Name the first legitimately bad film on IMDB's Top 250

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Re: Name the first legitimately bad film on IMDB's Top 250

I have a new candidate for this title: Life Is Beautiful. What an appalling film. Slapstick, sentimental schlock and complete disregard for any kind of sensitivity. It's so unfunny it's painful to watch. Charmless pratfalls, implausible antics, a literal smokescreen to the atrocities of the holocaust.

I realise it's not supposed to be an accurate depiction, but it did seem like the lead character's selfish 'game', no thought for the lives of the other prisoners, was echoed by the film itself, which showed no regard for the deaths of so many people, everything taking second place to Benigni's clowning around. It's not even a well-made film, sets are clunky, acting dubious, and the whole thing is shamelessly manipulative.

I am stunned that this managed to get to #46. But then considering Shawshank is #1, perhaps I shouldn't be. Schmaltzy, manipulative prison films clearly hit the right notes for some people.

Re: Name the first legitimately bad film on IMDB's Top 250

I haven't ever seen Life Is Beautiful because I thought it'd be many of the things you mentioned. It's never looked or sounded like a film I'd like.

Me and my wife shut it off after about 40 minutes. There was nothing we liked about it.

Re: Name the first legitimately bad film on IMDB's Top 250

I saw Life is Beautiful a while back, but I don't remember enough about it to really have an opinion on it.

For me the answer is easy, coming in at #57. Aliens. It's also the worst film in the 250, even worse than Cameron's other overrated stinker, Avatar. I can usually see how people like movies I do not, but Aliens is one of the few where I have no clue how other people see it and enjoy it. I'm not asking for an explanation, Aliens is one of the very few films I hate. Avatar, while I dislike it a lot, has some merit. It is nice to look at, but it still sucks.

Re: Name the first legitimately bad film on IMDB's Top 250

I don't really care for Forrest Gump, Double Indemnity, or It's a Wonderful Life, but none of them are close to legitimately bad. The rest of the list that I've seen is pretty good.

Re: Name the first legitimately bad film on IMDB's Top 250

Well, they've got an opinion on the number 6 (awaiting the opposition):
http://www.reverseshot.com/article/r..._offenses_2008

Re: Name the first legitimately bad film on IMDB's Top 250

Lots of movies on there aren't all that. It's definitely not a Greatest Movies Ever list. Plenty of slick entertainment. Nothing genuinely awful, far as I can see, either. I've seen too many actually terrible films to be offended by the presence of a "How To Train Your Dragon" but I have grave doubts about its superiority to Night Of The Hunter.

Re: Name the first legitimately bad film on IMDB's Top 250

Dragon

Hunter

Re: Name the first legitimately bad film on IMDB's Top 250

I think Mark's ratings are pretty accurate. I think Dragon is better than Hunter as well.

TtAgreed. And in the specific case of How to train your dragon vs Night of the hunter, I am way fonder of the Dreamworks' little gem than Laughton's one hit wonder, one of the most overrated classics holding a current position that I can't say I understand at all.

I mean. There are certain movies that disappoint me but I can blame my own state of mind or my expectancies for them, but in this case I read the reasons brought by their defenders and I understand them, but they are simply not enough to make up for its flaws. I don't hate it, but it's very, very mediocre to me.

Originally Posted by jal90 (Post 935744)

I agree. Whilst The Night of the Hunter is a great film, and one I can appreciate, especially from a stylistic/technical perspective - it's one of the most beautiful films I've ever seen, and for Mitchum's performance, I don't understand why it is held in such high regard by certain people. The the child acting is pretty poor despite it being a children's story as well, at least that's what I thought, I mean with all those faces talking at the end like its some type of children's fable/tale. And I get annoyed when people call it a noir too, because it definitely isn't.

How to Train Your Dragon is a great little film, and I am going to follow the last few posts in agreeing with Mark in its placement slightly ahead of Night of the Hunter.

Re: Name the first legitimately bad film on IMDB's Top 250

I don't think Life Is Beautiful is bad. I dont think it mocks or treats the Holocaust as something funny either. Just a dad trying to protect his son's innocence. I do understand why some people might hate it though.I think Wall-E is pretty bad. I have no idea how it's rated so highly. It's pretty absurd. Same with Life of Pi,Harry Pooter:Deathly Hallows,etc. There are much better films that should be in the 250 list.Maybe over time those ratings will go down.

Originally Posted by mark f (Post 935674)

Dragon

Hunter

Rabble-rouser.

Re: Name the first legitimately bad film on IMDB's Top 250

why dont you like full metal jacket, sir?
i think his first half hour is the greatest in cinema history.

to the subject: the prestige, one of the wrost movies i have ever seen.

23. The Silence of the Lambs

A piffle. Hopkins made a far more credible psychotic in the much superior MAGIC; here, he's a caricature.

9. The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King

While not a bad film, it's easily the weakest of the trilogy and I would have a hard time placing it in the Top 100, let alone the Top Ten.

Originally Posted by LP Quagmire (Post 936137)

Isn't him being a caricature part of what made the movie memorable, though?

Agree entirely about Return of the King.

Originally Posted by Thursday Next (Post 936307)

Isn't him being a caricature part of what made the movie memorable, though?

It seems to be for many, but I'm with LPQ on this one. Of course, I assume it's a performance that Demme wanted, because it's far too hammy to be in the film otherwise.

I suppose I can understand the love of the performances, but not why people were/are scared/chilled by it. :confused:

However, I like the film, but I've always thought of it as a really good tv movie.

Originally Posted by honeykid (Post 936370)

I also agree that it's not scary and the film isn't a horror, the only scene I would see belonging in a horror film is the face ripping scene, if they decided to show it in a bit more graphic detail. But apart from that it's more a drama/detective time story, that like you say, could actually be a TV film. That's not to say I don't really like it though. I give it

, the same as Manhunter, which I know you love too, Cox's role as Lecter is one of the smaller parts of the film but Mann said he wanted to leave the viewers wanting more, it would have been interesting to see how things would have turned out if he had the part of Silence of the Lambs and whether the film would be held in such high regard as it us now.

Originally Posted by planet news (Post 652445)

1. Inception: Utterly mediocre. It's obscene that it's above The Godfather II. :mad:

2. Schindler's List: People felt compelled to like this film even though it's the most implicitly fascist, patronizing, anti-Semitic film ever made. Switch it out for #77 please. La Vita e Bella is probably the most successful holocaust film ever made, but its ending was still a cop-out.

3. Toy Story 3: I didn't even see it but wtf? Let's be honest here. 10th best film of all time? Utterly obscene.

4. The Dark Knight: Another inherently fascist film. It says a lot about our collective ideology. So... Nolan... what your saying is that society rests on the basis of a lie. And it's now somehow heroic to be a scapegoat.

5. Memento: One-trick pony. Fun the first time then excruciatingly boresville the subsequent viewings.

6. Forrest Gump: Ideological failure. Millionaire propaganda.

7. Up: I can't even abbreviate here. WHAT THE ****? Finding Nemo is infinitely the greater film. Up had a great beginning, but the rest was random, senseless crap unsuitable for even a second dignified viewing.

8. Batman Begins: Just a bad film. Just plain bad. Total failure on many levels.

9. The Big Lebowski: This is one of the Coen's weakest efforts, but it's up there in the stead of their masterpiece Barton Fink because of the memes it generated and people like to say "the Dude abides".

10. How to Train Your Dragon: Wow. Just, wow. Look at some of the titles below this. Children of Men. :facepalm: The Kid. :facepalm: The Hustler. :facepalm: A Streetcar Named Desire. :facepalm: Magnolia. :facepalm: Brief Encounter. :facepalm: The 400 Blows. :facepalm: I'll stop now.

This just depressed me. :(

That is a lot of films. There are points on which i agree.

1. Disagree. Inception is 14. Godfather II is 3.
2. Disagree. Schindler's List is amazing. Quite rightly placed i would say.
3. Partially Agree. Toy Story III - Its an amazing film. 10 maybe too high. But it definitely deserves a place. To keep the continuity and still have a good film after 10 years is quite an amazing feat.
4. Same with 4. Should be on the list. But not so high.
5. Momento is amazing. The concept is just unique.
6. Forrest Gump - No matter what you say, its very good film. Its just right just where it is.
7. Agree.
8. Probably the best Batman of the three, i would say. It just laid the foundation for an epic series. Probably under-rated.
9. Big Lebowski - I would again say, it alright where it is.
10. Agree.

As for me...
Going from the bottom,
247. Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter... and Spring (Should not be on the list).
223. 3 Idiots, should not be on the list, or at least lower than 240.
201. Star Trek (2013) - You gotta be kidding me!

From the top, the only issue i have is Dark Kinght so high on the list. Its good for 30 or 40. And Pan's Labyrinth way too low on the list.

Overall still a very decent list for movie starters.

Life Is Beautiful. Comedians sometimes wonder when its ok to joke about something. Ive never seen it because the holocaust should never be a backdrop for comedy. Never.

I was disappointed in The Departed but since it was based on true events Ill hold off saying its outright bad. It almost made this list though. I thought the ending came off hokey, but the meat of the film was great.

The Pianist. Another flick "cashing in" on the atrocities of war, but in this flick they were showcasing the horrors and gore (and Adrian Brodys performance was waaaaaay overrated).

Requiem For A Dream. Really? I mean is non-stop suffering just all-that when it comes to depth? Way overrated.

Im scrolling down the IMDb list as Im typing this, just waiting to see that P.O.S. The Thin Red Line. If I do, the spaz will commence. I dont see it, good.