Movie critics? Bah!
I saw the movie Year One in the theatre for the first time in May of 2009 and have since watched it about a dozen times on DVD.
Until now, I had not taken note of critics’ reviews, but today I happened to read on Wikipedia that Rotten Tomatoes wrote, “Year One is a poorly executed, slapdash comedy in which the talent both in front of and behind the camera never seem to be on the same page.”
And also on Wikipedia, “Claudia Puig of USA Today gave the film 2/4 stars complaining that the film is scattershot and silly, squandering its potential by relying on juvenile bawdy humor.”
I’m no expert on making movies, but I do know what I like and I’m glad I saw the movie without having read or heard any reviews. In my opinion, the juvenile bawdy humour WAS the movie.
“Zed (Jack Black) and Oh (Michael Cera) are cavemen who stumble out of the mountains into an epic journey of biblical proportions. One’s a bumbling hunter, the other’s a gentle gatherer; together, they become unlikely participants in history’s most pivotal moments…. Year One is rude, crude, wildly absurd, deliciously tasteless and laugh-out-loud funny!” Sony Pictures
This bears repeating:
“…rude, crude, wildly absurd, deliciously tasteless and laugh-out-loud funny.”
Seriously silly
What appeals to me about Year One IS the tasteless, laugh-out-loud funny and juvenile bawdy humour. I don’t care if the movie doesn’t measure up to the critic’s standards.
Year One makes my movie top-ten list (maybe even top 5); sharing the list with The Devil Wears Prada, The Fugitive, What About Bob?, A Fish Called Wanda, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, The Family Stone, Planes Trains & Automobiles, Double Jeopardy and most recently, It’s Complicated.
I’m a serious soul. I’m a silly soul. And, I take silly seriously; more so, the older I get.
I come across to most people as quiet, reserved and shy; some label me as “spiritually minded”. Quite honestly, the whole spirituality scene has become way too intense for me; almost cultish. It’s like everyone is holding their breath. Nobody fart and God help us if someone does.
I watch myself sometimes when I put on the spiritual mask; that’s what it’s become like lately; a mask. It’s like I’m waiting for “something”. Where IS the magic? Why do I need THE magic?
My most enlightening and alive moments are not when I’m doing yoga or meditating. They are when I’m laughing. And I’m talking about the loud, side-splitting laughter that has tears spilling down your cheeks. Those are my most pivotal moments.
I’ve never been a person to make a decision to see or not see a movie based on what the critics say.
What about you?
What are your tastes in movies?
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Dot
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Tess The Bold Life
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You picked some of my favorites, too: A Fish Called Wanda, The Devil Wears Prada, What About Bob? (I used to be a Psychiatric Technician). Some of mine are Up, Shrek, Crazy Heart (new and incredible), Across the Universe, to name a few. I love movies and go once a week as my “vacation” from reality.
Now, I’ve been a spiritual seeker for many years and I finally got it that IT is not separate from who we are, whenever, wherever, however, we are. IT is present even in the masks, the pain, the sorrow, the bawdiness, the silence, the noise, the love, the joy, the hate. There is no way we can be separate from ALL THAT IS. I certainly don’t always remember that, but that too is included in THAT; the forgetting and the remembering.
Davina, thanks for helping me remember once again.
Taru Fisher´s last blog ..I love my short, gray hair
Love the doggy! I guess there’s no accounting for taste, eh? ;-) Lots of people like that kind of humor. Otherwise, the Three Stooges movies wouldn’t be classics.
I like “chick movies.” I like movies that make me laugh and cry. I don’t like action movies or movies that make me tense up, like horror or thrillers.
“Quite honestly, the whole spirituality scene has become way too intense for me; almost cultish.” That, along with your comment about not farting, add to my conviction that the spirituality “scene” is moving towards becoming an organized religion, a church.
Dot´s last blog ..Comment on The Blizzard, Day 2 by Dot
I do glance at critics’ reviews before I go to movies, which is why I never saw Year One… and now I’m thinking that i should give it a try!
vered | blogger for hire´s last blog ..Post Baby Body: Stop it Already!
I realized when my family laughed at my rental selection one night — The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension (1984) — that I was never meant to follow the choice of critics.
“Quite honestly, the whole spirituality scene has become way too intense for me; almost cultish.” — Seems like many things are becoming cultishly intenst, and if you’re in and and fit their spiritual (or the latest “let’s figure it out together”) club, all will be well. Polarizing finger-pointing and trying to stake out the moral high-ground for the cause is becoming vogue. I say we sick Jack Black on them all.
Lori Hoeck´s last blog ..The power of preparedness
Seeing how you liked Year One…
Have you checked out the two Trailer Park Boys movies?
(You might like them…!)
Hi Taru.
I saw UP too… and loved it! Shrek; another fav. Oh… and Ice Age; that’s another winner. Good point; spirituality is not separate from who we are; so why are we trying to find it? We’re so hung up on “painless”. It’s almost like personal development has become an escape from what is. Don’t you think?
Hi Dot.
Isn’t that a cute doggie? :-) Awh…
You’d probably like The Family Stone then; it’s a “chick movie” as is Prime and Failure to Launch. I used to be able to watch horror movies. Now I have to watch them *with* someone. They freak me out, otherwise. I hear you re spirituality moving towards an organized religion. It’s like,when too many people are “worshipping” the same thing it has to develop an identity. But then, that identity becomes bigger than the people who believe in it.
Hi Vered.
If you see Year One, I hope you like it. If you don’t like it, I hope you forget where you heard about it :-) I like the portrayal of innocence of the two main characters… Though there are sexual innuendos and swearing in the movie, I feel it’s done in a tasteful way.
Hi Lori.
“Sick Jack Black on them all.” I love it! :-) You’ve said it well re: the moral high ground. I have to be really careful not to dive into that pond. There is a false sense of security in those waters. Another reason why I believe in your ebook; as long as we’re not morally smug, we’re not pointing fingers.
Hi Friar.
No, I haven’t yet seen the Trailer Park Boys movies. I used to watch the tv show though and thought they were pretty funny. Bubbles and Ricky are my fav characters. Ricky with his false sense of superiority… heh, heh.
Hi Davina,
I’m not a big movie fan so I haven’t seen Year One or many of the ones you listed. That said, I wouldn’t go by the reviews as they’re just one person’s opinion. I’d rather be surprised and decide for myself. When I do watch movies, I prefer chick flicks with a happy ending…I’m a sucker for happy endings.
Barbara Swafford´s last blog ..Don’t Let Your Heart Be Broken
Hi Davina .. interesting post – thank you. Films – some of those you mention I too loved – I’d add Pretty Woman and similar! We have an excellent film society here and I go to those 12 films ..a nd they recommend other avant garde films that are main stream, so I try and see those too. I bought The Guitar that Nadia recommended – & want to watch it this week .. I understand it’s mind changing. Invictus – I’m going to write about .. which I’m sure & hope! encourage people to go and watch – for information if nothing else.
Re spirituality .. I would have put myself in your place a year ago – but having linked in with this group and ever expanding one … I’ve tried to learn more – here I’m not emprisoned by a ra ra group .. I can be me and can learn. I’ve followed Nadia, Liara (whom I really struggled to understand – but I ‘battled’ on (hung on in there) and began to comprehend a little), and Jan all of whom offer different thought processes.
When my mother came to Eastbourne I wanted to find someone who practised Butterfly Massage – it’s exceedling light touch (almost non-touch) massage I’d read about for the elderly, desperately ill, sick babies etc – it gave amazing relief – and true to what I’d read – my mother thought it was wonderful. Janice, ‘our healer’, practices reiki, yoga, butterfly massage and is very spiritual (very – which ties in to my revelation of last week). Janice has been with us for over 2 1/4 years!!
I’ve begun to understand Liara a little more this year – but last week my life changed completely and I now understand a great deal more, particularly knowing Janice. I will tell you more when I’m ready. My suggestion is that you do what I did – all you’re doing is understanding a little more – without the cult aspect, and you’re in control.
Sorry! that was long .. I love to laugh .. and will get your suggestion One Year at some stage to watch .. thank you – Hilary
Hilary´s last blog ..The Law of Unintended Consequences and Post Boxes
You remind me one important fact to remember: critics are end of the day still human and that make their reviews somewhat, personal and subjective. What I can say is that some people will enjoy a movie and some people don’t no matter how good or bad the critics say it to be. From my personal experience, some of the best movies I had watched are the one where I went in without reading any reviews and totally clueless on what I was getting.
BK´s last blog ..How Do I Love Thee?
Hi Barbara.
Sigh… Yes, I’m a sucker for happy endings too. I’ve seen some movies that don’t end the way I want them too; can’t think of any off the top of my head, but it’s frustrating when that happens. If you haven’t seen It’s Complicated yet, I do recommend it since chick flicks are your thing. Meryl Streep is a delight in this, as is Alec Baldwin and Steve Martin.
Hi Hilary.
Yah, Pretty Woman I enjoyed too. Invictis is one I want to see; I can’t wait to read what you have to say about it… but since I haven’t seen it yet I better get cracking. :-)
I’ve followed Liara’s blog for a long while now and go through phases where I “absorb” and then I don’t. I think the challenge is to balance the reading and learning with life. In my experience anyway, I find I can tend to hunt for information and when I find it it gets buried away and forgotten. It’s like grab, grab, grab…. and the appreciating stops.
Hi BK.
That is true; critics do make their reviews personal and subjective. I think what happens is that people tend to be impressionable where their reviews are concerned. I’ve experienced the same as you; the movies I’ve seen without having read a review are the ones I enjoy most. I’ve gone to see some movies that had rave reviews and I was disappointed.
Classic tiredness sin; I just posted a long rambly comment but forgot to copy and save as I went along and AOL crashed with a groan and an expletive. It’s past midnight here and I can’t face trying to reproduce it, which is a shame because your post and the comments prompted a lot of thought. (I’m an unashamed movie maven and doing anything with love and presence is my idea of spiritual experience.)
I love romcoms and uplifting films, thrillers, period dramas and loads of the films my kids have enjoyed over the years (we’re a film-loving family) but I avoid harrowing films full of scenes of realistic violence or abuse. My husband reads the blurbs, reviews and ratings to help me avoid those.
I haven’t enjoyed many of Jack Black’s latest films except The Holiday; I always laugh at School of Rock but I found Pick of Destiny excruciating. I love Bill Murray’s comic timing; even though I watch them every year, I still laugh at Groundhog Day and Scrooged.
“My most enlightening and alive moments are not when I’m doing yoga or meditating. They are when I’m laughing. And I’m talking about the loud, side-splitting laughter that has tears spilling down your cheeks. Those are my most pivotal moments.” Here here…
I loved the movie Mama Mia…and I sing and dance with it…I don’t care the plot…just the fun fun and music….
patricia´s last blog ..Book Review: THE HELP ~Kathryn Stockett
Hi Davina
Oh this was so good to read, as I really loved “Year One” too. I don’t know what that young boy characters name is, but he is hilarious. Just the way he is, that dry, yet serious humor cracks me up so much!
And you know what I loved that movie because there were many, many great messages that are very true hinted at, if one paid attention. A few times it pointed to the insanity that we have adopted and still live with today. Sometimes poking at the truth makes it funny, but it also could serve as a wake up call.
So ditto, I loved that movie! As for my taste in general – comedies. I love laughing – it is healthy and it makes us feel good. I refuse to watch anything scary or too violent (almost everything has some violence in it today) – there is just no point of making images and thoughts like that part of my reality – life is too beautiful for that :)
Hi Janice.
I feel for ya! I’ve done that before. Now I select all and copy my comments before I hit “submit” — even on my own blog.
School of Rock is a good one; I’ve watched it a few times. I love Jack Black with the kids. And the principal of the school is a hoot too :) I was disappointed in The Holiday though and Pick of Destiny… well, I laughed like crazy through most of it. That move is an acquired taste.
Period dramas are another fav of mine. I enjoy seeing the costumes and the architecture in earlier times, and observing the culture.
Hi Patricia.
Saw the musical Mama Mia with a friend — did you see it? I’m not a huge fan of musicals but a friend took me and this one was good. Lots of dancing and that was the draw for us.
Hi Evita.
The young boy… Michael Cera’s character was “Oh”. He was absolutely brilliant. One of my favourite lines/scenes of his was when that huge village hunter threatened to “kill him where he stands.” Oh looked up to the sky and said, “Oh, a shooting star…” and happily walked off. I laugh like crazy every time… even rewind and watch it again :-D
Do you watch the British comedies? They are a hoot! I hear you about the movies with violence. I do watch some of them if I like the actors and the storyline. Just cover my eyes during the intense scenes. Prefer to watch those with other people.
In movies I like either really really “deep” or really really “light.”
Anything Jack Black, so I should really love this one. Nacho Grande? I absolutely LOVE that!
Monty Python
The Full Monty.
Waking Ned Divine!
And serious ones like Life is Beautiful, The Pianist, or Saving Private Ryan, that showcase the triumph of the human spirit. Hmmn, those 3 are all WW2 movies, am I sensing a trend in myself?
xo
Davina — Well, just put it out there, oh wise one:~) I love the line about the fart!!! I also agree you totally that my best moments have been when I was laughing so hard my sides hurt.
I believe we can have it all if we accept the wonderful variety in ourselves. We can have moments of deep spiritual awareness and moments when we crack up over something totally silly. I love this about people. It’s what makes us human.
Regarding the movies…some of my favorites would also be covered in Rotten Tomatoes. For example, I loved Made of Honor and Head over Heels (which has a bathroom scene that’s unbelievably tasteless, but hysterically funny).
I definitely do not follow critics…the few times I have, I’ve hated the movies:~)
A movie I recently enjoyed was August Rush. It was, for me, a very uplifting movie and had a fairy tale feel about it. I think I still need a dose of fairy tales every now and then to keep my feet from becoming locked in the cement of reality.
Oh, the other thing about me and movies is they HAVE to have a good ending, unless it’s a documentary. I even go to a site called Movie Spoiler before I watch a movie. This is because I once got sucked into watching CHINA TOWN when I was younger. It damaged me for life:~(
p.s. It’s was fun to read the comments and see what movies everyone else liked…it just goes to show the wide variety of interests we all have!
It’s good to have you back. I loved this post:~)
Sara´s last blog ..Anti-Valentine’s Day
Cute dog. He looks like a couch potato movie critic watching a Lassie movie. Will it be four paws up or four paws down? I would not have any faith in a critic called “Rotten Tomatoes”.
I have enjoyed all the movies you have mentioned. “What About Bob?” is a favorite.
I love the Pink Panther movies with Peter Sellers. I agree with laughter over spiritual for making you happier.
Laughter is a universal language that everyone on earth understands and appreciates.
Hiya Jannie Jan
I saw Nacho Grande… and didn’t enjoy it… :-D LOVED the Full Monty! And, like Monty Python too. The Pianist really got to me — Adrian Brody was amazing in that. Despite the intensity of the film, it really got to the heart in another way. You’re a versatile movie chick.
Hi Sara.
Hah, hah… you said fart too :-) I haven’t heard about August Rush. If what you say is true; that it has a fairy tale feel about it, I will probably enjoy it. I know what you mean about movies that don’t have a good ending; HUGE disappointment to be left hanging.
Hi Jim.
“He looks like a couch potato movie critic watching a Lassie movie.” That’s cute! :-) The Pink Panther movies are classics. Love them too. My mother nicknamed me the Pink Panther when I was a teenager because I was long and lean like he was.
I didn’t actually say I believe laughter makes a person happier than the spiritual. I think a lot of people take spirituality too seriously (myself included). But, I know what you mean about laughter.
August Rush is a contemporary version of Oliver Twist…the music is lovely as it is filmed in NYC and my symphonic than musical…..Robin Williams adds a lovely twist as Fagin.
patricia´s last blog ..ANTS or Automatic Negative Thinking ~REPOST
Yes I’d say laughing is my no. 1 spiritual activity! I do it loud and often. I llllloooovvveeeee It’s complicated, saw it twice and will go again and buy the DVD. I haven’t laughed that long or hard since.
Tess The Bold Life´s last blog ..Living A Life Of No Regrets
You mean I don’t have to meditate anymore and I can just rent a bunch of Jack Black movies? :) Well, I probably won’t end up doing that, but I can see what you mean about spirituality turning into a job or obligation — I know that happens to me when I lose sight of the fact that meditation, yoga, etc. are actually practice for dealing with real-world situations.
Hi Davina,
I don’t get to movies and never did much but now that I finally gave in and have cable, I catch parts of ones the boys watch. We have tons of DVDs but again, the boys watch them, not me. I tend to watch CSI things when I am too tired to do anything else.
I hope to change all of this soon. Critics wouldn’t sway me though because if something looks good enough to make me want to go on a preview, I go.
Julie Walraven | Resume Services´s last blog ..Cultivating Networks —> Right Place, Right Time
This is seriously wonderful! How refreshing! I don’t base my decisions on what critics say either. I don’t share their agendas. :)
I also loved The Devil Wears Prada — gotta’ love Meryl Streep — Double Jeopardy, The Proposal, all the Jane Austin movies, Airplane (you want slapstick!), Sabrina, Knotting Hill, Dave, Ocean’s Eleven, No Reservations, While You Were Sleeping, The Thomas Crown Affair, Run Away Jury, Somewhere in Time. To name some. I love movies! Good stories, that is. I’m waiting to see It’s Complicated.
Well that was fun. Thanks. :)
Barb Hartsook´s last blog ..How to Paint a Portrait from a Casual Snapshot – A Tutorial
Hi Patricia.
Thanks. I’ll mark that one down on my list. Robin Williams is another actor who I think is brilliant. Sometimes he’s a bit over the top, but it depends on the role. Loved him in Mrs. Doubtfire.
Hi Tess.
Laughing loud and often eh? I have a video link I’m going to email you then. I think it will do the trick :-) Wasn’t Meryl Streep great in It’s Complicated? I loved the part where she said, “Turns out… I’m a bit of a slut.”
Hi Chris.
Would be a good experiment wouldn’t it. A lot better than Super-size Me :-) Practice is a good way to put it you know. It’s more conducive to not controlling something.
Hi Julie.
CSI is good to watch. If you watch that you might enjoy Criminal Minds. I feel it’s even better than CSI.
Hi Barb.
That’s a good point about not sharing the critic’s agenda. After reading your list I see we have very similar taste in movies. You’ll LOVE It’s Complicated. :-D
Hello again, I could have answered you on Twitter but 140 characters is such a pain. CSI is my shortcut for all shows like that. I do like Criminal minds and NCSI and all the off shoots. I don’t know why. Way back when I wanted to be a lawyer but not a corporate lawyer, a criminal lawyer so I took all these psychology, sociology, and criminology courses… bolstered by a large amount of English courses. Then I quit the lawyer track completely and ended up as a resume writer. So maybe the crime shows are a throwback to the earlier interests and goals.
Julie Walraven | Resume Services´s last blog ..Cultivating Networks —> Right Place, Right Time
Well, I’ll let others be the judge of whether I’m spiritual or not (perhaps they’ll think me more religious than spiritual?). Whatever I am, I can certainly testify to talking to God – I hope! – and hoping he’ll talk to me.
In between those times I continue living life in my awkward, haphazard way with all of its eating and drinking and sleeping and walking around and drawing and writing and… well, all the stuff you do in a life.
I even watch movies. Lots of them. I must confess that Year One did absolutely nothing for me; but hey, each to their own, right? I think the last movie that I found genuinely funny was Broken Flowers with Bill Murray. It’s not a comedy, but a drama with many genuinely humorous moments. Yeah, I’m weird like that! :P
Tony Single´s last blog ..The Ant and the Cicada
Hi Julie.
Yeah, 140 characters can be limiting to good conversation :)
Criminology is fascinating isn’t it? The way the human mind works never ceases to amaze me. That’s interesting how your path evolved and you ended up as a resume writer. I guess in a way there is a similarity… you’re still writing and developing profiles.
Hi Tony.
Yeah, you’re weirdly human — God would be proud :-D Eating, drinking, sleeping, drawing and writing… some of the best hobbies…
I don’t recall having seen Broken Flowers, but I do like Bill Murry. He’s a genius at facial expressions.
If I saw movies based on reviews alone then I would have missed a lot of good movies. :)
Rose´s last blog ..How to Create Twitter Layouts with twitlay
Yeah, ain’t that the truth! And it works the other way too. I’ve found that if I pay too much attention to the good reviews, my expectations are too high and I’m disappointed. You just can’t win.