Comments on: The Spoiler: an examination http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2007/06/29/the-spoiler-an-examination/ The News Blog of Comics Culture Mon, 23 Nov 2009 01:21:01 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.2 by: sjelly http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2007/06/29/the-spoiler-an-examination/#comment-246016 Mon, 09 Jul 2007 17:10:17 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2007/06/29/the-spoiler-an-examination/#comment-246016 Someone up above was kvetching about adults' delight in Harry Potter and what he (she?) perceives as kids being manipulated. I'm a librarian and I can't begin to tell you what a joy HP is to me. There a number of reasons for this but chief among them is this: children excited to the point of frenzy by READING BOOKS!!!!!!! Excuse the screaming, but given all the opportunities available for kids NOT to read, it moves me almost to tears everyday to talk to a child who has read all the thousands of pages of Potter several times over and would like other fantasy books, books about English public schools, books on alchemy, any damn book at all so long as it's at least as interesting as HP. I've had the inexpressible pleasure of introducing kids to LeGuin's Earthsea books, to Susan Cooper's Dark is Rising books, to Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials, to Eragon, Wind Singer, Lightning Thief and countless others all thanks to HP hysteria. Long may it reign. Someone up above was kvetching about adults’ delight in Harry Potter and what he (she?) perceives as kids being manipulated. I’m a librarian and I can’t begin to tell you what a joy HP is to me. There a number of reasons for this but chief among them is this: children excited to the point of frenzy by READING BOOKS!!!!!!! Excuse the screaming, but given all the opportunities available for kids NOT to read, it moves me almost to tears everyday to talk to a child who has read all the thousands of pages of Potter several times over and would like other fantasy books, books about English public schools, books on alchemy, any damn book at all so long as it’s at least as interesting as HP. I’ve had the inexpressible pleasure of introducing kids to LeGuin’s Earthsea books, to Susan Cooper’s Dark is Rising books, to Philip Pullman’s His Dark Materials, to Eragon, Wind Singer, Lightning Thief and countless others all thanks to HP hysteria. Long may it reign.

]]> by: Brian Spence http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2007/06/29/the-spoiler-an-examination/#comment-232238 Mon, 02 Jul 2007 15:42:56 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2007/06/29/the-spoiler-an-examination/#comment-232238 Heidi, I COMPLETELY agree about the spoilers ruining the Sixth Sense. If you know what's going to happen, that movie really sucks. I know my old boss at the Comic Cubicle was pissed because I showed him the soundtrack to The Phantom Menace, which has a song title "Qui Gon's Funeral". He was trying to hard to avoid spoilers, too. Wouldn't even watch the trailer. I hadn't even noticed the song title until he mentioned it!! Heidi, I COMPLETELY agree about the spoilers ruining the Sixth Sense. If you know what’s going to happen, that movie really sucks. I know my old boss at the Comic Cubicle was pissed because I showed him the soundtrack to The Phantom Menace, which has a song title “Qui Gon’s Funeral”. He was trying to hard to avoid spoilers, too. Wouldn’t even watch the trailer. I hadn’t even noticed the song title until he mentioned it!!

]]> by: charles foster kane http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2007/06/29/the-spoiler-an-examination/#comment-227838 Sun, 01 Jul 2007 02:22:52 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2007/06/29/the-spoiler-an-examination/#comment-227838 The talk of Presumed Innocent remains me of the Kids in the Hall sketch with Hecubus. "EVIL~!" The talk of Presumed Innocent remains me of the Kids in the Hall sketch with Hecubus. “EVIL~!”

]]> by: Evan Waters http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2007/06/29/the-spoiler-an-examination/#comment-227141 Sat, 30 Jun 2007 19:55:04 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2007/06/29/the-spoiler-an-examination/#comment-227141 I deal with most spoilers by deciding that they're lies. At one point a major humor website "named" the character who died in one of the HP books, everywhere on its front page and new articles, but of course, it was the wrong character. Unreliable spoilers often creep out. I deal with most spoilers by deciding that they’re lies. At one point a major humor website “named” the character who died in one of the HP books, everywhere on its front page and new articles, but of course, it was the wrong character. Unreliable spoilers often creep out.

]]> by: Jim Caldwell http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2007/06/29/the-spoiler-an-examination/#comment-226738 Sat, 30 Jun 2007 14:45:45 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2007/06/29/the-spoiler-an-examination/#comment-226738 <i> In the case of Presumed Innocent, I remember a radio host revealed the twist on-air shortly after the movie came out.</i> I have a hard time working up much outrage for this one. After all, the <b>book</b> had been out for good while before the movie was made. I'm treading into a whole different argument, though, right? On the other hand, I do get annoyed when a magazine like <i>Entertainment Weekly</i> casually spoils movies (and teevee shows, though I can't whine about that category as much), presuming everyone reading the magazine went out and saw it on opening weekend - much like the comment above about 12:01 Wednesday for comics. Personally, I really, really don't want <i>Deathly Hallows</i> spoiled right away, since I'm going on the road on the 20th, and I'll have to scrounge a copy somewhere that weekend. I figure the longer I wait, the greater my chances are of getting spoiled. In regards to the Midnight release, I agree with Dani. I did it once, with my sister and niece, for <i>Phoenix</i>. Once was enough for me. But the appeal is something I can't disagree with. I just don't need it myself. As for "famous" spoilers, I read that Peanuts strip as a kid. It did spoil the movie for me, but it also made the strip that much funnier. In regards to "Psycho," I had it spoiled a couple of years before I saw it by <b>Donnie "Ralph Malph" Most</b> on Happy Days. He spoils several movies the Cunninghams are thinking about seeing. In the case of Presumed Innocent, I remember a radio host revealed the twist on-air shortly after the movie came out.

I have a hard time working up much outrage for this one. After all, the book had been out for good while before the movie was made. I’m treading into a whole different argument, though, right?

On the other hand, I do get annoyed when a magazine like Entertainment Weekly casually spoils movies (and teevee shows, though I can’t whine about that category as much), presuming everyone reading the magazine went out and saw it on opening weekend - much like the comment above about 12:01 Wednesday for comics.

Personally, I really, really don’t want Deathly Hallows spoiled right away, since I’m going on the road on the 20th, and I’ll have to scrounge a copy somewhere that weekend. I figure the longer I wait, the greater my chances are of getting spoiled.

In regards to the Midnight release, I agree with Dani. I did it once, with my sister and niece, for Phoenix. Once was enough for me. But the appeal is something I can’t disagree with. I just don’t need it myself.

As for “famous” spoilers, I read that Peanuts strip as a kid. It did spoil the movie for me, but it also made the strip that much funnier. In regards to “Psycho,” I had it spoiled a couple of years before I saw it by Donnie “Ralph Malph” Most on Happy Days. He spoils several movies the Cunninghams are thinking about seeing.

]]> by: Elf http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2007/06/29/the-spoiler-an-examination/#comment-226048 Sat, 30 Jun 2007 07:58:22 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2007/06/29/the-spoiler-an-examination/#comment-226048 I saw the Sixth Sense without knowing the twist ending. I later saw it again, and this time I noticed all the clues that was laid out, and I therefore enjoyed the movie in a totally different way. Maybe you don't look for the clues if you know the ending when you see the movie for the first time. I still think it's a good movie. The earliest examples of the word spoiler being used among nerds was in this Usenet thread from 1980 -&#62; http://tinyurl.com/234e6d I saw the Sixth Sense without knowing the twist ending. I later saw it again, and this time I noticed all the clues that was laid out, and I therefore enjoyed the movie in a totally different way. Maybe you don’t look for the clues if you know the ending when you see the movie for the first time. I still think it’s a good movie.

The earliest examples of the word spoiler being used among nerds was in this Usenet thread from 1980 -> http://tinyurl.com/234e6d

]]> by: alex http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2007/06/29/the-spoiler-an-examination/#comment-225269 Sat, 30 Jun 2007 00:38:43 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2007/06/29/the-spoiler-an-examination/#comment-225269 Spot 1980, I think it's pretty obvious Heidi hasn't read American Born Chinese (and proabably Fun Home too) and proabably just guessed with all the literary awards it's got and its subject matter that it's just some navel-gazing slice-of-life book. Which any of us who have actually read it know it to be anything but. That book might wear the crown for the biggest twist ending in comics history. So those you that have read it and know Heidi, please don't tell her so she can fully enjoy it, unlike her viewing of the Sixth Sense!! Spot 1980, I think it’s pretty obvious Heidi hasn’t read American Born Chinese (and proabably Fun Home too) and proabably just guessed with all the literary awards it’s got and its subject matter that it’s just some navel-gazing slice-of-life book. Which any of us who have actually read it know it to be anything but. That book might wear the crown for the biggest twist ending in comics history. So those you that have read it and know Heidi, please don’t tell her so she can fully enjoy it, unlike her viewing of the Sixth Sense!!

]]> by: Kelson http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2007/06/29/the-spoiler-an-examination/#comment-225256 Sat, 30 Jun 2007 00:14:41 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2007/06/29/the-spoiler-an-examination/#comment-225256 <blockquote>If people don’t want to know, then don’t go to the sites where people are going to talk about it.</blockquote> Sometimes it's hard to avoid, though. In the case of <i>Presumed Innocent</i>, I remember a radio host revealed the twist on-air shortly after the movie came out. He got plenty of complaints, and apologized on air the next day... by saying, "I'm sorry I revealed that it was so-and-so," thus managing to spoil it again for anyone who had missed the first round. I'm currently trying to decide just how much to post on my Flash fan site. It's mainly a reference site, and I'm caught between the "Why don't you have anything on Flash #13/JLA #10" camp and the theoritical camp that only hits the comic store once a month and avoids forums.

If people don’t want to know, then don’t go to the sites where people are going to talk about it.

Sometimes it’s hard to avoid, though. In the case of Presumed Innocent, I remember a radio host revealed the twist on-air shortly after the movie came out. He got plenty of complaints, and apologized on air the next day… by saying, “I’m sorry I revealed that it was so-and-so,” thus managing to spoil it again for anyone who had missed the first round.

I’m currently trying to decide just how much to post on my Flash fan site. It’s mainly a reference site, and I’m caught between the “Why don’t you have anything on Flash #13/JLA #10″ camp and the theoritical camp that only hits the comic store once a month and avoids forums.

]]> by: Alan Coil http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2007/06/29/the-spoiler-an-examination/#comment-225223 Fri, 29 Jun 2007 23:11:06 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2007/06/29/the-spoiler-an-examination/#comment-225223 I never saw Crying Game because the surprise was revealed before I could get to the theater. Same with 6th Nonsense. It just takes all the magic away. I think a month or two of silence is fine for a movie, maybe 2 weeks for a comic. I never saw Crying Game because the surprise was revealed before I could get to the theater. Same with 6th Nonsense. It just takes all the magic away.

I think a month or two of silence is fine for a movie, maybe 2 weeks for a comic.

]]> by: CBrown http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2007/06/29/the-spoiler-an-examination/#comment-225219 Fri, 29 Jun 2007 23:03:16 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2007/06/29/the-spoiler-an-examination/#comment-225219 "I was first Spoiled by Charles Schulz. In a Sunday strip, Linus is watching Citizen Kane. Lucy ruins the ending." I totally remember that cartoon! Though I'd already seen the film, so it didn't ruin my world. I, too, was a wee lad eagerly awaiting The Empire Strikes Back when Marvel released their adaptation days early. In my case, it was MY OWN MOTHER who, at the dinner table, said, "I read in the NY Post today that Darth Vader is Luke Skywalker's father." I went into the movie trying to pretend that maybe it wasn't true, that the newspaper had just gotten a rumor wrong. “I was first Spoiled by Charles Schulz. In a Sunday strip, Linus is watching Citizen Kane. Lucy ruins the ending.”

I totally remember that cartoon! Though I’d already seen the film, so it didn’t ruin my world.

I, too, was a wee lad eagerly awaiting The Empire Strikes Back when Marvel released their adaptation days early. In my case, it was MY OWN MOTHER who, at the dinner table, said, “I read in the NY Post today that Darth Vader is Luke Skywalker’s father.” I went into the movie trying to pretend that maybe it wasn’t true, that the newspaper had just gotten a rumor wrong.

]]> by: Sphinx Magoo http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2007/06/29/the-spoiler-an-examination/#comment-225173 Fri, 29 Jun 2007 21:36:22 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2007/06/29/the-spoiler-an-examination/#comment-225173 I can understand Heidi complaining about Spoilers: with her duties on The Beat (and in her day job) she must have all sorts of people coming to her with "secret knowledge". Probably more than I would just sitting here at home and web-surfing when the kids allow me to. But I find that people only spoil certain things but not others. For example, with Empire Strikes Back, people may have spoiled about Luke's parentage, but not about the dramatic way it was done. Or with the bit with Dumbledore in Harry Potter 6 with the dramatic parts that Malfoy and Snape played in it. Metaphorically, spoilers only go for the exclamation points but not for the sentences and paragraphs leading up to it. I can understand Heidi complaining about Spoilers: with her duties on The Beat (and in her day job) she must have all sorts of people coming to her with “secret knowledge”. Probably more than I would just sitting here at home and web-surfing when the kids allow me to.

But I find that people only spoil certain things but not others. For example, with Empire Strikes Back, people may have spoiled about Luke’s parentage, but not about the dramatic way it was done. Or with the bit with Dumbledore in Harry Potter 6 with the dramatic parts that Malfoy and Snape played in it. Metaphorically, spoilers only go for the exclamation points but not for the sentences and paragraphs leading up to it.

]]> by: Keith Phipps http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2007/06/29/the-spoiler-an-examination/#comment-225139 Fri, 29 Jun 2007 20:45:42 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2007/06/29/the-spoiler-an-examination/#comment-225139 Worst spoiler story ever?: I took a friend who'd managed to make it to college without seeing PSYCHO to a revival at an old downtown theater. We sat in front of a chatty pair of old ladies prone to making comments like, "Cars sure were big back then!" and "Gas sure was cheap back then!" Annoying but benign. Then about halfway through the movie one turns to the other and says **SPOILER WARNING** "Aren't he and his mother the same person?" BadMike: I spoiled JEDI for myself (at the age of 10) by reading the novelization before seeing the movie. Why? I have no idea. But isn't it strange that novelizations and comics adaptations used to come out so far in advance of the film? (Maybe novelizations still do. I wouldn't know.) Things sure were different back then! And the cars were bigger, too. Worst spoiler story ever?: I took a friend who’d managed to make it to college without seeing PSYCHO to a revival at an old downtown theater. We sat in front of a chatty pair of old ladies prone to making comments like, “Cars sure were big back then!” and “Gas sure was cheap back then!” Annoying but benign. Then about halfway through the movie one turns to the other and says **SPOILER WARNING** “Aren’t he and his mother the same person?”

BadMike: I spoiled JEDI for myself (at the age of 10) by reading the novelization before seeing the movie. Why? I have no idea. But isn’t it strange that novelizations and comics adaptations used to come out so far in advance of the film? (Maybe novelizations still do. I wouldn’t know.) Things sure were different back then! And the cars were bigger, too.

]]> by: badMike http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2007/06/29/the-spoiler-an-examination/#comment-225117 Fri, 29 Jun 2007 20:06:31 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2007/06/29/the-spoiler-an-examination/#comment-225117 I remember having JEDI spoiled when I flipped through the Marvel movie adaptation that came out like a month before the movie. I just wanted to skim the art, but of course landed on the page where Luke tells Leia they're related. Grrr... I remember having JEDI spoiled when I flipped through the Marvel movie adaptation that came out like a month before the movie. I just wanted to skim the art, but of course landed on the page where Luke tells Leia they’re related. Grrr…

]]> by: Ken http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2007/06/29/the-spoiler-an-examination/#comment-225096 Fri, 29 Jun 2007 19:55:01 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2007/06/29/the-spoiler-an-examination/#comment-225096 There is a great Honeymooners clip on youtube sort of on this subject http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gBEOauyrpWs I remember waiting on line 7 hours to see Empire, and as we were walking in this woman was walking out "you'll never guess who Luke's father is! Darth Vader!!!" Wanted to kill her. There is a great Honeymooners clip on youtube sort of on this subject

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gBEOauyrpWs

I remember waiting on line 7 hours to see Empire, and as we were walking in this woman was walking out “you’ll never guess who Luke’s father is! Darth Vader!!!”

Wanted to kill her.

]]> by: Jonathan http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2007/06/29/the-spoiler-an-examination/#comment-225090 Fri, 29 Jun 2007 19:49:14 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2007/06/29/the-spoiler-an-examination/#comment-225090 I can't even fathom watching PSYCHO *without* knowing the twist ending. That movie had been spoiled and become a part of pop culture well before I came around so as far back as I can remember I knew the ending. I still watched it and I can respect it, but I can't ever remember that moment when I was shocked to find out the terrible secret of the Bates Motel! Similar point with THE CRYING GAME. It was out and ruined well before I ever could have seen it (I was very young when it was released and my parents were letting me nowhere near an R-rated flick). There's a whole group of films that I'll never watch because what's the point when the whole movie hinges on a twist ending that's already been ruined. And another group that I'll watch anyway because they're well made even though they've been spoiled for me. Sigh. I can’t even fathom watching PSYCHO *without* knowing the twist ending. That movie had been spoiled and become a part of pop culture well before I came around so as far back as I can remember I knew the ending. I still watched it and I can respect it, but I can’t ever remember that moment when I was shocked to find out the terrible secret of the Bates Motel! Similar point with THE CRYING GAME. It was out and ruined well before I ever could have seen it (I was very young when it was released and my parents were letting me nowhere near an R-rated flick).

There’s a whole group of films that I’ll never watch because what’s the point when the whole movie hinges on a twist ending that’s already been ruined. And another group that I’ll watch anyway because they’re well made even though they’ve been spoiled for me. Sigh.

]]> by: Scott Worley http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2007/06/29/the-spoiler-an-examination/#comment-224990 Fri, 29 Jun 2007 19:22:40 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2007/06/29/the-spoiler-an-examination/#comment-224990 Wait a minute. Leia is Luke's sister? Actually, I remeber reading the Marvel Super Special for Empire Strikes Back a few weeks before the movie opened and so that whole other reveal regarding Luke's family was ruined for me. I was a bit disgruntled over that. Wait a minute. Leia is Luke’s sister?

Actually, I remeber reading the Marvel Super Special for Empire Strikes Back a few weeks before the movie opened and so that whole other reveal regarding Luke’s family was ruined for me. I was a bit disgruntled over that.

]]> by: Torsten Adair http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2007/06/29/the-spoiler-an-examination/#comment-224715 Fri, 29 Jun 2007 17:29:02 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2007/06/29/the-spoiler-an-examination/#comment-224715 I was first Spoiled by Charles Schulz. In a Sunday strip, Linus is watching Citizen Kane. Lucy ruins the ending. Never forgave him because he could have done the same joke with a generic murder mystery. When I left the first showing of Phantom Menace and walked past the people waiting in line to see it, I blurted out, "I can't believe Obi Wan and Qui Jon are gay lovers!" As for HPatDH, my store at Lincoln Center pioneered the Midnight Magic madness with book four. The crowds are fun and well behaved, Scholastic sends out swag for us booksellers, and it doesn't stop until Sunday night. If you do not wish to stay up early, Miss Gran Pre, the American illustrator, will be signing copies at our store on Saturday. Now, if I could just get people to read the Oz books... SPOILER in the movie, she wakes up at the end. it was all a dream. dorothy is crazy. no journey south, no porcelain city, no chance for her to leave gray dreary dustbowl Kansas and live happily ever after in Oz. grr. I was first Spoiled by Charles Schulz. In a Sunday strip, Linus is watching Citizen Kane. Lucy ruins the ending. Never forgave him because he could have done the same joke with a generic murder mystery.
When I left the first showing of Phantom Menace and walked past the people waiting in line to see it, I blurted out, “I can’t believe Obi Wan and Qui Jon are gay lovers!”
As for HPatDH, my store at Lincoln Center pioneered the Midnight Magic madness with book four. The crowds are fun and well behaved, Scholastic sends out swag for us booksellers, and it doesn’t stop until Sunday night. If you do not wish to stay up early, Miss Gran Pre, the American illustrator, will be signing copies at our store on Saturday.
Now, if I could just get people to read the Oz books… SPOILER in the movie, she wakes up at the end. it was all a dream. dorothy is crazy. no journey south, no porcelain city, no chance for her to leave gray dreary dustbowl Kansas and live happily ever after in Oz. grr.

]]> by: CBrown http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2007/06/29/the-spoiler-an-examination/#comment-224713 Fri, 29 Jun 2007 17:16:47 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2007/06/29/the-spoiler-an-examination/#comment-224713 I don't think Heidi is asking for an indefinate moritorium on discussing plot twists online. I mean, I was p.o.'d when I found out on a blog which Firefly character was killed in "Serenity," but I couldn't get that mad because the movie had come out, like, two years earlier. What she's talking about is work that hasn't even come out yet. I think it's pretty crummy, and I don't get why some people seem to derive such pleasure from leaking information. Like, Kneon, I went into The Matrix absolutely cold, and really loved it for that reason. I can still enjoy that movie now, even knowing the ending (and the story of the sequels), but I think part of that enjoyment is my remembering the initial surprise when I first saw it. I do read spoilers for things that I don't actually read or watch. Like, I could care less about Thor, but maybe I want to have a sense of what's going on with Thor, so I'd read a spoiler about that. But for the books, comics, movies, and tv shows I do watch, I really don't want spoilers. It makes me wonder what people who follow a series but have to read the spoilers before the material is even released get out of getting the actual thing. I don’t think Heidi is asking for an indefinate moritorium on discussing plot twists online. I mean, I was p.o.’d when I found out on a blog which Firefly character was killed in “Serenity,” but I couldn’t get that mad because the movie had come out, like, two years earlier. What she’s talking about is work that hasn’t even come out yet. I think it’s pretty crummy, and I don’t get why some people seem to derive such pleasure from leaking information.

Like, Kneon, I went into The Matrix absolutely cold, and really loved it for that reason. I can still enjoy that movie now, even knowing the ending (and the story of the sequels), but I think part of that enjoyment is my remembering the initial surprise when I first saw it.

I do read spoilers for things that I don’t actually read or watch. Like, I could care less about Thor, but maybe I want to have a sense of what’s going on with Thor, so I’d read a spoiler about that. But for the books, comics, movies, and tv shows I do watch, I really don’t want spoilers. It makes me wonder what people who follow a series but have to read the spoilers before the material is even released get out of getting the actual thing.

]]> by: charles foster kane http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2007/06/29/the-spoiler-an-examination/#comment-224692 Fri, 29 Jun 2007 16:45:10 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2007/06/29/the-spoiler-an-examination/#comment-224692 It's a sled. It’s a sled.

]]> by: Cary Coatney http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2007/06/29/the-spoiler-an-examination/#comment-224685 Fri, 29 Jun 2007 16:34:57 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2007/06/29/the-spoiler-an-examination/#comment-224685 Hey - you wanna know what really happens at the end of Harry Potter? His magic wand gets a vasectomy. And they all lived happily ever after. ~ Coat Hey - you wanna know what really happens at the end of Harry Potter?

His magic wand gets a vasectomy.

And they all lived happily ever after.

~

Coat

]]> by: Cary Coatney http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2007/06/29/the-spoiler-an-examination/#comment-224684 Fri, 29 Jun 2007 16:32:09 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2007/06/29/the-spoiler-an-examination/#comment-224684 My own mother was notorious for ruining the plot to Psycho 2 for me. She snuck off and saw it herself while I was in school- and then told me the whole freakin' thing from beginning to end at the dinner table. I never forgave that woman. This type of chicanery has been running in my family for generations. ~ Coat My own mother was notorious for ruining the plot to Psycho 2 for me. She snuck off and saw it herself while I was in school- and then told me the whole freakin’ thing from beginning to end at the dinner table.

I never forgave that woman.

This type of chicanery has been running in my family for generations.

~

Coat

]]> by: Dani Atkinson http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2007/06/29/the-spoiler-an-examination/#comment-224672 Fri, 29 Jun 2007 15:59:12 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2007/06/29/the-spoiler-an-examination/#comment-224672 Oh, come on, Jonathan. There's no thrill in waiting up 'til NOON to buy a book. You might as well say why not have New Year's countdowns at three-o'clock in the afternoon so we can all get to sleep at a decent hour. Half the joy is being up past your bedtime, with the only other people around at this ungodly hour being other freaks and fans who adore this thing as much as you do. I've done the Harry Potter Night thing, oh, heck, three times, now, and I love it. I love seeing the kids all excited and dressed up in their cloaks and chattering about their favourite books and wondering what'll happen next. I love seeing the older lady who dresses up her little dog in a wizard hat. I love that kids are spending the evening in a BOOKSTORE for a fun and exciting night out, of their own free will. I love the whole thing, personally, and I'm going to miss it when it's gone, because I don't know if we're ever going to have this kind of excitement and anticipation again over the release of a book. There will always be loony nerds waiting up to all hours at the movie theatre for the release of Big Geek Movie, but it's a rare event for people to get that excited over a novel. Oh, come on, Jonathan. There’s no thrill in waiting up ’til NOON to buy a book. You might as well say why not have New Year’s countdowns at three-o’clock in the afternoon so we can all get to sleep at a decent hour. Half the joy is being up past your bedtime, with the only other people around at this ungodly hour being other freaks and fans who adore this thing as much as you do.

I’ve done the Harry Potter Night thing, oh, heck, three times, now, and I love it. I love seeing the kids all excited and dressed up in their cloaks and chattering about their favourite books and wondering what’ll happen next. I love seeing the older lady who dresses up her little dog in a wizard hat. I love that kids are spending the evening in a BOOKSTORE for a fun and exciting night out, of their own free will.

I love the whole thing, personally, and I’m going to miss it when it’s gone, because I don’t know if we’re ever going to have this kind of excitement and anticipation again over the release of a book. There will always be loony nerds waiting up to all hours at the movie theatre for the release of Big Geek Movie, but it’s a rare event for people to get that excited over a novel.

]]> by: Jonathan http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2007/06/29/the-spoiler-an-examination/#comment-224664 Fri, 29 Jun 2007 15:33:17 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2007/06/29/the-spoiler-an-examination/#comment-224664 And as soon as I write all of that......I see an article on yuppie types lining up to buy an iPhone later today. And as soon as I write all of that……I see an article on yuppie types lining up to buy an iPhone later today.

]]> by: Jonathan http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2007/06/29/the-spoiler-an-examination/#comment-224660 Fri, 29 Jun 2007 15:30:34 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2007/06/29/the-spoiler-an-examination/#comment-224660 This goes back to movie marketing, I believe. From approximately the mid 80's to the mid 90's the trend in movie marketing was to actually show footage in the trailer that did not appear in the final cut of the film (the worst example being for DIRTY ROTTEN SCOUNDRELS where Steve Martin pushes an old lady off the dock in the trailer). Somebody somewhere halfway through the final deck of the last millennium decided that the better plan was to tell the entire story, every major plot point, from beginning to end, in the trailer itself. In fact, I wish I could dig up the article form The Wall Street Journal where they interviewed some Manhattan advertising jackhole that was pleased with himself, and glad that they were marketing movies that way. To me, that's when this tidal wave of spoilers become fashionable. Occasionally I'll pick up some rag like Entertainment Weekly when I'm in the airport newsstand and it appears they routinely ruin twist endings and the like. To segue viciously for a moment, I really just don't get the fascination with Harry Potter. I love fantasy stories and there's been several the past few years that have sucked me in, not the least of which being LORD OF THE RINGS, but I just don't get the attraction to grown-ups of a pubescent wizard. I see kids liking him, sure. But actual adults? Secondly, does anyone else think it's actually incredibly inappropriate to have a midnight reading for kids the day the book comes out? It's an arbitrary time of day so why not pick noon time and not attempt to teach kids that lining up in order to shell over 35 of your hard earned dollars is an appropriate habit, and that mass marketed entertainment warrants staying up to ungodly hours just so you can one day sit around in the home with the other old folks and recite tales of "I remember where I was when Harry Potter came out" ala some weird parallel to JFK being shot? It's incredibly unoriginal and marketed squarely at children (that they know will force their parents to succumb). I'm glad that Harry Potter has sparked a passion for reading in so many kids (though I highly doubt that most of the kids read anything else or will continue to read anything other than these books), however it's hard to see any of it as just a scheme to get rich off of kids. This goes back to movie marketing, I believe. From approximately the mid 80’s to the mid 90’s the trend in movie marketing was to actually show footage in the trailer that did not appear in the final cut of the film (the worst example being for DIRTY ROTTEN SCOUNDRELS where Steve Martin pushes an old lady off the dock in the trailer). Somebody somewhere halfway through the final deck of the last millennium decided that the better plan was to tell the entire story, every major plot point, from beginning to end, in the trailer itself. In fact, I wish I could dig up the article form The Wall Street Journal where they interviewed some Manhattan advertising jackhole that was pleased with himself, and glad that they were marketing movies that way.

To me, that’s when this tidal wave of spoilers become fashionable. Occasionally I’ll pick up some rag like Entertainment Weekly when I’m in the airport newsstand and it appears they routinely ruin twist endings and the like.

To segue viciously for a moment, I really just don’t get the fascination with Harry Potter. I love fantasy stories and there’s been several the past few years that have sucked me in, not the least of which being LORD OF THE RINGS, but I just don’t get the attraction to grown-ups of a pubescent wizard. I see kids liking him, sure. But actual adults?

Secondly, does anyone else think it’s actually incredibly inappropriate to have a midnight reading for kids the day the book comes out? It’s an arbitrary time of day so why not pick noon time and not attempt to teach kids that lining up in order to shell over 35 of your hard earned dollars is an appropriate habit, and that mass marketed entertainment warrants staying up to ungodly hours just so you can one day sit around in the home with the other old folks and recite tales of “I remember where I was when Harry Potter came out” ala some weird parallel to JFK being shot? It’s incredibly unoriginal and marketed squarely at children (that they know will force their parents to succumb). I’m glad that Harry Potter has sparked a passion for reading in so many kids (though I highly doubt that most of the kids read anything else or will continue to read anything other than these books), however it’s hard to see any of it as just a scheme to get rich off of kids.

]]> by: Todd Alcott http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2007/06/29/the-spoiler-an-examination/#comment-224654 Fri, 29 Jun 2007 15:25:36 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2007/06/29/the-spoiler-an-examination/#comment-224654 Thanks for ruining <i>Return of the Jedi</i> for me, Heidi. Thanks a lot. But seriously, I remember back in the day National Lampoon used to have a regular column called "Spoilers" where they would ruin a movie's plot in a humorous way. I remember the Spoiler for <i>The Deer Hunter</i> was "Mike returns to Saigon too late to keep Nick from shooting himself." I just about plotzed. Thanks for ruining Return of the Jedi for me, Heidi. Thanks a lot.

But seriously, I remember back in the day National Lampoon used to have a regular column called “Spoilers” where they would ruin a movie’s plot in a humorous way. I remember the Spoiler for The Deer Hunter was “Mike returns to Saigon too late to keep Nick from shooting himself.” I just about plotzed.

]]> by: Chris http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2007/06/29/the-spoiler-an-examination/#comment-224653 Fri, 29 Jun 2007 15:24:15 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2007/06/29/the-spoiler-an-examination/#comment-224653 I was coming out of the theater after seeing "Presumed Innocent" and someone on line asked if who did it. I leaned up to him and whispered the answer. The idiot. I was coming out of the theater after seeing “Presumed Innocent” and someone on line asked if who did it. I leaned up to him and whispered the answer.

The idiot.

]]> by: Christopher Moonlight http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2007/06/29/the-spoiler-an-examination/#comment-224626 Fri, 29 Jun 2007 15:01:44 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2007/06/29/the-spoiler-an-examination/#comment-224626 If knowing the end of a story makes it not worth watching (6th Sense) then maybe the story really wasn't that good to start with. There are books and movies that I'll go back to over and over agian, even though I know them by heart. If people don't want to know, then don't go to the sites where people are going to talk about it. I don't see what's so wrong about wanting to discuss this stuff, on line. How long must we wait before we can unzip our excited little yaps? The world does not revolve around those who haven't found the time to read or watch something yet. I don't know. Maybe you're right about spoilers being a kind of dominance, but it'd be a petty one at that. It's only art. There are no spoilers in real life, and no one can take that away from us. Ooo, that comes off as a little bitchy. Didn't mean it to be, but there it is. If knowing the end of a story makes it not worth watching (6th Sense) then maybe the story really wasn’t that good to start with. There are books and movies that I’ll go back to over and over agian, even though I know them by heart. If people don’t want to know, then don’t go to the sites where people are going to talk about it. I don’t see what’s so wrong about wanting to discuss this stuff, on line. How long must we wait before we can unzip our excited little yaps? The world does not revolve around those who haven’t found the time to read or watch something yet. I don’t know. Maybe you’re right about spoilers being a kind of dominance, but it’d be a petty one at that. It’s only art. There are no spoilers in real life, and no one can take that away from us.

Ooo, that comes off as a little bitchy. Didn’t mean it to be, but there it is.

]]> by: Brad http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2007/06/29/the-spoiler-an-examination/#comment-224530 Fri, 29 Jun 2007 13:52:56 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2007/06/29/the-spoiler-an-examination/#comment-224530 That's very interesting, I wonder if people got mad if say, Dickens got spoiled? Or Lil Orphan Annie? I think it's funny that what Scholastic calls their "magic moment" with kids wandering in at midnight, wide-eyed, fails to mention that within seconds they'll turn to Mum or Dad for their gold card for the 'magical' $34.99 pricetag. Sure, it's discounted, but I think that's the magic moment for Scholastic. My first spoiler (awwww) is so cliched it has action figures: 10, waiting in line with my younger brother and Dad for Empire Strikes Back. I can see the guy RIGHT NOW walking out talking to his buddy. He hesitates a second and then says "I can't believe Vader is Luke's father." I can see that guy's face RIGHT NOW in his gimpy Member's Only jacket. If I ever see him again I swear I am going to STRIKE HIM DOWN IN ANGER. I hate spoilers. Hate 'em. The WORST offender comicswise is Newsarama. They even call one column "Spoiler Alert" and it always is accompanied by a spoilerish image that by the time you read the warning title you have already seen it. The problem, for those of us who don't read their comics at 12:01 on Wednesday, is that there is no lag time between the actual publication and the spoiler itself -- the earlier the better, it seems. They seem to revel in it. I think spoilers are some weird way of professing dominance -- "oh yeah, I know that already, you moron." It's really strange, must have something to do with low self-esteem? I have spoiled before if people beg me and it feels good for some reason. Like I'm in on it, though I'm really not. Is that it? I'm going into suspended animation for Indy 4 though, I'll tell you that. he has a whip! BR That’s very interesting, I wonder if people got mad if say, Dickens got spoiled? Or Lil Orphan Annie? I think it’s funny that what Scholastic calls their “magic moment” with kids wandering in at midnight, wide-eyed, fails to mention that within seconds they’ll turn to Mum or Dad for their gold card for the ‘magical’ $34.99 pricetag. Sure, it’s discounted, but I think that’s the magic moment for Scholastic.

My first spoiler (awwww) is so cliched it has action figures: 10, waiting in line with my younger brother and Dad for Empire Strikes Back. I can see the guy RIGHT NOW walking out talking to his buddy. He hesitates a second and then says “I can’t believe Vader is Luke’s father.” I can see that guy’s face RIGHT NOW in his gimpy Member’s Only jacket. If I ever see him again I swear I am going to STRIKE HIM DOWN IN ANGER. I hate spoilers. Hate ‘em.

The WORST offender comicswise is Newsarama. They even call one column “Spoiler Alert” and it always is accompanied by a spoilerish image that by the time you read the warning title you have already seen it. The problem, for those of us who don’t read their comics at 12:01 on Wednesday, is that there is no lag time between the actual publication and the spoiler itself — the earlier the better, it seems. They seem to revel in it.

I think spoilers are some weird way of professing dominance — “oh yeah, I know that already, you moron.” It’s really strange, must have something to do with low self-esteem? I have spoiled before if people beg me and it feels good for some reason. Like I’m in on it, though I’m really not. Is that it?

I’m going into suspended animation for Indy 4 though, I’ll tell you that. he has a whip!

BR

]]> by: In Brief… « In One Ear… http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2007/06/29/the-spoiler-an-examination/#comment-224481 Fri, 29 Jun 2007 13:16:04 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2007/06/29/the-spoiler-an-examination/#comment-224481 [...] Heidi MacDonald contemplates THE SPOILER&#8230; [...] […] Heidi MacDonald contemplates THE SPOILER… […]

]]> by: Kneon Transitt http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2007/06/29/the-spoiler-an-examination/#comment-224474 Fri, 29 Jun 2007 13:09:03 +0000 http://pwbeat.publishersweekly.com/blog/2007/06/29/the-spoiler-an-examination/#comment-224474 One of the best movie going experiences I ever had was with THE MATRIX. At the time, I didn't own a television (too busy, what was the point?) and honestly knew NOTHING about it other than it had Keanu Reeves doing Kung-Fu. Boy, was I surprised... One of the best movie going experiences I ever had was with THE MATRIX. At the time, I didn’t own a television (too busy, what was the point?) and honestly knew NOTHING about it other than it had Keanu Reeves doing Kung-Fu.

Boy, was I surprised…

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