Wednesday, June 25, 2008

Walking Out Invalidates Opinions?

Getting a lot of flack for my review of HELL'S GROUND over on Amazon.com. The comment from director Omar Khan has been removed (something about my "charming weirdness" line) but there's an interesting response which questions the validity of a movie review from a reviewer who walked out of the screening. Apparently my opinion is only valid if I make it all the way through a film. I'm not sure if I agree with that. What kind of an obligation does a reviewer have to commit to a film with which s/he can't engage?

16 comments:

Anonymous said...

why dont you expect the same "charming weirdness" from your own cinema or can it only be expected of those of us who still dwell in the jungle?

secondly, Not only did you write a review on a film you barely watched BUT then you proceed to praise another set of films that you also have not seen more than three minutes of. Sir, how worthless does that make your reviews?

Mike White said...

Who's to say that I haven't seen the Lollywood films listed?

I wish that more U.S. films had charming weirdness but not every film can be Pootie Tang.

Anonymous said...

If I didn't know better, Omar, I'd think you're making some kind of accusations of "imperialist chauvinism" or even racism.

I think you're getting a little bent out of shape for one bad review. If you're planning on decrying every bad review of your film, you may be a busy boy. You need to realize that not everyone is into splatter films.

Anonymous said...

its me Naveed Taj from Lahore. who is making racist innuendos and who is not. you decide. Many may not think that referring to 3rd world cinema as "charming and weird" is at all racist. others may disagree.

I have not seen the film yet and i dont plan to. I dont enjoy horror films.

Anonymous said...

BEST FILM at RIOFAN FILM FESTIVAL, Rio, Brazil 2008

BEST GORE at Fantastic Fest, Austin TX, USA 2007

Sarwar Ali - AAG Films, Marketing Dept, Karachi. Pakistan.

Racist or Not.....let the readers decide. And it was I who expressed doubts about the statement "charming weirdness" after it had been pointed out to me.

Anonymous said...

I enjoy too much Hell Ground but very much is best pakistani picture Khuda Key Liye, please you must review this picture. it is release also in india and USA. we needs more such types of cinema in pakistan.

Anonymous said...

I love Nargis film Sooha Joda and of course Khuda Ke Liye is classical pakistani film. Zibahkhana was horror but too funny also. we enjoyed so much in cinema

Anonymous said...

I Love the Zibahkhana when it is come on DVD in Pakistan please?

Anonymous said...

Saima is my favourite and I think so songs is MUST for Pakistani Indian films. audience like to see romance not bloodshed.

Anonymous said...

Dudes - where can i get Zibahkhana DVD in Pakistan now - which shop has it.

is it true that it has won the best film award from Brazilian festival Riofan cuz dis wud be amazin for Pakistani film never happened before

Mike White said...

Probably the best place for answers about availability of the DVD (if you can't order from Amazon) is:

http://www.zibahkhana.com/

Anonymous said...

Dear Mr. White. I was ordering a DVD of Hell's Ground when i read your review. Out of curiousity, was it my fathers advanced age that caused you to refer to him as a "has been" or was it what you reckoned was his limited ability as an actor, or was it both?

I am not going to bother to argue Mir Rehan's case with you but I might mention that he has been one of the most well respected actors in Pakistan in Lollywood history and has performed in over 100 films and won countless awards.
He was also discovered by the famous Indian producer Mahboob who made some of the most famous movies ever to come from India and some might say would be a decent judge of talent?

If you choose to entertain your readers with amusing quips made at the expense of a veteran actor in his 80s. That is entirely your choice.

Have a nice day sir. Respectfully, Mrs. Natasha Nawaz ( proud daughter of "Has Been" actor Rehan)

DirtyRobot said...

As far as walking out of a film goes, I guess it depends on how much of the film you watched before you walked out. I wouldn't listen to an opinion of someone who only saw the first 15 minutes... the first 45 minutes, that's a different story.

For what it's worth, I didn't think this film was great, by a long shot.

Anonymous said...

Trying so hard to be cool by reccomending films that nobody has ever heard of!

the internet is full of some very sad people!

Anonymous said...

I thought part of the fun of the web was reading about obscure films. I've seen a couple of Lollywood films when Shocking Videos and The Hotspot Online were selling them and, damn, they were great. If it weren't for sites like this one, I'd never hear about half the cool shit I watch.

Anonymous said...

ironic that the owner of a site that smacks of racism is run by a Mr. White!

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