Late for the movie sperging, but I had some thoughts:
I saw a screening in person. Whereas the movie was objectively bad, it was enjoyable watching it with other fans while sucking down bottles of Rolling Rock. I thought it was one of the worst movies I had ever seen and was only redeemed by the crowd, and because we were all drunk.
For the longest time, I thought Duke Nukem Forever was the worst game I would ever play. I tried it again out of sheer boredom a few months back and completed it alongside the DLC (which was actually decent, wtf). It wasn’t near as bad as some of the slop I’ve played recently and I actually had bits of fun.
With that same revelation, I willingly watched the AVGN movie again since I saw the screening. Again, it was far from the worst film I have ever seen. I wouldn’t say it was good, no, but like DNF, I kind of forced myself to hate it because I expected more. Managed a few chuckles, cringed quite a bit, but I didn’t hate it. Someone here said they’d give it a 4.5, and I’d agree with that. I’ll never watch it again, but my hatred wasn’t justified. I’d also give Bloodsport and the fight Highlander movie a 5 / 10, and I’ll watch either of those any day of the week because they are stupid fun.
The thing that makes the classic B-movie great is that they are made in earnest. The directors pour their hearts into their craft, despite budget (and often talent) to make the best possible film that they could. It falls apart and is unintentionally bad in parts, but that’s the charm. Keyword: unintentional.
If James had used the funds raised to buy new equipment and shoot a contained albeit more elaborate AVGN episode, I think it would’ve went over very well with his audience. He had done them before. Think about the Halloween and Texas Chainsaw Massacre episodes. All of those were great. Imagine getting together an all-start cast of his friends to help create this schlaky mess.
The large dollar number he raised stroked his ego and he wanted to make his directorial debut. As an amateur filmmaker, how often does one get to shoot and make their debut in Hollywood? What about getting your film seen in the cinema across the entire US? Shoe on the other foot, I’d probably do the same thing. He never wanted to be stuck in the AVGN mines forever, but that’s what got him noticed to begin with, and out of working a 9-5.
Yeah, he’s a retarded sellout, but he at least made it far enough to do so, and part of me finds that admirable. Dude doesn’t have much to show for it, but he has one-of-a-kind experiences to share with his muh kids. Hard for me to hate on that
