> Am I the only one who gets worried when people start saying
> "I'm really disappointed in this movie. It doesn't live up to the
> TV series, and all the good bits are in the trailer.
> Oh, BTW, I haven't seen it yet"?

You're right that it's slightly unfair, and I
of course reserve final judgment until I've seen
it. However, the evidence is disheartening. It
wasn't screened for critics -- the surest sign
that a movie's a flop -- so the studios think the
movie stinks. It dropped 65% in its second
weekend grosses -- so mainstream audiences think
it's a flop. The critics who have reviewed it
have often given it their bottom rating -- so
critical audiences think it's a flop. That means
it has exactly one remaining chance to be good:
if it develops a cult following, which usually
takes some time to build. If what critics are
telling me about it is true -- that it lacks
depth, dialogue, and character -- then it isn't
going to be a cult film.

Sure, there's still some chance I'll like it.
Sure, there's still some chance it'll live up to
the TV show. And I'll give it that chance. But
what are the odds? Slim enough so I don't feel
uncomfortable talking about it now, so long as
there's the disclaimer that I might be wrong.