The problem with message boards is knowing if the purveyor of some hysterically dumb comment really believes what they are typing, or whether the poster is knowingly commenting in a dastardly stupid way for their own humour. Take the following example.
This week I watched Napolean Dynamite, a film I enjoyed a lot. After watching a film, I enjoy mosying over to the Internet Movie Database and having a look at their message boards so that I can get angry about some ejit bad-mouthing something I've just enjoyed, or pityng the people who scream that some piece of derivative drivel is the Best Movie Ever.
An amusing part of the film is when the eponymous hero has to deliver an episode of news to the rest of his class. He's a bit of a fantasist and his story goes along the lines of:
"Last week, Japanese scientists placed explosive detonators at the bottom of Lake Loch Ness to blow Nessie out of the water. Sir Godfrey of the Nessie Alliance summoned the help of Scotland's local wizards to cast a protective spell over the lake and its local residents and all those who seek for the peaceful existence of our underwater ally."
In the context of the film, it is quite amusing. But not as amusing as this thread created by ironhills in the aforementioned IMDB message board. Basically Ironhead wants to know if this is based on a true news story, perhaps in a "and finally..." kind of slot. He continues his replies arguing that this news is going on all the time, but people are blind to it. I found it very funny.
I just have to believe that there are people outthere stupid enough. It's not too hard...
3 comments:
Hey, have you watched the Superbowl yet? I was made to watch all of it last night, but actually I thought it was actually quite enjoyable. I will refrain from making reference to the result in case you haven't seen it.
I was quite disappointed when I saw 'Napoleon Dynamite', but then I had been in the US for a while by then - it's a massive cult hit over there, people love it and will quote it at you incessantly, so I guess the real thing was always bound to be a let down. Or maybe it's just the final proof that I'm no longer 'down with the kids' (if I ever was).
Catherine
I actually watched the Superbowl "Live". Don't know why I have put quotations around that. I'm going to do a nice random post about it this evening. I'm looking forward to it now.
I'm shocked yet glad you enjoyed the game - what was it that caused the change in heart?
As to Napolean Dynamite, I must admit I was totally unaware of its cult status until after I watched it. The following evening I watched Garden State which I was expecting big things from, and was ultimately disappointed - it was ok, but that was all.
I don't quite know why I finally warmed to FOOTball - I had just been to an especially boring seminar, so maybe my defences were down and almost anything would have seemed interesting to me! I also realised how amusing really big men running round in lycra can be. Finally, I was rooting for the Steelers as the Seahawks are a bunch of spoiled rich kids (they have their own specially fitted out 757 plane, for chrissakes), so it was the right result.
I have come to believe expectations are crucial in film watching - i.e., I quite enjoyed Garden State, but I saw it knowing nothing about it. Conversely, recently I have seen both Rushmore and Election, which are always talked about as genius films, and was slightly disappointed with both.
Catherine
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