On another forum I visit they have been having fun with lists of overrated and underrated things. I thought I would start some of that up here. In this thread list some overrated movies - in your opinion. And always remember, opinions aren't really debatable. For every movie you don't like someone else will like it - and vice-versa. I'll start off with a one movie I have never been able to get into:
Gone with the Wind. Might be just because I didn't live when it was big, but I have never seen the appeal of this one.
Overrated:
Independence Day
Twister
Matrix II and III
Vin Diesel movies.....
I definitely agree with Matrix II. Horrible movie. I remember seeing it and I kept asking my buddy if he wanted to go out for a smoke (and I don't even smoke!)
Oh yeah - Independence Day. Never was impressed by that one. One of the rare SF/action type movies not in my collection.
Unfortunately Independance day 2 will be out next year
MIB 2 was over-rated.
I really have to say this, but star wars is kind of overrated. I liked it, but there were movies with better effects and story released around the same time. 2001 comes to mind and is under rated for the same reason.
Sorry to say it but I think 2001 is overrated, that movie is so slow.
Yeah - many people mention Star Wars as being kind of overrated. It's hard to separate the movie from the phenomenon.
Here is an "off the top of my head" list:
Bladerunner
There's Something About Mary
The Big Lebowski
2001
Hmmm can't seem to comeup with anymore at the moment. And I must disagree with Independence Day although I really didn't have high expectations to begin with, I have to say it was a fun, "check your brain at the door" popcorn movie.....plus Harry Connick Jr is funny in it. To each his/her own though, I can respect that.
Quote from: Darth Gaos on September 14, 2007, 10:38:10 AM
Here is an "off the top of my head" list:
Bladerunner
There's Something About Mary
The Big Lebowski
2001
Hmmm can't seem to comeup with anymore at the moment. And I must disagree with Independence Day although I really didn't have high expectations to begin with, I have to say it was a fun, "check your brain at the door" popcorn movie.....plus Harry Connick Jr is funny in it. To each his/her own though, I can respect that.
I know Rico said no debates, but to put 2001, Bladerunner, and Big Lebowski on a list of overrated movies and then praise Independence Day? This thread is asking for trouble...
Everyone will have a different view on this. My criteria is more related to box office totals. But anyway, feel free to voice your own views. I find sometimes when a movie is really hyped and built up over the years when you finally see it sometimes it can be a bit of a letdown.
I trust the forum members to keep this civil. We have good people here.
read the last line of the post.
Also, as I rethink the name of the post I guess I can't actually disagree that Independence Day was overrated.....I guess many (myself included in this case) sometimes misinterpret overrated for bad.
As for some of my other choices allow me to elaborate a bit:
2001 and Bladerunner fall into teh same category to me. I REAlLY need to revisit these movies and give them another chance. I have seen each once and since have seen parts of both on numerous occasions. When I first saw them (and first impressions ore imprtant yes?) my opinion of these films was......Visually stunning movies that consisted of 2 hrs of absolutely nothing happening followed by the final 1/3 where everything happens. Kepp in mind that these are 2 sci-fi movies that are put on a pedestal as some of the best ever made.....I just didn't think that. Beautiful, yes but horribly BORING through alot of it. Like I said I am going to revisit them.
The Big Lebowski has been touted as one of the top comedies of the late 20th century. I thought the movie was funny in a lot of places but it really wasn't all that to me. I will also commit another pice of cinematic heresy and put Raising Arizona and Fargo into this category also....comedies they may be but they certainly didn't come nywhere close to the hype they received in my opinion. But you also have to to take into account that there are different styles of comedy and apparently these aren't my style.
Quote from: Rico on September 14, 2007, 02:01:16 PM
... I find sometimes when a movie is really hyped and built up over the years when you finally see it sometimes it can be a bit of a letdown....
This is more along the lines I was thinking....
One of my goals or ideas for this thread is to see how much other people and the media can influence people's opinions. It's hard to do, but I try very hard to view films on my own terms. One of the reason I try to see things early in their release before I hear too much about what others think.
Oh - I go along with "The Big Lebowski." It really didn't do much for me either.
Any movie by Kevin Smith.
Far and away, my pick is 2001.
QuoteI know Rico said no debates, but to put 2001, Bladerunner, and Big Lebowski on a list of overrated movies and then praise Independence Day? This thread is asking for trouble...
:roflmao I know what you mean Jobydrone. lol. Although I did like Independence Day because it was just a fun movie.
I think Good Will Hunting was overrated. I know there's another one I think was overrated but I can't seem to remember right now. . .
Quote from: Bryancd on September 14, 2007, 02:31:04 PM
Any movie by Kevin Smith.
I would agree with you 60%.....
Clerks I loved and
Dogma was wonderful...and I'm Catholic....I felt a lot of Catholics needed to lighten up when it came to this movie. All his other stuff I am bound to agree with you...meh.
Every "documentary" by Michael Moore. Please understand I do not feel they are overrated simply because I do not share the same political opinion as Mr Moore. I put them in this category because so many have told me "You have to see Faranheit 9/11 (as an example)....he is so right" Well anyone with an eye for editing or any sort of rudimentary fact checking skills or knowledge of government can see he is, in fact, not right many times (not all...many). I don't always necessarily dispute his points but I dispute his methods of making and marketing them. That being using a grain of truth, alot of half truths and flawed logic and some just outright BS and then marketing that as the gospel truth or a "documentary" when in fact , at best it is a 90 min op-ed piece. So to me it's overrated in that people have convinced me to see them but I watch....think "Maybe a good point but he is so full of crap it's laughable".
Let me say too that in a previous post I listed
2001 as overrated. I want to add that I think most of Stanley Kubrick's movies are overrated. Again, I enjoyed some of them (
Full Metal Jacket,
Dr. Strangleove) but it seemed that all Hollywood would wait with bated breath for the next Kubrick film and I thought most were boring and self indulgent and just did not live up to the hype.
Just to explain my "Independence Day" problem a bit. The movie is fun, but I felt let down by the ending. Plus I was amazed at how well it did the summer it came out.
Every Martin Scorcese film since Casino.....
Every Jerry Bruckheimer film since Top Gun and even that was overated but cool...
Every James Cameron film since True Lies
Two films that come immediately to mind are
Titanic (1997) Gosh this was awful! I cannot begin to describe the boredom!
Pearl Harbor (2001) Another sfx extravaganza that just doesn't live up to it's calling! *sigh*
I'll post more later as I have time to think about them.
Kevin
Quote from: Ktrek on September 14, 2007, 03:42:32 PM
Two films that come immediately to mind are
Titanic (1997) Gosh this was awful! I cannot begin to describe the boredom!
Pearl Harbor (2001) Another sfx extravaganza that just doesn't live up to it's calling! *sigh*
I'll post more later as I have time to think about them.
Kevin
quoted for truth....OH LORD if these aren't two of the most HORRIFYINGLY overrated films of ALL time, then I don't know what would be. Great call Ktrek. I can't believe I didn't think of them myself. Must be one of those instinctual repressing of bad memories things :D
For me, I think King Kong, people were Hyping it as maybe the biggest Movie ever, and I just felt it was Blah and it never lived up to the expectations. A minor over hype for me is The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe, felt it lacked edge (which is probably should, so it is probably me), I was expecting a bit more out of it.
Reservoir Dogs, Pulp Fiction, any Segal movie. All hyper violence and a few one liners ... not anything great at all.
Oh and Spiderman 3
Quote from: Just X on September 14, 2007, 04:33:39 PM
Reservoir Dogs, Pulp Fiction, any Segal movie. All hyper violence and a few one liners ... not anything great at all.
Oh and Spiderman 3
Oh, wait, how about ALL the Spider-Man movies.
And I hate to say it as I know there are big fans here but.........HARRY POTTER. Sorry, does nothing for me.
Armagedon, even though I have a piece of the actual asteroid used for filming the fx. I should post pics of some of the real movie props I have collected over the years.
Yeah Ktrek and Darth, I'm with you on those movies too.
How about Alexander and Troy? I thought both were overrated, especially Troy. I mean, how can you possibly exclude the Greek gods from that movie?
Let's at least confine this to films that were actually well recieved!
Oh, while I am shooting down sacred cows....How about Buffy the Vampire Slayer. What, am I my 14 year old sister?! :)
Starting a new counter thread to this one to see if Bryan likes any movies. Hehe! ;)
Quote from: Bryancd on September 14, 2007, 04:49:27 PM
And I hate to say it as I know there are big fans here but.........HARRY POTTER. Sorry, does nothing for me.
I use to like you Bryan :)
LOL!!!!! Don't worry, those are the only two I know are really popular that I just never liked, but since this is a battle free thread, I finally had my chance!!! :innocent
Quote from: StarTrekFanatic5 on September 14, 2007, 06:53:26 PM
Quote from: Bryancd on September 14, 2007, 04:49:27 PM
And I hate to say it as I know there are big fans here but.........HARRY POTTER. Sorry, does nothing for me.
I use to like you Bryan :)
Ah! Oh you guys are killing me! I'm laughing out loud here. OK, this is going to hurt some of you but...
any Pierce Brosnan 007 movie made pretty much
stinks in my book. His last one put me to sleep in the theater and I NEVER fall asleep at the movies.
King Kong (the newest one)
Police Acadamey
The Ring
The Mask
Caddy Shack
Deliverance
Batman Forever
The Matrix Revolutions (dud)
Home Alone
The Last Samurai
Clerks...(sorry just wasn't funny)
2001: A Space Odyssey (still have no idea what the heck was going on)
Gone With the Wind (my sister LOVES this movie...don't ask me why)
Forgot about my favorite overrated movie of all time.
I've seen it about 40 times and never made it all the way though without falling asleep at some point.
Akira
Oh and the secret to Clerks is a simple one. It's not funny unless you have worked in a retail enviroment for any length of time.
Wow. Bryan is hating. :) The first two Spider-Mans were great.
OK, since others of you don't like some of the greatest movies (e.g. Gone with the Wind, Akira, Blade Runner) ever, I'm gonna have to write that I think The Godfather is totally overrated. I saw it (finally) a couple of years ago and I was left wondering why it's considered so great. Sure it's good but not great.
Quote from: PepperDude on September 14, 2007, 08:20:25 PM
The first two Spider-Mans were great.
Statements like that make me want to include Spider-Man 2 as my pick for most overrated.
Quote from: Jen on September 14, 2007, 07:38:32 PM
Batman Forever
Who rates it highly?
Seriously, I understand rating the Pierce Brosnan Bond movies low. I liked the first one, but each film was a bigger disappointment than the previous movie.
I think Brosnan was a great Bond in a series of increasingly bad Bond movies.
I agree that you had to have worked retail to really appreciate Clerks. That's just like how you had to work in a cubicle to really appreciate Office Space.
QuoteStatements like that make me want to include Spider-Man 2 as my pick for most overrated.
:'( My feelings are hurt. . .j/k. It's cool. :)
I do remember back in the day that some people thought Batman Forever was really good. I forgot who though.
Another film that comes to mind is Citizen Kane. Now I do understand it's supposed importance in film history and all, as I am a classic film buff, but as much as I like the movie, for what it is, it still eludes me how this can be on most critics list as number one! :unsure
Kevin
Quote from: PepperDude on September 14, 2007, 08:41:25 PM
I do remember back in the day that some people thought Batman Forever was really good. I forgot who though.
We need to find these people and deal with them. :)
I think Kilmer could've been a really great Batman. I loved his Bruce Wayne. My favorite moment from all those Batman movies is when they're in the batcave and Robin argues that he's going to fight crime and says "you can't stop me, Bruce."
Kilmer as Bruce says "I can stop you" and he sounded like Batman. My Batman. For one brief moment, the Batman from the comics was up there on the screen.
On the other hand, there's that scene where Batman goes to visit Nicole Kidman and she rejects him because she's in love with Bruce. Kilmer Batman turns his back to her and, facing the camera, puts on the stupidest grin. That was NOT the Batman I knew.
It still hurts.
I have to agree that King Kong (2005) was way overrated. The first 45 minutes were just agonizingly painful. It wasn't until they got to the island that my interest peaked. No matter how hard Jackson tried, and he really did try, to get me to care about the characters, the only character I gave one hoot about was Kong. Did I care that the older guy who befriended the kid was killed? NO!! He was just a red shirt from the get go and it was sooo... obvious! Unfortunately I purchased the film because I did not see it at the theater and turned right around and sold it to a used store to recover at least some of my wasted dollars!
Kevin
I never met a sci-fi movie that I didn't like, until I saw "The Black Hole". I hated it.
Granted it was released in 1979, but it was a Disney film. I guess besides "Tron" they should stick to fantasy.
Glad you guys are keeping it civil. Just keep in mind people having a variety of tastes is what keeps things in life interesting. It's funny how it really seems to be a public and media impressions thing. Like the recent "King Kong" movie. Peter Jackson since LOTR has a big weight on his shoulders that I doubt any movie he does in the future will meet. I enjoyed the new Kong but I can easily see how the hype hurt it.
I think that all Peter Jackson fans need to see Dead/alive.
Quote from: Just X on September 14, 2007, 07:50:40 PM
Oh and the secret to Clerks is a simple one. It's not funny unless you have worked in a retail enviroment for any length of time.
I was the lead manager of a pet store in college for 2 years...I worked as a sales girl at a bridal shop, and at Esprit and Tanner clothing stores. Yep, I worked retail. And I still don't like this movie. It's grossâ€"except the Star Wars skits, I found none of it funny. To each his/her own. ;)
University of Michigan Wolverines. Couldn't resist
While we're listing some of the greatest films of all time and calling them overrated, I might as well add:
Casablanca - Humphrey Bogart? An old fart who shouldn't have smoked so much on screen
Godfather II - Robert DeNiro should really have that thing removed from his face, couldn't stop staring at it the whole time I was watching this movie
Close Encounters of the Third Kind - we don't even see the aliens till the last fifteen minutes of the movie, how boring is that?
Contact was perhaps the biggest let down I can remember. It never showed any aliens for a movie about aliens.
Another Movie I thought was a bit overrated was the DaVinci Code. I had never read the book, so I thought going into the movie it would blow me away, and it really did not. Not a bad movie, just not as great as I felt it was hyped to be
Close ENCOUNTERS!??? Restrain...restrain...I...must....restrain. :wacko
Quote from: jedijeff on September 16, 2007, 09:26:27 AM
Another Movie I thought was a bit overrated was the DaVinci Code. I had never read the book, so I thought going into the movie it would blow me away, and it really did not. Not a bad movie, just not as great as I felt it was hyped to be.
The book's better. I was disappointed with the movie also. Reading it, knowing a movie was in the works, I didn't think it would translate well. I was right.
The most overrated movie, in my opinion, is
Pulp Fiction. People get really defensive about that when I say it. I maintain that it is a collection of great scenes that don't add up to a great movie. Most fans at least understand that assessment, even if they don't fully agree.
I love everything with Sam Jackson. I could do without almost every scene with Uma Thurman (who I loved in Kill Bill). The Bruce Willis/Ving Rhames stuff was OK, but not great.
I think a couple of overrated movies that I can think of just off the top of my head:
1. Pulp Fiction
2. all of the documentaries of Michael Moore
3. Brokeback Mountain
4. Jarhead
5. anything starring Sean Penn
Quote from: Jen on September 16, 2007, 10:31:27 AM
Close ENCOUNTERS!??? Restrain...restrain...I...must....restrain. :wacko
Jen, I was being sarcastic. Close Encounters is one of my favorite movies, an all time classic. As are Casablanca and Godfather II. As are many many of the movies mentioned in this thread. It's very hard to keep quiet when some of your favorite all time movies are called overrated.
Everyone's showing marvelous restraint. I've seen stuff on here (like Godfather II) which I consider some of the greatest movies ever made.
But, everyone's got the right to their own opinions. I'm sure one or two of you don't consider Roadhouse to be a great film. I wouldn't hold that error against you. :)
Quote from: pickard on September 16, 2007, 08:07:33 PM
Everyone's showing marvelous restraint. I've seen stuff on here (like Godfather II) which I consider some of the greatest movies ever made.
Yeah, notice my lack of posts on this thread :)
One thing I really feel has bearing here like I have said before is when you first see a movie. An example:
I saw "Pulp Fiction" when it first came out in theaters within a few days of release. I was blown away by it. Just loved it. But now it has become this "big thing" for Tarantino, also put John Travolta back on the map, etc. So I think if people see this later down the road they may not understand how different and unique it was when it first came out. At least that's my take on things. And I think that happens for a lot of movies.
American Beauty comes to mind, as well as Superman Returns. It may be because of my growing disdain for Kevin Spacey as an actor. He's really beginning to bug me.
I love Clerks, and most Kevin smith films (except for Jersey Girl) probably because I worked in retail for so long.
Also, I must say that you really can't begin to appreciate the brilliance of The Big Lebowski until you've seen it at least 3 times.
Quote from: Just X on September 15, 2007, 07:24:16 AM
I think that all Peter Jackson fans need to see Dead/alive.
Excellent flick...probably one of the most humerous yet thoroghly disgusting and utterly repulsing movies ever....just AWESOME. It's funny when I heard years back that Peter Jackson was going to direct LOTR I thought...."The guy who did
Dead/Alive?, Seriously?"
I agree with you IC on
American Beauty....that just struck me as wierd, twisted and just kinda dumb.
I definitely have to go with King Kong. The only redeeming thing about that movie was Jack Black. The rest was long, drawn out and dull.
Thelma and Louise: Another movie that was soooooo hyped to me by other people...then I watched it and..........and....it was ok but not deserving of the hype.
Quote from: Darth Gaos on September 17, 2007, 01:45:22 PM
Thelma and Louise: Another movie that was soooooo hyped to me by other people...then I watched it and..........and....it was ok but not deserving of the hype.
I agree with you there. The ending was just...whatever.
For me 2 overrated movies would
Crouching Tiger hidden Dragon ( just didn't get it )
Kill Bill ( Lame ! )
Quote from: Darth Gaos on September 17, 2007, 10:16:39 AM
I agree with you IC on American Beauty....that just struck me as wierd, twisted and just kinda dumb.
Yeah! American Beauty is another one. My coworker raved about the movie. I bought it when it was released and sold it to her the next day. I love Spacey and most everyone else in the movie, but...