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Overrated Movies


Rune

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Ok this is inspired from the AFI list. You can rank them if you want but list the movies you consider some of the most overrated of all time, or just in our time.

 

My short list of the classics I consider overrated

 

2001: A Space Oddysey - Boring, Boring, Amazing Visual, Boring, Boring Boring. The storyboard for 2001

The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly - A great movie but IMO not the best Western that would go to the Wild bunch

The Wizard of Oz - Granted, this is solely a matter of taste and not me judging the film for it's artistic merits but I just hated this movie.

The Grapes of Wrath - Just never got into it

Dances with Wolves - Just didn't enjoy it

North by Northwest - Granted I've never been a Cary Grant fan and am a huge Jimmy Stewart fan but I just did not think this movie was as good as some of Hitchcock's other stuff.

 

Ok some more contemporary choices

 

Major League - It's good but I don't think its one of the great sports comedies

Cinderella Man - At least in my area, everyone raves about how inspiring this movie was. Well in real life Jimmy Braddock was an alcoholic a**hole, and this movie is just way over the top in sappiness. Seabiscuit is where it's at for Howard and sports movies.

Edward Scissorhands - Maybe it's just because I'm part of the generation that has such a hard on for Jhonny Depp but people of my age get very angry when you rip on this emo fest of a movie.

A nightmare before Christmas - Tim Burton is not my god.

Cars and Finding Nemo - Go watch Toy Story or the Incredibles

 

Ok, now I could just go on in terms of contemporary.

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1. The Deer Hunter - As mentioned in the other thread terribly edited (length, continuity) and an over the top ending/third act.

 

I'll post more when I think about it.

 

Good thread, here is hoping that it doesn't dissolve in to a spat based on perception and opinion.

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1. The Deer Hunter - As mentioned in the other thread terribly edited (length, continuity) and an over the top ending/third act.

 

I'll post more when I think about it.

 

Good thread, here is hoping that it doesn't dissolve in to a spat based on perception and opinion.

I'm not really a Deer Hunter fan myself, but I do have a qualm with the way you presented this. It is an adequately edited film (after all, it did win the Oscar for it. Not that it means a bunch though). What you take issue with is the pacing, which is more of an issue of content rather than style. Stylistically, this is a fine film. The neverending wedding sequence should not detract from the contributions of the editor or director of photography.

I would have less of a problem with the wedding scene if it were done better. Streep's character was such a mystery to me for most of that film. Why does no one care that her father abused her? What is the deal with her and De Niro's character?s relationship especially when she and Walken seem to be in love yet there is something between De Niro and Streep but not enough to cause a red flag for Walken or any of the other presumably very close knit group of friends. There didn?t seem to be a lot of consistency in that whole scene with that group of friends and what we found out later.

 

I don't need to hit over the head with a frying pan with information but I think something was trying to be portrayed that I didn't grasp which made huge blocks of the film excruciating. I absolutely never understood De Niro/Streep?s connection before the boys left for Vietnam and what happens as he comes back.

 

Speaking of getting hit over the head with a frying pan the Vietnam vet appearing at the wedding was such a red herring. It felt cheap and easy and incredibly obvious for what transpires throughout the rest of the film. That whole scene should have been thrown out. Insulting to the audience.

 

As for the editing, there are a lot of scenes that look downright terrible how they were cut. Just off the top of my head a lot of the times when there was a wide shot and then a close-up and then back to wide you could tell how poorly they were cut. A lot of continuity errors including one that I don't know how it got to the screen - De Niro drinking a beer that is about a quarter full and then the next time they come back to him it is full. I'm not the most perceptive of things like this and I don't seek these errors out, but when they are incredibly obvious it detracts from the quality of the film.

 

It?s bad for a film to look so bad at times and then so incredible at others - the deer hunting scenes being absolutely beautiful and well done.

 

My main problem with it is the handling of the film's zenith. I know I can?t be the only one that found De Niro going back to Saigon as it is teetering on falling and being permitted into the country in uniform to seek out his friend who he has no idea where he is and finds him still playing Russian roulette amongst the same gamblers as before as if nothing is going on outside. It was so over the top and ridiculous for a film that is trying to be serious.

 

There are a lot of good things with the film for sure and I don?t want people to take the term ?overrated? and twist it in to being bad or what not. The deer hunting scenes before and after Vietnam are the highlight to me - the analogy, the before and after comparison of the situations, De Niro talking to Walken in the beginning about trust, the non-soldiers job of hunting ? all really good pieces. Walken gives the best performance of his life and De Niro was De Niro.

 

Film just has too many big time flaws to be considered a top 50 film ever.

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Crash - Just a terrible movie. Definitely the worse movie to ever win Best Picture.

 

 

Schindler's List (ducks) - Not entertaining and I understand that the Holocaust was a horrible,horrible thing but I don't want to pay to see a movie that is supposed to entertain me on the subject. I could be moved by simply reading a book or watching the history channel on the subject, i don't need the movie. It is almost like you have to like this movie based on the subject matter.

 

 

Goodfellas - Entertaining movie but nothing pisses me off more than when people say it is better than The Godfather and I seem to hear that often from people my age(in their 20's). I even liked Casino more.

 

 

The Passion of the Christ - Not highly ranked at all by critics, so some could argue it's not "overrated" but the numbers it put up say otherwise. Terrible snuff movie made by a crazy,racist drunk man. Hard to make a movie about this subject that is not moving at all. One of the few movies that actually makes me angry.

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Crash - Just a terrible movie. Definitely the worse movie to ever win Best Picture.

 

 

Schindler's List (ducks) - Not entertaining and I understand that the Holocaust was a horrible,horrible thing but I don't want to pay to see a movie that is supposed to entertain me on the subject. I could be moved by simply reading a book or watching the history channel on the subject, i don't need the movie. It is almost like you have to like this movie based on the subject matter.

 

 

Goodfellas - Entertaining movie but nothing pisses me off more than when people say it is better than The Godfather and I seem to hear that often from people my age(in their 20's). I even liked Casino more.

 

 

The Passion of the Christ - Not highly ranked at all by critics, so some could argue it's not "overrated" but the numbers it put up say otherwise. Terrible snuff movie made by a crazy,racist drunk man. Hard to make a movie about this subject that is not moving at all. One of the few movies that actually makes me angry.

 

I totally agree with you about Crash. It was such a predictable, contrived, over-hyped attempt of racial commentary that I actually found it humorous at times. It certainly didn't deserve to win Best Picture.

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Schindler's List (ducks) - Not entertaining and I understand that the Holocaust was a horrible,horrible thing but I don't want to pay to see a movie that is supposed to entertain me on the subject. I could be moved by simply reading a book or watching the history channel on the subject, i don't need the movie. It is almost like you have to like this movie based on the subject matter.

 

wow, i couldn't disagree more (but obviously you saw this was coming). a book or the history channel gives you hard facts but nothing will ever portray emotions like a movie. maybe i'm biased because i took a class solely on the subject and have seen almost every holocaust movie but just Liam Neeson's and Ralph Fiennes's (SP) performance do it for me. the beginning did drag for me but once it picked up, it never disappointed. i honestly don't think people liked the movie just because it was OMGHOLOCAUST because there are tons of holocaust movies out there that did poorly. think about it..World Trade Center didn't do that well although the subject matter is very touchy. i dunno...i just don't think your reasoning is valid for not liking the movie though i guess it's not very 'entertaining' unless you know more than the average joe about what all happened.

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Alot of people think Old Schools is overrated. While I personally dont think its as good as Wedding Crashers or 40 Year Old Virgin, I dont think it is overrated as far as comedies go.

 

(Hell, the scene where Will Ferrell is drinking a pabst blue ribbon, working on his car, and listening to Whitesnake....thats me)

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Goodfellas - Entertaining movie but nothing pisses me off more than when people say it is better than The Godfather and I seem to hear that often from people my age(in their 20's). I even liked Casino more.

Goodfellas was good and all, but I hate it when people mention it in the same breath as The Godfather.

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Schindler's List (ducks) - Not entertaining and I understand that the Holocaust was a horrible,horrible thing but I don't want to pay to see a movie that is supposed to entertain me on the subject. I could be moved by simply reading a book or watching the history channel on the subject, i don't need the movie. It is almost like you have to like this movie based on the subject matter.

 

wow, i couldn't disagree more (but obviously you saw this was coming). a book or the history channel gives you hard facts but nothing will ever portray emotions like a movie. maybe i'm biased because i took a class solely on the subject and have seen almost every holocaust movie but just Liam Neeson's and Ralph Fiennes's (SP) performance do it for me. the beginning did drag for me but once it picked up, it never disappointed. i honestly don't think people liked the movie just because it was OMGHOLOCAUST because there are tons of holocaust movies out there that did poorly. think about it..World Trade Center didn't do that well although the subject matter is very touchy. i dunno...i just don't think your reasoning is valid for not liking the movie though i guess it's not very 'entertaining' unless you know more than the average joe about what all happened.

Ralph Fiennes is in Schindler's List? The one that plays Voldemort?

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Schindler's List (ducks) - Not entertaining and I understand that the Holocaust was a horrible,horrible thing but I don't want to pay to see a movie that is supposed to entertain me on the subject. I could be moved by simply reading a book or watching the history channel on the subject, i don't need the movie. It is almost like you have to like this movie based on the subject matter.

 

wow, i couldn't disagree more (but obviously you saw this was coming). a book or the history channel gives you hard facts but nothing will ever portray emotions like a movie. maybe i'm biased because i took a class solely on the subject and have seen almost every holocaust movie but just Liam Neeson's and Ralph Fiennes's (SP) performance do it for me. the beginning did drag for me but once it picked up, it never disappointed. i honestly don't think people liked the movie just because it was OMGHOLOCAUST because there are tons of holocaust movies out there that did poorly. think about it..World Trade Center didn't do that well although the subject matter is very touchy. i dunno...i just don't think your reasoning is valid for not liking the movie though i guess it's not very 'entertaining' unless you know more than the average joe about what all happened.

Ralph Fiennes is in Schindler's List? The one that plays Voldemort?

 

yep

 

http://imdb.com/name/nm0000146/

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I don't know Amon Goethe personally but Fiennes' won me over with his depiction.

 

Its very possible you know more about Goethe's real personality (and im not being sarcastic). If so, tell how you would rather have seen him portrayed.

 

 

FWIW, I agree that it is a tad overrated but I can never seem to turn the movie off and its in my Top 30.

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Schindler's List (ducks) - Not entertaining and I understand that the Holocaust was a horrible,horrible thing but I don't want to pay to see a movie that is supposed to entertain me on the subject. I could be moved by simply reading a book or watching the history channel on the subject, i don't need the movie. It is almost like you have to like this movie based on the subject matter.

 

You can't imagine the amount of sh*t I got once for saying that I didn't like Schindler's List. I feel the same way, and I always get crap for it. I watch movies for the most part to be entertained. To escape from the world, not to be reminded of how sh*t it is. I recognize the merit of movies like that, but for me, it serves no purpose. I know the best art is supposed to challenge you and take you out of your comfort level, but there's something about movies that makes me not want to be challenged. For the most part I just like being entertained. I'll let literature and music challenge, and movies entertain.

 

I probably sound like your average dumb schmuck right now, but I guess this goes a long way in explaining why movies don't mean as much to me.

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Good writeup, Penguino. For my money The Pianist is the best holocaust movie ever made and absolutely trumps Schindler's List.

I LOVE The Pianist. Amazing film.

 

 

For my money, however, the best one to me is "Life is Beautiful." Its not neccesarily that its a fantastic film, but its just such a wonderful movie. And it is funny, even in the darkest of moments. Thats when I'm being entertained.

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i'm not saying schindler's list isn't overrated but to say it's overrated because it's not entertaining is weird, IMO. that's a reason to not like it but that's a whole different aspect. you have to take the film for what it's worth when you talk about overrated. like memento for example....i personally don't like the film but i wouldn't call it overrated because i know that the concept was perfectly executed but movies all out of chronological order just aren't my thing.

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1. The Deer Hunter - As mentioned in the other thread terribly edited (length, continuity) and an over the top ending/third act.

 

I'll post more when I think about it.

 

Good thread, here is hoping that it doesn't dissolve in to a spat based on perception and opinion.

 

I hated Deer Hunter, although that may have something to do with the fact that our weirdo teacher made us watch the credits in slow motion before he showed us the actual movie.

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Ok this is inspired from the AFI list. You can rank them if you want but list the movies you consider some of the most overrated of all time, or just in our time.

 

My short list of the classics I consider overrated

 

2001: A Space Oddysey - Boring, Boring, Amazing Visual, Boring, Boring Boring. The storyboard for 2001

The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly - A great movie but IMO not the best Western that would go to the Wild bunch

The Wizard of Oz - Granted, this is solely a matter of taste and not me judging the film for it's artistic merits but I just hated this movie.

The Grapes of Wrath - Just never got into it

Dances with Wolves - Just didn't enjoy it

North by Northwest - Granted I've never been a Cary Grant fan and am a huge Jimmy Stewart fan but I just did not think this movie was as good as some of Hitchcock's other stuff.

 

Ok some more contemporary choices

 

Major League - It's good but I don't think its one of the great sports comedies

Cinderella Man - At least in my area, everyone raves about how inspiring this movie was. Well in real life Jimmy Braddock was an alcoholic a**hole, and this movie is just way over the top in sappiness. Seabiscuit is where it's at for Howard and sports movies.

Edward Scissorhands - Maybe it's just because I'm part of the generation that has such a hard on for Jhonny Depp but people of my age get very angry when you rip on this emo fest of a movie.

A nightmare before Christmas - Tim Burton is not my god.

Cars and Finding Nemo - Go watch Toy Story or the Incredibles

 

Ok, now I could just go on in terms of contemporary.

 

You suck.

 

The Good, The Bad and The Ugly was the greatest Western EVER.

Dances With Wolves was one of the last great epic films made. Movie is amazing.

Wizard of Oz? Groundbreaking.

2001: A Space Oddyssey, even more groundbreaking. I know people cant stand it because it only has like 4 lines of dialogue and moves slowly, but watch it and think about whats going on in it.

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Third or fourth the Goodfellas sentiment.

 

The film started off great but got worse and worse as the characters aged. I felt the way Scorsese aged the characters/handled time in it was terrible.

 

He did such a much better job of it in Casino, which I think is better and underrated.

 

Put me in the collumn of really disliking Rocky. Top 3 worst Best Picture winners ever and the fact that it beat out a film like Taxi Driver makes the baby Jesus cry.

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