy they saw last year.

They all say I have bad taste without even seeing any of the films I like. They just decide based on a one-sentence summary. They never even give them a chance. Don't they realize that they could digest an actual film in the same time it takes to sit through two shitfests?

I guess it just pisses me off double, not only for shitting on my taste in movies, but because they don't do what I tell them. Dumb, I know. I get kind of offended when I recommend something and they never take the chance with it.

What really gets me is when I recommend something, that person recommends it to others, and everyone congratulates them on having such great taste. I don't get mention... and I'm like... eh?

Does anyone else experience this? Do you get criticized a lot for your taste in movies? Or do you all manage to keep wonderful cinema-inclined friends?

I showed my friends Snakes on a Plane, Evil Dead, Planet Terror, Santa's Slay. Movies that are intentionally hilarious. They all said they were terrible. I told them the point of them were to be 'terrible.' They just don't fucking get it.

But then again, who's to say I'm right? Maybe Epic Movie was excellent. Maybe Pan's Labyrinth is complete shit because you have to read it. Maybe the Oscar this year should go to The Comebacks. Just maybe.

So I guess the question I'm asking is... do you experience anything similar? And how exactly does taste work? Who's to say one film is excellent while another is not?

i don't mean to offend, but your friends sound like assholes.

movie taste, like anything that has to do with another person's opinion, doesn't have any wrong or right answers. it's a special thing that one can call their own. like so many other aspects of a person, it makes us different. for a person to call another person's taste in movies "wrong" or "stupid" or anything else is nonsensical. tell your friends to get over it and start acting like friends.

[Roderick Usher]

get new friends:D

It sounds cruel, but you will certainly outgrow your current friends. I was considered the wierdo at my school for my tastes, but my close friends at least tried to understand where I was coming from and,although they are still rather conservative, my influence upon them is undeniable. Think of yourself as the ambassador of new experiences to them.

As an adult my friends may not share my exact tastes, but they all share my love for film/art/music/theater/literature. I've chose to surround myself with those who can educate & challenge me.

And you need to start watching westerns! They are a core element of American cinema and you'll see the western themes in Escape from New York and other scifi/action flicks in a new light. Knowing what you like you'd probably dig Unforgiven, The Quick and the Dead, The Wild Bunch & Django for starters.

[jenna26]

Originally Posted by fortunato

movie taste, like anything that has to do with another person's opinion, doesn't have any wrong or right answers. it's a special thing that one can call their own. like so many other aspects of a person, it makes us different. for a person to call another person's taste in movies "wrong" or "stupid" or anything else is nonsensical. tell your friends to get over it and start acting like friends.

I tend to agree. I like what I like, and I make no apologies for it. I happen to like a lot of crap, I'm okay with that. I also like films that most definitely aren't crap. Other people really can be asses about it though. I don't mind someone not agreeing with my tastes (I'm used to that for sure) but it never has to get personal. I have a friend, who I don't talk to very often....;) that thinks anything with Vin Diesel in it is like the best thing ever, but then dares to say the original Texas Chainsaw Massacre is "the stupidest movie" she has ever seen. Also keep in mind, she watched like ten minutes of it before turning it off.

But I am used to this kind of thing, I have often been criticized for my love of film as well. And for the kinds of films I enjoy. I don't really care anymore, but it used to irk me a bit as well. Same has happened with the books I read. I just ignore it and move on to another subject. These days, I only really discuss movies and books with my husband, or on forums like this one. And all my annoying friends that dismiss a lot of the movies I love while raving about films that just don't interest me that much....well, I left them all behind in Georgia....I still know no one here really. It kind of works out better for me that way....:D

[newb]

I don't have many friends who have the same taste as me. A couple of my kids do so I know at least I'm a good parent:D

I never really cared what people thought of me.....always kind of "marched to a beat of a different drummer."

[joshaube]

Yeah, my friends can be assholes sometimes, but isn't everyone an asshole occasionally? I'm friends with these people for other reasons, reasons that outweigh their negativity towards film. The topic doesn't really come up that often, I've learned not to mention anything... but when it does (like tonight) it can really irk me.

I do have a few friends who get where I'm coming from. They're usually the ones I have over for movie night. I've also attempted to sort them into 'groups' :p So I know who to bring to the theatre when I go to see a certain movie (It also gets difficult because I have a wide range of friends, and most of them don't get along with one another. I end up going to movies two or three times with different people.)

So it's not as terrible as I might have made it sound in my little spat of rage.

Rod, I've heard good things about most of those Westerns. I think I'll take the time to watch Unforgiven first, and go from there. I'm still saving Blazing Saddles until I'm more education in the genre.

I get that taste is a personal thing. But like so many, I can't get over that. :p When I like a film, I want others to agree. I find myself liking a lot of movies that are also critically acclaimed. I spread the word to a few friends, all of course who have the same opinion on it - that it's bad - and sometimes they sort of 'gang up' on me... like "We're obviously right because there's 3 against 1."

I usually keep my passion for film out of the topic during conversations, but I do secretly wish (okay, not so secretly...) that I had a group of friends who completely understood this side of me. I guess that's why I'm on this forum, though.

[Roderick Usher]

Originally Posted by joshaube

I usually keep my passion for film out of the topic during conversations, but I do secretly wish (okay, not so secretly...) that I had a group of friends who completely understood this side of me. I guess that's why I'm on this forum, though.

and why we're here for you:D

[ManchestrMorgue]

I feel your pain.

I have been a fan of horror for a long time, and haven't found many people in my life that can even understand my enthusiasm, let alone share it.

Most people I know would tend to find the older horror films "boring", and a lot of newer horror films repugnant.

So that leaves the PG-13's. Great :(

I would like a few friends that I could watch these films with, but I don't pick my friends based on their taste in movies.

[VampiricClown]

None of my friends are anywhere near, as film inclined as me. And no, I'm not saying that to sound like a stuck-up, jackass. It's annoying though when my favorite movie happens to be Halloween (1978), and everyone I talk to says that Halloween (2007) is the best movie ever and the old one was left in the dust. I'm sorry, but that just isn't right.

Not to mention, all of the people I know that are "horror fans", favorite movie series is the SaW franchise. That irritates the crap out of me. I mention The Wolf Man (1941), and they say, "you're lame. Those old movies suck." Then of course, being the way I am (short tempered), I tell them off.

Where do the new horror ideas originate from? Our horror history!

I feel your pain man. There is only one of my friends that thinks on the same terms that I do. And I love talking horror films with her. She's the only person who seems to get it. And come on, she likes the film, Slaughtered Vomit Dolls...Oh dear...I didn't realize how.......

I'm fixing to go call her.

Goodnight all.

[The Mothman]

alot of my friends dont like cheese.
they dont have taste.

no pun intended.