Have you ever found yourself saying, “How could anyone not like Movie X?” Better yet, do you have any movies that if someone else doesn’t like them it is pretty much a deal breaker for your friendship, or it at least keeps them out of the inner echelon? What are your movie litmus test movies?
My mom used to joke about Rustler’s Rhapsody being our family’s movie litmus test. If we showed you that gem and you thought it was funny then you were in. If you didn’t like it… well, I really don’t think we would throw you out of the family or anything. However, in the back of our minds we would always know there was something weird about you.
Now, the movie you use for your movie litmus test doesn’t have to be a great film. It doesn’t matter if it has won and Oscar or a Razzie or anything in between. All that matters is you like it, no, you love it. In fact, the more cult like love you have for it the better, and when you find others who love it like you do then you know you have found a kindred spirit.
The reverse works as well. For instance, you are talking with a co-worker and they mention Movie-X and how much they loved it. You, on the other hand, hated that piece of crap. It was Green Card bad, but your co-worker really liked it. At that moment this person falls several ranks in your esteem and they will never ever be able to earn those ranks back. After all, they actually like that movie.
Then there is a third way the movie litmus test works. Someone not only dislikes a particular movie but an entire genre. This happened to me the other day.
I listen to a few different sports talk shows during my evening commute. At that time of day, all three sports stations are playing local shows and I switch back and forth because none of them are good enough to hold my attention for very long.
During a regular segment on one of these shows the two hosts talk about non-sports related items. During this segment one of the hosts mentioned that he has never seen one second of Star Trek in either TV or movie form. Not only has he never seen it, he never will and he takes pride in that fact. He doesn’t go for that sci-fi/fantasy crap.
I thought the latest Star Trek reboot was fantastic, and I am waiting for Into Darkness with much geek flavored anticipation. Even so, I don’t normally use Star Trek in any of it’s forms as a litmus test. However, the disdain that this guy had for something he has never seen infuriated me. Maybe it lit a jocks versus geeks fire inside me… I don’t know, but I was yelling back at the radio like a crazy person. I unleashed a stream of profanity aimed at this dillhole that would have earned my car ride home a strong R-rating.
But then… but then…
He went on to explain that he has also never seen and never will see The Lord of the Rings Trilogy.
…
Haven’t listened to his show since.
About a year ago I found a podcast I thought I was really going to like. A few episodes in he started talking about how stupid Inception was. Turns out he hadn’t seen it, wasn’t planning on seeing it and was making fun of all the lemmings going to see that garbage. After that I couldn’t trust anything he said. I don’t even remember what podcast it was now. I’m not saying you need to agree with everything people say; I listen to radio/podcasts hosts just about everyday who have views I disagree with, but this, this crossed the line.