Hacker News new | ask | show | jobs
by probably_wrong 670 days ago
I used to be super into /r/movies, but then two things happened.

First, the user who used to make weekly box office analysis decided to stop doing it for free. Good for him/her, but that was a big blow for the subreddit.

Second, once you're long enough you realize how the hype machine is always there. From "leaked" picture to teaser to poster to trailer, all negative comments are met with "you can't judge until you've seen the movie" while positive ones are upvoted to the top. Not the only forum guilty of this, but it turns the subreddit into yet another arm of the movie PR industry.

I guess it's the inevitable end of all forums, so maybe this one will capture the magic that /r/movies lost.
2 comments
qingcharles 670 days ago
A majority of forums turn to shit, but some thrive. HN is one of the best examples out there, especially as it's public with no wall.

What's the magic?

link
throwadobe 670 days ago
Full time moderator(s) who are paid a proper living to do their job and happen to be literally _excellent_ at it
link
john2x 670 days ago
dang
link
freedomben 670 days ago
What are some of the other examples?
link
nottorp 669 days ago
> First, the user who used to make weekly box office analysis

What does box office performance have to do with quality? Already looks like the subreddit has the wrong focus.

link
probably_wrong 669 days ago
It's a proxy for both the movie quality and for where the cinema winds are blowin.

It also adds context to better understand what's at stake for movies based on distributor, producer and genres. When a horror movie costs 2M and a Marvel film 200M, "20M box office" by your favorite director can mean two very different things for their future.

link
nottorp 669 days ago
> and a Marvel film

But a Marvel film has nothing to do with quality.

It's fine if you're focusing on the movie business. Just don't confuse the two.

link
probably_wrong 669 days ago
Leaving aside that it's an example and any other movie could be there: Marvel movies have collected multiple awards including 2 Hugo awards, 4 Academy Awards and 2 Grammys. I think you'll have a tough time finding any measure of quality that at least one of their movies doesn't fulfill.
link