Overrated and Underrated Films

[David Guiza]

Following on from the Favourite Openings and Endings thread...

 

What films do you think are overhyped or do not get the credit they deserve?

 

I'll kick off with Citizen Kane being overrated. I fully appreciate that it's ground breaking cinema and is a sort of Beatles of film in paving the way for future directors and story arc etc, but it's so slow. I'd like to think that's not because I'm used to Hollywood blockbusters, as they are far from my cup of tea, two of my favourite films ever in the The Godfather and Godfather Part II could be equally labelled as slow, but I personally didn't find that the case. It's also not just an age thing, as I think there are/were better films in that era. I have a dislike of Orson Welles too, so that probably exacerbates matters. 

 

Avatar - big budget, great special effects, poor film. 

 

As for underrated - 12 Angry Men is not nearly well known enough. It does appear fairly high on IMDb and similar lists, but I still don't think it's in the public consciousness as a whole. Fully recommend it to anybody who's never seen it.

 

For a more modern shout, I've always thought that Shutter Island was a much better film than Inception in terms of Di Caprio films from that year.  

[The Blur]

11 minutes ago, David Guiza said:

Following on from the Favourite Openings and Endings thread...

 

What films do you think are overhyped or do not get the credit they deserve?

 

I'll kick off with Citizen Kane being overrated. I fully appreciate that it's ground breaking cinema and is a sort of Beatles of film in paving the way for future directors and story arc etc, but it's so slow. I'd like to think that's not because I'm used to Hollywood blockbusters, as they are far from my cup of tea, two of my favourite films ever in the The Godfather and Godfather Part II could be equally labelled as slow, but I personally didn't find that the case. It's also not just an age thing, as I think there are/were better films in that era. I have a dislike of Orson Welles too, so that probably exacerbates matters. 

 

Avatar - big budget, great special effects, poor film. 

 

As for underrated - 12 Angry Men is not nearly well known enough. It does appear fairly high on IMDb and similar lists, but I still don't think it's in the public consciousness as a whole. Fully recommend it to anybody who's never seen it.

 

For a more modern shout, I've always thought that Shutter Island was a much better film than Inception in terms of Di Caprio films from that year.  

 

I will have a think and respond properly later on but is it fair to label 12 Angry Men as underrated?   I agree it is still a bit of unknown and deserves far more attention but it is rated by everyone I know who has seen it-  would you say Citizen Kane (I agreed btw-  I did not like it either)  is well known outside of film buffons?   Shutter Island is a great shout for an underrated film-  the last couple of lines in the ending was wonderfully written and layered with double meaning.  

[Mark 'expert' Lawrenson]

Anything by Charlie Chaplin, I don’t get the love for his films at all, give me Laurel & Hardy anytime.

[The People's Hero]

Citizen Kane isn't rubbish though is it? It's not the most accessible film nor one for action junkies (nothing wrong with that btw) but its a good film.

 

My favourite is Disney's Robin Hood and my second favourite is Moana and my third favourite is O Brother, Where art thou?

 

I make no apologies.

 

Robin Hood and Little John running through the forest....

 

ps I remember Fight Club being amazing from when I was about 14. Bet its rubbish if I watch it back.

 

pps The first Matrix blew me away back in the day.

[leicsmac]

No Country For Old Men.

 

So many people rave about it and the acting and cinematography is excellent across the board, but if I wanted to watch a story where everyone's a bastard (apart from the retiring copper) and there's no real resolution at the end I'd hang out in one of most UK city centres on a weekend evening. Darkness-induced audience apathy, I think they call it.

 

Underrated...Demolition Man. So many folks think it's just a dumb Stallone action flick and there's a lot of that in there, but there's so much social commentary besides that seems to get overlooked.

[David Guiza]

18 minutes ago, The Blur said:

 

I will have a think and respond properly later on but is it fair to label 12 Angry Men as underrated?   I agree it is still a bit of unknown and deserves far more attention but it is rated by everyone I know who has seen it-  would you say Citizen Kane (I agreed btw-  I did not like it either)  is well known outside of film buffons?   Shutter Island is a great shout for an underrated film-  the last couple of lines in the ending was wonderfully written and layered with double meaning.  

True, I think it's probably in the unknown than underrated category. However, for a film that's consistently in the top 20 all time greatest film lists it's amazing that it's not more well known which is perhaps why I'd consider it underrated.

 

Yes, totally. It just seemed more subtle than Inception too. Inception seemed to get lost it's own story in an attempt at being different. 

 

10 minutes ago, Mark 'expert' Lawrenson said:

Anything by Charlie Chaplin, I don’t get the love for his films at all, give me Laurel & Hardy anytime.

I've only actually ever seen The Great Dictator, which is fantastic. I imagine there is a certain element of Americanisation with his works though, that would lose the beauty of Laurel and Hardy.

 

1 minute ago, The People's Hero said:

Citizen Kane isn't rubbish though is it? It's not the most accessible film nor one for action junkies (nothing wrong with that btw) but its a good film.

 

My favourite is Disney's Robin Hood and my second favourite is Moana and my third favourite is O Brother, Where art thou?

 

I make no apologies.

 

Robin Hood and Little John running through the forest....

 

ps I remember Fight Club being amazing from when I was about 14. Bet its rubbish if I watch it back.

 

pps The first Matrix blew me away back in the day.

Oh no, it's not a rubbish film by any means. I just wouldn't cite as one of the greatest films ever made and think Orson Welles has been remember as better than he was. It's difficult to critique it though without coming across as one of those 'The Beatles were s**t types .

 

I had to watch Fight Club as a focus film around 4/5 times when I did my a-levels and have consequently not watched in the 10+ years since then. I can even point out gaffs like Meatlof's character losing his fat suit. I'd probably have to re-watch it with "fresh eyes" to judge it properly.  

[David Guiza]

3 minutes ago, leicsmac said:

No Country For Old Men.

 

So many people rave about it and the acting and cinematography is excellent across the board, but if I wanted to watch a story where everyone's a bastard (apart from the retiring copper) and there's no real resolution at the end I'd hang out in one of most UK city centres on a weekend evening. Darkness-induced audience apathy, I think they call it.

 

Underrated...Demolition Man. So many folks think it's just a dumb Stallone action flick and there's a lot of that in there, but there's so much social commentary besides that seems to get overlooked.

I've fairly recently watched No Country For Old Men as part of my Best Picture binge and still haven't made my mind up. It's certainly one of the most unusual endings to a film I've seen, but understand that isn't unusual with the Cohen Brothers(?). 

 

On the Best Picture front, I really enjoyed A Beautiful Mind. I think it's been a panned a little by activists though due to John Nash being a controversial figure. 

[Mark 'expert' Lawrenson]

I’d personally put Full Metal Jacket reluctantly in the overrated category, the first half of the film is truly amazing and yet I’m always left disappointed by the second half, it just lacks something.

[The People's Hero]

This is a lovely thread as it gives me some inspiration for lockdown films to watch.

 

I enjoyed No Country for Old Men; but not enough to watch again.

 

A Beautiful Mind is now added to the to-watch list. It'd be great if Foxestalk had functionality so I can hover over the film names and it tells me if its on Netflix/Prime or if I need to wait until after lockdown and venture out and pray that Blockbuster Video hasn't been a casualty of the Covid-19 liquidations. 

 

 

[The People's Hero]

7 minutes ago, David Guiza said:

 

 

Oh no, it's not a rubbish film by any means. I just wouldn't cite as one of the greatest films ever made and think Orson Welles has been remember as better than he was. It's difficult to critique it though without coming across as one of those 'The Beatles were s**t types .

 

 

 

Agree. Its a good film and worth watching once; when you're in the mood. Just like I watched Shindler's List once and had to be in the mood - its a masterpiece but strangely I wouldn't rush back to it, so perhaps not a masterpiece afterall?

 

Citizen Kane has definitely been hyped up by those who think they are special because they 'get it'. Ignore these cretins. 

[Mark 'expert' Lawrenson]

Just now, The People's Hero said:

This is a lovely thread as it gives me some inspiration for lockdown films to watch.

 

I enjoyed No Country for Old Men; but not enough to watch again.

 

A Beautiful Mind is now added to the to-watch list. It'd be great if Foxestalk had functionality so I can hover over the film names and it tells me if its on Netflix/Prime or if I need to wait until after lockdown and venture out and pray that Blockbuster Video hasn't been a casualty of the Covid-19 liquidations. 

 

 

The Green Book is fantastic ,if you haven’t seen it I’d recommend it for your to watch list.

[The People's Hero]

Just now, Mark 'expert' Lawrenson said:

The Green Book is fantastic ,if you haven’t seen it I’d recommend it for your to watch list.

Netflix, Prime or Blockbuster Video?

[Stuntman_Mike]

Skyfall has to be the most overrated film going. Bad guy turns up half way through the film, there is no structure to it and then you've got the Home Alone ending. Terrible film. 

[egg_fried_rice]

6 minutes ago, The People's Hero said:

This is a lovely thread as it gives me some inspiration for lockdown films to watch.

 

I enjoyed No Country for Old Men; but not enough to watch again.

 

A Beautiful Mind is now added to the to-watch list. It'd be great if Foxestalk had functionality so I can hover over the film names and it tells me if its on Netflix/Prime or if I need to wait until after lockdown and venture out and pray that Blockbuster Video hasn't been a casualty of the Covid-19 liquidations. 

 

 

Not quite the same but the next best thing - I find the quickest way to determine which platform a film is on is the excellent https://www.justwatch.com/

 

[Mark 'expert' Lawrenson]

7 minutes ago, The People's Hero said:

Netflix, Prime or Blockbuster Video?

DVD  

 

Prime I think.

Edited 3 February 2021 by Mark 'expert' Lawrenson

[Buce]

Overrated: Any from the James Bond franchise.

 

Oh, and Blazing Saddles, really don't get the appeal.

Edited 3 February 2021 by Buce

[The People's Hero]

3 minutes ago, Buce said:

Overrated: Any from the James Bond franchise.

I typed this out earlier then deleted it because I have made enough enemies on this planet already.

[Mark 'expert' Lawrenson]

12 minutes ago, The People's Hero said:

 

Agree. Its a good film and worth watching once; when you're in the mood. Just like I watched Shindler's List once and had to be in the mood - its a masterpiece but strangely I wouldn't rush back to it, so perhaps not a masterpiece afterall?

 

Citizen Kane has definitely been hyped up by those who think they are special because they 'get it'. Ignore these cretins. 

I think Schindler’s List is a masterpiece but it’s probably the subject matter that stops people going back, some films have to be watched but once is enough, I watched The Elephant Man and thought it was good but it’s so depressing that I knew I’d never want to watch it again.

[Vacamion]

 

Underrated: I came out of the cinema in a daze after seeing Gravity.  It was just so visually stunning. People don't tend to have it in their top 10.

 

Overrated: Every Batman film after the original 1960s Adam West film and every Superman after II. 

 

 

 

 

[Unabomber]

Underrated - The Prestige. Absolutely fantastic film that I don’t hear mentioned often at all.

 

It is on Netflix.

Edited 3 February 2021 by Unabomber

[SouthStandUpperTier]

 

1 minute ago, Vacamion said:

 

Underrated: I came out of the cinema in a daze after seeing Gravity.  It was just so visually stunning. People don't tend to have it in their top 10.

 

Overrated: Every Batman film after the original 1960s Adam West film and every Superman after II. 

 

 

 

 

Richard Pryor as Gus Gorman, wearing a giant foam cowboy hat in Superman III, was a highlight of my youth.

[kingfox]

Underrated - Hugo

 

On first watch, it took me bloody ages to understand the story, but once you get to grips with understanding it, it’s an absolutely fantastic film, was no surprise to see it win some Oscars.

 

Some may pass it off as a kids film, but we all love at least one kids film right  

[Fox92]

36 minutes ago, Stuntman_Mike said:

Skyfall has to be the most overrated film going. Bad guy turns up half way through the film, there is no structure to it and then you've got the Home Alone ending. Terrible film. 

 

31 minutes ago, Buce said:

Overrated: Any from the James Bond franchise.

The earlier ones are better than the recent ones for me. They've all got unrealistic parts but with the older ones there seems to be more fun in them.

 

Skyfall is one of the better later ones but anything Moore/Dalton/Brosnan is for me.

[Guest Col city fan]

25 minutes ago, Mark 'expert' Lawrenson said:

I think Schindler’s List is a masterpiece but it’s probably the subject matter that stops people going back, some films have to be watched but once is enough, I watched The Elephant Man and thought it was good but it’s so depressing that I knew I’d never want to watch it again.

I’ve watched Schindler’s list many times and rate it as once of the best films I’ve ever seen. That said, I’m intrigued with WW2 so watch most films of that genre 

[Houdini Logic]

1 hour ago, Mark 'expert' Lawrenson said:

Anything by Charlie Chaplin, I don’t get the love for his films at all, give me Laurel & Hardy anytime.

The Great Dictator is one of the best films ever