Darth Vader in a scene from The Empire Strikes Back. Associated Press File Photo
In an era when it feels as though every studio release is destined to become a billion-dollar blockbuster, its a question that wont go away.
How soon is too soon to spoil a movie?
One week, one month, six months, a year how long should we wait to give other fans a chance to see a motion picture like Rise of Skywalker, the Star Wars movie that debuted on Dec. 19? How long until we can safely assume that any big plot twists from Episode IX have become common knowledge, so we can post about them on social media?
Do ordinary people and media outlets have an obligation to preserve the surprise for moviegoers who havent had a chance to see the new Star Wars flick? Is a spoiler warning all thats required? Or is it up to the individual to go on a media diet in order to make sure they remain ignorant before they see the film?
Many of us have stories from when we were kids waiting to see 1980s Empire Strikes Back and that one doofus who walked out of the theatre announcing very loudly, in front of the long line of people who were waiting to see the first Star Wars sequel, I cant believe Darth Vader is Lukes father!
Nor do these questions apply only to Star Wars. In 1999, it was considered bad form to say out loud when you guessed Bruce Willis was dead in The Sixth Sense.
I posted a spoiler a few months ago about the Orson Welles cinema classic Citizen Kane on a friends Facebook page Rosebuds the sled! and she immediately took the post down for fear it would spoil the movie for her other online friends. Citizen Kane came out 78 years ago.
London graphic novelist and Tingfest founder Diana Tamblyns answer is that its never appropriate to spoil a movie for someone.
I dont think its ever OK for someone to spoil a movie for someone else. I always ask the group Im talking to if theyve seen the movie in question. If most people havent, I shut up, if someone hasnt, I tell them to leave the room or put their hands over their ears! Tamblyn said.
I will frequently put my hands over my ears and say La, la, la I havent seen this movie, stop talking! so someone doesnt spoil something for me, she added.
Freelance theatre critic Jay Menard has a different take. He doesnt appreciate people who are militant about not spoiling movies he believes people should be considerate, but has no rule about waiting a certain amount of time.
We used to be able to gather with friends and share our feelings, experiences, and thoughts about events we enjoyed whether it was live TV or major events, he said. Now, with the rise of convenience culture, where people PVR content, or wait until they can torrent it, now society is expected to wait until people have been able to consume media at their convenience? That seems selfish.
Tamblyn goes out of her way to avoid spoilers.
I actively try to avoid any articles, reviews, interviews, etc., on any movies Im really excited about prior to viewing. I will save these articles and put them aside, then after seeing the film, Ill read them all, she said. I dont like other peoples opinions colouring my thoughts on a movie. As much as possible, I like to keep it fresh for myself.
This includes trailers: If I know Im going to see a movie, I dont need to see a trailer for it. These days they give away big plot points in the trailer and it takes away from the surprise and joy of seeing them in the film. What Hollywood says in response is that people want to know what theyre getting into before they see a film, hence trailer overexposure.
If you choose or are unable to enjoy something, then its your responsibility to avoid the societal constructs wherein spoilers may appear. Until such time as you choose to view it, Menard said. Again, its about choice. And not selfishly preventing (or worse, chastising) others who want to share an important event with friends and community. There is no burden of responsibility on people who have made an effort to enjoy an event as an appointment.
In other words, its up to the individual. If you want to remain ignorant, there are ways to do so. If you have to go on a media diet to preserve your own viewing pleasure, then thats up to you, not the rest of us, so Menard sets no time limits: You should be courteous, but you should also be allowed to share and talk about your experience. Thats part of the fun and its equally abhorrent for others to take that away just because theyve been unable to participate.
When it comes to spoiling, I am more of the Menard school of thought if you dont want to learn anything about a movie like Rise of Skywalker before you see it,what are you doing online? You will inevitably come across spoilers. Theres only one way to protect yourself.
If you value surprise, dont make any visits to cyberspace. Come to think of it, why are you reading this column?
Twitter.com/DanatLFPress
Read the original here:
Warning: This column contains spoilers (and is that really my problem?) - The London Free Press
