King Billi said:
"Good" and "bad" are often, in a colloquial sense, used as descriptors of a persons personal level of enjoyment of the material. Not that one shouldn't be free to express their opinion on how a piece of media affected them, of course, it's just that the use of "good" and "bad" has become almost entirely subjective.
(perhaps always have been) Or, rather, have come to be similes for "I like" and "I don't like".
Now, we can argue the semantics of using "good" and "bad" until we're both blue in the face; with both of us having valid viewpoints.
However, in an
objective sense, the quality of a piece of media is quantifiable. It's quantifiable in a universal way. I.E., when compared to other, similar bits of media the qualities of the piece in question can be gauged as equal, better, or worse.
To do so takes a lot of specific quantifiers and criteria, I'll grant. Simply asking, "Which is objectively better?", is often not sufficient. Yet, it
is possible to rate the quality of a piece when compared to other, similar media.
Just because I like something doesn't mean that thing is good. Even to me. My
enjoyment of a thing is not predicated on whether it is
objectively good or bad. I can personally enjoy; even love; a thing while simultaneously admitting that the thing is, in an objective sense, of poor quality.
I can love a gastrointestinal-destroying cheese burger from McDonalds and loathe some twenty dollar burger from a five star restaurant. But, I won't lie to myself by saying the MickyDs burger is cooked and prepped more skillfully than the five-star burger.
All I'm saying is: never be afraid to admit your love or disgust of something. Opinions are to be cherished. However, don't also be afraid to admit the "good" or "bad" qualities attributed to that thing.
Oftentimes, admitting to the achievements
and failings of the things you love can embolden your admiration and deepen your appreciation of those things.
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Anyway, in an attempt to get the conversation back on track, another film that will never be "bad" to me is Star Wars Episode 1.
Just like with Tron Legacy in my previous post, I will openly and freely admit to how awful much of the film is. However, I easily rank it as the third best Star Wars film; beaten only by A New Hope (2) and Empire Strikes Back (1).
You're free to tell me all the failings and issues with Episode 1. And, I'll almost assuredly agree with you on every point. Yet, I'll still come out of the conversation saying I enjoyed the movie. At least, far more than I did Episodes 2, 3, and 6.