AIBU to think you cannot have a valid opinion on a film without having actually watched it?

[User3billion]

Netflix - Cuties....

Everyone & their mothers are freaking out about it, crying "exploitation", and saying it's utter filth and that it's disgusting.

When asked if they've actually watched it, 9 times out of 10 the answer is "no".

How can you possibly form a valid opinion on a film if you've never watched it?!

I agree, but I think Netflix have marketed this all wrong, so that's possibly part of the reason why so many people have jumped on the bandwagon of hate prematurely.

Someone (who hasn't seen it) called it "soft porn" today. 🤦‍♀️

How can you possibly form a valid opinion on a film if you've never watched it?

You can't. You can decide that it's not your thing and simply not watch it, but many people enjoy being outraged. This is not a new phenomenon, I remember similar about Train Spotting and Brass Eye.

You can’t.

I normally agree with you and I think in this case those parents should watch it if they have such strong opinions so they have all the facts and I would say Netflix isn't likely to have anything if that nature on it?
Although in saying that there was a thread on here about horrible films and I think one was called A Serbian film or something like that- I only got the gist of what it was about and I have a string strong opinion that it's horrendous and I haven't watched a single second of it nor ever want to.

I mostly agree but there are a very few where I read the synopsis and feel that it's such distasteful subject matter, that must have been so unpleasant to act in, that I'm not sure it should have been made. Like Lars von Trier's Antichrist.

Cuties isn't one of them!

I can however say that the clips I watched are soft porn and exploit and sexualise the children who appear in them.

I don't need to watch the whole film to say that. And given that, I won't be watching it because I don't want it to make Netflix any more money than it has.

Yes, A Serbian Film is another one I was thinking of.

I’m quite annoyed by people who haven’t watched Finding Neverland but have an opinion on the victims and MJ himself.

Sorry, Leaving Neverland! Finding Neverland is a totally different film

I haven't watched it but I have seen the clips of little girls lying on their tummys moving their pelvis and bottoms up and down whilst pretending to thump the floor clearly simulating how adult women orgasm. I don't need to watch anymore. Regardless of the context it is wrong and inappropriate.

I don't need to watch A serbian film or The human centipede or many others to know they're completely fucked up, and more importantly that I never want to watch them.

Netflix fucked up on this one. The first thing people see when they look up a movie is the poster. Then they watch the trailer or read the plot. By the time they get to the director's words or where the idea came from or what the movie portrays, if they ever do, an opinion is formed.

The original movie is "slightly " different and portrays a much different image.

I’ve read descriptions and reviews.

Based on those, obviously I can have opinions - including the opinion that I don’t want to watch it.

Equally I have opinions on the brexit bill, despite not reading it in its entirety. I have opinions on da Vinci even though I haven’t seen all of his work. Etc etc etc. I don’t need to be fully immersed in a topic to have a valid informed opinion.

I don't need to watch exploitative, thin edge of the wedge, pervert bullshit to know precisely what's behind it and what direction it wants us to go.

It's a no from me, OP.

Also, we all make decisions on what films to watch (or not to watch) based on reviews. Same with plays, exhibitions, restaurants, books ...

If we weren't interested in the opinions of reviewers, they'd be out of work

YANBU and people make themselves look very silly. Most would change their minds after actually watching Cuties (and the others are probably just too dim to properly understand what they're watching).

A Serbian Film and The Human Centipede are there to shock and repulse. Cuties isn't.

it's one film i will watch as it sounded interesting, the hype is very odd imo

I agree. The whole point of the film is that society objectifies young girls and that this should make us uncomfortable and we should do something about it. The French poster versus Netflix version are so different, it's crazy.

Cuties is supposed to shock too. That's the whole point. If you haven't realised that,you're not as smart as you claim either.

You don't solve child exploitation by commercialising it as some sort of navel gazing thought exercise.

@ComeOnBabyPopMyBubble

Cuties is supposed to shock too. That's the whole point. If you haven't realised that,you're not as smart as you claim either.

There is no need to exploit and sexualise children to demonstrate that they are being exploited and sexualised

Sorry that was aimed at Zoe.
My point was probably lost without that.

Of course you can have an opinion on a film you've never watched. I hate rape depicted in films - ooh, let's all settle down, have some popcorn and then watch a reenactment of someone violently raping a woman or a man as entertainment. I've seen very, very few films where the actual depiction of the rape was necessary for the narrative.

No, it isn't a shock piece. It's making a serious point.

And herein lies my point. People are taking snippets, out of context, and assuming they know what they're talking about.

This is a story about a young girl (the actress who played her is 14) who rebels against her conservative traditional upbringing using her new found sexuality to be liked and get what she wants. The adults in this film are not supporting or encouraging her actions. Maybe people are annoyed with the director for making it. But Lolita was a much more shocking story line and it didn’t do Stanley Kubrick any harm.