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11 Actors Who Hated Their Own Films
Mental Floss ^ | Colin Patrick

Posted on 10/09/2014 2:29:04 PM PDT by SeekAndFind

The Half Man of Two and a Half Men ripped his own show in a YouTube video making the rounds today. "If you watch Two and a Half Men," Angus T. Jones said, "please stop watching Two and a Half Men. I'm on Two and a Half Men. I don't want to be on it. Please stop filling your head with filth." Of course, plenty of actors haven't been thrilled with things they've worked on. Even big movie stars. Here's a list of actors who hated their own films, that we originally published back in January.

1. Sylvester Stallone, Stop! Or My Mom Will Shoot. Sly doesn’t pull any punches when it comes to his film career. Despite co-starring with the delightful Estelle Getty as the titular violence-prone mother, Stallone knows just how bad the film was:

"I made some truly awful movies. Stop! Or My Mom Will Shoot was the worst. If you ever want someone to confess to murder, just make him or her sit through that film. They will confess to anything after 15 minutes."

2. Alec Guinness, Star Wars.

By the time he played Obi-Wan Kenobi in 1977’s Star Wars: A New Hope, Guinness had already appeared in cinematic classics like The Bridge on the River Kwai, Great Expectations and Lawrence of Arabia. During production, Guinness is reported to have said the following:

"Apart from the money, I regret having embarked on the film. I like them well enough, but it's not an acting job, the dialogue - which is lamentable - keeps being changed and only slightly improved, and I find myself old and out of touch with the young."

The insane amount of fame he won for the role as the wise old Jedi master took him somewhat by surprise and, ultimately, annoyed him. In his autobiography A Positively Final Appearance: A Journal, Guinness recalls a time he encountered an autograph-seeking fan who boasted to him about having watched Star Wars more than 100 times. In response, Guinness agreed to provide the boy an autograph under the condition that he promise never to watch the film again.

3. George Clooney, Batman & Robin. Sure, Batman & Robin made money. But by every other imaginable measure, the film was a complete failure, and a nightmare to the vast majority of the Caped Crusader’s most fervent fanatics. Star George Clooney recognized what a stinker he helped create and once plainly stated, “I think we might have killed the franchise.”

4. David Cross, Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked. When actors have a movie out, it's customary that they publicize the film by saying nice things about it. Earlier this year David Cross took a different approach. When it came to describing his new film Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked, the veteran comedian — better known for Mr. Show and Arrested Development — went on Conan and called the film a “big commercial for Carnival Cruise Lines” and told people not to go see it.

5. Bob Hoskins, Super Mario Brothers. He was in Who Framed Roger Rabbit?. As far as I’m concerned, Bob Hoskins is forgiven for Super Mario Bros. Hoskins, though, doesn’t seem to be able to forgive himself. Last year the Guardian spoke with the veteran actor about his career and he summed up his feelings rather succinctly:

What is the worst job you've done?
Super Mario Brothers.

What has been your biggest disappointment?
Super Mario Brothers.

If you could edit your past, what would you change?
I wouldn't do Super Mario Brothers.

6. Katherine Heigl, Knocked Up. Judd Apatow’s unplanned pregnancy comedy was a huge hit and helped cement her status as a bankable film actress. After the film’s release, however, Heigl didn’t have all good things to say. In fact, what she specifically said about it was that the film was:

"…A little sexist. It paints the women as shrews, as humorless and uptight, and it paints the men as lovable, goofy, fun-loving guys.”

7. Bill Cosby, Leonard Part 6. You’d think a film that features Cosby riding away from a dangerous situation on the back of an ostrich would be great, right? Not exactly. Cosby himself disliked the film so much that he told people they’d be throwing their money away to go see it. That’s probably why the $24 million production made back just under $5 million at the box office and won a Razzie for Worst Actor, Worst Screenplay and Worst Picture.

8. Charlize Theron, Reindeer Games. The 2000 action film Reindeer Games starred Ben Affleck, Gary Sinese and Charlize Theron and was directed by John Frankenheimer. But it all somehow failed to come together. In the end the film lost a lot of money and compiled a wealth of negative reviews – including one from its star actress who simply said, “Reindeer Games was not a good movie.”

9. Mark Wahlberg, The Happening. Mark Wahlberg doesn’t exactly seem like a guy who lives his life afraid of trees. But that is the odd position M. Night Shyamalan’s 2008 film The Happening put him in. Wahlberg, as it turns out, doesn’t look back too fondly on the film. He went on record during a press conference for The Fighter when he described a conversation with a fellow actor:

"We had actually had the luxury of having lunch before to talk about another movie and it was a bad movie that I did. She dodged the bullet. And then I was still able to … I don’t want to tell you what movie … alright “The Happening.” F*** it. It is what it is. F***ing trees, man. The plants. F*** it. You can’t blame me for not wanting to try to play a science teacher. At least I wasn’t playing a cop or a crook."

10. John Cusack, Better Off Dead. John Cusack reportedly hated his cult 80s comedy so much that he walked out of the screening and later told the film’s director Steve Holland that Better Off Dead was "the worst thing I have ever seen" and he would "never trust you as a director again."

11. Christopher Plummer, The Sound of Music. The Sound of Music is considered a classic and has delighted many generations of fans. But the film's own lead actor, Christopher Plummer, isn’t ready to sing its praises. Mr. Von Trapp himself declined to participate in a 2005 film reunion and, according to one acquaintance, has referred to the film as The Sound of Mucus.



TOPICS: Music/Entertainment; TV/Movies
KEYWORDS: actors; films
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To: cld51860

Oh, okay. I knew that narrator voice was familiar, but I hadn’t considered Christopher Plummer, and Max von Sydow doesn’t come to mind much.

My three oldest children (23, 20, 17) are all into Skyrim and associated games.


61 posted on 10/09/2014 4:06:32 PM PDT by Tax-chick (Feeling fine about the end of the world!)
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To: SeekAndFind

I liked “Knocked Up.” Two people had a drunk one-night stand, and when she found out she was pregnant, the two of them actually decided to become a couple, to make a go of it, for the baby’s sake. I think I read that Sarah Palin is a fan of the movie.


62 posted on 10/09/2014 4:11:58 PM PDT by CatherineofAragon ((Support Christian white males---the architects of the jewel known as Western Civilization.))
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To: EEGator
He had his testicles all over me.

Testicles?

You know like Octopus

Oh Tentacles, testicles is entirely different thing

Love his movies hate his politics.

63 posted on 10/09/2014 4:12:38 PM PDT by sharkhawk (Mr Gorbachev, tear down this wall.)
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To: discostu
“10. John Cusack, Better Off Dead. John Cusack reportedly hated his cult 80s comedy so much that he walked out of the screening and later told the film’s director Steve Holland that Better Off Dead was “the worst thing I have ever seen” and he would “never trust you as a director again.””

That movie is iconic. He must have no sense of humor. The more I learn about him the more I think Cusack seems like a real loser.

64 posted on 10/09/2014 4:14:41 PM PDT by Vision (Living in beauty)
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To: RegulatorCountry

So it’s not just me?

I can’t do musicals...not at all. My mother just loved them; I agree that it’s probably a generational thing. But when the characters burst into song, I cringe.

But to each his own, of course.


65 posted on 10/09/2014 4:15:52 PM PDT by CatherineofAragon ((Support Christian white males---the architects of the jewel known as Western Civilization.))
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To: sharkhawk

Same here.

I liked One Crazy Summer as well.(not as much though)


66 posted on 10/09/2014 4:20:50 PM PDT by EEGator
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To: SeekAndFind

“1. Sylvester Stallone, Stop! Or My Mom Will Shoot”

If my ex-girlfriend and I had remained on speaking terms, I’d still be apologizing for taking her to see “Tango and Cash.”

And while we’re on the subject, did anyone regret making “Battlefield Earth”?


67 posted on 10/09/2014 4:35:21 PM PDT by PLMerite
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To: workerbee

“Were you paid?
Then shaddupaboutit.”

Extremely well put!


68 posted on 10/09/2014 4:36:57 PM PDT by pieceofthepuzzle
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To: EEGator

It’s amazing how many people remember those silly comedies (which are great) vs. the emotional dreck of Oscar winning movies like Kramer vs. Kramer.


69 posted on 10/09/2014 4:38:14 PM PDT by sharkhawk (Mr Gorbachev, tear down this wall.)
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To: Captain Peter Blood

About that boy he asked not to see the movie again...he also said in an interview that he saw in the boy’s eyes “a tiny spark of madness”. He also recalled that the boy went away sad because his ‘hero’ had asked him not to like his favorite thing. The boy’s mother didn’t take kindly to Sir Alec’s suggestion.

I’ve seen fans who have that ‘spark of madness’ he spoke of, not only for ‘Star Wars’, but for other things as well. It isn’t pretty.


70 posted on 10/09/2014 4:44:16 PM PDT by hoagy62 ("Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered..."-Thomas Paine. 1776)
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To: Jonty30
Katherine Heigl always complaining about the movies she is in, which is why she isn’t in too many these days.

Megan Fox was a hot item in the Transformers movies. Then she called the director a NAZI, and she was written out of the series. She has done some work, but nothing of the caliber of Transformers, which is really saying something.

Some people, after winning the lottery of being picked for a part in a big movie that ten thousand other waitresses in Los Angeles can do just as well, just can't keep their mouth shut and cash the checks. They want to do "ART," but dont realize 99% of acting is just showing up, saying a few lines, cashing the check, and going home. Then maybe , once or twice in a career, achieving "ART."

71 posted on 10/09/2014 4:59:26 PM PDT by Vince Ferrer
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To: Vince Ferrer
She has done some work, but nothing of the caliber of Transformers, which is really saying something.

LOL!

They want to do "ART," but dont realize 99% of acting is just showing up, saying a few lines, cashing the check, and going home.

Reminds me of something in Charlton Heston's memoirs. He asked a director, "What's my motivation in this scene?" and the director answered, "To hit your mark and say your line when I say TEN, because we can only afford to shoot this scene once!"

72 posted on 10/09/2014 5:27:31 PM PDT by Tax-chick (Feeling fine about the end of the world!)
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To: SeekAndFind

Climb Every Mountain by the Head Nun was great, as well!


73 posted on 10/09/2014 6:31:34 PM PDT by SgtHooper (Anyone who remembers the 60's, wasn't there!)
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To: chajin
Mark was the consummate stage actor, and had a powerful presence, which oddly enough didn't seem to translate to film or television; I'm not sure why, because we all could see his dramatic ability.

His voice work as The Joker for much of the animated Batman work is outstanding. The stage training carries through in that. He was also very good in The Big Red One. The scene with him finally getting over his jitters at the ovens was good.

74 posted on 10/09/2014 7:15:37 PM PDT by IYAS9YAS (Has anyone seen my tagline? It was here yesterday. I seem to have misplaced it.)
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To: greene66

I don’t see why he should have hated his performance in “Arsenic and Old Lace”, its a wonderful movie.


75 posted on 10/10/2014 6:47:57 AM PDT by ops33 (Senior Master Sergeant, USAF (Retired))
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To: Tax-chick

Seems that’s why Nicholas Cage is in so many movies of late: in dire need of money (huge serious debts) so he’ll make anything (including a movie based on the back cover of the novel _Left_Behind_.


76 posted on 10/10/2014 7:03:19 AM PDT by ctdonath2 (You know what, just do it.)
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To: SeekAndFind; GeronL; Slings and Arrows
1. Sylvester Stallone -"I made some truly awful movies. Stop! Or My Mom Will Shoot was the worst.

This from a man who made a movie about professional arm wrestling.

77 posted on 10/10/2014 7:09:10 AM PDT by a fool in paradise (Hey Obama: If Islamic State is not Islamic, then why did you give Osama Bin Laden a muslim funeral?)
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To: SeekAndFind; GeronL; Slings and Arrows
3. George Clooney, Batman & Robin. Star George Clooney recognized what a stinker he helped create and once plainly stated, “I think we might have killed the franchise.”

He killed the Killer Tomatoes franchise as well.


78 posted on 10/10/2014 7:12:29 AM PDT by a fool in paradise (Hey Obama: If Islamic State is not Islamic, then why did you give Osama Bin Laden a muslim funeral?)
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To: ctdonath2

Yes, I saw on FR that he’s got a large tax bill.


79 posted on 10/10/2014 7:56:36 AM PDT by Tax-chick (Feeling fine about the end of the world!)
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To: Vision

Of course you can never really trust an artist to judge their own work. Pet Townshend hates Pinball Wizard and thinks The Ironman is the best album he ever made.


80 posted on 10/10/2014 8:01:24 AM PDT by discostu (We don't leave the ladies crying cause the story's sad.)
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