Podcast HTF Podcast Episode 4: Shelf Regret - Why Did I Buy This? (1 Viewer)

[Brian Dobbs]

A sequel in name only (one of the running themes of the show, right?).

Totes.

 

[Sam Posten]

The Beach Bum

Aw man, I listened to an NPR or similar story on the making of this film and I totally wanted to see it. It sounds very avant garde and that's not usually my bag but I was set to give it a chance...

 

[DaveF]

I'm finishing up and have a couple thoughts

I have viewing regrets: paying money to see Black Mask or Attack of the Clones in the theater.

I don't have shelf regrets as discussed. I'm not a completionist. And if I buy a disc and it's not good, then it's a "viewing regret". My only shelf regrets are unwatched purchased discs: those hundred-some DVDs I bought a decade ago on black friday sales that I've never watched. That's just a waste of money. And I'm starting to regret my big bargain blu-ray binge back in 2016 that's sitting there mocking me.

 

[DaveF]

Puzzlements:

How is Rogue One lumped in with the prequels? Rogue One is possibly the best Star Wars movie since Empire. I see a lot of love for it.

How is Wonder Woman lumped in with man of steel and the other bad DC movies? WW is somewhere between quite good and great depending on preferences. It's on par with many of the MCU movies.

Hunger Games...I read the trilogy with my wife back when we read YA lit together. The second and third books had issues. The movies fulfilled the promise of the books. Particularly, the two part finale was great. But I've talked with people who didn’t get into the movies. So, they're wrong. You're wrong. The Hunger Games movies don't deserve to be on this list. But you're allowed to be wrong.

 

[JohnRice]

I agree with Dave on all points. There was a lot of generalization. Rogue One and Wonder Woman truly don't fit, and I think that probably is a fairly wide-spread opinion. I mention those two simply because the criticisms of them have nothing to do with the actual movies. Man of Steel was mind-numbingly bad. I mean, my mind was numb by the end, but that has no bearing on Wonder Woman. The Star Wars prequels were, really, not very good. Their suckiness has no bearing on how good or bad Rogue One is.

Maybe you guys could venture into movies that are, in your opinion, unfairly trashed. It's so easy to dump on stuff, not to mention boringly common. There are movies that get widely trashed, that probably don't deserve it. The trashing starts, and everyone jumps on the bandwagon.

 

[DaveF]

I suggest doing the “Why does everyone love this movie I hate, when I’m obviously right” topic. That’s what we get into when Brian says he doesn’t like Rogue One (or when I say I don’t like Guardians of the Galaxy 2).

 

[Brian Dobbs]

My only shelf regrets are unwatched purchased discs: those hundred-some DVDs I bought a decade ago on black friday sales that I've never watched. That's just a waste of money. And I'm starting to regret my big bargain blu-ray binge back in 2016 that's sitting there mocking me.

+1

 

[Brian Dobbs]

How is Rogue One lumped in with the prequels? Rogue One is possibly the best Star Wars movie since Empire. I see a lot of love for it.

True. But IMO it's an unnecessary movie. It's a story we didn't need and I don't feel I need to rewatch it. I can't help but feel as though it's the best Star Wars fan fiction movie ever made.

How is Wonder Woman lumped in with man of steel and the other bad DC movies? WW is somewhere between quite good and great depending on preferences. It's on par with many of the MCU movies.

Perhaps the DCEU batting average will go up after I see Shazam and Aquaman, which might offer me a different perspective. I agree, it's as good as some of the Marvel movies.

So, they're wrong. You're wrong. The Hunger Games movies don't deserve to be on this list. But you're allowed to be wrong.

 

[Brian Dobbs]

Man of Steel was mind-numbingly bad. I mean, my mind was numb by the end, but that has no bearing on Wonder Woman.

Fair enough.

The Star Wars prequels were, really, not very good. Their suckiness has no bearing on how good or bad Rogue One is.

True, but my general feeling is the same. Not eager to rewatch, which is a problem if it's taking up shelf space.

Maybe you guys could venture into movies that are, in your opinion, unfairly trashed.

Yes, of course!

I suggest doing the “Why does everyone love this movie I hate, when I’m obviously right” topic. That’s what we get into when Brian says he doesn’t like Rogue One (or when I say I don’t like Guardians of the Galaxy 2)

Hilarious!

 

[Sam Posten]

How is Rogue One lumped in with the prequels? Rogue One is possibly the best Star Wars movie since Empire. I see a lot of love for it.

Brian and I disagree on this. I think R1 is amazingly good =)

You're wrong.

Hilarious and true!

 

[Brian Dobbs]

The Hunger Games movies don't deserve to be on this list.

HG Catching Fire is one that I would actually showcase for the IMAX scenes.

 

[JohnRice]

Brian and I disagree on this. I think R1 is amazingly good =)

I find it to be the best story of the entire SW universe. The unsung heroes who sacrificed themselves to make it possible for the vaunted legends to become vaunted legends. The story is downright Shakespearean.

 

[DaveF]

True. But IMO it's an unnecessary movie. It's a story we didn't need and I don't feel I need to rewatch it. I can't help but feel as though it's the best Star Wars fan fiction movie ever made.

Ok...by that measure, we don’t need any of the six sequels or R1 or Solo. Or any of the Clone Wars TV shows. Or the upcoming Mandalorian series. Or any of the books. Or the video games. Or the board games. The original trilogy is a complete story and everything after is unnecessary.

I think a good movie is a good movie. R1 did something remarkable: it did a “war” movie in the Star Wars universe. And it successfully fleshed out the five minutes before the ironing of Star Wars. That could have been a disastrous movie attempt. But somehow despite the production problems it came out well and is for some the Star Wars movie they’ve been waiting for over 40 years.

Which is why I’m interested in the category of “Infinity War” and “End Game” and the other “Avengers” movies are three-stars affairs. I don’t know why all my friends love these obviously so-so movies.

 

[Brian Dobbs]

I think a good movie is a good movie.

Yes. It is a good movie, just one that doesn't have much replay value for me, and doesn't enhance my enjoyment of the OT.

 

[JohnRice]

Yes. It is a good movie, just one that doesn't have much replay value for me, and doesn't enhance my enjoyment of the OT.

There's the problem, from my perspective. You're insisting on perceiving it through a tunnel, refusing to view it at all outside that tunnel, then condemning it for the limitations you're placing on it. Plus, I just disagree that it doesn't enhance the OT. The first time I watched R1, I was taken back to when I was 12 years old, hearing that phrase, "Many lives were lost obtaining this information." And it knocked me out. For me, it brings a gravity to the OT that those movies didn't have. It elevates them from a swashbuckling fantasy romp to a genuine fight for existence. Plus, it's just an outstanding movie, all on its own.

 

[Brian Dobbs]

There's the problem, from my perspective. You're insisting on perceiving it through a tunnel, refusing to view it at all outside that tunnel, then condemning it for the limitations you're placing on it. Plus, I just disagree that it doesn't enhance the OT. The first time I watched R1, I was taken back to when I was 12 years old, hearing that phrase, "Many lives were lost obtaining this information." And it knocked me out. For me, it brings a gravity to the OT that those movies didn't have. It elevates them from a swashbuckling fantasy romp to a genuine fight for existence. Plus, it's just an outstanding movie, all on its own.

Well put! I'll accept that my opinion is in the minority, for sure. I hope you had fun with the rest of the show.

 

[JohnRice]

Well put! I'll accept that my opinion is in the minority, for sure. I hope you had fun with the rest of the show.

Yeah. There were others you listed that are "Guilty Pleasures" of mine, so I'm not about to argue with you about them. I can't recall exactly which ones, but did you mention Luc Besson's "The Messenger"? That's one I love for it's obvious flaws and audacity, for example. I'll never argue that it's a "good" movie in the conventional sense. I just get a real kick out of it.

 

[Brian Dobbs]

but did you mention Luc Besson's "The Messenger"

Okay, so I have heard of this. It actually looks interesting to me, and I've always wanted to see it. Do you know how accurate it is to real-life?

 

[JohnRice]

Okay, so I have heard of this. It actually looks interesting to me, and I've always wanted to see it. Do you know how accurate it is to real-life?

There are broad strokes that are actually pretty accurate, but the majority of it is weirdly, almost satirical. How she's treated by France once her value has played out actually seems to be pretty accurate, if exaggerated, and her dismantling of her hearings has a certain accuracy. Watch "The Passion of Joan of Arc" for a more genuine representation of her trials.

The Messenger strikes me as a bit of a lampoon of the worship of Joan. I don't know how to back that up, except that most of the movie comes across as satire.

 

[JohnRice]

BTW there is a teaser trailer for it using footage unique to the trailer. No connection to the movie. I always thought it was just a cool trailer.