Open Forum Friday: What is the Most Overrated Movie of 2008?
As eager film critics and various film-related organizations continue to rattle off their favourite movies of the year and other year end “best of” lists, there’s one question that I haven’t seen many people address so far: what is the most overrated movie of 2008? I’m not talking about the flat out worst movie of the year, or even the movie that was the biggest disappointment, but rather the one movie that everyone else couldn’t stop raving about while you racked your brain trying to understand what made it so damn great.
I was going to pose this question in the form of a poll, but I thought it might be more fun to leave it completely open-ended. To get the discussion started, allow me to throw out a few possibilities. The Dark Knight: did it really live up to all the hype? Pineapple Express: was it another Seth Rogen hit, or too short on laughs? Milk: is this critically-acclaimed movie just a one-trick pony riding solely on Penn’s performance? What other movies were given unjust praise throughout 2008? Give us your thoughts here on Open Forum Friday.
Comments (71)
I say Pineapple Express… specifically James Franco. I mean, it was funny, but nothing THAT special.
Oh, and Mama Mia, which EVERY WOMAN in my life can’t stop raving about
Posted by ivan on December 19th, 2008i think the dark knight, i mean, heath ledger’s performance was great, but the movie wasn’t. it was slow paced at times, and i was bored most of the time. the joker was the only think that was worth. not even the ending, it just didnt amaze me at all.
Posted by itzel on December 19th, 2008Even as one of my top films of the year, Dark Knight is massively overrated. It’s not it’s fault, but between the second highest grossing box office take, and Ledger’s death, the whole thing has just gotten blown way out there.
Posted by helu0302 on December 19th, 2008I did not like The Dark Knight besides Heath Ledger’s performance. The rest of the acting was very sub-par, some of the storyline could have been omitted, and I was bored for a solid portion.
Posted by Mitch on December 19th, 2008I’ll chime in with the rest: for me it’s a toss up between Wall-E and TDK. It’s not that I disliked either film, I’m just not as keen on either one as everyone else (and the hype) seemed to be.
Posted by Marina on December 19th, 2008TDK is my choice. I liked it, but no were near as good as all the insane prasie it was getting during the release date.
Posted by Colleeny on December 19th, 2008I still have not made it through The Dark Knight after 2 attempts. I can’t STAND Christian Bale’s voice when he is Batman.. it’s absolutely a joke.
Posted by Chris on December 19th, 2008I think Wall-E was definitely the MOST overrated and I’m actually shocked to be seeing it get so many nominations this month.
I also think Rachel Getting Married and The Wrestler were not quite as great as everyone is making them out to be.
Posted by FIlmFemme on December 19th, 2008I think Forgetting Sarah Marshall is overrated. It was funny at points, but nothing amazing. Sure we learned Mila Kunis can act, but not much more.
Posted by Eric on December 19th, 2008The Dark Knight. I really didn’t like this, but even if I did I’d still think it’s overrated. It was hyped like the rebirth of comic book films or a comic book film with depth… what a joke. Except Heath Ledger…. great performance, by far the best part of the film.
Wall-E?!? Man, I thought it was so good… even on second viewing. Those Kubrick elements in the beginning, the Miyazaki elements, a love story between robots, the humor, the charm, the beautiful animation…. loved it. But, I have heard some complaints for a few people. Guess it can’t click for everyone.
Posted by Derek on December 19th, 2008Tropic Thunder
Posted by cronenfly on December 19th, 2008TDK..duh…the kiddies spit on and throw 80 years of cinema under the bus instantly proclaiming this movie “greatest ever” from the mountain tops.
so basically…
“damn kids and thier music”
Posted by Bob The Slob on December 19th, 2008Tropic Thunder for most overrated comedy.
Wanted for most overrated action.
the two best overrated movies are Wall-E and Slumdog Millionaire. I enjoyed both of them very much but found much of the praise for them a little excessive. They’re good enough for me to play the Defender among people who are trashing them, and flawed enough to play the Attacker among people who think they’re perfect.
As for most underrated… I will dare say, well, besides Speed Racer of course…
Indiana Jones 4. It’s become one of those circle jerk ‘cool things to make fun of’ to an annoying degree. Even if you think the movie is bad, you can’t make the case to me as the Onion has tried to do, that its somehow worse than the Day the Earth Stood Still or a large number of other mediocre/shitty popcorn or action flicks. Indy 4 won’t be in my top 10 of the year, probably not even top 20, but the trashing for it was reached a level of ridiculousness perhaps exceeding the Spiderman 3 hate.
Posted by Goon on December 19th, 2008first. the dark knight was, of the movies i have seen this year, the best. the acting, the story, the effects, the music. all top notch. heath ledger was flawless. as was aaron eckhart. that combined with a near perfect script put this at the top of my 2008 list.
the most over rated film of 2008 for me was the happening. its too much of the same crap that we keep getting from him. terrible acting. terrible story. decent gore but not enough for the ‘R rating’ it got.
also on my over rated list. iron man and pineapple express (not because it was bad just because it could have been so much better).
Posted by SJA on December 19th, 2008Iron Man, Iron Man, Iron Man
Posted by TheMovieVampire on December 19th, 2008Pineapple Express
I really can’t see why so many people enjoy this movie.
Posted by Steven C. on December 19th, 2008Without a single f’in doubt Tropic Thunder.
Posted by Bas on December 19th, 2008Toss up between Iron Man and Pineapple Express. I’ll go with Iron Man because I can see myself appreciating Pineapple Express with a repeat viewing.
Posted by Neil M on December 19th, 2008I did like Iron Man very much, but take Robert Downey Jr. out of it and you’re left with The Fantastic Four.
Posted by Bas on December 19th, 2008Tropic Thunder. No film of 08 comes close to that kind of disappointment.
Posted by Primal on December 19th, 2008“the most over rated film of 2008 for me was the happening.”
How can the Happening be overrated if it was almost universally trashed by critics?
Posted by Goon on December 19th, 2008WALL-E was way to overrated…Ratatouiille was better. After I saw it…it was like seeing the trailer was the entire story.
Forgetting Sarah Marshall was funny at moments; but the reality is that it was 30 minutes too long like many of the Apatow Camp comedies.
Posted by Ryan M. on December 19th, 2008I guess I’m going to have to say The Dark Knight… I love the movie, I gave it a perfect 10/10 review on my site. But at the same time, now that award season is coming around and I hear all the shouting from the fanboys for a win for TDK I’m getting slightly annoyed. This just isn’t that kind of movie, as a comic book/action movie it is amazing, but as a great Oscar movie I don’t think so. I’m not sure if it is the bookie in me telling me not to back this horse but rather one of the more “obvious” choices [ie. Milk, Doubt, Revolutionary Road, The Wrestler] but can the fanboys please shutup already….
Now that that’s out of the way I think I’ll go watch my Dark Knight DVD for the third time now…
Posted by gmanreviews on December 19th, 2008Bob the Slob, I don’t think that anyone actually thinks that TDK is the best movie of all time, (or at least literally). TDK is to a degree overrated, but that degree is very small, I feel that when a movie like that gets a such an overwhelming response people feel obligated to try to bring it down (at least a little bit). In the words of Jay Cheel, people are constantly putting things up only to bring them down, but TDK really hasn’t had that many people trying to bring it down outside of hardcore movie geeks like us. As far as overrated films, i’d have to go with Iron Man. I liked the movie but there’s no way in hell that it deserves a RT rating in the 90’s. I’ll also add in that I think that cloverfield is the most underrated(or maybe the most forgotten) of the year.
Posted by Drew on December 19th, 2008TDK isn’t necessarily overrated, its simply that its fanboys are so passionate, vocal and unlikely to have seen a number of the other great movies of this year (a lot of people only see half a dozen movies, and when one stands out as much as TDK it means something to them. becomes a phenomenon), well, no. 4 on the IMDB top 250 happens. the IMDB is a good barometer of a lot of things, but TDK up there isn’t nearly the worst offence on that list, and IMDB as it has grown in popularity hasn’t been very reliable at all.
It has become that any popular movie is rated on the IMDB much much higher than it would have been a couple years ago, and settles in gradually over a longer period of time due to backlash and DVD exposing it to more casual viewers. See, the novelty of IMDB voting wore off for most reasonable people, leaving you with mostly the kind of people who only vote 1 or 10 on something. Check out the vote breakdowns sometime on most new movies vs. older ones. its a bit fucked up.
Anyways, so I don’t really think TDK is overrated. It’ll be in my top 10 of the year and Heath Ledger as it shakes out to date definitely in my mind deserves that Oscar nomination, even the win. I was skeptical back upon its release assuming the Oscar bait would wash him away, but he’s still standing tall.
The real backlash of people saying TDK is overrated will come from the film blog snobset when Ledger wins. They like to think the oscars don’t matter to them, but we all know they do
And I think he will.
Posted by Goon on December 20th, 2008and the RT rating is an even worse barometer, and so the Iron Man bashing based on that never made sense to me either. It had the benefit of being the first summer blockbuster out of the gate, and being to most people between good and great.
listen, if every critic gave something a 6/10, that would be a 100% on rotten Tomatoes, so you can see why it’s just not worth sweating.
Posted by Goon on December 20th, 2008Toss up: Iron Man & Wall-E
Posted by Andrew James on December 20th, 2008Drew…i liked TDK alot…dont get me wrong, and I know several people that have said that it is thier favorite film and most likely the best picture ever made. HOWEVER, the people that I know that said such ORGASMIC kneejerk things are mostly those on the net and not my close personnal real life friends…so perhaps it is just a youthful geek thing (as goon said). I disagree that Iron Man is overrated, only because I dont feel like the screams about iron man have been about its complete perfection as a film…they tend to lean more towards just calling it a “kick ass action comic book movie”, a well crafted flick that is the hieght of entertainment…at least that is what it feels like. Sure there have been a few ridiculous rumors about iron man and the oscars, but that didnt seem to be coming from the fans.
Also I fully support Heath Ledger getting the best supporting actor oscar, his performance was not overatted in the least, its the film that I feel it…the online TDK zietgiest seems to be that its nigh flawless, when it easily has several very big (but not damning) flaws with it’s walls if one chooses to look without rose colored glasses. I dont find it “cool” to rip on it, in fact im not ripping on the film, ledger, bale, or nolan at ALL…I am ripping on the overreactive young fanbase that think just because a GOOD film is in thier local theater that it must mean that not much else exists that is as good…why bother watching that crappy 70’s academy award winner, why even acknowledge it?, infact why even go to the small amount of trouble of acknowledging that your scope (not you…specifically) of cinema is only about the last 3-5 years at best and your opinons only reflect the margins of that time period?
I’m not asking kids to go and watch every movie that ever existed…im just asking them to admit they really have no scope of knowledge when it comes to film…they do perhaps with modern comic book films, but that is where is most likely ends.
and, in order to be excessively long winded…I’m not saying I know everything about film, or have seen every movie in existence…what I do have is the ability to admit that even I, who painstakingly tries to keep up with the NEW and the OLD (that I have yet to see), still have very little scope of knowledge as far as the “idea” or “entity” that is the art of film. Whew…
Also, I have nothing against you personally…but I LOATHED Cloverfield (so maybe we dont have the same tastes),
as far as 2008 goes, I’m rooting for Slumdog and Danny Boyle (I have yet to see the Wrestler, Benjamin Button, or Gran Torino…but im salivating to see all of them)
Goon,
I never once bashed indy 4 because it was cool…I bashed it because I hated it and it shit on something I loved (in my opinion). Not one statment I made was to be with the crowd…it hurt everytime I said a single negative word about a movie with indiana jones in it…but it was needed…it was cathartic…NOT COOL.
sorry for the length and any typos, but I havent slept and im on nyquil…ok and…………………………………………………….flame me…
Posted by Bob The Slob on December 20th, 2008Has to be Pineapple Express. I’m usually all for movies pandering to the college-stoner demographic that I’m proud to be a part of…but the movie forgot to include jokes. I was hoping for another cameo-excessive Apatow flick but all I got was Rogen ad-libbing.
Also, we gotta qualify TDK (anti)hyperbole- Yes it has its flaws…but you only noticed them because you were watching it for the 8th time. Can the most overrated also have the most replay value? Maybe.
Just tossing this out there: the award for most overrated film of the year should be called “the Shawshank”
Posted by Finn on December 20th, 2008“I bashed it because I hated it and it shit on something I loved (in my opinion)”
Well I can’t psychoanalyze your gut, but to date I don’t find anything so wrong with Indy 4 that you can’t look to the other films and say “well this was okay but this wasn’t?” – other than the use of CGI, which people really need to get over. I still think anyone who thought it was going to be like an old school Indy movie was being extremely naive and only set themselves up for disappointment.
I assumed it would be different, saw reviews well in advance of when I saw it and had most of my suspicions confirmed, yet I guess a lot of people don’t check up in advance, went into the movie blind expecting pure retro 80s love-in, and all I can say is “Why would you ever think that?”
Posted by Goon on December 20th, 2008“Can the most overrated also have the most replay value? Maybe.”
Its the only movie i saw in the theater 3 times this year. The second was to drag along someone who hadn’t see it, the first time was actively to see it in IMAX, which really was worth going to. Specifically the biggest flaw in the movie, besides the gruff Batman voice, is the confusing action scene at the end. The first viewing it was meh, the second it was even worse, the third viewing it was acceptable in IMAX, I could actually tell whats going on. I haven’t watched it on DVD since it came out though, so I don’t know if understanding the scene more will translate to being okay with it now, or if the small screen will make it much much worse.
Posted by Goon on December 20th, 2008“Just tossing this out there: the award for most overrated film of the year should be called “the Shawshank”
Shawshank has proven itself to be one of the most popular well loved films of all time. It hasn’t fallen by the wayside and been left behind and forgotten, so I couldn’t justify naming the award for it whatsoever. Maybe its placement on the IMDB makes you jump and cry overrated, but I think its just a matter of that most everyone likes that movie at least a little. It’s a film loved by most film fans, but even more by non film fans, of which there are many.
Titanic? American Beauty? Shrek?
Posted by Goon on December 20th, 2008Iron Man (not that awesome), Pineapple Express (not that funny), and Rachel Getting Married (not that dramatically gripping).
Posted by Liz on December 20th, 2008Finn…what are you talking about? you do realize that shawshank was a critical and box office failure upon release…so it was “rated” like shit…so if you dislike it then its PROPERLY RATED…if you love it then its UNDER RATED…unless we are pooling together more then the surrounding hubub concerning a films time of release. It might be popular all these years later, but when it was RATED, it was rated LOW….so no that doenst work, I agree with goon.
Goon…to be honest I followed EXTREMELY close on everything involving Indy 4, and I would easily argue that if you read all the things that Spielberg said during production that it was easily, EASILY, extremely misleading. Not that I want to get into it, and I remember even the guys here on filmjunk acknowledged it either on a podcast or sean did in a review…Speilberg blatantly said things like “i want this to fit in with the other three”, “i want to learn how to direct like when i was young” “i want the cinematography to be the same” “I want old school editing, and anti-bourne fight scenes”…most of that being found in that huge entertainment weekly interview, the one in which he tells Lucas to “be quiet” when lucas starts complaining about how he still shoots on film and uses real locations (yes, that convo happened)…Everything Spielberg said sound great, infact before the release I easily thought that how SS was describing indy 4 was IDEAL to how I would want it to go down…if Spielberg has just kept his mouth shut I wouldnt have went in with such “it’s gonna be retro” exceitment…but im sorry, when you read about Spielberg telling lucas to shut up about digital filmmaking and greenscreens and then admit he still edits on a moviola what the hell else are you suppose to think? Not to fricken mention that spielberg still had not gone Lucas-insane yet, so I completely figured he would take total care of his baby… I feel I had every reason to go in positive and with expectations of “retro” filmmaking.
I am intentionally not going to go into the specifics of what I hated about the movie, which believe me is a long list that is MUCH MORE in depth then shia swinging with CGI monkeys…if i go into it we will be here all night, plus it really has nothing to do with this topic, as it wasnt reall overratted, it was overhyped.
Posted by Bob The Slob on December 20th, 2008Pineapple Express.
Posted by Derek on December 20th, 2008If you want to make it objective (like it’s not already subjective) then the question has to do with an irreconcilable difference between the majority of critical opinions on a film and you the listener, poster, podcaster. For me the obvious one is Indiana Jones which got decent reviews but was disappointing to say the least. “Our friend was raped in Peru.” ’nuff said.
Posted by Ian on December 20th, 2008“Speilberg blatantly said things like “i want this to fit in with the other three”…
I know, but again – I think it was naive to believe him. It’s been twenty years, too many things have changed with the way movies are made. Speilbergs core crew has changed, he has changed. If Francis Ford Coppola was making a new Godfather movie and said similar things about it being just like the first two, would you believe him?
When I heard him say that stuff, I took it like when you hear anyone hocking their movie on a late night talk show, or like when any band says “This is our best work yet!” – with a massive grain of salt.
And yet I still think Indy 4 is good and fits with the other movies – just not in the same way. You cant have a movie made in 2008 fit in with a movie made in 1988, but the way I saw it, if they had continued to make Indy movies every 5 years until 2008, it would have ended up looking exactly the same. People act like they were lazy with this movie and malicely raped their childhood. I think they’re the ones being more hyperbolic and out of touch than Speilberg was with his hype.
Posted by Goon on December 20th, 2008You know, i look at Indy 4 kind of like the new Metallica album. They hyped it in advance like it was a drastic return to the 80s style. Upon release there were fanboys who were extremely mad and felt lied to that Hetfield’s voice didn’t sound the same – even though it can’t anymore – that the production wasn’t tinny, all these specific things that were extremly naive to believe in 2008. But those of us who can still give that band a chance saw that the spirit was there, they gave it their best, it was better than anything they’ve done in a very long time, and while you can’t fit it between Kill Em All and Ride the Lightning, it’s a fun album that has a whole hell of a lot about what people missed about that band.
That’s what Indy 4 is to me. It’s not a return to form, it’s not perfect, but its fun and was worth experiencing. If I sat in advance buying every piece of hype, trusting every word out of their goofy mouths, overanalyzing every recorded second like those idiots who were complaining about the Guitar Hero versions, and making a list of whats missing from the 80s heydey, there’d be a problem. ANd I think that problem would be mine.
I’m sure a reasonable list of reasons why Indy 4 sucked could be made, but the vast majority of people who have made the claim that it sucked at all can’t give me much more than ‘monkeys CGI aliens fridge’
Posted by Goon on December 20th, 2008I would have to say “Colore Non Vedenti.”
Just kidding Jay.
I’ll say… “Pineapple Express”– though this year had an inordinate number of overly hyped movies.
Posted by Jon Rocks on December 20th, 2008“I would have to say “Colore Non Vedenti.”
Just kidding Jay.”
especially since it hasn’t even been released yet!
Posted by Drew on December 20th, 2008I didn’t care much for Pineapple Express either, but it wasn’t exactly the most well reviewed movie this year, especially not compared to Tropic Thunder.
Are a lot of people mixing up overhyped with overrated? Seems so.
Posted by Goon on December 21st, 2008I would have to say “Colore Non Vedenti.”
Just kidding Jay.
Posted by Jon Rocks on December 20th, 2008
Lmao! Tell me about it!
Posted by Baychuk on December 21st, 2008“Indy 4 kind of like the new Metallica album”
What a great pull. I doubt Spielberg would enjoy Raiders of the Lost Ark to be placed alongside Kill’Em All though, especially at the time of release!
Creeping Death > The Indiana Jones trilogy though.
Posted by Henrik on December 21st, 2008TDK and it isn’t very close. It’ll age horribly, yet I highly doubt the fandom will.
The Wrestler and Slumdog would round out my top three.
Posted by Matt Gamble on December 21st, 2008goon, sorry i didnt respond sooner, am at different computer.
I couldnt disagree with you more about indy 4 being good in any way…also I can give you plenty of non cgi monkey reason why indy 4 sucked mucho ass hole. I CAN…but i wont…well not all the way…how about the atrocious, fucking embarrasingly bad editing, if you want a good example, the scene in the tent when indy is talking to mac…that editing hack job isnt good enough for amateur (and I know a bit about this as I am a working video editor). I could give more reasons…but why, your not going to agree with me. I respect your opinions as they are well thought out, but they come from a place of someone who seems to think that others are all naive, far removed, fanboys that remember the original trilogy fondly and just hate to hate.
Look…ill admit…i am an indy fanboy, have been since day one, the indy OT is almost solely responsible for my undieing love of all things film, video and everything in between. I have constantly, on almost a daily basis, listened to the indy scores for over 2 decades as the background noise to my life, i have 5 framed indy posters in my home, and pretty much watch all 3 films at least once every two months, all the way up till the day Krystal Skull was released. I am not a sick obsessed drooling wackjob mind you…i dont roam the streets with my wang out masturbating to the thought of shortround…but in the back of my mind, quietly to myself I am always reminded just how much those films mean to me. If that ruins any of my cred on here fine…whatever…its true so be it…but what im trying to say is indy fans dont come in much more hard core varieties then me, or are as devoted…and I Hated it, not just from a fan angle, but from a film fan angle…hell even from the angle of “a dude that wants a fun time at the movies”…its failed on all levels even to someone who could find the positive angle in a monsoon of zebra diarrhea if only he heard the indy music playing somewhere close by…I wasnt even sold on just seeing Ford don the clothes. It took me about 3 days EVEN…to just admit i “kinda didnt like it”…about a week to start screaming about it and openly say how much i loathed it…I guess im trying to tell you I have thought it through, seen the flick 3 times (i bought advance tickets), and still hate it.
I dont really know what my exact point was…haha…Sorry if i rambled. HOWEVER CGI MONKEYS ARE NOT THE LONE PROBLEMS…bah…enough of this…thanks for responding man either way.
Posted by bob the slob on December 21st, 2008henrik,
creeping death? i love you, but…um…no.
Posted by bob the slob on December 21st, 2008Pineapple Express- not overly funny and its last 30 minutes is a complete mess!
Indiana Jones and the kingdom of the crystal skull- I can’t believe the mainstream critics dug this film. Its not even close to the original trilogy in quality.
chuck
Posted by entertainmenttodayandbeyond on December 21st, 2008well bob all i can say is you wrote a hell of a lot, but all i’m really hearing is that you hated it, rephrased in different ways over and over, and that specifically you’re attacking the editing. you note one scene but you don’t say whats specifically bad about it, how it ruins things. Not even a scratch towards convincing me of anything.
Posted by Goon on December 21st, 2008goon,
eh…whatever man. I dont care enough to go into any more, it’s not really important either way if we agree on indy 4 right? And I could write a 120 page thesis and I doubt it would convince you…so it’s cool…done…bah humbug.
so let’s agree on something…Ghostbusters is awesome right? big lebowski? 12 angry men?
Posted by Bob The Slob on December 22nd, 2008“And I could write a 120 page thesis and I doubt it would convince you”
it depends on whether or not you spend the 120 pages giving reasons, or if you spend them just listing more horrible emotions it makes you feel. one way could sway me, and the other would not. thats about it.
if you dont want to go on, fine. im just trying to understand what the big deal is, and i’m no closer now than before.
Ghostbusters, Big Lebowski and 12 Angry Men are awesome.
Posted by Goon on December 22nd, 2008Yes…they are awesome.
(The following I wrote in a fit of insomnia, that’s not an exuse, just an explanation…)
is a bad movie, or a good one for that matter, ever a “big deal”? Why do we, im most certainly including myself on this on, spend so much time arguing about movies? I’m just pondering, not attacking. Why? Easier to discuss then religion and politics? More plausibly we see it as a form of recreation, which is odd, our recreation is discussing, reviewing, and dissecting another form of recreation…odd. kind of a mindfuck really.
I spend alot of my time watching films, talking about films, and reading non-religious/philosophical/science NON-fiction…yet I NEVER discuss the latter with strangers (in real life or on the net), but I wont hesitate to blow up over a heated internet discussion over who is a better action hero out of Jason Statham or Bruce Willis…
I guess the real topics are too heavy…and they go no where…but then again when is the last time that you, JUST THROUGH THE ART OF ARGUMENT, truly changed what someone felt about a film they have thoroughly watched and reflected upon?
I REALLY NEED SOME SLEEP.
Posted by Bob The Slob on December 22nd, 2008They’re easy to argue and we can brush it off, even if for a short time period it can get very testy. Its a kind of junior test of your debating skills I suppose.
Posted by Goon on December 22nd, 2008Bob the Slob I think your last sentiment comes from arguing about the wrong movies. Arguing about a kids movie like Indiana Jones does indeed seem kind of pointless and tame, and makes you wonder what else you could be doing with your time, but there are movies out there that require thought and dissection, and will open up for you the more you delve into them yourself and with other people. It goes beyond recreation, even though this is a very un-american notion, sometimes there is art, which broadens your horizons and exposes your emotions. In that case it’s not a debate about wether or not you’re supposed to like it, it’s simply trying to come to terms with yourself, and what art does to you.
Posted by Henrik on December 22nd, 2008“even though this is a very un-american notion, sometimes there is art, which broadens your horizons and exposes your emotions”
Could you be more condescending?
Posted by Goon on December 22nd, 2008Henrik, I highly disagree that the Indy OT are “kids” movies. Also I agree with goon..could you be more condescending? Haha…Look I watch ALOT of films, arthouse, independent, experimental….but they arent any FUN to discuss…I would rather watch those and internalize my thoughts about them. Plus most films such as those are very polarizing and dont often lend them selves to group discussion, mainly because watching them is such an intimate process. On that level I would much rather publicly debate why MEET DAVE is a piece of shit then to dissect the algorithmic themes of Andy Warhol’s EMPIRE and its relation to anarchy of the artistic zietgiest.
I realize you arent one for “kids movies” like indy because you are so adult and viciously smart…but, as I stated above, I read ALOT of non-fiction written by the smartest minds on the face of the planet (not bragging, i do it out of curiousity, admiration, and hope that I will learn something because I am unfortunatly of only a bland average intelligence…obviously)…and from that I have gathered that something that comes from being extremly intelligent is usually a playful, childlike, sensibility in thier approach to life and especially humor and art…so I guess im saying as a parallel to that, just because a film may be “entertainment” you know for “children” doesnt mean that geniuses or, in this case, cinephiles cant enjoy, discuss or even bring something from it.
Also your assumption that a piece of art, in any form, can only birth one possible fenced in message or theme is extremely absurd. I say that based on the list of things you sent me a link to, involving things to help you detect if you are a child. Yeah, because if any one watches a kevin smith movie and gets meaning from it then they are morons…Stephen Hawking watches cartoons, and most likely has at some point taken something away from it…yeah, he is a pretty big fucking moron. Only you can see the light…the rest of us are just rolling around in the ooze…
I still think your cool man…but damn are you fucking condescending.
Posted by Bob The Slob on December 22nd, 2008“but they arent any FUN to discuss”
Life is no fun in generel mate.
“I guess im saying as a parallel to that, just because a film may be “entertainment” you know for “children” doesnt mean that geniuses or, in this case, cinephiles cant enjoy, discuss or even bring something from it.”
So why were you complaining (that’s what it read like to me anyway) that you were doing exactly that, just a couple of posts ago? You made it seem like this was all just a futile endeavor and it was strange that people indulge.
As for condescending… I don’t know, I just think it’s a difference of perspective. Let me quote Renny Harlin (who should know what he’s talking about): “In Europe, film making is perceived as an art form with marginal business possibilities, and in the US, film making is a business with marginal artistic possibilities.”
“your assumption that a piece of art, in any form, can only birth one possible fenced in message or theme is extremely absurd.”
I don’t have such an assumption though. But a Kevin Smith movie? Yeah, that can only birth one possible fenced in message, and he’s going to make damn sure every idiot in the audience knows what it is. Which is part of the reason he’s a pisspoor director, and that people who relate to him usually are fucking morons.
Posted by Henrik on December 22nd, 2008“In Europe, film making is perceived as an art form with marginal business possibilities”
Makes you wonder why Europe can’t seem to produce more good movies than it does.
Posted by Goon on December 22nd, 2008so thats snark, but seriously – i have not seen any greater ratio of good to crap from Europe or Asia than anywhere else.
What is definitely true to me though, is some of my favorite films would not exist were it not for the financial success of big dumb movies that may not please me, but sell tickets to people you and I apparently think we are better than. A lot of great films can only stock up on top talent actors and effects (when necessary) because those same people have a paycheck from blockbusters once in a while.
I’m sure this puts a damper on your oh so witty swipe at “capitalist art” but seriously man, if you think Europeans aren’t out to make some money off their art, you’re simply being young naive and stupid, and secondly, that indie mindset probably prevents more good movies from being made.
There’s a pragmatism to Hollywood, even if sometimes makes stars out of the undeserving and rewards whatever sells. It’s very easy to look down upon, but its also very easy to take for granted. THe fact that you can’t seem to appreciate it on any level other than to use it to smugly attack North America whenever possible, is pathetic, and stereotypical European snobbery.
Posted by Goon on December 22nd, 2008“Life is no fun in generel mate.”
Kill yourself.
Posted by Goon on December 22nd, 2008Death would not be any fun either. Non-existence seems insanely boring.
“Makes you wonder why Europe can’t seem to produce more good movies than it does.”
Why? Art will always have a horrible good-to-bad ratio, because so many people aspire. The difference is not in the quality but in the mindset. Michael Bay gets awarded more money to do his films than Alexander Payne in America. Which makes sense only from a business perspective.
But shit isn’t as black and white as that quote makes it out to be, no question about it. There are plenty of shit being made in europe and any other place to sell tickets to people I am better than. What then annoys me is that I have to put up with the horrible american shit ALONG with the danish shit. If you had all the danish shit pushed in your theatres along with your own, I think you’d develop a grudge against Danmark as well.
Posted by Henrik on December 22nd, 2008“A lot of great films can only stock up on top talent actors and effects (when necessary) because those same people have a paycheck from blockbusters once in a while.”
Maybe I lack insight into business, but this makes no sense to me. Talent actors are talent actors, money has nothing to do with it. If only quality films were made, they would be doing the quality films. There is no law saying that actors should be wealthy people, or that movies should make a profit, although this line of thinking might lead the dreaded utopian socialism.
And I’m not poo-pooing expensive movies either, only bad movies. By all means, use whatever cash it takes to give me Star Wars: Episode III because I can’t see that anywhere else. Or Jurassic Park. Or Hellboy 2.
Posted by Henrik on December 22nd, 2008goon: well put.
henrik: out of curiousity…what is your ultimate aspiration when it comes to film? to just watch them, to make them, or to professional review them?
Posted by Bob The Slob on December 23rd, 2008“Let me quote Renny Harlin (who should know what he’s talking about)”
also Henrik…was this serious? or is there sarcasm i’m not detecting?
Posted by Bob The Slob on December 23rd, 2008Well, that’s sort of for you to decide Bob. I think Renny Harlin as a semi-known character is pretty funny in and of itself, but he has worked both places and I find a quote like that to be meaningful when coming from him. Obviously he is a man who doesn’t mind the american way, but he also knows a thing or two about it, having been succesful there.
As for aspirations, I can honestly say that I in all facets of life am void of aspiration, ambition or goals. All I want in life is to be able to do whatever I want, whenever I want to for the amount of time that I want to. I don’t have the frame of mind to work this desire practically into the real world though, and I don’t care to.
Posted by Henrik on December 23rd, 2008Twilight.
Posted by Conor on December 27th, 2008Every girl in a hundred-mile radius of me was raving about it all because the lead guy is “hawt”.
He’s a good actor, and the movie is okay, but it was overblown by a lot of magazines as well as all the scene girls.
This emo vampire movie is undoubtedly one of the most overrated movies this year for me.
Just saw “Slumdog Millionaire” last night and that movie is reeeaally overrated. Let’s see. Let’s make it so our romantic leads have absolutely no personality! Also, this movie is filled with cliche happenings and cartoon baddies. I enjoyed earlier parts of the film but definitely felt that “is it over yet?” feeling from middle to end.
Posted by Stephanie on December 29th, 2008I would have to say the DARK KNIGHT…at times slow, and should have had only one ending.
Posted by E on December 29th, 2008Slumdog Millionaire. How the fuck can that movie be considered anything above mediocre?
Posted by Austin on December 29th, 2008Twilight – A joke. Overrated, stupid book makes overrated, stupid movie. Enough said.
Posted by Topher on January 22nd, 2009Tropic Thunder – A true disappointment.
The Dark Knight – A very good movie. A great superhero movie. But nothing more than that.
Mama Mia – Pierce Brosnan singing. Need I say more?
Dark Knight.
I can’t stand Christian Bales’ voice when he becomes Bat Man, and just think the film is, apart from Ledgers’ bloody brilliant performance, a bit rubbish.
Or maybe Quantam of Solace. Didn’t read any reviews on it, but thought that was one of the worst films I’ve ever seen.
Posted by Jake on January 27th, 2009I must be one of the only people that didn’t find TDK in the slightest overrated. It, to me, is an exceptional example of what it set out to be: a comic book movie. Lets face it, it never intended to be the next Citizen Kane
I feel very alone in that I seem to be the only person that was appalled by The Wrestler, Milk, Curious Case of Benjamin Button and Doubt. Let me start with The Wrestler: and hour and a half of watching Mickey Rourke walk around, an underdeveloped relationship with his daughter (the fact that he didn’t see her because he was hungover made me detest Rourke’s character) and a strange ‘romance’ with Marisa Tomei’s character (who was, lets face it, a moody cow unless the lead was waving money in her face).
Secondly, I really didn’t like Milk. Sean Penn, in my opinion, was wonderful in this film and was the only thing that prevented me from falling into a boredom-induced coma. Seriously this film – along with most of Van Sant’s films – was appaulingly paced and was outrageously stereotypical in its perception of the gay community.
Curious Case of Benjamin Button – cross Forrest Gump with Big Fish and make it a bit more dull and lengthy. Enough said.
In Doubt, I thought ALL of the actors were incredible, but I couldn’t help but feel that the ending was very anti-climatic (can’t really discuss it in length without ruining the ending) which was a shame as I really enjoyed it up until then.
Posted by Stacey on September 5th, 2009Leave a Reply