Top 5

Re:Top 5 Everybody Seems To Love But I Hate!!!

seely — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 14:52:26 GMT

Ah, I actually like Ocean's Eleven. I kind of miss the days of the Rat Pack caper/heist films, where it was more about the star power, and the plot played second fiddle to the overwhelmingly oppulent cast. A little humor, a little action, a girl or two, and a completely inplausible plot that involves a lot of tuxedos, gambling, drinking and looking-good. Yes, please!

hathaichanok555:

I agree with you so much on Anchorman and ocean's eleven.

Re:Top 5 Everybody Seems To Love But I Hate!!!

hathaichanok555 — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 05:13:50 GMT

I agree with you so much on Anchorman and ocean's eleven.

Re:Top 5 Everybody Seems To Love But I Hate!!!

benthams_head — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 21:28:07 GMT

SkyPilot:

benthams_head:

I don't generally take issue with the thematic concern of "good vs. evil" in the movies, but it's blown way out of proportion in "Braveheart".

Benthams_head,

Not sure I understand you,

Do you mean Braveheart is too concerned with the battle between good and evil?

among other things, yes.

Re:Top 5 Everybody Seems To Love But I Hate!!!

SkyPilot — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 21:26:12 GMT

benthams_head:

I don't generally take issue with the thematic concern of "good vs. evil" in the movies, but it's blown way out of proportion in "Braveheart".

Benthams_head,

Not sure I understand you,

Do you mean Braveheart is too concerned with the battle between good and evil?

Re:Top 5 Everybody Seems To Love But I Hate!!!

benthams_head — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 15:10:43 GMT

Risselada:

SkyPilot:

Risselada:

benthams_head:
Manachean

What does this word mean?? I couldn't find a definition anywhere.

Just a little typo; "Manichean" should give you some results.

Huh, a new word for me! Thank you!

Thanks for catching the typo.

"Manichean" is a religious philosophy that seeks to characterize different facets of humanity as essentially good or essentially evil. Some have even argued that the "Bush Doctrine" is a Manichean philosophy. I don't generally take issue with the thematic concern of "good vs. evil" in the movies, but it's blown way out of proportion in "Braveheart".

Re: Top 5 Everybody Seems To Love But I Hate!!!

Risselada — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 19:51:13 GMT

seely:

Risselada:

2. Crash / Million Dollar Baby - two recent Oscar winners both written by that hack Paul Haggis. These movies are manipulative in the worst way. I call these movies where I can feel the writer's pen on the paper. Every character and development is impletemented to make you feel an exact emotion. I guess that doesn't have to be a bad thing, but when it's such an issue concious movie and you can really SEE what the filmmakers are doing, it really puts me off. Especially when people talk about how important these movies are.

Really well put... something about both always bothered me and I couldn't quite put my finger on it. I thought North Country fell into this category as well,

Thank you. I just read what I wrote again and was surprised how well I put that as well, since my writing can usually come off as rather incoherent to me when I go back and look it over. But I think I've been passionate long enough in my distaste for those types of manipulative, issue concious movies (with those two being some of the best examples) that I've had to reiterate my reasons why several times.

And thank you, I will avoid watching North Country now. :)

Re:Top 5 Everybody Seems To Love But I Hate!!!

Risselada — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 19:45:52 GMT

SkyPilot:

Risselada:

benthams_head:
Manachean

What does this word mean?? I couldn't find a definition anywhere.

Just a little typo; "Manichean" should give you some results.

Huh, a new word for me! Thank you!

Re: Top 5 Everybody Seems To Love But I Hate!!!

seely — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 14:54:54 GMT

Risselada:

2. Crash / Million Dollar Baby - two recent Oscar winners both written by that hack Paul Haggis. These movies are manipulative in the worst way. I call these movies where I can feel the writer's pen on the paper. Every character and development is impletemented to make you feel an exact emotion. I guess that doesn't have to be a bad thing, but when it's such an issue concious movie and you can really SEE what the filmmakers are doing, it really puts me off. Especially when people talk about how important these movies are.

Really well put... something about both always bothered me and I couldn't quite put my finger on it. I thought North Country fell into this category as well, especially when finding out after research how different the actual story was than the film's portrayal. One of the most blatant manipulations in NC was the filmmaker's choice to show the Clarence Thomas/Anita Hill case as running concurrent to the events in NC, when in fact they were seperated by a decade or so, as I recall. It was an obvious ploy to manipulate the audience's emotions--in this case, guilt. I feel like the story would have been more powerful to me had it been more accurate, instead of trying so hard to manipulate emotion... once I found out about all the little inconsistencies and minor fabrications, I almost felt used.

Re:Top 5 Everybody Seems To Love But I Hate!!!

pippin06 — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 00:02:16 GMT

seely:

I think I am still coming off the annoyance of having seen Anchorman unwillingly for the fourth time. It hasn't grown on me. Talledega Nights had a great premise--I love lampooning NASCAR culture--but it seemed poorly executed. However, I'll give you the prayer scene. I was nearly in tears at Ferrel's prayer to "8lbs 9 oz Jesus". Like I said, he comes off with a good line or scene every now and then, but I feel like I have to sit through half an hour of drudgery and drivel to get there.

SkyPilot:

seely:

I completely agree on Anchorman, or any Will Ferrel film for that matter. ...

Spin magazine went so far as to even suggest that Ferrel wasn't a bad actor, he just suffered from picking bad scripts. Amazing, because then he is pretty much 10/10 on picking 'terrible scripts'. Either he is an idiot, or he sucks at acting. Revolutionary theory: maybe he just sucks all around?

Rant over.

Harsh words, seely. I didn't love Anchorman and think it's inferior to Talladega Nights, which I think is extraordinary. It has an extraordinary blend of silliness and smart satire. I'll just mention the prayer scene, which I think is a masterpiece of comedy.

I agree that Will's movies have been hit and miss, but that means he does have hits. One I can think of, which may be no cinematic masterpiece but is certainly my holiday guilty pleasure and my new favorite Christmastime movie to play til it scratches is Elf, which would not be nearly the adorably uncynical movie it is without Will spazzing it out as an overgrown human-to-elf-to-human transplant.

Also, Stranger Than Fiction? Hello! I think that's my favorite film of his hands-down. It's a great script, and he plays a straight man for laughs for most of the film. Totally against type.

Though I agree that Anchorman blows. I can't understand why people think it's funny. Believe me, I've tried. It was one of my Top 5 in this category too.

Re:Top 5 Everybody Seems To Love But I Hate!!!

seely — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 23:15:02 GMT

I think I am still coming off the annoyance of having seen Anchorman unwillingly for the fourth time. It hasn't grown on me. Talledega Nights had a great premise--I love lampooning NASCAR culture--but it seemed poorly executed. However, I'll give you the prayer scene. I was nearly in tears at Ferrel's prayer to "8lbs 9 oz Jesus". Like I said, he comes off with a good line or scene every now and then, but I feel like I have to sit through half an hour of drudgery and drivel to get there.

SkyPilot:

seely:

I completely agree on Anchorman, or any Will Ferrel film for that matter. ...

Spin magazine went so far as to even suggest that Ferrel wasn't a bad actor, he just suffered from picking bad scripts. Amazing, because then he is pretty much 10/10 on picking 'terrible scripts'. Either he is an idiot, or he sucks at acting. Revolutionary theory: maybe he just sucks all around?

Rant over.

Harsh words, seely. I didn't love Anchorman and think it's inferior to Talladega Nights, which I think is extraordinary. It has an extraordinary blend of silliness and smart satire. I'll just mention the prayer scene, which I think is a masterpiece of comedy.

Re:Top 5 Everybody Seems To Love But I Hate!!!

SkyPilot — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 22:12:12 GMT

Risselada:

benthams_head:
Manachean

What does this word mean?? I couldn't find a definition anywhere.

Just a little typo; "Manichean" should give you some results.

Re:Top 5 Everybody Seems To Love But I Hate!!!

Risselada — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 20:22:29 GMT

benthams_head:
Manachean

What does this word mean?? I couldn't find a definition anywhere.

Re:Top 5 Everybody Seems To Love But I Hate!!!

pippin06 — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 17:53:08 GMT

SkyPilot:

seely:

I completely agree on Anchorman, or any Will Ferrel film for that matter. ...

Spin magazine went so far as to even suggest that Ferrel wasn't a bad actor, he just suffered from picking bad scripts. Amazing, because then he is pretty much 10/10 on picking 'terrible scripts'. Either he is an idiot, or he sucks at acting. Revolutionary theory: maybe he just sucks all around?

Rant over.

Harsh words, seely. I didn't love Anchorman and think it's inferior to Talladega Nights, which I think is extraordinary. It has an extraordinary blend of silliness and smart satire. I'll just mention the prayer scene, which I think is a masterpiece of comedy.

I agree, SkyPilot. I so agree.

Re:Top 5 Everybody Seems To Love But I Hate!!!

SkyPilot — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 17:01:48 GMT

seely:

I completely agree on Anchorman, or any Will Ferrel film for that matter. ...

Spin magazine went so far as to even suggest that Ferrel wasn't a bad actor, he just suffered from picking bad scripts. Amazing, because then he is pretty much 10/10 on picking 'terrible scripts'. Either he is an idiot, or he sucks at acting. Revolutionary theory: maybe he just sucks all around?

Rant over.

Harsh words, seely. I didn't love Anchorman and think it's inferior to Talladega Nights, which I think is extraordinary. It has an extraordinary blend of silliness and smart satire. I'll just mention the prayer scene, which I think is a masterpiece of comedy.

Re:Top 5 Everybody Seems To Love But I Hate!!!

benthams_head — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 15:10:34 GMT

1. Casablanca - To be fair, I'm don't hate this film. I'm just very lukewarm on it. I can name at least two performances from Bogart, Bergman, and Lorre that I prefer over what they delivered here.

2. Rio Bravo/The Searchers - I don't get it. I don't get the appeal of John Wayne. Never have. And, believe me, my inner- cinephilic voice tells me this is an outrage. His style of acting just grates on me.

3. Braveheart - There are not enough words in the english language to describe my hatred of this film., but here are a few -- overblown, overacted, histrionic, cliched, homophobic, cacophonous, dystopic, arrogant, boorish, sloppy, blugeoning, Manachean, stupid, stupid, stupid.

4. Moulin Rouge- take a bunch of FM-Lite pop songs, set them to really campy music, and then have them sung by Nicole Kidman and Ewan McGregor. Sounds like a winning formula......for me to poop on.

5. The Aviator- really just a stand-in for every Leo DiCraprio film I've seen (exception: "The Departed"). This one takes the cake, though, because Scorcese really seems to be on auto-pilot. It seems like he's intent on channeling Jake LaMotta, Henry Hill and Travis Bickle rather than telling the story of Howard Hughes, who should be a compelling enough subject in his own right.

Re:Top 5 Everybody Seems To Love But I Hate!!!

seely — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 14:33:38 GMT

I completely agree on Anchorman, or any Will Ferrel film for that matter. He will pull of the occasional funny line or scene, but his characters rarely differentiate themselves from any other (except for perhaps Gus Chiggins, the "Old Timey Prospector Guy"... hilarious). Anchorman was amusing, but it had nothing to do with Ferrel... it was the other characters (notably Carrell as 'Brick') that made it worthwhile and decently entertaining.

Spin magazine went so far as to even suggest that Ferrel wasn't a bad actor, he just suffered from picking bad scripts. Amazing, because then he is pretty much 10/10 on picking 'terrible scripts'. Either he is an idiot, or he sucks at acting. Revolutionary theory: maybe he just sucks all around?

Rant over.

tmoney:

5. Anchorman - Why is this film funny? Why do my friends think Will Ferrel is so great? All he did in this movie is talk in his deep voice that he does for every other character, and act like every other snl character he ever played. I absolutely despised this film (and his most recent Talledega Nights was atrocious as well).

You can argue me here, I'd actually like to see some defense for these films. What are your films that everyone else loves but you don't?

Re:Top 5 Everybody Seems To Love But I Hate!!!

1026nin — Sun, 14 Sep 2008 04:56:12 GMT

I hated Fargo, I hated it so much - Yet there are so many glowing reviews about it ...maybe I need to watch it again

I also thought the Hitchhiker's Guide ot the Galaxy movie (NOT the books - they were awesome) was incredibly boring. (and before it came out I'd been really looking forward to it too...)

and I agree on Madagascar - it's absurd that it's on imdb's top 250! (last time I checked) but it was a children's movie, so really their opinions are the ones that actualy matter.

Re:Top 5 Everybody Seems To Love But I Hate!!!

estela — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 16:06:42 GMT

Its late at night so I will be quick

1) No country for old men( shock horror I fell asleep thru this film)

2) Moulin Rouge / Romeo Juliette the De Caprio version

3)Saving private Ryan (from the opening scene it lost me

4)I heart Huckabees ( all over the place)

5)Birds & March of the Pegunins ( yawn too much sky and white snow)

Re:Top 5 Everybody Seems To Love But I Hate!!!

indieabby88 — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 21:32:11 GMT

Here's another one: My Blueberry Nights. When I saw this movie, I couldn't believe how bad the writing was. Rachel Weisz's acting was way over the top, Norah Jones' character's motivations were completely unexplained, and Natalie Portman and Jude Law spouted cliche after world-wise cliche. But when I mentioned this on the filmspotting message board, I got shot down. I have no explanation for why this is. Maybe Wong Kar-Wai put something in the coke machine that brainwashed the viewers? Ah well. C'est la vie.

Re:Top 5 Everybody Seems To Love But I Hate!!!

joem18b — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 07:59:32 GMT

indieabby88:

leeroy711:

Risselada:

laylor:
Crash I cannot believe in all honesty that this won best picture or was even nominated for that matter. I found it completely cliched, hammy and pretentious. I haven't felt this hit over the head by a film since....oh I don't know, ever probably. During this film I couldn't help but think of The Birth of a Nation and how Crash actually managed to make that movie look subtle.

I wonder if Crash will be one of those best picture winners that everyone looks back on in 20 years and can't possibly figure out how it could have won.

I feel the same way about Shakespear in Love 1998. That year it beat Saving Private Ryan, Elizabeth, The Thin Red Line and one of my favorites, Life Is Beautiful.

I adore Shakespeare In Love, but yeah...I gotta wonder how people thought it was more worthy of Best Picture than Saving Private Ryan, considering how iconic "Ryan" is now.

And I think people are already wondering how Crash managed to snag that statuette. At least when I mention it, I seem to see more eye-rolls than gushing praise.

Since this is a contrarian-type group, I'll just say that I put Shakespeare in Love well above Saving Private Ryan (just another war movie) and Life Is Beautiful (comedian tries to get serious about the Holocaust but goes seriously wrong - put if it moved you, then it becomes a worthy movie). The Thin Red Line and Elizabeth are off on some other, orthogonal axes.

Re:Top 5 Everybody Seems To Love But I Hate!!!

indieabby88 — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 23:32:53 GMT

leeroy711:

Risselada:

laylor:
Crash I cannot believe in all honesty that this won best picture or was even nominated for that matter. I found it completely cliched, hammy and pretentious. I haven't felt this hit over the head by a film since....oh I don't know, ever probably. During this film I couldn't help but think of The Birth of a Nation and how Crash actually managed to make that movie look subtle.

I wonder if Crash will be one of those best picture winners that everyone looks back on in 20 years and can't possibly figure out how it could have won.

I feel the same way about Shakespear in Love 1998. That year it beat Saving Private Ryan, Elizabeth, The Thin Red Line and one of my favorites, Life Is Beautiful.

I adore Shakespeare In Love, but yeah...I gotta wonder how people thought it was more worthy of Best Picture than Saving Private Ryan, considering how iconic "Ryan" is now.

And I think people are already wondering how Crash managed to snag that statuette. At least when I mention it, I seem to see more eye-rolls than gushing praise.

Re:Top 5 Everybody Seems To Love But I Hate!!!

leeroy711 — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 18:02:06 GMT

Risselada:

laylor:
Crash I cannot believe in all honesty that this won best picture or was even nominated for that matter. I found it completely cliched, hammy and pretentious. I haven't felt this hit over the head by a film since....oh I don't know, ever probably. During this film I couldn't help but think of The Birth of a Nation and how Crash actually managed to make that movie look subtle.

I wonder if Crash will be one of those best picture winners that everyone looks back on in 20 years and can't possibly figure out how it could have won.

I feel the same way about Shakespear in Love 1998. That year it beat Saving Private Ryan, Elizabeth, The Thin Red Line and one of my favorites, Life Is Beautiful.

Re:Top 5 Everybody Seems To Love But I Hate!!!

Risselada — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 17:43:17 GMT

laylor:
Crash I cannot believe in all honesty that this won best picture or was even nominated for that matter. I found it completely cliched, hammy and pretentious. I haven't felt this hit over the head by a film since....oh I don't know, ever probably. During this film I couldn't help but think of The Birth of a Nation and how Crash actually managed to make that movie look subtle.

I wonder if Crash will be one of those best picture winners that everyone looks back on in 20 years and can't possibly figure out how it could have won.

Re:Top 5 Everybody Seems To Love But I Hate!!!

laylor — Sat, 21 Jun 2008 05:41:01 GMT

Ok, my first post and here I go:

Jacob's Ladder I first watched this film in the early 90's when I was a kid and found it incredibly boring. I watched it again in my mid 20's (so recently) and understood a lot more of the film but still found it boring. Some great performances and imagery but ultimately, unsatisfactory. The ending was a real let down, as well.

Crash I cannot believe in all honesty that this won best picture or was even nominated for that matter. I found it completely cliched, hammy and pretentious. I haven't felt this hit over the head by a film since....oh I don't know, ever probably. During this film I couldn't help but think of The Birth of a Nation and how Crash actually managed to make that movie look subtle.

Honorable Mentions: The English Patient, American Beauty, Flashdance, and The Lord of the Rings.

Re:Top 5 Everybody Seems To Love But I Hate!!!

Risselada — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 16:35:58 GMT

unclefestering:
You may have a point about Magnolia. I've tried watching it twice and found myself bored by it both times. That usually leaves me with my mind working harder on the movie than the director did. But in this case I could be wrong.

Well I'm not saying that Anderson's mind didn't work hard on this movie. I was just saying I personally didn't see that interpretation anywhere in the movie. If there's a reason you felt that way, I was curious to hear it, but maybe you just aren't that committed to it. If you were simply bored by it, that's an understandable reason not to like it though.

unclefestering:
As for 2001, I usually hate comparing books to film, but Arthur C. Clarke owes his reputation to Kubrick. The book reads like the Hardy Boys go to Jupiter. The plot is simple.

In the movie, the plot is missing entirely. The special effects are amazing and the some of the individual parts are incredibly engaging. I just don't see them adding up to a whole.

Well you got me there. I'm sure if I had, it would change my view of the movie at least somewhat. But just from seeing the movie itself on it's own, it's a I find it to be an exemplary piece of cinema and art. Cinema being a series of images and photographs shown for specific periods of time often with the illusion of movement. And art being a work that somehow explores the human condition. Yes the plot itself is not a series of cause and effect events in the way that a complicated thriller or drama would approach it. But the power of loaded images that turn your mind towards contemplating the history of mandkind and the meaning of life can be very engaging and affecting to people, sometimes even more so than the traditional type of plot. Again, I know many people like yourself who are not affected by it that way.

Re:Top 5 Everybody Seems To Love But I Hate!!!

unclefestering — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 17:11:08 GMT

nikolarulz:

Ok, so here's mine:

1. Madagascar - along with most other animated stuff people seem to not be able to get enough of, I'm pretty reserved. Honestly, I believe that the time of succesful animated movies, like the ones from the Disney era, has gone by. Now they seem to only be made for parents to entertain their children with something while they clean their house. As far as I'm concerned, anmation itself is not the only artistic merrit these movies should be judged by.

4. Wedding Crashers - This is just too dumb to watch. Even if it's a comedy, I cannot watch something that dumbs me down so much. These movies are simply made just to be box office hits, and for no other apparent reason.

5. Ocean's Twelve, Miss Congeniality 2: Armed and Fabulous, and other ridiculous sequels of good movies.

I'm right there with you on Madagascar. I don't think the story is that great and I'm tired of computer graphics being substituted for animation. It isn't that I don't think they have a role, but I'm tired of the pointlyess 3-D, assembly line animation.

I think I laughed two or three times at Wedding Crashers. Then I sat there bored by the rest of it.

I didn't want to include sequels in my list since they usually fail to match the original, but Oceans 12 is especially egregious.

Re:Top 5 Everybody Seems To Love But I Hate!!!

unclefestering — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 17:03:13 GMT

Risselada:

unclefestering:
5. Magnolia

I'll admit it. I'm in the camp that says PT Anderson is overrated. Wow these shallow lives are interconnected and if they can just see the connections the world will be a better place. blah blah blah. Oh and we need a miracle! Cue the raining frogs.

You really think he's saying that the world would be a better place if people would just see the connections? I don't think he's expecting people to see the connection or for anything to change if they had seen them. And I don't want to say that these people's lives are shallow. Maybe on the surface some of them are, but we get the time to delve in and the hurting underneith. I think it's really for the audience to see the connections. I don't think there's a point where any of the characters really discover any of the connections.

unclefestering:
4.2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)

Yeah it is visually brilliant. But can someone tell me what the darn plot is?

It's a movie for people who like to realize that there are certain powers and mysteries in life that humans will never be able to understand or explain, at least not in our current state. So I think if you are looking for someone to tell you the plot of this movie, then you have missed the point. It's for you to ponder the same way you would ponder life itself.

You may have a point about Magnolia. I've tried watching it twice and found myself bored by it both times. That usually leaves me with my mind working harder on the movie than the director did. But in this case I could be wrong.

As for 2001, I usually hate comparing books to film, but Arthur C. Clarke owes his reputation to Kubrick. The book reads like the Hardy Boys go to Jupiter. The plot is simple.

In the movie, the plot is missing entirely. The special effects are amazing and the some of the individual parts are incredibly engaging. I just don't see them adding up to a whole.

Re:Top 5 Everybody Seems To Love But I Hate!!!

Risselada — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 21:28:32 GMT

unclefestering:
5. Magnolia

I'll admit it. I'm in the camp that says PT Anderson is overrated. Wow these shallow lives are interconnected and if they can just see the connections the world will be a better place. blah blah blah. Oh and we need a miracle! Cue the raining frogs.

You really think he's saying that the world would be a better place if people would just see the connections? I don't think he's expecting people to see the connection or for anything to change if they had seen them. And I don't want to say that these people's lives are shallow. Maybe on the surface some of them are, but we get the time to delve in and the hurting underneith. I think it's really for the audience to see the connections. I don't think there's a point where any of the characters really discover any of the connections.

unclefestering:
4.2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)

Yeah it is visually brilliant. But can someone tell me what the darn plot is?

It's a movie for people who like to realize that there are certain powers and mysteries in life that humans will never be able to understand or explain, at least not in our current state. So I think if you are looking for someone to tell you the plot of this movie, then you have missed the point. It's for you to ponder the same way you would ponder life itself.

unclefestering:
2. Meet The Parents (2000)

I found Robert DeNiro creepy and not funny. Then again if my daughter brought Ben Stiller home to marry, I would throw her out.

I'll agree with you on this one. I just have trouble liking anyone in these kinds of comedies.

I haven't seen the other two.

Re:Top 5 Everybody Seems To Love But I Hate!!!

nikolarulz — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 09:10:30 GMT

unclefestering:

1. You've Got Mail (1998)

Tom Hanks plays a psychotic-obsessive stalker and Meg Ryan says "I wanted it to be you. I wanted it to be you so badly." My predictions is that they find her body floating in the Hudson six weeks later.

Am I heartless?

Maybe just a little bit. :)

Re:Top 5 Everybody Seems To Love But I Hate!!!

unclefestering — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 01:48:33 GMT

Here are just a couple that everybody told me I would love, but no... they were wrong.

5. Magnolia

I'll admit it. I'm in the camp that says PT Anderson is overrated. Wow these shallow lives are interconnected and if they can just see the connections the world will be a better place. blah blah blah. Oh and we need a miracle! Cue the raining frogs.

4.2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)

Yeah it is visually brilliant. But can someone tell me what the darn plot is?

3. V for Vendetta (2006)

Was I the only person who wondered how a totalitarian government couldn't manage to get the billing records from FedEx for someone who shipped a million Guy Fawlkes costumes?

2. Meet The Parents (2000)

I found Robert DeNiro creepy and not funny. Then again if my daughter brought Ben Stiller home to marry, I would throw her out.

1. You've Got Mail (1998)

Tom Hanks plays a psychotic-obsessive stalker and Meg Ryan says "I wanted it to be you. I wanted it to be you so badly." My predictions is that they find her body floating in the Hudson six weeks later.

Am I heartless?

Re:Top 5 Everybody Seems To Love But I Hate!!!

nikolarulz — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 21:18:58 GMT

Ok, so here's mine:

1. Madagascar - along with most other animated stuff people seem to not be able to get enough of, I'm pretty reserved. Honestly, I believe that the time of succesful animated movies, like the ones from the Disney era, has gone by. Now they seem to only be made for parents to entertain their children with something while they clean their house. As far as I'm concerned, anmation itself is not the only artistic merrit these movies should be judged by.

2. The Simpsons - I am actually very fond of the series, so I was very, very dissapointed by the movie. It really had nothing to offer, and although it had a few funny moments, it was mostly just boring.

3. The Notebook - Why everybody loves this film is beyond me. I find it cheap and pathetic. If you wanna see a truly great, artistic romance, see Atonement.

4. Wedding Crashers - This is just too dumb to watch. Even if it's a comedy, I cannot watch something that dumbs me down so much. These movies are simply made just to be box office hits, and for no other apparent reason.

5. Ocean's Twelve, Miss Congeniality 2: Armed and Fabulous, and other ridiculous sequels of good movies.

Re:Top 5 Everybody Seems To Love But I Hate!!!

Risselada — Fri, 23 May 2008 18:39:18 GMT

jaysjunk2000:
Here are my top 5 +:

1) Moulin Rouge (2001) Why? Why? Why? I had almost forgotten this movie maybe because my mind had blanked it out because I was so pissed that everyone loved this piece of crap. Now I will be the first to say I don't like musicals but I have had season tickets to the opera (which I love) and can sit through most musicals. This must have been created to make the masses feel cultured because they know the songs, and it is set in france so it's like a foreign film. The movie I also associate with this one is A Knight's Tale (2001) which I begrudgingly sat through 20 minutes of before I turned off my DVD player and then cleaned it with bleach just to get the stench out.

2) Election/Rushmore/Little Miss Sunshine/The Life Aquatic ... These are what I call Emo Comedies, but they seem to be all Emo no comedy. The sad lives and even sadder characters that keep doing stupider and stupider things that make me want to scream at the TV but that would make me seem more insane. I want those 8 hours of my life back.

3) Anchorman/and any other Will Ferrel movie except for Elf (2003) which I thought was actually funny and watch it at least once a year. I guess I am too old to understand the comedy or something like that. I found Talladega Nights to have a few amusing moments but am amazed he did not get lynched by the American racing fan public who this film was making fun of.

4) Mulholand Drive I give this film a 2 thumbs up for the 2 chicks rolling around topless scene but a film that I have to read web reviews to figure out what happened in the last 20 minutes doesn't cut it in my book. I like indie films and films with twists but when stream of consiousness imagery is strung together which can only be pieced together using far fetched implications does not a good film make. Don't get me wrong I like what David Lynch did with Dune (1984) except for the whole weirding weapon thing which any loyal reader of Dune will complain about.

5) Titanic (1997) , again I give it 2 thumbs up for the topless scene but god what mindless pap people will say is great. I'm glad the topless scene hapens early on so that I could nap through the rest of the movie. Unfortunately I didn't sleep hoping it would turn actiony. Hey I know I was grasping at straws but there could have been another topless scene.

Hey thanks for the contribution.

I feel the same way about some of these. Some I have seen, and some I haven't.

But I find you to be quite an interesting person. You frequent the Opera for instance yet a good amount of topless action is enough to get you through a movie, and you know enough about Dune to reveal your sci-fi geekiness. You don't like ambiguous endings. And although you are seems surprised that someone made a movie that would make fun of NASCAR fans, you still seem to think little enough of them that you would expect them to lynch someone!

Re:Top 5 Everybody Seems To Love But I Hate!!!

jaysjunk2000 — Wed, 21 May 2008 22:26:26 GMT

Here are my top 5 +:

1) Moulin Rouge (2001) Why? Why? Why? I had almost forgotten this movie maybe because my mind had blanked it out because I was so pissed that everyone loved this piece of crap. Now I will be the first to say I don't like musicals but I have had season tickets to the opera (which I love) and can sit through most musicals. This must have been created to make the masses feel cultured because they know the songs, and it is set in france so it's like a foreign film. The movie I also associate with this one is A Knight's Tale (2001) which I begrudgingly sat through 20 minutes of before I turned off my DVD player and then cleaned it with bleach just to get the stench out.

2) Election/Rushmore/Little Miss Sunshine/The Life Aquatic ... These are what I call Emo Comedies, but they seem to be all Emo no comedy. The sad lives and even sadder characters that keep doing stupider and stupider things that make me want to scream at the TV but that would make me seem more insane. I want those 8 hours of my life back.

3) Anchorman/and any other Will Ferrel movie except for Elf (2003) which I thought was actually funny and watch it at least once a year. I guess I am too old to understand the comedy or something like that. I found Talladega Nights to have a few amusing moments but am amazed he did not get lynched by the American racing fan public who this film was making fun of.

4) Mulholand Drive I give this film a 2 thumbs up for the 2 chicks rolling around topless scene but a film that I have to read web reviews to figure out what happened in the last 20 minutes doesn't cut it in my book. I like indie films and films with twists but when stream of consiousness imagery is strung together which can only be pieced together using far fetched implications does not a good film make. Don't get me wrong I like what David Lynch did with Dune (1984) except for the whole weirding weapon thing which any loyal reader of Dune will complain about.

5) Titanic (1997) , again I give it 2 thumbs up for the topless scene but god what mindless pap people will say is great. I'm glad the topless scene hapens early on so that I could nap through the rest of the movie. Unfortunately I didn't sleep hoping it would turn actiony. Hey I know I was grasping at straws but there could have been another topless scene.

Re:Top 5 Everybody Seems To Love But I Hate!!!

chrismorrell — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 22:28:24 GMT

I'm with you on all but "Vertigo"..it IS an age thing ..i'll get to it in a mo'

"Reservoir..." SOOO controversial,from the pre-hype i thought it was in Black and White and really "arty" turned out to be loadsa guns blood and swearing, I find that opening scene with the "joke" about "Like a A Virgin" just sickeningly unfuckinfunny....and (as you say)an amateur film-maker " i cant believe i got HARVEY to do it" kind of thing ,those involved having so much more fun than us watching. (On Tarentino...some of "Pulp Fiction",and all of "Jackie Brown" ,great ,but all down-hill from there...)

" Bond "..thing is ,did you see the latest "Casino Royale"? ...but i'm with you otherwise.

"Ocean's Eleven" ...total shite...all i can remember is that long dolly(?) shot of Julia Roberts walking through the Casino. I preferred the Grand Prix Car livery.

"Anchorman.".i can remember a clip of Will Ferrell from "Saturday Night Live",where he is part of a recording session ,and he insists on playing a cowbell(?)..funnier than most of his films...

O.K "Vertigo" ..thing is i'm 47, i saw this for the first time on T.V. when i was about six or seven,being allowed to stay up late by my Grandparents...the dream sequence in the film became a REAL recurring NIGHTMARE for ME personally...

Then ,over the subsequent years i was gradually able to watch parts of it,building up to watching it all the way through.It really did a job on my mind,that only something like "Inland Empire" attempts to do in the first place...Then at age about 16 i 'spose i embraced it. Some aspects look a little antique of course but,just the LOCATIONS man, The Golden Gate Bridge ,the mad sloping streets that Steve McQueen races round...the Bay...that mock European Church in Redwood country,that grey suit...ramble ramble

Cheers Chris Morrell

Re:Re:Re: Top 5 Everybody Seems To Love But I Hate!!!

Risselada — Fri, 21 Sep 2007 01:48:38 GMT

magnus:
The films of the French New Wave just seems so 'light' and easy to me, and it's not interesting. It's like the world is just a happy place with flat characters that are either good or evil, or happy or sad. And I don't think that is interesting.
So not so much for the French New Wave of what I've seen so far.

I agree from a couple I have seen. The characters are so shallow there is no reason to care for them. And their actions are usually unmotivated. Which can be mysterious and have some intregue in some movies, but since we don't care for the characters anyways and there's not much of a plot or any conflict, it doesn't matter much.

Re:Re: Top 5 Everybody Seems To Love But I Hate!!!

magnus — Thu, 20 Sep 2007 21:51:05 GMT

I almost always love films which I think kind of moved cinema. Took a new step.

So I was very dissappointed when I sat down to watch the films of the French New Wave cinema. I think I've seen 3 films of the New Wave, but they all just seemed annoying to me.

1. "La Mariée était en noir" by Francois Truffaut. Just ... what a sad attempt to make a drama-mystery-thing. The first film of the French New Wave I watched.

2. "Charlotte et Véronique, ou Tous les garçons s'appellent Patrick" by Jean Luc-Godard. I guess it's supposed to be a comedy, but I don't think it's funny at all.

And then I've seen another movie by Jean Luc-Godard, which I don't remember the title of, but it was just plain boring.

The films of the French New Wave just seems so 'light' and easy to me, and it's not interesting. It's like the world is just a happy place with flat characters that are either good or evil, or happy or sad. And I don't think that is interesting.

So not so much for the French New Wave of what I've seen so far.

Re:Re: Top 5 Everybody Seems To Love But I Hate!!!

indieabby88 — Sun, 16 Sep 2007 19:39:18 GMT

Gasp! You don't like "The Godfather"?! I guess I understand, since I know a few people who don't like this movie, either, but I've never heard anybody say it was boring. I've heard people complain about the violence, or the fact that we are meant to sympathize with rather unsympathetic people. The reason I like "The Godfather" is the strong feeling of family and community within the Corleone family. I feel sorry for Kay as she watches Michael grow more and more into a person he never wanted to become, and pain for Sonny when he gets killed trying to save his sister. I just get really really into "The Godfather" every time I watch it. But, to each his own, I suppose.

Re: Top 5 Everybody Seems To Love But I Hate!!!

GradysGhost — Sun, 09 Sep 2007 14:36:18 GMT

Now it's my turn to blaspheme. But before I go there, let me say that I agree on the point of Vertigo. I couldn't even make it through the movie once, but I'm determined to do so before I die, fully realizing that I have no valid argument against any movie until I've actually watched it.

And allow me to defend Eternal Sunshine, one of my all-time faves and the comment that was made about it being all gimmick (or magic tricks, I think it was called) and no coherent storyline. I would offer up the idea that the rush-rush pulling and pushing from one whacked-out set to another is an essential part of the storytelling. For the bulk of the movie, we're actually inside Joel Barish's mind, which is being changed and erased as the story unfolds.

Here's a couple:

The Godfather -- I just don't see what everyone else sees. I actually find this movie to be boring. Maybe it's just because it's been built up, or maybe its because I knew in advance that Mario Puzo (the author of the novel the movie's based on) wrote the novel with no intent of making a meaningful story, just something he could sell. And wouldn't you know it? You all bought it.

Mission: Impossible 3 -- Maybe I'm misinformed here, but it seems like all the critics really liked this movie. Everyone I've ever spoken to likes it. But I thought that it was so friggin contrived and a repeat story! It may not be the exact same story as the first M:I, but it's got the same plot twists and everything. Corruption in the force, renegade bad guy. About the only thing that was different was the macguffin, and that should have been left to Hitchcock.

Re: Top 5 Everybody Seems To Love But I Hate!!!

Risselada — Mon, 20 Aug 2007 23:10:59 GMT

indieabby88:
Yeah..."Reservoir Dogs" is a too gutteral for me to enjoy it. There's not enough style. Like your statement about "Rushmore," Tarantino has sort of an idea of the style that would dominate his later movies, but it's not fully developed here.

I still think Reservoir Dogs is his best because it's so focused. Some of his subsequent movies have felt like he was trying to add too many ingredients compared to this one. Reservoir Dogs still gives me the most excitement. You are stuck there with the characters the whole way through.

Re: Top 5 Everybody Seems To Love But I Hate!!!

indieabby88 — Sat, 18 Aug 2007 22:59:20 GMT

Yeah..."Reservoir Dogs" is a too gutteral for me to enjoy it. There's not enough style. Like your statement about "Rushmore," Tarantino has sort of an idea of the style that would dominate his later movies, but it's not fully developed here.

Re: Top 5 Everybody Seems To Love But I Hate!!!

spiritstereo — Sat, 18 Aug 2007 20:40:54 GMT

1. American History X

An appalling movie, not so much for the violence as for the way in which it makes the viewer root for neo-Nazis. "Like someone edited a twist ending into Triumph of the Will" is how I usually describe it.

2. Reservoir Dogs

This is another one I dislike morally, here because how incredibly graphic violence is treated as basically a big joke. I like the other Tarantino movies I've seen though - Pulp Fiction is much more morally and thematically complex and Kill Bill makes sure to represent the violence cartoonishly, rather than realistically, which is much more appropriate.

3. Moulin Rouge

It's just really busy and annoying and the gimmicks are awful. That said, Romeo + Juliet was OK and I liked Strictly Ballroom.

4. Rushmore and Bottlerocket

The characters are all assholes, they're not really that funny, and the Wes Anderson trademarks aren't fully developed yet. I think each of his movies is exponentially better than the last.

5. 2046

A lot of meaningless hogwash and boring characters, combined with supposedly "pretty" cinematography that just looks fake and forced.

ALSO:

Four Eyed Monsters, which is a bunch of gimmicky video techinques in service of some wannabe artsy-types who think they're special.

Sideways I just lost interest in.

...and this is neither here nor there, but I would compare James Bond movies to the Rolling Stones. They've both been around forever, haven't done anything half-decent in thirty years, but always get the benefit of the doubt because of nostalgia. Also they've each started titling their stuff after things that sound like they should be Rolling Stones songs/albums or James Bond movies rather than anything that actually means anything. I mean "Die Another Day", "Rough Justice", "The World Is Not Enough", Bridges to Babylon?

However I would say that there is something to be said for big meaningless movie events like the Bond films. I at least find them far more interesting than, say, Spiderman....

Re: Top 5 Everybody Seems To Love But I Hate!!!

tmoney — Wed, 08 Aug 2007 23:27:14 GMT

sonofkinski:
4. The Departed - This movie is the Radiohead of the crime genre

I agree with how overrated the Departed is. In fact I agree with your entire list (in a more 'overrated" than "disliked" way). Anyways, I would also say Radiohead is the greatest rock band of all time, and Kid A is the best album of all time. (And the new Sunset Rubdown album is the best since Kid A.)

Re: Top 5 Everybody Seems To Love But I Hate!!!

sonofkinski — Wed, 08 Aug 2007 21:43:44 GMT

Here's four (forgive me) bigger examples for me...and as tmoney stated initially, a number of these aren't exactly "hated", but given the general acclaim for all, it gets the point across:

1. Pan's Labyrinth - I've liked most of Del Toro's work in the past, and considering the critical fellating leading up to Pan's, I was all over this. And what do we actually have? An ending that, especially when presented in the wraparound format that it is, can be seen a mile away; a series of fantasical segments that underwhelm in terms of "adventure" (staring at a giant toad for a few minutes, sneaking around the eyeball-handed gent who appears in all of the publicity shots and amounts to 4 worthless minutes of screen time); and a way over-the-top real-life villain (Capt. Vidal) that does everything short of eat his grandmother's own beloved litter of kittens to drive home just how much we're supposed to hate him. I liked a lot of the actual war material -- to a point that I kind of wish the movie had just dropped the fairy tale aspect -- but in all, this is in no way better than The Devil's Backbone...which itself is too "Japanese ghost horror" to hold much interest.

2. 2001: A Space Odyssey - Love Kubrick. Love him. This is arguably the most "Kubrickian" of his work, too, but it's just tedious. Its importance and influence cannot be denied, and the visuals look great to this day, but I'm checking my watch halfway -- halfway! -- through the ape/monolith scene. It gets better as it lurches on, but at the precious price of patience. Whenever this is brought up in conversation, I'm usually met with the "You just don't get it..." rebuttal, which is just precious. An absolutely necessary film, to be sure. And a film I'll never force myself to sit through again.

3. Batman Begins - Christian Bale. Michael Caine. Liam Neeson. Gary Oldman. Christopher Nolan. If that's a starting-five in a cinematic March Madness Tournament, then we're talking Elite Eight, Final Four, right? Wrong. The Seven Years in Tibet-meets-American Ninja III prologue lasts faaaaar too long, Cillian Murphy is a pair of cheekbones with shoes ("It's the Bat.....Man!"), and why does Bale suddenly sound like Bea Arthur on a whiskey binge once he dons the rubber suit? That said, I'm there for the sequel. Oh well.

4. The Departed - This movie is the Radiohead of the crime genre: comes late to a party full of prestigious guests, has a lot of awesome to offer on its own terms, but is simply not the grand realization that OTHERS have foisted upon it. It's more of a good mixture of its influences and predecessors, which is nothing to be ashamed of, but let's calm down about it. I'm happy Scorcese finally won The Big One, but not for the Martin Madlibs that this film is. Convoluted mob shenanigans? Check. Screen legend (Nicholson) chewing scenery like a sumbitch? Check. Old rock 'n roll played ever-so-cunningly over a montage sequence to sledgehammer home the point? Check. Leo D? Check. Don't get me wrong; like Radiohead, I like this movie more than I don't. It's just nowhere near "all that". This guy made Taxi Driver and Raging Bull, for Bill Hick's sake.

For what (?) it's worth...

Re: Top 5 Everybody Seems To Love But I Hate!!!

indieabby88 — Tue, 07 Aug 2007 04:02:15 GMT

Bwa ha ha. Brilliant.

Re: Top 5 Everybody Seems To Love But I Hate!!!

Risselada — Tue, 07 Aug 2007 02:40:40 GMT

indieabby88:
You're kidding, right?

Not at all.

But check out this thread if you'd like to pick sides

http://www.spout.com/forums/1845/ShowPost.aspx

Re: Top 5 Everybody Seems To Love But I Hate!!!

indieabby88 — Mon, 06 Aug 2007 23:58:18 GMT

You're kidding, right?

Re: Top 5 Everybody Seems To Love But I Hate!!!

Risselada — Mon, 06 Aug 2007 19:20:56 GMT

indieabby88:
It embarasses me that I have seen "Death to Smoochy."

But it's SOOOOO GOOOOOOOD!

Re: Top 5 Everybody Seems To Love But I Hate!!!

indieabby88 — Mon, 06 Aug 2007 01:37:09 GMT

Risselada:
Can we turn it around again and have Bale in American Psycho vs. Norton in Death to Smoochy?
Wow I'd love to see that actually. That would be one twistedly hilarous movie.

Y'know, I think I would be surprised at the outcome of that fight. Patrick Bateman was insane, but Edward Norton in "Smoochy" had a hidden violent streak.

It embarasses me that I have seen "Death to Smoochy."

Re: Top 5 Everybody Seems To Love But I Hate!!!

Risselada — Mon, 06 Aug 2007 01:35:46 GMT

Alright I'm going to put up Bale in Equilibrium vs. Norton in 25th Hour. And I think it will probably come up as a tie.

Keep an eye out in the future for The Dark Knight vs. The Incredible Hulk if that's your kind of thing.

Re: Top 5 Everybody Seems To Love But I Hate!!!

joem18b — Fri, 03 Aug 2007 20:55:31 GMT

You know, I was thinking about Bale in American Psycho, but by the last part of the movie he was a cringing, gibbering mess, wasn't he? And using a knife on a woman isn't the same as bare-knuckle butt whuppin' anyway.

So I'm going with Bale in "All the Little Animals" (1998), where he is quiet, gentle, and mentally challenged, vs Norton in Fight Club (1999) in his Brad Pitt persona. Ouch!

Re: Top 5 Everybody Seems To Love But I Hate!!!

Risselada — Fri, 03 Aug 2007 16:05:47 GMT

joem18b:
indieabby88:

However, I still feel that in a fight, Christian Bale's Borden from "The Prestige" would have no trouble kicking the butt of Edward Norton's Eisenheim.
I'm thinking Bale in "The Machinist" vs Norton in "American History X." Butt-kicking is reversed.

Can we turn it around again and have Bale in American Psycho vs. Norton in Death to Smoochy?

Wow I'd love to see that actually. That would be one twistedly hilarous movie.

Re: Top 5 Everybody Seems To Love But I Hate!!!

joem18b — Fri, 03 Aug 2007 04:17:00 GMT

indieabby88:
However, I still feel that in a fight, Christian Bale's Borden from "The Prestige" would have no trouble kicking the butt of Edward Norton's Eisenheim.

I'm thinking Bale in "The Machinist" vs Norton in "American History X." Butt-kicking is reversed.

Re: Top 5 Everybody Seems To Love But I Hate!!!

indieabby88 — Thu, 02 Aug 2007 23:49:51 GMT

achance42:
4. The Illusionist - I was extraordinarily bothered by Ridley Scott's Matchstick Men, not because it was poorly made or poorly acted or anything like that, but because it was painfully obvious to me from about five minutes in who was zooming whom. I had a much deeper reaction to The Illusionist. Not only was it easy to figure out where you were supposed to start looking for the twist (because of course there was one) but again, I figured out who was in on what. But that's not what ruined this movie for me. What ruined it was that the relationship between Edward Norton and Jessica Biel was so shallow that I didn't buy it, nor did I care about them as individuals. And something happens in the film that seems to be a triumph but winds up eradicating any sympathy we had for them. I can't believe that anyone would prefer this to The Prestige.

I felt exactly the same way. I'm kind of slow when it comes to twists, though, so the end did kind of throw me for a loop. However, I still feel that in a fight, Christian Bale's Borden from "The Prestige" would have no trouble kicking the butt of Edward Norton's Eisenheim. I was pretty much let down by this one. You're also right about the shallowness of Norton and Biel's on-screen relationship. There was no chemistry. I actually felt like there was a lack of enthusiasm from most of the actors involved in this movie. The film reviewer for the Kansas City Star, who I respect greatly, said "The Illusionist" was held afloat by Paul Giamatti's acting. However, I didn't even think Giamatti's performance was anything to get excited about. For me, Rufus Sewell was the one who made this movie worth watching. There's hardly any comparison between "The Illusionist" and "The Prestige." "The Prestige" is bad ass straight to the core. "The Illusionist" is a lot of pretention surrounding a soft middle.

Re: Top 5 Everybody Seems To Love But I Hate!!!

Jymkata — Wed, 01 Aug 2007 17:07:26 GMT

Wow achance42, That was a really well-written post. Even the parts I don't agree with 100% (I liked parts of Meet the Parents like Owen Wilson's character and did enjoy the Illusionist but I'm more naive than most when it comes to figuring out a movie's mysteries) give me a lot to think about. I DID lose sympathy for the two mean-spirited protagonists of the Illusionist when the final act ended. I can see that "Friends" and the Ben Stiller comedies have definitely lowered the standards for insiteful comedy as well.

I especially agree with your points on Talladega Nights and Crash. The former was so disappointing and the humor was so lackluster that I found myself checking the running time to see how much I had left to endure. For all of Anchorman's faults I never was bored and I thought much of it was laugh out loud outrageousness. Maybe Talladega didn't go far enough or maybe the target was too easy. I was bored with it. I've stated my dislike for Crash and I think you hit the nail on the head - it's an obvious movie. I was offended by the stereotypical characters and the big moments where we are supposed to realize how racist the world really is. Don Cheadle's character talking to himself in faux poetry and Terrence Howard's epiphany in the snowflakes? of ash reeks of a lack of subtlety.

Re: Top 5 Everybody Seems To Love But I Hate!!!

achance42 — Wed, 01 Aug 2007 16:11:33 GMT

5. There's Something About Mary/Meet the Parents - I don't really hate these movies but I have no desire to see either one again and they deserve to be singled out for what they have wrought in their paths. For all their "shock" humor value, neither film is that funny. In fact, between these two being big hits and the success of "Friends," which thrived entirely on the premise that a funny dialogue all depends on the inflections with which it is being said, lowered America's expectations for comedy in the 21st century.

4. The Illusionist - I was extraordinarily bothered by Ridley Scott's Matchstick Men, not because it was poorly made or poorly acted or anything like that, but because it was painfully obvious to me from about five minutes in who was zooming whom. I had a much deeper reaction to The Illusionist. Not only was it easy to figure out where you were supposed to start looking for the twist (because of course there was one) but again, I figured out who was in on what. But that's not what ruined this movie for me. What ruined it was that the relationship between Edward Norton and Jessica Biel was so shallow that I didn't buy it, nor did I care about them as individuals. And something happens in the film that seems to be a triumph but winds up eradicating any sympathy we had for them. I can't believe that anyone would prefer this to The Prestige.

3. Talladega Nights - The Anchorman trashing going on here upsets me greatly, though I won't argue with anyone who doesn't like Will Ferrell; it's a matter of taste. But I will argue with the people who trash Anchorman yet enjoy Talladega Nights. I tried, I really tried to like this movie, but after about 30 minutes, I gave up trying to like the movie and realized that it just wasn't funny. It was Will Ferrell dumbing himself down. Not that his humor is particularly cerebral to begin with, but at the very least, he's just flat out bizarre which is usually enough. Here, it's just predictable lowest-common-denominator jokes that you would see on Blue Collar TV or Mind of Mencia. Will Ferrell and Sacha Baron Cohen (not to mention comedic sidekick extraordinaire John C. Reilly) never manage to squeeze out more than 2 or 3 gags that made me laugh. This is one of those children of bad Ben Stiller movies and "Friends" that I was referring to before.

2. Transformers - I can't say much on this; it still hurts. It's just not enough for me to see live-action Transformers; they have to do something cool... oh, and a boring and poorly-written human plot should not take up 65% of the movie. And if we make concessions for this tripe just because "it's the Transformers," then what's to stop us from making concessions for Pearl Harbor simply because, "it really happened."

1. Crash (2005) - I've been aware of and conscious of racism for a very long time. And I just don't see how you can give such an important, complex and delicate subject such a black-and-white (no pun intended) treatment, not to mention making the film condescending AND inherently racist. This movie didn't give me as much to think about as the fact that people think it gives you so much to think about. THAT is what I dislike the most about Crash: that so many people were moved by such a vapid, faux-insightful hack job. People of every race should have cried foul on this one. Instead, it gets the Oscar. I wonder what Spike Lee thinks about that one.

Re: Top 5 Everybody Seems To Love But I Hate!!!

tmoney — Fri, 27 Jul 2007 23:04:12 GMT

I don't remember the steam iron part but sounds cool. I really thing Boondock Saints is way overrated but really the only part I remember is a circling shot of two guys with guns reciting some epic irish prayer or something, and I laughed so hard at the rediculousness of it.

I can't remember if someone metioned Blow, but that is also one people often claim is their favorite film. I didn't find anything special about it.

Re: Top 5 Everybody Seems To Love But I Hate!!!

joem18b — Thu, 26 Jul 2007 20:38:02 GMT

Jymkata:
Well, I really, really hated The Boondock Saints and I think it was Willem Dafoe's worst moment. Very bizarre choices.

Any movie that has a couple of guys cauterizing each others wounds with a steam iron gets a special place in my movie hierarchy.

Re: Top 5 Everybody Seems To Love But I Hate!!!

Risselada — Thu, 26 Jul 2007 18:50:13 GMT

Wow this thread is really heating up!

Jymkata:
2. Chasing Amy - really any Kevin Smith movie fits in here for me, but this one seems so overwritten and pretentious in its own slacker/hipster way. The best actors in the world (which Affleck, Lee, and Joey Lauren Adams are clearly not) would have a hard time making that dialogue believable. I think Smith loves the sound of his own words on screen and writes accordingly. Wouldn't watch this again.

I've actually seen many Kevin Smith films, but not this one. However I used to love them a great deal. Now every time I see one again, my rating plunges further down. Maybe it was that his dialogue sounded fresh at one time to me, but now after being continually subjected to it I'm realizing it may be what you said. Although there are different characters it all seems like the words are coming out of the same person.

Jymkata:
3. The Boondock Saints - I really don't know if this is popular everywhere or just in certain regions, but this was recommended to me by everyone and their brother. I had loads of well-intentioned, deluded souls say " Oh, you love Goodfellas, well you will really, really love The Boondock Saints". Well, I really, really hated The Boondock Saints and I think it was Willem Dafoe's worst moment. Very bizarre choices.

Oooooh, I almost said this one actually! I'd had this recommended to me by many people for a long time. I only heard a few people who said it was bad, but I didn't know who to believe. I saw it even though I think there was something deep inside that made me a bit hesitant. I was not impressed! I don't know how this mediocre crime movie managed to stand above the rest for many people. My friend Andy who uses this site from time to time has a couple tattoos from the movies. I respect his taste, but I just don't get what makes this so special. Maybe I should see that documentary about the making of it.

Jymkata:
4. Happiness - I know that a lot of people think Todd Solondz is brilliant, but I think his movies are mean-spririted, tasteless jokes. Maybe it's because I have children, but I don't find anything funny or tragic for the abuser about pedophilia, I find it repulsive. And can we finally stop on-screen ejaculation in mainstream movies? Just because you can show something on film doesn't mean you should. This and The Squid and The Whale just ruined the rest of the movie with those scenes.

Now this is one I really enjoyed. I however do not have any children, so I can't comment from that aspect. But I think I do like watching movies about the struggles of characters that the average movie going seems to consider too pathetic or degenerate to want to watch or have the possibility of having any empathy for. Even though I think those kinds of struggles are often a part of everyone, and I've suspected there may be some kind of deep denial going on there.

Jymkata:
5. Spider-man & Spider-man II - OK, "hate" is way too strong a word for these because there are plenty of films I rate lower than these, but I would never want to see either of these again. I like Sam Raimi's lower budgeted films, but these are way too popular - I got really tired of hearing how they represented the best superhero movies ever. I like the genre when the directors catch some of the wonder and magic of superheros and Raimi missed it. Some of it has to do with casting Tobey Maguire and Kirsten Dunst (neither of whom I think are good actors or even embody the characteristics of Peter Parker and Mary Jane), but a lot of it is because of the non-magical CGI scenes. See Superman & Superman II for examples of great casting and a sense of wonder.

I can pretty much agree with you completely on this one. Don't "hate" it, but probably won't see it again and for all the same reasons.

Although as for the Superman movies, I actually rate those even less. I'll talk about it later maybe if you'd like, but I feel I've written enough for now.

Re: Top 5 Everybody Seems To Love But I Hate!!!

joem18b — Thu, 26 Jul 2007 18:06:10 GMT

Jymkata:

2. Chasing Amy - really any Kevin Smith movie fits in here for me, but this one seems so overwritten and pretentious in its own slacker/hipster way. The best actors in the world (which Affleck, Lee, and Joey Lauren Adams are clearly not) would have a hard time making that dialogue believable. I think Smith loves the sound of his own words on screen and writes accordingly. Wouldn't watch this again.

I listen to Kevin Smith's podcast every week. Definitely not for everyone but I enjoy it. He sounds a lot like the dialog he writes. He was talking about Chasing Amy the other day and I remembered liking the movie ten years ago, when Joey Lauren Adams was still a fresh face, so I checked it out to watch it again. Sadly, it didn't work for me this time - sounded like the actors were taking turns doing Kevin Smith monologs - and I bailed out early.

Re: Top 5 Everybody Seems To Love But I Hate!!!

joem18b — Thu, 26 Jul 2007 17:52:01 GMT

indieabby88:

And yeah, "Boondock Saints": WTF? I know people who have whole theologies based on this movie, but try as I might, I just don't get it. Frankly, I don't even understand how this movie got made, or why good actors like Willem Dafoe and Billy Connolly lent themselves to it.

Just to mention Overnight (2003), a documentary that explains how "Boondock Saints" got made and what happened next. (Troy Duffy, L.A. bartender with a script, hit the jackpot with Harvey Weinstein and then discovered that Harvey has a temper.)

Re: Top 5 Everybody Seems To Love But I Hate!!!

pippin06 — Thu, 26 Jul 2007 16:38:51 GMT

Jymkata:

I'm glad you cleared up your opinions on Kane and Vertigo - I admit I took for granted that these were movies you hated based on the topic line "movies that everyone loves but you hate". I just had to add my opinin on these two because it's two easy to look at some of the older classics and start a snowballing of opinion on how they are overrated and even (shudder) bad. If you have taken the time to attempt appreciation and still feel that they come up short for your personal tastes thats fine. I certainly hope the "film snob" comment was not directed at me, though I can understand it if you think my comments were too forceful.
I also don't want to attempt to negate your opinions on LOTR or Crash - if you liked them, fine. The funny thing is, I went into each of these hoping to love them (they had pretty good pedigrees and a lot of hype), but I was at least underwhelmed and began to hate them based on the ensuing oscar hype and fanboy superlatives. I guess I just bristled at them being defended in the same post that pointed out flaws in Welles and Hitch.
Anyway, good post (although, are you sure you are not writing essays?) and I suppose we had to know that this particular topic would bring out spirited debate.

Thanks, Jymkata. Lol, I know, that was a super long post, but I was in the moment. Plus, I make my living writing reports and such and weighing evidence, so that kind of writing style naturally seeps out of me, even when I don't want it to. Sigh. Damn you 5 paragraph essay format that haunts me still.

I wasn't aiming the "film snob" comment at you, necessarily, either. Just wanted to say that there are people out there who say they won't watch certain films because they are a certain way, when I'm really not like that.

As to the hype factor, that really plays a part. Hype can be real ruination for the viewing experience of lots of films. I saw Crash around the time of its release, so that made all the difference, or maybe a couple months after (remember, it was a summer film that won Best Picture). Long before the hype that Oscar created. And I saw all three LOTR films the first day of release - they're my favorite books, like I said. I probably contributed to creating the hype, in fact.

In the end, it is good we have respectable, intellectual conversation and not the imdb type posts. Don't get me started on those. One dissenter, and a flock of seagulls (ha!) descend on them and peck their eyes out. It's kind of a bloodbath and not very respectful.

Thanks, tmoney, too. It's true, 90% of the time, I really don't hate the movie I'm discussing. Except for Anchorman. I really and honestly and truly hated Anchorman. And just about every Pauly Shore movie. Don't get me started.

Re: Top 5 Everybody Seems To Love But I Hate!!!

tmoney — Thu, 26 Jul 2007 15:06:59 GMT

Jymkata:

I admit I took for granted that these were movies you hated based on the topic line "

BTW - I love that Spout's users are different than Imdb's disrespectful intellectual and political posers. I hope that stays that way and if I ever come off as a name-calling jackass like that group please call me out. Strong opinions are great but respectful debate is the mark of civilization.

OKAY let me clear something up. I mentioned this in the original post but most probably didn't read it in detail. I used the word "HATE" as a springboard like Pippin said. It just sounded better. I would say 90% of the films on this board people don't actually "hate", but rather have an opposite view of their respectable peers who "love" it.

And yes, I agree about the peaceful debates at Spout, as opposed to IMDB.

And nice rant, Pippin.

Re: Top 5 Everybody Seems To Love But I Hate!!!

Jymkata — Thu, 26 Jul 2007 13:33:30 GMT

Pippin -

I'm glad you cleared up your opinions on Kane and Vertigo - I admit I took for granted that these were movies you hated based on the topic line "movies that everyone loves but you hate". I just had to add my opinin on these two because it's two easy to look at some of the older classics and start a snowballing of opinion on how they are overrated and even (shudder) bad. If you have taken the time to attempt appreciation and still feel that they come up short for your personal tastes thats fine. I certainly hope the "film snob" comment was not directed at me, though I can understand it if you think my comments were too forceful.

I also don't want to attempt to negate your opinions on LOTR or Crash - if you liked them, fine. The funny thing is, I went into each of these hoping to love them (they had pretty good pedigrees and a lot of hype), but I was at least underwhelmed and began to hate them based on the ensuing oscar hype and fanboy superlatives. I guess I just bristled at them being defended in the same post that pointed out flaws in Welles and Hitch.

Anyway, good post (although, are you sure you are not writing essays?) and I suppose we had to know that this particular topic would bring out spirited debate.

Re: Top 5 Everybody Seems To Love But I Hate!!!

pippin06 — Thu, 26 Jul 2007 12:49:36 GMT

Jymkata:

I know it's very polite on internet message boards to act like there are no standards or experts, and that subjectivity is the only way to judge a film, but sometimes subjectivity can be wrong and although you may not personally like a piece of art you need to be able to appreciate its qualities. I know this whole topic is subjective, but some of these should not be up for debate as to whether they are good or bad.
The two I take exception with are Citizen Kane and Vertigo. I don't even know where to start and whether it's worth it, but I can't understand how someone couldn't fathom the mixed opinions of lesser works like Crash or the Lord of the Rings trilogy ( I guess some people love overlong, CGI-overkilled films that are long on scope and short on character), but not see enough of value in certified masterpieces like these two by Orson and Alfred at their peak. Plus, Kane had the exceptional camerawork of Gregg Toland (that alone is worth the price of admission) and they both had the amazing orchestration of Bernard Herrmann that is much superior to Howard Shore's sappy and repetitive score for LOTR.

Well, since this is ultimately aimed at my post (thougt it overlapped others), I am going to politely respond as to my defenses, if you don't mind. I guess the subtext (and obvious statements) I offered should be better explained. First, reminder as to the topic title: "Top 5 Everybody Seems to Love but I Hate." Now, love and hate are strong words, but ultimately the sentiment I drew from that title is movies where opinions seem to differ from the general moviegoing public. That's a subjective rendering, but that's how I took it. I may not out and out hate it, but it's not my favorite; that was the springboard I jumped from. Maybe I should have said that up front, but there it is. I do post at work, and I shouldn't, so I type until I'm done without thinking more critically, but we're not writing essays here, either (though some of posts reach that length, and this won't be an exception).

Second, disclaimer: I am not an average moviegoer but I also don't fancy myself a qualified film critic/historian/studier in general. I also don't fancy myself a "movie snob" (nor would I ever want to be). I watch all kinds of movies, arthouse and indie, foreign language, blockbusters, anything. I like the experience of watching a movie. Yet, I'm not going to jump on a bandwagon and say a film is wonderful just because. A film can be brilliantly made, and I can appreciate that part of it, but I may not ultimately like the subject matter, or enjoy what I watched. I like to be entertained. I have a weakness for needing that part of it. It has to do something for me. Make me laugh, make me cry, make me think, make me dream, make me rage, make me sit back and say "wow!" Those reactions are going to be different for everyone. That, I think, and correct me if I'm wrong, is the underlying definition of "subjective." PS, I'm having a strong feeling of deja vu here.

So, when I answered this topic and offered my latter defenses that's how I approached it. So, now I'd like to respond to those parts with which umbridge was taken. A rant for rant, if you will.

a) I never said I hated Citizen Kane or Vertigo. I also said (and don't know how this was extrapolated from my neutral opinion on the matter) that I couldn't see the value of either film. What I said was I just don't like them as much as everyone else. The qualifiers I had for Citizen Kane: I don't think it's the greatest film of all time. Everyone thinks it's the greatest film of all time. I don't. I recognize the film for what it is. A breakthrough, a masterpiece. But: I was bored. There was no emotional resonance for me. The payout left me a little numb. Probably because it had already been overhyped by the time I watched it. Similarly with Vertigo. It's a masterpiece in its own right. All I said was that it is my least favorite Hitchcock film, and it's hard to watch, but my least favorite of Hitchcock is still going to be better than a lot of (if not most) other movies. I was just glad tmoney expressed something I'd long felt, especially when I find North by Northwest and Rear Window to be expertly crafted and not as often mentioned. I enjoyed those better.

b) I defended Crash but expressed that I did understand the mixed opinion. I wasn't defending it to say that it should it be liked by all. In fact, I know it's not. The first statement I made was "You love it or you hate it." Hell no it's not a perfect film (and I do think an inferior film to Kane and Vertigo). I was coming to its defense based on the opinion that was offered by offering an impassioned alternate perspective. How manipulative it is versus the fact that the movie never tried to be non-manipulative. I wasn't even asking the commenter to like the film. I was just saying this is what it is and then commisserated with the sentiment that it's not nice to be manipulated.

c) LOTR - Look, I have a soft spot for these, ok? :-) I hold them in higher personal regard than Kane and Vertigo insofar as they are far more entertaining and based on my favorite books and lovingly and painstakingly crafted, perhaps as much as Orson did for Kane. I will say that just because it used CGI does not detract from the fact that it is a modern masterpiece, and I do not find that these movies with their CGI will be devalued in the all-knowing future just because they use CGI. I think it's the achievement here that will be remembered more than anything, and tastes in movies will always shift, but critics and experts widely hailed these movies, so what do you want? I fathom the mixed opinions here (by saying not everyone likes hobbits), but frankly, was it expected to not be overlong and CGI-laden?

Sorry, but I had to rant too. I really have a hard time with the statement "subjectivity can be wrong." That's a highly intolerant and narrow viewpoint imho. There are no experts on message boards and posts. No experts. As in none. And just because someone likes their personal brand of subjectivity better does not make them "right." So, if that was rude, apologies and all, but um, yeah. That seemed harsh, especially when sweeping generalizations were made to start.

indieabby - I should have said Moulin Rouge! I agree with that one. That movie makes me dizzy. I love movie musicals too, but that one was not my favorite, and I hate that pop culture songs were thrown in as a substitution for a real musical score. High concept, but I didn't enjoy it.

lukasblu - West Side Story is a very schmaltzy musical to be sure, but in fairness, the film was based on the original Sondheim musical, I believe, so you'd have to fault the source for it's unrealistic portrayals of gangs. It's not my favorite either, though. It's incredibly sappy, even by traditional standards. But it has its place in the overall span of film like any other, eh?

"What do you do, when you watch a flick with a bunch of other people and everyone or the majority likes it BUT you don't; do you say what you feel or just lie ,say something neutral ,or just be quiet/or have no comment?"

Well, look what happened here, lukasblu! Sometimes, when you speak your truth, you open yourself up. I usually only post when I have strong opinions. Case and point. If I have an opinion, but not necessarily a strong one, and it seems to be the minority, and I don't want to deal with the ensuing debate, then I just don't comment at all. There are lots of Spout convos I've dropped out of or not contributed to based on that. People have strong opinions. Sometimes I do, and sometimes I don't.

"Has any one ever watched a flick that they did not like but just could not point out exactly why you did not like it; you just did not have or felt a good/positive feeling about the movie"

Oh yes. This happens to be a lot. Actually, a film I liked very much was The Departed, but I didn't like it as much as lots of other people who watched it, and I can't say exactly why. I've been thinking about it. Though I also think it has the makings of being a modern masterpiece (it was a true landmark for Scorsese), I don't know if I could enjoy it repeatedly. I've been wracking my brain trying to figure out why, but I got nothing. It happens.

Cheers all.

Re: Top 5 Everybody Seems To Love But I Hate!!!

lukasblu — Thu, 26 Jul 2007 06:16:41 GMT

"And don't worry, most of Spout is hate free. Unlike the IMDB boards, people tend to respect opinions on here. "

That is great to know, respect everyones opinions

"Okay, I know there are often films that many people call "great", and you have to bite your tongue to avoid an argument against the masses." What do you do, when you watch a flick with a bunch of other people and everyone or the majority likes it BUT you don't; do you say what you feel or just lie ,say something neutral ,or just be quiet/or have no comment?

Has any one ever watched a flick that they did not like but just could not point out exactly why you did not like it; you just did not have or felt a good/positive feeling about the movie

Re: Top 5 Everybody Seems To Love But I Hate!!!

lukasblu — Thu, 26 Jul 2007 06:02:25 GMT

" Comedy is so personal" i agree with you on that ;something funny to someone may not be funny to someone else

i just went to this other website and there are so many categories of comedy or comedy genres;So i guess you have to talk with someone that likes the same comedy genre as you, to get a proper movie/show recommendation if a comedy flick/show is funny or not

Re: Top 5 Everybody Seems To Love But I Hate!!!

lukasblu — Thu, 26 Jul 2007 05:34:37 GMT

"2. Crash"-i believe this movie is overrated;it is not the best movie i have seen ,it is not the worse either;i do not believe that it deserved an oscar though; I do like another movie called crash (1996) with james spader

i did not like Traffic (2000)either;overtalked about ,overrated and did not deserve an oscar

i also did not like west side story(1961) i believed its an overrated musical classic;it is an unrealistic potrayal of gangs especially the puerto rican ones

does anyone else know a oscar nomiated or oscar winner(or any other respectable awards like SAG, etc..) movie that did not deserved it ;either because the praise is overrated or just because you did not like the movie?

Re: Top 5 Everybody Seems To Love But I Hate!!!

indieabby88 — Thu, 26 Jul 2007 04:24:53 GMT

tmoney:

2. Vertigo - Do not get me wrong here, I consider myself a Hitchcock fan, and this may be blasphemy seeing most people say this was his masterpiece. I found it excruciatingly boring, unnecessarily confusing (the first time around), and one of his weaker films.

Thank God it's not just me! I really don't care that much for "Vertigo," and whenever I mention this, people just look at me and say "how can you say that?" I consider it a little too slow-moving, and I didn't really have much sympathy for Jimmy Stewart's character. I guess I never really understood what there was about that woman to make him obsess over her so completely.

I, for one, don't understand what people see in "Moulin Rouge" or, for that matter, "Romeo + Juliet." Baz Luhrmann's movies have always been over the top, and even his good ones, like "Strictly Ballroom" come dangerously close to losing all credibility through their ridiculousness. "Moulin Rouge" and "Romeo" are two such films. Luhrmann's take on Shakespeare was full of weak (or pointless) updates, poorly drawn characters and the nauseatingly dizzy visuals he's become known for. "Moulin Rouge" had a decent plot going, and the sets were pretty nice, let's be honest, but I hated the idea of using classic songs in a ridiculous way that didn't always transfer well. The desecration of "Smells Like Teen Spirit" in conjunction with the pop-hobag rendition of "Lady Marmalade" should be enough to make any music fan run for the toilets.

I'm also not huge into the James Bond movies, although I don't rule them out altogether. I liked Timothy Dalton as Bond, if only because "The Living Daylights" featured Art Malik, who I loved in "The Jewel in the Crown." I also thought "Casino Royale" was thorougly enjoyable.

And yeah, "Boondock Saints": WTF? I know people who have whole theologies based on this movie, but try as I might, I just don't get it. Frankly, I don't even understand how this movie got made, or why good actors like Willem Dafoe and Billy Connolly lent themselves to it. So much of this film made no sense to me. I think its appeal is in the concept: normal guys getting to stand up and fight back against scum, and getting away with it. However, this doesn't make up for the fact that it's amateurish and doesn't hold up to scrutiny. Funnily enough, the one native Irishman I know hates this movie as much as I do, so I guess I'm not totally insane.

Re: Top 5 Everybody Seems To Love But I Hate!!!

tmoney — Thu, 26 Jul 2007 01:47:13 GMT

I agree with most of these lists! Though for one, I don't know many people who actually like the Matrix sequels, nor the pirates sequels. I think those are films that made a lot of money but not a lot of (respectable) fans.

Rizzo, I have not seen Breathless, but many call this one of the greatest films of all time! So I commend you're boldness to stand up to a classic!

And I totally agree with the Lord of the Rings assesment. Special effects seem to NEVER pass the test of time. And for a film that is 95% special effects, I think in twenty years, people will roll their eyes at LOTR.

I personally think Eternal Sunshine is a classic. Yes it used a bag of tricks, and may seem like thats all it is, but I think Michel Gondry is more thoughtful than the sum of his parts. Watch the Michel Gondry DVD to get an idea of his personality, and thought process as far as story and creativity.

Re: Top 5 Everybody Seems To Love But I Hate!!!

lukasblu — Thu, 26 Jul 2007 01:32:02 GMT

1&2 - the matrix sequels (The Matrix Reloaded (2003)&The Matrix Revolutions (2003)) - all action with not much depth and originality that is even close to the original;matrix reloaded bored me almost put me to sleep when i saw it originally in the theater.

3 - Night at the Museum (2006) was not even the slighest been funny to me;very childish humor;what a diappointment especially for ben stiller

4 - Babel (2006) - overrated

5 - Brokeback Mountain (2005) - Very disappointing story and highly overrated; i do not believe it deserved an oscar

6 - Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest (2006) - way long ; too much going on in the story,not to much focus in a major story line; bored me; disapponted because i liked Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003)

Re: Top 5 Everybody Seems To Love But I Hate!!!

Jymkata — Thu, 26 Jul 2007 00:06:12 GMT

I know it's very polite on internet message boards to act like there are no standards or experts, and that subjectivity is the only way to judge a film, but sometimes subjectivity can be wrong and although you may not personally like a piece of art you need to be able to appreciate its qualities. I know this whole topic is subjective, but some of these should not be up for debate as to whether they are good or bad.

The two I take exception with are Citizen Kane and Vertigo. I don't even know where to start and whether it's worth it, but I can't understand how someone couldn't fathom the mixed opinions of lesser works like Crash or the Lord of the Rings trilogy ( I guess some people love overlong, CGI-overkilled films that are long on scope and short on character), but not see enough of value in certified masterpieces like these two by Orson and Alfred at their peak. Plus, Kane had the exceptional camerawork of Gregg Toland (that alone is worth the price of admission) and they both had the amazing orchestration of Bernard Herrmann that is much superior to Howard Shore's sappy and repetitive score for LOTR.

Anyway, that is my rant and I hope it's not too rude but this is my list:

1.) LOTR trilogy - I seriously believe that once CGI becomes a laughable, obvious device like the rear projection in car-driving scenes in older movies these overpopular geek films will be seen for what they are. Shallow, overlong, and badly paced films that were marketed at the right time to reach a very receptive audience. I really feel that there are a lot of scenes where I am watching an actor read lines off a cue card in front of a green screen. I read the books in my childhood, I "get" the genre, but I feel like half the cast sucks and Peter Jackson is a hack. Just my opinion, but there are plenty like me out here and there is far from a positive consensus on these three.

2. Chasing Amy - really any Kevin Smith movie fits in here for me, but this one seems so overwritten and pretentious in its own slacker/hipster way. The best actors in the world (which Affleck, Lee, and Joey Lauren Adams are clearly not) would have a hard time making that dialogue believable. I think Smith loves the sound of his own words on screen and writes accordingly. Wouldn't watch this again.

3. The Boondock Saints - I really don't know if this is popular everywhere or just in certain regions, but this was recommended to me by everyone and their brother. I had loads of well-intentioned, deluded souls say " Oh, you love Goodfellas, well you will really, really love The Boondock Saints". Well, I really, really hated The Boondock Saints and I think it was Willem Dafoe's worst moment. Very bizarre choices.

4. Happiness - I know that a lot of people think Todd Solondz is brilliant, but I think his movies are mean-spririted, tasteless jokes. Maybe it's because I have children, but I don't find anything funny or tragic for the abuser about pedophilia, I find it repulsive. And can we finally stop on-screen ejaculation in mainstream movies? Just because you can show something on film doesn't mean you should. This and The Squid and The Whale just ruined the rest of the movie with those scenes.

5. Spider-man & Spider-man II - OK, "hate" is way too strong a word for these because there are plenty of films I rate lower than these, but I would never want to see either of these again. I like Sam Raimi's lower budgeted films, but these are way too popular - I got really tired of hearing how they represented the best superhero movies ever. I like the genre when the directors catch some of the wonder and magic of superheros and Raimi missed it. Some of it has to do with casting Tobey Maguire and Kirsten Dunst (neither of whom I think are good actors or even embody the characteristics of Peter Parker and Mary Jane), but a lot of it is because of the non-magical CGI scenes. See Superman & Superman II for examples of great casting and a sense of wonder.

Some of the above opinions I agree with are Godard's boring, pretentious films, Chungking Express, Titanic, Crash and Million Dollar Baby ( their success means Paul Haggis is going to continue to produce obvious, clumsily written, political diatribes), Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind ( video geek gets to wow people with his bag of tricks and forgets to make a coherent movie), and Ocean's Eleven press junkets. I actually enjoy the first two movies but I absolutely hated the onslaught of publicity these movies got with the stars looking smug and talking (too much) about how they were all best buds and how fun every day of shooting was - with Sir George being such a funny prankster. Get over yourselves, Hollywood actors!

Re: Top 5 Everybody Seems To Love But I Hate!!!

Risselada — Wed, 25 Jul 2007 19:21:00 GMT

pippin06:
Incidentally, what do you think about the mass marketing gimmicks being used for The Simpsons Movie? Like 7-11's into Kwik-E-Marts and the Simpsonizeme Burger King campaign?

Some franchises like Simpsons and Star Wars have just been so consitantly prevalant for so long that it's hard to even notice them.

Re: Top 5 Everybody Seems To Love But I Hate!!!

pippin06 — Wed, 25 Jul 2007 17:12:26 GMT

Risselada:

pippin06:
Still, give Pixar a chance. In fact, try out Ratatouille. You will almost forget it's supposed to be a cartoon.
It doesn't really matter to me if it's a cartoon or not. That's not the issue.
Maybe just maybe I'll check this one out. But all I keep thinking about is all of the fat slobs with BBQ sauce dripping off of their face wandering aimlessly at the Taste of Chicago food fest with these obscene paperhats on that say "Ratatouille" because they were passing them out as a part of some big marketing campaign.

Oh, I didn't mean to imply that you didn't like the fact that it was animation. I was making a general comment that Ratatouille is just so sophisticated for what it's supposed to be, that's all. I get that you don't like the mainstream/mass-marketed/mass-produced/shove-it-down-your-throat advertised quality of the CGI brands. They are, after all, trying to get families and bunches of people to see the movies, though. Some of them are actually quite good, is all I'm saying. Connection to Taste of Chicago visitors (fat, slobby, or otherwise) aside. I encourage you to ignore the hats. Though that's kind of clever. No one was passing out hats in Grand Rapids. Hm.

Incidentally, what do you think about the mass marketing gimmicks being used for The Simpsons Movie? Like 7-11's into Kwik-E-Marts and the Simpsonizeme Burger King campaign?

Re: Top 5 Everybody Seems To Love But I Hate!!!

Risselada — Wed, 25 Jul 2007 16:46:53 GMT

pippin06:
Still, give Pixar a chance. In fact, try out Ratatouille. You will almost forget it's supposed to be a cartoon.

It doesn't really matter to me if it's a cartoon or not. That's not the issue.

Maybe just maybe I'll check this one out. But all I keep thinking about is all of the fat slobs with BBQ sauce dripping off of their face wandering aimlessly at the Taste of Chicago food fest with these obscene paperhats on that say "Ratatouille" because they were passing them out as a part of some big marketing campaign.

Re: Top 5 Everybody Seems To Love But I Hate!!!

pippin06 — Wed, 25 Jul 2007 16:07:13 GMT

Great topic!!! I'll play.

tmoney - my #1 is your #5

1.) Anchorman - Don't get me wrong. I actually like Will Ferrell. But not in this stupid movie. He made me want to hit him. Seriously.

2.) Wedding Crashers - Please tell me why this movie is supposed to be funny. I'm asking. Oh, and Will Ferrell appeared in this one too. Hey, I thought he was hilarious as Ricky Bobby. I always say it's a crapshoot with him.

3.) Citizen Kane - Ok, before you start hurling tomatoes, hear me out. Yes, it was a breakthrough. Yes, it was ahead of its time. Is it the greatest movie of all time????? Why? The movie is sooooooo boring! I like cerebral films, I do. I like those kinds of quasi-biographical quasi-allegorical type films. I don't hate it completely, but I'm tired of everyone telling me it's the best there is. I still think Casablanca and The Godfather are both far better movies, and they're entertaining too. Those movies have it all! Sorry, Orson. Here's looking at you.

4.) Gladiator and Braveheart - Two best picture winners. I don't absolutely hate them. Maybe it's because I lack testosterone, but why are they so great? Braveheart is the better of the two, but maybe it's because I like Australian Mel over Australian Russell. I just did not get into either one. And I'm all for fights for freedom and that. Gladiator in particular did not have me thinking it was the bee's knees. I've only seen either once and have no desire to do so again.

5.) And I totally agree with tmoney about Vertigo - It has to be my least favorite of Hitchcock's, and I love him so much. The idea of it is genius, on the one hand, but on the other hand, I find it a hard movie to watch for all the same reasons. I agree with absolutely everything you said, tmoney, so if you've blashphemed, then so have I. Damned we shall be.

Now - to defend.

Ocean's 11 - Again, the lower the expectations, the better you will find this flick. If you are trying to see cinematic integrity and seriousness in this film, then you've exempted yourself from enjoying it. It is totally a picture about having fun, as it is, after all, a caper film. If you try to look at it as more than that, then yes you will be disappointed. Just saying. I liked it because I liked what, or specifically, who I was looking at.

Crash - You love it or you hate it. Personally, I think it's high time someone manipulated people on this subject. I commend Haggis for tackling it head-on and purposefully throwing the subject in people's faces, since most people (especially not of color) seem to want to avoid these taboo topics. I'm a civil rights investigator by day, and I do consider it an important film. Did it manipulate? Hell yes. If it unseated a few people and finally got them to reflect on what they do on a daily basis, I'm all for it. Rar. But I respect that being manipulated can be equally annoying, Risselada. There are movies that find me thinking the same things - like, let me form my own opinion or something.

Shrek/Pixar - First of all, you CANNOT compare Pixar to any other mass-marketed CGI firm. Shrek and its ugly cousins compared to all of the Pixar flicks are apples to oranges. Pixar is a QUALITY movie firm with unusual/original storylines and making and groundbreaking CGI animation. Dreamworks is the copycat that produced Shrek and many of the other tripetastic CGI wannabes. However, the first Shrek is actually an extremely funny movie. It gets dumber as it gets sequelized. It's all owing to Eddie Murphy as Donkey. He alone is worth the watch. Still, give Pixar a chance. In fact, try out Ratatouille. You will almost forget it's supposed to be a cartoon.

Tarantino - Again, you love or you hate him. I favor the former. I don't like all of his films, but I hold Pulp Fiction and the Kill Bills in very high regard indeed. While profane, bloody, and graphic, they are also masterworks of ingenious filmmaking and storytelling, even if QT is really a grownup Nerd having his revenge (I hold to that).

I haven't seen High Fidelity or Eternal Sunshine...but I really want to based on the hype, so I'll wait and see if it's overrated or not. I agree that the Graduate was also not the most entertaining film out there, but you gotta agree it had its place. Kind of like Citizen Kane, only with more sex.

Lord of the Rings - Well, I can't even make a coherent sentence. You must not like the genre. These are some of the best films ever made. Oh yes. But I realize hobbits and such aren't for everyone.

Se7en - I don't think as many people like this one as you think. Still, I did. I thought it was another well put-together movie. Not my absolute favorite, but one when, I can stomach it, I enjoy watching.

Ok, I'm spent. Peace out.

Re: Top 5 Everybody Seems To Love But I Hate!!!

Risselada — Wed, 25 Jul 2007 14:35:03 GMT

1. Shrek - Yeah this and all those other family oriented, 3-D CGI Dreamworks/Pixar kind of deals. I actually haven't seen most of these types of movies in their entirety. Gave up after the first generation of them, but they only seem to be the same crap. Maybe I'm hardhearted, but this stuff just isn't funny to me. The movies are the most annoying of all the huge corporate francises. I have to see these characters in every kind of sick ad for products I would have never even wanted to hear about in the first place. The messages they deliver are trite platitudes. And most of them are just big music videos for annoying bands like Smashmouth doing remakes of The Monkees. Uuuugh. And it's all this politically correct new-age shit. Let's not speak of that anymore.

2. Crash / Million Dollar Baby - two recent Oscar winners both written by that hack Paul Haggis. These movies are manipulative in the worst way. I call these movies where I can feel the writer's pen on the paper. Every character and development is impletemented to make you feel an exact emotion. I guess that doesn't have to be a bad thing, but when it's such an issue concious movie and you can really SEE what the filmmakers are doing, it really puts me off. Especially when people talk about how important these movies are.

3. Jules and Jim / Breathless / Chungking Express - I'm naming these movies because they seem to have something in common. The first two are from the French New Wave, and the latter is obviously inspired by the French New Wave, specifically Breathless. What can I say other than I just don't relate to these characters. I don't find them amusing either. In fact the generally bore me or get on my nerves. I won't try to argue too much with anyone who does like it, but it's just not for me apparently.

4. High Fidelity - Maybe the characters are too close to me. I like making lists too. HOLY SHIT, I'm making a top 5 list right now! But just something about his past relationships and his attitudes towards them, even when his attitudes change, it's just something that irks me. You can throw in Empire Records as another movie about record shop employees that people seem to love but annoys the hell out of me. I can't deal with the mainstream I guess.

5. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind and The Graduate. They don't really go together in anyway, and also I don't really hate either of them. But I don't love them. And I think other people love them too much and I get sick of it.

Maybe I just don't know how to love.

Re: Top 5 Everybody Seems To Love But I Hate!!!

tmoney — Wed, 25 Jul 2007 02:11:45 GMT

strangeframe:

Larry David is a great comedic writer IMHO, but to see him deliver lines pains me.

Wow! I agree with that statement completely!

And don't worry, most of Spout is hate free. Unlike the IMDB boards, people tend to respect opinions on here.

Re: Top 5 Everybody Seems To Love But I Hate!!!

joem18b — Tue, 24 Jul 2007 22:20:57 GMT

Little Children (2006) - Something about this one bothered me and I dropped out halfway through. Seemed too written. The spousal unit liked it.

Lucky Number Slevin (2006) - The cold-blooded revenge killer thing didn't work for me. I would have been ok with Bruce Willis and Josh Hartnett getting took out along with the other bad guys.

Se7en (1995) - I'll have to watch this one again, so many people put it on their lists. I was just annoyed -not least because now we've got "5ive Girls," "4orty2wo Entertainment," "6ix," etc., etc.

Re: Top 5 Everybody Seems To Love But I Hate!!!

Risselada — Tue, 24 Jul 2007 20:12:48 GMT

tmoney:
1. Reservoir Dogs - I have to say this film was a big dissapointment. Maybe it was the mood I was in, but it just didn't engage me. Violence and surprises. Not refreshing. It was an amateur film by a then amateur director.

This is still my favorite Tarantino film. I think it's his simplest and tightest film. The real time current action is enlightened by the flashbacks that come at just the right time and pace. The ending is still one of the most visceral I've ever seen. "I'm a cop Larry"

tmoney:
2. Vertigo - Do not get me wrong here, I consider myself a Hitchcock fan, and this may be blasphemy seeing most people say this was his masterpiece. I found it excruciatingly boring, unnecessarily confusing (the first time around), and one of his weaker films.

I actually still say this is my favorite Hitchcock film even though I saw it long enough ago that I can hardly remember any of the specifics. I still just have this feeling of being blown away by it. I guess I should see it again if I'm going to try to defend it though.

I'm not going to try to defend the rest of the films. I haven't even seen Ocean's Eleven.

Re: Top 5 Everybody Seems To Love But I Hate!!!

marincat — Tue, 24 Jul 2007 18:41:20 GMT

No order on these...

Gladiator - I just don't like this type of film and I particularly didn't like this one.
Lord of The Rings - All of them.
Ben Hur - Aside from having a great dislike for Mr. Heston, this is another that falls into the just don't like the type.
Titanic - If I hear that song one more time...if I hear those lines one more time!
The Manchurian Candidate - I think I was in the wrong mood for this one and the remake.

Top 5 Everybody Seems To Love But I Hate!!!

tmoney — Tue, 24 Jul 2007 17:06:55 GMT

Okay, I know there are often films that many people call "great", and you have to bite your tongue to avoid an argument against the masses. Well here are my top five that I dislike. I can't say that I "hate" them, but it sounded like a better discussion topic to say the word "hate". And I'm not just talking about Pirates of the Carribean 8 that will still make a billion dollars, so the "masses" love it, but I'm talking about dissagreements with your respectable peers.

This list is in no particular order and just some that came to mind. I'm sure I've got hundreds.

1. Reservoir Dogs - I have to say this film was a big dissapointment. Maybe it was the mood I was in, but it just didn't engage me. Violence and surprises. Not refreshing. It was an amateur film by a then amateur director.

2. Vertigo - Do not get me wrong here, I consider myself a Hitchcock fan, and this may be blasphemy seeing most people say this was his masterpiece. I found it excruciatingly boring, unnecessarily confusing (the first time around), and one of his weaker films.

3. Every James Bond Film - These films are a one trick pony. The franchise is a cliché of itself. Yet whenever there is a new Bond film, everyone and their grandmother want to go see it.

4. Ocean's 11 - I mentioned this in the top 5 heist category as one I disliked. I just don't like the genre in general, and this seemed like a rehash of the genre (i know i know it was a remake). It seems like somebody thought it was actually smart to have "a bunch of really interesting characters pull off a heist, and have hillarity and trouble ensue!"

5. Anchorman - Why is this film funny? Why do my friends think Will Ferrel is so great? All he did in this movie is talk in his deep voice that he does for every other character, and act like every other snl character he ever played. I absolutely despised this film (and his most recent Talledega Nights was atrocious as well).

You can argue me here, I'd actually like to see some defense for these films. What are your films that everyone else loves but you don't?