Comments on: One Of These Things Is Not Like The Others… http://www.comstockfilms.com/blog/tony/2007/08/25/one-of-these-things-is-not-like-the-others/ Real Talk About Making Real Sex Erotic Documentaries Mon, 08 Sep 2008 12:35:17 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: tony http://www.comstockfilms.com/blog/tony/2007/08/25/one-of-these-things-is-not-like-the-others/#comment-67779 tony Sun, 02 Sep 2007 11:56:49 +0000 http://www.comstockfilms.com/blog/tony/2007/08/25/one-of-these-things-is-not-like-the-others/#comment-67779 Yes, we saw that too, and can't say we're sad to see it go. I know that not everyone is going to like what we do, and perhaps this person or that will dislike what we do very much. But that review really went beyond the pale. Something else was going on that had little or nothing to do with the film, and I'm very sorry that Matt ended up being the subject of such vitriol. Yes, we saw that too, and can’t say we’re sad to see it go. I know that not everyone is going to like what we do, and perhaps this person or that will dislike what we do very much. But that review really went beyond the pale. Something else was going on that had little or nothing to do with the film, and I’m very sorry that Matt ended up being the subject of such vitriol.

]]> By: agoodbadhabit http://www.comstockfilms.com/blog/tony/2007/08/25/one-of-these-things-is-not-like-the-others/#comment-67755 agoodbadhabit Sun, 02 Sep 2007 05:07:06 +0000 http://www.comstockfilms.com/blog/tony/2007/08/25/one-of-these-things-is-not-like-the-others/#comment-67755 Hmmm, the "not like the others" review has been pulled from Amazon. Can's say I'm too disappointed; everyone's entitled to an opinion, but something in that writeup was just a bit "off" to me. Hmmm, the “not like the others” review has been pulled from Amazon. Can’s say I’m too disappointed; everyone’s entitled to an opinion, but something in that writeup was just a bit “off” to me.

]]> By: tony http://www.comstockfilms.com/blog/tony/2007/08/25/one-of-these-things-is-not-like-the-others/#comment-66997 tony Tue, 28 Aug 2007 13:12:44 +0000 http://www.comstockfilms.com/blog/tony/2007/08/25/one-of-these-things-is-not-like-the-others/#comment-66997 Hello Emerald, nice to see you're still reading :-) One thing that I try to keep in mind is that films that hold the promise of dealing with sexuality in a genuinely grown-up and entertaining way are so very rare, the whole experience of buying and watching can end up being a very high-stakes game, even if you're not trying to get pregnant. For example, after hearing about JCM's "Sex Project" for five years, and especially since I really liked "Hedwig", my hopes for "Shortbus" were probably impossibly high. Add to my impossibly high expectations my annoyance at his "wave away the erotic haze" publicity drumbeat – well if I rated "Shortbus" based on my reaction to things outside the frame it wouldn't have been very good review. Someday maybe grown-up films about sex will be as common as grown-up films about war, and our (my!) disappointment when a film doesn't connect won't be quite so acute. Hello Emerald, nice to see you’re still reading :-)

One thing that I try to keep in mind is that films that hold the promise of dealing with sexuality in a genuinely grown-up and entertaining way are so very rare, the whole experience of buying and watching can end up being a very high-stakes game, even if you’re not trying to get pregnant.

For example, after hearing about JCM’s “Sex Project” for five years, and especially since I really liked “Hedwig”, my hopes for “Shortbus” were probably impossibly high. Add to my impossibly high expectations my annoyance at his “wave away the erotic haze” publicity drumbeat – well if I rated “Shortbus” based on my reaction to things outside the frame it wouldn’t have been very good review.

Someday maybe grown-up films about sex will be as common as grown-up films about war, and our (my!) disappointment when a film doesn’t connect won’t be quite so acute.

]]> By: Emerald http://www.comstockfilms.com/blog/tony/2007/08/25/one-of-these-things-is-not-like-the-others/#comment-66897 Emerald Mon, 27 Aug 2007 20:27:04 +0000 http://www.comstockfilms.com/blog/tony/2007/08/25/one-of-these-things-is-not-like-the-others/#comment-66897 I would tend to agree that there was probably significant projection occurring in Ms. Fox's perception of the movie. I also find the Foxes' experience unfortunate, as I enthusiastically support others' (safe/consensual) sexual exploration, enhancement, and enjoyment. Like Tony, I would have been delighted to see a review that expressed such an experience in the viewing of <i>Matt and Khym</i>, since I myself was so moved by the film. I found myself disappointed to see that this wasn't the case this time. For the record, I found Matt unquestionably appealing (found both of them so) and, as I have expressed both in an email to Tony (which appeared on this blog) and in my own Amazon review, the experience of the couple simply delightful. Being a writer myself, I usually cringe when I see other artists' offerings criticized, not because it is not part of the process, but just because my own experience of criticism as such has often seemed so uncomfortable. On that note, I am impressed by your posting of the review here, Tony, and what I perceive to be your honest and nonjudgmental response to it. Really I just wanted to reaffirm my adoration of the Matt and Khym DVD and thank you once again not only for it but for doing what you do. ;) By me, at least, it is truly appreciated. Namaste. Sincerely, Emerald I would tend to agree that there was probably significant projection occurring in Ms. Fox’s perception of the movie. I also find the Foxes’ experience unfortunate, as I enthusiastically support others’ (safe/consensual) sexual exploration, enhancement, and enjoyment. Like Tony, I would have been delighted to see a review that expressed such an experience in the viewing of Matt and Khym, since I myself was so moved by the film. I found myself disappointed to see that this wasn’t the case this time.

For the record, I found Matt unquestionably appealing (found both of them so) and, as I have expressed both in an email to Tony (which appeared on this blog) and in my own Amazon review, the experience of the couple simply delightful. Being a writer myself, I usually cringe when I see other artists’ offerings criticized, not because it is not part of the process, but just because my own experience of criticism as such has often seemed so uncomfortable. On that note, I am impressed by your posting of the review here, Tony, and what I perceive to be your honest and nonjudgmental response to it.

Really I just wanted to reaffirm my adoration of the Matt and Khym DVD and thank you once again not only for it but for doing what you do. ;) By me, at least, it is truly appreciated.

Namaste.

Sincerely,
Emerald

]]> By: tony http://www.comstockfilms.com/blog/tony/2007/08/25/one-of-these-things-is-not-like-the-others/#comment-66854 tony Mon, 27 Aug 2007 10:58:45 +0000 http://www.comstockfilms.com/blog/tony/2007/08/25/one-of-these-things-is-not-like-the-others/#comment-66854 Hello Ms. Naughty! I think there must be something more going on. Perhaps any given woman might not think Matt was her idea of a perfect dreamboat, but there's nothing about his looks or manner that could provoke such a strong, negative reaction, lest there was something else simmering beneigth the surface. I can't help but be curious what this film touched in Mrs. Fox that made her so upset. Hello Ms. Naughty!

I think there must be something more going on. Perhaps any given woman might not think Matt was her idea of a perfect dreamboat, but there’s nothing about his looks or manner that could provoke such a strong, negative reaction, lest there was something else simmering beneigth the surface. I can’t help but be curious what this film touched in Mrs. Fox that made her so upset.

]]> By: Ms Naughty http://www.comstockfilms.com/blog/tony/2007/08/25/one-of-these-things-is-not-like-the-others/#comment-66802 Ms Naughty Sun, 26 Aug 2007 23:50:38 +0000 http://www.comstockfilms.com/blog/tony/2007/08/25/one-of-these-things-is-not-like-the-others/#comment-66802 There was a line in Thomas Harris's "Hannibal" that stood out for me: "The worm that destroys you is the temptation to agree with your critics, to get their approval." I read that review and my impression was that Mrs Fox seems to have been turned off by the physical appearance of Matt. And her husband didn't like all that nasty talking. If we consider that she had no previous experience of porn (but he did) then I think they had different expectations. You really can't please everyone. There was a line in Thomas Harris’s “Hannibal” that stood out for me:
“The worm that destroys you is the temptation to agree with your critics, to get their approval.”

I read that review and my impression was that Mrs Fox seems to have been turned off by the physical appearance of Matt. And her husband didn’t like all that nasty talking. If we consider that she had no previous experience of porn (but he did) then I think they had different expectations.

You really can’t please everyone.

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