I'm linking up to...
Okay, here we go. Those famous, well known films which everyone else may love, but I don't.
I know I get really upset when someone criticizes a film I love, so no offence is intended to those who love these films. I happen to not like them, but I'd love to hear why you do! :)
I know I get really upset when someone criticizes a film I love, so no offence is intended to those who love these films. I happen to not like them, but I'd love to hear why you do! :)
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Citizen Kane | Maybe I'm just stupid, but I honestly do not understand why this film is so often heralded as "the greatest film of all time". Nope, I don't get it. I mean, I don't just watch comedies - I'm perfectly capable of understanding a deep, complex, dramatic plot. But this film wasn't any of those things. The plot was flat, depressing, and just plain boring. It's been a while since I've watched it, but I'm not wasting several hours of my life re-watching this film just so I can more accurately explain to you how much I hated it. I do remember thinking that the cinematography was very good - fantastic, in fact. But besides that...no. Just because it's on every single "100 movies you must watch before you die" kind of list, doesn't mean you should actually watch it. Believe me, it would be a complete waste of time. You're welcome.
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The Philadelphia Story | You'd think with a cast like Jimmy Stewart, Cary Grant, and Katherine Hepburn, that I would love this film...but I didn't. I wanted to like it, I really did. But I couldn't. The acting was good, of course - with those three it couldn't be anything but good! It was the story I didn't like. There was something missing. You know when you're with someone who keeps trying to be funny, but isn't? It felt like that. Awkward. I didn't like some of the plot twists either, and I especially didn't like Tracy. What a spoiled little brat! I do however enjoy the musical remake High Society - it's cute and fun.
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Rear Window | I know, I know...please don't hate me, but I just don't like this film. Yes, it's Alfred Hitchcock! Yes, it's Jimmy Stewart! It's the plot that I don't like...also Grace Kelly (again, please don't hate me). I found the entire concept of some guy murdering his wife, then chopping her up into pieces, and concealing them in a trunk extremely gruesome and disturbing. I don't like Hitchcock's Rope for similar reasons. Psycho, I like. Please don't ask me to explain why, because I'm still trying to figure that one myself. The concept of a photographer laid up with a broken leg and observing everything going on in his apartment complex is interesting, though. I like that.
Grace Kelly is one of those actresses that I love in some films (like High Noon and The Country Girl) but greatly dislike in other films. She was just irritating in Rear Window. Please forgive me.
Also, I freely admit to having only seen this film once. I'm willing to give it another try and see if my opinion changes...but I'm rather doubting it.
Also, I freely admit to having only seen this film once. I'm willing to give it another try and see if my opinion changes...but I'm rather doubting it.
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West Side Story | I wish I could just copy Kristin's paragraph on why she dislikes this film, because she said everything I want to say. *grin*
I watched this film for the first time last week. First, you have to know that I have an intense dislike for Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. I'm sorry, but I don't. I get frustrated reading it, because all of the tragedy could have totally been avoided if everyone had just done one simple thing. Communicate!! So, I knew West Side Story was basically R&J set in NYC with the feuding taking place between two gangs. That actually sounded rather intriguing to me and I like Natalie Wood, so I thought I'd give it a chance. I'm sorry to say that I didn't like it. I'm not much for the "love at first sight" thing, add to that Maria's complete insensitivity to the fact that her brother is dead, singing about her love for Tony in front of her brother's girlfriend. Yeah...that didn't do much for me. The rest...well, it was a musical. And I love musicals. But the musical numbers just didn't do much for me. Gangsters dancing ballet?? I mean, really!
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The Third Man | Another film that is so often hailed as a masterpiece. It's certainly interesting from a visual perspective, with very unusual camera angles and uses of shadow and light. I typically love film noir...but not this one. Once again, a convoluted and sometimes extremely dull plot. It wouldn't be fair to say that the entire film was boring, because there are some really exciting bits (the escape through the sewer tunnels had me on the edge of my seat), but mostly boring. Also, the music. Nothing but an unseen zither-player through the entire film. I like unique and original film scores, but this just got monotonous. And last, but not least, the romance...or lack thereof. They had something going there for a bit, but it totally fizzled out at the end, leaving me feeling like the story was incomplete.
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So there you have it! Five Famous Classic Films which I don't like.
Question: What are some famous films that you don't like? I want to know!
I watched this film for the first time last week. First, you have to know that I have an intense dislike for Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. I'm sorry, but I don't. I get frustrated reading it, because all of the tragedy could have totally been avoided if everyone had just done one simple thing. Communicate!! So, I knew West Side Story was basically R&J set in NYC with the feuding taking place between two gangs. That actually sounded rather intriguing to me and I like Natalie Wood, so I thought I'd give it a chance. I'm sorry to say that I didn't like it. I'm not much for the "love at first sight" thing, add to that Maria's complete insensitivity to the fact that her brother is dead, singing about her love for Tony in front of her brother's girlfriend. Yeah...that didn't do much for me. The rest...well, it was a musical. And I love musicals. But the musical numbers just didn't do much for me. Gangsters dancing ballet?? I mean, really!
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The Third Man | Another film that is so often hailed as a masterpiece. It's certainly interesting from a visual perspective, with very unusual camera angles and uses of shadow and light. I typically love film noir...but not this one. Once again, a convoluted and sometimes extremely dull plot. It wouldn't be fair to say that the entire film was boring, because there are some really exciting bits (the escape through the sewer tunnels had me on the edge of my seat), but mostly boring. Also, the music. Nothing but an unseen zither-player through the entire film. I like unique and original film scores, but this just got monotonous. And last, but not least, the romance...or lack thereof. They had something going there for a bit, but it totally fizzled out at the end, leaving me feeling like the story was incomplete.
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So there you have it! Five Famous Classic Films which I don't like.
Question: What are some famous films that you don't like? I want to know!
Thanks for linking up! :)
ReplyDeleteI've seen Citizen Kane once...I kind of enjoyed parts of it, and I agree that the cinematography is so gorgeous. But mostly it was depressing and full of selfish characters (reminded me a lot of Gone With the Wind in that way :).
You know how I feel about West Side Story and The Philadelphia Story. :) I do love Rear Window, though! I haven't seen The Third Man. To be completely honest, I've never even heard of it. :)
~Kristin
The only movie on this list I've seen is Rear Window and I so agree about you! Some friends of ours really like it and so we gave it a try and didn't care for it. I think that was actually the first Hitchcock movie I watched as well. It was really slow and boring for me and was just one of those movies where I felt like nothing really happened.
ReplyDeleteEven though I've never scene it, I have no interest in Citizen Cane. I've read online what it's about and have seen some reviews on other blog, but totally sounds like a movie that I wouldn't care for one bit.
*reads through list, chuckling at the list of films I haven't even seen and am not interested in*
ReplyDelete*reaches West Side Story and stops dead*
OH NO SHE DIDN'T.
Oh, whoops, she said not to take offense.
Okay, I won't take offense. But I will defend WSS with everything I got in me. :D First of all, the love angle IS kind of cheesy, I'll admit. I'm not much of a fan of the whole love at first sight thing. BUT I do like Maria and Tony's relationship. Because they have some of the most gorgeous love songs evahhhhhhhhh, for one thing (Somewhere, One Hand One Heart, Tonight) and I'm a sucker for good love songs. And, too, I feel so terrible for them because their story's so hopeless... there's no way they can ever be together if the hate between their respective clans (is that the right word? :P) continues. And the hate itself is so STUPID. I mean, seriously. They're from a different country, get over it.
That, of course, should be a reason for me to DISlike WSS but instead it makes me like it more. I like intense drama that makes me want to bang my head against the wall. Weird, I know.
Say what you will about the gangster ballet (hilarious term, btw) but I love all the dance numbers. It's just so... old-school-musical. You don't see that kind of stuff in the movies anymore. Sure, it's not that believable for a bunch of gang boys to be twirling down the street in perfect sync while menacingly snapping their fingers, but then, people don't randomly burst into song (in which everybody knows the words) in real life either. There's a certain suspension of disbelief in a musical. :D
Honestly, I DON'T think all the problems in WSS could have been solved with communication... there's a root problem that's much deeper than mere misunderstanding, and that is prejudice. And it didn't die out with the civil rights movements of the '60's-- people still judge other people based on silly things like ethnicity and race, which is why I think WSS still rings true today.
But I do have to agree with you about Maria showing practically zero feeling when her brother gets shot. I mean, come on, girl. Bernardo's worth ten of Tony. I always liked him best anyways. *sniffle*
However, the tragic ending makes up for it. I have a terrible soft spot for dying-in-the-arms-of-your-own-true-love. Sappy, I know. But I bawl at the ending scene every single time anyways. Even if I'm only listening to the soundtrack. :P
There. My very long two cents that you didn't ask for.
As for famous films that *I* don't like.... ummmm, LOTR holds absolutely zero interest for me. Rank heresy in the homeschool community, I know, but it's the truth and the truth must out.
Loved your list, by the by! Thank you in advance for being nice and not deleting my opinionated comment! :D
Sorry Amy, but...I'm going to have to agree with Natasha on West side Story. I don't like R&J very much either, and WSS just didn't really do anything for me...not even, for the most part, the music. (although there are a few good song and dance numbers in there.)
ReplyDeleteI haven't seen any of these other movies, though, but none of them were exactly on my "to watch" list.
Famous movies I don't like? Well, I don't care much for Gone with the Wind, and the Wizard of Oz got really old with me because it was one of those things they played on TV ALL THE TIME, and it would give me a headache.
LOL, Amy. You came to our WSS rescue!
ReplyDeleteTasha...tsk, tsk. :D Our common love of DW will make me forgive you. :-P
I wasn't crazy about the way she "got over" her brother...but I think that has to do more with the direction than anything else, as the way it's written leaves it open for her to play it in a more heartbroken way than she did, which is how I internally see it, which is how I am able to look past it. :D
The only one that I've seen and loved on this list is The Philadelphia Story. I always think it's sort of a weird movie, haha, but I just love it. To me it's absolutely hilarious, and it has such wonderfully good lines in it.
ReplyDeleteI think I have to agree with you on West Side Story...I am not a fan of the Romeo and Juliet-type story, and that's definitely what West Side Story is. That said...I do enjoy some of the musical numbers. The movie itself, however, is not my favorite.
Hmmm...I can't really think of any classics I didn't like right now, though I just had one in my head! Ahhh...how infuriating. :P I might mention Roman Holiday, which is a movie I have a love-hate relationship with...I love the entire movie up until the last minute or so. That ending is just about the least satisfying ending I've ever seen! I mean...I understand it, but I feel like they could have ended it on a less depressing note than they did. :P
Oh! I remembered the one I was thinking about! Gone With the Wind is one if my absolute least favorite movies. I wanted so badly to like it, but I simply couldn't stand the characters. I might pick up the book one of these days, but I don't think I'll be watching the movie again any time soon.
~Vicki
Decked Out in Ruffles
First off, I am LOVING the long comments! More, more!! :D
ReplyDeleteKristin - The characters were really selfish, which reminds me of GWtW, too.
The Third Man...yeah, I hadn't heard of it either. I got it because of Joseph Cotten, and then was interested because it was labeled as one of the must see classics.
Sereina - Rear Window did move slowly. Too bad, because Hitchcock is typically pure awesome. ;)
You would definitely not like Citizen Kane. I know you wouldn't.
Miss Dashwood/Amy - Hehe. I knew I was just asking for this. I LOVED reading your awesome comment;D
I do agree with you that "There's a certain suspension of disbelief in a musical." I typically love musicals, but I just didn't care for this one.
And I absolutely agree that communication wouldn't have solved all of the problems in WSS. I was talking more about Romeo and Juliet both ending up dead at the end because Romeo thought Juliet was really dead, so he took poison, and then Juliet wakes up, finds Romeo dead, and kills herself. If someone *yes, I'm looking at you, Friar!* had only made sure Romeo knew Juliet was faking her death before they actually went ahead with the plan, then none of that would have happened. It just frustrates me!! *end rant* ;D
Oh, and I liked Bernardo better than Tony, too. :)
WHAT?! You don't like LOTR?! teehee ;)
lol! You're welcome!
Hayden - There are a few good song and dance numbers mixed in there that were worth watching.
The Wizard of Oz is a bit "old" for me, too.
Ally - *sheepish chuckle* I knew before hand that I risked incurring the enmity of Ally when I said I didn't like WSS! I'm so glad you've forgiven me. Thank you, Doctor!! ;D
Vicki - I did enjoy some of the musical numbers, too. Just not the movie itself. :)
Oh my word! I really hate the way Roman Holiday ends, too! I definitely have a love/hate relationship with that film.
Gone With the Wind...I also have a love/hate relationship with that film. The books is really good, though! One of my favorites!
Natasha,
ReplyDeleteOkay, that makes way more sense now about the communication thing. Drives me NUTS how she wakes up just SECONDS after he kills himself. NOOOOOOOOO.
I used to hate the Romeo and Juliet story too, and then my grandparents took me to see a live broadcast of the ballet from the Royal Opera House. I expected to be bored stiff, but I ended up crying in the movie theater. It was my first time in a movie theater, too. :P So in theory I think the story's stupid, but if I'm actually watching it and getting into it... well... heehee.
We can just blame the friar. :D
I commented on Ashley's post a couple of days ago sharing my least favorite classic films that I've seen. I was going to just say that and then comment on your post, but since you seem to like the long comments I thought I'd post that comment here along with my thoughts on your post (my old comment will be in parentheses):
ReplyDelete(Singing in the Rain isn't a favorite of mine either. I loved it when I was younger but now that I watch it again, it just seems kind of cheesy and dark in some places (like the broadway sequence, ugh!). I do like some of the scenes with Donald O'Connor, and I like the singing in the rain dance, but other than that, the movie doesn't hold enough interest in me that makes me want to sit down and watch it.
I actually like the Robin Hood movie with Errol Flynn in it. It's entertaining enough, but I much prefer the television show starring Richard Greene. Now there's a good Robin Hood adaption! I may or may not be slightly crazy about it. ;) I've also seen the Disney adaption of Robin Hood and I prefer the Errol Flynn film over that one honestly. But it's a close call.
I've never seen An American in Paris, but I've seen some clips from it and don't intend to watch it. It just looks boring.
I didn't like My Fair Lady. I didn't watch it all the way through but it was long and kind of boring, and I didn't like the way her father acted. Yes, that was his character, but it just made me sick. So I never finished that one.
A couple of other films that I don't like are:
Roberta
Top Hat
Follow the Fleet
Funny Face
The Wizard of Oz
Meet Me in Saint Louise
The Harvey Girls
I didn't really like the story lines in these films that much. There may have been a few funny or entertaining songs in them, but that seems to be my problem, I like the songs, but don't like the stories.)
I should have thought to add "The Philadelphia Story" to that list, but I didn't think of it at that time. Now you have reminded me of how much I don't like it. I didn't really understand the story line and they seemed very dark and immoral in the film, not what I expected from Jimmy Stewart (and having never seen a Cary Grant or Katherine Hepburn movie I didn't know what to expect from them, but I'm willing to see them in something else). The only part I like in the film is the line that Jimmy says "This is the voice of doom calling", but that's were it ends. ;)
I've never seen Rear Window, but I don't think I will. And I've never seen The West Side Story, but I looked it up once and decided on not watching it because it just sounded like a mix between awful and ridiculous.
Citizen Cane... I knew I was forgetting a big one after reading Kristin's post (and trying to mentally add something to the list)! I watched that with my grandparents a few years ago, because, like you said, it's supposedly the greatest film of all time. I didn't like it either, so I guess we can both be stupid together. ;) It was so boring... and everything else you mentioned!
ReplyDeleteYour assessment of The Philadelphia Story was perfect. Katherine Hepburn's character - along with the entire premise of the story - annoyed to no end. I haven't seen High Society because it's a remake and I just assumed it would be the same, but now I'll have to check it out!
I haven't seen Rear Window, and up until now I've been almost ashamed that I hadn't got around to that most esteemed film. Now I don't feel so bad. :D
Between you and Kristin, any tiny shred of interest I had in seeing West Side Story is now demolished. Since I knew it was a Romeo and Juliet story and had seen/heard enough clips to tell that I probably wouldn't even like it just for the musical-ness, I might already have been safe, but you guys ensured it. :D
I've never seen The Third Man either! Goodness. I guess I must be really great at sifting the cinematic wheat from the chaff (or just less well-rounded in the movie viewing department than you...). ;)
Oh, yay! I finally remembered a classic movie that I don't like (that's not already on someone's list...). It for a silly reason, but still, I can be original now and not echo someone else's classic-film-disliking opinions. :D I don't like The Wizard of Oz. But, it's only because it scarred me for life with those CREEPY monkeys when I first saw it as a little kid. I've refused to see it since, although I could probably try it again now that I'm an adult. Since I can handle Doctor Who, I should be able to take on the monkeys, right? ;-)
I'm glad to find I'm not the only one who doesn't like The Philadelphia Story. Though not for any of the reasons you mentioned. Actually, I found the movie to be very anti-woman. Maybe that's just me (and I'm usually not very sensitive to that kind of stuff) but in my opinion, the movie was just a bunch of woman-bashing. Yech.
ReplyDeleteAnother classic movie I didn't care for, for mostly the same reasons, is "McLintock." Don't kill me - I think quite a few people actually love that movie. But it wasn't my cup of tea. *shrugs*
I'm not a huge fan of West Side Story, either. I think it has some absolutely gorgeous songs though.
Fun post! ;)
I was disappointed with Casa Blanca and Breakfast at Tiffany's. It's been years since I've seen Casa Blanca, so I guess I should give it another try because I don't remember a whole lot about it except I thought it was kinda boring. I really wanted to like Breakfast at Tiffany's, but sadly, I didn't. I just didn't care about the characters, I think.
ReplyDeleteI was disappointed with Citizen Kane too. I was thinking it was going to be more like a Mr. Smith Goes to Washington type thing and I was greatly mistaken :). I didn't like The Philadeplphia Story either. Although I love Cary Grant and Jimmy Stewart. Katherine Hepburn and Spencer Tracy usually annoy me though. The other ones I haven't seen yet. I wanted to see Rear Window, but I think you changed my mind :). I know I would definitely not like West Side Story. I like more war epics than romances :).
ReplyDeleteI didn't like West Side Story either. I do love some of the music, though.
ReplyDelete(Romeo & Juliet doesn't do much for me either. I'm all into Shakespeare's comedies and King Lear...)
I avoided the rest of those classics you listed, because at some point I usually arived at the conclusion it's not for me after all. Otherwise, I've been lucky - some classics did not do much for me, but others - oooh!
And I love the Lord of the Rings books too much to like what little I saw of the LOTR movies... there! I wrote it! :D
ReplyDeleteSome of the "classics" I didn't like were films that turned out to be awfully disturbing and sick, so I won't even go there.
I have thought about watching West Side Story, if for no other reason than because the girls name is Maria and people have told me about, and sung the song to me that is about Maria.:)
ReplyDeleteAt least the song is a positive one about a girl named Maria... most of the time I hear "How Do You Solve A Problem Like Maria" (always in jest of course because as you, and everyone else who knows me, knows I am just a perfect angel... hehe.:)
Maria:)