I agree on so much! Or at least I think I would, since I have chosen not to see some of them (Avatar, Social Network, Crazy Stupid Love, etc.). I would like to know more about your thoughts on Hard Candy and Oldboy, though. While there was a lot I did not like about Hard Candy, I thought it was at least interesting, and I enjoyed the intensity. Oldboy, hm. I guess it's been a while since I've watched it, and I've only seen it once. I wonder how my experience would change knowing the ending.
I thought Oldboy was fantastic until the end. What that guy did to him was just so awful and pointless, it really rubbed me the wrong way.
With Hard Candy I think it was a mix of generally disliking Ellen Page and having it built up too much. Sometimes when I hear too much positive feedback about a film it ruins it for me.
I love that you haven't seen Avatar and Social Network. I wish I hadn't, but it is pretty fun to argue about how bad they are.
Yes, the main one on this list that made me curious for more information was Hard Candy. I will allow that it's not a great movie, but it is one I have a lot of affection for. I am on the other side of the Ellen Page spectrum, though, so there's that, but I also saw Hard Candy around the same time as Nic Roeg's Insignificance and Friedkin's Bug, and all three are (essentially) a single set and just a handful of characters, and all the tension is created through the dialogue, the performance, and the confined-space camera work. So I kind of have it lumped along in my head as part of that general "claustrophobic cinema" thing that I really really like.
But, I did once blather on about how great Hard Candy was to an ex-girlfriend, made her watch it, and what she had to say was "Well, it was alright, but it wasn't as good as you said." There's definitely something to that, you can really ruin a film for someone else by inflating their expectations. It's difficult sometimes, because I get so enthusiastic about movies I love!
I did not love Social Network, Source Code was enjoyable-ish, but disappointing as a follow-up to Moon, and I loathed Wedding Crashers, so I'm with you on those.
What about Kiss Kiss Bang Bang? That might be another one where I expected to hate it, but actually I found it pretty funny and better than it needed to be, but maybe you had that one built up a bit as well?
Devon - yes, Kiss Kiss Bang Bang is another one where people raved about it for months before I got around to watching it and I ended up not liking it at all. I actually don't remember it, but the synopsis sounds like something I'd enjoy so I may have to give it another chance.
I like Ellen Page now. Juno and Whip It changed my mind about her.
I agree on so much! Or at least I think I would, since I have chosen not to see some of them (Avatar, Social Network, Crazy Stupid Love, etc.). I would like to know more about your thoughts on Hard Candy and Oldboy, though. While there was a lot I did not like about Hard Candy, I thought it was at least interesting, and I enjoyed the intensity. Oldboy, hm. I guess it's been a while since I've watched it, and I've only seen it once. I wonder how my experience would change knowing the ending.
I thought Oldboy was fantastic until the end. What that guy did to him was just so awful and pointless, it really rubbed me the wrong way.
With Hard Candy I think it was a mix of generally disliking Ellen Page and having it built up too much. Sometimes when I hear too much positive feedback about a film it ruins it for me.
I love that you haven't seen Avatar and Social Network. I wish I hadn't, but it is pretty fun to argue about how bad they are.
Yes, the main one on this list that made me curious for more information was Hard Candy. I will allow that it's not a great movie, but it is one I have a lot of affection for. I am on the other side of the Ellen Page spectrum, though, so there's that, but I also saw Hard Candy around the same time as Nic Roeg's Insignificance and Friedkin's Bug, and all three are (essentially) a single set and just a handful of characters, and all the tension is created through the dialogue, the performance, and the confined-space camera work. So I kind of have it lumped along in my head as part of that general "claustrophobic cinema" thing that I really really like.
But, I did once blather on about how great Hard Candy was to an ex-girlfriend, made her watch it, and what she had to say was "Well, it was alright, but it wasn't as good as you said." There's definitely something to that, you can really ruin a film for someone else by inflating their expectations. It's difficult sometimes, because I get so enthusiastic about movies I love!
I did not love Social Network, Source Code was enjoyable-ish, but disappointing as a follow-up to Moon, and I loathed Wedding Crashers, so I'm with you on those.
What about Kiss Kiss Bang Bang? That might be another one where I expected to hate it, but actually I found it pretty funny and better than it needed to be, but maybe you had that one built up a bit as well?
The Social Network was pants !!!.... forced drama.
Devon - yes, Kiss Kiss Bang Bang is another one where people raved about it for months before I got around to watching it and I ended up not liking it at all. I actually don't remember it, but the synopsis sounds like something I'd enjoy so I may have to give it another chance.
I like Ellen Page now. Juno and Whip It changed my mind about her.