Because I’ve started to doubt myself a little. A changing
opinion on a film isn’t a bad thing of course, but after reading reviews that have
been more positive than I was I’m starting to think maybe I was too harsh on
it. So it got me thinking, does the environment in which we see films and the
people we see them with contribute to our overall opinion?
For example, at a press screening I'll likely be harsher on it than I would be on a date night.— Jonathan Cardwell (@Jonny_C85) May 20, 2016
It seems the answer, after consulting some of my delightful
cine-literate friends*, is…maybe. It depends.
Hmmm…
I saw Apocalypse at a press screening as the +1 of fellow
amateur reviewer so immediately I have my film reviewer head on, which is
similar to my regular head but slightly
more critical. I was also in the company of people whose writing I admire and
whose film opinions I greatly respect - though don’t necessarily always agree with - and when I’m with like minded reviewer
types I feel I judge a film more harshly than it might deserve. Maybe,
subconsciously or no, I’m trying to present a more highbrow version of myself
than the one that actually exists while in the company of my peers. I’d like to
think not, as I’ll watch a Paul Thomas Anderson film as readily as I will a
Paul WS Anderson one (Death Race rules!) but brains are weird.
We all have that friend who’s a film snob (and if you
don’t…well, this is awkward) and often my enthusiasm for a film wanes when the
lights go up and I see them make an exasperated face. Immediately I think ‘Oh,
maybe I didn’t like it that much.’ I’m guilty of it myself. In fact the second
we exited X-Men I did exactly that, puffed out my cheeks, made a face and
probably dampened any enthusiasm that my friend might have otherwise had. And I
felt bad. That post cinema high is an easy balloon to puncture. “Well, I
enjoyed that.” “Really?” Oh no, I’m someone’s film snob.
Then I thought would I have had the same reaction to the
film had I solely been going for enjoyment? On a date night with my wife when I
don’t have to review it, at least officially, and can just sit back and let it
wash over me? I think it’s fair to say I might (might!) have enjoyed it a touch
more on a Saturday night with punters as opposed to a Monday night with
critics. I respect my wife’s opinion as much as anyone’s but on a date night
we’re both less demanding in our standards (add your own joke here); I mean,
we’ll not say a terrible film** is good, but an average film is a perfectly
adequate 3-starrer date movie when it might be a 2 star critical review.
@Jonny_C85 I think that must apply to most. When you're going in with the intention of critiquing you'll always pick up more issues?— Tom Fletcher (@tomfletcher89) May 20, 2016
@Jonny_C85 if I'm with someone whose film opinions I respect, it will make me more open to a contrary view (i.e they liked it, I didn't)— Woowar (@mswoowar) May 20, 2016
@Jonny_C85 sometimes audiences help. packed opening night for GONE GIRL remains a highlight, the GASPs— BelfastFilm (@belfastfilmblog) May 20, 2016
@Jonny_C85 Yes! Sing Street with @EunoiaMBs was the perfect cinema experience, straight after work on my own could have been v diff.— CJohnston (@CJohnstonNI) May 20, 2016
@Jonny_C85 I'm going to be very vague and say both yes and no. Seeing Thor 2 with my oldest friend probably amplified my enjoyment of it.— Becky Lea (@beckygracelea) May 20, 2016
@Jonny_C85 yeah it does. I generally like films I love a lot less once I watch with my dad and his disapproving eyes.— Ethan M Barr (@ethanbarr2) May 20, 2016
Think of comedies. They’re almost always better watching
them in a packed cinema with everyone enjoying the fun than with only half a
dozen people chuckling, or at home on your sofa. That’s one area I feel where
you cannot argue that the company you’re in doesn’t affect your viewing
experience. The Simpsons Movie was one of my favourite movie going experiences
and it’s not a great movie, but the atmosphere was. An average 3 star comedy
could easily tip over into 4 because of the surroundings you see it in. A great
film will of course always be a great film, but everything adds to the
experience whether it’s on screen or in a packed theatre.
Is that bad though? Some people I spoke to on Twitter before
writing this have stated categorically that the company they attend the cinema
with in no way affects their opinion.
I’m not for a second suggesting they’re lying but more often than not you get out of a film what you bring into it. I realise there’s no way to quantify this; you aren’t able to tell if a different arena would have altered your opinion but if your mood, personal circumstances and even the views you hold can affect your experience surely it isn’t unreasonable to suggest the tone of the room/viewing companions can too?
@Jonny_C85 nope. I enjoy a film even if there's apathy around me. It is great though when the general consensus is the film was awesome!— Lee Allen (@LeeAllen35) May 20, 2016
@Jonny_C85 nah. A film will get the same reaction from me regardless of who i see it with. Company won't change how good/bad it is— Garry McConnachie (@TheGMcConnachie) May 20, 2016
I’m not for a second suggesting they’re lying but more often than not you get out of a film what you bring into it. I realise there’s no way to quantify this; you aren’t able to tell if a different arena would have altered your opinion but if your mood, personal circumstances and even the views you hold can affect your experience surely it isn’t unreasonable to suggest the tone of the room/viewing companions can too?
@Jonny_C85 @elenam52 Quite often for me it would work in reverse, I'd like it more to spite him.— James Ellaby (@jamesellaby) May 20, 2016
@Jonny_C85 yes My mum isnt critical of films at all so then I'm not but one friend is v critical so it makes me look at the film differently— Elena Morgan (@ElenaM52) May 20, 2016
@Jonny_C85 Yes. I think if you see something with friends or an audience who are up for it, like opening night of a comic book film, it's— Curt Milner (@CurtMilner) May 20, 2016
@Jonny_C85 -a much different experience than if you go with someone who's not as into it, or you go to an empty screening etc.— Curt Milner (@CurtMilner) May 20, 2016
@Jonny_C85 @NotNazir exactly. Everything effects the experience— lost mountain man (@NotNazir) May 20, 2016
I don’t think I’ve ever had a complete about face and been
convinced that I don’t/do like a film I’ve previously loved/hated because of a
friend’s opinion of it. I’d like to think I have more willpower than that. In
fact, I know I have. I’m still steadfast in the opinion that my friends who
hate Serenity are wrong, because of course they are. That’s just a fact.
Overall it’s a good thing though, the world would be boring (although perhaps
more peaceful) if we all agreed about everything, especially the important
things like whether an X-Men movie is good or not.
So I guess my point is…well, I don’t know what my point is.
I just wanted to write some words but after much deliberation and questioning
it seems the consensus is…maybe. It depends.
Hmmm…
*Thanks to all who answered my question earlier. You’re all
champs.
**My wife picked Date Movie for a date movie one night
(though admittedly more to do with a lack of options). It’s still one of the
worst cinema experiences of my adult life. I’ll never let her live it down.
@Jonny_C85 No, its mostly my husband and he is always wrong....— Penny & Dime (@Kryptonkara) May 20, 2016