Movies: Incorrect Reccomendations

[Dr. Bill Kobb]

I'm just wondering: Has anyone here ever had people recommend movies to them as things they are SURE they would like, only to see the film and think, "Why did anyone think I would like this?".

Case in point for me - Scott Pilgrim vs the World. I've had several people (unknown to each other) tell me I needed to see this, and that I would love it. I did give it a look, and while I can't say I've sat through the whole thing, I gotta say it's nothing like anything I would enjoy.

Same story with 1990's Pump Up the Volume. Now that one's an okay movie, but why anyone thought it was one that would be of particular interest is beyond me.

A good friend (before he passed away) had several female associates tell him that he reminded them of Napoleon Dynamite. So, on their recommendation he watched the film, and was genuinely perplexed as to why they thought he might be anything like the lead character.

I welcome any similar stories of incorrect movie recommendations you might have of your own.

 

[dalekfire]

Oh hey! Neat idea for a thread! =o

Does Super Size Me count? A friend suggested it to me for some reason - said he was inspired by it. The bias and fallacies made me so hungry, I bought some McD's right afterward and went to visit said friend's house. x)

Another, more recent one is [and I know I'm gonna get heat for this one] Captain America. Never been much of a comic fan, but since it had a WWII backdrop, a friend thought I'd like it. 'Course, the backdrop was certainly secondary to the character...and I thought the characters and story left much to be desired. =/ Still, I was somewhat entertained. The credits were the best part. x3

 

[WorthlessMud1]

It's not really a movie as much as a television series, but Battlestar Galactica. I've had several people on different occasions tell me I'd love it, and I have no idea why. I saw a couple episodes and couldn't get interested for the life of me.

 

[Dr. Bill Kobb]

I've only seen part of Supersize Me, but yeah, all I wanted to do was drive up to a MicD's and order some fries.

Haven't caught Capt. America, but have a hunch I'll dig it (for the retro feel, if nothing else).


I only saw a couple of early episodes of (the new) Battlestar Galactica. It seemed terribly dark, though I was admittedly intrigued by the situation they were in. I heard it went flat in subsequent seasons.


Many thanks for the responses. Feels good knowing I'm not the only one to suffer this.

 

[Rockerzord]

Twilight :cry


But to be fair i did like vampires and stuff but still kinda sucked thinking she thought i would like it

 

[sevenduster]

Me with any romantic comedy ever.
I've told my friends dozens of times, I dislike them, they're formulaic, they're etc. etc. etc., but they'll always come back saying 'This one's different.'
D:

 

[CellarDweller]

I don't go to movies often, so I can't say I've had this happen with a film.

However, it did happen with a TV series. I was told that I'd really like "The Sopranos", I watched three episodes before I gave up, hated it.

 

[Rox_My_Sox1]

Tom Cruise's Vanilla Sky-1 Hour and 23 Minutes into this movie felt like spending 1 YEAR AND 23 WEEKS watching nothing but the pain, sorrow, despair, and agony of very desperate people. No bright spot, humor, happiness, or anything to make this movie WORTH a TINY FRAGMENT of a PENNY that you'd have to pay to see this piece of shit. You want a good Tom Cruise movie? See the Last Samurai...and avoid this shit like the plague.

Slither-A movie that for some god awful reason why classified as a "COMEDY" by the media. News flash, IT ISN'T. It's a GOREFEST with disgusting special effects and people being eaten up from the inside out, a woman being transformed into a disgusting bloated breeding machine, and other horrific effects. Oh, it's PG-13 for some inane reason. There's also no plot whatsoever. The entire movie is predictable the point where the whole pathetic movie is designed just to make you want to vomit.

"Saw" movie series-Nothing positive, no humor, no plot, and predictable to the point where I want to jam a god damned ice pick in Jigsaw's actor's f'ing throat just so I can watch him die. A COMPLETE WASTE OF MONEY. This film series is a gigantic one trick pony. It tries to make you afraid. That's all...nothing more. More space for the garbage can.

Godzilla (Emmerich's version)-Hollywood gave Emmerich $125-$150 million and he pumped out another piece of stinking crap...AGAIN! The acting is abyssal. Just...just god awful. As for Godzilla? What Godzilla? Godzilla doesn't even make an appearance in this piece of stinking crap. There's just a 46 meter tall iguana that likes to have sex with itself and can be killed by a sidewinder missile airstrike.

Star Wars (Episode I) [The Phantom Shitpile]-A mound of shit the size of a Star Destroyer. I wanted to strangle Portman's character so many times it literally ceased being funny in any sense of the word. The little brat was a even bigger pain. No acting talent whatsoever in that kid. There's only three relatively-decent scenes in this 2+ hour movie. The pod race, Bye-Gone-Soon and Obi-Douce-Kerosbi vs. Darth Funkface, and and the vastly outgunned Naboo pilots who could all be killed by a single proton torpedo from Wedge's X-Wing vs. the donut-cruiser.

Star Wars (Episode II) [Jar Jar Binks screws the Galaxy and everyone in it]-My...god. Okay, what a shitpile! Jebus Jimmie Christmas on a CORNDOG. It's almost WORSE than Episode I. Droids as soldiers? Yeah, way to go selling out to the FCC Lucas. The Jedi not bothering to question where the hell this CLONE ARMY CAME FROM and why should we even USE THEM as infantry? Dear god WHY IS JAR JAR BINKS A SENATOR? WHY? JUST WHY? Portman's acting is almost even MORE PAINFUL in this one than in the last one. Adrian's acting is almost as bad as Portman's. Where Episode I only had only three redeemable scene, this one only has ONE and to make matters WORSE IT'S NEAR THE ENDING. The outbreak of the Clone Wars of PLANET COCKROACH with Jackson seeing some action is good but why in god's name did he just bring about 123 people with LASER SWORDS to fight THOUSANDS OF METAL SOLDIERS WITH LASER GUNS! GUNS! FUCKING GUNS! AND EXPLOSIVES! AND SHIELDS! AND SONIC CANNONS! Jesus. Your telling me this so called Republic has NO GOD DAMNED ARMY WHATSOEVER by time this war happens? That just isn't possible! This movie is stupid! Your stupid Lucas! Stop giving us stupid!

Star Wars (Episode III) (A goddamned TICK ON A CAMELS ASS could have seen this COMING you idiot laser sword wielding buffoons!)-Palpatine takes over with NO ONE suspecting him up until now (a full 10 years after the war began) DESPITE NUMEROUS legislation that effectively makes him Emperor of the whole damned universe already having been passed MULTIPLE TIMES. Obi-Jesus are you THAT FREAKING STUPID-Kenobi shows off how great a teacher he is by ultimately turning his student into a burnt hotdog with a face! Portman and Adrian's acting is just as bad as always. The only thing that makes this movie SLIGHTLY BETTER than the other two is the combat.

I can't think anymore right now. I need time to cool off and enjoy some sweet sweet lovings by my mistress. Later guys and gals.

 

[Dr. Bill Kobb]

I know A LOT of people online, but few can do a proper rant like you can, Rox. I'm still chortling over "The Phantom Shitpile". :lol

 

[DON TORTELLI]

Avatar, I was basically dragged to see that. I got up & walked up lost $9.50 oh well. My friend is always busting my chops to see movies he likes & then when I tell them I hate them he gets all offended, but then he pitches a fit when I reccomend a movie to him & then he puts it off & puts it off then when he finally see is it he loves it.

Case in Point: He & his other buddy went to see Indiana Jones & the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. I thought it was an ok movie, but he came into work griping & crying hw it sucked, & how he wanted his money back, so I told him to watch the first 3 he had never seen them before. He said he hated Raiders, but loved Temple & Crusade.

No everytime we go to the movies though we pretty much can tell if we're gonna like the movie from the trailer, however there are sum we disagree on.

 

[DarthGrinn]

A few years ago, a friend recommended "Dude, Where's My Car." I hated it, and felt like it was the biggest waste of my life...

Then I saw it on TV the other day, and I actually thoroughly enjoyed it. So, I honestly cannot tell whether or not it was a right or wrong movie recommendation.

I have been known to make terrible 'movie night' choices, though. My biggest movie-recommendation-whoopsie was the time I recommended 'The Wackness'. Great movie; however, I had forgotten about the masturbation scene. The problem was, the group consisted of 5 guys and one gal. When the masturbation scene hit, the entire room got so tense that you could practically smell the awkwardness. I think I was officially banned from recommending movies again.

My "strike two" was recommending Bubba Hotep...

...Don't look at me like that 😛

 

[Abadon XXX1]

Mine was no country for old men.

 

[Tom Tickle]

Rox, you know I love a woman who is passionate about the arts, particularly one who lays into the Star Wars prequels with such hilarious vitriol.

In recent years? More TV shows than films. A rare exception was Curb Your Enthusiasm, which I was introduced to, took a while to accept and eventually came to enjoy. Otherwise, The Wire, The Sopranos, 24, Mad Men - I gave them a chance, but I think they were about subjects I never gave two shits about rather than them being poor TV.

The Big Bang Theory had me interested for the first 3 seasons, but I find season 4 is a bit tedious; the characters have not really developed - just got on-off girlfriends, and the running jokes are wearing thin. I think Raj is becoming an embarrasment, as they've relied on jokes about him being Indian far too often, and he needs to get over the muteness. Penny seems to be a little too boozy and cripplingly low on self-esteem. I liked her in season one, but she's getting a little tragic.

I think the clearest example with films is sci-fi and comic book stuff - people assume I'll like everything like that, but I really can't be bothered with most of it. The trouble is that they get offended if I give an honest opinion because they think, 'well I enjoyed it and i'm not even into sci-fi or comics'. Nor am I when it comes to pop cultural sci-fi, or most comics. I hoped Prometheus would be in the tradition of the arthouse sci fi film, but it really is an over-blown B-movie.