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.
"Caveman" (1981), starring Ringo Starr, with Shelly Long, Avery Schreiber, Jack Gilford, Dennis Quaid, and others who should have known better than to get anywhere near this piece of dreck. I'm surprised that Long and Quaid had careers after this film.
And he's 74 and she's thirty-something. There's still hope for us guys.
"Signs" -- the film about an invasion of aliens. Was supposed to have taken place in Bucks County, Pa. and starred Mel Gibson and J. Pheonix.
It was awful.
That's the one. The film is so bad, I would have to sit down and create words in order to insult it well enough. The thesaurus has failed me.
You beat me to it. Cloying, saccharine, self-obsessed baby boomers at their most childish and self-centered.
"Fargo" gets my vote for the worst movie ever, or one of the worst at least.
Chariots of Fire.
I hated "Clockwork Orange" and I think I'm the only person in the world that hated "2001 S.O." Borrrring.
Hands down - Class of Nuke Em High
The same director of "Kids" did an even WORSE movie called "Gummo" where most of the actors look like the banjo player from "Deliverence."
Has anyone mentioned "Star Wars: The Phantom Menace" yet? I slept through most of that one, it was so boring.
That's not how I remember it. And I have seen the film only once, during its original theatrical run.
But Plan Nine From Outer Space was so bad it was funny! That's an Ed Wood classic. I would sit through it again ... with only with a fun crowd, of course.
Oh - pity... Signs is a fabulous movie.
Yea, she is in her early to mid 30s and looks fantastic. No doubt waking up with a babe like her in the sack will add a decade or more to a man's life. Worked wonders for Tony Randall.
Some of us very macho guys, like Robert Duvall, can pull that off! ;-)
"An Officer and a Gentleman."
Agreed. The armed forces took one look at the script and very wisely refused to furnish any technical advice or support. Jane Fonda was probably the technical advisor.
No, the Cosby movie is Leonard Part 6, which is pretty God awful, but Plan 9 is in a class by itself.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0052077/maindetails
Gasp! NO WAY! Fargo is a favorite of mine!
FARGO???
I love Fargo!
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