Movies you wished you had never watched.

[Miss Golightly]

Undertow - I saw Man Bites Dog in the cinema when it first came out - it's been many years since I saw it so my recollections of how I felt about that particular scene at the time are a bit on the hazy side. However, I saw that scene on TV on a compilation show recently and found the scene really disturbing and horrific - however as I only saw the one scene and not the film as a whole I can't really comment further on it.

What I can say is that when I was younger torrid scenes probably didn't effect me as much as they do now - now that I know more about what goes on in the world.....

One film that has probably bothered me - perhaps even more than Irreversible was Requiem for a Dream - this movie haunted me for weeks and perhaps months. In one respect I was glad that I saw it as it's an incredible film and a warning to all but the imagery from the film's denouement completely horrified me. My husband really wants to see it and I like us watching movies together so we can discuss them after - however I'm not sure I could sit through it again!

 

[Nathan Dodge]

The rape scene in the original STRAW DOGS is still controversial and debated forty years after its release! I haven't seen the unnecessary remake, but Peckinpah's original still has the power to "sear the senses", as the ads might say.

I watch many films, and particularly the "art house" kind that are really well shot, well acted, well written etc., but often controversial. I believe there is an absolutely razor-thin line when rape and violence can be used in a movie, and an almost impossibly thin line for graphic rape. When I say impossibly thin, there is only one instance that comes to mind where I can accept it as a tool for plot development (otherwise, I'm in accordance with you on this).

My example is Man Bites Dog (1992). The film is quite graphically violent in and of itself, but you find the lead character witty, even charming at times. You detest the man for what he does, but you're drawn to him. He's very much the psychopathic serial killer, i.e. Ted Bundy. However, near the end of the film, the fictional cast, crew and lead character take part in murdering a man and raping his wife. To say I was shocked...no, it was the utmost disgust; quite powerful, even paralyzing.

Upon further examination, it seemed the rape/murder scene was the ONLY thing grounding the previously playful romp. No longer was this a darkly comedic story about a charming killer, it was a sickening ordeal in which a maniac terrorizes the innocent. As a work of art, it was amazing and powerful. As an entertaining film, I wouldn't suggest it.

 

[Mr Vim]

The last two Transformers films, complete and utter balderdash.

 

[Edward]

The rape scene in the original STRAW DOGS is still controversial and debated forty years after its release! I haven't seen the unnecessary remake, but Peckinpah's original still has the power to "sear the senses", as the ads might say.

One of the aspects of media law that I teach is cinema regulation, so some years ago having found Straw Dogs on DVD (I'm slowly collecting all the so-called "video nasties")for a couple of quid in a sale, I watched it for the first time. Aside from the rape scene, it's really very tame. The controversial aspect of the rape scene was less that it is depicted, more that the victim is depicted as inciting and then to some degree enjoying being violated. I've not seen the remake, so I'm not sure how they handle it in that.

 

[scottyrocks]

The rape scene in Death Wish, as short as it was, is something I wish I could forget, as I have not in the 38 years since I have seen it. They don't show it on TV.

 

[Miss Golightly]

The Accused and Deliverance also have rape scenes that disturbed me no end - the only thing is, that even though both are fine movies that could stand repeat viewing, knowing these particular scenes are coming up makes me not want to watch both movies ever again.

 

[Doctor Strange]

While we're talking about brutal rape scenes, I'd like to mention Ingmar Berman's The Virgin Spring.

It's a masterful film - and an outstanding evocation of the middle ages - but it has an almost impossible to watch rape scene. Even though it's not at all explicit by modern standards (the film was made in 1960), it's very, very distressing. The vengeance that it leads to is also pretty distressing, much more so than in something like Death Wish.

This is a Bergman film that's difficult for unusual reasons - not the "what's going on - is this really happening?" or "this is much more than I want to know about these people" reasons from much of his work - but it's still a very worthwhile film, with a dues-ex-machina ending that would seem tacked on if it weren't completely earned by the brutality of the story that comes before.

(Interesting cross-genre factoid: The plot of this film was essentially stollen wholesale for the gory 1972 exploitation flick The Last House On The Left.)

 

[Miss Moonlight]

In all honestly, any movie with a rape scene is one I won't watch again. I don't think it ever needs to be shown to any degree, it can be implied and still have the impact it nees, as far as I'm concerned.

That's one reason of many I wish I'd never seen Pulp Fiction.

I also wish I'd never seen You've Got Mail. I hate that that man was lying, manipulating, and in the end, all she could do was say she hoped it was him and kiss him. Yeah. That'll work out, he's so honest. Pfft. I''m not real pleased with any of the older version of the story either, though. Manipulation, abusive behaviour, bah.

And the Godfather movies, I think I was just too young when I saw them and the violence was too much, and now I can't even begin to enjoy them.

 

[Edward]

In all honestly, any movie with a rape scene is one I won't watch again. I don't think it ever needs to be shown to any degree, it can be implied and still have the impact it nees, as far as I'm concerned.

That's one reason of many I wish I'd never seen Pulp Fiction.

There is a male rape scene in that, though it's really very brief and I wouldn't call it at all explicit.... YMMV, though.

I also wish I'd never seen You've Got Mail. I hate that that man was lying, manipulating, and in the end, all she could do was say she hoped it was him and kiss him. Yeah. That'll work out, he's so honest. Pfft. I''m not real pleased with any of the older version of the story either, though. Manipulation, abusive behaviour, bah.

I knew I'd hate it because Meg Ryan was in it, and I wasn't wrong. What bothered me most (as well as the twee romance nonsense) was the utter inconsistency of her character. She was supposed to be this crusader, fighting the good fight on behalf of the little guy, the independent... and there she is in frickin' Starbucks every two minutes. Nonsense. Product placement triumphs over story integrity. Yay capitalism.

 

[Amy Jeanne]

I have an opposite one:

RED HEADED WOMAN (1932)

The movie is outstanding so I bought the book it was based off of. The book is dreadful. Lil Andrews is whiny and annoying -- which doesn't make her sexy in the least. I'm glad Hollywood trashed it up

 

[Two Types]

I don't know whether this counts, since I was unable to watch the entire film, The English Patient. Utter, unwatchable drivel. ALthough I suppose I shouldn't really regret watching it, at least I now know how bad it is and can warn others.

 

[Atomic Age]

There is a male rape scene in that, though it's really very brief and I wouldn't call it at all explicit.... YMMV, though.



I knew I'd hate it because Meg Ryan was in it, and I wasn't wrong. What bothered me most (as well as the twee romance nonsense) was the utter inconsistency of her character. She was supposed to be this crusader, fighting the good fight on behalf of the little guy, the independent... and there she is in frickin' Starbucks every two minutes. Nonsense. Product placement triumphs over story integrity. Yay capitalism.

Well to be fair, that movie was made when Starbucks was still perceived as the little coffee shop that made good. Its reputation as a corporate giant didn't really start until it began to expand outside the United States.

Doug

 

[Edward]

2001. It has a great score and some lovely photography. and about enough plot to sustain a five minute short. Dull, dull, dull.

 

[sheeplady]

Zoolander.

 

[Edward]

Well to be fair, that movie was made when Starbucks was still perceived as the little coffee shop that made good. Its reputation as a corporate giant didn't really start until it began to expand outside the United States.

Doug

What year was that? Interesting... I've never known Starbucks as anything other than a corporate giant. Sure looks like one in the film, but that could be retrospective, I suppose.

 

[Undertow]

I have to agree on all accounts. I can't watch Requiem for a Dream again, nor Straw Dogs. I own Deliverance, but only watch it with people interested in film history, and I can't watch Deathwish again.

It's a very, very fine line and it's almost always crossed. In any case, I think it's a terrible thing to include in a movie at all, let alone any story, and it's quite difficult to watch.

I also have to agree that the older I get, the harder it is to watch violence and pain on the silverscreen.

 

[ButteMT61]

I loved Deliverance. Problem was, I grew up with John Voight's family (brother, nieces, etc.) so I didn't have the distance from it I otherwise would have. It's brutal - even today it stands as one rough film to watch. I wonder if it hits women the same way it hits guys though? Every guy I know cringes (usually whilst making squeal like a pig jokes) at the mention of it...

 

[Zombie_61]

Alright, I know there are plenty of movies that I wished I hadn't wasted my time on, but this is about movies that were good and well made (opinion of course).

I've seen my fair share of "just plain bad" movies, but in keeping with the spirit of BigFitz' intentions...

The Cook, The Thief, His Wife, and Her Lover. Two hours of my life I'll never get back....

2001. It has a great score and some lovely photography. and about enough plot to sustain a five minute short. Dull, dull, dull.

I agree with both of these. Both films are well scripted, have beautiful cinematography, feature brilliant performances, and clearly weren't low-budget films, but...

The Cook, etc....Opens with a naked man smeared in canine excrement, and ends with cannibalism. I'm no prude, but the poster and trailers definitely didn't represent the true nature of the film. The only fun part about this movie was sitting in the lobby and seeing the horrified expressions on the faces of other theatergoers exiting subsequent screenings.

2001...It might be considered a classic, but, yeah, it's about as entertaining as watching paint dry.

With regards to "the book was much better", I'm a big fan of Edgar Rice Burroughs' Tarzan novels. With the possible exception of Greystoke: The Legend of Tarzan, Lord of the Apes, there hasn't been one movie that even comes close to the novels.

 

[fortworthgal]

A few more -

Fargo
The Thin Red Line
Pulp Fiction

Everyone raved about these films when they came out, and I thought they were possibly some of the most boring and pointless films ever made. The only Tarantino movie I can deal with is Inglorious Basterds. :lol:

Deliverance didn't bother me. But then again neither did The Deer Hunter. :lol: I also actually enjoy mindless comedy like Zoolander or Will Ferrell.

Earlier I mentioned "A Simple Plan" and someone else posted that they enjoyed the film. I did think it was a good movie, but it was just *so* depressing. It was one of those films that 3 days after you watch it, you still feel haunted by it.

I don't know whether this counts, since I was unable to watch the entire film, The English Patient. Utter, unwatchable drivel. ALthough I suppose I shouldn't really regret watching it, at least I now know how bad it is and can warn others.

Yes, yes, 1000 times yes! Worst movie ever. I saw it in the theater and that's 6 hours of my life (Was it that long? Because it sure felt like it...) that I'll never get back.

 

[Flicka]

Inglorious Basterds. Watchmen. 300. Those are the only films that were actually so bad it made me angry I had wasted time on them.

The opening scene in Inglorious Basterds was one of the most boring, most predictable scenes I ever saw. I considered turning it off then, but thought it would likely get better. Au contraire, mes amis... Watchmen was just downright silly and 300 was beyond ridiculous - like Monty Python and the Holy Grail minus the humour.