If I wanted your opinion...

[B1rd_Po0p]

First off, let me just say that I’ve read several rants on this board about the stupidity of people who only peruse the ‘new release’ rack at the video rental store rather than explore the plethora of gems that are all over the rest of the store, the evils of Hollywood remakes, and the mindlessness of the folks who flock to the latest summer blockbusters. So, let me just say this:

1.) I peruse the ‘new release’ rack because I’ve usually already seen most of the films out in the store. I’m there because I want to see something NEW. If I have a particular film in mind that I want to see, then I’ll venture out into the store to find it. There’s nothing wrong with that.

2.) I actually really enjoy remakes. I think it’s interesting to see a fresh spin, or a new vision, or some cool special effects in an updated film. I also think it’s cool when a film is updated to reflect current times and events; so it reaches a whole new audience. So sue me.

3.) I LOVE summer blockbusters – the bigger the better!! I love the hype; I love the flashy cheesy thrill ride of a really good summer blockbuster. Hey, if I want to plunk down my hard earned money on a typical, canned, cheesy summer movie, then that’s my prerogative. Let me enjoy it in peace.

So, down to the meat of my rant. Yesterday I went into Best Buy to get a few movies. I got two for myself and one as a gift. I bought The Frighteners (directors cut), Crash, and Fantastic Four. (Guess which two were mine?)… I took them up to pay for them, and the snot-nosed kid behind the register holds up Frighteners and says, “This is an excellent movie!”… Well, duh, jackass. That’s why I’m buying it… Next he dismisses Crash with a look of distaste (it’s a gift, what do I care?). Then he holds up Fantastic Four, looks me right in the eye, and proclaims, “This movie sucked.”… So I replied “I liked it”. He says, “Did you see Spiderman?” Of course I’ve seen Spiderman! I love superhero movies!! So then he then says, “Watch those two films side by side, and you will see that Spiderman is the far superior film.”… Uh, okay…

I liked Fantastic Four because it was cheesy, it had cool special effects, it has Jessica Alba and she’s sexy, and the dude who plays Johnny Storm is fucking HOT. Nothing more – nothing less!! So I paid the little bastard, said, “I guess it’s a good thing you won’t be at MY house tonight!” and left. If I wanted your opinion dude, I’d would’ve asked for it.

[Mr-Blonde]

Sounds like another wanna be film critic.

This is probably whats going through Bird's head:

Look Mr. Best Buy Guy, I'm sure you are very knowledgeable about movies as you deal with thousands of titles per day but please don't bother me with your inane sense of ratings and categorization because....

I DON'T GIVE A FUCK!!!

Am I right?

[AceD]

I think it depends on the attitude of the guy who was saying those things. You have all the right to your opinion, but the fact is that a LOT of people (not just critics) thought that FF sucked. A LOT of people thinks it pales in comparasin to SPIDER-MAN, BATMAN BEGINS, etc. So maybe he was just trying to be helpful. Maybe not, and he could have explained better than "this sucked" and to say that a film is "superior" is really saying that he feels his taste is the only one that counts.

But there are times...I work at a video store, and when someone brings up PUNCH-DRUNK LOVE, I'll usually ask them if they know that this isn't a typical Sandler film (especially if I know they ususally rent only very mainstream films). Some of them scoff because they feel they are the film buff and I'm some dumb kid, but I don't care, because if only one person didn't understand and I can spare them renting a movie and hating it, it's worth it.

[Raoul Duke]

Why were you pissed when he said The Frighteners was excellent? What's wrong with a compliment on your selection of a movie?

Other then that, the Best Buy Guy was way out of line..He probably could have been fired for saying that stuff to you.

[B1rd_Po0p]

I wasn't upset that he said Frighteners was excellent, I just nodded my head and agreed. No problem there. It was his unsolicited opinion on Fantastic Four. I didn't ask him what he thought of it.

If I'm blind-buying or blind-renting a movie, often times I'll ask someone who works at the store if they've seen it and what they thought of it - so there are times when I do want an opinion on a movie. I have seen Fantastic Four and I happened to like it. I like Spiderman and Batman Begins too... But I also liked Daredevil - and don't even get started on that one, I know it was horrible! That wasn't the point. The point is that I'm someone this guy doesn't even KNOW. I'm shopping at his store, I could've been offended by his use of the term 'this sucked' and raised a stink with his manager. I didn't. Obviously if I'm spending money on a movie then I either liked it or I'm buying it for someone who did. He should've just rang me up then ragged at his friends later about one more stupid customer buying a sucky movie.

This same kid tried to shove the Sports Illustrated/Entertainment Weekly subscriptions down my throat too. Since when did Best Buy start selling magazine subscriptions? I thought that was something kids trying to win a trip to Europe did...

-- and yes, Mr-Blonde, that about sums up my thought process... :D

[bourahioro]

I'm with yeh, B1rd,

I consider myself well versed in all things movies/dvds, and when I am in a store such as HMV, Walmart, etc, etc, I do NOT want anyone telling me: "Why are you looking at that? you should get this."

I too love the comic book movies, no matter how bad they are, this includes Daredevil, Elektra, and Hulk......Comic movies don't end with Spiderman, Batman, or Wolverine. So don't tell me to put the Special Edition of Elektra back and get Memento instead; I've seen Memento, and I fucking hated it.

to all those who work in places where Dvds are sold, shut the fuck up, and be a cash register jockey, not a fucking critic.

[BorderEevilIII]

Originally posted by B1rd_Po0p

Then he holds up Fantastic Four, looks me right in the eye, and proclaims, “This movie sucked.”…



Snot nosed opinions like that should have been kept to HIMSELF...
If I would have gotten a response like that I would have DEMANDED for the manager on duty and EMBARASS the HELL out of this asswipe. That would set that idiot in his place...
Best Buy is there to make $$$ on purchases and not you should not be buying that comments :D

[AWP82]

Some asshole at Tower Records actually had the nerve to insinuate I was some kind of pervert once for buying The Blue Lagoon on DVD. Just the look in his eyes said it all... :mad:

I forgot to mention that in my other post about picking up DVD's you're embarassed to be seen buying.

[Badbird]

I've never had anyone say anything that stupid, but what I get annoyed by is when you buy something - anything - and the look at it and say "Is this good?"

Well, I am BUYING IT YOU DUMB SHIT!

[AmunRaTRON]

HERE HERE!!! Chris Evens (Jonny Storm) Is hott! THe boy is slap tappable

[The Postmaster General]

Originally posted by AWP82
Some asshole at Tower Records actually had the nerve to insinuate I was some kind of pervert once for buying The Blue Lagoon on DVD. Just the look in his eyes said it all... :mad:


Same thing happened to me when I was perusing a copy of The Virgin Suicides.

Of course I was naked under a rain coat at the time.

[bigred760]

While I've never had that happen to me - that being a store employee give their critique on a movie I'm buying - the first that popped into my head when I read the rant was to reply:

"I didn't ask."

I love that line. If I go up to a cashier, whether it's Best Buy or Blockbuster, I'm not going up there to here what they have to say on the movie. I'm certainly not going to ask for it. I'm a movie freak and I do my research on the flick. So if I go up there and they tell me that the movie sucked - I'm going to say "I didn't ask."


And I agree 100% with B1rd_Po0p's points #1,2, & 3. I'll rent whatever the hell I feel like renting, remakes aren't that bad, and most summer blockbusters freakin' rock.

[bourahioro]

I second that, all of it.

opinions are for those that are involved in a conversation regarding a specific topic, not a merchant that figures their 2 cents is going to be welcome.....and secondly THEY ARE THERE TO FUCKING MAKE MONEY FOR THEIR RESPECTIVE EMPLOYERS, NOT TRY TO SCARE SOMEONE AWAY FROM A POTENTIAL SALE.....fucking idiots.

[AWP82]

Originally posted by bigred760
"I didn't ask."

I love that line. If I go up to a cashier, whether it's Best Buy or Blockbuster, I'm not going up there to here what they have to say on the movie. I'm certainly not going to ask for it. I'm a movie freak and I do my research on the flick. So if I go up there and they tell me that the movie sucked - I'm going to say "I didn't ask."

That happened to me twice at blockbuster, but I didn't use that line (I should've). The first time, I was renting The Rage: Carrie 2 when it first came out on video, and when I got to the cashier, she was like "umm...I saw that and it was, like, REALLY bad" and I said "oh, I saw it too and I liked it" and then she gave me this "alright, I warned you" look before she scanned it, and I thought "DID YOU FUCKING HEAR WHAT I JUST SAID??? WHY ELSE WOULD I RENT IT?!?!" The second time was a month or so ago when I was looking for Mindhunters but it was still checked out (for the 5th time I had checked), and the guy was saying nobody would bring it back but he had already seen it and "it was terrible", and kept insisting that despite the good word of mouth I told him I had heard about it, so when I finally got my hands on it, it turned out not to be so "terrible" after all. That goes to show you that trusting your gut is the best way to go instead of listening to other people. I'm usually in the minority when liking or hating a movie anyway. In fact, it even makes me more curious to see a movie when it's bashed by the majority. Speaking of which, I plan on renting at least one of Uwe Boll's flicks tonight. :D

[Pulp_Joker]

Wholeheartadly agree with you. I hate it when people at stores or video stores act as if they are more knowledgeable about films than everyone else. If a person asks you about a film, give your reply, but going up to someone and telling them what they think of the film you are holding or telling someone at the cash register their opinions of the film you chose is disrespectful and pisses me off. Most likely, buddy, I know more than you, so leave me the fuck alone.

[AceD]

"I hate it when people at stores or video stores act as if they are more knowledgeable about films than everyone else...Most likely, buddy, I know more than you, so leave me the fuck alone."

So customers can be the pretentious film fans who think they know all about film, but clerks can't?

I don't think that it is okay at all for someone to say just "that sucks", whether or not they were asked at all. It's a pointless statement. But I don't see anything wrong with a clerk making an honest and brief comment on a movie when someone is checking out. Clerks aren't drones. They are just making conversation. As a video store clerk (yes), I try to say something positive or not say anything at all. If someone asks me if FANTASTIC FOUR was good, even though I believed it to be drivel, I ask them if they like ELEKTRA or something. If they say yes, then I say yes, it is a fun movie. if they say "I hate them all except BATMAN BEGINS", I might say that FF is quite different in tone. I don't tell them what to do. Again, I'd much rather have a few pricks get pissed because I asked them if they know A VERY LONG ENGAGEMENT is subtitles (which I'm required to do) than to have one person bring it home who didn't know and who can't read or just doesn't like to watch subtitled movies. I want the customer to be happy.

[AWP82]

Originally posted by AWP82
Speaking of which, I plan on renting at least one of Uwe Boll's flicks tonight. :D

...and so I did. Needless to say, it was a traumatic experience. (House Of The Dead, FYI)

[Tayzlor]

If I were a clerk, and there wasn't a long line, I'd definitely try to get some semblance of conversation going. I guess it's there job to sit there and pretend a computer can't take their job, but it would be much better to talk about something you both love. It's like George Costanza trying to get the security guard a chair, but as long as you don't fall asleep (or hold off a line), I see no problem with it.

Your clerk, Bird Poop, just seems like a dick. "This movie sucked" is not a conversation starter but more like "this movie sucked and that is all that can be said about this movie". When you went up to desk, it's like he went through the three movies as if you were awaiting his official stamp of approval. And "Fantastic Four" is a pretty popular movie, you have to wonder if he does the same routine everytime it falls in front of him.

[B1rd_Po0p]

Originally posted by AceD
I don't see anything wrong with a clerk making an honest and brief comment on a movie when someone is checking out.

Well, like I said in a previous post - when I want an opinion, I really do ask for it. But if I'm in line with the DVD and my credit card out: it's probably a pretty good bet that I've already made up my mind to buy it!

[bigred760]

I've got no problem with conversation. But if the clerk who's just sitting there, not doing much, looks up at me . . . looks at what I want to rent and then says outright: "This movie sucks." - I'm going to tell the little bastard that I don't care what he/she thinks. But if they start by saying something like "I didn't think this movie was very good," or "Have you seen this before?" or something like that - than I'm good. But the other is just freakin' rude and I don't need to hear that.

[The Young Son]

I would have said:

"Listen Ebert Jnr. When you go home to watch Play School, don't forget to tell your dad to do us all a favour and hang himself."

Okay, that may have sounded weird, but its a good comeback. Right? Right?

*goes and hides in a corner*

[JCPhoenix]

I agree with some of the other opinions in this thread...I wouldn't mind a clerk just making conversation about films (since I love to talk about films any day) but when his comments are pretty much brief dismissals of the films etc like they were in this case, I'd just think this guy was a film snob.

Again though, I wouldn't mind a clerk expressing their opinion on a movie and "acting like they know everything about films" as long as they weren't as dismissive as this guy. Cause hey, they work at the videostore they're obviously supposed to know a thing or two about films. And a lot of the people who go into a videostore probably don't know that much about movies anyway so a talkative clerk with knowledge of films would be a good way for the customers to find other more interesting releases.

But again, not like in this case where he just says shit about the movies you're buying/renting.

Though I gotta agree with him on Crash ;)

[EvilDeadGirl]

I work in retail. At an unnamed music store and yes we sell DVD's.

I'm a fairly outgoing person and if someone's purchasing a film I've seen and enjoyed then I'll comment on it. If it something I haven't seen I'll ask them what they think of it.

I don't see anything wrong with trying to be friendly with the customer. Most employers actually encourage such behavior. Actually I'd be more inclined to shop in a store where the Clerk tries to be friendly and make conversation instead of just standing there with his dick in his hand and barely muttering two words. Customer Service.

If a customer purhcases a film I thought sucked ass I simply check them out and don't bother with the comment of "It sux." Just because you don't want to cramp the sale. Yet in the same breath IF the customer asks me what I thought then I'd tell him honestly. IE: "I'm not a big fan of such film because blah but thats just my taste."

Sounds like the clerk you dealt with B1rd had sand in his vagina. Or perhaps thats cuz we're a bunch of cocksmokn' clerks. ;) Hehe.

[The Heart Collector]

Originally posted by AceD
I think it depends on the attitude of the guy who was saying those things. You have all the right to your opinion, but the fact is that a LOT of people (not just critics) thought that FF sucked. A LOT of people thinks it pales in comparasin to SPIDER-MAN, BATMAN BEGINS, etc. So maybe he was just trying to be helpful.

Helpful how? Is anyone REALLY not going to buy a movie because some fucking dipshit guy at Best Buy told them it sucks? That's like if I were at the supermarket and someone told me "Oranges? NAW, SON. APPLES IS WHERE ITS AT".

[Deckard]

You can tell a hell of a lot about a person by what they demand of there entertainment. Or dont demand.

Most people only watch films as a distraction, something to switch your brain off to and mong out on.

Fair Enough, just a shame these are the people who set the standards for entertainment. Quality means nothing as long as the film neither challenges , inspires or relates to reality in anyway.


oopps wrong rant

[AceD]

"Helpful how? Is anyone REALLY not going to buy a movie because some fucking dipshit guy at Best Buy told them it sucks? That's like if I were at the supermarket and someone told me "Oranges? NAW, SON. APPLES IS WHERE ITS AT"."

Probably not, but you never know. Look, I don't think anyone is defending the Best Buy guy and his attitude. That was stupid and he should be fired for talking like that.

I still don't have a problem if a clerk wants a customer to know that a movie is widely disliked...but that conversation has to start with "have you seen this?" If they say yes, let it go. If they say know, maybe they will ask you if you have and what you thought of it. I work at a video store, and I never pretend that my opinion about anything is the "right" one. I will answer if I liked it and why and what I've heard others say about it, but I rarely rant or rave about a certain film, unless it is one of the customers I know or see a lot and have an idea as to what they like.

Again, maybe it is helpful once. If I worked at Best Buy and someone came up and said they were buying THE CAVE and ALONE IN THE DARK for their friend who is a huge fan of ALIEN and THE THING, I might mention that the former two haven't exactly been lauded. But there is a line, and most intelligent people can figure out where that is.

[The Heart Collector]

Originally posted by Deckard
You can tell a hell of a lot about a person by what they demand of there entertainment. Or dont demand.

Most people only watch films as a distraction, something to switch your brain off to and mong out on.

Fair Enough, just a shame these are the people who set the standards for entertainment. Quality means nothing as long as the film neither challenges , inspires or relates to reality in anyway.


oopps wrong rant

.... It's MOVIES, dude.

[Deckard]

Originally posted by The Heart Collector
.... It's MOVIES, dude.


It your life man and its ticking away one second of at a time, it shouldnt be wasted stagnating....

[B1rd_Po0p]

Originally posted by JCPhoenix
I agree with some of the other opinions in this thread...I wouldn't mind a clerk just making conversation about films (since I love to talk about films any day) but when his comments are pretty much brief dismissals of the films etc like they were in this case, I'd just think this guy was a film snob.

Again though, I wouldn't mind a clerk expressing their opinion on a movie and "acting like they know everything about films" as long as they weren't as dismissive as this guy. Cause hey, they work at the videostore they're obviously supposed to know a thing or two about films. And a lot of the people who go into a videostore probably don't know that much about movies anyway so a talkative clerk with knowledge of films would be a good way for the customers to find other more interesting releases.

I agree, I like talking about movies too; and it really doesn't bother me if I like something that someone else doesn't - because more often than not that's the case anyway. It's all in how you express your opinion though. A little eloquence goes a long way... If I hadn't seen Fantastic Four and said "Hey did you like this movie?" to which he would've replied "Nah, I didn't really care for that one and this is why:" that would've gone down a bit smoother than "it sucks" because that implies that I'm a dumbass for wasting money on it. No one likes to be insulted for their tastes in movies - no matter how lame it might appear to be to other people. I'm sure it wasn't his intention to insult me or insinuate that I'm a retard for buying the movie - but instead of coming across cool he just pissed me off.