Most overated films

[Jenerys]

When did you ever see Billy Piper or any other Dr Who assistant stab herself in the flange with a crucifix

Come on now...

 

[jbob]

Why does it have to be serious critics that rate it though ? When Gladiator came out it was being heralded as a brilliant film and to be honest I'd rather watch Quo Vadis than that piece of shit again .

Apocalypse Now I think was a brilliant film ( although the redux is shite ) , yes it was tedious in places but that IMO helped make it better by creating a mood in the viewer which complimented the films direction , the cinematography IMO was excellent as well . While maybe not deserving the accolades it gets it's no way near the most overated film !

I agree regarding Apocalypse Now, btw.

Regarding critical reception, I think it's virtually impossible for this not to have some bearing on what you take to the film. Now, I think it's unlikely that you're going to implcitly trust the film reviewer in the Daily Star, and more likely that you'd listen to Mark Kermode, who, whatever your opinion of him, is a serious film critic and knows his stuff.

I can remember Gladiator not being quite as lauded as you suggest in some critical circles. Not that it should be used a reason to judge a film, but it's an undemanding watch, obviously designed for the mass market, and was one the first in a trend of the revival of big budget ancient historical dramas in recent years. Its appeal is fairly obvious, but if your tastes are slightly more demanding, it's an unsatisfying, simplistic film, packed with every trick in the book. It doesn't bear comparison with many of the other films noted in this thread, which generally achieved a broad critically approving consensus.

 

[jbob]

Godfather part II. Coppola really laid an egg there methinks.

Another vote for the excorcist as well- you don't have to go far to find a scarier episode of doctor who.

Sorry, you've lost it. Part II is the best of the trilogy. Part III is complete nonsense, though.

 

[jbob]

it was shit... i can think of loads of others from that period of british cinema - trainspotting, human traffic and the like - which were equally pooh...

TBF, Trainspotting wasn't so bad. Human traffic is one of the worst films ever, and I can't think that anyone rated it

 

[Reno]

I quite liked that the first time I watched it, I think I was under the influence of Tom Paulin saying on The Late Review that it was like the great screwball comedies of the 1930s.

Just goes to show that poets should never review films.

 

[killer b]

Human traffic is one of the worst films ever, and I can't think that anyone rated it

i seem to remember it being well thought of at the time... possibly the film review section of mixmag isn't the best place to go hunting out decent films, mind.

 

[N_igma]

I
The fact that so many people loved it just goes to show how people see the world, i.e., foreigners are idiots to be laughed at. Depressing.

I think you've somehow misinterpreted the meaning of the film. It's got fuck all to do with racism.

I do agree though with Shawshank Redemption, it's alright, not in the top 10.

 

[Paulie Tandoori]

I'm on a roll

Four Weddings and a fucking Funeral

I wish that really had been the name of the film, maybe with the addition of 'bastard' between 'Four' and 'Weddings' as well.

Can i nominate anything at all with Hugh feckin Grant in it? About a Boy? About a wanker more like....

 

[ska invita]

[Lost in Translation] There are lots of perfectly well-rounded Japanese characters, and the gags really are just about difference.

I had a feeling this would kick off - the first link I linked to ( http://www.arc.org/racewire/031112e_paik.html) is the most balanced and tries to make the case for and against - but even then they dont agree that there are "well balanced Japanese characters". The defence is 'lets deliberately make the Japanese one dimensional as a cinematic/storytelling device'. I think that gives too much credit - its just callous.

I watched it with someone who was Chinese, who doesnt even particularly get on with Japanese people (cos of loosing parents in the war and all that) and it was uncomfortable to say the least.

Crouching Tiger, Hidden yawnfest. I tried, I really did. I went to see it at the cinema twice. I didn't fall asleep the second time, but I wish I had.

also, the Japanese version of the Ring. Not scary..

Both good calls - House of flyings daggers was even slower than CTHD. Hero was overrated too I think - give me a kick ass Hong King flick over this beautiful but boring bunch of movies any day.

And RIng wasnt scary - too polished and impersonal to be.

A Clockwork Orange/The Exorcist
They're only remembered because they were banned.

Nah - Excorcist in the cinema shat me up - Orange is classic UK cinema.

and The English Patient, this is one of lovely P's favourite films, I thought it was turgid bollocks. And couldnt feel in the slightest bit sorry for the Ralph Fiennes character, he was a cock!

With you on that. Plus it was boring. The average age of the "academy" is over 50 thats why crap like this wins endless Oscars

Tlaking of endless Oscars what about Gladiator - might have had some good bits in it, but I wouldnt know cos 3 times I've tried to watch it on DVD and each time I fall asleep in the first half hour.

 

[Nine Bob Note]

Bladerunner: What. The. Fuck?

It's a Wonderful Life: No need to be depressed provided you have a wife, kids, job, house etc...

Seven: Like, but nowhere near as good as the Beeb's Messiah.

 

[andy2002]

Donny Darko – irritating bargain basement David Lynch cobblers. The Bunnymen's Killing Moon is the best thing about it.

Magnolia – ponderous, pretentious bollocks saved from totally disaster only by some genuinely good performances.

Crash – dreary liberal tosh about how racism isn't very nice. Yeah, thanks for pointing that out, it's something I'd never considered before. Matt Dillon's good in it at least.

 

[ska invita]

Donny Darko – irritating bargain basement David Lynch cobblers.

I haven't seen this 'cos thats what Im expecting...


Come on - where's the defenders of Shawshank Redemption? I know you're out there! Explain how this is the second greatest film of all time to me!
http://imdb.com/chart/top

 

[Termite Man]

Crash – dreary liberal tosh about how racism isn't very nice. Yeah, thanks for pointing that out, it's something I'd never considered before. Matt Dillon's good in it at least.

I thought crash was about people shagging in car wrecks

 

[Termite Man]

Regarding critical reception, I think it's virtually impossible for this to have some bearing on what you take to the film. Now, I think it's unlikely that you're going to implcitly trust the film reviewer in the Daily Star, and more likely that you'd listen to Mark Kermode, who, whatever your opinion of him, is a serious film critic and knows his stuff.

but the point is films won't appeal to everyone so for one critic to like the film and another to dislike it means nothing . You listen to the critic that has similar tastes to you . So a review of a film from the daily star is just as valid as a review from Mark Kermode because they will be looking for different things ina film !

 

[andy2002]

I thought crash was about people shagging in car wrecks

The Crash I'm talking about won an Oscar for Best Picture last year. TBH, shagging in car wrecks would have made it infinitely better...

 

[andy2002]

Come on - where's the defenders of Shawshank Redemption? I know you're out there! Explain how this is the second greatest film of all time to me!
http://imdb.com/chart/top

I've only seen Shawshank once and thought it was okay but wouldn't cross the road to watch it again. I'm utterly perplexed as to why it's so popular. It's the sort of thing Empire readers pretend is great so it looks like they have wider tastes than just Star Wars and Lord Of The Rings.

 

[jbob]

but the point is films won't appeal to everyone so for one critic to like the film and another to dislike it means nothing . You listen to the critic that has similar tastes to you . So a review of a film from the daily star is just as valid as a review from Mark Kermode because they will be looking for different things ina film !

Well, yes, that's true in a wholly relativistic sense. But in these sorts of discussions its invariable that you have to generalise with terms like 'serious' critics, which implies that others are less 'serious' or, I suppose ultimately, less rigorous in an understanding of the art form they're critiquing.

Your argument is essentially meaningless, though. Is the news reporting of one media source of equal value to another, just because they're both expressing opinions? When looking for information on the Middle East, would you be more likely to value the opinion of Robert Fisk or Melanie Phillips? Likewise with Mark Kermode and the Daily Star film reviewer.

 

[Termite Man]

Your argument is essentially meaningless, though. Is the news reporting of one media source of equal value to another, just because they're both expressing opinions? When looking for information on the Middle East, would you be more likely to value the opinion of Robert Fisk or Melanie Phillips? Likewise with Mark Kermode and the Daily Star film reviewer.

Yes they both express opinions but they also approach their subject from a different direction . The daily star reviewer will be looking for different things n a film , which is likely to be big explosions and sex ( or maybe I'm being a bit harsh on the daily star here ) so they will have a knowledge of what a big explosion looks like and what makes it good , they will also know what makes a good plot . For something to be overated doesn't mean someone intelligent has to rate it . It can simply be your average bloke saying "Terminator 3 was brilliant" based on the size of the explosions in it . Whos to say his view isn't valid , but if I were to watch it and not be impressed by the explosions then that film would be overated .

I haven't really explained myself to well there but I think there is a point in there somewhere

 

[chooch]

I thought crash was about people shagging in car wrecks

No, that's that other overrated film.

 

[Termite Man]

No, that's that other overrated film.

the book was good though !

 

[chooch]

the book was good though !

I've not read it, but I usually like about half his stuff.

 

[Jenerys]

Crash, oh god yes....what a pile of wank! Sandra Bullock trying to be a serious actress...oh please!

And yes, totally agree, It's A Wonderful Life. Why? It's a stoopid movie. I still dont understand why the world would have been a worse place without Jimmy's mugging up to the camera?!

 

[Reno]

Donny Darko – irritating bargain basement David Lynch cobblers. The Bunnymen's Killing Moon is the best thing about it.

I haven't seen this 'cos thats what Im expecting...

Love it or hate it, but Donnie Darko is really nothing like a David Lynch film, be it in style or in what it's trying to do. It's a lazy assessment that keeps getting repeated by critics for whom anything non-linear = weird = David Lynch.

 

[Rainingstairs]

crash

 

[J77]

Devil Wears Prada - I think it got nominated for stuff, but what a shite film. Plus, that Hathaway has to be one of the shitest actresses out there.

(My gf got this out - she also thought it shite.)

 

[Andy the Don]

The Road to Perdition - according to IMDB arguably the best gangster movie ever made.. no its not its crap I can name over ten better 1920s - 30s gangster movies its crap & so is Tom Hanks.

 

[Jenerys]

Devil Wears Prada - I think it got nominated for stuff, but what a shite film. Plus, that Hathaway has to be one of the shitest actresses out there.

(My gf got this out - she also thought it shite.)

You have obviously never been an assistant to someone

When people ask me what my job is, I use that film as a reference....they've got the role to a tee

 

[J77]

You have obviously never been an assistant to someone

When people ask me what my job is, I use that film as a reference....they've got the role to a tee

Ain't that a living nightmare

 

[Termite Man]

You have obviously never been an assistant to someone

When people ask me what my job is, I use that film as a reference....they've got the role to a tee

doesn't mean the film is actually any good though !

 

[Macaroni Pony]

Little Miss Sunshine is totally overated imo. Its a decent film, but nothing more than that.

I can't understand why people go so nuts for it