As to Reservoir Dogs, I might give it one or two more watches before condemning it. This was a definite grow on me movie, and the first few times I watched it out of blind devotion to Tarantino. But after the third or fourth I realized the depth of the characters, and the utter coolness of some of the less flashy scenes dawned on me. I. E. Tim Roth telling the anecdote and how the camera switches from the roof-top, to the table, to the mythical restroom.
I also did not like Austin Powers; heck, I prefer the sequel to the original, and even that's not exactly my favorite film! Aliens is highly over-rated, but I can't say I didn't like it. Die Hard is a much better than average film for its genre, and I love Reservoir Dogs, so I can't help you there.
It's funny, I just rewatched Die Hard for the first time in 10 years. Alan Rickman is still wonderful, but Bruce Willis (who I like in general) is really pretty bad. Used to be, I felt slight guilt-pangs at watching it because of the huge suspension-of-disbelief required and glorified violence. Now I feel genuine guilt pangs because of the incredible stupidity of almost every "good" guy except Bruce Willis, some painful dialog, and some terrible acting. Don't get me wrong - I still really enjoyed it, but with much more salt.
;) Unfortunately, there is no doubt in my mind that I will never enjoy this film as much as I did when I was 15 years old and watching it in the theater for the first time. The film could have used a few more realistic characters and a severely trimmed ending (does every good guy have to have his or her moment in the sun in the last 15 minutes?), but I still love Willis' character and the degree to which the film could stretch one's disbelief without snapping it in two, a characteristic most action films lack. Of course, Rickman is still fantastic. I still like Die Hard to some degree, but that 15 year old boy years ago LOVED it.
Yeah, the 18-year-old in me loved it too. Funny thing . . . I had wrongly assumed you were older than I (assuming you were indeed 15 in 1988 when Die Hard came out).
Boy, I guess I gave away my age there! I recently turned 27, and I was indeed 15 in 1988. Everyone, even people who meet me in person, assume I am older than I really am. When I was 15, that didn't bother me. Now, I'm starting to worry about it a bit!
I'm not sure who you're talking to when you say 'everyone seemed to like' Starship Troopers. ST is so colossally bad that only by laughing at it can I justify having watched the whole thing. It's a horrible train wreck of a movie.
The other movies on this list are geared towards a young male mentality, so if that not your things, it's easy to see how you wouldn't like them.
"Resevoir Dogs" was great! I think it is an aquired taste though...i have found that the same people who like "Resevoir Dogs" are the same people who are pop culture junkies...couldn't tell you why.
how did you feel about "Eyes Wide Shut"? while not on your initial list, i had the same reaction to that as you did to the others - everyone i know loved it - seemed to be somewhat of a critical darling - and did absolutely nothing for me. actually, nothing isn't true, it irritated me quite a bit...
hey, good list. of the five on your list, "resevoir dogs" is the only one i really liked. you'd definitely should give it another chance if you can get over the blood 'n gutz.
i'm not sure if i knew anyone who like "starship troopers." i'm not into "aliens," but i can see how others might like it. "Die Hard" and "Austin Powers" both lacked any kind of sustance.
As to Reservoir Dogs, I might give it one or two more watches before condemning it. This was a definite grow on me movie, and the first few times I watched it out of blind devotion to Tarantino. But after the third or fourth I realized the depth of the characters, and the utter coolness of some of the less flashy scenes dawned on me. I. E. Tim Roth telling the anecdote and how the camera switches from the roof-top, to the table, to the mythical restroom.
I'm not sure I'd ever be able to get beyond being horrified by the violence. I can't stand watching it, just squeamish I guess.
I can certainly see avoiding it for that reason! Man, I think I've become too desensitized sometimes.
I also did not like Austin Powers; heck, I prefer the sequel to the original, and even that's not exactly my favorite film! Aliens is highly over-rated, but I can't say I didn't like it. Die Hard is a much better than average film for its genre, and I love Reservoir Dogs, so I can't help you there.
Shalom, y'all!
L. Bangs
It's funny, I just rewatched Die Hard for the first time in 10 years. Alan Rickman is still wonderful, but Bruce Willis (who I like in general) is really pretty bad. Used to be, I felt slight guilt-pangs at watching it because of the huge suspension-of-disbelief required and glorified violence. Now I feel genuine guilt pangs because of the incredible stupidity of almost every "good" guy except Bruce Willis, some painful dialog, and some terrible acting. Don't get me wrong - I still really enjoyed it, but with much more salt.
;) Unfortunately, there is no doubt in my mind that I will never enjoy this film as much as I did when I was 15 years old and watching it in the theater for the first time. The film could have used a few more realistic characters and a severely trimmed ending (does every good guy have to have his or her moment in the sun in the last 15 minutes?), but I still love Willis' character and the degree to which the film could stretch one's disbelief without snapping it in two, a characteristic most action films lack. Of course, Rickman is still fantastic. I still like Die Hard to some degree, but that 15 year old boy years ago LOVED it.
Shalom, y'all!
L. Bangs
Yeah, the 18-year-old in me loved it too. Funny thing . . . I had wrongly assumed you were older than I (assuming you were indeed 15 in 1988 when Die Hard came out).
Boy, I guess I gave away my age there! I recently turned 27, and I was indeed 15 in 1988. Everyone, even people who meet me in person, assume I am older than I really am. When I was 15, that didn't bother me. Now, I'm starting to worry about it a bit!
Shalom, y'all!
L. Bangs
Austin Powers I disliked for the stupid humor. Die Hard, Aliens and Reservoir Dogs were all problems because I couldn't stomach the violence.
I'm not sure who you're talking to when you say 'everyone seemed to like' Starship Troopers. ST is so colossally bad that only by laughing at it can I justify having watched the whole thing. It's a horrible train wreck of a movie.
The other movies on this list are geared towards a young male mentality, so if that not your things, it's easy to see how you wouldn't like them.
Regarding Starship Troopers, while it may say something about our readership, most folks here seemed to like it (some guiltily).
Many people I know liked it. I wouldn't have liked it even if I hadn't read the book beforehand.
"Resevoir Dogs" was great! I think it is an aquired taste though...i have found that the same people who like "Resevoir Dogs" are the same people who are pop culture junkies...couldn't tell you why.
how did you feel about "Eyes Wide Shut"? while not on your initial list, i had the same reaction to that as you did to the others - everyone i know loved it - seemed to be somewhat of a critical darling - and did absolutely nothing for me. actually, nothing isn't true, it irritated me quite a bit...
I actually haven't seen it yet.
hey, good list. of the five on your list, "resevoir dogs" is the only one i really liked. you'd definitely should give it another chance if you can get over the blood 'n gutz.
i'm not sure if i knew anyone who like "starship troopers." i'm not into "aliens," but i can see how others might like it. "Die Hard" and "Austin Powers" both lacked any kind of sustance.
A lot of my friends liked Starshpi Troopers actually. The guy that dragged me to see it had already seen it once.
i truely am VERY sorry:)
thanks. I DID survive :) I just don't want to repeat the experience.
I Certainly agree with you about Resevoir Dogs. It had no point. It wasted so much talent