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.
"Clockwork Orange" is one of my five favorite movies. How can you not like a movie that is a total attack on youth nihilism, amorality, and the ineffectiveness of social engineering by the state?
The movie aimed at being so many things, and failed in every attempt.
(That was me trying to sound like Dorothy Parker)
Mission to Mars tops my list. It's in a class by itself. ;)
Dumb and Dumber.
So stupid, I got up and walked out in the first 1/2 hour of the movie.
Didn't even demand a refund because I felt so foolish having paid to get in in the first place!
Anything with Ben Afleck, Alex Baldwin, Dustin Hoffman, The Sheen's or Richard Gere. Same goes for Meryl Streep, Bette Midler, Cher, Lily Tomlin...
So many bad ones... so few good.
Trust me, I've seen it many times.
Ripley, Interview with the Vampire, and X-Men 2 are some of the Gayest "mainstream" films produced by Hollywood in recent years.
The first few posts in this thread listed "Groundhog Day" and "An Officer and a Gentleman" as their two most awful films.
How ironic. They are my two alltime favorites. I could watch them again and again and never tire of them.
(Of course Richard Gere hadn't morphed into a dithering goof when "Officer" was made back in the early 80s)
Fargo?!? That is one of my absolute all-time favorites.
A lot of people did. I stood up after the movie in a crowded theator full of "moved" people and all but yelled "THAT SUCKED!".
Any Matrix or Lord of the Rings or Harry Potter movies. All overated!!
See my post #91.
"Mars Attacks!"
Didn't go to see it in the theater, but I thought it would be a laugh so I rented it when it came out on video. Only movie I took back without watching all of it.
I only saw it on the late movie back in 1969. I seem to remember the flying saucer with the strings was funny, but I found the rest just dopey and tedious.
That was my favorite part, too. I had to refrain from yelling "Step on his head! Push him under NOW!"
Unfortunately, you had to sit through about four days worth of one dimensional characters and maudlin love scenes to get to that part.
I loved Fargo, too. I just watched it last night.
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