Overhyped Film 'Classics'

[HappyGilmore]

Not sure if any of the following are considered 'classics', but I really didn't like:
It's A Wonderful Life
Miracle on 34th Street
Star Wars, and it's sequels/prequels
Lord of The Rings Series
Jaws
Indiana Jones Series
Terminator Series
Planet of The Apes
Superman Series
Titanic

I've never never been a fan of these films.  Gave a try, and was flat out bored by many of them

[JaseSF]

  Have to say I love a lot of the films mentioned here and honestly usually prefer slow-moving films with a thoughtful storyline that takes its time developing story and characters over fast-moving action flicks. I certainly wouldn't suggest the classic Solaris to the lot of you here who are complaing about slow-moving movies. Honestly Cameron is the director I typically find to be the most overrated (although I did enjoy a lot of his films, they just don't seem at all original) along with Kevin Smith (whom I seriously dislike as a director aside from Clerks). I also find the modern comedy favourites to be overrated such as Knocked Up and Superbad both of which I disliked although I did like to some extent The 40 Year Old Virgin and Forgetting Sarah Marshall. Shocked at the mention of The Mummy (1932) which I still consider one of the absolute best Horror films I've ever seen...although I have to admit I really didn't like Suspiria too much.

[Couchtr26]

I also find the modern comedy favourites to be overrated such as Knocked Up and Superbad both of which I disliked although I did like to some extent The 40 Year Old Virgin and Forgetting Sarah Marshall. Shocked at the mention of The Mummy (1932) which I still consider one of the absolute best Horror films I've ever seen...although I have to admit I really didn't like Suspiria too much.

Excellent points.  Most newer comedies are terrible.  I laugh at times but few hold my interest.  The 40 Year Old Virgin being the only exemption.  I also see what you mean on Suspiria.  It is rather jumbled at times.  I wouldn't consider it as high as many proclaim it. 

[Neville]

Saw "Zulu" a while ago. For all its fame, I found it a bit boring and populated with shallow characters. Don't take me wrong, it has its good things, but I'd call it very overrated.

Also... I don't like John Ford that much. I find some of his films excelent, such as "The horse soldiers" or "They were expendable", but for some reason his best known films don't work for me. Saw "My darling Clementine" a few weeks ago. Great opening, Henry Fonda is terrific... and then all it cares about until the very ending is about Wyatt Earp and Doc Hollyday's girlfriends. Also, Victor Mature as Hollyday? I can't buy him as a comsumptive. Saw "Gunfight at the O.K. Corral" the week before and it was much better.

[CheezeFlixz]

Some classics are hyped for what they were in their day - "Blade Runner for example was really cool in 1982 borrowing heavily from Mobius stylization of Sci-Fi comics of Heavy Metal magazine. In 2010 "Blade Runner" is rather tame and nothing new. It all depends on your definition of classic - for me I have two.

One being, a film that stands the test of time - a movie like "Patton" is a classic I can watch it anytime and enjoy it, nothing new or amazing in Patton just a damn fine movie that is well acted and can be seen again and again.

Another way of a film being classic is for it's groundbreaking and innovation, a film that raises the bar a little higher.

Remember how batsh!t everyone went for the Matrix? The freeze time 360 shot - that was new and it was cool and then everybody did it and it was boring. Early film amazed and frighten watcher and now we fine them quaint. So another way a film might be classic would be to move the bar - not always a great movie just something that redefines cinema.

But that's just one opinion of many.

[HappyGilmore]

The Matrix sucked, as did it's terrible sequels.

Someone mentioned Superbad.  Good movie.  Not great.  The highlight of the film is the interaction between McLovin and the cops.  The rest sucks.

For a good 'recent' comedy to watch: Pineapple Express.

[Flick James]

The Matrix sucked, as did it's terrible sequels.

Someone mentioned Superbad.  Good movie.  Not great.  The highlight of the film is the interaction between McLovin and the cops.  The rest sucks.

For a good 'recent' comedy to watch: Pineapple Express.

I enjoyed the first Matrix when it came out, but over time it has become almost meaningless. What was once maybe a 7/10 for me has virtually dropped off the board completely, and the sequels I didn't like even when they came out. Honestly, if the first Matrix came on cable and I was flipping through channels I wouldn't even stop.

[Hammock Rider]

  Well I hate to say it, especially on a board like this one, but I really don't like the original Universal Wolfman. I drift off whenever I try to watch it. It's just boring. Even the dramatic aspects leave me cold. Except for Claude Rains the acting is pretty stiff.

I can see where the make-up effects might have been exciting back when it first came out 70 years ago, but the horror element doesn't hold up today, and that's pretty important for a horror movie. Look at this picture, is it scary? No, the dude looks like he just needs a bath, a manicure and a shave and he could be your friendly neighborhood barista.  (Actually he'd probably just need the manicure.)

[Flick James]

No, the dude looks like he just needs a bath, a manicure and a shave and he could be your friendly neighborhood barista.  (Actually he'd probably just need the manicure.)

[HappyGilmore]

The Matrix sucked, as did it's terrible sequels.

Someone mentioned Superbad.  Good movie.  Not great.  The highlight of the film is the interaction between McLovin and the cops.  The rest sucks.

For a good 'recent' comedy to watch: Pineapple Express.

I enjoyed the first Matrix when it came out, but over time it has become almost meaningless. What was once maybe a 7/10 for me has virtually dropped off the board completely, and the sequels I didn't like even when they came out. Honestly, if the first Matrix came on cable and I was flipping through channels I wouldn't even stop.

Better man than I, then.  I couldn't even enjoy the first Matrix. 

[RCMerchant]

The Matrix sucked, as did it's terrible sequels.

Someone mentioned Superbad.  Good movie.  Not great.  The highlight of the film is the interaction between McLovin and the cops.  The rest sucks.

For a good 'recent' comedy to watch: Pineapple Express.

I enjoyed the first Matrix when it came out, but over time it has become almost meaningless. What was once maybe a 7/10 for me has virtually dropped off the board completely, and the sequels I didn't like even when they came out. Honestly, if the first Matrix came on cable and I was flipping through channels I wouldn't even stop.

Better man than I, then.  I couldn't even enjoy the first Matrix. 

Agree. First and foremost:Kenau Reeves.

[Flick James]

The Matrix sucked, as did it's terrible sequels.

Someone mentioned Superbad.  Good movie.  Not great.  The highlight of the film is the interaction between McLovin and the cops.  The rest sucks.

For a good 'recent' comedy to watch: Pineapple Express.

I enjoyed the first Matrix when it came out, but over time it has become almost meaningless. What was once maybe a 7/10 for me has virtually dropped off the board completely, and the sequels I didn't like even when they came out. Honestly, if the first Matrix came on cable and I was flipping through channels I wouldn't even stop.

Better man than I, then.  I couldn't even enjoy the first Matrix. 

Agree. First and foremost:Kenau Reeves.

Yes, I can't stand Keanu Reeves. It says something when the best thing he has ever done isBill and Ted's Excellent Adventure. I just liked the look and feel of The Matrix when it first came out, but over time I can't stand it anymore. So, yes, I am being a bit more gracious than you.

[Allhallowsday]

I have just finished my film class and I have to say, just about every single film shown did not impress me.  Don't get me wrong, they were all good and I get why they are considered classics, but they all seem to be overhyped and not as good as everyone sets them up to be.  As such, I found Psycho, Blade Runner (ESPECIALLY Blade Runner), Bonnie and Clyde, and The Silence of the Lambs not really amazing or knocking my socks off.

How about you guys, are there any films that are classics that you just don't get or are just not that amazing to you?

PSYCHO and BONNIE AND CLYDE are awesome.  I like BLADE RUNNER and SILENCE OF THE LAMBS, but a class on "Film Classics" could do a lot better. 

[HappyGilmore]

The Matrix sucked, as did it's terrible sequels.

Someone mentioned Superbad.  Good movie.  Not great.  The highlight of the film is the interaction between McLovin and the cops.  The rest sucks.

For a good 'recent' comedy to watch: Pineapple Express.

I enjoyed the first Matrix when it came out, but over time it has become almost meaningless. What was once maybe a 7/10 for me has virtually dropped off the board completely, and the sequels I didn't like even when they came out. Honestly, if the first Matrix came on cable and I was flipping through channels I wouldn't even stop.

Better man than I, then.  I couldn't even enjoy the first Matrix. 

Agree. First and foremost:Kenau Reeves.

Yes, I can't stand Keanu Reeves. It says something when the best thing he has ever done isBill and Ted's Excellent Adventure. I just liked the look and feel of The Matrix when it first came out, but over time I can't stand it anymore. So, yes, I am being a bit more gracious than you.

Not fair.  He's also done the movie Freaked.

Beyond that...terrible.

[Neville]

"Blade Runner" is a strange animal. Being a sci-fi film and having Harrison Ford as the star it can be very, very misleading. Add to that that as a thriller or an action film the pace just doesn't work. What IMHO make it worthy are the visuals, the characters and the ideas in the script (what is what makes us human, real vs. simulated, etc.). I watched it a few times as a teenager and couldn't tell what the fuss was all about, I only started to enjoy it many years later.

"Bonnie and Clyde" is a good film, but what made it so special was the many rules it broke. I wouldn't be surprised if it had lost its appeal over the tears, as the film industry became more permissive.

And "Silence of the lambs" is another misleading film. After "Hannibal" and the other sequels you may expect a more thrilling and gorier film, but it tries hard to be subtle, it's almost entirely devoted to the relationship that develops between Lecter and Clarice, and the rest of it is downplayed.

"Psycho", on the other hand is a terrific film. It may a bit too slow and not that gory when compared by present day's psycho thrillers, but that shouldn't matter when Hitchcock's direction is that good.