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Monday
July 14, 2008

Note to critics: Do not provoke the Batnerds

Male Jim Treacher | Category: Movies
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darkknight4.jpgI read David Edelstein's pan of The Dark Knight in New York Magazine and thought, "Huh. Well, can't please everybody." Which looks like the nicest thing anybody's going to say about it:


  • FirstShowing.net: "This isn't just a matter of complaining about a critic who didn't like a film that I loved, this guy really doesn't get the movie. It seems like he's just attacking its more brilliant aspects just to spite its otherwise perfect rating."

  • /Film: "David found Heath Ledger’s performance 'painful to watch', calling it 'rave and rage and purge acting'... Yes, Heath Ledger’s death was tragic, but if you are thinking about his tragic personal life while watching this performance -- Trust me, you aren't watching the movie right."

  • cele|bitchy -- "The film is sure to be a huge hit at the box office. It opens in the US on Friday and advance ticket sales have been massive. Given all the other rave reviews there probably won’t be many more contrarians like Edelstein."


And the comments are even worse, as they always are.

Hey, guys? It's okay if not everybody likes it. It's not an attack on you personally. I mean, I don't get why so many critics hated Hancock, but I didn't accuse them of only trying to lower its score on Rotten Tomatoes, or whatever ridiculous motive you want to ascribe. I explained what I liked about it. Maybe you could give that a try.

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Comments

Nothing makes me channel my inner Fred "The Ogre" Palowaski than fanboy reactions to superhero movies.

NERDS!!!

Comment by Sean T. Collins on July 14, 2008 5:53 PM

It's interesting the effect the internet has had on culture. It's turned everything meta- nobodies criticizing anymore, they're critiquing criticism of critics now. By the time we're in third-removed commentary, maybe it's time to tune out.

Unless it's Firefly. Nobody is allowed to criticize or comment in anything less than "KILLL FOX EXXECUTIVEZ" tones. Because that's completely different.

Comment by James Wiggum on July 14, 2008 11:12 PM

I am one of the few that believe this movie maybe more hype than substance and I made the mistake of discussing my feelings with my two college-age sons. They aren't full-fledged fanboys by any stretch, but even so I was still basically told that I shouldn't expect any assistance in my old age.

Heath, God bless him, seems to be the Obama of film. Don't you dare think he is less than perfect.

Comment by TRO on July 15, 2008 4:41 AM