Ryan McNeil
The past seven days have got me thinking…a dangerous pastime, I know.
It all started with me noticing the general “thumbs down” consensus for TERMINATOR SALVATION. However, once I saw the movie for myself, I found that I quite enjoyed it. I wondered aloud what everybody expected out of it to pummel it so fiercely.
Then on Wednesday, I read about New York reviewer Armond White who was the first critic to give UP a negative review.
It turns out White goes up cureent quite often, since he also gave thumb’s down to IRON MAN, SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE, MILK, and THE DARK KNIGHT. But what really bent my noodle was seeing the films that White liked that seemingly everyone else didn’t…namely SWING VOTE, NEVER BACK DOWN, WHAT HAPPENS IN VEGAS, LIONS FOR LAMBS, and I NOW PRONOUNCE YOU LARRY & CHUCK.
While I’d love to mock this critic for his questionable judgement, I realize that I’d be opening myself up to the same mockery (heaven forbid!). However, it leaves me curious…we’ve all had these moments of breaking away from the pack, for better or for worse. So it’s time to fess up…
Which film did everyone else love that you hated? And which film did everyone else hate but you loved?
I’m the only one I know who likes Meet Joe Black.
Everyone else loves Jerry Maguire, and I hate it.
I didn’t hate MJB…it’s a bit long, but I’ve seen far worse movies.
Can’t help you out on JERRY MAGUIRE though. Why did you hate it?
I don’t know, I just really hated Tom Cruise. I wasn’t inspired or interested in him at all. And I love Cameron Crowe movies, and I know that’s like his big one (other than Almost Famous, which is in my top 5 fav films), but I just really don’t like the movie. And I’ve seen it 3 times, so I really think I’ve given it a fair chance. I know, blasphemy right?
Just recently I’ve found myself against the grain with Star Trek. I thought it was fine, decent, good enough, but the reviews have just been through the roof, WAY higher than I would have expected even if I DID like it. I just feel like people always love the first “big” summer movie (i.e., Iron Man last year, which I was also only lukewarm on).
@ Ivy… No blasphemy, just interesting that you didn’t care for somethin’ many others liked. I’m actually even impressed that you gave it a few shakes before finally giving the stamp of disapproval.
Not caring for ALMOST FAMOUS – now that would be blasphemy!
@ Daniel… I can actually appreciate that stance. Being the one to stand up and say "Yeah, it was good…but let's settle down" is a lonely spot to be, so good on ya not to be afraid to call a spade a spade.
Where I might disagree with you, is over whether or not it's an "early summer phenomenon". Lest we forget that Wolverine was first out of the gate this year, though it hasn't been nearly as wide-praised. And two of last year's biggest summer darlings, WALL-E & DARK KNIGHT didn't arrive until much later.
Perhaps, if the first "big" summer movie isn't neccessarily the one that everyone loves…it's at least the one that gets the biggest amount of hype.
Armond White also gave Up a negative review.
I couldn’t stand Rachel Getting Married. At all.
As for movies I liked that everyone hated… I have so many guilty pleasures I couldn’t list them all.
@ Blake… I mentioned White not liking UP in my post, but lookin’ back at it, I sorta jammed it in between thoughts. Maybe I’ll go back and clear that up.
RACHEL was a bit of a toughie, since I can see many not buying the direction it’s trying to sell. I won’t yell at ya for that one.
I will however yell ta ya for not giving even ONE example of a flick you like that everyone else doesn’t. C’mon…it’s a safe place…like a nest…you can be truthful here!…
Okay. I’ll give. I thought Domino was a decent movie for what it was trying to be. In fact, I own it. I don’t understand why everyone hated it (it only has 9% from top critics on Rottentomatoes).
I also thing Gerry is fantastic. While critics seemed to think it was good, I’ve never talked to another live person that liked it.
And I thought Margot at the Wedding was one of the best films of the year, but not many jumped behind it either.
More timidly, I’ll admit to thinking Running Scared was a fantastic guy movie. Everyone makes fun of me when I voice that opinion.
I would have to say the most recent one that everybody else seemed to like but I LOATHED was Into the Wild.
Taking into consideration please that I’m originally from the Yukon and actually remember the news reports when his body was found. I thought that Sean Penn was over extending himself with the simpering pack of lies that complied his film. The guy was not a romantic fool who burned all of his ID and money to break out on his own (in fact his wallet, id, and $300 in cash were found in the trailer … it’s how they ID’d the body) He was arrogant child who had done no research on and had no respect for the terrain and wilderness he was taking on. Crap! All he would have had to do was read one Jack London book to know just how rough it gets up there.
*steps down from soapbox*
The one that I seem to be alone in liking would probably be Disney’s The Three Musketeers. It’s totally off plot from the novel by Dumas and I don’t care … and neither does it, which is why I think I like it so much. It’s fun and campy; Tim Curry is delightfully twisted and Oliver Platt has flawless line delivery.
I really hated Crash and The Matrix – and I know both were adored by many – but they didn’t do it for me at all. Crash with its sledgehammer up side the head approach to “subtly” – and The Matrix – I’m sorry but FX just don’t “make” a movie for me.
I LOVED Doomsday with all my heart. I think the director, Neil Marshall, describes it best “so outrageous you’ve got to laugh” – that’s all I want in a film to be entertained completely – and oh how I was entertained!
@ Blake… Interesting list. I haven’t seen DOMINO, but for how much of a critical beating it takes, it takes some huevos to admit you dig it. I have seen GERRY, and while I’m not gonna break your streak of no live people who like it, I will say that it would have made for a pretty good short film.
@ Anon (Beth)… Not a bad point. Truthfullhy, when I read the facts on his demise, it really soured my memory of the film. As for the musketeers….wow…I think you’re on you’re own there!
@ C Diddle… MATRIX? Really?? Hmmm, don’t know what to say to that one, since I still really dig it (even though it’s been played to death on TV in the ten years since it came out. As for DOOMSDAY, I do recall you writing about it…so maybe I’ll give it a rent and see if I can join you as one of those who love the hated flick.
I swear that some people just looooooove going against the grain just to that they stand out – opinions being opinions, no one in their right mind could argue that What Happens in Vegas et al are better than Milk, TDK et al. I say this not having heard of White (that I know of) and having no interest in contributing to whatever he's aiming for. I just think some people like being contrarians.
As Daniel might recall, I wasn't too hip on Gran Torino; while I thought it was hilarious, I also thought it was poorly acted, poorly directed, and I still swear it's just a reverse/update of The Karate Kid (to some extent). I'm glad it was shut out of the Oscars.
As for what I like – I'm with Blake – I have a number of guilty pleasures. I detest it when people give mocking love to Point Break or lump it with chessier (but still lovable) fare like Bloodsport; I think Point Break is really one of the best action movies of the past 25 years.
Will let you know if I think of more…