# Name an unjustly derided movie.

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-an-unjustly-derided-movie/704549>\
**Category:** Cafe Society\
**Created:** [November 13, 2014, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-an-unjustly-derided-movie/704549 "2014-11-13T18:22:06Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 11\
**Page:** 13

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![vivalostwages](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/d07c76/32.png) [@vivalostwages](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vivalostwages)\
**Post date:** [January 14, 2015, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-an-unjustly-derided-movie/704549/241 "2015-01-14T18:47:59Z")

</div>

> [@terentii](#):
>
> _ **Star Trek: TMP** _. Yes, I know the version shown in cinemas was overly long and badly paced, but I agree in general with David Gerrold’s appraisal of the movie as being far better than most people are willing to credit it. I’ve also read the novelization, which puts things in a somewhat different perspective.
> 
> Sadly, I have yet to see director Robert Wise’s cut of the film, which I hear is much better than the one I saw back in '79. Since I’m gonna turn 60 in January, I’m putting it on my bucket list right now.

I’m sure we’re in the minority, but I fully agree with you on this.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\
**Post date:** [January 14, 2015, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-an-unjustly-derided-movie/704549/242 "2015-01-14T18:57:59Z")

</div>

> [@lister](#):
>
> There is definitely another filmed version of **The Elephant Man**. Strictly speaking it was not a theatrical release (i.e. movie theatre) but an American TV movie first screened on the ABC on January the 4th, 1982. It is a filmed stage production adapted from a stage play written by Bernard Pomerance, which debuted on Broadway in 1977.

Hmm. Is that the one in which Merrick’s female tutor shows him her boobs? Because I’m sure the 12-year-old Skald was mostly interested in that scene, even though we only see her bare back.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![erysichthon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d07c76/32.png) [@erysichthon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/erysichthon)\
**Post date:** [January 14, 2015, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-an-unjustly-derided-movie/704549/243 "2015-01-14T22:40:53Z")

</div>

> [@terentii](#):
>
> _ **Star Trek: TMP** _. Yes, I know the version shown in cinemas was overly long and badly paced, but I agree in general with David Gerrold’s appraisal of the movie as being far better than most people are willing to credit it. I’ve also read the novelization, which puts things in a somewhat different perspective.
> 
> Sadly, I have yet to see director Robert Wise’s cut of the film, which I hear is much better than the one I saw back in '79. Since I’m gonna turn 60 in January, I’m putting it on my bucket list right now.

Count me in on ST:TMP too. It has some problems, certainly, but it’s vastly better than its reputation would suggest. It has a gravitas and Kubrickian grandeur that none of the other Trek films have.

Wise’s director’s cut is a substantial improvement; the pacing is better and some weak special effects shots have been replaced. Unfortunately the new SFX were done in SD, so an HD re-release seems unlikely.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Yllaria](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yllaria/32/3452_2.png) [@Yllaria](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yllaria)\
**Post date:** [January 15, 2015, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-an-unjustly-derided-movie/704549/244 "2015-01-15T02:16:25Z")

</div>

[quote=“Suburban\_Plankton, post:12, topic:704549”]

_Hudson Hawk_

> [@Little\_Nemo](#):
>
> I don’t know if it’s derided so much as overlooked but I loved _[Mystery Men](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0132347/?ref_=nv_sr_1)_. Great cast, solid story, and amazing visuals (Kinka Usher’s direction reminded me of Terry Gilliam’s work). But it bombed in the box office and Usher has never directed another movie.

> [@Little\_Nemo](#):
>
> $68,000,000 budget and it only earned back $33,461,011.

Is that total, or just box office. Because I’ve rented it off and on since it was a VHS cassette.

I also give props to _Hudson Hawk_. Like\* Flash Gordon\*, it’s fun to watch even if you’ve seen it a few times. I’ve seen people claim that Flash was panned, but it’s got decent ratings.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Chicago\_Faucet](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chicago_faucet/32/13910_2.png) [@Chicago\_Faucet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chicago_Faucet)\
**Post date:** [January 16, 2015, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-an-unjustly-derided-movie/704549/245 "2015-01-16T00:15:53Z")

</div>

> [@DonLogan](#):
>
> Waterworld is usually thought of in the same regard as Ishtar and Heaven’s Gate.

Funny true story about Ishtar. Gary Larson did a panel of The Far Side labeled as “Hell’s Video Rental Store”, and inside you see that every VHS tape is Ishtar.

Years later, Gary Larson apologized. He said that he only saw Ishtar years after making that cartoon, and liked the movie so much, that he felt sorry for drawing that cartoon.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Chicago\_Faucet](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chicago_faucet/32/13910_2.png) [@Chicago\_Faucet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chicago_Faucet)\
**Post date:** [January 16, 2015, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-an-unjustly-derided-movie/704549/246 "2015-01-16T01:41:31Z")

</div>

“The Way of the Gun”. Not sure if this was uniformly derided, but the reviews definitely seem polarized. This movie has been in my top five since I first saw it, and I notice something new each time I watch it. The way the action unfolded slowly, and everyone acted smart in the movie, made it one of the most suspenseful action movies I’ve ever seen.

“Jurassic Park III”. Yes. It was just as good, if not better, than the first one. Again, not sure if it is derided, but I feel that it definitely was ignored.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\
**Post date:** [January 16, 2015, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-an-unjustly-derided-movie/704549/247 "2015-01-16T22:58:48Z")

</div>

Re-watched _Cool World_ the other day. I don’t get the hate. 4% at RT. It’s a pretty good movie. (Despite Brad Pitt being unable to look a toon in the eye.)

I wonder if some of it relates to the big anti-Bakshi thing out there for his crappier work.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![erysichthon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d07c76/32.png) [@erysichthon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/erysichthon)\
**Post date:** [February 7, 2015, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-an-unjustly-derided-movie/704549/248 "2015-02-07T21:10:25Z")

</div>

> [@Chicago\_Faucet](#):
>
> “Jurassic Park III”. Yes. It was just as good, if not better, than the first one. Again, not sure if it is derided, but I feel that it definitely was ignored.

JP3 was a very solid, engaging film; I don’t agree that it was as good as the first one, but it was vastly better than the second one. I think there’s some reflexive sequel-hate in the poor reviews.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![TBG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@TBG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TBG)\
**Post date:** [February 8, 2015, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-an-unjustly-derided-movie/704549/249 "2015-02-08T02:07:27Z")

</div>

> [@lister](#):
>
> For some reason critics seem to bag the hell out of this movie. There is no denying that the sequels were awful but I love the original movie. Great story. Masterful direction. Awesome soundtrack. Superb visuals. Memorable characters. What is there to dislike? Ok so you have a Frenchman as a Scot and **a Scot being a Spaniard**. The accents aren’t convincing but so what!

bolding mine  
Egyptian. A Scot being an Egyptian.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![TwoCarrotSnowman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/twocarrotsnowman/32/15879_2.png) [@TwoCarrotSnowman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TwoCarrotSnowman)\
**Post date:** [February 8, 2015, 11:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-an-unjustly-derided-movie/704549/250 "2015-02-08T11:09:02Z")

</div>

I really enjoyed Superman Returns, and don’t understand all the hate for it.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![TCMF-2L](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tcmf-2l/32/16553_2.png) [@TCMF-2L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TCMF-2L)\
**Post date:** [February 8, 2015, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-an-unjustly-derided-movie/704549/251 "2015-02-08T13:44:04Z")

</div>

**Crimewave (1985)** Even the people who made this film seem to hate it (Director Sam “Evil Dead” Raimi, Writers the Coen Brothers, Co-star Bruce Campbell) citing studio interference but I think it is terrifically funny and one of my favourite film comedies.

I would also note the first Porky’s film **Porky’s** (1981), although it gets reasonable praise, is in my opinion easily the best teenage / coming of age / gross comedy and I still find it far funnier than the genre “champion” **American Pie** (1999) which barely made me smile. Porky’s even has the added depth of tackling themes such as abusive parents and racial abuse!

TCMF-2L

[Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-an-unjustly-derided-movie/704549.md?page=12)
