Does Watching "Bad" Movies Affect How We Watch "Good" Movies?

[Saucerman]

Something I've noticed lately -- When I watch "good" movies (such as The Dark Knight Rises) I find myself focusing on plot holes, clunky dialogue, questionable special effects, etc.  When I'm watching a "bad" movie I can catch these things and not care, and just keep enjoying the film for what it is, but when it happens in "good" movies it irritates me. 

Am I just getting crotchety in my old age or does being a bad movie fanatic make you more critical, or at the very least less uncritical, of good movies?

[Newt]

Something I've noticed lately -- When I watch "good" movies (such as The Dark Knight Rises) I find myself focusing on plot holes, clunky dialogue, questionable special effects, etc.  When I'm watching a "bad" movie I can catch these things and not care, and just keep enjoying the film for what it is, but when it happens in "good" movies it irritates me. 

Am I just getting crotchety in my old age or does being a bad movie fanatic make you more critical, or at the very least less uncritical, of good movies?

If they are going to be considered 'good' movies, they had bloody well better BE good movies!   

[Saucerman]

As near as I can tell, the only real difference between "good" and "bad" movies most of the time is the budget!

[LilCerberus]

As near as I can tell, the only real difference between "good" and "bad" movies most of the time is the budget!

I dunno...
I always thought Mad Max & Zardoz were supposed to be good movies, 'cause they had somebody famous in them.

[Leah]

It did for me, I now lower my expectation lower than before and enjoy the show. For example, I saw Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter and found some loop holes, but not so much as to irritate me because I just enjoy the show, whether a good movie or bad movie.

[FatFreddysCat]

I always say that after watching "bad" movies for a while, it makes the so-called "good" ones look better.

[JaseSF]

Actually I pretty much agree with what you said above that with some so-called "good" movies, the only real difference between them and the bad ones is the budget. Some "good movies" are overrated, some "bad movies" are underrated. Most films test the limits of our suspension of disbelief especially in the Sci-Fi, Fantasy, Superhero and Horror genres. But really there's differences between bad movies too...you get those that are embarrassingly bad yet undeniably entertaining, those that are just plain painfully boring and those that are just dumb action. With good movies, you can get films that are true classics, others that have great moments here and there and those that are big budget FX wondershows filled with dumb action.  The lines definitely blur in the last one in particular.

[dean]

Yup, but not in a bad way.  Sometimes I'll wish a b-movie is better because it's a cool concept, sometimes I wish an a-movie would surrender to its stupidity rather than pretend to be 'good'.

[for the sake of this comment, b-movie/a-movie= good/bad based on the difference having known actors, budget and 'good' director vs generally a lack of any of the former.]

[AndyC]

As near as I can tell, the only real difference between "good" and "bad" movies most of the time is the budget!

Watching Rifftrax has really driven this point home for me. In many cases, the MST3K treatment can be given quite successfully to recent hit movies and classics that are generally considered good. With few exceptions, there is still enough material to keep the riffs coming at a brisk pace.

[Jack]

Definitely.  Watching a lot of low budget stuff and being accustomed to their flaws makes those same flaws all the more apparent when you see them in some big budget Hollywood thing. 

[Criswell]

I can't even tell most stuff apart anymore. Now my major judgment on movies is how much I enjoyed them and if I was bored or not. Which is okay since a lot of big budget action movies bore the hell out of me.

[tracy]

Personally,I think with "good" movies our expectations are so much higher and it's easier to find flaws. With a "bad" movie I simply sit back and enjoy it,flaws and all. Sometimes especially the flaws.....with some films that's their best selling point.

[AndyC]

I can't even tell most stuff apart anymore. Now my major judgment on movies is how much I enjoyed them and if I was bored or not. Which is okay since a lot of big budget action movies bore the hell out of me.

That's what it boils down to. Did I have a good time watching it, and would I gladly watch it again? That's my only measure of good.

[Ed, Ego and Superego]

I dfind myself wishing the "good" movies weere "bad" movies a lot.  Many films would profit if you could see the strings, or if the wall wobbled when the door shut.

Or I'll watch "Man you gotta see.." movies and realize they are worse than the bad movies due to total lack of thought beyond the special effects.

[Chainsawmidget]

In a "Good" Movie, bad special effects, plot holes, and horrible actors are considered flaws. 

In a "Bad" movie, they're features.