Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

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
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-8081-88 last
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.

That is pretty interesting. I grew up with the Star Wars films, so I just took it all for granted, but I recently saw some behind-the-scenes footage of Hamill training for "Empire" and he was really putting his all into it. He struck me as a very hard worker. I'm sure it was all worth it since he likely never had to work again after "Jedi." His work as the Joker on Batman has always been fantastic, and it was a damn shame he retired from the role.

81 posted on 10/10/2014 8:16:25 AM PDT by Future Snake Eater (CrossFit.com)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 42 | View Replies]

To: ops33

I agree. It’s a fine film, and Cary Grant is fine in it. But somehow he thought he apparently played his character too ‘broadly,’ and was unhappy with the results.


82 posted on 10/10/2014 8:22:32 AM PDT by greene66
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 75 | View Replies]

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

Speaking of Battlefield Earth, J.D. Shapiro, one of the credited screenwriters (he wrote the first draft, and was fired due to Executive Meddling), started an apology letter on the movie with this:

"Let me start by apologizing to anyone who went to see Battlefield Earth. It wasn't as I intended — promise. No one sets out to make a train wreck. Actually, comparing it to a train wreck isn't really fair to train wrecks, because people actually want to watch those."

Ref.

83 posted on 10/10/2014 12:01:17 PM PDT by Slings and Arrows ("Country Songs Don't Have Happy Endings" - http://youtu.be/W93nc95j1KY)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 67 | View Replies]

To: SeekAndFind
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."

And then went and made "One Crazy Summer" with who as director?

84 posted on 10/11/2014 4:13:08 AM PDT by southern rock
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Jonty30

(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.”)

Sounds like it hit too close to home for her personally! No wonder the movie was a minor hit.


85 posted on 10/11/2014 4:27:58 AM PDT by mdmathis6
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: hoagy62

“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.”

The liberal Obama ‘swooners’ at all his rallies! 9/11 conspiracy types. Masonic illuminati conspiracy types.

My theory...must be aliens!(said with a spark of madness in my eyes.../s)


86 posted on 10/11/2014 4:34:00 AM PDT by mdmathis6
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 70 | View Replies]

To: Future Snake Eater

It would have been interesting to see a Mark Hamill take on Joker in one of the Batman movies...to watch the physical acting with the voice acting.

The Heath Ledger Joker was astounding...I think it took something out of him however though they say it was an overdose of pain meds that got him. I could never watch the movie again...not because the movie was bad but because the malevolence that Ledger evoked thru the character was so reminiscent of the veil of malevolence that is hanging over our country. Like the message of the movie and the question asked...”will good people refuse to go along with evil when forced to the wall?”

I think of that when the courts have been overturning Gay marriage bans. This country is its people, and morally righteous folks need to stir up the Holy Spirit within them, as the Bible says, and act as if the courts have not overturned the bans. We have to ultimately do what is right in God’s eyes, not what Pharoah should decree!


87 posted on 10/11/2014 4:49:50 AM PDT by mdmathis6
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 81 | View Replies]

To: mdmathis6
“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.”

Alec Guinness was correct.

I have seen internet arguments over stupidity like IPhone vs. Droid or Xbox vs. PlayStation, and I swear if these people were in the same room they would have possibly killed each other.

Hopefully he helped the boy see some sort of reality

88 posted on 10/11/2014 5:48:29 AM PDT by southern rock
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 86 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-8081-88 last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson