I didn't know which forum to place this in, but whatever.
I was looking up Napoleon Dynamite on Wikipedia to find out the name of somebody in it, and read the entire article. It mentions that Netflix coined a term called "The Napoleon Dynamite Problem." It seems that this film has a unique problem shared by few other films in their algorithm system that makes film recommendations based on a members habits and ratings of films. It has proven impossible to predict whether or not a person will like or dislike this film based on the algorithm that tends to work for most other films. In other words, people that seem like they would like it hate it, and people that seem like they would dislike it love it. Futher, it's one of those films that tends to polarize viewers into a love it or hate it posture. Think about it, either you love this film or hate it, and if you talk to anybody about it, you almost never hear that somebody thought it was "okay," or "not bad" or "so-so." The article went on to say that "I Heart Huckabees" and "Lost in Translation" suffer from "The Napoleon Dynamite Problem."
Whether or not you love this film is irrelevant to why I love this. I just love it when any film defies attempts to classify or dictate our tastes. I thought that was interesting, that's all.
I'd like it if it wasn't so heavily burnt-out.
Right after it came out, everyone would talk about it. Then came Halloween you could find Napoleon Dynamite merchandise and costumes in every novelty store, right after that it was so burnt-out. No one ever talked about it ever again.
Oh, I loved it when it came out. I saw a trailer for it when I went to see "Super Size Me" in the theatre and I planned to see it because it looked quirky. But you're right, it got way overplayed and lost some of it's charm as a result. I'll have to break out the DVD now that some time has passed and see how well it wears.
Anyway, the main point was I just liked the notion that there are films that confound the marketing algorithms.
I think the movie itself transcends the marketing. If you responded to it once, you will respond to it again. I looked at the marketing as people trying to define themselves as individuals by all of them loving the same quirky thing.
That is in part why I get depressed when I talk to people in real life about movies. They have no idea what I'm talking about when I delve into film history, but they write me off as knowing nothing at all because I don't try to watch every new movie with a budget over 150 million. It gets very lonely, but at least I know my passion and refuse to ignore it for the masses. And that is why I love this place. Every one of us is utterly weird in our own way, but we all like that. Wait, then that makes us sheep...right?
Kidding. :twirl: :twirl: :twirl: :twirl: :tongueout: :tongueout: :tongueout: :teddyr: :teddyr:
Never seen it and have no desire too :teddyr:
I didn't love or hate Napoleon Dynamite. Maybe it's because it kind of made me uncomfortable since I knew a girl in middle school that looked and acted just like him. One of my friends hated it and then loved it.
Quote from: 3mnkids on March 15, 2010, 07:19:04 PM
Never seen it and have no desire too :teddyr:
Same here.
Very interesting. From first part of your post i could not understand the word Napoleon Dynamite . But after reading the whole post and gone through the article you mentioned i understood the meaning. A film was released in 2004 and it had a very fluctuating response in different people.
I'm not understanding this topic is it about Napoleon Dynamite or about Netflix suggesting bad movies :question:
As for Napoleon Dynamite its an ok film it played itself as very seriously nerd (revenge of the nerd type) movie and the comedy does work; a little creepy since it feels a little realistic at times, although like most comedies it tends to go over the top with a situation; Napoleon Dynamite dancing performance seems too good for a person that didnt seemed to have any quick response during the whole movie. The bottom line is would I see the film again ~ No.
As for Netflix suggestions well, so far Netflix hasnt suggested a movie I havent seen or wanted to see, I took the suggestion based on the popular movies (or most popular movies) of its genre in general, if your watching a comedy/drama then your going to get Napoleon Dynamite. Or just watch an action/adventure film then Netflix will suggest a James Bond movie and watching a Horror, then The Exorcist will be suggested.
Quote from: Skull on March 16, 2010, 06:41:57 AM
I'm not understanding this topic is it about Napoleon Dynamite or about Netflix suggesting bad movies :question:
As for Napoleon Dynamite its an ok film it played itself as very seriously nerd (revenge of the nerd type) movie and the comedy does work; a little creepy since it feels a little realistic at times, although like most comedies it tends to go over the top with a situation; Napoleon Dynamite dancing performance seems too good for a person that didnt seemed to have any quick response during the whole movie. The bottom line is would I see the film again ~ No.
As for Netflix suggestions well, so far Netflix hasnt suggested a movie I havent seen or wanted to see, I took the suggestion based on the popular movies (or most popular movies) of its genre in general, if your watching a comedy/drama then your going to get Napoleon Dynamite. Or just watch an action/adventure film then Netflix will suggest a James Bond movie and watching a Horror, then The Exorcist will be suggested.
I was just noting with interest the very small phenomenon that this film presented to Netflix. They actually termed it "The Napoleon Dynamite Problem" (their terminology). Netflix has a marketing algorithm, like many online services do, that aims to identify films that members would like based on a) their rental and purchasing history and b) how they've rated films they've seen. There may be other factors as well, but those are probably the main two. According to the wikipedia article, this film tends to contradict their algorithms. That is, members that are identified as likely to appreciate the film often hate it, and members that are likely to dislike the film often love it. That, combined with its general tendency to polarize viewers into a love it or hate it camp (not always, of course), cause it to be a difficult film to market. It was just a phenomenon I found interesting. My post was not intended to get feedback on the film, although that's perfectly okay too. I just find it amusing when a film, any film, whether I like it or not, foils marketing attempts.
it says something about the movie that it has broken the recommendation system. i liked it but i'm from the toney suburbs of Boston
Lots of people who find out about taste in films always think I'd love ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW. I can't stand that film.
I saw NAPOLEON DYNAMITE-but don't remember how I felt about-I was pretty snockered. But I haven't felt the need to re-watch it.
I have yet to see the film but I loved with the star got involved in WWE Raw a while back. He turned heel and sided with the villains and even teamed up with them at the end, coming out to theme music and everything. Thought it was freakin' hilarious. Reminded me a smidgen of Andy Kaufman although he was nowhere near as great as Andy.
Kaufman! What a great ruse. People were unsure if it was a hoax for years afterwards, until Jerry Lawlor eventually came clean.
But y'know that whole thing with Lawler has been disputed by some in the Kaufman camp who claim the hate between them was legit.
Oh, I don't doubt that there was some legitimate hatred between them. In wrestling, especially in the old days, it's a show. Just because it's a show doesn't mean there's not some real rivalry going on.