The King's Speech

[Raiders]

Come on, dude, if Leonard Maltin likes a movie, you know it's probably not going to be very good. It might be mildly diverting, but it's not going to stick with you for very long after it's over.

Yet, this is what the majority of people want from their movie experience. Maltin and mainstream critics care more about pandering to them than to you.

[D_Davis]

People are still talking about this movie?

[Watashi]

Well, as I said, it's not like it was praised by anybody who's opinion I have a lot of respect for. Yeah, it got a lot of praise, but the people praising it are the same douchebags who spray their shorts for most Pixar movies.

I didn't like The King's Speech.

[Mara]

People are still talking about this movie?

No, we're talking about you.

In code.

You caught us.

[Watashi]

Seriously though, I'm sick of fucking mediocrity. Doesn't anybody else get tired of this shit? It's depressing how many people (including most reviewers) just want safe, unchallenging movies that require no mental exertion whatsoever. Reviewers are constantly bitching about how there aren't any grownup movies around, and then when a Godard or an Angelopoulos comes along, they freak out. If you want to be one of those morons who cries at Forrest Gump, go ahead, but I can't do it.

Dude. You gave Hereafter 4 stars.

You have no rights to talk about mediocrity.

[Arthur Seaton]

Dude. You gave Hereafter 4 stars.

You have no rights to talk about mediocrity.

No shit.

Well, as I said, it's not like it was praised by anybody who's opinion I have a lot of respect for. Yeah, it got a lot of praise, but the people praising it are the same douchebags who spray their shorts for most Pixar movies.

And you have no right to call anyone a douchebag, douchebag.

Love,
A fan of The King's Speech

[D_Davis]

No, we're talking about you.

In code.

You caught us.

I'M the King's Speech?

[baby doll]

Yet, this is what the majority of people want from their movie experience. Maltin and mainstream critics care more about pandering to them than to you.

Which is why I say that I don't respect their opinions, because I've moved beyond their limited conception of what cinema can and should be (i.e., television drama).

[Derek]

I didn't like The King's Speech.

Don't worry. Baby doll will find another way to pigeonhole you so any opinion you have can be dismissed. It's his gift.

[Derek]

Which is why I say that I don't respect their opinions, because I've moved beyond their limited conception of what cinema can and should be (i.e., television drama).

And yet you spend far more time talking about those opinions which you don't respect than the films you actually do.

[baby doll]

Dude. You gave Hereafter 4 stars.

You have no rights to talk about mediocrity.

How did I know this would come up sooner or later? (Only I thought Boner would be the one to bring it up.) I had pretty low expectations for the film going in (I'm far from the world's biggest Eastwood fan), and was surprised how much I liked it. And in light of the critical drubbing it received, I decided--what the hell--I'll give it four stars as a sort of provocation. (When I saw it a second time a few weeks later, I found it still very good but less impressive than on first viewing.) As Ebert would say, giving four stars to Hereafter doesn't mean the same thing as giving four stars to The Traveling Players.

[baby doll]

And yet you spend far more time talking about those opinions which you don't respect than the films you actually do.

When David Bordwell and Jonathan Rosenbaum weigh in on the film, we can talk about that. Unfortunately, Robin Wood is dead, so he's not likely to write about the film anytime soon.

[Ezee E]

Babydoll amazes me like Barty does.

[Spinal]

People are still talking about this movie?

I only saw it last night. I had about three sentences to say. That seemed like enough.

[Qrazy]

Which is why I say that I don't respect their opinions, because I've moved beyond their limited conception of what cinema can and should be (i.e., television drama).

Doesn't it ever get tiresome to formulate all your opinions in reaction to those of others?

[Barty]

The famous King's Speech set was used first in a gay porno film.

[Spinal]

Did anyone listen to the actual audio of the pre-war speech made by George VI? It's pretty bad.

[Derek]

When David Bordwell and Jonathan Rosenbaum weigh in on the film, we can talk about that. Unfortunately, Robin Wood is dead, so he's not likely to write about the film anytime soon.

Than the films you actually do respect.

[baby doll]

Doesn't it ever get tiresome to formulate all your opinions in reaction to those of others?

I think the real issue here isn't so much my opinion of the film as it is my opinion of mainstream reviewers like Ebert, Maltin, and Travers. Mara said she felt the film was over-praised, but when you look at who praised it and why, you can't reasonably expect anything more from the film than diverting hokum--which is apparently what said reviewers (and the majority of filmgoers) go to the cinema looking for. However, even on that level, I felt the film failed to deliver. (By way of contrast, Hereafter is hokum of the highest order.)

[Spinal]

Stephanie Zacharek, J. Hoberman and Manohla Dargis all liked it. Not exactly people I'd include among the Leonard Maltins of the world.

[baby doll]

Stephanie Zacharek, J. Hoberman and Manohla Dargis all liked it. Not exactly people I'd include among the Leonard Maltins of the world.

Both Dargis and Hoberman were pretty modest in their praise for the film.

[Qrazy]

I think the real issue here isn't so much my opinion of the film as it is my opinion of mainstream reviewers like Ebert, Maltin, and Travers. Mara said she felt the film was over-praised, but when you look at who praised it and why, you can't reasonably expect anything more from the film than diverting hokum--which is apparently what said reviewers (and the majority of filmgoers) go to the cinema looking for. However, even on that level, I felt the film failed to deliver. (By way of contrast, Hereafter is hokum of the highest order.)

*shrug*

Personally I don't really care what any reviewers (mainstream or otherwise) have to say about anything.

Film theorists and analysts on the other hand... that's more interesting.

[Mysterious Dude]

Did anyone listen to the actual audio of the pre-war speech made by George VI? It's pretty bad.

Reminds me of Emperor Hirohito's surrender speech to the Japanese people. He doesn't sound like a leader. He sounds like an ordinary man.

Based on that picture, I can totally believe that Prince Charles is descended from him. And speaking of Prince Charles and ordinary men, I was delighted to learn that the Prince of Wales recently discovered his true calling:

[Irish]

Seriously though, I'm sick of fucking mediocrity. Doesn't anybody else get tired of this shit?

I'd pay cash money to sit behind you during a showing of Transformers: Dark of the Moonies or whatever the hell it was.

On point: King's Speech isn't worth talking about, much less anyone getting upset over.

[Spinal]

On point: King's Speech isn't worth talking about, much less anyone getting upset over.

Indeed. I was very amused when I searched for the thread last night and discovered that the most recent Oscar winner had generated a massive half-page of discussion.