Movies that I just don't get

[TracerBullet42]

Anime. When I'm supposed to tell the characters apart by the color/shape/size of their hair, it doesn't work for me.

Ok, I don't mean to derail things at all...but with all the talk about not getting anime, I have to post this link. It beautifully captures the spirit of...well...nearly every anime thing I've ever seen...

(Note: I don't get anime either)

http://www.homestarrunner.com/sbemail57.html

 

[KnowTheToe]

Spiderman

 

[barsoomcore]

If you don't "get" anime, keep in mind that talking about anime as though it were a genre is pretty misleading -- that's like talking about video games as though they were all the same.

Now, I don't get video games, so I'm not saying you can't just not get anime, but just saying.

Anyway, before you give up on anime, try Princess Mononoke -- and if possible, watch it in Japanese with English subtitles (or the language of your choice, I guess). The much-ballyhooed English dub with Gillian Anderson and Billy-Bob Thorton is actually rather poor, and the flatness of the voices detracts a great deal from the story.

Which is one of the more complex and thoughtful stories you'll see on the big screen.

If you don't like that, then give up on anime. I won't complain.

The other thing about Mafia stories is they have built-in drama. For these people, their daily work is life and death, so there's lots of drama in their lives, and so they are natural subjects for stories. It's like cop shows or courtroom suspense -- natural drama.

Same thing with romantic comedies -- you're watching to see HOW they get together, not IF they get together. I love a well-done romantic comedy.

There aren't any genres I dislike, as far as I know. I just dislike movies that do whatever genre they're in poorly.

But movies I don't get are legion. And pretty much equal to movies I don't like, so that's not so interesting a discussion.

 

[KnowTheToe]

Office Space

 

[Tarrasque Wrangler]

Basic and [size=+1]Escape from L.A.[/size]

But Dagger, no one liked those movies...

I guess I'd have to put westerns in there, which surprises me. I'm always mesmerized by Clint Eastwood's work, and Unforgiven is one of my favorite films ever. But I think that speaks more to Clint's talent then my attraction to the genre. Most old westerns I see have the same cookie cutter plots, and very often the same cookie cutter actors. I think the only "old" westerns I'd go out of my way to see are Magnificent Seven and The Wild Bunch.

PS The key to Sopranos is not to look at it as a glorification of the mob (which would be hard to do by any stretch of the imagination) but as an indictment of our culture's obsession with psychotherapy as a means to relieve our guilt. That theme was very explicit in the first two seasons at least, but has kind of faded into the background as they de-emphasize Tony's sessions with Dr. Melfi.

 

[Darrin Drader]

Mr. Bean...Rowan Atkinson. any movie he is in.

Apparently you haven't seen Black Adder? I do agree with you about Mr. Bean. Its not my cup of tea either.

The one movie that people seem to love that I just don't get: Bucakroo Bonzai. The only thing I could find of value in that movie is that quote everybody and their dog wants to repeat, even though it isn't really that great. I'm not saying its a bad movie - I just don't get it.

 

[Cthulhu's Librarian]

Anyway, before you give up on anime, try Princess Mononoke -- and if possible, watch it in Japanese with English subtitles (or the language of your choice, I guess). The much-ballyhooed English dub with Gillian Anderson and Billy-Bob Thorton is actually rather poor, and the flatness of the voices detracts a great deal from the story.

Which is one of the more complex and thoughtful stories you'll see on the big screen.

If you don't like that, then give up on anime. I won't complain.

I have tried Princess Mononoke. Twice. Yes, its a good story, but the animation is distracting. I don't like the look of anime, but I do like lots of other animated films. I have a hard time getting past the angular, stiff, and (IMHO) simplistic artwork. When I watch it, all I see is bad art getting in the way of a decent story that diserved better.

 

[Cthulhu's Librarian]

Office Space

Um, yeah... Well.... I'm going to need to see your TPS reports before we can look into this further.

 

[Pielorinho]

I have a hard time getting past the angular, stiff, and (IMHO) simplistic artwork. When I watch it, all I see is bad art getting in the way of a decent story that diserved better.

Really? Different strokes and all, but I thought Princess Monoke was striking for its LACK of simplistic artwork. The New York Times referred to the movie as "painterly," and that word has stuck in my head ever since. In my view, it's got some of the most complex and beautiful artwork I've ever seen in a movie.

I'm curious whether folks who hate the Mafia genre have seen Ghost Dog, and if so, what they think of it. Especially of the Mafia guys in it .

As for a movie I don't get: Dogma left me cold (and not because of the blasphemy -- I'm about as irreverent a godless heathen as you're likely to find). And something about Wax, or the Invention of Television Amongst the Bees rubbed me the wrong way.

Daniel

 

[Dark Jezter]

I've never understood why anyone over the age of 13 would like Dragon Ball Z. It's a poorly-animated, drawn-out (over 300 episodes, IIRC), repetetive show where every episode involves super-powered martial artists screaming about how powerful they are shortly before they start blowing up the countryside.