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.
The worst film hands down:
"I Spit On Your Grave"
I know it's old, but there has never been a worse movie (IMO) yet. Roger Ebert even agreed several years ago.
The characters (both starring and supporting roles) were flat and phony-the plot was shaky and relied on coincidence-and the ending was unfulfilling.
In my opinion, the previous worst "Best Picture" was Ordinary People, which really was an ordinary movie-it could well have been an Afterschool Special.
But she was hot!
The Neverending Story Krippendorf's Tribe Young Einstein Twister Safe at Home (Mantle and Maris acting as wooden as their bats) American Ninja Can't Stop the Music Xanadu
Manchurian Candidate
"The Green Mile"
Robert Duvall is a very lucky man! ;-)
Huh?
The Neverending Story
Krippendorf's Tribe
Young Einstein
Twister
Safe at Home (Mantle and Maris acting as wooden as their bats)
American Ninja
Can't Stop the Music
Xanadu
"Tootsie"
"To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything, Julie Newmar"
"Priscilla, Queen of the Desert"
any other movie that has men flouncing around in dresses.
In the theaters? Either Mortal Kombat or Malibus Most Wanted. Atleast they were both dollar theater viewings.
Ever? That is hard to say, Titanic was pretty boring.
Wow - sorry to see someone feels that way. It's a wonderful movie.
They could have made a whole movie out of that one part and I'd go back to see it twice. I left Titanic feeling like a complete idiot that I hadn't walked out earlier and salvaged some of the 3 or 4 hours that movie stole from my life.
"Santa Claus Conquers the Martians" is also terrible.
You poor bastard.
You actually sat through all of that?
(Bows down) I'm not worthy! I'm not worthy!
Blair Witch Project: Not the slightest bit scary. The most obviously poisonous audience reaction to a film I can ever remember.
I kept thinking "Just sink already."
I 100% agree with you about the Grinch movie. I thought I was the only one who absolutely hated it. The Chuck Jones cartoon was perfect. No need to add to it.
I think one of the worst movies ever has to be Pure Country starring George Strait. I lost friends because of that movie. When we watched it, my friends and I were doing a Mystery Science Theater 3000 to it, and it pissed everyone else off because they thought it was a modern day Citizen Kane.
Another terrible one is that movie where Chris Rock run for President. Can't remember what it's called, but it stunk! The Pacifier with Vin Diesel is pretty terrible as well. I also think Spielberg's Close Encounter of the Third Kind, was more of a Close Encounter of the Tird Kind. What an overrated snooze fest! Avoid the Special Edition Director's Final Version Adaption Remix Redux Recut. Who needs to see Richard Dryface play with his mashed potatoes for an extra eight hours?
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