There are some films so absolutely universally loved, Ive wondered if Im missing something when it just does nothing for me!
I generally try to go into films with very little information.
But if I start to watch a film that I know has a really good reputation, or that was recommended to me by someone whose taste I really trust, I will sometimes then seek out essays/reviews (this time without fear of spoilers) to see if I might actually be missing something. This sometimes gives me something to look for, and even if I don't end up really liking the film, I might at least come to appreciate an element of it.
Last year or around then I was having trouble getting my head around
A Canterbury Tale, and reading some essays about it (and talking to another forum poster) helped me to understand more about what the film was doing and ultimately I ended up really enjoying the movie.
And on the other hand, sometimes reviews help me solidify that a film isn't for me. For example, I would say that the strength of
Silver Linings Playbook is the charm of the lead characters. (It's a movie I like but don't love, maybe a 7/10?). So if someone isn't clicking with the characters, I don't have much else to argue in the film's favor, and it might not be worth going back to it. For me, an example would be the
Hostel films. I love a lot of horror movies, and some friends have several times almost convinced me to check them out. But torture and helplessness are huge turn-offs for me in terms of a movie--they leave me feeling very depressed and upset. So I can understand why people like the films and believe that the films accomplish their own goals, but also they probably aren't for me.