Worst Films by Great Directors

Post by **Usivius** » Mon May 28, 2007 8:08 pm

Although there is no published list out on this one (as far as I know), I thought we could throw out some stinkers by 'great' directors (a la, the vespers topic).

I'll start with a few that have been on my mind:

Gilliam: 'Fear and Loathing...' --- I know many people liked this, and I tried to be objective on a second viewing, but can't rate this a very good movie at all. Great performances and interesting direction, but as a whole movie, it really is not very good.

Kubrick: 'Barry Lyndon' --- yah it scored a few nominations, but I attribute that to it just being a Kubrick film. Cinematography is fantastic!, but the story and how this (fairly interesting) story is put on film is not. and the lead with Ryan O'neil is awful ... he cannot emote the proper visceral emotion needed for this role. Yuck.

Ridley Scott: 'Legend' --- I want to like this movie. Really. I have both the UK and US release of the film, but there is not a complete movie in either. It is a mess. Granted, it was made during the whole mess with UA and Gilliam's Brazil, which put a lot of pressure on other films at the time, but this is a mess. Looks great (less calories), and is ultimately not satisfying. I would LOVE to see Ridley go back and do another fantasy movie...

Post by **Cagliostro** » Mon May 28, 2007 8:35 pm

Ye gods, I love Fear and Loathing. My ex called it her favorite film. It's not quite what I'd call my favorite, but I do definitely dig it. As for Gilliam, I'd probably say The Brothers Grimm, if not Baron Munchausen. Grimm was such a dissapointment, and the Baron, while there were a few scenes that were enjoyable, on the whole was a bit more of a mess than it should have been. I think the problem with Fear and Loathing is that it starts off less than it is (meaning, on first viewing), but the more you watch it, the better it gets.

Legend - well, I loved this movie, but yes...it's kinda dippy when you talk about the storyline and show certain scenes. But there is more to judge a movie on than storyline, and lordy, if this isn't a movie that sets a mood. One unlike any I have ever seen before. Yeah, the story is bland and seems like it was written by high school kid studying folklore, but the blend of music, look and tone, as well as the stuff people like Joseph Cambell go on about, make it okay in my book. A bit of embarrassment on my part to admit I like it, but I really do. Ol' Ridley have made a number of film recently that have done nothing for me, such as Gladiator. I don't say it is a bad film, I just don't like it.

Barry Lyndon - yeah, I wanted to like this one as well. But I was bored silly. Yeah, the costumes won an Oscar, for one, and that is strange because they dug up authentic clothing, if I remember correctly. But costumes alone don't make a movie, and I agree about Ryan O'Neil. It just really could have been a bit better. Anyway, good to hear you didn't say "Eyes Wide Shut," as I think this is a much maligned film.

Post by **Cail** » Mon May 28, 2007 8:35 pm

Ridley Scott has a bunch of them. 'Thelma & Louise' takes the title.

James Cameron: 'Titanic' ---Oh please. The love story blows, the characters suck, and the direction's clunky. Great set piece at the end, but that's it.

Robert Rodriguez: Everything he's done except 'El Mariachi', 'Planet Terror', and 'Once Upon a Time in Mexico'. 'Spy Kids'? 'Nuff said.

Post by **Cagliostro** » Mon May 28, 2007 8:41 pm

Loved Spy Kids. LOVE Desperado. I love most of his stuff. Sharkboy and Lavagirl I have a memory of renting, but no memory of the film. So it is either that or From Dusk Til Dawn. Actually, I think I did enjoy the beginning of From Dusk Til Dawn, so I guess Sharkboy and Lavagirl takes the cake. Then again, it may not be fair as he made it from his child's idea so it wasn't entirely him to blame. Then again, From Dusk Til Dawn was made with Tarantino, so again...

Post by **Loredoctor** » Mon May 28, 2007 11:49 pm

Lucas - The Phantom Menace.

Post by **Farm Ur-Ted** » Tue May 29, 2007 2:46 am

John Boorman: Zardoz

Try to top that. I dare you.

Post by **Avatar** » Tue May 29, 2007 5:30 am

I like Fear & Loathing...maybe it's an hallucinogenic thing.

Can't stand Barry Lyndon...thanks gods...I thought I was the only one.

--A

Post by **Usivius** » Tue May 29, 2007 12:18 pm

John Boorman: Zardoz

Try to top that. I dare you.

good one.

thus ends this thread.

Post by **A Gunslinger** » Tue May 29, 2007 1:37 pm

Some of you may kill me for this but:

Spielberg: ET.

IMO it is sappy, over-fed crap.

Post by **Usivius** » Tue May 29, 2007 2:43 pm

Well ET may be overpraised, but have you viewed it lately? Man, that is a well-made movie.
Speilberg is a fantastic director. He can even take medeocre material (The Terminal) and make it good.
Nope, can't fault him for ET .. it is a pretty darn good movie.

For Speilberg I would say "Hook" or "Always" ...

Post by **Cail** » Tue May 29, 2007 2:46 pm

"Always" gets picked on a lot. Behind "Jaws", it's my favorite Spielberg film.

But I'm a big sap, so that prolly has something to do with it.

Post by **dANdeLION** » Tue May 29, 2007 3:34 pm

Lucas - Howard The Duck

Post by **aTOMiC** » Tue May 29, 2007 3:37 pm

Howard the Duck isn't nearly as bad as everyone keeps saying...it is far far worse. Makes my all time worst films list right next to Highlander II and Star Trek V. Yep. Really bad.

Post by **A Gunslinger** » Tue May 29, 2007 3:41 pm

Star Trek V. What a piece of crap. I wen to the opening of that thing and the audience howled in boos and cat-calls.

Row row row your boat? Make it stop.

Post by **Cail** » Tue May 29, 2007 3:42 pm

I loved ST:V.

So sue me.

Post by **aTOMiC** » Tue May 29, 2007 3:42 pm

A Gunslinger wrote:Star Trek V. What a piece of crap. I wen to the opening of that thing and the audience howled in boos and cat-calls.

Row row row your boat? Make it stop.

Don't get me started on the rocket boots. Just don't.

Post by **matrixman** » Tue May 29, 2007 6:26 pm

Usivius wrote: For Spielberg I would say "Hook"

I totally forgot about Hook...must've blocked it out of my memory. Geez, thanks for reminding me I wasted money going to it.

Yes, I feel confident calling Hook the worst Spielberg movie ever.

Re: Howard The Duck - I think Lucas was "just" the executive producer (after the original Star Wars, he didn't sit in the director's chair again til Phantom Menace). But he was no doubt the creative force behind this film. Okay, I had to look up who the director was: Willard Huyck. Uh, no, never heard of him either. I'm actually not as hostile to this movie as most are, but I won't waste my energy defending it either.

Re: Star Trek V - okay, we know William Shatner directed it...but I thought this thread was about "great directors." Has Shatner helmed some great movie out there that I'm not aware of?

Post by **Cagliostro** » Tue May 29, 2007 6:27 pm

Wait...why are there two suggestions for George Lucas? I thought the thread was "Worst Film by Great Directors." He was never great. The best Star Wars films he didn't direct. Which is why I really wanted someone else to direct his films. He's a techie...he needs to stay far behind the camera, as he sucks in directing people, not to mention writing dialogue.

Post by **matrixman** » Tue May 29, 2007 6:41 pm

Well, I agree Lucas is a tech-geek, but I also think he is indeed a great director - just not at directing people. That very flaw may disqualify Lucas in the eyes of many, but to me, he is gifted in his flair for visuals. When I look at THX-1138, and American Graffiti, and especially Star Wars, I see the work of someone who has a masterful sense of how to construct scenes in a very economical yet exciting way. But I admit I'm biased.

Post by **Usivius** » Tue May 29, 2007 7:13 pm

When I look at THX-1138, and American Graffiti, and especially Star Wars, I see the work of someone who has a masterful sense of how to construct scenes in a very economical yet exciting way

no, I agree, I think he qualifies ... but I'm not including movies a person only produced ... I intended it to be directed films...

Kevin's Watch

Kevin's Watch

Worst Films by Great Directors

Worst Films by Great Directors