Honestly, Don't Review It If You Don't Get It

[Brando @$$ Fat]

I was looking at my Sopranos Season 1 Box Set, and on it they have all the rave reviews it got (it being one of the most critically acclaimed shows ever). One review, though, I thought was very offensive. It said something along the lines of "This show is so good you may want to live a life of crime."

WHAT??????

Ok, I don't think this guy watched the show closely enough. Tony Soprano just spent a season in a coma after gettng shot by his OWN UNCLE, not to mention whackings galore. I think the show makes the mob look as non-appealing as GoodFellas did. Did anybody here want to live a life of crime after they saw GoodFellas? Of course not, it made me thank Jesus H. Christ himself I didn't live that sort of life.

[William Munny]

While I think that reviewer was just expressing his enthusiasm for "The Sopranos", I do agree that he may not understand the series on a larger level.

That being said, the concept of "don't review it if you don't understand it" definitely applies to the recent critical bashings of "Miami Vice".

[Trail_Blazer]

Maybe he meant "Makes you want to live a life of crime vicariously through the characters" :p

[jolanar]

I couldn't disagree more. Don't review it if you don't get it? That's pretty much saying don't review anything you didn't like. How fair would that be to your readers? It's your job to warn people about movies, whether they are good or bad.

[Brando @$$ Fat]

No, that's not what I mean at all. I'm just tired of critics completely misinterpreting things.

[echo_bravo]

It is true that the Sopranos and Goodfellas shows the dark side and downside of organized crime but at the same time they definitely glorify it too.

[SAI]

Originally posted by William Munny
That being said, the concept of "don't review it if you don't understand it" definitely applies to the recent critical bashings of "Miami Vice".

Oh please. I gave Miami Vice 1/5 and handed it a complete drubbing in my review. This wasn't because I didn't GET it, it's because I thought it was shit, because it failed to work for me on just about any level. Two VERY different things.

[KcMsterpce]

I don't know, so many times when someone says "You just don't get it" it means "You're stupid for not agreeing with my opinion".

In your case to The Sopranos, however, I also think that critic was just saying that it's really good, and not being serious about leading a life of crime.

Good on you for not saying that someone whose opinion isn't the same is yours is only that way because you can't accept the fact that someone hates a movie/show you love, and the only way to justify the difference of opinion is by attempting to belittle them. :D

[Brando @$$ Fat]

I have to admit, the title of the rant is very misleading. I'm really ranting about how terrible some people are at interpreting things.


As for echo's comment on how GoodFellas and the Sopranos glorify the "life"....all I can really say is that the writers/producers obviously didn't intend for them to glorify mob life. Note how every single character has a downfall of some sort after a certain amount of years. The only time GoodFellas glorifies that lifestyle is during the first two acts, until everything turns so badly for Henry that the viewer realizes how terrifying it really is. I still fail to see how The Sopranos glorifies that lifestyle, but I suppose that's just my interpretation.

It's sorta like Natural Born Killers, some people think it glorifies violence but it's really obvious that the message of Stone's film was entirely different.

[TheDeadWalk]

Originally posted by KcMsterpce
Good on you for not saying that someone whose opinion isn't the same is yours is only that way

That's reserved for Oscar season.