General Discussion : Why do so many people hate The Blair Witch Project?

[-BigEvil-]

On the subject of the thread, The Blair Witch Project is pretty good. I can't quite connect with it like a couple of you guys but it ain't bad.

[Rufflesack]

Seriously, what I'm most annoyed with is people taking generic insults to reflect a person's actual opinion. Oh no, he called someone a faggot, that must mean he's a homophobe! I have nothing against gays, and I have plenty gay friends myself, but I'm not going to pretend that I haven't used it as a negative word. It's just a word, jeez.

And calling someone a "douchebag faggot" doesn't mean you think gays are douchebags, it means you think this particular person is. I don't really care whether Pickpocket was out of line at this point; what HorrorMaster is doing is far more annoying. If gays/blacks/whatevers wouldn't be so damn touchy about these kinds of things maybe we would actually get somewhere with equality, this kind of behavior only furthers the stereotypes.

Oh, and the fact that the film was shot with no script, no location, etc is used in its favor just tells me that there isn't anything else in its favor.. I'm sure it's impressive and all, but it really annoys me when people automatically think a film is superior to another just because it was shot in worse conditions, on a nonexistent budget, etc. "This film is clearly better than that one, look how much they worked to make it!" It's a statement that makes no sense whatsoever in my eyes, a film shouldn't be measured by which harrowing conditions in which it was made but rather by the end product.

Think I might actually go and watch this film now, just so I can make some real contribution to this topic..

[HorrorMaster]

Seriously, what I'm most annoyed with is people taking generic insults to reflect a person's actual opinion. Oh no, he called someone a faggot, that must mean he's a homophobe! I have nothing against gays, and I have plenty gay friends myself, but I'm not going to pretend that I haven't used it as a negative word. It's just a word, jeez.

I guess you're right.

And calling someone a "douchebag faggot" doesn't mean you think gays are douchebags, it means you think this particular person is. I don't really care whether Pickpocket was out of line at this point; what HorrorMaster is doing is far more annoying. If gays/blacks/whatevers wouldn't be so damn touchy about these kinds of things maybe we would actually get somewhere with equality, this kind of behavior only furthers the stereotypes.

I'm not going to start an argument on equality in a "Blair Witch Project" thread, but I believe it's actually pretty hard for some people in these minority groups not to be so touchy about what about 500,000,000 people think of them worldwide, but I guess it's just one of those things you have to ask yourself, "who the fuck cares and why should they stop me from being who I want to be?".

I'm just saying that, since at least it was stated that Criticker forbade homophobia, racism, sexism, etc. that a different, less offensive and more universal insult could have been chosen, especially since the characters in the film never really seem to show any signs that they're fruits. I think I'm just talking shit though, but in any case, my point stands.

Oh, and the fact that the film was shot with no script, no location, etc is used in its favor just tells me that there isn't anything else in its favor.. I'm sure it's impressive and all, but it really annoys me when people automatically think a film is superior to another just because it was shot in worse conditions, on a nonexistent budget, etc. "This film is clearly better than that one, look how much they worked to make it!" It's a statement that makes no sense whatsoever in my eyes, a film shouldn't be measured by which harrowing conditions in which it was made but rather by the end product.

I wasn't saying that. I don't know if it came across that way, and if it did then I'm sorry, but I wasn't suggesting that "Film A" is automatically better than "Film B" because it was made under stricter conditions. I was saying that to make...well...what I believe to be at least, the most terrifying film ever made, under such incredible circumstances is just even more reason why I find it hard for so many people to even appreciate that particular aspect. Coincidentally, the film is tonnes "better than that one" and just "look how much they worked to make it", but that's irrelevant.

Think I might actually go and watch this film now, just so I can make some real contribution to this topic..

My thoughts exactly.

[Rufflesack]

Hey, if you think the film is great in it's own right and like it even more because of how it was made, that is something I can respect fully. Afterall, I thought Fitzcarraldo was an amazing film, but when learning that Herzog actually pulled a huge ship over a mountain to shoot it I liked it even more.

My own hypocritism aside, I guess I'm going to have to watch this film for sure now, having gone to such lengths to debate it (I don't really know why).

As far as the homophobe thing goes, I think it shows far more character to just ignore such generic insults completely than to get all up in arms about them, and I also think that's the only way they'll go away. But that might just be my view of things.

[Quicky]

I agree with -Big Evil- that, aside from the name calling, this thread has gotten quite amusing. To say the least, it triggered an interest into seeing this movie.

[Pickpocket]

I'm just saying that, since at least it was stated that Criticker forbade homophobia, racism, sexism, etc. that a different, less offensive and more universal insult could have been chosen, especially since the characters in the film never really seem to show any signs that they're fruits. I think I'm just talking shit though, but in any case, my point stands.

Have you honestly never heard of slang before? You've never heard someone say "that's gay" in reference to something being stupid? That's what I did essentially. I mean, the characters in BWP are totally unlikable faggy douches, get over it.

And another thing, no one cares if you are gay. NO ONE. Just stop advertising it.

You had to expect people bashing this crappy movie with this thread. I don't get why you and the other guy got so unbelievably defensive. You can't even defend the movie, you just turned me into a racist homophobe (I'm a black atheist, trust me, much more "hated" then you will ever be especially in America). They talk like every single person on MTV talks, which is in itself ironic. I just don't like movies where every other word is "fuck" or "shit." It just screams bad writing.

Last thing, the whole "what you dont see is scarier" argument is null because what you do see is laughable. A pile of rocks outside our tent. Oh man, I just crapped my pants!

More actual dialog from this movie:

Michael Williams: You know what? I kicked the fu... I'm sorry it's fucked up. It's fucked up but I kicked that fucking map into the creek yesterday! It was useless! I kicked that fucker into the creek!
[laughs hysterically]
Heather Donahue: I fucking hope he's kidding.
Michael Williams: WAHOO! WOW!
Joshua Leonard: Mike...
Michael Williams: [laughing] Holy shit.
Heather Donahue: I really fucking hope he's kidding.
Joshua Leonard: Mike are you kidding?
Heather Donahue: I really fucking hope he's kidding.
Joshua Leonard: Mike, are you fucking kidding?
Michael Williams: [laughing] I'm sorry, man.
Heather Donahue: You have gotta be kidding me. You have gotta fucking be kidding me!
Joshua Leonard: Is this some fucking game?
[shoves Mike]
Michael Williams: Get the fuck off me man!

I get it, they are kids so therefore we have to make them swear in every sentence. What a joke.

[Rufflesack]

I don't mind the excessive swearing, hell, I'm a huge fan of Boondock Saints in which the word "fuck" is used about twice in every sentence, but yeah, that conversation hardly strikes me as good writing. Which, I'm sure, will be defended in a short time with "but they didn't have a script!"

.. Maybe they should've, then.

[NoSex]

as goes the whole "it's just a word bit:" i was completely convinced of that, you know, years ago, when i was a tad bit more egocentric. but, honestly, other people exist in the world, and the only way we can communicate is through some form of language. each time we choose a word we're making a distinct choice to represent ourselves and part of the world in a manner that we be interpreted by minds and persons independent of ourselves. of course, at the heart of it, all words are "just words," fundamentally meaningless and invented. however, certain words have powerful cultural baggage. "faggot" happens to be one of them. i've decided, a long time ago, that people who can't recognize that, are generally pretty insensitive, egocentric, and thoughtless. it's why, if you're actually trying to communicate with another human being, you try to avoid charged words like that, it's a point of clarity, consideration, and communicative efficacy. eh? eh?

as goes the blair witch project: swearing = the way people actually talk, in many cases. nonetheless, all the dialogue was improvised. so, it's not really poor writing. that doesn't, however, excuse poor improvisation. but, in my perspective, the improvisation of dialogue is exceedingly realistic, well delivered, and, even better, very revealing. i find the movie terribly quotable, funny, disturbing, etc. i mean, the movie actually has a lot of comedy in it. naturally. i would honestly describe it, in part, as a tragicomedy.

i think we did defend the movie. at least, just as much as you criticized it; i would argue more. more or less, your position was, "you would have to be retarded" to like this movie. so, i guess we're both on equal playing grounds. and, as goes for counterargument, you pretty much just quoted me and replied, "come on! it's the blair witch project!" you can imagine that that wasn't convincing at all.

nonetheless, rock & roll etc. etc. etc.

[Stain]

For the record, I'd like to say that I saw this movie quite late in its theatrical run (late September 1999, in fact)... long after the hype had blown over. Never did I think it was real, yet I find it a very strong film in a subgenre I thought had died out -- the "terror of the unseen" subgenre. While it's not as good as the original version of The Haunting, The Blair Witch Project stands up pretty damn well to the comparison. I won't say that you have to imagine yourself in that situation, but I will say that I think Charles L. Grant has a point when he says that subtle is scarier.

I would never have expected a movie like this to even get a distributor, much less become a runaway hit. However, one thing you find that most of the really big commercial successes have in common is that they're not the same old thing done the same old way.

Another odd thing IMHO about how this movie has been received: people keep talking about how much they despise the three main characters. I would hardly describe myself as the nicest or most compassionate person in the world, but I thought they were... kids, acting like kids. The fond wishes for their early demise quite honestly baffle me.

[HorrorMaster]

Have you honestly never heard of slang before? You've never heard someone say "that's gay" in reference to something being stupid? That's what I did essentially. I mean, the characters in BWP are totally unlikable faggy douches, get over it.

And another thing, no one cares if you are gay. NO ONE. Just stop advertising it.

There's a difference between an insult such as "fuck you", and an insult such as "faggot". "Fuck you" is less personal, and doesn't really mean anything other than to show that whoever is saying it is angry with the receiver. By saying "faggot" you are conforming to the negative stereotype that homosexuality is totally "gay", and that "all gay people want to do is fuck any man near to them". No one cares if you use it in your own time at home or with friends. NO ONE. Just stop advertising it.

And if you think that "no one" cares about homosexuality, then it's starting to make me believe you've never met more than two or three people in your life. And "advertising" it? pah-leese!

You had to expect people bashing this crappy movie with this thread. I don't get why you and the other guy got so unbelievably defensive. You can't even defend the movie

Oh, God.
You have got to be kidding.

... you just turned me into a racist homophobe (I'm a black atheist, trust me, much more "hated" then you will ever be especially in America). They talk like every single person on MTV talks, which is in itself ironic. I just don't like movies where every other word is "fuck" or "shit." It just screams bad writing.

First of all, every other word from you seems to be "fuck" or "shit", so I don't see why you're complaining. As I mentioned about two times, the film is not scripted. There was never any "writing" to begin with. Now I'm not sure about America as I've never been, but in Tasmania you literally cannot be anywhere near two or more people at any certain time without hearing someone say "fuck". It's just life, and no matter how hard Classification boards such as the MPAA and OFLC try and hide it from younger audiences, you cannot stop people from swearing and you can not stop people from eventually hearing it. The characters in "The Blair Witch Project" are not only incredibly realistic in that the actors speak and act so naturally, but I think they might just be the most believable and genuine portrayals of late-teenage/early-adult characters.

Last thing, the whole "what you dont see is scarier" argument is null because what you do see is laughable. A pile of rocks outside our tent. Oh man, I just crapped my pants!

Yes, but if you pay attention at the start of the film it is explained to the audience why these rocks and stick figure symbols have been left there and what they actually mean. Now I just find that creepy. I can understand why you and probably almost everyone else who bashes the film don't find it scary, but you have to remind yourself that it's a horror movie and it isn't the film's fault if you don't find horror movies scary, because things like that are actually legitimately scary to most people.

More actual dialog from this movie:

Michael Williams: You know what? I kicked the fu... I'm sorry it's fucked up. It's fucked up but I kicked that fucking map into the creek yesterday! It was useless! I kicked that fucker into the creek!
[laughs hysterically]
Heather Donahue: I fucking hope he's kidding.
Michael Williams: WAHOO! WOW!
Joshua Leonard: Mike...
Michael Williams: [laughing] Holy shit.
Heather Donahue: I really fucking hope he's kidding.
Joshua Leonard: Mike are you kidding?
Heather Donahue: I really fucking hope he's kidding.
Joshua Leonard: Mike, are you fucking kidding?
Michael Williams: [laughing] I'm sorry, man.
Heather Donahue: You have gotta be kidding me. You have gotta fucking be kidding me!
Joshua Leonard: Is this some fucking game?
[shoves Mike]
Michael Williams: Get the fuck off me man!

Oh, so you expect them to speak like this:

Michael Williams: You know what? I kicked the... I'm sorry, I'm all in a jitter. It's a bit muddled up, but I kicked that plainly unsatisfying map into the creek yesterday! I didn't think it was of any use to us! So I kicked that map into the creek!
[chuckles heartily]
Heather Donahue: Oh, I'd rather hope you weren't serious, young chap.
Michael Williams: Oh yes. That is good. I feel good.
Joshua Leonard: Michael...
Michael Williams: [chuckles] Holy father in heaven!
Heather Donahue: I'd really probably prefer it if you weren't serious with your previous statement.
Joshua Leonard: Michael, dear chap, are you giving us a run for our money?
Heather Donahue: I'd really probably prefer it if you weren't serious with your previous statement.
Joshua Leonard: Michael, dear chap, are you playing childrens' games with us? We're not children you know, and we don't really appreciate having childrens' games played on us.
Michael Williams: [chuckles] Oh I am deeply sorry, Mr. Leonard.
Heather Donahue: Please inform us that you are not serious. I really would like it if you weren't serious with your aforementioned statements!
Joshua Leonard: This is becoming a bit of a child's game, Mr. Williams.
[strokes mustache]
Michael Williams: Oh please, if you wouldn't mind. I need to be by myself for a moment.