Spoiler Alert 2: The Lament Continues…

Zack and I were texting each other earlier today about how there seems to be a shift on when big blockbuster movies are being released. Lately, it seems like big pictures such as Fast and Furious 6, Star Trek Into Darkness, and the Marvel movies have been released overseas first by a few weeks before their North American premiere. This, of course, has led to an increase in spoilers appearing on the internet before those living in North America have even a chance to see the movie.

It can be a frustrating experience especially if you want to go into a movie completely blind. It also doesn’t really keep the best interests of the domestic audiences. Already today, places like Yahoo News (which, let’s face it, hasn’t been an actual news site in years) have published lengthy articles on the upcoming Amazing Spider-Man 2 due to the fact that it is already out in Europe. The film won’t be released in the States until May 2nd, but people can already easily discover what exactly goes down in the film including a surprising ending sequence.

No less than five or so years ago, you can avoid spoilers for a movie after it opens by just avoiding its Wikipedia page. Now, it seems that you can’t go anywhere without encountering them. Now, I’m not so much talking about websites that deal with spoilers and rumors for movie such as Superhero Hype or Bleeding Cool. I’m talking about general, mainstream news outlets.

Normally, earlier international release dates do not personally bother me. The reverse has been the case for years. This seems only fair. Plus, Hollywood depends more and more on the international markets. It makes total financial sense to release it overseas first. And, with places like Yahoo News, those articles really only pop-up on your newsfeed based on your prior clicking habits. I would suspect that general movie goers who are not movie nerds probably won’t see or care about such articles.

However, even if someone isn’t movie buff and sees these articles pop-up, there is absolutely no restraint in the article. If Yahoo has a spoilery story about, for example, Captain America: The Winter Soldier, the author won’t buffer the spoiler. Instead, he or she will slap it right in the article title. This is where the problem lies.

It won’t be out for weeks, but you can learn everything about it without even trying.

Many times, a twist or surprise in a movie makes the entire movie worthwhile. Could you imagine how much less of an impact The Sixth Sense would have been in 1999 if people knew the twist ending? This type of reporting is getting very much out of hand.

I know the argument can be made in that once a movie is released, it is fair game. But, if it hasn’t been released in all the major markets, is it? I would take the same stance when films open in the US first before going international.

The strange thing that Zack and I noticed is that people just don’t seem to care anymore. People seem to want to know the twists in a flick. I get that some people like to be spoiler hounds, but it just seems that it is more acceptable to know all the beats in a movie before you go and see it particularly with the Millennials and Generation Z. Perhaps that’s the reasons: since technology and the internet have been integral parts of their lives, the acceptance of internet spoilers comes much more naturally. Wow…I think I just blew my mind.

I know I’ve lamented on this stuff before, and I’ll likely do it again in the future. It just seems like this has become too rampant an issue for me to really enjoy the movie-going experience. With films not being released worldwide on the same day (or within the same week), this issue will undoubtedly just continue to grow.

~N

Spoiler Alert: A Lament

Does it bother anyone else that spoilers for movies/TV show are so easy to come across these days?  I guess in the age of the digital information highway this is to be expected.  What bugs me is how free and loose people/bloggers/journalists are with the spoilers.

About a month ago, I was idly surfing the net, not seeking anything out, and – BAM – a potentially big spoiler for the upcoming Iron Man 3 was unexpectedly thrown in my face.  I was kind of irritated as the spoiler, if it is to be believed, ruined what could have been a pretty interesting story beat if played out as the filmmakers intended (ie. with the audience not knowing).

What is awful is that there is no consistency.  At times, some more “responsible” bloggers will announce that spoilers are ahead in a posting.  Others are complete d-bags and post them in the title (not even giving you the option to not view the spoiler).  Still others will try to be clever in a non-spoiler posting by not talking about the spoiler yet use wording where the reader would all but know what the spoiler is (I was sort of spoiled on M’s fate in Skyfall this way).

I know what you are thinking: “Nick, if you do not like it, do not go to those spoiler sites.”  I have no problems with this.  However, that does not solve the problem.  Too many times, I have noticed anonymous posters on such sites as Coming Soon just post spoilers in the talkback sections of various spoiler-free articles.  Thanks, ass.

I should mention that I have nothing against spoilers, and I think there is some merit for those who want to be spoiler hounds.  It is also fair game once the movie is released to talk spoilers.  I just do not like how these so-called entertainment news blogs are so casual with spoilers for things yet-to-be released.

I suppose the problem is only going to get worse from here as information continues to become more easily accessible.  I do miss the days where you could go into a movie and not know any of the twists and turns beforehand.

This is partially the reason why I am going on a complete blackout for the upcoming Star Trek Into Darkness.  I have seen the poster and watched the tease trailer once.  I do not plan to see or look for anything else.  I do not want to know anything more about it (I do not even know who the recently revealed villain is).  I want to enter the movie completely blind.  I have even gone to the length of hiding people who might unintentionally spoil stuff from my Facebook newsfeed.  This is, of course, going above and beyond.

We will see how this plays out.

~N