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.
Thanks for warning me about that one. Many of these movies, like Plan 9 from Outer Space, are kind of fun to watch. Kids was just depressing as h*ll. I want to steer WAY clear of Gummo.
Very true. There was an atomic shot that sent fallout all over the set and no one evacauated, they just kept filming. And to make it worse the director had the radioactive dirt bagged up and brought back to hollywood so the indoor set shots would have the same color soil.
Add Victor/Victoria to that list. It is the only movie from which I have actually walked out.
You ever see the 1930's Bogart movie "The Return of Doctor X"? Bogie as a zombie!!! Really bad movie. But I have it as part of my almost complete Bogart collection. Watch it every Halloween season.
Starship Troopers to me was the biggest Abomination of a good Sci Fi story.
The MI were wimps
The Bugs were wimpier
and where the hell are the skinnies??
Someone needs to do a far better job on that book. Too bad Heinlen isn't still around, he would have shot the idiot who directed that piece of garbage.
It's kinda disturbing. Advice: Don't watch it with your parents.
Yeah--Eyes Wide Shut--I forgot about that one.
Horrible. Cruise wondering the streets looking to get laid. And all in slow motion.
And I realize now what Hell is like, having to watch "Beaches" over and over again for eternity.
Kids sounds like a real winner. I'll make a point of staying away from that one...
Fahrenheit 9/11 and The Day After - both blatant political hack movies filled with lies and distortions!
I'm with you. If it wasn't for the music, 2001 might have made me suicidal.
Alex Baldwin was good in "The Hunt for Red October". Good movie.
Nobody's mentioned "Rocky Horror" yet.
That's because nobody has even seen it sober.
If Plan Nine's out, how about Zabriskie Point? The critics loved it, but the public stayed away like mad. I was only able to sit through part of it, again on the late movie decades ago.
Me too. I love "Fargo".
Oh, yeah...Forrest Gump that would be on the most overrated ever list.
Thought of another - Back to the Future 2 and 3.
Jan Michael Vincent was in another turkey of a movie, "White Line Fever".
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.