MCU/Superhero Discussion Thread

[The first Galactic Republic]

Always throw out the 1s and the 10s in review scores.

Absurd. Movies are watched pretty much exclusively by people who think they'll enjoy them. Throw out all the 1's... the 10's are what theory would predict.

A pretty big stretch to equate interest in a movie to an increased likelihood for perfect scores.

Dismissing the outliers is hardly a new concept.

[Forsher]

Absurd. Movies are watched pretty much exclusively by people who think they'll enjoy them. Throw out all the 1's... the 10's are what theory would predict.

A pretty big stretch to equate interest in a movie to an increased likelihood for perfect scores.

Dismissing the outliers is hardly a new concept.

That's the thing... I'm telling you 10's aren't outliers. That being said, [eople, in general, have some very silly ideas about outliers... you NEVER just dismiss them. If you tried to do that when talking to a statistician they'd laugh at you. It's not how it works. Grab a dataset of land mammal weights. What do we do with the elephants? Extreme values, certainly. Outliers, probably (now sure how close hippos and stuff get). False data? Definitely not.

In particular, you're calling 10's outliers because it's a "pretty big stretch". It's not a pretty big stretch... unless you think that people are generally very bad at predicting what they'll like. They're not.

People on the internet have some very odd ideas about what the "normal" rating of a film ought to be. The reality is that life's too short to watch things you think you won't like. So that means we should expect few ratings below 5 and we certainly shouldn't expect many of these when the advertising is consistent with the film (e.g. Thor: Ragnarok... contrast Vice). So, basically we're immediately dealing with what amounts to a six point rating system instead of a ten point one. Similarly, IMDB doesn't let people rate with half a star... I just tried it with a random film... so that means we're dealing with something like:

• it was okay
• it was bit better than okay
• it was pretty good
• it was good
• it was very good
• it was excellent

If you honestly believe that people aren't capable of finding films excellent in their droves then you're just projecting your own opinions and values. That's a bad thing.

The people who rate movies are a subset of a subset of the general population... and that second subset is people who wanted to watch the film. And those people are massively more likely to expect to be watching at least a 7/10 film than the general audience. People who expect a 6/10 are much less likely to pay through the nose to have the privilege to watch a film when they can catch up with it later. So now we've moved from a ten point to a six point to a four point scale... and you're telling me that 10's are outliers? Pull the other one.

Don't believe me? Don't you think it's a bit suspicious that the unknown weighting structure used by IMDB causes 50% of MCU films to have IMDB scores between 7 and 7.8 if I'm wrong?

[The Huskar Social Union]

Chris Stuckmann Review of Captain Marvel

[Cannot think of a name]

Now watch as you practically quote Barthes directly...

I repeat, if you want to see this as trying to represent Barthes' views and, therefore, of abusing them, then that's on you.

Yes.

Don't dismiss what you're clearly interested in as "boring". If you find my particular take, i.e. the ability of film elements to predict audience reception and calling films which predict positive receptions good, boring then just don't reply to me and instead engage with any of the other people talking about this.

It's really not. It's part of why we come up with so many different terms to describe them.

We have lots of different words for penis too. I could call a hairdo a hair style or a look and probably other things, e.g. most people will accept hair cut. The existence of synonyms and near synonyms doesn't imply an actual purpose and certainly doesn't describe a non-arbitrary motivation for the purpose. Is it vomit or a technicolour snake?

“I think I'm about to have a technicolour snake!' he added, and threw up. °ere, mistah?'someone shouted back. 'Yes?' “That was a chunder!' “Right! No worries!

Is this distinction, in anyway, non-arbitrary? No it's not.

So what.

This is a kind of non-arbitrary distinction between what we can loosely term emotional states that, in particular, would be condensed into one category for most non-technical purposes.

It is.

Yeah, well, whatever.

I loved The First Avenger. Ultron suffered from the tug of war between Whedon and the studio, making it uneven. Iron Man 3 was a wuss out, they were afraid that The Mandarin's ten rings would be too hard a sell in the MCU as it was at the time but they were working their way towards the Infinity Gauntlet and Doctor Strange, they should have just gone for it. Plus we'd tangentially get Fin Fang Foom.

Of course I'm still rooting for them to try and pull off M.O.D.O.K.

Fin Fang Foom is so much more omnipresent than the Mandarin.

Fuck, dude. We get it, you want to quote Barthes but don't think doing that has anything to do with him and you want a completely robotic binary on pleasure. You're wrong, but I don't really need to run the fucking MCU thread into the ground with it. Let it go. Talk about comic book movies or make a thread about how we're pleasure robots.

EDIT: And your Fing Fang Foom comment completely missed the point. You can't even on topic right.

[Liriena]

Chris Stuckmann Review of Captain Marvel

Lukewarm. Dampens my expectations a bit, although it's definitely adding to the mixed signals I'm getting from all the reviews.

[Forsher]

Fuck, dude. We get it, you want to quote Barthes but don't think doing that has anything to do with him and you want a completely robotic binary on pleasure. You're wrong, but I don't really need to run the fucking MCU thread into the ground with it. Let it go. Talk about comic book movies or make a thread about how we're pleasure robots.

EDIT: And your Fing Fang Foom comment completely missed the point. You can't even on topic right.

You want to make a point about how I'm "abusing" Barthes. That's your point. I'm putting out on idea which is, in fact, more influenced by Clifford Geertz than it is Roland Barthes. I make no claims to any specific attempt to resemble Barthes' thinking: that's something you do. It's like I'm trying to explain the Harry Potter movies and you're slamming me for ignoring the books. And then you're edit has the nerve to complain about missing the point.

If your point is that Iron Man 3 lacked the guts to go full comics, my point is that the Mandarin is a trivial character whose importance is grossly overstated whereas Fing Fang Foom (whether spelt incorrectly or not) isn't.

As to the rest... I find it hilarious how much you want to talk about this particular version of the "art quality" argument currently absorbing the thread but have nothing to say whatsoever on the other part of this discussion which is currently busy insulting each other about how well they know, of all people. Rubens. Grow up.

I also find it hilarious that you're calling a supposed binary on pleasure "robotic" when the point disagreeing over is whether or not there's any difference to using a binary representation. There isn't. That means people don't actually have a difference and the best you've done to argue otherwise is go, "nuh-uh" and try and dismiss the conversation as a threadjack.

Wait... do I seriously have to call that the best you've done? Yep. That's sad, man.

[Cannot think of a name]

If your point is that Iron Man 3 lacked the guts to go full comics, my point is that the Mandarin is a trivial character whose importance is grossly overstated whereas Fing Fang Foom (whether spelt incorrectly or not) isn't.

Jesus fucking christ.

It was a reference to the fact that The Mandarin crafted his rings from a crashed space ship from Fing Fang Fooms planet. I don't even know how you got to wherever the fuck you're going with that bullshit with me saying "plus it tangentially gives us Fing Fang Foom." Goddammit dude.

Wait... do I seriously have to call that the best you've done? Yep. That's sad, man.

Stay classy.

[Liriena]

Chris Stuckmann Review of Captain Marvel

Lukewarm. Dampens my expectations a bit, although it's definitely adding to the mixed signals I'm getting from all the reviews.

It's beginning to look like the RT approval rating is gonna stick around 85%, give or take, with a 7/10 average. Which would actually put Captain Marvel on kinda the same level as Infinity War and Guardians of the Galaxy 2, at least as far as professional critics go.

The most prominent Youtube critics are all lukewarm but ultimately positive. And, as expected, extremely online dorks with some proper shit to say about "soyboys" and "SJWs" are doing everything in their power to brigade the shit out of all online discussion about the film. Alas, their TRIGGERED shouting doesn't seem to have had much of an effect on the movie's box office projections.

[Andsed]

It would yeah, but I could only see averages from that source.

You know what would be really nice? If we could judge movies off their quality not politics. Seriously I honestly hate how hard it is to have discussions about movies without someone throwing in some political bullshit.

[Cannot think of a name]

You know what would be really nice? If we could judge movies off their quality not politics. Seriously I honestly hate how hard it is to have discussions about movies without someone throwing in some political bullshit.

I mean, if you stay off youtube and reddit and just watch the movie you don't really have to answer to anyone's agenda.

When it comes down to it, I couldn't tell you what the various review aggregate scores were for the movies I liked last year, even the ones with overt messages like Sorry to Bother You or Blackkklansman or Blindspotting. The tantrum children have tricked us into giving a shit about the score...I mean...imagine this, we're fusing over the reviews of a genre superhero movie. What in the world are we doing? When has critical reviews ever mattered for shit like that? What world are we living in that we're judging a superhero movie on what AO Scott thinks? I go into every superhero movie hoping I'll enjoy it. Hell I go into every movie hoping I'll enjoy it. It doesn't always happen but there's good news, there are 30 screens in walking distance from my house and I get to see three a week for a flat fee. I'll fucking get over it.

Honestly the film being 'okay' would be fucking great. Because people flipping their shit over a movie that's perfectly fine will look at their maximum ridiculous. No hipster claims of 'overrated' will land and the hysteria will just seem like what it is, unhinged. Like someone raging at Zootopia or something.

Fuck. There probably are people raging about Zootopia. But no one cares, because who cares about your passionate weird opinion about Zootopia? Let's relegate the whiners and saberrattlers to the level of people with passionate opinions about Zootopia and just not give a shit.

[Liriena]

You know what would be really nice? If we could judge movies off their quality not politics. Seriously I honestly hate how hard it is to have discussions about movies without someone throwing in some political bullshit.

I mean, if you stay off youtube and reddit and just watch the movie you don't really have to answer to anyone's agenda.

When it comes down to it, I couldn't tell you what the various review aggregate scores were for the movies I liked last year, even the ones with overt messages like Sorry to Bother You or Blackkklansman or Blindspotting. The tantrum children have tricked us into giving a shit about the score...I mean...imagine this, we're fusing over the reviews of a genre superhero movie. What in the world are we doing? When has critical reviews ever mattered for shit like that? What world are we living in that we're judging a superhero movie on what AO Scott thinks? I go into every superhero movie hoping I'll enjoy it. Hell I go into every movie hoping I'll enjoy it. It doesn't always happen but there's good news, there are 30 screens in walking distance from my house and I get to see three a week for a flat fee. I'll fucking get over it.

Honestly the film being 'okay' would be fucking great. Because people flipping their shit over a movie that's perfectly fine will look at their maximum ridiculous. No hipster claims of 'overrated' will land and the hysteria will just seem like what it is, unhinged. Like someone raging at Zootopia or something.

Fuck. There probably are people raging about Zootopia. But no one cares, because who cares about your passionate weird opinion about Zootopia? Let's relegate the whiners and saberrattlers to the level of people with passionate opinions about Zootopia and just not give a shit.

Well... there are Canadian academics who have raged about Frozen.

[Tarsonis]

You know what would be really nice? If we could judge movies off their quality not politics. Seriously I honestly hate how hard it is to have discussions about movies without someone throwing in some political bullshit.

I mean, if you stay off youtube and reddit and just watch the movie you don't really have to answer to anyone's agenda.

When it comes down to it, I couldn't tell you what the various review aggregate scores were for the movies I liked last year, even the ones with overt messages like Sorry to Bother You or Blackkklansman or Blindspotting. The tantrum children have tricked us into giving a shit about the score...I mean...imagine this, we're fusing over the reviews of a genre superhero movie. What in the world are we doing? When has critical reviews ever mattered for shit like that? What world are we living in that we're judging a superhero movie on what AO Scott thinks? I go into every superhero movie hoping I'll enjoy it. Hell I go into every movie hoping I'll enjoy it. It doesn't always happen but there's good news, there are 30 screens in walking distance from my house and I get to see three a week for a flat fee. I'll fucking get over it.

Honestly the film being 'okay' would be fucking great. Because people flipping their shit over a movie that's perfectly fine will look at their maximum ridiculous. No hipster claims of 'overrated' will land and the hysteria will just seem like what it is, unhinged. Like someone raging at Zootopia or something.

Fuck. There probably are people raging about Zootopia. But no one cares, because who cares about your passionate weird opinion about Zootopia? Let's relegate the whiners and saberrattlers to the level of people with passionate opinions about Zootopia and just not give a shit.

What do the carnivores actually eat? Zootopia is bullshit

[The Huskar Social Union]

I mean, if you stay off youtube and reddit and just watch the movie you don't really have to answer to anyone's agenda.

When it comes down to it, I couldn't tell you what the various review aggregate scores were for the movies I liked last year, even the ones with overt messages like Sorry to Bother You or Blackkklansman or Blindspotting. The tantrum children have tricked us into giving a shit about the score...I mean...imagine this, we're fusing over the reviews of a genre superhero movie. What in the world are we doing? When has critical reviews ever mattered for shit like that? What world are we living in that we're judging a superhero movie on what AO Scott thinks? I go into every superhero movie hoping I'll enjoy it. Hell I go into every movie hoping I'll enjoy it. It doesn't always happen but there's good news, there are 30 screens in walking distance from my house and I get to see three a week for a flat fee. I'll fucking get over it.

Honestly the film being 'okay' would be fucking great. Because people flipping their shit over a movie that's perfectly fine will look at their maximum ridiculous. No hipster claims of 'overrated' will land and the hysteria will just seem like what it is, unhinged. Like someone raging at Zootopia or something.

Fuck. There probably are people raging about Zootopia. But no one cares, because who cares about your passionate weird opinion about Zootopia? Let's relegate the whiners and saberrattlers to the level of people with passionate opinions about Zootopia and just not give a shit.

What do the carnivores actually eat? Zootopia is bullshit

They eat the homeless animals abducted off of the streets at night by special police units.

[Tarsonis]

What do the carnivores actually eat? Zootopia is bullshit

They eat the homeless animals abducted off of the streets at night by special police units.

"Allright fuckers, let me tell you why Zootopia is a really a fascist nightmare,....but first be sure to clickity clack that subscribe button"

[Cannot think of a name]

Reserved my ticket for tonight a few days ago. Here's my too easy prediction for the post-credits scene: She receives Fury's text.

What's it like to be this much of a genius? I couldn't tell you.

[Andsed]

They eat the homeless animals abducted off of the streets at night by special police units.

"Allright fuckers, let me tell you why Zootopia is a really a fascist nightmare,....but first be sure to clickity clack that subscribe button"

Dammit internet stop ruining all of these heartwarming fun movies for me!

[The Blaatschapen]

You know what would be really nice? If we could judge movies off their quality not politics. Seriously I honestly hate how hard it is to have discussions about movies without someone throwing in some political bullshit.

But movies are politics.

All media is in some way political, it is not made in a vacuum. Media is a part of culture, and culture is political.

[Pasong Tirad]

Bought my tickets for tomorrow! I'm excited for it. Crappy or not, it's probably going to be fun to watch.

[Lord Dominator]

snip

Insects and possibly fish presumably

[Tarsonis]

snip

Insects and possibly fish presumably

So Zootopia operates on biblical principles? Interesting

[Cannot think of a name]

Insects and possibly fish presumably

So Zootopia operates on biblical principles? Interesting

There's a whole scene cut out about how the rehabilitation of predators that's part of a brutal programing ritual.

I fucking knew I shouldn't have picked Zootopia, I was trying to think of a movie people liked 'just fine'...

[Tarsonis]

So Zootopia operates on biblical principles? Interesting

There's a whole scene cut out about how the rehabilitation of predators that's part of a brutal programing ritual.

Are you being serious right now? Cause then I might actually write an article on how zootopia is a fascist nightmare...

I fucking knew I shouldn't have picked Zootopia, I was trying to think of a movie people liked 'just fine'...

You should know by now we would have started this with any movie you picked, just cause.

[Liriena]

Gonna be seeing Captain Marvel in less than an hour, y'all. Wish me luck.

[Liriena]

Bought my tickets for tomorrow! I'm excited for it. Crappy or not, it's probably going to be fun to watch.

I mean... the two MCU movies that are widely regarded as the worst are still competently made and watchable, specially compared to their competition. Thor: The Dark World almost single-handedly killed all hype for Thor as a character before Taika Waititi came along, and it ain't a cinematic clusterfuck like Suicide Squad.

[Platypus Bureaucracy]

Gonna be seeing Captain Marvel in less than an hour, y'all. Wish me luck.

Uh...good luck? Don't trip over a seat or choke on your popcorn or anything.