Movies that are total hyped crap that everyone raved about:

[Bryophyte]

Back to the Future left me completely underwhelmed after hearing everybody rave about it. Same with Fargo and Kill Bill.

 

[datalink7]

then why do you listen to film critics opinions of what they think is realistic?

honestly, for a bunch of yahoos that claim they have free will, one should very well be able to:

--distinguish qualities of realism on their own.
--appreciate something for it's own merits, and not whether it rejects or agrees with reviews that claim something about it.


plus, I think the criticism regarding realism in the Hurt Locker regards military protocol and the actions that a bomb squad might take...well, so the mother-f what? the "realism" claims in Hurt Locker, to me, involves it's ability to drag you into those moments. the tension is so thick that you feel like you are sitting right there in these situations.

like I give a flipping fuck if a bomb squad is ever going to be running around with sniper rifles in a real military situation. it's drama. it's a movie--that is not a valid critique.

Who are you to say it isn't a valid critique? If it bothers someone that the movie tried to portray itself as realistic and yet was comprised of totally unrealistic and stupid scenes, then for that person this is a very valid critique.

For me, the movie couldn't drag me into the scenes because I kept thinking "that's stupid"
For me, there was no tension because I kept thinking "that's stupid".

I never once felt like I was "sitting right there" in the situation.

Maybe it's because I've actually been through IED's, firefights, and explosions in real life and so therefor I'm too close to the subject matter. But I don't think that's entirely it. If they would have taken out a bunch of the absolutely retarded bits, I could have found the movie enjoyable. As is, you'd have to pay me to watch it again.

 

[Icepick]

Watchmen.

They tried so hard to make the plot exactly like the movie, but they still had to cut pieces and they totally changed the ending. They also did a few things that were totally gratuitous and were probably put in just to make 7-14 y/os say "that was cool, mom!" Their authenticity rang hollow, they tried to fix it by adding childish stuff, and overall it was just meh.

I loved it. I missed the comic book graphic novel when it came around but, I liked what they did with this movie. It took the traditional superhero movie and turned it upside down. It was like a "what if" superheroes really had existed in our world taking into account human nature and how they would evolve. It also presented superheroes in a much darker, some would say "more realistic" way than anything that came before it. I also thought that the visuals caught the dark, depressing atmosphere. That was a great movie.

 

[Icepick]

The original Star Wars movies. I liked them when I was 10 but watching again they were terrible.

Seriously? I saw the first one in the theater when I was 5 and at the time took it for a "serious" movie. I loved it. In fact, the original Star Wars movies dominated my thoughts for the next 7-8 years of my life. It was one of the first of it's kind to combine special effects with comedy and non-stop action that just kept on coming.

Looking back on it now I can appreciate the comedy, the over-the-top acting and WW2 style dogfights in space. Pure awesomeness.

However, the prequels made Lucas look like a complete tool.

 

[zinfamous]

Who are you to say it isn't a valid critique? If it bothers someone that the movie tried to portray itself as realistic and yet was comprised of totally unrealistic and stupid scenes, then for that person this is a very valid critique.

For me, the movie couldn't drag me into the scenes because I kept thinking "that's stupid"
For me, there was no tension because I kept thinking "that's stupid".

I never once felt like I was "sitting right there" in the situation.

Maybe it's because I've actually been through IED's, firefights, and explosions in real life and so therefor I'm too close to the subject matter. But I don't think that's entirely it. If they would have taken out a bunch of the absolutely retarded bits, I could have found the movie enjoyable. As is, you'd have to pay me to watch it again.

well, I think you're putting what critics and others want it to be ahead of what it is.

I get your complaint, and everything, but to me the realism is about being there. I don't care that this is not exactly how this would happen based on military procedure because, well, it's a movie.

I know you have much experience with this stuff, and can understand that....but it is Hollywood, you will expect something excessive. I don't think it's a valid critique because expecting complete reality in a piece of fiction is not going to happen.

and this is when I say that realism /= reality. :sneaky:

 

[qliveur]

Who are you to say it isn't a valid critique? If it bothers someone that the movie tried to portray itself as realistic and yet was comprised of totally unrealistic and stupid scenes, then for that person this is a very valid critique.

For me, the movie couldn't drag me into the scenes because I kept thinking "that's stupid"
For me, there was no tension because I kept thinking "that's stupid".

I never once felt like I was "sitting right there" in the situation.

Maybe it's because I've actually been through IED's, firefights, and explosions in real life and so therefor I'm too close to the subject matter. But I don't think that's entirely it. If they would have taken out a bunch of the absolutely retarded bits, I could have found the movie enjoyable. As is, you'd have to pay me to watch it again.

Yeah, that film definitely had some WTF moments.

I liked it, but I can definitely see why a veteran would hate it.

 

[zinfamous]

Then explain. How do humans operate like that? How do you get from here to there?

You don't.

Here, this guy gets it:

It is the only child on the planet! do I need to explain this further?

the film is about hope. In the end, you are left with hope. that is the point.

There is a lot of background, being that refugees have migrated all over do to climate change, much of the world having become largely uninhabitable. the reason these refugee camps have been set up is because these people have nowhere else to live. That is where these two societies have emerged from.

It's background story, and it is in there, you just have to pay attention.

 

[Icepick]

Juno - Not funny. I don't know why critics were crazy over this. They also shoved 'teen pregnancy is ok, just get them adopted!' down your throat.

Precious- What the fuck is this shit? Yes, it is a decent drama. But it didn't deserve all that talk and awards. That whale main actress didn't do any GROUNDBREAKING acts. She just acted herself.

True Grit- Why? An uneventful storyline... they go look for the killer, finds him by accident, then Bridges carry her all the way back. Okay? Not heartwarming, funny, witty, nor dramatic

Juno - It was a decent film. I agree it was not funny. Then again, it's not supposed to be. It's a drama that was written with teenage girls and (maybe) college-aged women. I'm not surprised that you would be completely turned off by it - it was intended for a completely different demographic.

Precious - I thought it was OK. Watched it on HBO one night. I felt bad for the main character so I guess the director was successful in getting me to empathize with her.

True Grit - I thought it was a well-made action movie. I enjoyed it. I liked the details they put into it to bring out the mid-nineteenth century.

 

[Icepick]

Gran Torino.

The movie could have just been Clint Eastwood stroking his own cock for 2 hours and it would've given across the same message.

I loved it. Then again, I hate to see people get bullied and love to see justice served to bullies.

 

[Ichinisan]

I loved it. Then again, I hate to see people get bullied and love to see justice served to bullies.

Yeah. I thought it was worth watching just for that.

The acting was absolutely terrible, though.

 

[dwell]

Inception was such shit. Reminded me of The Matrix 2 - 3 in that it had to make a bunch of stupid illogical bullshit up with plot holes just to try and blow stupid stoner college kids minds.

 

[Capt Caveman]

Transformers 1-3

 

[kyrax12]

last air bender.

 

[qliveur]

last air bender.

Nobody raved about that piece of M. Knight Shyfailan crap.

 

[DominionSeraph]

It is the only child on the planet! do I need to explain this further?

the film is about hope. In the end, you are left with hope. that is the point.

But it's bullshit! They never set up WHY the human race is blowing itself up (with no children there's no scarcity of resources, and no future to fight for.) They never set up what this Human Project is or how it is going to do anything. They never set up why the Fishes want this baby. They never set up why they are hiding the baby in the first place!

So, in an unbelievable setting, the plot is to overcome an enemy that has no cause to act in order to achieve a nebulous goal by undefined means.

You cannot create a fictional world Fox News style -- with disconnected assertions meant to be taken as Gospel Truth, and contradictions be damned.
They never connect the there to here. They never explain what is driving ANYONE. It is the thinnest veneer of a world which only serves as a backdrop for action. Thus there is no meaning to the chase -- no cause for audience involvement.

If you found that world to be sufficient and engrossing, you must be a Fundie.

You want a good movie, watch Ink. That one exists in a world that isn't completely explained, and it is all the better for it. The director takes you on a ride within the world -- the particulars of how the world works can be left off. That certain things just are can be taken on faith.

 

[zinfamous]

I loved it. I missed the comic book graphic novel when it came around but, I liked what they did with this movie. It took the traditional superhero movie and turned it upside down. It was like a "what if" superheroes really had existed in our world taking into account human nature and how they would evolve. It also presented superheroes in a much darker, some would say "more realistic" way than anything that came before it. I also thought that the visuals caught the dark, depressing atmosphere. That was a great movie.

I think it is easily the best superhero movie to date.

 

[Jeff7]

Napoleon Dynamite. Holy hell did that movie ever blow goats. How it got so popular is beyond me.

Started watching it.
Time passed.
I continued waiting for something to happen.
The credits started rolling.


Movies are generally intended to contain some manner of plot, or message, or nudity, or a juggling bear, or something.
Idiots! GOSH!

 

[slayer202]

This is a strong list IMO. I liked Slumdog Millionaire and Hurt Locker, and loved American Beauty, but otherwise you're spot-on.

I would argue Jason Reitman must be the most overrated director of all time - between his 3 films (Thank You For Smoking, Juno, and Up In the Air), he has made 3 films that warranted an average of 2.5/5 stars, yet he has garnered average reviews of more like 4.5/5 stars.

To me Tim Burton is also incredibly overrated. Most of the movies are mediocre and some (e.g., Planet of the Apes, Alice in Wonderland, Willy Wonka) are unmitigated crap.

Peter Jackson is also often guilty of making overrated films in my view, including LOTR (seriously!), King Kong, and even his early work (Dead Alive is a cult classic that just doesn't deserve the acclaim).

My list of some other overrated films (not necessarily bad - just overrated):

127 Hours
Black Swan
The Kids Are All Right
Inception
An Education
The Reader
Forrest Gump
Gangs of New York
Letters from Iwo Jima/Flags of Our Fathers
Little Miss Sunshine
Sunshine Cleaning
Crash
Lost in Translation
Gladiator

I don't agree with all of those but it's a solid list. Crash especially, ugh. and I hated Hurt Locker

like I give a flipping fuck if a bomb squad is ever going to be running around with sniper rifles in a real military situation. it's drama. it's a movie--that is not a valid critique.

Clearly movies don't have to be realistic, but the type of movie that The Hurt Locker is requires realism IMO. The ridiculousness of the plot kept me from becoming emotionally attached to the characters and what they were going through. The random and crazy shit that happened just made the movie laughable, and killed the drama and everything else along with it. Many of the individual parts of the movie were great, but put together, with the plot, it fell flat. obviously that is just my opinion

 

[SandEagle]

Black Swan

 

[Miscthree]

True grit was good because it was simple. It's a simple story, told simply, with no special effects because it didn't need them. If you can't sit through and enjoy a movie unless it absolutely blows you away, then stop watching movies. Unforgiven was also good in that way.

This thread is suspiciously becoming a trove of hipsters.

 

[zinfamous]

But it's bullshit! They never set up WHY the human race is blowing itself up (with no children there's no scarcity of resources, and no future to fight for.) They never set up what this Human Project is or how it is going to do anything. They never set up why the Fishes want this baby. They never set up why they are hiding the baby in the first place!

So, in an unbelievable setting, the plot is to overcome an enemy that has no cause to act in order to achieve a nebulous goal by undefined means.

You cannot create a fictional world Fox News style -- with disconnected assertions meant to be taken as Gospel Truth, and contradictions be damned.
They never connect the there to here. They never explain what is driving ANYONE. It is the thinnest veneer of a world which only serves as a backdrop for action. Thus there is no meaning to the chase -- no cause for audience involvement.

If you found that world to be sufficient and engrossing, you must be a Fundie.

You want a good movie, watch Ink. That one exists in a world that isn't completely explained, and it is all the better for it. The director takes you on a ride within the world -- the particulars of how the world works can be left off. That certain things just are can be taken on faith.

I got 10 minutes into Ink. I may try to watch it again, but it was very stupid and kiddie up to when I stopped watching it.

it's funny that you strive for such ideal seriousness in films then tear apart a world that was created for you--a very real conceit that we may need to face some day:

--climate change
--our own extinction

if you think of humans as some sort of idealistic critter that will always act for the good of the common man, particularly when faced with its own extinction, then you are the one drinking the koolaid. You must have osme grand opinion of how the surviving parts of civilization would act when faced with human extinction, how power structures would form, survive, or collapse. Apparently, you know how this will happen, and you know that CoM did it incorrectly?

You really don't get that Clive Owen was a fundamentally depressed dude--lost his child, due to events early on, has very little left to live for, save for taking upon himself the responsibility to ferry the only known hope for human survival to a place that is supposed to be safe, and strives, without fear of political, social, factional disputes to do good for everyone?

the human project is something of a myth within the film world. how would we know any more about it than what the film knows?

the simple, fundamental conceit about this film is hope. where does one find hope in a world that has been without it for so long. This is a film abotu characters and the decisions they make when pressed into dire circumstances, a world collapsing around them. To assume that you need the reality of everything spoon-fed to you suggests that you have an empty mind, incapable of forming your own thoughts, or understanding the general nature of film or storytelling.

I must be a fundy b/c I actually understand the motivations in this film?

wtf are you smoking, you kiddie pony-lover?

 

[zinfamous]

True grit was good because it was simple. It's a simple story, told simply, with no special effects because it didn't need them. If you can't sit through and enjoy a movie unless it absolutely blows you away, then stop watching movies. Unforgiven was also good in that way.

This thread is suspiciously becoming a trove of hipsters.

hipsters? more like mouth breathers....

but you are correct. Unforgiven is my favorite western, ever. Probably in my top 10 of all film.

 

[Whoozyerdaddy]

Napoleon Dynamite. Holy hell did that movie ever blow goats. How it got so popular is beyond me.

Didn't take long to find my choice.

Oh... Perfect World was crap too. That was the Costner/Eastwood movie that everyone lost their shit over.

 

[ShadowOfMyself]

Funny thread, agree with about half of them

Watch True Grit last week and thought it was really enjoyable, plus Jeff Bridges delivered one of his best performances ever, the guy is just hilarious

I did think Juno was nice, and Ellen Page is always cute to watch anyway

I thought for a bit, and I think we can all agree the most hyped/crappiest movie ever was Star Wars Episode 1

 

[pyonir]

I only read the first few posts...but I can already see that "I didn't get it" = "overhyped trash" for most people.