On: The 2005 screenwriting book that’s taken over Holl...

[thenomad]

The comment above just said that TDK was "regarded by many as the greatest "action" movie of all time.", rather than making an absolute judgement.

I think that's a reasonably defensible statement - http://www.metacritic.com/movie/the-dark-knight.

[foobarqux → thenomad]

I'm questioning the validity of using the general population as an authoritative source of film critique. Although it's probably silly to ask for an artistic critique of an action film at all.

[anigbrowl → foobarqux]

it's probably silly to ask for an artistic critique of an action film

Far from it; action films are extremely interesting from an artistic POV because they are often so uncontrived that they offer an unusually direct insight into the society that made them. John McTiernan's Predator is a superb film, for example - it's 30 years old and still plays well on TV or the big screen.

[megablast → anigbrowl]

Or predator is the greatest film ever written.

[georgemcbay → foobarqux]

Who said I was using the general population as an authoritative source of film critique?

"regarded by many as the greatest "action" movie of all time" means just what it says. I never claimed nor even implied that the view was authoritative simply because it was widely held.

[vacri → georgemcbay]

'regarded by many as' is pretty much the living, breathing definition of 'authority as implied by popularity'.

[foobarqux → georgemcbay]

You stated explicitly that you thought it was a quality film due to its wide popularity.

(As an aside the article itself never criticizes Dark Knight for being poor only for being formulaic).