"You're tasteless"
"You just didn't get it"
Edit: "I have no respect for you" by Nervous Larry

Aaah, good times!

Was there ever a film considered as a classic that you didn't like? Ever been critisized for this?

Let's discuss: what movie, generaly regarded as masterpiece, did you not like, or just didn't find awesome?

I'll begin: Taxi driver. Seriously, what the hell? I've watched this movie when I was in my young 17, got the overall feel, theme, psychologie of the character etc. But damn, I just found it boring and unengaging at the time.

I didn't connect, I was receiving information without it affecting me in any way.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Honorius,

Whether you like it or not is your personal taste. But if you don't understand why that film is a masterpiece, I have no respect for you. That's probably my favorite film, at least American film, and it's beyond amazing.

I rarely find "masterpieces" to be let downs. Casablanca I think is a bit overrated because it's very romantic and movie-ish. It captures that Hollywood movie feeling real well, and it has Bogart. But yet I wasn't necessarily disappointed, and I didn't think it was a bad film.

Generally regarded as a masterpiece, and yet, I don't like it? Oh! That's easy!

Citizen Kane
8 1/2
400 Blows
A Touch of Evil

I respect those films immensely, but I just do not enjoy watching them beyond the casual "ohh! nice shadow/focus pull/edit/whatever!"

A Touch of Evil bordered on enjoyable for me.

I think there are more... I just need meditate on it.

I definitely agree with Honorius on Taxi Driver. I personally don't find many Scorsese films as awesome, maybe good, but not awesome. The only one I can remember thinking this was awesome was Goodfellas.

Have you tried watching 8 1/2 a second time? The first viewing can be a lengthy struggle with boredom at times...but on subsequent viewings things start to stand out. Or maybe not for you...its a preference thing again.

And A Few Films The I Dont "Get":
The Usual Suspects
LOTR

Agreed on The Usual Suspects. It's "cool" but I just didn't like it. Although, that's one I definitely need to see again to get everything out of.

What what???

The Usual Suspects?

Really???

Memento -- not that many people would call it a "classic", but it was really popular and people defend that film virulently.

I can go along with disliking Citizen Kane. Sure. Yawners. And I'll see your Welles and raise you some Hitchcock. Vertigo and Rear Window. Not my cup of tea. (For this kind of extremely formal, foundational stuff, give me Renoir instead, any day.)

Life is Beautiful has always been on my most-hated list. Oh yes, and all movies having to do with penguins.

Weird, I just rented 8 1/2 and touch of evil through netflix, Ive never seen either proper. But 8 1/2 already looks amazing.

the 400 blows is one of my favorite films. Antoine Dionel is just so relatable, Id think.

Citizen Kane I've heard a lot of people say they dislike. It starts out good but then gets a little boring. But I don't know. It's so hard to badmouth Orson Welles, I find. The guy is just so damn charming on screen.

Titanic . . . I despise that movie.

i hated the 39 steps... I think the only hitchcock movie I really enjoyed watching was Psycho.

This is crazy. I didn't realize so many people my age disliked Hitchcock or Welles. I'll admit it's a different time and sometimes I have difficulty with their movies, but I never thought either of them to do a bad film.

This makes me curious as to what most your favorite movies are, specifically you, Kurt Wagner.

Star Wars. All of them. But mostly what I hate about them is the way people build them up. I watched a show on the History Channel the other day where people were comparing Lucas to Homer and Shakespeare. I thought, "OK, that's it. I officially hate these movies." I mean, sure, the first three were fine, but none of them were masterpieces of cinema. We don't need books like "Lucas on Lucas" next to "Godard on Godard" because anything Lucas has to say about himself is de facto meaninglessness.

So there, I said it: Star Wars. All of them, even the decent ones.

I'm not really crazy about Citizen Kane either. I do like Welles though. He's great in The Third Man.

And to add to the thread, I don't see what's so great about Requiem for a Dream. I like Aronofsky, but Requiem is really overrated. People think I'm crazy when I tell them that Trainspotting is a much better movie about drug addiction.

Since when are Star Wars and Lord of the Rings considered classics?

Definitely wouldn't say LoTR is classic, but Ep. 4, 5, and 6 of Star Wars are most certainly considered classics I would say.

This is a good thread idea even though I'm saddened by most of these responses.

The thing with LotR is that while it may not be a classic set of films, it is a monumental achievement without precedent in the history of this craft. So, classic or not, it's got my respect.

Also, while Star Wars 4 maybe a classic, and while an argument can be made for 5, 6 was pretty dumb. I mean, the ewoks were too much.

I also had a hard time getting into Taxi Driver, and more recently, Babel, which everyone seems to be gushing over.

I thought I was going to be a little bored by The Birds, but ended up enjoying it a lot, mainly do to Tippi Hedren'S character.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Ignis et Glacies,

quote:

Originally posted by DrMagnificent:
And to add to the thread, I don't see what's so great about Requiem for a Dream. I like Aronofsky, but Requiem is really overrated. People think I'm crazy when I tell them that Trainspotting is a much better movie about drug addiction.

Well I respect your opinion...but what do you think Requiem For A Dream is missing?

And I would have to say even though Requiem and Trainspotting both involve drugs, they are about two completely different themes/subjects.

All of the original three Star Wars films are classics, without a doubt. Whether or not you like them is up to you

Jeez, what's with all the low blows to Taxi Driver? I saw this movie a few months ago and basically fell in love with it. It's without a doubt one of my favorite films.

I'm going to have to jump on the Citizen Kane band wagon - it's just...boring.

I'll have to give this some more thought...