Would you lose respect for someone who hated a cherished film/novel? [View All]

[DerekG]

I have nothing but admiration and fondness for a friend who radiates intelligence, acerbic wit and overpowering compassion. She is, as they say, one of the good ones.

But.....she hates JAWS. Worse yet was her justification for loathing said film, claiming it was "unrealistic," like it was supposed to be a documentary about marine life--does anyone level such criticism toward Melville's Moby Dick? JAWS is my absolute favorite, and I would go out on a limb to say that only Coppola's first two Godfather movies were as well crafted as Spielberg's first masterpiece.

This pained me: it's worse than hearing someone savage Milton's Paradise Lost, or Shakespeare's Macbeth...comparable to seeing someone burning the Bible.

I know this is weird, but I actually lost some respect for this wonderful human being. I'm the one with issues, I know, but the film is just sublime. She didn't have to love it, but any person possessing a modicum of taste would admit it was a laudable effort! Damn it, the musical score alone.............!!!!!!!

Is anyone else this defensive about a work of art they cherish?