actually Im a little sick and tired of people who complain about spoilers mainly because 9 times out of 10 they whine about something thats their fault. You want to know a secret... if you dont want a single thing spoiled... dont ever read reviews.
Writing reviews is difficult, and its difficult to explain why a performance is particularly good or bad without some sort of context. If you want two word "its great" or "it stinks" reviews then by all means keep asking for "spoiler free" reviews. Personally I dont mind knowing about a film because there hasnt been a movie in the last 10 years that I've had trouble figuring out... Six Sense was easy for me for example. See I like to see how the director actually filmed the scenes, structured the movie, scored the action and so on. For me a movie is much much more than a plot. Sure thats not that typical a reaction and sometimes keeping a little bit of knowledge to ones self helps the emotional impact, but some people are quick to summon up the word Spoiler for stuff that isnt a spoiler. For instance... Darth Vader telling Luke that he's his father is a spoiler, finding out the Leia is his sister is a spoiler,... but knowing that Luke is going to blow up the Death Star not a spoiler unless say Lucas was some kind of masochist its not good for the story. The climax is a challange, but people need for that challange to be overcome. Its very similar to the book the Witch must Die. In a film that bucks that tradition the climax would then become a spoiler, but honestly unless it was very well done it wouldnt get good reviews. Give you an example you say... try the Wild Bunch a well done western released about the time of Star Wars. It has a remember Camaroon type ending that works well because of good writing and a lack of sympathetic characters. To make the ending work they have to be sacrificing for something and their end turns into their redemtion. Nice whiny farm boy dies in fiery explosion in space for no reason kind of sticks in the craw. See the difference... good. Often plot construction or simple background material is considered a spoiler when it really isnt. I had an argument with someone about serenity recently about Mals history with the independents. Its not totally vital to the movie, heck its not like they conceal it in the series or movie. Its a totally on the surface part of the movie and thus shouldnt be a spoiler, and yet he was complaining because I talked about the movie at all. I guess what I mean to say is figure out what spoilers really are. If its a minor detail like a Romance between Hermione and Ron or explaining that a ship broke down in a movie its not a spoiler. If the whole movie hinges on one scene with its massive emotional impact it is. If you dont want to discuss any of the film or book, dont go to places where you can potentially learn these things, and if people are discussing them, nicely ask them to stop. Remember anti spoilers need to have some sympathy for people who take the time to see or read something too.
