# The Best Movie You Never Want to Watch Again **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 15, 2011, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-movie-you-never-want-to-watch-again/567729 "2011-01-15T18:44:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![Raguleader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/258eb7/32.png) [@Raguleader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raguleader)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2011, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-movie-you-never-want-to-watch-again/567729/101 "2011-01-18T04:27:40Z")
V for Vendetta and Watchmen. Both very well made movies, but both movies that I’ve never felt any particular desire to re-watch. Actually, V For Vendetta was a very well made movie, but I distinctly didn’t like it. What can I say? Seems I don’t care much for villain protagonists. Watchmen? I dunno, maybe it was just this side of too dark for my tastes. I enjoyed the hell out of it when I saw it in the theater. Joy Luck Club and Taking Chance as well, for a different reason. I just haven’t felt the need for the kind of cathartic emotional release that both movies inspire in me (no man watches Taking Chance and gets “dust in his eyes”, trust me). Though with Joy Luck Club, I guess I cheat by watching the ending from time to time. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2011, 4:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-movie-you-never-want-to-watch-again/567729/102 "2011-01-18T04:31:31Z")
I honestly cannot think of a movie I wouldn’t want to re-watch . . . provided I enjoyed it the first time. ---
**Author:** ![shijinn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cc9497/32.png) [@shijinn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shijinn)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2011, 4:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-movie-you-never-want-to-watch-again/567729/103 "2011-01-18T04:47:02Z")
Million Dollar Baby with Clint Eastwood. ---
**Author:** ![Ruffian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/71e660/32.png) [@Ruffian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruffian)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2011, 5:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-movie-you-never-want-to-watch-again/567729/104 "2011-01-18T05:28:44Z")
_Saving Private Ryan_. I swore at the time I saw it it would be the last war movie I’d ever see, and so far, it has been. War is gruesome and dark and merciless and generally all fucked up, already know. I don’t need to SEE it (or have scenes of it replay when I’m trying to sleep). Good movie, though. And another vote for _Million Dollar Baby_. Another great flick that I don’t want to watch again. ---
**Author:** ![multimediac17](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/839c29/32.png) [@multimediac17](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/multimediac17)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2011, 6:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-movie-you-never-want-to-watch-again/567729/105 "2011-01-18T06:16:55Z")
> [@panache45](#): > > I honestly cannot think of a movie I wouldn’t want to re-watch . . . provided I enjoyed it the first time. Me either, even the most disturbing movies I’ve seen, including a few mentioned in this thread, I still like to rewatch - although it might take me a few years to want to see them again. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2011, 6:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-movie-you-never-want-to-watch-again/567729/106 "2011-01-18T06:30:47Z")
I recently re-watched _V for Vendetta_, too, and I liked it better the second time. I’d go so far as to say it’s become one of my favourite movies. Natalie Portman’s Golden Globe win was no surprise after watching that movie. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Excellent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f19dbf/32.png) [@Mr.Excellent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Excellent)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2011, 11:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-movie-you-never-want-to-watch-again/567729/107 "2011-01-18T11:03:57Z")
> [@kidneyfailure](#): > > I, too, felt sad after this film, but then I watched _Nanjing_ immediately afterward and then found it hard to sympathize with the characters of GOFF, especially as Seita and his sister came from a military family. But Seita and his sister never hurt anyone. Don’t fall into the trap of blaming an entire nationality for the actions of some of its members. For that matter - their dad was a naval officer. Would he have even participated in the rape of Nanking? ---
**Author:** ![Horatio\_Hellpop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Horatio\_Hellpop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatio_Hellpop)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2011, 11:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-movie-you-never-want-to-watch-again/567729/108 "2011-01-18T11:21:45Z")
**Gandhi.** Beautiful film, deserving of all the awards it was nominated for or got. But once I saw it, the need was sated. The square hole was forever filled by a square peg. I can’t imagine any emotional payoff to a second viewing. ---
**Author:** ![BeeDubU2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@BeeDubU2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BeeDubU2)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2011, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-movie-you-never-want-to-watch-again/567729/109 "2011-01-19T03:28:47Z")
Two films for me: **Hotel Ruwanda** and **Precious**. On another note, anytime I see (or hear, he’s got a very distinctive voice) the black guy from **Requiem for Dream** in anything, I flash back to the final scenes of that movie and whatevers on is immediately ruined. I can’t even watch **The Cape** , even though it looks like it’s right up my alley. ---
**Author:** ![Lantern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d26b3c/32.png) [@Lantern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lantern)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2011, 6:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-movie-you-never-want-to-watch-again/567729/111 "2011-01-19T06:44:39Z")
**Grave of the Fireflies** **Raging Bull** To be honest I will probably watch them again some day though I don’t think I \*\*want \*\*to watch them ever again. ---
**Author:** ![Maiira](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f04885/32.png) [@Maiira](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maiira)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2011, 7:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-movie-you-never-want-to-watch-again/567729/112 "2011-01-19T07:50:12Z")
> [@Yonkey](#): > > Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows Part I I thought this would be one of mine, too, as it was pretty depressing, but I ended up seeing it again and actually liked it better the second time around. ---
**Author:** ![blackmath](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b782af/32.png) [@blackmath](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blackmath)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2011, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-movie-you-never-want-to-watch-again/567729/113 "2011-01-20T15:13:57Z")
For me it’s undoubtedly Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. Wonderfully filmed, surrealistic presentation, excellent acting from everyone in the film but I watched it after a very rough breakup and I don’t believe any movie has ever effected me emotionally like that before or since. Perhaps one day I’ll go back and watch it again, as I am a huge fan of Michel Gondry’s work and even more of Charlie Kaufman’s writing… just not yet. Upthread someone else mentioned Synecdoche New York. I’d like to second that. ---
**Author:** ![Rafe\_Hollister](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/fbc32d/32.png) [@Rafe\_Hollister](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rafe_Hollister)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2011, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-movie-you-never-want-to-watch-again/567729/114 "2011-01-20T16:42:39Z")
Came here to say _Amistad_ and _Schindler’s List_, both of which have been mentioned. This week I’ve rewatched _Deliverance_ and _Unforgiven_. I can see that these movies could justifiably be on some lists, also. ---
**Author:** ![Ranchoth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranchoth/32/1066_2.png) [@Ranchoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranchoth)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2011, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-movie-you-never-want-to-watch-again/567729/115 "2011-01-21T00:09:14Z")
> [@Krokodil](#): > > **Gandhi.** Beautiful film, deserving of all the awards it was nominated for or got. But once I saw it, the need was sated. The square hole was forever filled by a square peg. I can’t imagine any emotional payoff to a second viewing. As a matter of fact, Roger Ebert’s movie glossary has a listing for “Any film which is undeniably good, perhaps great, but once you’ve seen it, there is absolutely no reason to ever want to see it again,” which he calls…[“Gandhi Movies.”](http://books.google.com/books?id=48gFm7DSI5QC&printsec=frontcover&dq=ebert+glossary&hl=en&ei=Z804TZuRK4H6swOt87W2Aw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CC0Q6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=gandhi&f=false) ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2011, 7:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-movie-you-never-want-to-watch-again/567729/116 "2011-01-21T07:48:40Z")
> [@Ranchoth](#): > > As a matter of fact, Roger Ebert’s movie glossary has a listing for “Any film which is undeniably good, perhaps great, but once you’ve seen it, there is absolutely no reason to ever want to see it again,” which he calls…[“Gandhi Movies.”](http://books.google.com/books?id=48gFm7DSI5QC&printsec=frontcover&dq=ebert+glossary&hl=en&ei=Z804TZuRK4H6swOt87W2Aw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CC0Q6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=gandhi&f=false) Last summer, my daughter had to take a summer school high school class to make up a failed social science credit. She stayed home “sick” one day while they were studying India, so I made her watch Gandhi that afternoon. The next day, she went back to school, and the teacher had the class watch Gandhi. ---
**Author:** ![devilsknew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4da419/32.png) [@devilsknew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/devilsknew)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2011, 7:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-movie-you-never-want-to-watch-again/567729/117 "2011-01-21T07:54:56Z")
I am at a crossroads… I have avoided avatar to great aplomb. I have missed it as a cultural phenomenon and as the largest grossing film of all time. I have never seen it and have grown like a mushroom avoiding the spoilers and memes, although as an impartial observer I have felt the memes inoculating and crystallizing… its momentum overcame my inertia. I have come to a point where I might watch it… not 3-d. I can confess I partially put off watching it hoping that I might someday see it in 3-D. So, my question is should I rupture my virgin mind on the DVD or wait for the proper Big Screen venue? ---
**Author:** ![Ranchoth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranchoth/32/1066_2.png) [@Ranchoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranchoth)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2011, 8:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-movie-you-never-want-to-watch-again/567729/118 "2011-01-21T08:10:26Z")
> [@devilsknew](#): > > I have come to a point where I might watch it… not 3-d. I can confess I partially put off watching it hoping that I might someday see it in 3-D. So, my question is should I rupture my virgin mind on the DVD or wait for the proper Big Screen venue? Well, all else aside, watching it without 3D is kinda like watching The Wizard of Oz on an eight inch B&W. ---
**Author:** ![Any\_Other\_Name](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f17d59/32.png) [@Any\_Other\_Name](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Any_Other_Name)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2011, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-movie-you-never-want-to-watch-again/567729/119 "2011-01-21T22:08:42Z")
> [@Raguleader](#): > > Joy Luck Club and Taking Chance as well, for a different reason. I just haven’t felt the need for the kind of cathartic emotional release that both movies inspire in me (no man watches Taking Chance and gets “dust in his eyes”, trust me). I haven’t seen Taking Chance, but it sounds a lot like the book Final Salute by Jim Sheeler. I found it hard to read more than a chapter at a time of Final Salute without getting “dust in my eyes”. If Taking Chance is similar, I’d find it hard to watch it more than once. Although I’m not sure it would compare. The review in Wiki for Taking Chance says > [@](#): > > Instead of well-drawn characters or real human drama, we are presented with a military procedural on burial traditions. The film desperately wants the viewer to shed tears for its fallen hero without giving a single dramatic reason to do so. ---
**Author:** ![Any\_Other\_Name](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f17d59/32.png) [@Any\_Other\_Name](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Any_Other_Name)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2011, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-movie-you-never-want-to-watch-again/567729/120 "2011-01-21T22:16:15Z")
Lots of great movies mentioned here. Some, like Saving Private Ryan, have a scene that makes watching them again difficult. I’ll get past that, especially since it’s in the beginning of the movie. Something like Deliverance on the other hand, there’s a constant premonition of what’s to come (though I wouldn’t call Deliverance a great movie). I’m surprised no one’s mentioned A Beautiful Life. Incredibly moving, hard to watch the first time, I’d have a hard time seeing it again. Maybe also, What Dreams May come. The ending is better, but there’s so much darkness on the way. Alive Day from HBO Films. In the end though, in the right mood, I’d watch any of them again, if I appreciated them the first time. ---
**Author:** ![lshaw](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e36b37/32.png) [@lshaw](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lshaw)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2011, 9:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-movie-you-never-want-to-watch-again/567729/121 "2011-01-24T09:50:46Z")
> [@Malthus](#): > > _Come and See_. > > [Come and See - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Come_and_See) > > Makes _Schindler’s List_ and _Grave of the Fireflies_ look like _Bambi_, as well as being really good (Spielburg allegedly screened it for his crew when filming _Schindler’s List_, so that they could see what they were aiming for). > > I can’t imagine wanting to watch it twice. There are many movies that I wouldn’t watch twice, but this one definitely stands out in my mind. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-movie-you-never-want-to-watch-again/567729.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-best-movie-you-never-want-to-watch-again/567729.md?page=7)