B**** Rant and Moan About Overrated Movies! (IYO of Course)

[Flanger-Hanger]

I did a search and couldn't find some sort of general thread like this, so here it is!

We all have seen some kind of movie or other, one that supposedly everyone loves, because you hear from someone, someplace or whatever, that is was great, amazing, a masterpiece by any standard. You watch the thing and say to yourself, "what were they thinking?"

Here is your chance to do what the title says, on a film(s) of your choice that you can rant to your hearts content about, ask or complain about why others feel that way and get this thread closed before the week is done! (by the way, feel free to rant about films that imply failed to meet your expectations too)

I'll start (with my top 5):

Jaws (1975): Dull to simply put it. Completely lacking in scares, characters you can care about, a tense atmosphere, a decent score and as much as I hate to sue this argument, decent effects (which have not at all help up over the ages)

Meet Me in St. Louis (1944): Two words, Vincente Minelli. A man who should never be allowed to touch Americana, or anything with nostalgia to it. A forgettable song score and an annoying little brat for a "cute" kid doesn't help it either.

The Last Picture Show (1971): Praised for it's "honest" depiction of teenagers (I guess in comparison to say, The Blob) I don't care for the kids, I can't related to them and I certainly don't care if their crappy Texas town falls to pieces. Muttering under your breath in a Texas accent is not a good way to communicate and standing around naked doing nothing will not make me like you any more girls. The 80s did a better job of showing teens in film.

Blade Runner (1974): Nice to look at, but I don't really care for what the story is about or how it's going to happen. Leonard Maltin and Pauline Keal seem to get this thankfully.

The Matrix (1999): Watching this in philosophy class made me hate it even more. It just fails on all levels, as a decent action film, as a expression of philosophical thought, everything. Even if it were just mindless killings for 90 minutes you'd still have to put up with Reeves "acting" and a loud forgettable soundtrack.

[Lazario]

My list (so far, until I think of more), in no particular order:

1. 2. 3.

4. 5. 6.

7. 8. 9.

10.

[PeterPanfan]

[xxhplinkxx]

Well, Laz and Dan, you didn't really B**** and moan, you just posted pictures... back it up!!!

[PeterPanfan]

I was bored by it. Maybe it was because I went in with high expectations. Either way, I honestly didn't like it and have no plans to revisit it.

[xxhplinkxx]

I was bored by it. Maybe it was because I went in with high expectations. Either way, I honestly didn't like it and have no plans to revisit it.

I'm crushed by this! It's one of my top 5 favorite films. Amazing acting, cinematography, art direction, music, editing... I can't say enough good things about this film. Baz Luhrmann is my hero!

[Lazario]

Well, Laz and Dan, you didn't really B**** and moan, you just posted pictures... back it up!!!

I've only just begun, XX, on my list. I could be here all day talking about them. And then someone like Goliath would come along and want a fight and you know me? I just can't pretend that it's my opinion. My Opinion is God and if you disagree - talk to the hand, because the face...(you know the rest)

So, expect more pictures and not a whole lot else.

Oh, and, by the way XX... NEVER!!! (you know what I'm talking about)

[Disneykid]

Meet Me in St. Louis (1944): Two words, Vincente Minelli. A man who should never be allowed to touch Americana, or anything with nostalgia to it. A forgettable song score and an annoying little brat for a "cute" kid doesn't help it either.

Ouch.

Anyway, here's a few of mine in no particular order:

Transformers: I still have to wonder how this movie made such a killing at the box office since brand recognition can't be THAT strong, can it? The stuff with Shia's character I admit was pretty decent, if a little Terminator 2-ish. The other 64 subplots were just extraneous and added little-to-nothing to the overall picture. Then there's the fact there's not much of a storyline there, period. It's all about Megatron trying to take over the world, bla bla, and some random deus ex machina gets thrown into the story at the last act. There's plenty of action, but Michael Bay shoots it so in-your-face that you honestly can't tell who's fighting who and who's winning. Let's see how the sequel fares.

Fight Club: I'm sorry, but I just don't get it. Or, rather, I get what the film's trying to say, but I don't get how this resonates with so many people. There's absolutely no one likable in this movie, not even the ever-dependable Edward Norton. Everyone and everything in this film is simply off-putting to me, and I don't think I'll ever really come to appreciate it whatever it is that people see in it.

Vertigo: Now let me just say beforehand that not only am I Hitchcock fan, but I find this film to be pretty decent. It's certainly well-made and deep, and for those reasons I can understand why it's so revered. That said, I still don't find it to be the masterpiece that most people do. The first and last acts are interesting, but the middle is an absolute bore. This film isn't so much of a suspense as it is a psychological character drama, and perhaps that's why I was disappointed in it initially. I've heard, though, that it's one of those pictures that grows on you as you re-watch it, and I do plan on buying the BD whenever it's released. As of now, though, I don't consider it among Hitchcock's best.

Shrek: Like Vertigo, chalk this up as another film I like and yet don't think it lives up to the hype. There are just too many problems in this for me to fully embrace it. Potty humor isn't funny; it's gross. Shrek as a character is obviously meant to change and develop for the better, but he's just so unpleasant that it's hard to warm up to him (though supposedly the Broadway musical fixes this problem). It spends so much time mocking fairy tales (aka Disney movies, let's be honest) that when the time comes to further the plot, it ends up backing itself into a corner and becomes the very thing it turned its nose up towards. Throw in a Three's Company-type of misunderstanding and an ending that's both contrived and nonsensical, and you've got the disappointing contradition known as Shrek the movie.

I'll think of more later, probably.

[Flanger-Hanger]

I knew that comment would bother you Dinseykid, but everything else you just posted I agree with completely (except Fight Club, I've never seen that yet). Even Vertigo, and he is my favorite director, but I can't say that was my favorite film of his, but like you I need to see it again.

[drfsupercenter]

Hey, I happen to like a lot of those movies on the lists... such at The Matrix, Men In Black, etc.

One that I particularly hated was Napoleon Dynamite. Everyone kept telling me to see it, saying it was the funniest movie they had ever seen, etc.
So I rented it, and it was the worst 90 minutes of my life. I didn't laugh AT ALL, I thought it was a stupid and pointless movie.

Now, there's a movie called Hot Rod... I LOVE that movie, and I describe it as "Napoleon Dynamite that doesn't suck". It's just pointless stupid humor, but I think Andy Samberg actually works in that role, instead of what's-his-name in Napoleon Dynamite.

[Flanger-Hanger]

One that I particularly hated was Napoleon Dynamite. Everyone kept telling me to see it, saying it was the funniest movie they had ever seen, etc.So I rented it, and it was the worst 90 minutes of my life. I didn't laugh AT ALL, I thought it was a stupid and pointless movie.

drf this may be the only time you and I ever agree on something! That movie was the height of modern "comedy" stupidity! (or maybe those Disaster Movie flicks, are but I don't dare touch them)

[Disneykid]

Oh, wow, I can't believe I forgot about Napoleon Dynamite. It's basically a one-joke movie, the joke being how the characters say their lines rather than what's being said. That joke is kind of amusing at first, but it gets old quickly, especially when you realize the film has little else to offer besides that gag.

And I forgive you, Flanger-Hanger.

[MutantEnemy]

...patiently waiting in the corner for someone to post The Dark Knight.

[brownie]

Napoleon Dynamite -- Hit-or-miss humor. A miss with me.
Igby Goes Down -- What's so great about this?
The 25th Hour -- I like Norton, but this was somewhat of a pain to watch, and I've heard great things about it. I think it was the story that bored me.
The Usual Suspects -- This one's well-made, and the ending is totally awesome, but the rest? Blah.
Empire Records -- No. I didn't find it funny or charming, and I hated the music. No.
Iron Man -- Believe it or not, I actually kind of like Jon Favreau. But this movie had a horrible atmosphere. Does that make any sense? I don't know how to explain it, really. A significant portion is held in the desert, and the rest is basically in sunny, upper-class California. There was nothing appealing about this to me. If you still don't know what I'm talking about, imagine if the film's poster represented the actual film. The popular poster is dark and mysterious, which has absolutely nothing to do with the film's atmosphere. It just reminded me of a two-hour, obnoxious toy commercial for boys. The cheesy rock music during the action scenes didn't help.
Love Me if You Dare -- Come on, being French doesn't make this a good film! This is no better than what we have in America.

[Lazario]

Hey, I happen to like a lot of those movies on the lists... such at The Matrix, Men In Black, etc.

Um... how do you think a movie gets to be overrated in the first place? By having nobody like it? That would kind of defeat the purpose, wouldn't you agree?


Amazing additions, Disneykid. Expect to see at least 3 of those on my future lists in this thread.

[xxhplinkxx]

My Opinion is God

Oh man, UD bringing on the lol's!!!

Don't ever lose that sense of humor, Laz.

Oh, P.S.

SOMETIMES!

[slave2moonlight]

Now, there's a movie called Hot Rod... I LOVE that movie, and I describe it as "Napoleon Dynamite that doesn't suck". It's just pointless stupid humor, but I think Andy Samberg actually works in that role, instead of what's-his-name in Napoleon Dynamite.

Oddly enough, Napoleon Dynamite AND Hot Rod are two of my FAVORITE comedies. Some others (just to give an example of my tastes) are Young Frankenstein, Three Amigos, Office Space, Just Friends, Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein, Elf, Bringing Up Baby, and many others.

[slave2moonlight]

Okay, I'm actually going to agree with Laz on something, even though it kills me to. While I liked a few of the films in his first post full of pics, I agree that they're overrated. One of the best ones he posted was Cars, and it is definitely one of the most overrated films I can think of.

Don't feel like coming up with any of my own right now. I'm kind of in a rush. Though I will agree on one more: Iron Man. I actually loved the film, but it is definitely given too much credit. I find Dark Knight (no, I don't consider Dark Knight overrated) to be far better. Think about it. Iron Man was just another superhero original story, Tony Stark is just a character people want to be so badly (aside from the heart trouble) and the tried to make it all as "cool" as they good, pulling it off actually (for the masses at least) with the music and flashiness. The Dark Knight on the other hand deserves a lot of credit for being a sequel, a superhero story that is NOT an origin story, and yet pretty darn awesome throughout. If anything, while I thought he did an outstanding job, I'd say Heath Ledger as the Joker is a little overrated. That is to say that I do feel that a lot of other actors could have portrayed Joker just as well (and looked more the part). Not that Ledger wasn't EXCELLENT, I just don't feel others couldn't have been just as excellent in the role.

[Lazario]

11. 12. 13.

14. 15. 16.

17. 18. 19.

[Flanger-Hanger]

...patiently waiting in the corner for someone to post The Dark Knight.

Wait a few years and then people will hate it like they do Titanic today.