Last week, your author was charged with working up our most anticipated movies of 2012, and I must confess, it’s an assignment I was dreading. Not because there weren’t movies in the upcoming year worth anticipating (as we saw, there are many), or that it would be difficult to explain why they were worth looking forward to. No, it was because I knew I was going to have to deal with The Hobbit.
I anticipated it, even, noting in the call for comments that there would certainly be hoots and catcalls for the exclusion of Peter Jackson’s return to the world of J.R.R. Tolkien. And there were, sure enough. But here’s the problem, as briefly noted when discussing the release of they eagerly-greeted-by-everyone-but-yours-truly trailer: I don’t like The Lord of the Rings. I just don’t. It’s one of my pop culture “cold spots.” We’ve all got them. Right?
To be clear, I’m not talking about the movies, music, television, and books that you’re simply out of the loop on — the pop culture “blind spots” we discussed a while back. For this writer, it’s not that I’ve got an active dislike for Twilight movies and Hunger Games books; that’s ignorance, in the dictionary-definition sense of the word. I don’t know anything about those things, because I’ve just never come in contact with them, so I don’t know enough to dislike them.
And I’m not talking about things that everyone’s okay with you dismissing either. I will cross heaven and earth to keep my eye-holes away from reality television — there’s nothing I’m less interested in doing than keeping up with those loathsome Kardashians. But there aren’t a lot of fierce defenders of reality TV; even those who gorge on it are willing to admit that it’s garbage, or at the very least junk food. They’ll laugh a little and say something about working hard all day and just wanting to turn off their brain, and that’s that.
No, I’m talking about pop culture phenomenon where you’ve simply missed the boat. Distaste for Middle Earth is not a popular point-of-view; I’ve spent the last decade discovering this, over and over again. People look at you like you’re missing an appendage. “How can you not like The Lord of the Rings?” they’ll ask, incredulously. “The books are brilliant! The movies are thrilling! What the hell is wrong with you?”
(I’m perhaps exaggerating that last part.)
But we like what we like. If pressed, I can offer up apologetic explanations: that I’ve never been much for elaborate fantasy worlds, that the people I knew in formative years who were into Tolkien were mostly intolerable Ren-Faire types, that Peter Jackson is a filmmaker I’m just not particularly in tune with. But the fact of the matter is this: Motivated by glowing reviews and water-cooler buzz, I went to the multiplex a couple of weeks after the release of The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, sat down in my seat with an open mind and a willing heart, and was checking my watch by the twenty-minute mark.
Simply put, it wasn’t for me. For my money, TLOTR:TFOTR is a long, slow, endless drudge, a seemingly indefatigable barrage of nonsensical gibberish dialogue and monotonous beauty shots of its cast plodding through its picturesque but ultimately tiresome New Zealand locations. To call the pacing leisurely would be a kindness; if I ever found out I had three hours to live, I’d track down a copy of The Fellowship of the Ring and put it on post-haste, because that three hours feels like a month.
As you can imagine, this is not a popular opinion to hold. And it made the years that followed — with the two equally-ballyhooed follow-ups, the Best Picture Oscar for The Return of the King, the eternal bombardment of DVD and Blu-ray “special editions” and “extended cuts” (OH GOODY) — problematic, to say the least. And now here’s The Hobbit, another round of Peter Jackson-helmed Tolkien (spread out over two films, of course; Jackson is not a filmmaker renowned for his brevity), to start it all over again.
It’s a forlorn feeling. But I can’t be the only one. So I ask you — what’s the esteemed phenomenon (in film, in music, in literature, in art, whatever) that it feels like everyone loves but you? Let it loose. Turn on the venom. Get it off your chest. This is a judgment-free zone. (I mean it. I met a guy last year who doesn’t like the Beatles. THE BEATLES. Yet I’d call him a friend! Hesitantly.) Unload it here. What is your pop-culture cold spot?
Comments (66)
oh lord, I totally agree. What a long, turgid series it is! nicely made, but self indulgent to the extreme. As with Bjork’s music – artistically speaking, I get it, but it does nothing for me.
Harry Potter. (‘Nuf said.)
Harry Potter, Twilight, Real Housewives, Kardashians.
It’s not *quite* everything on TV or movies, but it’s close.
Community, 30 Rock, Parks and Rec… Daily Show and Colbert… I know they are good but I can’t take the hipster snarkiness… Good idea for a piece..
Indiana Jones. (all of them)
Even as a child, I just thought they were preposterous films. I thought the stories were nonsense and the characters were simply caricatures. I know that kids don’t usually care about that stuff, and just want cool explosions and wild chases, and so did I. But all the Indiana adventures just seemed too absurd to me, and therefore lacked the excitement they were supposed to create.
Nowadays we’re supposed to look back on it with fondness and nostalgia, and view its over-the-top-ness as one of its biggest charms. But, sadly for me, I just never “got” it. But its lasting popularity leads me to believe that there must be something wrong with me. Is there?
The Grateful Dead.
I just do not get it. I think the music is generic and lackluster. I just do not understand the die hard following and subculture inspired by the band.
Great dissection. Lately, for me it’s been Bon Iver and Mad Men (and I second Harry Potter). I don’t think people should be at all apologetic about their cold spots. Folks should like what they like without expecting validation for it but also while being respectful that its just as fine for other people to have their own tastes too. The only thing I get even slightly indignant about is people that aren’t into the Wire but I’ll take that hit of hypocrisy.
The Beatles is a good mention. I respect them but I didn’t grow up with family or friends who listened to them. It was all about the blues and soul and gospel in my world so the Beatles never really registered and still don’t do anything for me.
Star Wars.
I love LOTR, but I have met many who did not. You definitely have to go all in on the premise of the fantasy world Tolkien have created.
My cold spot is The Simpsons. I enjoy sarkasm and jokes that crosses the line, but I just find The Simpsons borring. I really cannot explain it…!!??
Buffy the Vampire Slayer (the tv series).
I don’t mind vampires and I quite enjoy a show set in a high school but Buffy never clicked with me. I’ve watched a number of episodes (can’t remember one second) and ended up pretending to like it to avoid the inevitable incredulity at my apparent lack of pop culturural capital.
Totally concur with Ben’s thoughts on Bjork too. Bjork fans, however, will not just let it go.
I just don’t like Harry Potter. It’s a regurgitation of myths, fables and stories that I grew up, but mixed in with a loathing of class systems (escaping the middle class) that somehow codifies class systems further (muggle vs cool people). The only thing I like about the series, books or films, is the actor who played Neville Longbottom.
Star Wars, seconded. I can’t get through an entire movie. Boring as hell, and the characters are awful and selfish (excluding Chewy, R2D2, and the like, which makes me hate it more). I can stand books and films with awful people, if the story is interesting, or the costumes, scenery, etc. is good. Which brings me to number 2: Buffy. The characters are horrid, and the plot works in their favor so often, that it becomes clear that I am suppose to relate to them. It disgusts me, and I like Angel way better. And certain classic games: Pokemon and Zelda. I love Pokemon cartoons, and the games were disappointing to me as a child. And Zelda, though similar to Mario, a loved game, never appealed to me.
widespread panic(which is a bigger deal in the southeast), and am i alone in not getting Almost Famous, or anything else directed by cameron crowe? also, lobster. the crustacean. it’s so sweet.
I often feel that I am the only one who hated Bridesmaids and pretty much every sketch with Kristin Wiig on SNL.
World Music. Ryan Gosling. Twilight. David Foster Wallace.
Jim Carrey. I find him super irritating, and he’s ruined too many books I love: the Grinch, Mr. Popper’s Penguins, Series of Unfortunate Events. That said, I did like him in Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.
And Twilight. Ugh.
Pretty much any of the difficult solo artist “geniuses” of the last 50 years (Zappa, Beefheart, Waits, et al.) really leave me cold. Their purported reputations far outweigh any emotional impact they have on me.
Second that on the Grateful Dead, its just all…nonsense. And the same for any other so-called ‘jam band’ (Phish et al.).
Vampires just need to go away. All the tweenie movies, tv shows and such. Anne Rice ruined the genre forever. Bring back Herzog’s Nosferatu, or even Frank Langella as Dracula (1979). The last decent vampire movie was Vampire Hunter D… or maybe ‘Let the Right One In”…(the Swedish one)
NO MORE VAMPIRES — ever, no matter how clever. Late Beatles albums have lots of unbearable self-indulgent crud that no one had the guts to tell them to leave out (with a few excellent jewels thrown in, of course). And, with apologies to Jason, The Black Keys strike me as pretty mediocre (and I know something about mediocrity, as I so often represent it myself). Great topic for an article, tell Flavorwire to give you a big raise.
Seconded the Black Keys. They’re not doing anything interesting or noteworthy and yet everybody loves them. Why not just listen to old school bands that did it first?
Flaming Lips. I just don’t get it.
1) Movies about sports. I dread the overcoming an obstacle. I can’t stand talk of strategy. I never sit on the edge of my seat and then cheer when someone or a team inevitably win whatever competition they’re in. The only exception to this rule for me is Friday Night Lights, which is about so much more than football. I never in a million years thought I would like this TV show, but it really is amazing. I will keep watching and waiting for a sports movie that doesn’t make me roll my eyes or want to just get up and go do something else.
2) Julia Roberts. I hate her laugh, I hate her giant smile, I hate that she plays a different version of the same character in every single movie, I really cannot stand her. Bleh. Major cold spot.
How I Met Your Mother. I just don’t.
Tom Hanks.
Star Trek, Dr Who, Harry Potter and Lisbeth Salander series
People almost don’t believe me that I don’t like:
1. Pulp Fiction – I literally fell asleep watching this, I found it so incredibly dull.
2. Red Hot Chilli Peppers – I did, however, enjoy his autobiography, but the music does nothing for me.
3. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind – as a bit of an indie kid my friends don’t get how I don’t think it’s the best thing ever. More like most overrated thing ever.
4. Ryan Gosling (seconded from the person up there) – I hate pretty much every character I’ve ever seen him play. The Notebook felt like it took a week to trudge through, and I don’t find him attractive physically even the slightest bit (as a straight young woman I feel like I’m the only one).
Thank you, that was good to get off my chest!
Queen, Star Wars
1)I second pulp fiction..never really understood its popularity.
2)Twilight is awful,harry potter & lotr is just passable(i don’t really like these epic fantasies).
3)Justin Bieber,Lady gaga and most of the other present popstars.
Mad Men I turned off after a few episiodes, it’s just far too slow for me! I turned off 30 rock as well after a few episodes, for the ‘funniest sitcom in years’ I didn’t find it funny at all and the Wire I found just gratutious and I despise Bob Dylan!
1.The Hangover – Maybe I have a strange kind of humor, but this film didn´t make me laugh even once. Naturally I skipped the sequel.
2.The Twilight series – How can people endure something as lame and boring not only for one but for several films?
3.2001-A space odyssey and The Shining – Masterpieces of scifi or horror? Not for me.
I have trouble getting into The Walking Dead, but I guess I could see how people get into it. BUT, I absolutely loath Ben Stiller. I do not understand his popularity. He is not funny!!! His movies are painful to watch and he lack anything that can be construed as charm, charisma or talent.
House.
Can’t take it. Pretentious, repetitive, unoriginal.
Queen.
Can’t take it. Pretentious, repetitive, dull.
Kiss.
Can’t take it. Pretentious, repetitive, annoying fan base.
I’m starting to see a pattern here…
Portlandia. I had heard a lot of people talking about and I just couldn’t get into it.
Reality TV…..except for COPS
And Lady Gaga
How I Met Your Mother, It’s Always Sunny, Grateful Dead, Radiohead, Dave Matthews Band, Napoleon Dynamite, David Foster Wallace…
Phew. That felt so good. Great thread!!!
I will speak via proxy for a friend of mine who generally loves SF and fantasy yet hated The Matrix and Fight Club, and didn’t grok Battlestar Galactica.
Thank you to the person who mentioned lobster. It’s not bad food, but ounce for ounce you can get fish that is twice as tasty for half the price. It’s simply overrated and therefore usually disappointing
Which makes me think: how much of our “cold spots” come from hype and disappointed expectations? Our friends and media critics tell us we are supposed to absolutely love something, but when we see it, it doesn’t move heaven and earth for us, so we think it sucks. Or that something is secretly wrong with us…
I just can’t…Lady Gaga,Bon Iver & The Black Keys. I never could get into Bright Eyes either.The big one for me is Seinfeld,I just never liked it. Never thought it was funny,ever. Seriously.There, I said it.
seconding many above and adding my own: star wars, harry potter, indiana jones, e.t., adele, beyoncé (musically, that is), guns’n'roses, red hot chili peppers, grateful dead, drake, all csi’s, all ncis’, glee, all tv singing/dancing/performing contests, big bang theory, 2&1/2 men, modern family, all real housewives of whom/whereever, grammy/oscar/emmy/tony/golden globe/amer music and all other awards telecasts, anne rice, stephen king, tom wolfe (his fiction, that is)… phew, enuf for now. that felt good.
oh, yeah, how could i forget “the hangover”: laughed exactly once (at the wedding singer near the end)
I just don’t like Jazz. To me, it is like musical masturbation.
Radiohead’s last 3 albums. I was there when the first albums came out and enjoyed OK Computer. But I just don’t get the reverence they still enjoy. Maybe I’m just an old fart now.
The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo series-yawn!Not on my wavelength.
I didn’t like the Hangover or Bridesmaids.
I wanted to walk out of Fight Club.
Not remotely interested in anything that could be called a franchise, unless we are talking fast food.
Most of these things can be excused as a matter of taste. Unless you hated the Wire. Those people are just crazy.
Rock Music.
Family Guy-I hate hate hate hate hate Family Guy.
The Big Bang Theory-ditto
Well, where do I start? Can’t stand Madonna (then or now), Ozzie Osbourne (I just feel sorry for him) – although loved Black Sabbath, Beyonce’s voice, Kim Kardashian, most rappers – even if I like some tracks minus the rapping (just ignorant idiots really), American Football (sorry, just not my thing – always seemed really G-A-Y to me), Oprah (victim braggard), The Tea Party (fake), Apple Computers, Pinkberry, UGGS, tattoos, hybrid cars, “The Bachelor” TV series, Denzel Washington, Jersey Shore, Joe Pesci, and Al Pacino. I’m certain I have some people’s favorites here. To each his own…
Doctor Who, Star Wars, James Bond, Transformers, Glee, Zelda, Supernatural…
I can agree with the Lord of the Rings things, though. I mean I really enjoy the movies but the books were so arduous and blah! I don’t know. I’ll probably get around to it for the street cred but I’ll never understand the fanaticism.
Seinfeld is my main one, also 30 Rock, and the Dave Chappelle Show. I can see how they are all well done but mostly they just fall flat for me.
In film it’s Blade Runner and Fargo – again I can see how they are good but I’m just not into them. Never really could get into either one though I finished both.
Great topic. I don’t get the whole Apple craze. iPhone, iPad, iTunes, Steve Jobs worship, etc. It feels like everyone drank the Kool Aid and I’m the only one left who can see that you’ve all turned into iZombies. I also dislike Adele.
Ben Gibbard and Death Cab For Cutie. I just find him so very very dull, even though I loved The Postal Service.
I second the Apple thing – I don’t own a mac or anything with an i in front of it and I’m completely unphased.
I have s dirty secret cold spot and I know it is a true deep down one that I kind of wish I didn’t have but I really don’t like Bob Dylan music. Gasp! Now I feel like everyone is judging my musical taste.. I simply get bored listening to it
I’ve always thought the 3 most overrated bands of all time were:
Depeche Mode
U2
REM
Oh yeah, and my wife thinks Citizen Kane is boring. I married her anyways. And she still hasn’t seen any of the Godfather Bilogy ( I refuse to acknowledge the third one exists.)
I thoroughly agree with/second Bob Dylan. I understand his “importance” in the music sphere of the last fifty years but I can’t fathom the WORSHIP. He’s positively idolized. I mean, really?
Many others are dormant somewhere in my brain, but I’m too happy that others share my distaste for Dylan to think of them.
I also hate Star Wars. It’s derivative, poorly acted, boring, and I don’t understand why everyone seems to treat it like the best thing ever created.
Radiohead and Pink Floyd. The first one is so depressing and boring to me, the second one is just too dull. Feels like I’ve finally made my pop-culture cold spot coming out. Such a relief.
Fantastic idea for a post. To mix metaphors, let’s burn other people’s sacred cows.
The Graduate (the film): boring, slow-paced, and I wanted to kick Ben’s ass (as a female who’s about his height, I could’ve totally done it, too).
ANY FILM by Terry Gilliam: 12 Monkeys and Brazil were both so tedious, and Time Bandits was beyond horrible.
Bon Iver, The Shins, and other wuss-boy music that the AV Club and All Songs Considered seem to love so much. Blech.
Dr. Who and House: terrible acting by Brits, who are often so much better at it than we are.
Magazines: The New Yorker, Vanity Fair. So self-important. Guess what? People other than Upper East Siders and Beverly Hills residents don’t give a crap.
The Godfather films. They’re ok. Not masterpieces. But I respect their place in film and American history.
What about retroactive cold spots? Number 1 on that list for me would be Seinfeld–I hate neurotic humor. (Which also means I hate most of Woody Allen’s movies and film appearances.)
Also on my TV-for-sociopaths cold-spot list: The Sopranos, Curb Your Enthusiasm.
I feel much better.
Hate all reality contest shows. American Idol, etc…… Hate Cake Boss.
Oy – I’ve read through every post, desperately searching for someone who shares my feelings…alas, unless my eyes skipped over my partner-in-dislike, I’m afraid I stand alone in my confession. Here goes:
I feel NOTHING for Adele.
There. I said it. Now, does she really need to be played on EVERY radio station??
I can’t believe nobody said Sex and the City…ugh the plot lines and so.many.puns.
Coldplay. I know, I know, I get it but they do something to my brain that makes me spazz and say “WTF is that!? Turn it off!!!”
Gone With the Wind (The book? I struggled through and hated it. The classic film – it doesn’t matter I never gave a damn.)
I’m a member of the Toronto comedy community, and everyone I talk to loves Louis C.K. I don’t. He sets up his story, I make a snarky comment based on his set-up, and his punch line is the exact same comment I just made. It gets dull. I see stand-up in order to be surprised, and have my mind blown with cleverness, not to have my own preconceptions confirmed.
Big Bang Theory – Don’t get it, not funny, cheesy as hell
The Beatles – Get it but just don’t care for them
football, Kardashians (waste of time to even type the name), Jersey Shore, Sex & the City, Gaga, Madmen, cartoon movies, cartoon TV shows (except The Simpsons), tweener fantasy movies, Bieber, Sopranos, almost all rap and hip hop, Dancing with the (2nd-rate) Stars, football, cell-phone worship
I hate Radiohead
Oh, I found LOTR utterly tedious. I guess it’s kind of cool not to like Twilight, but I’m going to mention that anyway. Also, anything by Wes Anderson – I feel like I’m missing the joke.
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