Hey, Mom! Talking to My Mother #955 - Netflix's Bright - Good movie
Hi Mom,
So, Netflix is claiming that critics are out of touch with mass appeal citing its recent success with Bright as an example of how a (then) 26% rating on Rotten Tomatoes (now 27%) did not deter 11 million subscribers from streaming the movie in the first three days of its release on the digital platform. Rotten Tomatoes "audience" score for the movie, actually viewers, gives the movie an 86%.
Bear with me as I set aside the movie for a moment (which I have watched) and examine Netflix's claim. What does this 11 million number represent?
If a user starts a movie but does not finish it, does that count as streaming it? What if the user only streams a few seconds of it before exiting?
Access numbers do not equate to viewers of the entire movie let alone people who liked the movie.
There are 2477 reviews on Netflix's site as I write these words, and though I cannot find an aggregate score, and as I scan the reviews, they run the gamut with four and five stars for many and three and below for others. Many hate the script, the dialogue, and the plausibility. Many feel there is no plot and that Will Smith is "playing a parody of himself." Others are giving the low marks for poor consistency, a bad premise that rips off Lord of The Rings, and even a criticism that although the premise promises nine races it only shows four (this reviewer is obviously missing the faerie). It also seems to be a mark against the film that it's a retread of the 1988 buddy cop film Alien Nation starring James Caan and Mandy Patinkin.
I rarely put much stock in user reviews because there's no qualifications needed to be a user and post an assortment of thoughts, many of whom have not put much thought into their "thoughts." At least "critics" are in some way established, and they may even have years of experience. At the very least, critics who are part of the aggregate on Rotten Tomatoes have passed some screening process and have established some credibility, if not an actual following.
Bright is a retread of the alternative buddy cop film. Unlike a human with extraterrestrial partner as in Alien Nation, here the creatures of fantasy novels -- orcs, elves and dwarves -- are mutual inhabitants of the planet and have been all along. Though the full background history is not revealed, there is a dormant Dark Lord, long ago defeated, whom certains factions wish to resurrect.
The current story picks up after Daryl Ward (Will Smith) was nearly fatally shot by a perp, an orc, that his partner, the first ever orc police officer, Nick Jakoby (Joel Edgerton) could not apprehend. This incident sparks the racial prejudice against orcs shared by most of the other races as Ward returns to work and tries to function with an orc as his partner.
The two officers become embroiled in a conflict between elves, orcs, and humans as they choose to protect a young female elf and a relic -- a magic wand -- which, in the wrong hands, could help to resurrect the Dark Lord and bring the end of the world.
My initial reaction is that the film offered a clever twist on fantasy books/films and the buddy cop genre, an are director David Ayer knows well from his work on Training Day, and End of Watch and his experience with fantastic subjects (and Will Smith), such as The Suicide Squad. The film was not outstanding, but it was decent, a typical blend of humor and action with an intriguing premise that if allowed could be explored in sequels (and it will: sequel has a green light).
Here's the initial news item that caught my attention.
from SLASHDOT
https://entertainment.slashdot.org/story/18/01/26/1858211/netflix-executives-say-bright-success-proves-film-critics-are-disconnected-from-mass-appeal
Netflix Executives Say 'Bright' Success Proves Film Critics Are 'Disconnected From Mass Appeal' (indiewire.com)
Posted by msmash from the strong-voices dept.
Last month, movie critics slammed David Ayer and Will Smith's Netflix tentpole "Bright" movie. At present, it has less than 30 percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes. But Netflix executives aren't worried. From a report on IndieWire:The abysmal reviews couldn't stop "Bright" from becoming a humongous hit on Netflix and earning a sequel. [...] According to both Netlfix bosses, "Bright's" success is proof that film critics don't matter as much when they're trying to tap into a global audience. "Critics are an important part of the artistic process, but [they are] pretty disconnected from the commercial prospects of a film," chief content officer Sarandos said. "[Film critics] speak to specific audiences who care about quality, or how objectively good or bad a movie is -- not the masses who are critical for determining whether a film makes money." CEO Hastings, chimed in to add "The critics are pretty disconnected from the mass appeal."Do ratings on movie websites matter? It's not a new topic of discussion. Last year, legendary director, producer and screenwriter Martin Scorsese said he believes real movie goers don't care about Rotten Tomatoes. But some people, including especially in the same room as Scorsese, disagree. Brett Ratner, the Rush Hour director/producer who threw the financial weight of his RatPac Entertainment behind Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice blamed Rotten Tomatoes for convincing people to not watch his movie. Along the same lines, DC fans were angry over Rotten Tomatoes's Justice League ratings .
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In addition to criticizing the film for a poor script, poor performances, a predictable and somewhat plot less narrative and a host of other malfunctions, many critics shaft this project for racism because the orcs are the under class in this world and associated with African-Americans as shown in the depiction of the inner city, South Central LA Fogteeth Orc gang that enters the fray to get its hands on the magic wand. The criticism goes that the film fails to social commentary and simply becomes a vehicle for more of the same stereotyping of all racism.
But as one critic wrote "Bright is a lot of fun" (Sonny Bunch, Free Beacon). I happen to agree. The critical savaging the film has endured seems to be the product of some other agenda than the reaction to the film should have elicited, especially among critics. Viewers are going to write hateful things just because at the time of viewing their butt itches. Who knows? Plugged into the industry and contemplating the movie's budget, big name stars and director, the critics seem pre-disposed to hate this film for reasons that may be different than those they claim in their reviews, especially given how much frenzy there was for them to rush the feeding rough and eviscerate this work (and yeah, I know I am mixing metaphors, but that's fun, isn't it?).
Sure, the film leaves us with many questions. For instance,
Again from Sonny Bunch, Free Beacon:
"It's not perfect, of course. Some plotlines feel weirdly under-baked, as when we are introduced to Ward's family and his troubles at home early on, only to have them virtually disappear after spending the entirety of the first 10 minutes of the film with them. And while I like being dropped into a world without having my hand held—the Blade Runner-style of mythmaking by immersion—Ayer and Landis assume a bit too much, leaving some confusion.
I found myself wondering, for instance, just how prevalent the use of magic in society was, how strictly regulated it happened to be. The religious fervor that accompanied the resurrection of the Dark Lord is hinted at but never explored. Magic wands such as the one obtained by Ward and Jacoby are obviously rare and powerful—get a few of them together and you can resurrect the Dark Lord, something the pair desperately want to stop Leilah (Noomi Rapace) from doing—but is there other, lesser magic utilized by the elves to help them maintain their place on the top of the food chain?
Still, Will Smith remains one of our most charming stars."
And, I think that's a good set of comments to leave off.
Here's some resources:
INDIE WIRE - CRITICS DISCONNECTED ABOUT BRIGHT
ROTTEN TOMATOES - BRIGHT
GOOD REVIEWS
NPR
NEWSWEEK
FREE BEACON
BAD REVIEWS
AV CLUB
EW
INDIE WIRE
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Reflect and connect.
Have someone give you a kiss, and tell you that I love you, Mom.
I miss you so very much, Mom.
Talk to you tomorrow, Mom.
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- Days ago = 957 days ago
- Bloggery committed by chris tower - 1802.15 - 10:10
NEW (written 1708.27) NOTE on time: I am now in the same time zone as Google! So, when I post at 10:10 a.m. PDT to coincide with the time of your death, Mom, I am now actually posting late, so it's really 1:10 p.m. EDT. But I will continue to use the time stamp of 10:10 a.m. to remember the time of your death, Mom. I know this only matters to me, and to you, Mom.
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