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.
Actually, I am still trying to remember who talked me into going to see "Bad Santa" . . . .
I nominate Norma Rae and Moulin Rouge. Walked out on those two.
What are you doing, repeatedly going to those kinds of movies? Add Moulin Rouge to your list, it truly sucked.
Easy there! no need to be cussing at me Mr. Crabby Pants...
Worst movies- Fargo, Ron Lavendar- weatherman,Dune.
I walked out on Dune and would have the others if I had an escape.
p.s.-
would like to add Bad Santa and Elf.
My wife is a huge movie buff and we use Fargo to determine how bad a flick is, so far- only a few have gone to those depths.
That was one fun-ny movie.
Were you expecting Woody Allen?
Meet the Fockers
Did not like the movie. Never read the book. The story was a snoozer and the kid was an unsyphathetic wimp.
Blech! Goofy slapstick stuff! You certainly have strange taste in movies.
I detested that stupid boring movie too.
Spawn was the worst movie I ever paid to see and Susperia was the worst movie I ever saw for free.
Anything by Andy Milligan.
Sean Connery was the star of one of my top worst films ever, Zardoz. Actually fell asleep in the theater watching that!
On A Clear Day You Can See Forever - love the Broadway musical CD, hate how they messed it up to make it a Streisand vehicle. (Although the word "Streisand" automatically makes the movie a worst movie candidate!)
I found Nightmare Before Christmas unwatchable.
I don't know if it's the worst movie I've ever seen, or just the most disappointing, but "Neighbors" has got to be somewhere on the list. I figured with Aykroyd & Belushi, it had to be funny, right? It never got there. It was bad. I mean suicidally bad.
A college buddy of mine once said that burning $5 was more entertaining that watching "Showgirls," but I can neither confirm nor deny the merits of that statement.
A very poorly directed, edited and dubbed Italian crime film I saw courtesy of Armed Forces Theater in Rhein Main, Germany; titled
"Pete, Pearl and The Pole".
Also
"My Name Is Nobody"
"Battlefield Earth"
"Basic"
"Sphere"
"Congo"
"Krippendorf's Tribe"
"Bowling For Columbine"
"The Big Bounce"
The Big Chill" (John Sayles "Return Of The Secaucus Seven" was SO much better!)
"The English Patient"
Jack.
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