# Movies that could have, should have, been much better than they were. **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 16, 2013, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-that-could-have-should-have-been-much-better-than-they-were/671420 "2013-10-16T18:11:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![JM\_Hanes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/6a8cbe/32.png) [@JM\_Hanes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JM_Hanes)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2013, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-that-could-have-should-have-been-much-better-than-they-were/671420/41 "2013-10-17T00:11:32Z")
[QUOTE=Stink Fish Pot;16763663 [Lincoln] ([Lincoln - the Movie - thoughts sought - Cafe Society - Straight Dope Message Board](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=703968)), which I started a thread about recently, was a major disappointment from so many angles. [/QUOTE] The only memorable passage (which tells you something, considering how recently I watched it) was Lincoln’s legal explanation for why he was demanding passage of the 14th Amendment (and that’s really what the movie was about). I’d never heard the argument laid out that way and thought it was rather fascinating from an historical perspective. There may be documentary evidence that Lincoln treated his anecdotes like parables, but they seemed more annoying than revealing. Daniel Day Lewis mostly managed to _look_ Lincolnesque, but I have to give Sally Fields some points for turning in a surprisingly 3-dimensional portrait of Mary Todd. The movie had a fabulous cast, and it could have been better if they’d been given more to work with. ---
**Author:** ![Yookeroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yookeroo/32/323_2.png) [@Yookeroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yookeroo)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2013, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-that-could-have-should-have-been-much-better-than-they-were/671420/42 "2013-10-17T00:23:49Z")
> [@pkbites](#): > > I’ll start with 2: > > [STRANGE DAYS](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strange_Days_%28film%29). I’m in that movie. I was at the rave they threw to film the party scenes. Aphex Twin + Dee-Lite. And various chemicals. ---
**Author:** ![Sr\_Siete](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6de8d8/32.png) [@Sr\_Siete](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sr_Siete)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2013, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-that-could-have-should-have-been-much-better-than-they-were/671420/43 "2013-10-17T00:23:52Z")
World War Z - Make it a mockumentary. Jack Reacher - Cast somebody less Cruise-y. Red Dawn - Go full-on silly. Instead of a nameless asian country make the invaders Canadian. ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2013, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-that-could-have-should-have-been-much-better-than-they-were/671420/44 "2013-10-17T00:28:05Z")
> [@Stink Fish Pot](#): > > Like others have pointed out, _Spies Like Us_ was supposed to be a spoof on spy movies. Also an homage to the Hope and Crosby “On the Road” movies, complete with Bob Hope cameo appearance. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2013, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-that-could-have-should-have-been-much-better-than-they-were/671420/45 "2013-10-17T00:54:57Z")
> [@Ethilrist](#): > > Fantastic Four probably would have been better received if they had spent less time on dialogue and character development and seeing how developing superpowers completely changed all the characters relationships, and instead spent more time with stuff blowing up on screen and Jessica Alba running around in her underwear. The makers of _Into the Blue_ understood this. Their movie presumably had a plot about something but they knew [the real reason why](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VZReUczASKo) people were buying tickets. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2013, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-that-could-have-should-have-been-much-better-than-they-were/671420/46 "2013-10-17T00:57:42Z")
> [@JM\_Hanes](#): > > The only memorable passage (which tells you something, considering how recently I watched it) was Lincoln’s legal explanation for why he was demanding passage of the 14th Amendment (and that’s really what the movie was about). Nitpick, but it was the 13th Amendment. ---
**Author:** ![JM\_Hanes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/6a8cbe/32.png) [@JM\_Hanes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JM_Hanes)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2013, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-that-could-have-should-have-been-much-better-than-they-were/671420/47 "2013-10-17T01:41:14Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > Nitpick, but it was the 13th Amendment. Slapping self upside the head; thanks for the correction. ---
**Author:** ![BrotherCadfael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@BrotherCadfael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrotherCadfael)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2013, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-that-could-have-should-have-been-much-better-than-they-were/671420/48 "2013-10-17T01:56:42Z")
> [@Ethilrist](#): > > Fantastic Four probably would have been better received if they had spent less time on dialogue and character development and seeing how developing superpowers completely changed all the characters relationships, and instead spent more time with stuff blowing up on screen and Jessica Alba running around in her underwear. > [@KneadToKnow](#): > > True. But nothing could have salvaged _Rise of the Silver Surfer_. Jessica Alba running around **without** her underwear? ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2013, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-that-could-have-should-have-been-much-better-than-they-were/671420/49 "2013-10-17T02:58:57Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > **Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow** had two basic flaws. Gwyneth Paltrow played her role as far too indecisive; should have gone for that '30s, fast-talking, _His Girl Friday_ kind of vibe. And the action sequences were too frantic and confusing. There were so many killer robots, or whatever, that killing one was like swatting a gnat; no wits or skill involved. (That’s a complaint I have about a lot of modern action movies.) It’s a shame, though; the movie was gorgeous to look at. > [@CanvasShoes](#): > > The flaw WAS that Gwyneth Paltrow was the lead. This movie could have been a really good classic with a decent actress in the lead. I never noticed exactly why the fight scenes bothered me before, but you hit the nail on the head. Yes, a little too much action/no brains. I’ve always wondered how much of the blame goes to Paltrow, how much to the director, and how much to current acting styles. I recently saw a bit of _Sliding Doors_, and Paltrow seemed able to play a more decisive character than she did in _Sky Captain_. And I’m not sure I can think of anyone better for the role; what current (well, 9 years ago now) actress has that confident, fast-talking style in her repertoire? (Jennifer Jason Leigh in _The Hudsucker Proxy_, anyone else?) ---
**Author:** ![Superhal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Superhal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superhal)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2013, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-that-could-have-should-have-been-much-better-than-they-were/671420/50 "2013-10-17T03:07:21Z")
> [@Cartoonacy](#): > > _Green Lantern_. As a lifelong fan of the character, I expected to love it. As it was, I merely liked it. But I can understand the people who hated it. The story was all over the place, and went in too many different directions for one movie. If they had stuck to the basics, there would have been a better chance that there would be a sequel, where all of the more esoteric story elements could have been introduced gradually. And the costume was horrible. That actor is the kiss of death. I won’t even bother to look up his name. His smarmy attitude ruins every movie hes ever been in. ---
**Author:** ![pkbites](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pkbites/32/204_2.png) [@pkbites](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pkbites)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2013, 4:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-that-could-have-should-have-been-much-better-than-they-were/671420/51 "2013-10-17T04:45:22Z")
> [@Stink Fish Pot](#): > > Like others have pointed out, _Spies Like Us_ was supposed to be a spoof on spy movies. And it did a good job, if I remember correctly. I think if you went into that movie looking for serious, you made a mistake. No, I went in to the movie thinking it would be funny. It wasn’t. Aykroyd made the mistake. He should have read the script he wrote and realized if he removed his pitiful attempts at humor it would have made a great international spy movie instead of the stupid farce it was. > [@Morbo](#): > > To the OP: **League of Extraordinary Geltlemen**. Talk about a movie that you thought would’ve been impossible to make boring. I agree. That flick should have been awesome. It was dreary. > [@Yookeroo](#): > > I’m in that movie. Why didn’t you say something to them about screwing up what could have been a decent film?😉 ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2013, 5:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-that-could-have-should-have-been-much-better-than-they-were/671420/52 "2013-10-17T05:40:37Z")
When I read _The DaVinci Code_ I thought it was a bad book, but I thought it could make a fairly entertaining, mindless movie. It really didn’t. Maybe I was wrong all along (I can’t say I wasn’t) but it _read_ like a movie. ---
**Author:** ![Superhal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Superhal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superhal)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2013, 6:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-that-could-have-should-have-been-much-better-than-they-were/671420/53 "2013-10-17T06:32:37Z")
On the flip side: Usually, novels made into films have to cut out large parts and/or creatively change certain parts to make it better for the big screen. When the movie Twilight came out, I thought there was absolutely no way in Hell it could possibly be any worse than the book as long as it was shorter. Boy, was I wrong. I didn’t realize the parts they cut actually were the best parts in the book (the whole chase and kidnapping.) Then, they emphasized the worst scenes from the book (the whole sparkle sparkle scene) and changed scenes to make them even worse (High speed piggy back riding.) I thought it would be impossible to make vampires playing baseball any worse on the screen than in the book, but somehow they found a way. Twilight, the book, was as bad as a book can be, but somehow, it’s better than the movie. ---
**Author:** ![Superhal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Superhal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superhal)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2013, 6:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-that-could-have-should-have-been-much-better-than-they-were/671420/54 "2013-10-17T06:46:24Z")
Oo, how about sequels: Karate Kid 4: Pat Morita came back, and they had a future two-time Academy award winner in Hillary Swank. How could it possibly go wrong? This wrong: “Who uses cat stance to avoid hit by car?” My guess would be a giant pussy. 28 weeks later: Look, there’s only one reason 28 days later was such a hit: the main character seems like such a nice guy but when he’s cornered, he’ll literally rip your head off with his bare hands. “Crouching tiger, hidden badass” is just about the best trope because you don’t expect it, particularly from Cillian Murphy. It crossed genres, appealing to both horror and action fans. What did the sequel bring? Basically a remake of Resident Evil. Speaking of… Resident Evil 3-6: Look, make up your freaking minds if you are going to give her extra power or take it away. If you keep giving it and taking it nobody will care anymore. Also, what exactly does the T-Virus do? It’s like the swiss army knife of viruses or something, it seems like no matter what happens, everybody thinks it’s totally natural that the T-virus caused it. Telepathy? T-Virus. Immortality? T-Virus. Levitation? Natch. Huge tentacles coming out of your nose? Sure! ---
**Author:** ![shantih](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f6c823/32.png) [@shantih](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shantih)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2013, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-that-could-have-should-have-been-much-better-than-they-were/671420/55 "2013-10-17T13:38:35Z")
> [@jsgoddess](#): > > When I read _The DaVinci Code_ I thought it was a bad book, but I thought it could make a fairly entertaining, mindless movie. It really didn’t. Maybe I was wrong all along (I can’t say I wasn’t) but it _read_ like a movie. Good call. I enjoyed the book the first time I read it because the pace was so unrelenting and kept moving so fast it created a feeling of breathless excitement and kept you from thinking too much about the plot. The movie was somehow boring. Where was that breakneck pace? Maybe better music would have helped? Something to keep you feeling on edge? I dunno, but I do know that they managed to lose the most winning element of the book. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2013, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-that-could-have-should-have-been-much-better-than-they-were/671420/56 "2013-10-17T14:29:50Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > > [@](#): > > > > Fantastic Four probably would have been better received if they had spent less time on dialogue and character development and seeing how developing superpowers completely changed all the characters relationships, and instead spent more time with stuff blowing up on screen and Jessica Alba running around in her underwear. > > The makers of _Into the Blue_ understood this. Their movie presumably had a plot about something but they knew [the real reason why](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VZReUczASKo) people were buying tickets. _Fantastic Four_ grossed more than triple its budget. _Rise Of The Silver Surfer_ grossed more than double its budget. _Into the Blue_ failed to break even on a smaller budget, because people didn’t actually buy tickets. ---
**Author:** ![Patch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a183cd/32.png) [@Patch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patch)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2013, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-that-could-have-should-have-been-much-better-than-they-were/671420/57 "2013-10-17T15:33:06Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > I love _Spies Like Us_. > > “Every minute you don’t tell us what we want to know, I cut off a finger.” > “Yours or mine?” _gasp_ “You had a tent?” ---
**Author:** ![crypto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b3f665/32.png) [@crypto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crypto)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2013, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-that-could-have-should-have-been-much-better-than-they-were/671420/58 "2013-10-17T15:55:42Z")
> [@pkbites](#): > > No, I went in to the movie thinking it would be funny. > > It wasn’t. > > Aykroyd made the mistake. He should have read the script he wrote and realized if he removed his pitiful attempts at humor it would have made a great international spy movie instead of the stupid farce it was. Can you explain your point a bit better? Because as I saw it, Aykroyd made a comical spy movie. When I saw it, it was basically as I expected it to be. You make it sound like it was based off of a book you read, and it fell flat compared to your expectations. If you can point to ANY movie that is a comedy AND a “great international spy movie”, maybe I could understand your gripe more. At that point in his career, Aykroyd was doing comedy. Team him up with an SNL alum (Chevy Chase) and without knowing the plot line at all, I assumed it would be a comedy and would have been surprised and disappointed if it wasn’t. If you don’t like Aykroyd at all, well that’s ok and understandable. He doesn’t appeal to everyone. I’m just confused as to how you thought that movie, with the lead parts having Aykroyd and Chase in them, could have ever been taken as a serious attempt at anything but humor. And like I said, I can’t think of one funny spy movie that I’d consider a great international spy movie. ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2013, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-that-could-have-should-have-been-much-better-than-they-were/671420/59 "2013-10-17T16:04:30Z")
> [@Superhal](#): > > Then, they emphasized the worst scenes from the book (the whole sparkle sparkle scene) and changed scenes to make them even worse (High speed piggy back riding.) I highly recommend [this short Twilight clip](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=llVtcc3wU-g) which will illustrate your point nicely. ---
**Author:** ![Quimby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/22d042/32.png) [@Quimby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quimby)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2013, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-that-could-have-should-have-been-much-better-than-they-were/671420/60 "2013-10-17T16:06:32Z")
I really wanted to like Mars Attacks more than I did. It could have been awesome. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-that-could-have-should-have-been-much-better-than-they-were/671420.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-that-could-have-should-have-been-much-better-than-they-were/671420.md?page=4)