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Your biggest movie disappointments

 
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Follow-up to Jeanne's wonderful thread. What are the movies that have disappointed you most? And most important - Why.

Please, no sequels, since it's pretty much a given that they will be a disappointment; although, as an option, if you can come up with a sequel that's better than the original, give us them too.

And since we're about 'disappointment' here, try and keep to films that should have been good. ie, no 'Police Academy's.

I'll kick off with my top 3:

The Weather Man - Dreamy, meandering tale about a bloke (Nicholas Cage) who's dissatisfied with his life. Good acting on show, but completely listless; and when the action does finally pick up, it's let down once again by an incredibly weak ending.

Naked - According to some, Mike Leigh's masterpiece. According to me, an overlong, nihilist piece of cinema-verite that goes absolutely nowhere. Pity, because I really like David Thewlis.

This Sporting Life - A bit like the one above. Dreary, drab, kitchen-sink drama, with no redeeming qualities in its characters whatsoever. The acting is superb (check out the cast - a who's who of Brit cinema of the time), but the whole thing just feels hollow and sordid.

Any takers?

Winston
 
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Catwoman - I'm not usually into superhero movies, but how could you go wrong with Halle Berry in tight, black leather? Very, apparently. This is a real piece of crap that will make you wish you could get those two hours of your life back.

Wild Wild West - Loved the TV series as a kid, and Will Smith rarely makes a bad movie, so I had high hopes for this one, but it's agonizing to watch. A giant, metal spider in the 1800's? Seriously? It's almost as bad as Cowboys and Aliens.
 
Winston Gutkowski
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J. Kevin Robbins wrote:Wild Wild West...


Ooof. Monster pick. After Henry V, what was Kenneth Branagh thinking? Not to mention that the budget could probably have provided food aid to Somalia for a year.

I also get your point about 'Catwoman'; but HB in black leather is still a guilty pleasure.

Winston
 
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Jeepers Creepers, a horrifying insult to the horror genre.
 
Winston Gutkowski
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James Boswell wrote:Jeepers Creepers, a horrifying insult to the horror genre.


Don't know it; never will now, thanks to you, James.

Winston
 
James Boswell
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Only if you have a spare couple of hours Winston. Even scarier than the film, in looking it up on IMDB, I see they made JC 2 & 3, how was that ever allowed!
 
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Inception: A story so deeply layered, a web so tightly spun, by the end I couldn't care less what happened or whether the spinning top fell over or not (if you've seen it you'll know what I'm talking about).
 
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Mission Impossible

Seriously? Making Mr. Phelps the bad guy? Killing all the members of the team? And doing so for money?!?!?

Was there not a single member of the production team that was a fan of the TV series? Come on !!

Henry
 
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Tim Cooke wrote:Inception: A story so deeply layered, a web so tightly spun


Yeah, who gets stuck, and where, becomes a bit too intricate in the end, but I thought it was worthwhile for the visuals.
 
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The Matrix: Reloaded and The Matrix Revolutions.
Tedious and convoluted sequels riddled with plot holes and inane philosophical mumbo-jumbo. Trilogy my foot, more like shamelessly cashing in on a sleeper hit.

Edit: Errr, I seem to have missed the no sequels rule, my bad.
 
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Winston Gutkowski wrote:if you can come up with a sequel that's better than the original, give us them too.


I file Terminator 2: Judgment Day in this category.

Do I need to supply the reasons? The story was better, the ending optimistic, the effects spectacular (at that time at least), it featured a walking blob of liquid metal, and I've seen it before the first one.

T3 wasn't nearly as good as T2, but still pretty good as sequels go.
 
Winston Gutkowski
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Jelle Klap wrote:Edit: Errr, I seem to have missed the no sequels rule, my bad.


No probs. See if you can atone by claiming your "option" play: Come up with a sequel that was better than the original - but you have to give us a 'disappointment' as well .

Winston
 
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Better sequels than Toy Story 2?
 
Winston Gutkowski
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James Boswell wrote:Better sequels than Toy Story 2?


James, you're a mine of movie trivia. Saw the original. Meh. Never bothered to try another. So, it's good is it?

BTW guys, you have to explain WHY. That's the whole point of the thread.

Winston
 
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Or Toy Story 3, for that matter.

Does "no sequels" include prequels as well? Because there's a big white elephant in the room there...
 
Winston Gutkowski
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Martin Vajsar wrote:I file Terminator 2: Judgment Day in this category.


Yup. Can't argue there - one of my faves too.

Winston
 
Winston Gutkowski
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Mike Simmons wrote:Does "no sequels" include prequels as well? Because there's a big white elephant in the room there...


Hey man, whatever. I'm on my third beer, and thinking about pulling out 'T2' again...

Winston
 
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Star Trek: Into Darkness, what a complete and utter train wreck.
 
Bear Bibeault
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Winston Gutkowski wrote:if you can come up with a sequel that's better than the original, give us them too.



Alien was great, Aliens was great+.

Same with Batman Begins and The Dark Knight; both great, 2nd slightly greater.
 
Winston Gutkowski
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Henry Wong wrote:Mission Impossible Seriously? Making Mr. Phelps the bad guy? Killing all the members of the team? And doing so for money?!?!?


The Bitch Goddess. I never saw the movie because I didn't want to spoil my memories, so thanks Henry, for letting me know I wasn't wrong.

Winston
 
Winston Gutkowski
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Bear Bibeault wrote:Alien was great, Aliens was great+.


So...sci-fi fan then Bear? Why does that not surprise me?

Personally, can't agree with Alien/Aliens, but that's what makes movies so great, so you get +1's all around.

Winston
 
Jelle Klap
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Winston Gutkowski wrote:

Jelle Klap wrote:Edit: Errr, I seem to have missed the no sequels rule, my bad.


No probs. See if you can atone by claiming your "option" play: Come up with a sequel that was better than the original - but you have to give us a 'disappointment' as well .

Winston


Easy, I pick Aliens as a sequel that was better than the original. Even it was a completely different kind of movie
A big dissapointment to me was No Country for Old Men. I just coudn't get into it for some reason. Not one likable character in the entire movie. Almost turned it off, but didn't.

Edit: Aaaaw, Bear beat me to Aliens.
 
Henry Wong
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Winston Gutkowski wrote:

Henry Wong wrote:Mission Impossible Seriously? Making Mr. Phelps the bad guy? Killing all the members of the team? And doing so for money?!?!?


The Bitch Goddess. I never saw the movie because I didn't want to spoil my memories, so thanks Henry, for letting me know I wasn't wrong.

Winston



I'll bitch some more...

1. Killing the team for money? Wasn't there an episode where they rob a casino (using trickery and technology)? Huh? Mr. Phelps can't do that? Something that was done already?

2. Mission Impossible is about the TEAM !! ... it is not a one man Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) mission !!

3. And finally. Isn't there a perfect place for Nostalgia? What about the team that chased Ethan? Can't Mr. Phelps lead that team? Along with the rest of the original cast? No wonder Peter Graves didn't want to do the movie.

Henry
 
Winston Gutkowski
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Jelle Klap wrote:Easy, I pick Aliens as a sequel that was better than the original. Even it was a completely different kind of movie
Edit: Aaaaw, Bear beat me to Aliens.


Yup. So you still owe us one. Seems I'm in the minority about 'Aliens', but I can think of one in that category that nobody's mentioned yet.

I've been thinking about watching 'No Country...', but haven't got around to it yet. Luckily, I've got a few others to get to (now first).

Winston
 
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Every single Nightmare on Elm Street, except the first.

"One, two, Freddy's coming for you..."
 
Jelle Klap
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Winston Gutkowski wrote:

Jelle Klap wrote:Easy, I pick Aliens as a sequel that was better than the original. Even it was a completely different kind of movie
Edit: Aaaaw, Bear beat me to Aliens.


Yup. So you still owe us one.



Then I pick X2, worth watching for the opening seqeunce alone.

 
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As for sequels that are better than the originals, I think there are quite a few out there. I agree with Aliens, Toy Story 2, The Dark Knight, and X2, but would add

Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan
The Empire Strikes Back
Spider-Man 2
The Godfather, Part II
Rocky II

Pretty sure there are more I'm forgetting offhand...
 
Winston Gutkowski
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James Boswell wrote:Every single Nightmare on Elm Street, except the first.


C'mon guys. This is supposed to be about disappointment; not how many 'I's there are in the title. Think misery, despair...money, time and good popcorn wasted...

I'll kickstart again: Bad Comany - Woulda, coulda, shoulda. Just look at the cast - including my 'femme fatale' of the 90's: Ellen Barkin - but a sorry, disjointed mess of a movie, with nobody to root for and no discernable plot that I could see - except maybe to get them all in the same hotel room for the final scene.

Winston
 
Winston Gutkowski
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Mike Simmons wrote:As for sequels that are better than the originals, I think there are quite a few out there.


Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan - Yup. Has my vote.
The Empire Strikes Back - Meh.
Spider-Man 2 - Two 'meh's in my book.
The Godfather, Part II - Now THAT's the one I was waiting for.
Rocky II - IMO, near miss; but a good try.

But it seems like everyone is more knowledgable about sequels than originals. Sign of the times, perhaps. Prove me wrong. Disappointment, please.

Winston
 
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Winston Gutkowski wrote:C'mon guys. This is supposed to be about disappointment; not how many 'I's there are in the title. Think misery, despair...money, time and good popcorn wasted...

Winston



The Postman. I am still miserable thinking about it now and it has been 15 years.
 
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Winston Gutkowski wrote:But it seems like everyone is more knowledgable about sequels than originals. Sign of the times, perhaps.


Well for me, it's that sequels are where I am most likely to have high expectations going in, if the original was good. If it's original I probably have no expectations, and if it's an adaptation from another medium, I may hope it's good, but don't really expect it to be good. Sequel disappointments are most memorable, for me. The biggest example being the elephant in the room I alluded to earlier, The Phantom Menace. Hence the question on prequels.

Winston Gutkowski wrote:Prove me wrong. Disappointment, please.


Hmmm... The Blair Witch Project was pretty bad, for all the word-of-mouth it had going in. Plus it ushered in so many other lame found-footage films.
 
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Wow, I can't believe that this thread is as long as it is without mentioning the worst movie that I ever saw: Star Wars 1, Phantom Menace.
 
Pat Farrell
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J. Kevin Robbins wrote:Catwoman - I'm not usually into superhero movies, but how could you go wrong with Halle Berry in tight, black leather?



Not to be a sexist male pig, but that was exactly my expectations for Lara Croft: Tomb Raider with Angelina Jolie.
I couldn't watch more than 15 minutes of it. What a pointless movie.
 
Bear Bibeault
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Pat Farrell wrote:Wow, I can't believe that this thread is as long as it is without mentioning the worst movie that I ever saw: Star Wars 1, Phantom Menace.



There were only three Star Wars movies.

And only three Indy Jones movies.
 
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Winston Gutkowski wrote:
The Weather Man - Dreamy, meandering tale about a bloke (Nicholas Cage) who's dissatisfied with his life. Good acting on show, but completely listless; and when the action does finally pick up, it's let down once again by an incredibly weak ending.


I never figured out how Nicholas Cage got any movies to start with. He looks so bored and exhausted in all scenes. And he can't even pitch his dialogs properly. Meh.

I stumbled across Ong Bak 2 which I enjoyed tremendously. Its fast paced, full of action and the cinematography was awesome....and then I made the mistake of watching Ong Bak
 
Maneesh Godbole
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Tim Cooke wrote:Inception: A story so deeply layered, a web so tightly spun, by the end I couldn't care less what happened or whether the spinning top fell over or not (if you've seen it you'll know what I'm talking about).


I actually loved it. It fun to try and keep trace of all the levels. Kind of trying to figure out whats happening on the call stack
 
Henry Wong
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Maneesh Godbole wrote:

Tim Cooke wrote:Inception: A story so deeply layered, a web so tightly spun, by the end I couldn't care less what happened or whether the spinning top fell over or not (if you've seen it you'll know what I'm talking about).


I actually loved it. It fun to try and keep trace of all the levels. Kind of trying to figure out whats happening on the call stack




Agreed. The complexity of the movie made it enjoyable -- although in the end, I thought it was just a so-so movie. The reason the complexity was good was that it forced you to pay attention. You had a feeling that if you missed a minute, you will be lost.

Henry
 
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"The Wolverine"

Felt like I was watching a video game. Could see the twist ending a mile away.

The worst part was Viper (Svetlana Khodchenkova). A budget of $120 million and she's the best blonde actress they can find. Toss her into B-film purgatory where she belongs.

 
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Reign of Fire.

My wife still hasn't forgiven me, 11 or so years later.
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