What movies have you enjoyed that everyone else despises?
I'm not talking about some fiasco like "Heaven's Gate" that was universally -- and rightly -- condemned on its release, a film that for some imbecile reason you liked, and kept liking, until enough others began to like it as well, allowing you to lie to yourself about how right you were when everyone else was wrong. No, I'm not referring to that. I'm talking about those guilty pleasures that make you so guilty you dare not mention them approvingly in certain circles, since such a confession would mark you for life, scarring your reputation beyond any hope of recovery. I mean those movies that will never develop a cult following, that merit the scorn that's been heaped upon them. Don't pretend you haven't got a few of these in the closet. None of us has perfect taste. No matter how much you educate your taste buds, you still make room for chili fries and pork rinds. I realize that it's mighty tough standing up in front of everybody and saying, "My name is Rupert, and I'm an alco -- excuse me, I actually enjoyed _______________ (fill in the blank)."
I'm gifted when it comes to publicly degrading myself, so I'll start. Here are four -- there are others -- that I've seen and ENJOYED, even though I know they're every bit as bad as everyone says they are:
ISHTAR
DEATH TO SMOOCHY
MOHAWK
LAND OF THE PHARAOHS
I've seen the first two only once, and that was after they'd been denounced and burned in effigy all over this land. I suppose I mention that to suggest that, if I saw them a second time, my eyes would see the truth, and I could make myself clean again. Don't bet on it.
The second two are not really hated by everyone. In fact, they have their acolytes. But they'll never convince me. I've seen both films many times and will see them again. Those of us who enjoy them know the reasons why, reasons which I won't disclose, since they'd exhibit me as a coarse and lewd fellow.
Anyone else willing to confess?
I'm gifted when it comes to publicly degrading myself, so I'll start. Here are four -- there are others -- that I've seen and ENJOYED, even though I know they're every bit as bad as everyone says they are:
ISHTAR
DEATH TO SMOOCHY
MOHAWK
LAND OF THE PHARAOHS
I've seen the first two only once, and that was after they'd been denounced and burned in effigy all over this land. I suppose I mention that to suggest that, if I saw them a second time, my eyes would see the truth, and I could make myself clean again. Don't bet on it.
The second two are not really hated by everyone. In fact, they have their acolytes. But they'll never convince me. I've seen both films many times and will see them again. Those of us who enjoy them know the reasons why, reasons which I won't disclose, since they'd exhibit me as a coarse and lewd fellow.
Anyone else willing to confess?
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Sevorin on -
"Heaven's Gate" is one of those true rarities. A movie that all the critics were right about. It's not simply that it's bad -- that's easy to see. It's that it goes on for days, and the ways it finds to elongate the misery are the only original things about it. The fact that there is an effort to re-evaluate it, with some lunatics calling it some sort of unappreciated treasure, is the surest evidence that modern critical standards have gone straight down the toilet.
As to my confession about "Ishtar"? What can I tell you? Here I stand, a shabby emigre.
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Permalink Reply by Sevorin on
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I don't like sappy chick flicks, but I lo-o-ove politically incorrect "women's pictures" like -- well, like "The Women." But I probably liked "The Way We Were" for the same reasons you did.
Your mom is to be commended.
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Permalink Reply by The Professor on -
I don't think Death to Smoochy was generally despised, people just didn't seem to notice the humor.
OK, this is a bit embarrassing, but I saw "The Last Action Hero" in the theater and really liked it. I saw it again on TV a year or so ago and still thought it was witty and satirical.
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Permalink Reply by Sevorin on
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C'mon, Prof. You can't get away with that. Anybody with eyes to see can tell you that "The Last Action Hero" -- whatever its faults -- is a better movie than it's given credit for. No one should feel embarrassed about liking it. It has humor and intelligence and, perhaps for that reason, seems to alienate Arnie's regular audiences.
Pry open the chamber door and let your Id escape long enough to tell the truth. What is your GUILTY PLEASURE, the one that really embarrasses you to admit to enjoying?
Thanks for kissing my wounds, but there's no need to make me feel better. I know what "Death to Smoochy" is, and I've already faced my demons.
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Permalink Reply by Slappy on -
I don't think Death to Smoochy was generally despised, people just didn't seem to notice the humor.
Couldn't agree more, I loved it. I didn't know it was generally not liked, see how much I pay attention.
"The Last Action Hero"
Yeah I would say that is a good choice for this topic, don't feel bad Prof mine is almost as bad but I love a ton of movies people hate. Anyway my guilty pleasure is "Con Air" ok one of my guilty pleasures there are more, lots more.
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Permalink Reply by spiderpig on -
Slappy, you shouldn't feel guilty about liking Con Air! I post this one every time someone starts a new "movies you love that everyone else hates" topic, but I'll watch that movie anytime it's on (and basic cable really loves to run it on the weekends). It's lot of campy fun. Nic Cage and his wonderfully bad southern accent makes me laugh every time and that hair! HA! I better stop talking about Nic though - don't want Pihk to post that scary Nicholas Cage/bird hair pic again. Eeek!
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Permalink Reply by Slappy on
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I said almost as bad lol, and yes it is a guilty pleasure because it is so horrible like you said the hair the accent lol. I love it though, he couldn't be a bigger walking cliche than in that movie lmao.
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Permalink Reply by spiderpig on
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Leave it to the Texan girls to think the Southern accent was so bad it was good. ;)
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Permalink Reply by The Professor on
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Yep, I dug Con Air as well. You can't go wrong with J.M.
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Permalink Reply by Moviebunny on -
Legends of the Fall, yes, I know it rambles, and Anthony Hopkins is a tad embarrassing and it's well, trite, but there's something about it, I don't know, maybe I just have no taste. Heaven's Gate, on the other hand, is a dog, which I saw at a $1 theater and thought I paid too much, but I honestly think there is a good movie somewhere in there...and I LOVE Joe Versus the Volcano for reasons I cannot articulate--there's something about that movie that touches me--I think we may have arrived at that bad taste place.
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Permalink Reply by Sevorin on
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"Joe Versus the Volcano" is not be on my list of movies to put in a time capsule, but it's not awful by any means, and it surely hasn't riled the critics and audiences like "Heaven's Gate." (I, whose skin crawls at the mention of Tom Hanks' name, can say this.)
"Legends of the Fall" is actually well-liked, was well-received, and its cast didn't hurt its chances among the female demographic.
Maybe I'm a man out of my time. What happened to those psychopaths who trundled themselves off to their attic, fortified by beer and pop-corn, to watch -- with joy -- "Cat Women of the Moon" or "Road to Perdition" or "The Cotton Club" or any of the thousands of strike-outs that EVERYBODY knows are crap?
Surely, Moviebunny, surely there is that one film, the very thought of which curdles your blood, a film that you know, right down to the innermost part of your soul, should have been burned as an act of public sanitation long before it got to video, that one film whose title even now you are fighting to repress, since to admit you "liked" it would cover you with shame.
THAT is the movie I want you to confess to. I know it's there, and so do you.
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