Overrated Movies

Who Would Listen wrote:

"A Clockwork Orange" is now a staple of cable TV movie channels, after having been essentially out of circulation for decades.

I was around when it was initially released, and I understood the acclaim for its innovative style and for Malcolm McDowell's performance.

But the second half was unwatchable then and pretty much the entire thing is now. I can't imagine young contemporary audiences wanting to see it. Read Burgess' novel instead.

I would bet every oz of credibility I have that Clockwork Orange and every other major Kubrick movie will be viewed for centuries as classics - among the best art ever made by human beings.

My first favorite movie (and I've been a movie fan ever since) was 'Lolita' by Stanley Kubrick in 1962. I was 16 years old.

What a cast:

James Mason

Sue Lyon!!!

Peter Sellers (in multiple roles)

Shelley Winters

I've preferred black and white movies ever since.

Pink Flamingos....pretty obscure.

Friend: "Check out this film, John Waters is an artistic genius".

Me: "Why is Devine eating dog sh!t".

Titanic. It took me a long time after that one to watch another film with Leonardo C. in the lead role. And he's actually a pretty competent actor. Not great, but pretty good. But good heavens he was awful in this mawkishly absurd excuse for a film that, for some reason, many people loved.

Last Plane Out wrote:

Not highly rated movies, but nostalgic movies that a lot of people love.and find nostalgic. I don't think they're funny;

Christmas Vacation

European Vacation

National Lampoons

Planes, Trains, Automobiles

Naked Gun

Fletch

Spies Like Us

Basically, Chevy Chase, John Candy, Nielsen's humore falls flat on me. I like a Christmas Story, Airplane, 48hrs, Police Academy, Ghostbusters.

With you on Chevy Chase & the Vacation movies. Only occasionally funny. The first Vacation has 93% on the tomatometer - I was stunned.

Liking Police Academy is answering the opposite of the thread question: Liking a movie everyone else hated :)

You disliked Naked Gun, but liked Airplane?

The Hangover movies. All horrific.

"Eyes Wide Shut" is already NOT viewed as "among the best art ever made by human beings."

Who Would Listen wrote:

"Eyes Wide Shut" is already NOT viewed as "among the best art ever made by human beings."

well no

note that I used the qualifier "major" in my post

EWS was incomplete and finished by other people - it's more a footnote, like Spartacus isn't really a full-on Kubrick movie.

Although I read recently that EWS is being shown every year at Christmas time in NYC - sort of a hipster xmas classic.

Which goes to show - often Kubrick movies aren't understood at the time. But over time they gain meaning and fans.

The Shining got terrible reviews, for example. it won a razzie for worst director. And now it is utterly beloved.

(film)#Initial_reception

agip wrote:

Who Would Listen wrote:

"Eyes Wide Shut" is already NOT viewed as "among the best art ever made by human beings."

well no

note that I used the qualifier "major" in my post

EWS was incomplete and finished by other people - it's more a footnote, like Spartacus isn't really a full-on Kubrick movie.

Although I read recently that EWS is being shown every year at Christmas time in NYC - sort of a hipster xmas classic.

Which goes to show - often Kubrick movies aren't understood at the time. But over time they gain meaning and fans.

The Shining got terrible reviews, for example. it won a razzie for worst director. And now it is utterly beloved.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Shining_

(film)#Initial_reception

C'mon agip! You don't need to keep defending Kubrick! Everyone already loves him! We're all supposed to be in the minority for the listed movies.

I fell asleep watching Dr. Strangelove. I must be in the 1%:

zephito wrote:

This certainly leaves one open to criticism, so just list your own. Rule: Has to be above 75% on the tomatometer.

.

Anything by Adam Sandler. Big Daddy has to be the most cringe-worthy movie of all time. Just desperate.

I'll jump in on a few small things here... I am not sure why anyone would view the plot of A Clockwork Orange as genius without having first read the novel. I think most of the appeal is from young viewers who just like violence and don't realize that the point of the book/film is based on socioeconomic problems in a near dystopian future... The film on its own is kind of kitschy.

I think Forrest Gump has aged terribly. It was a force when it came out, but is so ridiculously stupid when viewed by today's standards.

Most of the Coen Brothers films require multiple viewings. I thought the Big Lebowski was awful when I first saw it. One summer, a few teammates and I stayed in a crappy mountain cabin for a week to train. We ran twice a day and spent the rest of the time lounging around and eating. The only entertainment we had was a DVD of The Big Lebowski. We watched it every single night. This was before smart phones and everyone having a laptop, so entertainment wasn't as ubiquitous as it is now. It was either TBL, music from a boom box or one of the broadcast channels. It is now one of my favorite movies. A similar thing happened with O Brother, Where Art Thou? after I forced myself to watch it a few times. You begin to get to know the characters and it makes the viewing a much, much richer and nuanced experience.

The only thing about Birdman that was cool were the single-camera shots that must have been really tough to choreograph. I felt like Keaton did a good job, but most of the praise was due to Hollywood shunning him for 25 years after he left the Batman franchise. I mean, wasn't that a major theme in the film anyway?

Movees wrote:

I'll jump in on a few small things here... I am not sure why anyone would view the plot of A Clockwork Orange as genius without having first read the novel. I think most of the appeal is from young viewers who just like violence and don't realize that the point of the book/film is based on socioeconomic problems in a near dystopian future... The film on its own is kind of kitschy.

not sure what you mean

of course we have to bring some understanding and understanding to movies.

if you don't know that Kubrick was commenting on the falling apart socialist UK of the 1970s then sure the movie means less.

You probably have to understand the post 1968-era rebellion against the bourgeoisie - the letting loose of the children. The movie is an answer to the question 'what next' if the kids of the 60s kept tearing apart society. it is of a pair with seeing a rolling stones concert from the 68-70 era - just utter hedonism.

and if you don't know that the lingo in the movie is part russian, implying some kind of defeat to communism, then it means nothing

I'm assuming that people bring some kind of knowledge to clockwork orange - it's not a self contained simple story.

Gone With the Wind

I wasn't referring to your praise, just to be clear. I just meant the general "that movie is awesome" that you see thrown around with the film. I remember friends of mine loving that movie in early high school. Almost like the way kids like watching "Live Leak" and those kinds of websites today... I presumed that you brought knowledge to the movie. The book is great. I am a Kubrick fan.

Cast away hell all Tom Hanks movies minus Forrest Gump.

The newest Star Wars. Decent action movie but nothing really gripping or deep. It's forgettable.

Gone With the Wind[/quote]

I've never been able to sit through GWTW. Got to the "Frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn" point VERY early on. Students asked me whether I'd seen Titanic. I had. Asked me whether I'd cried.I admitted that about halfway through, I'd sneaked a peek at my watch, and whimpered audibly.I concur with my high school cross-country coach's summary of Avatar: "Dances With Wolves meets Blue Man Group." Except I enjoyed "Dances With Wolves" much more.

Blade Runner. I've tried watching it three times and failed to finish it three times.

they call me flopro wrote:

Cast away hell all Tom Hanks movies minus Forrest Gump.

I assume you forgot about Joe Versus the Volcano...? Probably his best role, ever. You think I am kidding, but I am not.

Unfortunately, it led to a lot of Hanks/Ryan partnerships, which were just terrible.