BamaDan on 
Jenny B on 
Bo on 
azn8tive on 
If I’m not into a book by page 80, I put it down and walk away.
I used to keep slogging out of some misguided sense of duty, but screw that. I read less than I ever have, and I don’t want to spend the time on something that hasn’t engaged me. If I’m not interested by page 80, then either it sucks, it’s not written for me, or (probably most often) somewhere in between. I return it to the owner, or give it away, or once in a while I put it on the shelf to see if I’ll feel differently about it in a year or two. (That’s usually what happens when I invoke the Page 80 Rule with a classic.)
Movies are different. Even bad films almost always have something redeeming about them. That, coupled with the fact that most movies take significantly less time start to finish that most books, keeps me watching. Occasionally I’m vaguely resentful when they’re over, which tells me that as a bit more time goes by, maybe I’ll be turning movies off and walking away more often. As of tonight I can’t remember the last time I did that.
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There are only two movies that I paid to see (either in a theater or a rental) that I just could not finish.
I walked out of Clash of the Titans I had to be young teen when that one came out. My husband cannot seem to fathom it. But that stupid mechanical owl pushed me over the edge.
As for rentals, the only one I have ever gotten up, turned off and returned without finishing was Daredevil with Ben and Jen. Garner could really fight, but Ben couldn’t and you could actually “see” the choreography in the fight scenes. I watched the whole first hour. What a waste of time.
Seems like a good rule. I can think of at least a couple of books I was bored with and walked away from, never to return. On the other hand, my actual reading of a real, live book is pitifully rare, so I’m somewhat selective about what I’ll invest my time in.
I can’t recall ever getting up and walking out on a movie either. Turning the tv off at home is quite another story. And the wonders of Tivo allow me to watch a crappy movie like Jason X in about 20 minutes but still catch the major scenes and plot points. Heh…plot.
[...] sure is the latest blow to my aspirations to be a well-rounded cultural creature, I invoked the Page 80 Rule on Slumdog Millionaire last night. I gave it 33 minutes—about 28% of its run time—and just [...]