# Men in Black (the first one): Good, or crap? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 19, 2002, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-in-black-the-first-one-good-or-crap/114919 "2002-06-19T17:25:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2002, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-in-black-the-first-one-good-or-crap/114919/1 "2002-06-19T17:25:44Z")
I saw _Men in Black_ at the cinema when it was released, and I recently saw it on video tape (since the local **SchlockCluster** and **Crawlywood** didn’t deign to carry the DVD). I find MiB amusing, but it seems to be “lacking something”. I don’t know. Maybe I was turned off by the Commercial Pop song that was so overplayed on the radio a few years ago. On the other hand, Tommy Lee Jones hanging from his seatbelt and singing along with Elvis was pretty darned funny. So what do you think? Did you like MiB? Hate it? “Kinda like it”? ---
**Author:** ![Slacker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6bbea6/32.png) [@Slacker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slacker)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2002, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-in-black-the-first-one-good-or-crap/114919/2 "2002-06-19T17:27:17Z")
I dug it. I won’t find its way to my favorites list anytime soon, but it’s a good comedy/action movie. ---
**Author:** ![Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e19adc/32.png) [@Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2002, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-in-black-the-first-one-good-or-crap/114919/3 "2002-06-19T17:55:28Z")
I liked it. Seemed to gestalt with some other mysterious stuff going on at the time (at least in my freaky life 🙂 ) and the writing was fairly snappy. It was a very good buddy film. But I might think differently if I had every read the comic book it was based on. ---
**Author:** ![Max\_Carnage](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/max_carnage/32/12775_2.png) [@Max\_Carnage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_Carnage)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2002, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-in-black-the-first-one-good-or-crap/114919/4 "2002-06-19T18:43:36Z")
The movie was more over the top than the comic. It was very loosely based, I’d say. Both are enjoyable in their own rights. ---
**Author:** ![bobkitty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/c67d28/32.png) [@bobkitty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobkitty)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2002, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-in-black-the-first-one-good-or-crap/114919/5 "2002-06-19T18:48:49Z")
Liked it a lot. Not in my Top Ten, but good enough for me to have seen it multiple times. The baby-birthing scene _always_ cracks me up. It also receives the coveted Mr. Kitty Seal Of Approval, which is a rare thing, indeed. Showed it to the 'rents when they came to visit. They were less-than-impressed. I think MamaKitty actually fell asleep at some point. ::shrug:: No accounting for taste, I s’pose. ---
**Author:** ![rjung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/45deac/32.png) [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2002, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-in-black-the-first-one-good-or-crap/114919/6 "2002-06-19T19:12:01Z")
Never read the comic, but I definitely enjoyed the first movie and would like to see the second. I agree that the first one was lacking a bit of “punch,” but that just makes **MIB** a “very good” movie, instead of an “excellent” one. ---
**Author:** ![Balance](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ccd318/32.png) [@Balance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balance)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2002, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-in-black-the-first-one-good-or-crap/114919/7 "2002-06-19T19:40:45Z")
I like it enough that it’s part of my rather sparse DVD collection. It’s probably in my Top 25, but not in the Top 10. ---
**Author:** ![Atreyu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5e9695/32.png) [@Atreyu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atreyu)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2002, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-in-black-the-first-one-good-or-crap/114919/8 "2002-06-19T19:45:42Z")
I liked it, and have the collector’s edition of the DVD (the two-disc set with the nicely understated cover). Will Smith was great, bu the real discovery was Tommy Lee Jones. I had no idea Jones could do comedy so well. I’m looking forward to seeing “Men in Black II.” ---
**Author:** ![gobear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8dc957/32.png) [@gobear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gobear)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2002, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-in-black-the-first-one-good-or-crap/114919/9 "2002-06-19T19:50:25Z")
I liked it enough to buy it when it was on sale for $14.95 at Best Buy, but not enough to buy any of the more deluxe versions. It’s a very funny movie, with great performances, especially from Vincent D’Onofrio as EdgarBug. I look forward to seeing MIB II, which appears to be even funnier and more action-packed. ---
**Author:** ![ElwoodCuse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/edb3f5/32.png) [@ElwoodCuse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElwoodCuse)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2002, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-in-black-the-first-one-good-or-crap/114919/10 "2002-06-19T20:03:35Z")
I enjoyed the first one, and the trailer for the second one cracks me up. I think the coolest parts are Wil Smith failing to explain something to TLJ: “Here it is, the last suit you’ll ever wear…again…never mind…” or “Old and busted…new hotness…forget it…” ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2002, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-in-black-the-first-one-good-or-crap/114919/11 "2002-06-19T20:11:55Z")
> [@](#): > > I liked it, and have the collector’s edition of the DVD (the two-disc set with the nicely understated cover). There are three DVD releases available: The “Collector’s Series” (the “entry level” choice), the “Limited Edition” and the “Deluxe Edition”. Between the latter two, which is the better disc set? It looks like the “Deluxe Edition” is better because it has some “exclusive” stuff and is about 25% cheaper than the “Limited”. On a related note, I have a Hamilton “Ventura” watch on order. Very cool piece that was first released in 1957. Guess what? MiB2 apparently will have the guys wearing the new chronometer version with the three subdials. (The one I’m waiting for is the 1957 style, black face, silver case – no subdials.) I wonder what made them choose it? ---
**Author:** ![KXL](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e47774/32.png) [@KXL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KXL)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2002, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-in-black-the-first-one-good-or-crap/114919/12 "2002-06-19T20:42:06Z")
I thought the first one had a great premise, but just wasn’t “epic” enough for a film. It felt as if there was a TV series called “MiB” and this was just a two-part episode that happened to end up on screen. ---
**Author:** ![Atreyu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5e9695/32.png) [@Atreyu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atreyu)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2002, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-in-black-the-first-one-good-or-crap/114919/13 "2002-06-19T20:49:03Z")
> [@](#): > > _Originally posted by Johnny L.A. \* > \*\* > There are three DVD releases available: The “Collector’s Series” (the “entry level” choice), the “Limited Edition” and the “Deluxe Edition”. Between the latter two, which is the better disc set? It looks like the “Deluxe Edition” is better because it has some “exclusive” stuff and is about 25% cheaper than the “Limited”._\* It appears that my identification of my “Men in Black” DVD was in error. It isn’t the “entry-level” collector’s edition, but rather the “Limited Edition”. The “Deluxe Edition”, which is the most recent version of “Men in Black” on DVD, appears to be almost identical to the “Limited Edition”, except that it has preview trailers for the upcoming sequels. ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2002, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-in-black-the-first-one-good-or-crap/114919/14 "2002-06-19T21:37:49Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by KXL \* > \*\*I thought the first one had a great premise, but just wasn’t “epic” enough for a film. It felt as if there was a TV series called “MiB” and this was just a two-part episode that happened to end up on screen. \*\* I firmly agree with this. It was enjoyable, but not stellar. In a lot of ways, it was like the movie _Star Trek: Insurrection_ – a passable but less-than-totally-thrilling adventure – except that we hadn’t had years of previous storytelling to increase our level of interest. I hear the sequel rectifies this problem. I’m looking forward to it. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2002, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-in-black-the-first-one-good-or-crap/114919/15 "2002-06-19T21:43:16Z")
Thanks, **Atreyu**. I guess I’ll get the “Deluxe Edition”. My sis gave me a $25 gift certificate for my birthday, and my company gets a 15% discount on DVDs at Borders on Monday 24th. I guess I agree with **Cervaise** and **KXL**. MiB needed more “backstory”. Pretty good, could’ve been better. But hey; I like it enough to pick up the DVD! ---
**Author:** ![El\_Elvis\_Rojo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/898d66/32.png) [@El\_Elvis\_Rojo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Elvis_Rojo)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2002, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-in-black-the-first-one-good-or-crap/114919/16 "2002-06-19T21:47:47Z")
It’s good crap. Actually, there’s nothing crappy about it, I think it was a great movie. Enjoyable, silly, and just plain fun. The opening sequence was great, and Tommy Lee Jones was fucking awesome in it. I’m a firm believer that not every movie needs to be “epic.” It was just good ol’ fashioned fun without being too childish, something a lot of movies seem to lack these days. And I’m really looking forward to the sequel as well. ---
**Author:** ![obfusciatrist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/4af34b/32.png) [@obfusciatrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/obfusciatrist)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2002, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-in-black-the-first-one-good-or-crap/114919/17 "2002-06-19T21:48:22Z")
I enjoyed it in the theater, but it quickly left my consciousness. I don’t think I’ve seen it since. It was too short; it played like the first episode of a TV series. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2002, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-in-black-the-first-one-good-or-crap/114919/18 "2002-06-19T23:38:56Z")
A good, fun, entertaining movie – and with so few movies trying to entertain (i.e., delight the audience, rather than bombard them with noise and special effects) that makes it stand out. Certainly one of the best SF comedies to make the big screen. ---
**Author:** ![NDP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ndp/32/55_2.png) [@NDP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NDP)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2002, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-in-black-the-first-one-good-or-crap/114919/19 "2002-06-20T00:04:29Z")
Like Johnny L.A. said, it was “amusing.” The concept is basically a parody of “Dragnet” with alien crooks but it was funny nonetheless. I do think the scene at the beginning when Vincent D’Onofrio tells the voice in the alien ship that’s landed on his pickup that he can take his gun only when it can pry it out of his cold dead hands is classic. After that scene, I don’t see how any gun nut could use that slogan and hope to be taken seriously. ---
**Author:** ![Tsubaki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d07c76/32.png) [@Tsubaki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tsubaki)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2002, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-in-black-the-first-one-good-or-crap/114919/20 "2002-06-20T00:23:22Z")
Great to see that everyone that’s posted in here enjoyed it! Of course its not Oscar material. But it was fun, and the acting in it was pretty bloody good, IMO. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-in-black-the-first-one-good-or-crap/114919.md?page=2)