TMOS Reviews Thread - Non Spoiler Review and Discussion - Part 6

[db85usa]

I saw Signs like 4 times as a teen because of different friends lol!

Signs was like War of the Worlds 99.99% good up until "that one moment" where you just go -- "Really? REALLY? Come'on!!!"

 

[Suzanne78]

I thought Zero Dark Thirty was garbage, personally. And I'm a big supporter of Bigelow and Jason Clarke.

At the risk of straying too far off topic, I only liked the last 30-40 minutes. And I adore Bigelow, Kyle Chandler, and Jessica Chastain a ton... but ZDT did zip for me until the SEALS appeared.

 

[Poni_Boy]

At the risk of straying too far off topic, I only liked the last 30-40 minutes. And I adore Bigelow, Kyle Chandler, and Jessica Chastain a ton... but ZDT did zip for me until the SEALS appeared.

I think Chastain's character was ridiculous. A lowly CIA operative who hasn't accomplished anything noteworthy wouldn't talk to her superiors that way consistently and get away with it. They were too preoccupied with making a strong female character that they forgot about the story the character had to operate within the confines of. Felt like bad 80s cop drama (i.e. surrender your badge stuff).

 

[Hammer!]

How did Chris Pratt look? I've never seen him in anything serious and the casting of him as the lead in Guardians of the Galaxy blindsided me.

 

[TheFlamingCoco]

Another positive review: http://www.mediamikes.com/2013/06/f...ium=rss&utm_campaign=film-review-man-of-steel

I'm not saying bloggers have the same prestige as journalists, but I do think RT is selecting a fairly limited amount of reviews.

 

[Poni_Boy]

Rotten Tomatoes doesn't select the reviews

 

[Suzanne78]

Good point. A lot comes down to taste. I own Watchmen & 300, and didn't particularly hate Sucker Punch either.

On the same token I've wanted big action in a Superman film since technology got to the point where such a spectacle could be delivered. Snyder, if nothing else, sounds like he's delivered that...

Yeah. It's certainly not universal across the board, but you might enjoy this particular Snyder joint if you have a history of liking his other movies as well.

RT is a strange animal. I can see where the inconsistent "review algorithm" or whatever you want to call it can drive fans batty. I also don't think it's accurate to compare MoS to a movie that was out a few years ago like SM3, without taking into account the increase of publications and blogs and other reviewers that are counted on the Tomatometer that weren't in the past.

Also, I admit I have a greater affinity for Marvel movies at the moment. Years ago, I loved the DC properties though. I'll admit that I love Captain America a lot, flaws and all, and I do sort of see Superman and Cap in similar veins to each other. That being said, I'm still open to some reinvention of either character, the only thing I ask is for an entertaining movie to service the reinvention

 

[Poni_Boy]

How did Chris Pratt look? I've never seen him in anything serious and the casting of him as the lead in Guardians of the Galaxy blindsided me.

In ZDT? Didn't like him. I thought Joel and Frank did much better jobs as SEALs. Chris looked... soft.. and awkward. But I really don't think his performance there is indicative of his GOTG role; or at least I won't until I know what his role consists of.

 

[Cannikan]

What is MOS claiming to be?

A grounded "real-world" superhero movie...with Superman punching stuff. I'm just not sure that's the best approach for a character that's supposed to be an alien from another planet that flies around in a cape.

Don't get me wrong...it's an intriguing concept...I'm just not sure it's what audiences (or, at least, critics) want. What works for Batman might not work for Superman.

 

[db85usa]

Another positive review: http://www.mediamikes.com/2013/06/f...ium=rss&utm_campaign=film-review-man-of-steel

I'm not saying bloggers have the same prestige as journalists, but I do think RT is selecting a fairly limited amount of reviews.

We can spin this however we want to -- complain, argue/debate, whine, whatever the fact is RT/Flixster has rotten ratings... this same format is featured widely on DTV, smartphones, the internet, social media sites. So, in reality, it is not a good thing for MoS.

The only good thing right now is if the audience absolutely loves it and is a major hit in the BO. There is a good possibility of both of these actually happening which of course remains to be seen.

 

[ThePhantasm]

Rotten Tomatoes doesn't select the reviews

Even if they did, one wouldn't be able to accuse them of being biased AGAINST the movie. They are owned by WB.

 

[Poni_Boy]

Yeah. It's certainly not universal across the board, but you might enjoy this particular Snyder joint if you have a history of liking his other movies as well.

RT is a strange animal. I can see where the inconsistent "review algorithm" or whatever you want to call it can drive fans batty. I also don't think it's accurate to compare MoS to a movie that was out a few years ago like SM3, without taking into account the increase of publications and blogs and other reviewers that are counted on the Tomatometer that weren't in the past.

Also, I admit I have a greater affinity for Marvel movies at the moment. Years ago, I loved the DC properties though. I'll admit that I love Captain America a lot, flaws and all, and I do sort of see Superman and Cap in similar veins to each other. That being said, I'm still open to some reinvention of either character, the only thing I ask is for an entertaining movie to service the reinvention

That's the most important point I've noticed a lot of people here gloss over. As the years go on the standards change. Just like how $1 mil isn't the same today as it was in 1990, 1980 or 1950.

 

[Suzanne78]

How did Chris Pratt look? I've never seen him in anything serious and the casting of him as the lead in Guardians of the Galaxy blindsided me.

If they write Peter Quill at all similiarly as his ZDT character was written, he'll knock it out of the park. CP's appearance was so short, but he made a hell of an impression... ditto Joel Edgerton. The entire SEALS team made ZDT for me.

Disclaimer though: I'm a huge CP fan from Parks and Rec. So it cracks me up that we're getting Andy Dwyer in Space LOL!

And Poni, agree with all your points about JC's character. I get that she was based on an actual person, but the way the movie serviced her story came off extremely shallow, almost Mary Sueish. Didn't get the critical love for her at all.

ETA: LMAO at how much we disagree about Pratt in ZDT!

 

[Poni_Boy]

A grounded "real-world" superhero movie...with Superman punching stuff. I'm just not sure that's the best approach for a character that's supposed to be an alien from another planet that flies around in a cape.

Don't get me wrong...it's an intriguing concept...I'm just not sure it's what audiences (or, at least, critics) want. What works for Batman might not work for Superman.

I don't think any of the detractors have complained about the concept. Even I like the ideas they had for this movie. Just wish they would have executed it better.

 

[db85usa]

Even if they did, one wouldn't be able to accuse them of being biased AGAINST the movie. They are owned by WB.

Nuh uh! They're owned by Flixster

 

[Joeyjojo72]

This New York Times review isnt exactly a rave, but its balanced, nuanced, and makes me want to see the movie even more:

http://movies.nytimes.com/2013/06/1...ving-stranger-in-a-strange-land.html?src=dayp

 

[Hammer!]

In ZDT? Didn't like him. I thought Joel and Frank did much better jobs as SEALs. Chris looked... soft.. and awkward. But I really don't think his performance there is indicative of his GOTG role; or at least I won't until I know what his role consists of.

Ah, well we shall see. I was skeptical of Chris Evans as Cap as well when he was announced. I really didn't like any of his performances, except maybe in Sunshine, but I thought he was great in the role.

 

[Cannikan]

I don't think any of the detractors have complained about the concept. Even I like the ideas they had for this movie. Just wish they would have executed it better.

Just curious...what were your main criticisms?

 

[Poni_Boy]

ETA: LMAO at how much we disagree about Pratt in ZDT!

I've never seen Platt in anything before ZDT. I think the problem is he tried acting too much like what he thought a SEAL would act like (probably by mirroring some of the advisers for the movie). Mimicry rarely works. It comes off fake. Unless you're Daniel Day Lewis

 

[Suzanne78]

That's the most important point I've noticed a lot of people here gloss over. As the years go on the standards change. Just like how $1 mil isn't the same today as it was in 1990, 1980 or 1950.

Is there such a thing as "quality inflation"?

Yeah, I think as the critics see these films roll out year after year, and bars are being raised and met and so forth, the expectations are going to be very different, especially for films released in 2007 vs. 2013.

 

[Poni_Boy]

Ah, well we shall see. I was skeptical of Chris Evans as Cap as well when he was announced. I really didn't like any of his performances, except maybe in Sunshine, but I thought he was great in the role.

Same here. Aside from Sunshine I didn't think he stood out in anything at all. But he's really great in The Iceman. check it out if you haven't.

 

[Musty002]

David GOYER should never write a CBM ever. His record is SHOCKING!

If this produces SR numbers or god forbid even lower then Zack should go direct music videos.

 

[Poni_Boy]

Is there such a thing as "quality inflation"?

Yeah, I think as the critics see these films roll out year after year, and bars are being raised and met and so forth, the expectations are going to be very different, especially for films released in 2007 vs. 2013.

Nailed it

Just curious...what were your main criticisms?

http://www.gotham-news.com/news/201...gi-laded-slugfest-with-little-heart-review-★½

 

[Doc Samson]

Also, I admit I have a greater affinity for Marvel movies at the moment. Years ago, I loved the DC properties though. I'll admit that I love Captain America a lot, flaws and all, and I do sort of see Superman and Cap in similar veins to each other. That being said, I'm still open to some reinvention of either character, the only thing I ask is for an entertaining movie to service the reinvention

And that's what I don't think a lot of fans are grasping when looking at these reviews. Almost across the board, they're saying it's a bad film strictly because it's not what they expect or want in a Superman film. Hell, a lot of critics didn't care for BB when it came out because it wasn't light enough, I remember reading plenty of reviews like that on RT. I guess I just assumed this wouldn't fare well with critics because of the more somber tone, but for me, I've wanted something just like this for awhile. It's a matter of taste but I think they should still rate a movie on the merits of quality as opposed to their opinion on what a character should be...

 

[Snark88]

It sounds like Man of Steel tried to do everything that Superman Returns did wrong, but in the process it missed the mark on everything that film did right.