https://medium.com/jackndelaney/star-wars-the-last-jedi-forces-old-fans-to-abandon-ship-1809d5e9d031
^ Saying near-on anything in an opinion-piece to drive traffic to it is still a thing then. A 23 year old lad with a title of ‘The Last Jedi Forces Old Fans to Abandon Ship’… saying that he ‘got it’ then demonstrates that he seemingly didn’t.
I don’t get this sort of response. I don’t get the praise for this film, but I would never claim that someone who loves this film and gushes over it doesn’t get it. So, he’s angry, and he vents his frustration. He’s also extremely polite, and respectful in his responses to those that disagree with him as is seen in the responses to his article.
Many writers who do ‘click-bait titles and pieces’ like this seemingly do the same (more explanation or rationale in conversations in comments) - it is a part of generating more fans, appealing to a wider base, and driving more clicks for the next article (as well as using it as a learning tool to what works and doesn’t - nothing wrong with that).
How does the article reflect the title - where it is that TLJ has forced ‘old fans to abandon ship’? Are the new fans ok with it? Younger fans? Is he the old fan? As stated, likely not at 23. Did he mean fans of the old films? Well, if so - he could made that a little clearer - though we are talking about a click-bait article, so maybe it is in his interests not to?
There is very little balance in that article - if the author took a step back from his anger (be careful where that leads 😉) and his bold type and capitalisation when trying and make a point, then maybe he’d have likely answered many of those questions/issues himself.
Is there balance in article that praises this film to high heaven? He’s very critical of the film, and is very straightforward about it, but this doesn’t make any of his personal feelings any more or less valid than anyone else’s opinion.
I don’t value many articles highly that didn’t have some balance or recourse therein - whether positive or negative, yet that’s just me, and my own opinion.
I feel that article actually somehow invalidated some of the genuine criticisms of the film. It read like a bad reddit review. Eurgh.
There has do be better articles out there that genuinely address and note the concerns for many of those what didn’t like TLJ?
Well, that’s the way it works apparently. An emotional article stirs up similar emotions in someone who disagrees, who subsequently more or less dismisses the article off hand, who stirs up emotions in this critical user, who then replies emotionally, which then might lead to another emotional response, which then leads to a moderator…o damn!
I’ve read the article before (yesterday - I think, it was posted on here or another site I visit and felt the same then). I gave the writer’s previous article on TPART a read and thought it a lot better reasoned and thought-out than his TLJ piece - though yet again, just my personal opinion.
I understand your POV. It’s sort of funny, that if a movie disappoints especially one like this, where you sort of feel like you’ve reached a dead end after some 35 years of fandom, you get some strange emotions flowing through your body. I really expected to love this film. I really liked TFA, although I sympathized with many of the criticisms. I grew up with the OT, went to see the 1997 SE in the theatre, went to see each of the prequels, and even though I liked them less and less over time (now considering them a mix of good concepts ruined by horrible execution), I enjoyed each of them when I first saw them in the theatre. This is the first time, that I left the theatre after watching a Star Wars film, feeling empty and not really understanding what just happened. I never had the experience of not wanting to see what happens next, and boy does it suck! So, like many fans who ate up the Plinkett reviews of the prequels, you go looking for articles and videos created by people who are able to better express how you feel. I guess this is one of those articles for me. It’s not balanced, but it serves a purpose, at least to me. Sometimes our opinions aren’t balanced, and I don’t really see why they need to be. It doesn’t mean you don’t respect another point of view. In the end all these reviews are rationalisations of our feelings toward this particular film. If you feel strongly about it in either a positive or negative way, I don’t see the harm in an article reflecting those feelings as long as it isn’t offensive.
Fair play to you - I struggle with articles too one-sided (even on topics I agree on or with), it’s sort of a reticence to be in echo chamber environment - that likely stems from being in and around a footballing / tribal environment (of which there are far too many click-bait type articles for my liking - and too much media coverage overall).
I’m not too dis-similar to yourself re TLJ - though I did enjoy it on the whole, there are a few issues (and I hope further viewings will likely enable me to process them - and also the film overall). Like you I didn’t have that expected buoyant feeling on leaving the cinema - though did have a smile, lot of questions, and some differing emotions.
I hope your next trip to the cinema to see a Star Wars film brings you that good feeling back mate.