Posted on 09/13/2005 11:31:27 AM PDT by Houmatt
Just for fun, what is the WORST film you have EVER seen? And why?
I know a lot of you will be inclined to insert a Michael Moore film, but I am talking about films that are supposed to be fiction.
To begin, here is my personal pick: Ron Howard's The Grinch.
Surely we all remember the classic story from Dr. Seuss. Very simple, all about the spirit of Christmas.
Now, we get to the film. To begin with, the Whos are portrayed as the exact dead opposite of what they are in the story: They are quite materialistic.
Then, there seems to be something happening concurrent to the X-mas celebration. Just what the hell is the "Whobilation?" The audience is never told.
And there's the Grinch. The story says nobody knows why he hates Christmas. So, naturally, he is given a back story that rather implies he should be hating the Whos, or at least certain Whos, but certainly not Christmas. AND he is given a love interest (played by Christine Baranski).
Considering the target audience of the book (and therefore the film), there is some humor and a particular dress worn by the aforementioned Baranski early on (accented by a camera angle) that is just not suitable for that audience. So why have it? Heaven only knows.
Finally, when we get to the stealing part of the story, we see the Grinch predicting some very upset Whos. Now we all know what happens in the original story. But guess what? In this version of the story, the Grinch is proven right. In fact, it takes one of the Whos to talk the others into believing Christmas is more than just toys and trees.
I was shocked when I saw this film upon its release in theaters. Was it true Theodor Geisel's widow actually approved of this? How could she, when it absolutely violated everything her late husband was trying to impart with his beloved masterpiece in children's storytelling?
Whatever the truth was, one thing was certain: This film was an abomination. It was not merely bad; it was offensive. And I have never been so angered by a film like that to this day.
It is worth mentioning, as an aside, the film went on to make $250 million dollars domestic box office, making it perhaps the most profitable Ron Howard directed film to date. However, about three years later, when they decided to repeat or at least further the insult with another Seuss classic, Cat in the Hat, people saw right through it and gave it the b*tch slap it deserved.
I can't believe it.
The Big Chill should be a favorite among Freepers.
It was about a group of anti-establishment former college friends who, 10 years after graduating from the University of Wisconsin, are forced to come to terms with how vaccuous their lives in college were when faced with reality (such as business decisions, taxes, death, relationships, children, etc)
The film centers around the characters (Kevin Kline, Tom Berringer, Glenn Close, Mary Kay Place, Jeff Goldberg, and others) who get together for a funeral of their best friend from college who apparently committed suicide because he could not find fulfillment outside of being an anti-establishment protester.
Throughout the movie, the characters constantly wax nastalgic about their "great" days hating Nixon, and ne by one they realize how frivolous those days were.
Really, The Big Chill should be must viewing for all college kids and all Freepers, and I can't believe anyone listed it as an "awful" film.
It's 'cuz they sin in it.
"Twister". It's worth repeating. Urg!
It was a two-hour Dodge Ram commercial.
Here's another:
8 Mile (can't believe I watched it)
I loved this movie. Much better than the first Grinch. Our house has watched it at least 50x since released.
One of two movies I have ever walked out on in my life. Don't remember why
Rocky Horror can't be separated from the midnight movie theater experience... I've tried to watch it at home and it's just no where close to the same. -And it's of course not for those still uncomfortable with utter depravity.
Worse ever film is a tie between waterboy and waterworld.
Toys (Robin Williams)
Daredevil (Everybody in movie was great except Affleck)
Lost in Translation
Gigli (Affleck)
House of the Spirits (Meryl Streep)
Sum of All Fears (Affleck; what Arab terrorists?)
Mask (Cher)
The third Major Leagues movie
"Rocky Horror can't be separated from the midnight movie theater experience..."
A good point.
"And it's of course not for those still uncomfortable with utter depravity."
Are you referring to the movie, or the audience?
Either ;~D
Either ;~D
Well put!
Oops...I forgot Armageddon (Affleck - Take out Liv Tyler, and it would be a good movie)
The thing about playing the heavy is... it's easy work if you're an a-hole.
As far as Sean Connery... HA! I thought his best movie was 'The Longest Day'.
The first 15 minutes of "The Constant Gardner". I walked out after that.
napoleon dynamite
OH - I do like Toys, just for it's great Cinematography... it's a beautiful picture... and I like the Robin Williams and character with his noisy coat and the smoking jacket... and the quirky sister... Oh - LL Cool J character! Heh...
The Ninth Gate is my 4th favorite movie.
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