Classics You Can't Stand!

Originally posted by Quiero Mota
I think all the movies that consistently make the "Top 10" lists are grossly overrated: Godfather, Wizard of Oz, Dr. Strangelove and so on. And not only is Citizen Kane overrated, I think it straight-up sucked.

It just seems like there's an unwritten law that everybody has to treat old movies as if they're all "masterpieces".

There's not an unwritten law to it... but I know what you mean. People just like it because it holds that much clout. I just don't like how people praise the films, and they have no idea why they were respected in the first place. Like Citizen Kane.

Originally posted by SnakeEyes
Also, to add, I'm not sure I like Casablanca too much... It's shot beautifully, the script is clever... but I didn't find the romance all that genuine, which is what the movie hinges on. Maybe it's a generational gap thing, but the acting aka overracting that was popular in old films doesn't appeal to me and it certainly doesn't ring true.

While I'm at it - Psycho and The Birds; two beloved Hitchcock films -- can't stand 'em! Or at least just didn't enjoy them at all.

The Birds was hilarious.

Originally posted by SnakeEyes
I'm not sure I made this clear earlier, but these don't all have to be older films, they can be any film that's considered a "masterpiece" or is near universally well-liked; so they can be recent films too.

Originally posted by Impediment
Kick Ass is hardly a classic.

Originally posted by The Nuul
Nor is Batman Begins, TDK or Bourne.

Originally posted by Impediment
My point, exactly.

Yay for not reading... 😐

Originally posted by SnakeEyes
Godfather's awesome.

I'm not sure I made this clear earlier, but these don't all have to be older films, they can be any film that's considered a "masterpiece" or is near universally well-liked; so they can be recent films too.

And since was Kick-Ass considered a "masterpiece" or was near universally liked? It got 1 Star in a lot of ratings.

I'd add Happy Gilmore and Billy Madison to my list.

So as it stands: The Big Lebowski, The Star Wars OT, Kick Ass, Monty Python and the Holy Grail, Monty Python's Life of Brian, Hot Fuzz, Shaun of the Dead, Scott Pilgrim vs. the World, Happy Gilmore and Billy Madison.

Didn't realise there'd be that many (and there are probably a lot more randoms that I just haven't thought about yet).

Good thread btw. ^^

Originally posted by Kaibs
And since was Kick-Ass considered a "masterpiece" or was near universally liked? It got 1 Star in a lot of ratings.

"Near" would be a relative term, and potentially hyperbolic when considering its expansion into the term "near universally". It is up to the individual how exactly he/she would go about interpreting such a term.

Originally posted by Kaibs
And since was Kick-Ass considered a "masterpiece" or was near universally liked? It got 1 Star in a lot of ratings.

Possibly due to the fact what Hit-Girl does is confronting for most of those people.

Originally posted by Kaibs
And since was Kick-Ass considered a "masterpiece" or was near universally liked? It got 1 Star in a lot of ratings.

I keep on falling asleep trying to watch Blade Runner. I know it's supposed to be a great film, and I'm sure it is - but it's just too slow for me. I saw it once when I was much younger, and ever since, whenever I try to watch it again, I can't get past the first half an hour or so before I fall asleep.

I'm confused on peoples' definition of "classics" after seeing some of the titles listed. Seems that any relatively well liked movie is considered a classic. Heck, Scott Pilgrim? A movie that came out just 1 month ago is a classic?

And since was Kick-Ass considered a "masterpiece" or was near universally liked? It got 1 Star in a lot of ratings.

Don't know where you are reading reviews but everywhere I read the majority gave it 3 out of 5, hardly any 1-2 stars.

Originally posted by Myth
I'm confused on peoples' definition of "classics" after seeing some of the titles listed. Seems that any relatively well liked movie is considered a classic. Heck, Scott Pilgrim? A movie that came out just 1 month ago is a classic?

Originally posted by SnakeEyes
I'm not sure I made this clear earlier, but these don't all have to be older films, they can be any film that's considered a "masterpiece" or is near universally well-liked; so they can be recent films too.

Originally posted by Kaibs
There's not an unwritten law to it... but I know what you mean. People just like it because it holds that much clout. I just don't like how people praise the films, and they have no idea why they were respected in the first place. Like Citizen Kane.

i actually watched Citizen Kane a couple of months back for the first time. Do I think it's the greatest movie ever made? No. Can I see why they say it is? Definitely. it takes a while to get going but it's a beautifully written, wonderfully acted piece that deserves to be called a classic imo.

Any of the old western movies I can't stand.Not including movies that make fun of it like "The Three Amigos" also any of the James Bond movies as well.

Originally posted by §P0oONY
The film's climax is where I really take issue. I know it's a comedy so I probably shouldn't really care or read anything into it... When Hit-Girl kills people it's kind of funny and cute, simply because you know that's the way she was brought up and it's pretty novel seeing a cute little kid kill people. But when Kick-Ass and Hit-Girl infiltrate the building at the end and slay everyone for nothing more than revenge it's simply murder... and the fact that Kick-Ass participates after being so shocked at the drug dealers apartment (when we're first introduced to Hit-Girl) makes it even worse. I know that the film is playing on the "What a superhero would really be like in the real world" thing... but still. Kick-Ass is simply a murderer, it's not like it was in self-defence, they were attacking the building.

That's pretty much the reason why I didn't like the film. It left me feeling pretty hollow, which isn't great for a comedy. I also can't think of any gut-wrenchingly funny moments. I'm not saying it was the worst film I've ever seen or anything... not even close... and I respect it's originality. Saying that I'll probably just give Kick-Ass 2 a miss.

I can see where you're coming from, but the thing is, Kick-Ass WAS defending his life. Sooner or later the mafia folk would have found out who he was and killed him and probably his dad too. The decision he made to go out "guns" blazing was a decision he had to make between a stone and a hard place. Lots of people in real life have to make similar, ambiguously horrible decisions.

The movie is a little lost in translation. It's a satire and a parody of superheroes, but it's not as cynical as the comic book. The comics were straight up satirizing the entire concept of superheroes and the genre, kind of like Watchmen, except I like Kick-Ass better. 😎

A pre-emptive strike with the sole purpose of killing everyone isn't defending oneself. The entire conclusion to the film was simply flawed.

I got that the film was comic-book satire... That much wasn't lost in the adaptation.

Originally posted by -Pr-
i actually watched Citizen Kane a couple of months back for the first time. Do I think it's the greatest movie ever made? No. Can I see why they say it is? Definitely. it takes a while to get going but it's a beautifully written, wonderfully acted piece that deserves to be called a classic imo.

Well if you understand why then by all means bro, I respect you for liking it. Definitely.

Originally posted by §P0oONY
A pre-emptive strike with the sole purpose of killing everyone isn't defending oneself. The entire conclusion to the film was simply flawed.

I got that the film was comic-book satire... That much wasn't lost in the adaptation.

Yes, but that's the mess he got himself into. It's his fault for deciding to be an "*******" and be a superhero.

The satire was softened just a tad. Red Mist was wimpier in the movie. Katie isn't as shallow in the movie when she accepts Dave's apology, etc.

Originally posted by §P0oONY
Yay for not reading... 😐

Kick Ass is hardly as masterpiece.

Thank you for playing. Try again soon.

Your taste in film is duly noted.