The over rated film thread

[Adam D]

First topic message reminder :

Following on from Hero's thread of ET vs Napoleon Dynamite, I thought it might be fun to see what everyone think are the films that suck balls but get universal love still.

So tell us your top 3 films and why you dislike them so much.

1. napoleon Dynamite - 'one of the funniest films ever'. i must have a very weak bladder and went to the toilet during all the funny bits. For me, I dont think the film raised one smile. Awful.

2. Anchorman - another very average film that everyone seems to love. just don't get why everyone rates it so highly. Unlike NP there were some good moments (the rival news readers gang fight for example) but still hugely over rated.

3. The Big Lebowski - another alright film that gets universal love. Dont get me wrong its not bad but its not brilliant either.

So thats my list, lets hear your and why.

[BloscarPit09-ASK_HIM]

1) Pirates of the Caribbean- Awful, truly terrible. Words cannot describe.

2) Avatar- Magnificent CGI, cack storyline.

3) Indiana Jones- Asleep in the opening credits. Enough said.

[Dass]

1) Armageddon - Seems to get a lot of love but for me just a average run of the mill action film with a even worse theme song to boot.

2) Harry Potter (Any) - Sub par characters and story leads to a awful series of films.

3) Inception - You'd have though it was the 2nd coming after hearing some of the talk coming out after this film hit the cinema. In reality though it was a half decent film about a concept that had been done before that was nowhere near as clever as it thought itself to be.

Avatar - Belongs here to but been mentioned in previous post so thought I'd move to other deserving films.

[theeldestboy]

I watched True Grit last night - the latest version, not the original. Not a bad film by any means, but no where near as good is i had hoped it would be based on the reviews. It scored over 90% on rottentomatos.com, which is usually a pretty reliable barometer for how good a flick really is.

The acting was pretty good - though i'm not sure playing a cowboy is Matt Damon's strongest suit - but i did find it frustrating that the fast-paced dialogue and grubmly voices made it very hard to follow sometimes, and as i was watching it on cable TV i didn't have the option to use subtitles. I just never felt that the film got going, and before any real plot had developed, it was over. Obviously the film-makers were constrained by the content of the original story, but for me this just didn't justify the great reviews it earned.

Just my opinion. I thank you for listening.

[az1988]

Captain America - snooze fest.. poor acting aswel
No country for old men - yawn
Indiana Jones crystal skull - probs one of the worst films ive seen
pirates of the carribean (all) - too much comedy

[greybeard]

I'm probably going to be banned from v2 for this but... Fight Club.


Oh and Leaving Las Vegas

And Dune.

[Crimey]

Indiana Jones crystal skull - probs one of the worst films ive seen

Not really rated so can't be classed as overrated.

The final Star Wars for me is overrated, people complain about some of the more childish aspects of the prequel movies but the Ewoks are probably the worst example of this, I always preferred Empire Strikes Back.

[hodge]

Captain America - snooze fest.. poor acting aswel
No country for old men - yawn
Indiana Jones crystal skull - probs one of the worst films ive seen
pirates of the carribean (all) - too much comedy

to be fair i thought Captain America wasn't brilliant however the amount they had to include to set up his character meant that we wouldn't see the best of cappy. He will be better in the avengers i reckon

[rawa86]

The Hangover. Thought it was alright but nowhere near as funny as it was being made out to be. I enjoyed hot tub time machine more.

Saw. Stupid ending. I do enjoy those over the top style horror films but by trying to add a 'clever' ending really annoyed me. Thinking of this film actually makes me cross.

Avatar. Just awful

[JPX]

Saw. Stupid ending. I do enjoy those over the top style horror films but by trying to add a 'clever' ending really annoyed me. Thinking of this film actually makes me cross.

Do you mean the final Saw film or the original Saw? I thought the ending was clever.

[A Fine Folk.]

Gotta be King Kong, absolute joke of a film.

[rawa86]

Saw. Stupid ending. I do enjoy those over the top style horror films but by trying to add a 'clever' ending really annoyed me. Thinking of this film actually makes me cross.

Do you mean the final Saw film or the original Saw? I thought the ending was clever.

The original Saw. I didn't like the ending at all. When i first watched it i made a joke about the ending (i.e who the killer was) and then that turned out to be the ending, so i didn't like it. I thought the 2nd one was more entertaining.

Although i didn't like the ending for the first one the 3rd one was possibly one of the worst films i have ever seen. It was supposed to be an over the top horror film and the last ten to fifteen mins was just your man reciting a monologue. Shocking.

[JPX]

Yeah I know what you mean, it was a bit predictable. I liked the ending to Saw V the best of the lot. Though I'm not sure the forensic's are a very bright bunch throughout the Saw series! lol

[Adam D]

I thought the first two were excellent - particularly the way the first one was small in its nature (ie set in few locations etc).

Second was akin to the difference between Evil Dead and Evil dead 2 - basically a remake but with the rollercoaster cranked up to 11.

[BALTIMORA]

Has anyone mentioned Inception? Over-long, not-as-clever-as-it'd-like-to-be, above-average thriller which relied too heavily on FX and 'quirky' plot devices. Should have been 45 minutes shorted.

Paul - sold on the presence of Pegg & Frost when the truth of the matter was that it was a turgid, poorly-written and painfully unintelligent yet depressingly typical American 'comedy' which pinned all it's hopes on wasted and ham-fisted cultural references and knob gags. Seth Rogan pushed to his acting limits once more, playing...a half-baked sarcastic stoner. He's coming down with Jim Carrey Syndrome.

[BigPhil]

Inception was probably the most disappointing film I've seen, the plot was stupid and all it ended up being was a car falling from a bridge. Yes it will give you that kick you need but for gods sake hurry up with it!

[mystiroakey]

Following on from Hero's thread of ET vs Napoleon Dynamite, I thought it might be fun to see what everyone think are the films that suck balls but get universal love still.

So tell us your top 3 films and why you dislike them so much.

1. napoleon Dynamite - 'one of the funniest films ever'. i must have a very weak bladder and went to the toilet during all the funny bits. For me, I dont think the film raised one smile. Awful.

2. Anchorman - another very average film that everyone seems to love. just don't get why everyone rates it so highly. Unlike NP there were some good moments (the rival news readers gang fight for example) but still hugely over rated.

3. The Big Lebowski - another alright film that gets universal love. Dont get me wrong its not bad but its not brilliant either.

So thats my list, lets hear your and why.

i agree with you that i dont get those fims- its a dfiffrernet type of humour what i like- however people like them so i dont think there are overrated. Personally i think the word 'overrated' is overrated!

[mystiroakey]

inception was a top film and a great original idea. not sure how anyone can say that its not. anyway thats opinion i suppose.

totally agree about paul though- yuck

[dummy_half]

The mention of Jim Carrey a few posts back reminds me of a glaring omissino from earlier - The Truman Show: Again, critically acclaimed but did nothing for me.

OK, no-one rated it s being any good anyway, but Stallone in Judge Dredd surely has to be mentioned as well. So bad it's almost good.

[dyrewolfe]

I'm probably going to be banned from v2 for this but... Fight Club.


Oh and Leaving Las Vegas

And Dune.

Nope - you're banned from v2 for puting Dune in your list. Philistine.



I don't know if they were ever over-rated, but I found the Flintstones movies very underwhelming.

[dyrewolfe]

Possibly THE most overrated (or most overhyped) film of all time:

The Blair Witch Project

Found it more irritating than scary.

[Mr Bounce]

The Exorcist.

It was rubbish. And about as scary as Rainbow.

[Soldier_Of_Fortune]

I have to agreed with Napolean Dyminate, me mates banged on abar it for ages and I just didn't find it funny. Apart from the dance at the end.

The Twilights are also really bad, can't even drag meself to the pics with the missus to see them.

There is loads but my mind has gone blank at the moment.

[SecretFly]

The Shining - Jack Nicholson doing a superb job of monumental over-acting and the critics laughing to themselves as they give the old master Kubrick a 10 out of 10 because...well, he's Kubrick, you have to give him 10 out of 10 or you lose street cred.

[Gameshow Heist]

Juno was rubbish. Inceptoin was hyped as the best film for years and it was just average.

[hampo17]

No way LOTR, Shining, and Cap America are awesome films! Can't believe they got mentioned.

For me it's got to be:

1)Buried - The critics kept saying how good this film was so I watched it, and it's...well it's a man in a box, nothing more.

2) Sex & The City - Misses dragged me to this, biggest pile of guff EVER.

3)Twilights - Dude you're supposed to be a vampire. bite someone!

[westisbest]

Hampo.

Will probably watch Captain America tonight.

Twilight thought one of them was ok(second one I think), rest were poor.

Did enjoy Buried, the ending was good.

[XR]

Titanic

'I won't let go jack!'

And when he's dead, she lets go allowing him to sink. The best part, as we know, is Winslett's jebs making an outstanding supporting role.

[Josiah Maiestas]

3)Twilights - Dude you're supposed to be a vampire. bite someone!

Terrible film

[alfie]

Can't believe people are bagging Inception - I thought it was an excellent film , guess it just goes to show no accounting for different tastes.

But I'd agree all the Twilights (well I've only seen one and two partials ...) are going down in history as underwhelming (young) chick-flicks...

[Adam D]

watched 2 films in two nights which is very unusual for me. Having said that they were Rom Coms due to the wife refusing to watch anything gritty, violent or adult in nature. (unless its a C4 documentary on someone born with 4 arms and two heads).

Anyway:

date Night - really like Steve Carrell but this was poor. Barely a guffaw during the whole 90 odd minutes.

The Bounty Hunter - a lot better than I thought it was going to be. Anniston is still gorgeous all these years on. Surprised I enjoyed it.

[mystiroakey]

inception was a classic nolan- quailty film- has he ever done a bad one?

[Dr Gregory House MD]

Not really a particular film but I tend to find the work of Steven Speilberg a bit underwhelming, more so his writing/directerial work rather than his production stuff (The origional Back to the Future being a classic and the men in black is enjoyable). With the exception of the first Jaws and the almighty Indiana Jones trilogy (what? there are 4?) I've never really enjoyed much of his other work.

E.T. is dull, Close Encounters is poor, The Jurrasic Parks are a series of sub par monster movies, Saving Private Ryan and AI were both awful and with all massive due respect to the events of the holoucaust and the brave work of the real Mr Schindler, I got no real connection from the film, I would even call it boring.

Since then I've been in pretty much no rush to see any more of speilbergs work and will not be rushing out to see Warhorse.

[SecretFly]

I can see your point about Spielberg. I harbour the same doubts about him, or maybe his 'drifting' heart. Sometimes I think he's in a mood to love film at other times I think he gets lazy or bored and loses focus (right in the middle of movies sometimes) But obviously my list of likes and dislikes will be different - as I'm a different humanbeing!

For me good Spielberg is: Jaws, Duel, Close Encounters, Schindler's List, Empire of the Sun, Indiana (first one) Saving Private Ryan

Not so good Spielberg: ET, AI, Minority Report, and in my eyes his personal disaster War of the Worlds.

Never have I been so aware of a director losing interest midway than in that movie. It starts out so promising. The realism of the environment, the first machine dustily firing up out of its hole in the ground, the time taken to meticulously carve the menace of the machine into your head... you thought you were on your way to experiencing one of his very best

- but then it sinks into bad overacting - stand up Tom panting and fretting Cruise , confused direction, confused focus (am I making an intimate movie or painting on a big canvass), badly crafted scenes filmed on obvious soundstages - even the machines themselves in the end lacked any true mallice as you just didn't believe in them by the time the poor citizens dangled in the nets on yet another cheap looking soundstage. Basketball anyone? And who weaved the homemade looking nets? Those furry guys from Planet of the Apes?

In my opinon an unforgiveable slackness in dealing with a classic story that had so much potential.

[Diggers]

The Shawshank Redemption.

[teassoc]

Shows how different we all are.

At least no-one seems to have mentioned Alien. I really enjoyed those films and seems there is another one on the way.

[alfie]

First Alien was very good ... second maybe better...bit disappointed with the third but the ingenious resurrection of Ripley for the fourth got a thumbs up from me : enjoyed it and expected another one soon after but then I thought they'd abandoned the idea...

So really , a fifth ? Sigourney might be getting a little ...old ...for all that rushing around dodging acid spit and flailing tails though

[SecretFly]

So really , a fifth ? Sigourney might be getting a little ...old ...for all that rushing around dodging acid spit and flailing tails though

...in her undies.....

[Dass]

They still haven't confirmed if they will definitely do another Alien film though if it does happen it's looking more and more likely it will be a prequel. So no Sigourney in undies.

Prometheus was supposed to be the Alien prequel but thats no longer the case with the story being rewritten, it should share some of the elements of the previous films but has its own universe/mythos to explore. I'd imagine some similarities and underlying tones to the Alien franchise though.

[Skydriver]

Do you mean "Prometheus"?

All a bit mysterious, but apparently a prequel to Alien (answering the question as to what that massive "Space Jockey" is and how it ended up on that planet). Strong cast list, marks Ridley Scott's return to sci-fi (and indeed, the Alien universe) - could be very good.

Trailer is online and worth a look if you're a fan.

[Postscript - wrote the above prior to Dass's comment. I've heard that Prometheus has moved away from being a direct prequel of Alien, but understood it still has a strong connection, including the Space Jockey - have a look at the trailer and make your own educated guesses!]

[eirebilly]

I really liked Anchorman and Napolean Dynamite....

[rawa86]

Secret Fly with regards to Spielberg i agree he is very hit and miss. With the misses becoming more frequent as he got older. Although on the list of pluses you made I would also add Poltergeist. He produced and Tobe Hooper directed but there was always suggestions Spielberg had a bigger contribution than he let on.

I watched The Curious Case of Benjamin Button recently. Haven`t talked to too many people that have seen it but I didn`t think much of it. Not David Fincher`s best work. Have any of ye watched it?

[SharkSoul]

Most Overated Film would have to be Shutter Island, my god is that film dreadful, in the ad's it looks like a supernatural film but in reality its just Poopie

Worse film ever: The live action Street Fighter film with Van Damme and Kyle in it, it should be erased from everyones memory and destroyed

Surely not Dicey. This has to be blasphemous. Shutter Island was brilliant. The book is even better apparently. Di Caprio should of got an Oscar nod for that role.

[SharkSoul]

Surely all those referencing 'Shawshank Redemption', 'Fight Club' and 'Inception' as over rated should be held accountable of Cinematic Treason?

All 3 of those are classics. The key is putting all the hype to one side and judging the film on it's own merit. When you allow other peoples thoughts and opinions on any given film effect what you think prior to watching it then it's going to have a negative influence.

Not exactly over-rated but for me anything with Adam Sandler, Mark Wahlberg (aside from The Fighter) and Danny Dyer deserves to be removed from history. Arnie should be sent back to terminate their parents.

[SugarRayRussell (PBK)]

Adam Sandler I like but Wahlberg and Dyer are clowns.

I would need to say the Godfather 2 it was pointless. The first one I love but the second was boring. So bad I have never actually got round to watching the 3rd.

[Skydriver]

I seem to have formed a habit of posting about superhero films - although my tastes are rather wider, I'm going to continue the trend by nominating X-Men 2.

Widely viewed as far superior to the first film, but despite trying (i.e. watching at least twice), I don't agree.

It has its moments (notably opening scene introducing Nightcrawler), but basically a mess. Too many characters. Team leader Cyclops was absent from half the film. Hamfisted ending clearly shoehorned in to pave the way for another sequel (even ignoring how badly that turned out). And although it's fine to push the allegory of mutants being a discriminated minority, I did feel a bit disturbed in a parental-sort-of-way that the implicit message seemed to be it's fine for said discriminated to chop up the discriminators with adamantium claws.

[Don't get me wrong, I love Wolverine as a character (and have high but cautious hopes for his next, solo outing - especially given what's been said about it so far), but he's not exactly the best role model to follow if you are trying to make a serious point to children]

[Derbyblue]

Surely all those referencing 'Shawshank Redemption', 'Fight Club' and 'Inception' as over rated should be held accountable of Cinematic Treason?

All 3 of those are classics. The key is putting all the hype to one side and judging the film on it's own merit. When you allow other peoples thoughts and opinions on any given film effect what you think prior to watching it then it's going to have a negative influence.

Not exactly over-rated but for me anything with Adam Sandler, Mark Wahlberg (aside from The Fighter) and Danny Dyer deserves to be removed from history. Arnie should be sent back to terminate their parents.

Surely if youre ignoring everyone else's opinions then nothing could be "over rated"?

I can understand why people can count them as over rated just because people call them some of the best films ever made so even if you give them say a 6 out of 10 some would give them 9 or 10 out of 10, which would be over rated to the first person.

[liverbnz]

Any of the recent Batman films. Ledger was the saving grace of the last one, but they never really catch me with much intruige. Not a big fan of comic book films so maybe that's it.

And Napoleon Dynamite. Cinema's version of modern art. Invent something wacky and inject some fake meaning.

[GSC]

The Harry Potter movies. They're all ****

I think they get so much hype because of a. the illiterate fraction of country can finally see what the hype is about, and b. paedophiles.

[Guest]

Anybody seen Bridesmaids? That flick got massive props but wasn't remotely funny. Did I miss something?..

[GSC]

To enjoy Bridesmaids you have to pee sitting down.

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