Is hating a movie b/c the protagonists are bad guys a thing now?

I liked it!


Schrodinger's cat walks into a bar, and / or doesn't.

I was just discussing ATB elsewhere, so thought I'd pop on and see the discussions... So I'll add my 2 cents.

I didn't like the movie, and similar to many, it was because I had no sympathy or care for the characters. I had the same problem with Kingsman. I wanted to like it, as there was a lot of fun in there, but I couldn't bring myself to care about the lead character.

I've also never been a fan of other films/shows where the central characters are reprehensible. I enjoy grey characters, but it's a balancing act that many films or series don't manage. For example I love Snake Plisken, but I've never enjoyed The Godfather. Gangster movies especially, leave me cold. I've never felt any desire to watch 'Breaking Bad' despite the rave reviews.

As for how a lot of people are blaming a dislike of the main characters in ATB on race... well, one of the things I dislike in a lot of movies is the way in which characters are often excused from vile behaviour because they are 'disadvantaged inner city youth'. A big reason for my disliking that 'excuse', is because part of my childhood was spent growing up in a couple of very 'disadvantaged' areas in the Bahamas.

Not the tourist parts of the islands. I'm talking the parts where there was no glass in the school windows, only storm shutters, and people lived in the most basic housing, with very little money and few (if any) luxuries. Yet very few of the kids thought criminal behaviour was 'acceptable' just because they were 'disadvantaged'. I'm not saying everybody was perfect. Sure, there were the bad ones like you have everywhere, but I'm just pointing out that being 'disadvantaged' is no excuse for criminal, violent behaviour. It is one of the main reasons that, for me, characters like that in films and tv unsympathetic.

So no, it's not a race thing. ;-) It's a writing/character thing.

This thread is so old and I don't even remember how I got here, but I feel compelled to reply :x...

I disliked the movie just because it was boring. That's all. Had it been the first "aliens invade Earth" movie I had seen I'd probably have loved it. But I honestly couldn't find a single aspect to this that makes it different from the others I've previously watched. Except for the protagonists. But if you only enjoyed this because the protagonists are "bad guys", oh well... I must ask you: is enjoying a movie b/c the protagonists are bad guys a thing now? Just kidding, I know that question makes no sense.