The film I just watched (The Love Trap) had a biography about William Wyler in which his various collaborators talked about him. At one point everyone's favorite Stalinist, Lillian Hellman, talked about "Mrs. Miniver." She said that when she saw it she was in tears since it was so awful and that she berated Wyler for making a film so far beneath him. Mrs. Miniver went on to win Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actress, Best Screenplay, Best Cinematography (B&W), and Best Supporting Actress at the 1942 Oscars, was added to the National Film Registry and was ranked as one of the most inspirational films by the AFI. Hellman is right; the film is garbage, heavy handed garbage.
Do you have a work of art, book, movie or whatever that is universally loved (or hated) and that you hate (or love)?
For me, Maria Callas has a terrible voice. All of her performances are painful.
Kurasawa's Ran.
Terminator 2.
Star Wars, lolz.
Star Trek.
But nothing from the 1920s or 1930s I can think of so nothing you might be familiar with Sav :P
Rap music - how is it that is something that has become perhaps not universally, but widely loved.
My dad (who was in London as a kid during the Blitz) was talking about Mrs Miniver just last week. He said it was the most terribly Americanised vision of England during the war he'd seen. The accents were mostly terrible (especially the kids) and the homes had white picket fences, which really is an all-American phenomenon. I believe it was well-regarded as it broke plot rules (SPOILERS: the girl and not the pilot dies).
Don't know if GF was being ironic, but I do think Star Wars is unfairly praised. It's a mostly awful film with dreadful characteristic and script. I'm not terribly keen on the Godfather films either.
I actually liked Wild Wild West. :(
Quote from: Brazen on April 13, 2016, 10:28:32 AM
I'm not terribly keen on the Godfather films either.
:o
Ok let's not derail this thing by trying to convince people their hatred of popular stuff is wrong. That way leads to madness.
Quote from: Brazen on April 13, 2016, 10:28:32 AM
My dad (who was in London as a kid during the Blitz) was talking about Mrs Miniver just last week. He said it was the most terribly Americanised vision of England during the war he'd seen. The accents were mostly terrible (especially the kids) and the homes had white picket fences, which really is an all-American phenomenon. I believe it was well-regarded as it broke plot rules (SPOILERS: the girl and not the pilot dies).
Don't know if GF was being ironic, but I do think Star Wars is unfairly praised. It's a mostly awful film with dreadful characteristic and script. I'm not terribly keen on the Godfather films either.
I am not.
Quote from: Brazen on April 13, 2016, 10:28:32 AM
My dad (who was in London as a kid during the Blitz) was talking about Mrs Miniver just last week. He said it was the most terribly Americanised vision of England during the war he'd seen. The accents were mostly terrible (especially the kids) and the homes had white picket fences, which really is an all-American phenomenon. I believe it was well-regarded as it broke plot rules.
Which is funny since Wyler traveled extensively. He must have known London doesn't look like suburban Los Angeles.
Quote from: Brazen on April 13, 2016, 10:28:32 AM
unfairly praised. It's a mostly awful film with dreadful characteristic and script.
Fairness has nothing to do with it :P
I kinda feel that way every time I post in the movie/tv thread. :D
Me: I watched (random movie) and it was great fun.
Languish movie snobs: That movie sucks, plot holes, acting, etc...
Most 80s teen movies. Especially The Breakfast Club. :yuk:
The Mona Lisa. Most of Picasso's works.
Jay-z.
QuoteJay-z.
There is nothing so baffling as why certain musicians become big stars. I mean sometimes somebody is obviously very talented. But man that is puzzlingly rare.
Meghan Trainor? Why...WHY?
She did a song that made fat girls feel good about themselves and it took off. Easy enough. :P
Also, anal sex.
Quote from: Brazen on April 13, 2016, 10:28:32 AMI'm not terribly keen on the Godfather films either.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4wMQz3iJDzE
That may be MacFarlane's best writing there.
Anything written by Ernest Hemingway.
The Walking Dead. Overwrought , plodding, and boring.
Quote from: Peter Wiggin on April 13, 2016, 11:02:30 AM
She did a song that made fat girls feel good about themselves and it took off. Easy enough. :P
Plus she's a white person who sounds black. It's a concept that's worked before. :elvis:
Quote from: Savonarola on April 13, 2016, 10:05:42 AM
Do you have a work of art, book, movie or whatever that is universally loved (or hated) and that you hate (or love)?
Most movies involving Jim Carrey after the Mask and Ace Ventura, I had seen enough.
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless mind comes to mind.
Ex Machina. The Supergirl tv series that consistantly receives great reviews.
Reality tv shows, especially the music based ones like the Voice.
Quote from: Savonarola on April 13, 2016, 12:23:22 PM
Quote from: Peter Wiggin on April 13, 2016, 11:02:30 AM
She did a song that made fat girls feel good about themselves and it took off. Easy enough. :P
Plus she's a white person who sounds black. It's a concept that's worked before. :elvis:
Yeah but that concept worked because we didn't have lots of actual black artists being exposed on that level. Things are a tad different today :P
Quote from: Valmy on April 13, 2016, 10:58:21 AM
QuoteJay-z.
There is nothing so baffling as why certain musicians become big stars. I mean sometimes somebody is obviously very talented. But man that is puzzlingly rare.
Meghan Trainor? Why...WHY?
Sadly I like her new single No. I feel a lot of difficulty on that as on one side I dislike her but on the other hand I like the catty tone if the song. :Embarrass:
Quote from: crazy canuck on April 13, 2016, 10:27:37 AM
Rap music - how is it that is something that has become perhaps not universally, but widely loved.
At this point it is mostly hip hop which has great beats.
Quote from: Valmy on April 13, 2016, 12:34:08 PM
Yeah but that concept worked because we didn't have lots of actual black artists being exposed on that level. Things are a tad different today :P
There were plenty of black artists in the 90s as well; yet somehow Marshall Mathers was able to make a go of it. :P
Quote from: Savonarola on April 13, 2016, 01:00:25 PM
There were plenty of black artists in the 90s as well; yet somehow Marshall Mathers was able to make a go of it. :P
He doesn't sound black. He sounds like a white dude rapping.
Quote from: Valmy on April 13, 2016, 01:01:56 PM
Quote from: Savonarola on April 13, 2016, 01:00:25 PM
There were plenty of black artists in the 90s as well; yet somehow Marshall Mathers was able to make a go of it. :P
He doesn't sound black. He sounds like a white dude rapping.
Madonna then in the 80s.
Quote from: Savonarola on April 13, 2016, 01:03:20 PM
Madonna then in the 80s.
Well anyway. Maybe.
But the subject was Jay Z and I don't think he became big because he sounded black. Or....wait....
Quote from: Valmy on April 13, 2016, 01:15:45 PM
But the subject was Jay Z and I don't think he became big because he sounded black. Or....wait....
Nah, he brought up the sounding black thing about Meghan Trainor.
Quote from: viper37 on April 13, 2016, 12:32:43 PM
Most movies involving Jim Carrey after the Mask and Ace Ventura, I had seen enough.
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless mind comes to mind.
I feel the exact opposite, hated Carrey's early comedies, loved Eternal Sunshine.
Quote from: Peter Wiggin on April 13, 2016, 01:36:06 PM
Quote from: Valmy on April 13, 2016, 01:15:45 PM
But the subject was Jay Z and I don't think he became big because he sounded black. Or....wait....
Nah, he brought up the sounding black thing about Meghan Trainor.
True. I guess I thought he was saying that untalented musicians become breakout stars due to RACIST WHITE APPROPRIATION.
Ok fair enough but plenty of untalented non-white artists also puzzlingly become big stars.
My opinion on Trainor: it is because she sounds like (and look) a poppier version of Adele.
I don't think Meghan Trainor is untalented; merely annoying.
On that subject, Taylor Swift's music is awful as well.
Edit: Oh, and Billy Joel as well. That's someone who everyone else is wrong about.
Quote from: Grey Fox on April 13, 2016, 01:52:39 PM
My opinion on Trainor: it is because she sounds like (and look) a poppier version of Adele.
Adele's voice is WAY better.
Quote from: Peter Wiggin on April 13, 2016, 01:38:05 PM
I feel the exact opposite, hated Carrey's early comedies, loved Eternal Sunshine.
I'm with you. He's kinda like Robin Williams was: relied too much early in his career on physical comedy, and only found his niche when he stopped trying to be blatantly funny.
Quote from: Savonarola on April 13, 2016, 01:52:56 PM
On that subject, Taylor Swift's music is awful as well.
I'm a big fan of 1989. :blush:
You know what everyone was all spoogie over that sucked? That stupid movie about the whiny Broadway actor shooting himself. I was so disappointed he wasn't dead at the end. The entire movie was self indulgent crap. Oh, look how clever we are! Look! LOOK PEASANT THIS IS ART!!!!
Barf.
Quote from: Savonarola on April 13, 2016, 01:52:56 PM
I don't think Meghan Trainor is untalented; merely annoying.
On that subject, Taylor Swift's music is awful as well.
Edit: Oh, and Billy Joel as well. That's someone who everyone else is wrong about.
I've no idea why Taylor Swift is so popular.
The British version of the office.
I like most things Gervais does.
I like the American office.
But the original is just so.....dull
The Usual Suspects. A big in joke played on the viewer.
Quote from: garbon on April 13, 2016, 02:53:54 PM
Quote from: Savonarola on April 13, 2016, 01:52:56 PM
I don't think Meghan Trainor is untalented; merely annoying.
On that subject, Taylor Swift's music is awful as well.
Edit: Oh, and Billy Joel as well. That's someone who everyone else is wrong about.
I've no idea why Taylor Swift is so popular.
We bought a used van in the fall.
My wife recently discovered that the van came with a Taylor Swift CD in the CD player (we never listen to CDs). So we played it for awhile. It was pleasant enough, nothing I'm going to rush out and listen to again, but nothing terribly offensive either.
But riding a pretty face and inoffensive music can be enough in the music world. So no I'm not particularly surprised she is popular.
Quote from: garbon on April 13, 2016, 02:53:54 PM
I've no idea why Taylor Swift is so popular.
I get it for when she first became known, but she changed pretty quickly into the same stuff everyone else does. The same four or five people write all the mainstream pop songs.
Like this guy:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Max_Martin
Quote from: Berkut on April 13, 2016, 02:45:52 PM
You know what everyone was all spoogie over that sucked? That stupid movie about the whiny Broadway actor shooting himself. I was so disappointed he wasn't dead at the end. The entire movie was self indulgent crap. Oh, look how clever we are! Look! LOOK PEASANT THIS IS ART!!!!
Barf.
What movie is this?
QuoteThe British version of the office.
I like most things Gervais does.
I like the American office.
But the original is just so.....dull
Agreed. I think the problem is Gervais based his character on an actual person he knew. Carrell's character combines both stereotypical bad boss behaviors and an extreme childishness that makes one wonder how he could possibly be put in charge of anyone. As most of the humor involves people reacting to the boss man, Gervais isn't far enough out there.
Sugar laden soft drinks and ones that taste like they have sugar in them.
I don't like anything with zombies in it. :ph34r:
Quote from: mongers on April 13, 2016, 03:41:15 PM
Sugar laden soft drinks and ones that taste like they have sugar in them.
God those are the bane of my existence. I am so damn addicted to them but I have done my best to keep my children away. Terrible things.
Quote from: MadImmortalMan on April 13, 2016, 03:42:17 PM
I don't like anything with zombies in it. :ph34r:
I prefer my drinks with sugar in them rather than zombies, it is true. :hmm:
Quote from: Martinus on April 13, 2016, 10:30:52 AM
I actually liked Wild Wild West. :(
I don't know that I'd say it's actually good, but I think that taken on its own terms, it's OK enough escapist entertainment. The problem is, for anyone who was a fan of the original, it's almost a slap in the face. And having Branagh constantly making racist remarks isn't funny, even if Will Smith fires back one-liners putting down the handicapped.
Quote from: MadImmortalMan on April 13, 2016, 03:42:17 PM
I don't like anything with zombies in it. :ph34r:
I don't know about "anything", but I am pretty much over this current zombie fad in society.
Quote from: MadImmortalMan on April 13, 2016, 03:42:17 PM
I don't like anything with zombies in it. :ph34r:
:hug:
I didn't even like Shaun of the Dead that much...
You people that don't like zombies are wrong :mad:.
Quote from: lustindarkness on April 13, 2016, 04:50:08 PM
Quote from: Valmy on April 13, 2016, 04:09:56 PM
Quote from: Peter Wiggin on April 13, 2016, 03:39:49 PM
What movie is this?
Birdman.
Wait, but he did not shoot himself, he jumped right? :unsure:
One day I was going to make it to the end of that movie. Thanks a lot :mad:
:P
Quote from: crazy canuck on April 13, 2016, 04:58:21 PM
Quote from: lustindarkness on April 13, 2016, 04:50:08 PM
Quote from: Valmy on April 13, 2016, 04:09:56 PM
Quote from: Peter Wiggin on April 13, 2016, 03:39:49 PM
What movie is this?
Birdman.
Wait, but he did not shoot himself, he jumped right? :unsure:
One day I was going to make it to the end of that movie. Thanks a lot :mad:
:P
Damn it Berkie, you should have used spoiler tags. :mad:
Quote from: MadImmortalMan on April 13, 2016, 03:35:44 PM
Quote from: garbon on April 13, 2016, 02:53:54 PM
I've no idea why Taylor Swift is so popular.
I get it for when she first became known, but she changed pretty quickly into the same stuff everyone else does. The same four or five people write all the mainstream pop songs.
Like this guy:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Max_Martin
Well that sounds like you are just a person who doesn't care for pop songs so that's a different take from me. I like pop but I found her sound rather dull.
Yeah, Swift's country days were somewhat interesting (and I'm not really a country guy), but she's like any other bland sameish popstar nowadays.
"Everyone else is wrong", should be the slogan of Languish.
Disney.
Musicals.
Quote from: Valmy on April 13, 2016, 04:06:40 PM
Quote from: mongers on April 13, 2016, 03:41:15 PM
Sugar laden soft drinks and ones that taste like they have sugar in them.
God those are the bane of my existence. I am so damn addicted to them but I have done my best to keep my children away. Terrible things.
Yeah, I can imagine its just another pressure you don't need to deal with when bringing up kids.
I've always liked Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow, but no one else does.
The Dragon Age games. Played the first one a couple of times through (well, through the origins part after the first complete game), found it just okay. Played a few minutes of the second, realized I didn't care what happened to the characters, and stopped. There just wasn't any 'there," there.
Jazz.
While it got a solid mention in David Barry's Book of Bad Songs, I like the Donna Summer version of "MacArthur Park". I don't care for the Richard Harris version.
Frank Sinatra's "New York". Liza's cover is much much better.
Quote from: Martinus on April 14, 2016, 07:33:46 AM
Frank Sinatra's "New York". Liza's cover is much much better.
Sigh.
Quote from: grumbler on April 14, 2016, 06:39:16 AM
The Dragon Age games. Played the first one a couple of times through (well, through the origins part after the first complete game), found it just okay. Played a few minutes of the second, realized I didn't care what happened to the characters, and stopped. There just wasn't any 'there," there.
Well hey you don't have to play them anymore now! I wrote an AAR listing all the reasons you may have made the right decision :P
Quote from: Razgovory on April 13, 2016, 06:05:33 PM
"Everyone else is wrong", should be the slogan of Languish.
:lol:
Quidque errare est; now we just need a coat of arms.
Quote from: Razgovory on April 13, 2016, 06:05:33 PM
"Everyone else is wrong", should be the slogan of Languish.
No.
I don't like the Beatles.
Not because I think their music is bad, but because of my 6th grade music teacher. Everything she did in that class was Beatles-related. She had kids lip-synching songs, one kid played his violin along with Yesterday, she once did a class comparing Here Comes the Sun to Shakespeare's 29th sonnet.
I used up all of my Beatles patience for my whole lifetime that year.
Quote from: MadImmortalMan on April 14, 2016, 12:35:59 PM
I don't like the Beatles.
Not because I think their music is bad, but because of my 6th grade music teacher. Everything she did in that class was Beatles-related. She had kids lip-synching songs, one kid played his violin along with Yesterday, she once did a class comparing Here Comes the Sun to Shakespeare's 29th sonnet.
I used up all of my Beatles patience for my whole lifetime that year.
I like the Ghost cover of Here Comes The Sun. :)
Quote from: Savonarola on April 14, 2016, 11:55:38 AM
Quote from: Razgovory on April 13, 2016, 06:05:33 PM
"Everyone else is wrong", should be the slogan of Languish.
:lol:
Quidque errare est; now we just need a coat of arms.
:D :thumbsup:
Two monkeys flinging shit at a dead horse?
The Walking Dead.
Gone with the Wind.
Leaving Las Vegas.
The British Office.
Breaking Bad.
Quote from: HisMajestyBOB on April 13, 2016, 10:46:15 PM
I've always liked Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow, but no one else does.
I do believe Timmah is on your side. :P
One that I've noticed- I seem to be in a minority for finding Fallout New Vegas so-so (I never finished it) whilst finding Fallout 3 excellent.
Quote from: MadImmortalMan on April 14, 2016, 12:35:59 PM
I don't like the Beatles.
Not because I think their music is bad, but because of my 6th grade music teacher. Everything she did in that class was Beatles-related. She had kids lip-synching songs, one kid played his violin along with Yesterday, she once did a class comparing Here Comes the Sun to Shakespeare's 29th sonnet.
I used up all of my Beatles patience for my whole lifetime that year.
I'm not really big on the Beatles either.
I think the problem with them for a lot of people born in the 70s or later is that they just grew up with their music as generic background music. You hear it in the media a lot so...it just doesn't have anything special to it. Then there's the bazillion bands who took inspiration from them who you may well give a serious listen before you get to the Beatles and....yeah.
I can appreciate them for being the big deal that they were, but purely as music in modern times they do nothing for me.
Quote from: Scipio on April 16, 2016, 09:25:53 AM
Leaving Las Vegas.
I watched Leaving Las Vegas after 20 years away from it, and it is built on a ludicrous premise.
The premise that Cage could act? Fooled the Academy.
I thought Cage did a reasonable juicehead. I'm talking about a smoking hott hoor falling madly in love with a busted down rummy.
On the side of everyone considers this shit but I like it: Cloud Atlas, Jupiter Ascending and Da Vinci Code. :P