Seconded.
Bridge To Terabithia was an amazing experience that I shan’t need to repeat.
Oldboy is another, although I can watch the hallway hammer fight over and over again.
Some of the ones I’d mention have already been listed by others, and a few I want to mention I can’t recall right now. Back later with more, tho.
I’ve managed to watch it several times, but I hit Pause at some scenes, go away, breathe, and come back.
But ditto for Schindler’s List and Saving Private Ryan. Weird, because I can sit through Band of Brothers with no problem (except for Pausing at some Bastogne scenes).
City Of God
Leaving Las Vegas comes to mind for me.
I felt the same so I got the book out of the library and read it instead. Interesting.
An Ed Norton double. I loved both but have no desire to see either again.
25th Hour
American History X
Throw in Fight Club for a marathon. I couldn’t watch it again knowing the twist. It wouldn’t be intriguing just gross.
No Country? Schindler? Private Ryan? All excellent, all I could view repeatedly.
There is just one film that comes to my mind when reading the OP:
The Elephant Man.
mmm
Eraserhead, I guess. I thought it was interesting in its own way, but I have absolutely, positively no desire to see it again.
Actually, IMO watching it again once you know the twist pays off well. Of course the surprise ending is ruined. But, you really see how and why all these characters are acting the way they are. Because the reality they see isnt what you were seeing or assuming. To me, it was almost like a new movie.
Mine would be Boys Don’t Cry, but upon reading the responses I’ll second Happiness. I think I could sit through Life is Beautiful but I’m not sure I could enjoy it.
Most of the ones mentioned make my list, but Monster with Charlize Theron is also on that list.
I own the “Life and Death of a Serial Killer” documentary about Aileen Wuornos, with interviews with her throughout, and I can watch that again and again. But that movie? No frigging way. And I can watch some horrific shit multiple times. There’s just something about the rawness of Theron’s performance in that.
When the Levees Broke - A Requiem In Four Acts
Brokeback Mountain - it took me about a year to get over that movie. I have a bit of hatred in my heart for Phillip Seymour Hoffman for stealing the best actor Oscar from Health Ledger that year.
ETA: I wouldn’t say I’ll never watch it again; I’m sure I will, but I’ll have to steel myself for it.
Yup, it’s an important movie, but not entertainment. That pretty much goes for any movie featuring the Holocaust.
I, like you, really enjoyed subsequent viewings. It was like a new movie. It’s like watching a magic trick, but this time knowing what to look for. The one part that still bugs be is when you see the security footage of Edward Norton getting pulled around, by his collar, in the parking garage. Just not possible for one person to do by himself.
Some people, seem to be missing the point. Some people actually mention watching a movie again or wanting to watch it again, which should exclude the movie from this list. Just having a very sad ending doesn’t make the list. I cried at the ending of Saving Private Ryan, but I watched it again.
I’m not sure quite how to explain it, but it seems to me like the difference between getting punched in the face and getting a beating.
I actually watched the entire 9 hours of the documentary Shoa
It was so very interesting and heartbreaking and I’m quite done with the subject now.
I thought that was a very well done movie but the closing shot was so movie cliche it ruined it for me.
I can watch all of it except Adam Golberg’s death scene.
For personal reasons I can’t watch Blackhawk Down again.
Agreed. There were scenes that made me so angry that I seriously felt the need to punch someone, and it didn’t matter who. I don’t ever want a movie to make me that angry again. This is also why I refuse to see Jesus Camp, because I know it’s going to piss me off something fierce.
Also agreeing with Grave of the Fireflies. I needed about a day to recover from that film.
Going to add Dead Man Walking. Good movie, but I can’t stomach that rape and murder scene again.
American History X has a single scene that I will not watch again.
If you’ve seen it, you automatically know what I’m referring to.
mmm