What Do You Do When A Director Apologises For A Movie You Like?

For the most part film directors tend to stand by their work, regardless of the quality of the finished product. With filmmaking such a collaborative project, speaking out is not only considered poor form but could also cause irreparable damage to their careers.

This hasn't stopped some high profile directors from apologising for films they have made. In some instances these apologies can be completely justified; few disagreed with Joel Schumacher when he spoke about the most despised Batman movie of all time:

If theres anybody watching this that, lets say, loved Batman Forever and went into Batman & Robin with great anticipation, if I disappointed them in any way, then I really want to apologise because it wasnt my intention. My intention was just to entertain them.

The same can be said for Vincent Gallo, who described The Brown Bunny as "a pretentious film, a self-indulgent film, a useless film, an unengaging film," pretty much summing up the opinion of the entire critical community and anyone else unfortunate enough to have sat through it.

Sometimes, however, directors apologise for movies that aren't actually all that bad, which can often feel like a betrayal of the fans who invest their time and energy supporting the film.

This happened following the release of Avengers: Age Of Ultron, which saw a deflated Joss Whedon - worn down by ongoing issues with Marvel Studios combined with a relentless backlash from feminists - eventually retreating from social media altogether and stepping down as Marvel's go-to guy for the Avengers series.

Speaking in an interview in Buzzfeed, his decision highlighted the pressures even the best directors face when so much money is invested in a project, and how commercial interests take over artistic merit: "I feel like I have to make a movie good enough to be the next third-highest-grossing movie of all time, he said. I do feel like if it doesnt make a certain ridiculous amount of money, I will have failed the people who have faith in me."

So where does this leave the fans? Is it easy to see the director's point of view and accept their self-criticism as valid? Or should directors simply not open their mouths if they have nothing nice to say, allowing the fans to appreciate their work on their own terms?

If you are a fan of Neil Blomkamp's Elysium how did you react when he said of the film, "I almost want to go back and do it correctly. But I just think the script wasnt I just didnt make a good enough film is ultimately what it is.?

Did you enjoy Kevin Smith's Mallrats and take exception when he apologised for the film at the Independent Spirit Awards in 1996, saying, "I dont know what I was thinking.?

What do you do when a director apologises for a movie you enjoyed? Whether it angers you or is something you simply brush off, let us know your thoughts and get the discussion rolling in the comments below.