Celebrated Movies You Don’t Like
CoolHandBond
Mactan IslandPosts: 7,222MI6 Agent
Some movies are renowned by the majority as being classics and any alternative opinion is derided and you are treated as a fool for daring to voice any opposition.
So the point of this topic is for anyone to name movies that you wonder what all the fuss is about. You can just list the titles or you can add comments as well if you wish.
Please keep the list to critically acclaimed and popular cult movies only.
Pulp Fiction - this is odd for me because I love every other Tarantino movie.
Fight Club
The Apartment
Citizen Kane - Boring
Ghostbusters
The Matrix
Blade Runner - so slow and turgid it’s unbelievable how it became a cult movie.
Usual Suspects
Annie Hall
Alien - this is just so-so, many better movies of the same ilk (Aliens is brilliant though)!!
So the point of this topic is for anyone to name movies that you wonder what all the fuss is about. You can just list the titles or you can add comments as well if you wish.
Please keep the list to critically acclaimed and popular cult movies only.
Pulp Fiction - this is odd for me because I love every other Tarantino movie.
Fight Club
The Apartment
Citizen Kane - Boring
Ghostbusters
The Matrix
Blade Runner - so slow and turgid it’s unbelievable how it became a cult movie.
Usual Suspects
Annie Hall
Alien - this is just so-so, many better movies of the same ilk (Aliens is brilliant though)!!
Yeah, well, sometimes nothin' can be a real cool hand.
Comments
- The Matrix. I didn't see it when it came out, and finally watched it about 8 years ago and was not keen on it. But to be fair it is not the sort of genre that appeals to me. I've never rewatched it, and doubt I will.
- Aliens. I am a big fan of Alien, but the shift towards an action movie style for the sequel didn't appeal to me, I also felt it was overly long. But it is definitely a film that I intend to give a second chance in the future.
- Jurassic Park and E.T. These two I put together because they are both beloved films by Spielberg, yet neither of them are films that I have any real fondness for. I thought both were enjoyable but they didn't get me as excited as many of his other films such as Jaws or Raiders of the Lost Ark. Or even Catch Me If You Can, which is one of my favourite Spielberg films.
- Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. This one probably failed for me because I'd heard so much praise for it, and various people saying it was the most amazing film they'd ever seen. When I watched it, it just didn't appeal to me.
Sorry, any fondness for this is nostalgia to me- the actual film and dialogue is pants. Lucas himself admits he wanted to make Flash Gordon, didn’t have the rights, so ripped off his own version.
A mate lent me the redux version, I fell asleep every time I tried to watch it. Gave it back after the third attempt.
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On the "taking away the sense of wonder" department, I hated The Last Jedi with every fibre of my being (and I know I'm not alone on this, but this is a critically acclaimed movie, so it complies with OP rules). The character assassination of Luke Skywalker made me angrier that I could have imagined.
Peter Jackson's LotR trilogy was a bit of a disappointment too. First one (FotR) was ok (even great if you watch the Extended Edition), but 2 (TTT) was so dumbed down, and the story changes and additions so stupid, that I felt it had been rushed. RotK was okish, but also stupid at places (fake deaths, Sam's estrangement, etc). Basically the "original" bits were completely out of place. I can watch them, but the storyline choices always make me wish for a more faithful take.
"The very words I live by."
The Silence of the Lambs
Any Harry Potter
the film as originally released should go by like a hypnotic fever dream, a bit languid but every image compelling, at least til Brando starts talking.
Butch Cassidy is probably in my top 10 favourite movies of all time
Celebrated by whom ?
I think there are hundreds of celebrated films I don't like - for instance any recent comic strip adaptation leaves me absolutely cold - but the three which always provoke discontent and arguments with some of my friends are The Lord of the Rings Trilogy. Rarely have I watched such yawn inducing, self-reverential, unexpurgated yet completely unexplained, special effects laden drivel.
Oh, and Saving Private Ryan, twenty minutes in, after being sickened by the prolonged massacre on the beachheads - a sequence which revels in the horror of war by repeatedly focussing on gory close ups (Director Spielberg has never been one to understand 'less is more') - its just dull dull dull and not very realistic at all.
*spoilers*
1. Vertigo - First half mystery is actually quite intriguing and then it turns out to be such an over elaborate hoax I find myself feeling duped and angry. (Much like James Stewart) Many other Hitchcock films I love more than this clunker.
2. The Searchers - I am a huge John Ford / John Wayne fan, but the Searchers would not even be in my top 10 westerns. The amount of broad comedy and comic relief characters in this film absolutely cripples what is otherwise a great film.
3. The Good, the Bad, The Ugly - Love the soundtrack, love Clint. This movie has no plot other than they are after some gold. And it drags on forever with only a few memorable cool scenes. The dubbed dialog and some of the acting is horrendous. I don’t really care for Once Upon a Time in the West either as it unfolds at a snails pace.
4. Citizen Kane - THIS is the best movie ever? So boring! Give me Casablanca any day!
Why would any modern human care about this story or the person that it’s based on?
5. Aliens - Not as action packed or cool as fans make it out to be. Alien Resurrection is actually way, way more awesome than this boring Vietnam allegory.
6. Predator - Arnold fans love this one! Not even in my top 10 Armold flicks. Scenery never changes and all the guys are morons. Nothing about this film feels cool or fun. An invisible alien in a jungle. *yawn*
7. Dark Knight - Boring and stupid rendition of Batman that is totally foreign to me as a fan of the 1930s to 1980s Batman comics.
8. Godfather 2 - *yawn* real estate deals about a casino in Miami or something? I can’t remember I already fell asleep.
9. Blade Runner - Seen all cuts of this film in an attempt to like it. Boring. The new one is even worse.
10. China Town - Nasty film about water rights. No clue why people actually like this one.
11. Some Like It Hot - I literally did not smile or laugh once during this classic comedy.
12. Night of the Living Dead- They spend so much time arguing in the living room that nothing exciting actually happens for like 45 minutes of the film. The cool girl in the beginning is basically in a coma for the remainder of the film.
13. Seventh Seal - Chess match with death? Sounds cool, but another boring dud that tests my patience with comic relief and annoying characters.
14. Indiana Jones - Nothing makes my blood boil like hearing praise about this boring, overrated “adventure” movie. I will gladly skip to the 3rd one with Sean and that one actually lives up to the hype.
15. To Kill a Mockingbird- A cute coming of age story turns into a boring court room drama!
Honorable mention: Usual Suspects, Matrix, Ghostbusters, Caddyshack, Hidden Fortress, Jaws
1. GE 2. MR 3. OP 4. TMWTGG 5. TSWLM 6. TND 7. TWINE 8.DN 9. GF 10. AVTAK
I nice list, in response:
VERTIGO - I agree, recently voted the best film ever, not even Hitchcock's best film ever, a confusing and confused film
THE SEARCHERS - Yes, a very cold experience with a lot of overacting and very deliberately stately framing
THE GOOD, THE BAD & THE UGLY - I wasn't aware that this is that highly celebrated. Generally, most cinephiles who like Leone prefer OUATITW or OUATIA, this is the last film where he's experimenting and learning, he understands film structure and performance better with his last two epics.
CITIZEN KANE - An exercise in cinematic storytelling, but it lacks emotion. I agree that CASABLANCA is possibly one of the most underrated celebrated films. It always tops my list.
GODFATHER 2 - Yeah, there's nothing new to add here, No.1 is the best.
BLADERUNNER - Must disagree with you here; a superb piece of craftsmanship, beautifully constructed and elegantly told. It's themes of memory and soul and love are eternal.
CHINATOWN - A bleak film noir for the bleak 1970s, one of my favourites, excellent performances, a toe-curling disquieting sickening ending (if you've never seen it) and a brilliant music score.
SOME LIKE IT HOT - Wow, really? I don't know how to reply to that, other than say I find after repeated viewings this is always fresh and fun and very very funny.
For all those who dislike APOCALYPSE NOW, well, maybe its a taste thing, it isn't an easy watch in any version. It's deliberately disjointed; there's a desperation to the action which draws me into the mindset of the characters - all off their heads on fear or drugs or both - Brando's final monologues are spellbinding. Ridiculously well photographed. Sound and film editing of very high quality.
You give the the impression of not liking R. Scott's style much (he's one of my fave directors). His slow pacing certainly isn't for everyone.
I might post a list later, but in a slightly different format that asked for here
New 2020 ranking (for now DAF and FYEO keep their previous placements)
1. TLD 2. TND 3. GF 4. TSWLM 5. TWINE 6. OHMSS 7. LtK 8. TMWTGG 9. L&LD 10. YOLT 11. DAD 12. QoS 13. DN 14. GE 15. SF 16. OP 17. MR 18. AVTAK 19. TB 20. FRWL 21. CR 22. FYEO 23. DAF (SP to be included later)
Bond actors to be re-ranked later
There Will Be Blood - This one seem to be a favorite among my close friends as well. I find it excruciating to watch and it turned me off from Paul Thomas Anderson until I gave Phantom Thread a chance and totally loved it. Since then I have also discovered Punch Drunk Love as another terrific off kilter romance. Where TWBB falters for me is without a love angle, PTA doesn't have much that interests me in terms of a story.
Rules of the Game - Hailed in some lists as the greatest film of all time. I have seen it twice and honestly can't remember a thing about it other than being a real drag to sit through.
Breathless- Apparently this was a breath of fresh air for French cinema at the time. Viewing it now I just find it obnoxious and pointless.
It's a Wonderful Life - Okay, I do like this film for the most part, but I wish James Stewart would just calm down and appreciate the alternate reality sequence that he's being shown instead of freaking out and fighting it every step of the way.
The Graduate - Again, I do somewhat enjoy this film, but have some pretty serious issues with it. Like Dustin turning into weird psycho stalker to go after the daughter. Why not just keep seeing Mrs. Robinson? She was a babe! Weird film...maybe I just flat out don't get it.
Empire Strikes Back - A major dud in an otherwise phenomenal trilogy. The empire accomplishes very little and apparently have no real goals other than mindlessly chasing the rebels around. Meanwhile, our heroes get themselves in and out of a variety of random scrapes. Feels like all filler...I mean how much time was spent on the episode of Han and co inside the belly of an asteroid monster (Exogorth). Or Luke messing around training in a swamp away from all the action is fairly boring to watch.
1. GE 2. MR 3. OP 4. TMWTGG 5. TSWLM 6. TND 7. TWINE 8.DN 9. GF 10. AVTAK
I love John Wayne movies but even though I agree it’s highly overrated I don’t dislike the film.
There Will Be Blood {[] dreadful
Your initial list of movies got me going off on a tangent. Haha
1. GE 2. MR 3. OP 4. TMWTGG 5. TSWLM 6. TND 7. TWINE 8.DN 9. GF 10. AVTAK
I'll make a few "honorable mentions" though:
Any Tarantino movie beyond Reservoir Dogs. I find Kill Bill 1&2 especially tedious to watch (admittedly "Celebrated" is a bit stretch here)
Any and all of Woody Allen movies.
Yes, Citizen Kane is just boring.
Slumdog Millionaire
Forrest Gump
Saving Private Ryan (storming the beach was fine movie making though) Oh, btw here is a something to read for anybody interested in the Omaha Beach landing: https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/1960/11/first-wave-at-omaha-beach/303365/
Gandhi, 3,11hrs Whiskey Tango Foxtrot!!!!
What else.....? Yes, of course; Roger Moore Bond movies
Any and all of Ingmar Bergman movies.
-Mr Arlington Beech
I’ve just gone through his credits on IMDB and the only two which I would rate higher than average are Gladiator and Black Hawk Down, (not that I have seen them all, admittedly), neither of those would get into my Top 100 favourite movies list though, so in my eyes he is overrated as a director.
Taxi Driver (a story that seemed to go nowhere)
Blade Runner (was really hoping for something better as I'm a huge Harrison Ford fan but this was just boring)
Blade Runner 2049 (see above only this was worse)
2001: A Space Odyssey (fell asleep after 20 minutes when it first came out. Couldn't remember why so I decided to buy the Blu-Ray for $6.99 to jolt my memory. Now I've seen it I wished I'd bought a pint of bitter and skolled it - that would have been time and money better spent).
Star Wars (obviously sci-fi is not my genre (see above) - you can throw in Star Trek and Battlestar Galactica as well. While I'm at it Moonraker can join them - worst Bond film ever - I'll exclude NSNA and CR (1967) as in my opinion they aren't official Bond films.
Apocalypse Now Redux (the original I thought was excellent but I can see why most of (Redux) was cut - totally unnecessary)
Leon: The Professional (liked the concept but Natalie Portman isn't convincing and she seemed to get over her family's murders all too quickly)
Deliverance (apart from Duelling Banjos a nothing sort of film)
Goodfellas/Casino/Romper Stomper (mindless violence for the sake of it)
The toll that FFC took on the environment to even make this film is hard to watch. Ends up feeling like a bloated, self-important film.
1. GE 2. MR 3. OP 4. TMWTGG 5. TSWLM 6. TND 7. TWINE 8.DN 9. GF 10. AVTAK
The Matrix (fell asleep in the cinema)
The Anchorman.
The Hangover: Prob one of my least favorite comedies ever. It's been years since I saw it, so can't comment much.
Spider-Man: Homecoming: it's currently my least fave MCU film. Don't like what they did with Peter Parker and his world, basically (though I did like his friend). Also, the villain is awesome.
New 2020 ranking (for now DAF and FYEO keep their previous placements)
1. TLD 2. TND 3. GF 4. TSWLM 5. TWINE 6. OHMSS 7. LtK 8. TMWTGG 9. L&LD 10. YOLT 11. DAD 12. QoS 13. DN 14. GE 15. SF 16. OP 17. MR 18. AVTAK 19. TB 20. FRWL 21. CR 22. FYEO 23. DAF (SP to be included later)
Bond actors to be re-ranked later
except, Let me just say the new Hollywood era produced several of my favourite filme ever, including especially Chinatown, Taxi Driver and Apocalypse Now, all mentioned above.
There's a lot of indy artfilms I call shenanigans on. Making a technically bad film with no plot, amateur actors, dialog that would be weak if it was improvised but its actually scripted, static camera shots of cheap ugly interiors ... much of that's what a director has to do for their first film, but once their talent got spotted and the're handed a budget they should do better, not make a career out of this same limited repertoire of moves. Generally speaking, Jim Jarmusch and Richard Linklater are particular big offenders.
For the record, I think Garfield's a great actor, but was saddled with bad directing and stories.
New 2020 ranking (for now DAF and FYEO keep their previous placements)
1. TLD 2. TND 3. GF 4. TSWLM 5. TWINE 6. OHMSS 7. LtK 8. TMWTGG 9. L&LD 10. YOLT 11. DAD 12. QoS 13. DN 14. GE 15. SF 16. OP 17. MR 18. AVTAK 19. TB 20. FRWL 21. CR 22. FYEO 23. DAF (SP to be included later)
Bond actors to be re-ranked later