MovieChat Forums > Arrival (2016) Discussion > Honest appraisals, contrarian view point...

Honest appraisals, contrarian view points and just trolling

posted 8 years ago by bikesloth
15 replies | jump to latest

The comments posted on both IMDb and RT seem run the gamut from heartfelt to blatant trolling. It's nothing new to commentary sections on these sites, but what makes Arrival different is the deep chasm between the movie review writers which are close to unanimity in their high praise of this movie and the comments from advance screening audience members. What I Like to call the joe-blow 'I got handed a free ticket to an advanced screening and I had nothing better to do on a Tuesday night' crowd.

Navigating through the diversity of comments makes one wonder why some folks even bother to take the time to comment. I can understand watching a movie and being blown away or feeling disappointed by it and wanting to express ones feelings, positive or negative,.. but those of you that come to these sites and post just for contrarian or outright trolling have to know that you'd be better off posting comments on movies which actually might warrant negative feedback.

I don't mind some contrarian posts, more often than not they raise good questions which bring forth replies, which is the whole purpose of these sites. rabbitmoon posted an articulate post here this week raising issues with the movie which are justifiable. I will call posts like his contrarian, just due to the effort involved in picking apart potential flaws in what otherwise amounts to a good if not great movie. Most reviewers will bypass such potential scrutiny if the overall effect helps to improve the movie. As an example, I'll quote Cam Williams, whom eloquently writes on his site (www.graffitiwithpunctuation.com) "Arrival exemplifies the power of love and sorrow to work as markers for our existence; every single emotional beat is worth it; the ticking clock is an illusion and Villeneuve bends time to tell an exquisite tale."

The last point here are folks whom clearly either do not deserve good cinema, can't get past their emotional baggage or are just out to troll. There was a reviewer a few days ago on another site that was flabbergasted by an advanced screener that showed up and sat in front of him and proceeded to divide her attention between the movie and the knitting she had brought with her. Another person commented of the thinly veiled anti-abortion stance of the movie... and yet others just simply troll, such as the individual that posted this beauty,... "Boring, confusing, a waste of time."

I myself haven't seen the movie, but have read Ted Chiang's short story a few times. I'll go in on Nov 11th with an open mind and respect for the art form of movie making and hopefully be entertained and moved by a thoughtful movie, I hope you'll do the same regardless of what movie you decide to see next.

Cheers.

[–] BigRich 8 years ago

but those of you that come to these sites and post just for contrarian or outright trolling have to know that you'd be better off posting comments on movies which actually might warrant negative feedback.

This goes the same for you as well. Take it with a grain of salt, ignore these type of posts, and move on to the next. There is no stopping what has happened as everyone now has a voice and wants to be heard. Got to take the good with the bad.

_
Every person that served can be called a veteran, but not every veteran can be called a Marine.

[–] arghavanfthi 8 years ago

What an awsome post!

[–] Alondro 8 years ago

Arrival exemplifies the power of love and sorrow to work as markers for our existence

*Spock raises an eyebrow* Highly illogical.

😉

Transient emotions are hardly the sort of things which stand the test of time.

Markers of existentialism, yes; markers of physical reality? Not in the least.

This is the sort of thing for poets and romantics. Not scientists.

[–] bikesloth 8 years ago

I'm pretty sure scientists aren't immune to emotions, unless you're a Vulcan that is. Love, fear, sorrow,.. it's what makes us human. Defining our individual existence on this earth is nothing without our humanity.

[–] Alondro 8 years ago

When the emotions start to take the place of the science and offer suggestions which run contrary to science and rely on emotion rather than extrapolation or extension of fact, then you have science fantasy, not science fiction.

It's the difference between "War of the Worlds" (science fiction) and "Independence Day" (science fantasy).

[–] EyeInSky 8 years ago

Thanks for clearing that up.

[–] gary_overman 8 years ago

I'm pretty sure scientists aren't immune to emotions, unless you're a Vulcan that is. Love, fear, sorrow,.. it's what makes us human. Defining our individual existence on this earth is nothing without our humanity.

Perhaps a good way to sum it up, is to respect genuine differences of opinion while at the same time being mindful of trolls.

But this works both ways and is not confined to those who dislike a film that many favor. Sometimes the adherents of a film are so taken by it, that they regard anyone who dissents from their point of view as intellectually inferior, and they start name-calling and other things of that nature.

So, like I say, it cuts both ways.

[–] bikesloth 8 years ago

Hi Gary,

I'm in agreement that both sides should be able to voice their opinions. Dissenting voices, regardless of how much in the minority they are in are valid and have every right to be heard. It's indeed a shame that personal attacks do occur, but considering the mode of communication in question maybe we should be thankful that it's not more prevalent. We should all strive to be more considerate of opposing view points... if I'm unclear of the intention of a posting I tend to just bypass it.

Cheers

[–] The Shrike 8 years ago

There is no chasm between the critics and the audience of this film, for those who have actually seen it there is universal praise.

One phenomena I've noticed over the years at IMDB though, is the greater the fanfare for a series/film, the greater the number of trolls show up on the boards, so if one were to try and ascertain the quality of a series/film by perusing the threads at IMDB solely, one would probably be subjected to a mirror reality of our own.

[–] Syncopator 8 years ago

Thanks for your intelligent, well-considered comments. I enjoyed them.

That said; one, recurring misstep distracts (and detracts) from your otherwise cerebral positions: You're regularly misusing the word "whom." Please learn the rules. :-)

[–] bikesloth 8 years ago

Thanks for the reply, and my apologies for misusing the word 'whom'. English is not my first language and has never been my forte. Thanks for correcting me.

Cheers

[–] gary_overman 8 years ago

Thanks for the reply, and my apologies for misusing the word 'whom'. English is not my first language and has never been my forte. Thanks for correcting me.

I thought that you were a native speaker. Seriously.

My policy on trolls is ignore them and that deprives them of their audience, and their fun. The best policy is of course, to be respectful of others, even when you don't agree with them.

[–] soldier_one_2 8 years ago

A Troll = Growing up. Unfortunately.

[–] Slaterson14 8 years ago

They most likely are, Im no grammar nazi and would of said nothing but "english is not my first language" seems to be the stock response now when someone gets told they're using a word incorrectly or improper spelling. When theres several mistakes and the words don't flow properly I believe it wholeheartedly but when you have every other thing typed correctly and then claim "not my first language" you just come off as a phony whos trying to cover up they made a mistake. You're also trying to get some type of unwarranted praise by saying it as if "look how good I speak other languages" because youre fishing for a response of "you speak it very well" which is weird since Id bet a million dollars it is in fact your first and only language. People make mistakes while typing making up that speak a foreign language over english to cover a mistake is childish. For people who really do speak foreign languages primarily this is not directed at you, just the pretentious people who can't accept there not a deity who makes no mistakes.

[–] 8 years ago

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