# What's your most overrated movie? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 1, 2003, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-most-overrated-movie/216272 "2003-12-01T15:42:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2003, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-most-overrated-movie/216272/81 "2003-12-02T21:02:43Z")
**rjung** , that was actually my biggest beef with _Shrek_: its supposed theme of tolerance was abysmally done, and in fact did more to encourage intolerance than any kid-movie I’ve seen in a long time. And I hadn’t even thought about the short jokes. Think about it: the green-skinned, warty ogre is in love with the white, redheaded princess. But they can’t get together, because she’s white and human, and he’s green and ogrish, right? The movie makes you think that its moral will be that he needs to look beneath such superficial concerns, that under the skin they’re just the same. And then it turns out that no, she’s really green-skinned and ogrish herself, so everything’s okay. Since they look the same, they’re allowed to be a couple. Yuck. Way to undercut your theme, guys. Daniel ---
**Author:** ![RikWriter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/49beb7/32.png) [@RikWriter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RikWriter)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2003, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-most-overrated-movie/216272/82 "2003-12-02T22:09:23Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Miller \* > \*\*I never said I disliked war movies. I love war movies. Some of my favorite movies are war movies. _Shakespeare in Love_ is still better than all of 'em. \*\* Okay. I guess that means you think SIL is one of the best movies ever made. I am afraid I couldn’t agree with that position. ---
**Author:** ![Wumpus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8c91f0/32.png) [@Wumpus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wumpus)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2003, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-most-overrated-movie/216272/83 "2003-12-02T22:25:50Z")
Donnie Darko: For a while it looks like it might be a clever commentary on adolesence cleverly disguised as an bizarre, incoherent episode of The Twilight Zone. But then we get the Big Twist where it’s revealed that, no, it was just a badly made The Twilight Zone episode all along. The Usual Suspects: Saw it the first time and was appropriately blown away by the Big Twist. Saw it the second time and realized that the Big Twist rendered the rest of the movie a meaningless waste of time. Memento, on the other hand, gains each time I watch it because the gimmick and the Big Twist are actually used to further an underlying theme rather than just jerk the audience around. ---
**Author:** ![Danimal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bb73d2/32.png) [@Danimal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Danimal)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2003, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-most-overrated-movie/216272/84 "2003-12-03T00:41:43Z")
100% pure gold-plated classic movies that I disliked: _Chinatown The French Connection Touch of Evil_ Modern movies that are currently popular which I dislike: _Pulp Fiction True Romance_ (not widely discussed, but wildly popular with everybody who does discuss it). _Titanic_ was overrated when it first came out. I think it’s underrated now. The critical backlash was vicious. _Shakespeare in Love_ is a superb movie. I agree with those who say _Saving Private Ryan_ is better, but only by a teensy bit; I’m not going to slap _SIL_ with an “overrated” label just because it nosed out a marginally superior movie for the Oscar. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Hamster\_King](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8edcca/32.png) [@The\_Hamster\_King](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Hamster_King)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2003, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-most-overrated-movie/216272/85 "2003-12-03T01:06:08Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Left Hand of Dorkness \* > \*\* > Think about it: the green-skinned, warty ogre is in love with the white, redheaded princess. But they can’t get together, because she’s white and human, and he’s green and ogrish, right? The movie makes you think that its moral will be that he needs to look beneath such superficial concerns, that under the skin they’re just the same. > > And then it turns out that no, she’s really green-skinned and ogrish herself, so everything’s okay. Since they look the same, they’re allowed to be a couple. > > Yuck. Way to undercut your theme, guys. > \*\* Yup. I was really hoping that it was going to turn out that Shrek had to accept that she is beautiful and learn to love the ogre that was inside her. It became obvious pretty early on though that it was just a banal twist on the standard Ugly Duckling story. What I really hate about it is it’s hip, smirky tone. Attention movie-makers! You are not allowed to effect a hip, smirky tone at the beginning and then end the movie with a big bowl of moralizing schmaltz! Either be earnest and heartfelt from start-to-finish, or have the guts to take your edgy meanness to its logical conclusion. End with Shrek eating the princess, or have Lord Shorty win, or let the dragon kill them all! Have her wind up with the Donkey! ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2003, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-most-overrated-movie/216272/86 "2003-12-03T02:31:23Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by RikWriter \* > \*\*Okay. I guess that means you think SIL is one of the best movies ever made. I am afraid I couldn’t agree with that position. \*\* Yeah, well, obviously. Look, we already went round and 'round on this topic [here](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=162025&perpage=50&highlight=shakespeare&pagenumber=2). Assuming you haven’t come up with any compelling arguments since then, there’s not much point rehashing the discussion, no? ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2003, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-most-overrated-movie/216272/87 "2003-12-03T02:38:59Z")
A Beautiful Mind - lies from beginning to end. Howard was too chicken to show the real story, which was much better. Good Will Hunting - “It’s not your fault!” Yes it is - you wrote the script, shmuck. And those of you who put 2001 on the list - I’m just going to have to ask you to step outside. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2003, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-most-overrated-movie/216272/88 "2003-12-03T02:43:50Z")
> [@](#): > > _Originally posted by Voyager_ > Good Will Hunting - “It’s not your fault!” Yes it is - you wrote the script, shmuck. Ha! I liked the movie, but that made me laugh out loud. ---
**Author:** ![crypto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b3f665/32.png) [@crypto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crypto)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2003, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-most-overrated-movie/216272/89 "2003-12-03T03:30:43Z")
Easy Rider - old Le Divorce - new The Star Wars episodes I and II - simply pee yoo ---
**Author:** ![Odinoneeye](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/97f17d/32.png) [@Odinoneeye](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odinoneeye)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2003, 8:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-most-overrated-movie/216272/90 "2003-12-03T08:06:20Z")
Moulon Rouge really got on my nerves. I didn’t find the joke about using a line from a modern song that funny the first time. About the 100th time I was ready to scream. Everyone I work with loved The Wedding Singer. I couldn’t sit through it. ---
**Author:** ![BrandyFine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrandyFine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrandyFine)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2003, 8:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-most-overrated-movie/216272/91 "2003-12-03T08:15:55Z")
Easy Rider. Ick. ---
**Author:** ![BrandyFine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrandyFine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrandyFine)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2003, 8:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-most-overrated-movie/216272/92 "2003-12-03T08:35:04Z")
Hey I hadn’t seen the post two slots above mine when I put that. Oh well, 2001: A Space Odyssey - wish it would DIE already Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon Close Encounters Gladiator The Patriot I have to take issue with Scarlett putting social class above everything else in importance. When push came to shove she did what the hell needed to be done, even if that meant working the ground herself and nursing an entire household of invalids at the same time. For the rest of the movie she concerned herself with having enough money never to be in that situation again. Yes, she was self-absorbed and did despicable things but to paint her as being so one-dimensional is silly. The story was of course a soap opera but can’t we cut it a little slack for being 65 years old and a very early film? :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2003, 12:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-most-overrated-movie/216272/93 "2003-12-03T12:50:54Z")
GWTW: I liked the book, but the movie is 4 hours of “Hey, check out what she’s wearing _now_.” I always assume that people who liked the movie didn’t read the book, and if you haven’t read GWTW, what _have_ you read? ---
**Author:** ![Governor\_Quinn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/d26b3c/32.png) [@Governor\_Quinn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Governor_Quinn)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2003, 1:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-most-overrated-movie/216272/94 "2003-12-03T13:12:00Z")
I shall interpret this as beng critically overrated films. GWTW- Mediocre and tedious. “It’s A Wonderful Life”- Cloying to the point of ridiculousness. “Around The World In 80 Days”- After a while, the only reason to keep watching is to figure out who else will cameo. The “Star Wars” Films- Kiddie junk. All of Chaplin’s feature films except “The Great Dictator”-Chaplin had two notes, and they both annoy me. “Moulin Rouge”- The most wretched excess this side of Ken Russell. Most of the Best Picture winning films from the 1980’s also tend to bore me. ---
**Author:** ![keithnmick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/90db22/32.png) [@keithnmick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/keithnmick)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2003, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-most-overrated-movie/216272/95 "2003-12-03T14:41:58Z")
Private Ryan - again - I heard how this movie really deals with war in a whole new way…etc, and I expected it to address the fact that for the most part, it was ordinary Joes on both sides being asked to do horrific things and dealing with it, and it seemed that way, when Hanks’s team let the German soldier go as he was pleading for his life. Great, I thought, a little humanity in a war movie. Then he comes right back and proves that the bad guys are all evil. As a brit, it kind of annoyed me as well in the way that it was 100% US soldiers. I guess it did show people getting blown up very realistically, which certainly had an impact on me, and was well done, but I felt it didn’t get beyond cliches and blood n’guts. Forrest Gump. Damn I thought this sucked. An unbeleivable, oscar winning retard going from cliched vingnette to vignette with a Telstar Greatest Hits of the Sixties playing tin the background. I liked the ping pong, the rest…feh. The Crow - I can’t remember if it was critically well received, but I remember my friends seeing it multiple times. I thought it was dopey. ---
**Author:** ![KidCharlemagne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ed8c4c/32.png) [@KidCharlemagne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KidCharlemagne)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2003, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-most-overrated-movie/216272/96 "2003-12-03T15:18:22Z")
Chinatown The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly Star Wars Citizen Kane (Liked it but it IS overrated) Blade Runner Taxi Driver The Usual Suspects Now here is an odd one: As much as I loved Raiders of the Lost Ark when it came out, love the character, the settings, the music, etc., I was bored to tears when I last watched it. ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2003, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-most-overrated-movie/216272/97 "2003-12-03T15:31:47Z")
One movie that pops into my mind immediatly is _Old School_. So many people talked up this movie that I was expecting the best, funniest comedy ever conceived. I maybe laughed once, and was bored the whole time. Pathetic people who can’t move on from college is sad not funny. I would also have to say the LotR movies haven’t done anything for me. They are long and overwrought, the cinematic equivalent of James Joyce. Sure, they may have spent two weeks crossing a mountain range, but did you have to show it in real time? Since I never read the books, the cast of charcters was next to impossible to follow. While some scenes are beautiful, and make me want to go to New Zealand, some scenes were so dark and ‘busy’ that I had no idea what I was looking at. ---
**Author:** ![lissener](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lissener/32/6139_2.png) [@lissener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lissener)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2003, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-most-overrated-movie/216272/98 "2003-12-03T16:01:36Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by RikWriter \* > \*\*No, actually the Academy got it wrong as usual that year. Saving Private Ryan was and continues to be the best war movie ever made. \*\* –FOR ME TO POOP ON! ---
**Author:** ![plnnr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7ea924/32.png) [@plnnr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/plnnr)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2003, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-most-overrated-movie/216272/99 "2003-12-03T17:03:14Z")
Titanic Shawshank LOTR Matrix None of them had characters I could give a rat’s ass about. ---
**Author:** ![BrandyFine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrandyFine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrandyFine)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2003, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-most-overrated-movie/216272/100 "2003-12-03T17:17:20Z")
I have to wonder how old most of the people saying “Star Wars” are. It just doesn’t seem likely that most of them were around (or old enough to really remember) when it was new. There hasn’t in my lifetime been anything that has neared that phenomenon, that has **done** what it did to the extent that it did it. Neither do I recall a single person at the time giving such an assessment except maybe snob reviewers. Most people found it almost life-changing, if not literally so; certainly the cultural landscape was tremendously affected. It just seems wrong to be judging things without at least taking into account when they actually came out and their impact of the time. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-most-overrated-movie/216272.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-most-overrated-movie/216272.md?page=6)