American Movie-Goers Are Dumb

This is a thought as to why people thought Crash is a good movie. If you want to read my review of it than click here.

As a general case, American theater patrons are kind of dumb when it comes to movies they exalt and movies they shun, and it's a simple case of education. People are afraid of what they don't know. This limits their intake of material to the familiar and safe. After awhile the pool gets smaller and smaller until every movie they see they like, and is therefore good. Then that day arrives where they happen upon something different and they've learned to like what they watch, and what they watch is always good.

When was the last time you saw a foreign film? Have you ever thought a movie was poorly made and not just a "I didn't like it" kind of thing? Can I look at top box office grosses for the year and accurately predict what you went to the theater to see or rented when it arrived at Blockbuster?

It takes effort to go forth, learn, and try new things, and most people are too lazy to try. It takes integrity to like bad movies and admit their bad, or think movies were really well made even if some of their ideas didn't appeal to us.

A lot of folks are content with slapping down their $7.50, buying their popcorn, sitting back, not thinking too much, and being entertained. And there's nothing wrong with that once in a while. It's good to see those movies, but it's good to see all types of movies. Everything is worth at least one viewing. Remember, judging a book by its cover and so forth.

There's a vast ocean of film out there for us to experience. With this experience comes the realization that what popular culture offers us at our local multiplex is often a dumbed down version of good cinema in order to cater to the lowest common denominator.

I understand not all people are, or have the desire to be, cinephiles. However, I cannot stand anybody that cannot differentiate between good and different. This entire post was prompted by my recent viewing of Crash and realizing most people liked it. Sorry, let me rephrase; most people thought it was a good movie. It's different than a lot of stuff typical Americans see, so I can understand the initial impression people have. But if they were educated in the manner I have discussed above they'll see a movie with a poor screenplay, complete lack of direction, and poor acting.

I urge you to try something new. Go rent something you've never heard of. Try something from a different country. I don't care, but start to educate yourself. And if not for the merit of learning about new things than remember that variety is the spice of life.