the older the average movie goer gets the more in tune they get to the 5 or 10 narratives that we all tell. All plots are spoiled. Filmmakers can come up with interesting and surprising ways to retell the story. That's what I enjoy now. The spoiler for me might be tipped to a character doing something against what we know about them. One of the largest surprises I've had over the past 30 years was the ending of The Wicker Man. I was totally duped, just like the police officer.
One of my favorite movie memories is from knowing a spoiler and my friends not. Watching The Crying Game I was looking at their faces almost as much as the screen.
I seek out spoilers for horror films because it reduces the "anxiety" I might feel while watching it. For instance, I like the Scream characters so knowing how things shake out for them helps me enjoy the film. However, this is my choice and I agree with Sonny's take that in a polite culture you don't spoil something for somebody else.
Re spoilers, it turns out what we enjoy in a movie rarely has anything to do with the plot. The joy or excitement comes from the vicarious experience. (And this has been tested in some ways - so it is now understood that when we watch a football game, our brain responds to the players similarly to how it responds when engaged in the activity). Proof that knowing the ending does not destroy a movie is when you watch a movie over and over. I have watched Apollo 13 and it is thrilling each time. So is High Noon. So is the movie about the 1980 US Hockey Team.
Test yourselves when you watch something over for a second time.
It is not something you will solve be debating. Debate only reveals the limits of what those engaged know. And almost all that I have heard re this issue is that most people don’t seem to understand what we respond to.
When “Presumed Innocent” premiered in the dark ages, I saw it w/friends at Pentagon City. Theater was PACKED, tension building. I’d never read the book, didn’t know who dunnit. Just SECONDS before Our Hero figures out who the killer is, the woman sitting two down whispers in her friend’s ear. The friend, to my right, yelps out, “HIS WIFE DID IT?!” And slaps her hand over her mouth. THE ENTIRE THEATER TURNED ON HER and hissed “SHHHHHH!!” while Harrison Ford stared at the murder weapon in his tool box. I remember that more than I do the actual picture. So I kinda disagree w/Ms Cohen about spoilers.
BUT, I would have seen the film even if I’d read the book (the ultimate spoiler, after all). So perhaps I’m just permanently confused about what I want.
the older the average movie goer gets the more in tune they get to the 5 or 10 narratives that we all tell. All plots are spoiled. Filmmakers can come up with interesting and surprising ways to retell the story. That's what I enjoy now. The spoiler for me might be tipped to a character doing something against what we know about them. One of the largest surprises I've had over the past 30 years was the ending of The Wicker Man. I was totally duped, just like the police officer.
One of my favorite movie memories is from knowing a spoiler and my friends not. Watching The Crying Game I was looking at their faces almost as much as the screen.
I seek out spoilers for horror films because it reduces the "anxiety" I might feel while watching it. For instance, I like the Scream characters so knowing how things shake out for them helps me enjoy the film. However, this is my choice and I agree with Sonny's take that in a polite culture you don't spoil something for somebody else.
Re spoilers, it turns out what we enjoy in a movie rarely has anything to do with the plot. The joy or excitement comes from the vicarious experience. (And this has been tested in some ways - so it is now understood that when we watch a football game, our brain responds to the players similarly to how it responds when engaged in the activity). Proof that knowing the ending does not destroy a movie is when you watch a movie over and over. I have watched Apollo 13 and it is thrilling each time. So is High Noon. So is the movie about the 1980 US Hockey Team.
Test yourselves when you watch something over for a second time.
It is not something you will solve be debating. Debate only reveals the limits of what those engaged know. And almost all that I have heard re this issue is that most people don’t seem to understand what we respond to.
When “Presumed Innocent” premiered in the dark ages, I saw it w/friends at Pentagon City. Theater was PACKED, tension building. I’d never read the book, didn’t know who dunnit. Just SECONDS before Our Hero figures out who the killer is, the woman sitting two down whispers in her friend’s ear. The friend, to my right, yelps out, “HIS WIFE DID IT?!” And slaps her hand over her mouth. THE ENTIRE THEATER TURNED ON HER and hissed “SHHHHHH!!” while Harrison Ford stared at the murder weapon in his tool box. I remember that more than I do the actual picture. So I kinda disagree w/Ms Cohen about spoilers.
BUT, I would have seen the film even if I’d read the book (the ultimate spoiler, after all). So perhaps I’m just permanently confused about what I want.
/Mad Max Fury Road “that is bait” gif