Thanks to Peter T. Chattaway for linking to this rather surprising development in… uh… “Nollywood.”
Mark Steyn mentioned a few months ago that Nigeria “now has the third biggest film industry in the world, after Hollywood and Bollywood.” What he didn’t mention — but I guess it was inevitable — is that the Nigerian film industry now goes by the name “Nollywood”. And now, the Associated Press reports that one church has been taking the industry by storm.
I read in a review that Krypto the Super Dog appears at the end of the film and now the whole thing is spoiled for me! Who knew that it would take Supes 5 years to find a lost dog?
The moment when Lois Lane passes her hand right through Superman and says, “OMG, you’re computer-generated!” really bowled me over.
The scene where Superman turned back time and saved Christopher Reeve was very moving.
And I knew they were using Marlon Brando’s voice… that was part of the preview… but who knew that most of Brando’s lines would be drawn not from the original Superman, but from Last Tango in Paris?!
I read Steven Greydanus’ review in the National Catholic Register that arrived on Saturday. The street date on the paper is today (Monday) & I’m sure it’s hard to get mailed periodicals to every subscriber on the right day. Sometimes it arrives a bit early & sometimes a bit late. But Mr Greydanus never posts his reviews on DecentFilms.com until the day the film is released.
There are no spoilers in SGD’s review, BTW. None. He focuses on Big Blue saving the 777 but only as an event, no details or descriptions are given at all. He really liked the film & gives specific reasons why but never spoils anything but gives sufficient hints about what exactly why he liked the movie (I have no idea what the big surprise you’re referring to is, Jeffrey, even after reading his review). He’s one of my very favorite film writers so I’m even more excited to see it now.
Usually, when I read a spoiler-filled review from a particular reviewer, I don’t go back to their reveiws again. Same thing for “reveiwers” who think a plot synopsis is sufficient for a review. Sorry, no. I don’t read them, either.
what a good post of film reveiw etiquette…
i hope this level of film ethics remains…
i love when ppl. write spoilers that they HAVE to post in the color that is the same as the screen and allow you to highlite the words.
–RC of strangeculture.blogspot.com
Good post. I really appreciate your integrity and professionalism. Couldn’t agree more.
However, I think you may be splitting hairs a bit as to why your commments were acceptable but others were not. Granted, “plot spoilers” in early reviews are inexcusable and reprehensible. No argument. But I think “un-reviews” such as yours might also be accused of being “experience spoilers.” I’m not trying to be critical (since I’m not the film critic), but helpful.
First, you need to know that I highly value your insight and integrity as a reviewer, and regularly rely on your opinions. So, when I read your comments about your preview of “Superman Returns,” my first reaction was, “It sounds like Jeffrey thinks this is a disappointing movie. He definitely was not impressed.” To be fair, you may not have intended to communicate that, and maybe I’m the only one who reacted that way, but that’s what I heard in your post. And even though you did not spoil the plot, your apparent attitude about how you experienced the film became, in effect, an “experience spoiler” for me.
Is that a bad thing? I don’t know. Certainly it’s not as bad as a plot spoiler. However, it will “spoil” the experience of seeing it for the first time for me. Simply because I value your opinion so much, your comments have greatly lowered my expectations about this film, and now I’m going to be looking for the things you alluded to in your post. Of course, maybe I’ll completely disagree with your comments, and this will all be moot. Nonetheless, good or bad, my experience of the movie has been irretrievably changed by your comments.
Just some thoughts from outside the critic’s circle. You’re still my favorite critic. I love you, man.
Thanks for spoiling the Sixth Sense…guess it’s okay to give spoilers of older movies (with no warning).
And now he’s gone and spoiled Empire Strikes Back. Thanks a lot, Jeffrey!
😉
TIME’s article on it gave away what seemed like a rather large spoiler about the…geneology of a minor supporting character, and drew the obvious (in terms of the article’s overall focus) DVC parallels. So it’s not just the Christians, I think.
Amen! I just read a review at dallasnews.com that essentially provided a synopsis of the whole story, again touching on the judeo-christian aspects of the movie. i can understand if this was even a week after the movie was released…but it was 2 days .before. the release…
Thanks for spoiling the Sixth Sense…guess it’s okay to give spoilers of older movies (with no warning).
Mr. Anonymous #2.
Maybe I’m missing something, but I looked over the post several times for a Sixth Sense spoiler and I couldn’t find it. So clearly you must know more about the movie than you are leading on and Jeffrey really didn’t spoil anything. But like I said, I might be missing something. And if I am, I’m sorry.