Movies that were "Almost" Good

['Hamas' Jenkins]

I thought about this while watching Mine on Netflix last night. It's by no means a bad film, and I actually enjoyed Armie Hammer for once (although God, did I love when his annoying-as-**** spotter got murked), but it fell just short due to convolution in the narrative and some overwrought scenes.

What are some of the films that you feel like had the potential to be much better than they were but fell just short, and why?

[Frazod]

The one that immediately comes to mind is Godfather Part III. Why? Sofia ****ing Coppola.

While it wouldn't have been as good as the first two, with a real actress (IIRC Winona Ryder was originally cast as Mary), it would have been infinitely better. Coppola absolutely nuked every scene she was in.

Another one was the musical Les Miserables. Why? Russell Crowe trying to sing. Holy shit - what were they thinking? Everybody had to realize how awful he was, including him. I guess he must have needed the money, but Christ, did they sign him before hearing his voice? He basically mumbled the lyrics of everything he sang. Absolutely awful. Really pissed me off because I love the stage production so much.

[New World Order]

Originally Posted by Frazod

The one that immediately comes to mind is Godfather Part III. Why? Sofia ****ing Coppola.

While it wouldn't have been as good as the first two, with a real actress (IIRC Winona Ryder was originally cast as Mary), it would have been infinitely better. Coppola absolutely nuked every scene she was in.

Another one was the musical Les Miserables. Why? Russell Crowe trying to sing. Holy shit - what were they thinking? Everybody had to realize how awful he was, including him. I guess he must have needed the money, but Christ, did they sign him before hearing his voice? He basically mumbled the lyrics of everything he sang. Absolutely awful. Really pissed me off because I love the stage production so much.

I've always flirted with the idea of watching Godfather 3 but never pulled the trigger.

[Baby Lee]

Originally Posted by New World Order

I've always flirted with the idea of watching Godfather 3 but never pulled the trigger.

The worst thing about GF3 is not Sophia, and it's not even all that bad.

The absolute worst thing about GF3 is it isn't GF or GFII.

If it existed on its own, without the baggage of expectations or nepotism, it would be below Goodfellas, but above say Scarface or Carlito's Way.

But GF is one of the 10-12 greatest movies ever made, and GFII somehow surpassed it.

[Frazod]

Originally Posted by Baby Lee

The worst thing about GF3 is not Sophia, and it's not even all that bad.

The absolute worst thing about GF3 is it isn't GF or GFII.

If it existed on its own, without the baggage of expectations or nepotism, it would be below Goodfellas, but above say Scarface or Carlito's Way.

But GF is one of the 10-12 greatest movies ever made, and GFII somehow surpassed it.

Can't agree with this. Coppola is horrible. Like Jar Jar Binks/Jake Lloyd/Hayden Christensen horrible. All rolled up into one horrible package with a bulbous nose and dull expression. She makes every scene she's in unwatchable. Her mere presence neutralized Al Pacino, Diane Keaton and Andy Garcia. That's some seriously impressive awfulness.

[InChiefsHeaven]

Originally Posted by New World Order

I've always flirted with the idea of watching Godfather 3 but never pulled the trigger.

I forced myself once to watch it. It felt long and dare I say it...boring. There was some good stuff I suppose, but honestly it felt like it was trying too hard...I found myself annoyed with Pacino too, but that's pretty much the case with anything he makes...he's a one note actor IMO, with a few exceptions.

[scho63]

Originally Posted by Frazod

The one that immediately comes to mind is Godfather Part III. Why? Sofia ****ing Coppola.

While it wouldn't have been as good as the first two, with a real actress (IIRC Winona Ryder was originally cast as Mary), it would have been infinitely better. Coppola absolutely nuked every scene she was in.

1. Sofia Coppola awful
2. Andy Garcia's over acting horrible
3. Joey Zaza character was a buffoon
4. The story was horrible
5. George Hamilton was so out of place with his crispy skin
6. No Robert Duvall

It's always reminds me of an athlete who wins a SB an then comes back when he shouldn't and shits the bed.

[Frazod]

Originally Posted by scho63

1. Sofia Coppola awful
2. Andy Garcia's over acting horrible
3. Joey Zaza character was a buffoon
4. The story was horrible
5. George Hamilton was so out of place with his crispy skin
6. No Robert Duvall

It's always reminds me of an athlete who wins a SB an then comes back when he shouldn't and shits the bed.

They were going to bring Duvall back, but he wanted too much money, so they told him to pound sand.

Same thing happened with Richard Castellano (Clemenza) in Part 2. The Frank Pentangeles character was originally intended to be Clemenza. As good as Part 2 was, that would have made it so much better.

[neech]

Originally Posted by Frazod

They were going to bring Duvall back, but he wanted too much money, so they told him to pound sand.

Same thing happened with Richard Castellano (Clemenza) in Part 2. The Frank Pentangeles character was originally intended to be Clemenza. As good as Part 2 was, that would have made it so much better.

That old guy creeping around Michael Corleone was strange, I remember thinking maybe he's a ghost and others can't see him and other people in the movie don't really acknowledge him either or even appear to look at him. Then he got shot towards the end then I remember thinking oh I guess he's real after all.

Too boring a movie for me a with the exception of the young Vito scenes and certainly doesn't live up to the first one.

[notorious]

I'll go old-school.

Highlander.

Decent, but not good.

[Frazod]

Originally Posted by notorious

I'll go old-school.

Highlander.

Decent, but not good.

BLASPHEMY! YOU SUCK!

Sure, it's got some flaws, but it's beautifully shot, has a great cast (even Lambert's weird accent seems to fit), an awesome soundtrack, wonderful twisted humor, and one of the greatest villains of all time. I rank Kurgan right up there with Hans Gruber.

I do agree about Prometheus. So many gaping plotholes. Scientists shouldn't be B-horror movie stupid. I was so put off by it that I never even bothered to watch the next one.

[Fishpicker]

I really wanted to like this. there are some really good shots. the battle at the end is worth watching for the pike push. Viggo is great but a lot of the other cast memebrs aren't on his level. the score is a tonal mismatch in some places.

[lawrenceRaider]

Originally Posted by notorious

I'll go old-school.

Highlander.

Decent, but not good.

Originally Posted by Frazod

BLASPHEMY! YOU SUCK!

Sure, it's got some flaws, but it's beautifully shot, has a great cast (even Lambert's weird accent seems to fit), an awesome soundtrack, wonderful twisted humor, and one of the greatest villains of all time. I rank Kurgan right up there with Hans Gruber.

I do agree about Prometheus. So many gaping plotholes. Scientists shouldn't be B-horror movie stupid. I was so put off by it that I never even bothered to watch the next one.

Highlander is ****ing awesome.

Prometheus is nearly great, but torpedoed by stupidity. Totally ruined by the lunacy.

[sedated]

Originally Posted by lawrenceRaider

Prometheus is nearly great, but torpedoed by stupidity. Totally ruined by the lunacy.

Maybe I missed something after catching some on TV (edited), but it doesn't seem like they addressed the main plot of the movie - the origin of humans and the alien creatures that were created to destroy humanity. They got to the good stuff (the question of why our creators hated us, and releasing the killer...thing) but then the movie ended.

[WhiteWhale]

Originally Posted by lawrenceRaider

Highlander is ****ing awesome.

Prometheus is nearly great, but torpedoed by stupidity. Totally ruined by the lunacy.

Weak characters who acted stupidly to move the story along was it's ultimate baggage.

Everything else about it was really good. One thing that always bugged me is I thought most of the criticisms were nonsense. Just people who weren't paying attention needing big neon signs to understand stuff. Other stuff is left open because THAT'S PART OF THE FUN OF MOVIES. You don't have to explain everything.

But the character stupidity made it hard to really give a shit about what was happening, which probably led to people being bored and not really paying attention.