Haters Gonna Hate Critics | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Entertainment

Haters Gonna Hate Critics

I don't write articles for you to like.

15
Haters Gonna Hate Critics
latimes.com

When most people imagine a critic, they visualize a comic book guy type who simply hates everything. And as much as I hate to admit it, I might be one of them.

Not taking into account the guaranteed six-figure salary, I want to become a film critic because I love film. But most importantly, because I love talking about film. However, if we were to talk, you’d probably think I’m just another comic book guy.

I hated nearly every single blockbuster this year. I didn’t want to find Dory, I didn’t want to reread "The Jungle Book" and I didn’t want to meet "The Nice Guys." But just because I criticize "Captain America: Civil War" doesn’t mean that I hate everything.

Since most people only see summer blockbusters, it’s hard to talk about film without coming off as a total hater. For every disappointing blockbuster there’s been an independent film that I loved. Now I’m not an independent purist, but it’s impossible to talk about steak when people have only eaten chimichangas.

Now I understand that people have different tastes. Some people, like my mother, love everything and some people, like my brother, hate everything. Some schmoes think "Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows" is terrible. Other schmoes, like me, think it’s perfect. One man’s chimichanga is another man’s steak.

While a difference of opinion is healthy, critics are continuously condemned as the worst of the worst. They are either stupidly critical or critically stupid. They are villains who vilify films to fulfill their ego. Their greatest crime, however, is convincing people they are right.

Film criticism is critical in determining ticket sales. One bad review is one less ticket. Whether it’s Roger Ebert or Jeremy Jahns, many people put their faith in the judgments of certain critics in order to decide whether or not to watch a particular film. This dependence is detrimental to the art of filmmaking. It reduces all the time and effort filmmakers put in their films to a number.

While it’s understandable to not want to watch a bad film, no one, other than a composer, should determine a film’s score. It is true that everyone is a critic, but too many people are not even watching the films they critique. Instead of listening to tomatoes, individuals should decide for themselves which is superior: "Room" or "The Room?"

Watching a shitty film is as inevitable as looking at your own shit in the toilet. Look, everybody poops. You shouldn’t avoid it. You may not like it, but that’s no excuse to read reviews and assume something’s shit before you even turn around and look. Not every shit will be a golden egg, but a golden egg can come from any shit.

Criticism should only be read after one has watched a film. Once one’s own judgment has been made can one address a film’s criticism in order to better understand how that judgment may have come about. True critics have incredible insight. They can deconstruct films and reveal their strengths and weakness. Anybody can look at a film and say it’s shit. Only a critic can explain that its inconsistency makes it shit.

As aforementioned, a difference of taste is natural. You many not agree with a certain critic, but instead of tweeting bloody murder, engage in an actual conversation with the critic. Critics don’t write articles for you to like. Critics write articles for you to comment, share and talk about. The aim is conversation, not approval.

So yes, I am just another comic book guy. But only if you judge me by the number of chimichangas I’ve shitted on. But before you criticize me, let’s out go out and eat some steak, or maybe even some chimichangas, and talk. I promise you won’t hate it.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
cousins
Bailey Totten

I've known you your entire life. More than likely I held you in the first three days of it and at least one of us cried. Cousins are truly one of the best things in the world and while sometimes I complain about how many people crowd Grandma's living room on Christmas Eve, I wouldn't trade you all anything.

You are my best friends, the only people who can understand what it's like on Thanksgiving, and you are the spunkiest people I have ever met. But you as so so young, most of you are just now starting your adventures in the public education system. I mean, I'm so very young too. I'm not married, I don't have children, heck, I just started my adult life, but I do want to give you what little advice I have. My dears, these are the things I want you to know.

Keep Reading...Show less
ORHS Graduation
Kristen Sack, ORHS Graduation

You are a senior in high school, you have made it to the final year that you have been looking forward to since the first day of freshman year. Whether this has been the worst or best four years of your life, appreciate it. You will never have these times back, you will never be in high school again. It is hard for someone still in high school to wrap their brain around, but there will be a day when you wish you could be in the shoes you're in right now. Here are 15 things I have learned being in college that I wish I knew as a high school senior:

Keep Reading...Show less
one tree hill
Wikimedia

Everyone, and I mean everyone has heard of the show "One Tree Hill". Many people think that this show is the best thing they've ever watched and others won't bother watching it because they know they'll get hooked. And yes, I know many people have written about this show before, but I couldn't resist. I could re-watch every season multiple times to the point where I can almost quote an entire scene. Trust me, once you start "One Tree Hill", you will be hooked. There's way too many reasons to list as to why you'll love this show, and these are just a few.

Keep Reading...Show less
Health and Wellness

5 Ways To Bring Positivity Into Your Life When All You Want To Do Is Drown In Self-Pity

It seems like life has been serving up more bad than good and in all honesty, the only thing you want to do is crawl under your covers and hide from the rest of the world.

2426
5 Ways To Bring Positivity Into Your Life When All You Want To Do Is Drown In Self-Pity
Photo by Kinga Howard on Unsplash

The first two weeks of classes have come to an end and they have been anything BUT easy. It seems like life has been serving up more bad than good and in all honesty, the only thing you want to do is crawl under your covers and hide from the rest of the world.

Although this seems like the best solution, it is also the easy way out. Take it from the girl who took basically a whole week off from her life because she just could not handle everything that was being thrown at her. This caused her to feel extremely lonely and even more stressed out for being behind in classes that JUST began.

Keep Reading...Show less
friends

1. Thank you for being my person.

2. Thank you for knowing me better than I know myself sometimes.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments