Quoted forsooth

“The films I’ve most loved, as well as those I’ve most hated, are the ones I’ve known least about in advance. When I’m well briefed, my range of responses clusters more closely around the average. It’s almost impossible to find a brilliant film brilliant if dozens of people have told you it’s brilliant in advance. “You have to see it – you’ll be amazed!” they say and then I can’t help expecting it to transcend the medium – to be more than just a film, even though I can’t imagine how. A film with free sandwiches, perhaps, or useful tips for putting up shelves.”

                           — David Mitchell on expectations

“Londoners are not impressed by anything, at all, ever. Everything has already happened here — including the Olympics, twice, in 1908 and 1948. Sometimes, the weary stoicism of Londoners is a boon. But it is an outlook instantly affronted by any suggestion that any future happening is going to be profitable, transformative or, worst of all, pleasant.”

                           — The New York Times explains Londoners

1 thought on “Quoted forsooth

  1. Vic Sandman

    The latter most certainly sounds like me. I’m a bit of a cynic; I don’t really think something’s going to be good unless I’ve seen it myself, and can thus attest to its quality. Take, for example, the newly-announced Assassin’s Creed 3. I don’t think it will be that good. Despite having played Brotherhood and thoroughly enjoyed it, I still don’t see what an Assassin’s Creed set in colonial times would do. The same goes for the next iPhone or smartphone; I honestly don’t care if that new phone has a 16-core GPU, because I don’t own it and can’t afford it, so it doesn’t matter to me. Call me cynical, but things like this that don’t impact me just leave me indifferent.

Comments are closed.