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Why do ppl complain about spending money or not getting their money back if they found the film they saw disappointing?

posted 4 years ago by TheMan18 (13135)
13 replies | jump to latest

Hi folks (word "people" shortened to *ppl* to have the sentence fit into the thread opening line).

I understand of course that people count their money. I also understand that many of us watch films in order to enjoy them, be impressed by them, for the purpose of entertainment and often little or nothing else.

But I still can't help but wonder why so many people, in reviews and otherwise, complain about spending their money or (often in inventive and unrealistic ways) advise others to save their money to avoid seeing the film they may dislike or find disappointing.

And what if some of us are CURIOUS and actually WANT to see a film JUST to see how bad it REALLY is, but, not counting the times before the internet, they have no ability to find and watch it for free anywhere, on TV, online etc?

I mean, also, is money, even within the range of 5 to 10 dollars, like, in order to rent a movie even or watch at the cinema, really so incredibly precious to a lot of people even if they are NOT poor and can afford house payments and basic living?

And why do people go out and say stuff like "Oh, I only got myself to blame" and were disappointed that they had to pay for it. Or complain about not receiving their money back. BREAKING NEWS - you are not SUPPOSED to get your money back, you don't pay in order to ENJOY the movie, you pay to see it, watch it and come to your own conclusion on what you think of it, and it isn't the theatre's, video store's, let alone filmmakers RESPONSIBILITY on how and how much money you spend and certainly not their fault if you thought the film was bad, rubbish, disappointing etc.

What do you think, thanks.

P.S. Even a respected critic Mark Kermode complained about paying for a movie he didn't like. And someone once wrote that they didn't like "The Blair Witch Project" (1999) and theatre gave them their money back - but I doubt the latter one was true.

[–] TheMan18 (13135) 4 years ago

And in case of Mark Kermode, him being incredibly rich and all, I highly DOUBT that his ticket price for that film was in any way expensive.

And also - I can understand people complaining if suddenly the prices of tickets go up by tens of pounds and dollars, but we are talking normal and even often cheap prices here, not a lot of money, so, besides the complaints not being valid, I don't see why people bother to express their frustrations here to be honest.

[–] Jason46 (337) 4 years ago

[deleted]

[–] Eric56 (4580) 4 years ago

People have that "entitlement" attitude these days.

[–] TheMan18 (13135) 4 years ago

Well, its not just "these" days I've seen it but I kind of wonder why it is the case in the aforementioned scenario. Because I for one rarely complain like that if I paid money to see a movie I didn't like.

[–] RebelBlood (213) 4 years ago

I think time and energy are even more precious than money, and by sitting through a bad movie just to see if it gets better is wasting your time twice: earning that money and spending time on a trash film. That's a big reason why people complain. There are very, very few movies that are worth watching in the theater, especially with recent prices. I also don't agree with hate-watching anything(I have made this mistake.) or the idea of "so bad, it's good" when it comes to entertainment.
Producers have a responsibility to greenlight exceptional screenplays and filmmakers should be doing their absolute best to portray those stories.

[–] TheMan18 (13135) 4 years ago

But also, is money in and of itself really so precious to many people and many prefer to save even stuff like 5 dollars on cinema tickets and especially if its a film they wouldn't like?

[–] RebelBlood (213) 4 years ago

For some people, $5 could be a lot depending on where someone works and their other expenses. Tickets are 10-14 dollars where I live, not including marked-up refreshments. $6.50 would be a bargain, mid-day price.

[–] AnubisRaydeen (7897) 4 years ago

I have never asked for my money back. But I get it.

If you bought a candy bar and there was a sugar coated dog turd in the package, would you ask for your money back? What are you, some kinda poor person??

[–] TheMan18 (13135) 4 years ago

Its different. When it comes to movies, its expected to be disappointed and you can't ask for money back if in your opinion the film was bad.

[–] AnubisRaydeen (7897) 4 years ago

And yet people do and sometimes get their money back.

[–] TheMan18 (13135) 4 years ago

But not because they simply didn't like the movie for crying out loud. :)

[–] TheMan18 (13135) 4 years ago

Cases where a DVD was faulty or a videocassette of poor quality or if there was say a fire in the cinema not counting )

[–] AnubisRaydeen (7897) 4 years ago

Actually, yes. In extreme cases. Yes.