There have been many comments, spanning a number of posts, relating to the notion that the winning films represent the most mundane, ordinary, lowest-common-denominator taste in movies.
Since this is a significant (and emotional) topic, I thought it deserved its own post.
I assert that, were this a contest with thousands of participants forming an accurate representation of the general movie-watching public, the above statement would be a hard one with which to argue.
But this contest has only 18 participants, none of whom would I describe as mundane, ordinary, ignorant, culturally lacking or lowest-common denominator. Far, far from it. What's cool as hell to me is that the people participating in this contest have actually seen a lot of these movies. With a different group of friends, I'd have had to put Tommy Boy and Scary Movie 3 in there just so they'd have something to vote for.
As I said in the last post's comments, the following "classics" won their first-round match-ups:
Dr. Strangelove
Odd Couple
Producers
His Girl Friday
The Graduate
Annie Hall
Bringing Up Baby
MASH
Some Like it Hot
Duck Soup
Philadelphia Story
It's a Mad... World
It Happened One Night
Blazing Saddles
Young Frankenstein
Holy Grail
Life of Brian
That's more than half of the winners. If only lowest-common denominator movies got picked, what's that say about the flicks above?
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11 comments:
I heart you, Jefe.
Can't we just all get along ;)
Righteous.
That still doesn't make the decisions we're grousing about any less nutty.
At least It Happened One Night is till around.
I *HEART* Claudette Colbert. Born in the wrong era, was I...
"mundane, ordinary, lowest-common-denominator taste"
I'd say that's me in a nutshell.
" No, this is me in a nutshell: "Help! I'm in a nutshell! How did I get into this bloody great big nutshell? What kind of shell has a nut like this?"
But this contest has only 18 participants, none of whom would I describe as mundane, ordinary, ignorant, culturally lacking or lowest-common denominator.
Well, a good thing you've never come to my house for dinner.
I seem to recall a lot of whining last year (on my part too, ofc, as I am the very best whiner) when people's movies didn't get picked too, so I'm not sure it matters how we do it.
"But this contest has only 18 participants, none of whom would I describe as mundane, ordinary, ignorant, culturally lacking or lowest-common denominator."
I never said anything about ignorance, or mention culture except to point to a PREFERENCE for pop culture. I make no apologies when people attempt to change the meaning of what I said.
Furthermore, as to the rest, the size of the sample really changes nothing. No matter the size, the winner is going to be the person who chooses the most common, frequent, answers that the tested population provides. I asked what the value of such a thing is to this discussion, and I've seen nothing that answers that question. Whining about it certainly doesn't.
Besides all that, I'd expect you all to know by now that if I'm going to insult you, you won't need to read into it. I'll do it directly, and with a lot more panache than this.
This post wasn't directed solely at you, Joe, which is why I didn't put stuff in quotes. Ignorance and a lack of culture have been mentioned along with mundane and lowest-common denominator.
So you think this post is whining? Okay... I wrote it, and read it as, refuting some assertions I've read around here. I'm curious if anyone else read this post as whining?Wait, don't answer that. The result would just be mundane and lowest-common denominator.
I was talking about the overall whining that has accompanied my description of "winner" and asking what value that had. The response hasn't been exactly in line with what I said.
"Wait, don't answer that. The result would just be mundane and lowest-common denominator."
That part WAS actually pretty whiny, don't you think? I'm done, and shan't upset this teacart any more.
"That part WAS actually pretty whiny, don't you think?"
I was trying to make a smart-assy funny. Doesn't always come through in type.
And her name is teacake, not teacart.
And her name is teacake, not teacart.
Well, I'm not upset, because it's almost Easter, and everyone loves ham.
Go on over to my blog and name that line.
http://teacakegirl.blogspot.com
AMEN!!! I have seen more than 75% of these films, since comedy is my favorite movie genre. I'm also old, so many of these used to be staples on my family's pre-cable tv. I've seen "Duck Soup" about 40 times. LOL. Sometimes, it pays to be old. ;)
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