View Full Version : Movies you just don't understand
Demon37
21 Sep 2003, 00:24
Has there ever been a movie you've seen where you've just not had a clue what was going on?
I'll nominate 'Die Another Day.' I may not be the smartest bloke going around, but at no stage during this movie did I come close to realising what the hell was going on!
I much prefer the simple movies myself.
:)
fitzmantle
21 Sep 2003, 01:22
Cobra \there was some bad guys killing people for the new world order, dont no what the new world order was though?
Oh Furious One
21 Sep 2003, 02:43
The Ring.
GoalsFrom50Out
21 Sep 2003, 03:46
Original/Japanese versions are ten times better, Denoz.
I'm nominating 'The One', since that was weird and confusing. And 'Fight Club', but you have to see Fight Club more than once to get it anyway.
mace007
21 Sep 2003, 10:43
Pi. Watched it half asleep, admittedly, but it went riiiiight over my head.
Mooster7
21 Sep 2003, 13:03
'The Shining' I understood Jack Nicholson with an axe. Nothin' else.
'Poltergeist' The mom was hot. The TV stole their kid. Maybe it had to do with ghosts. Maybe it was really bad TV reception. The mom was hot.
'Altered States' WTF?
'Austin Powers, Goldmember' Did Mike Myers deliberately try to ruin the franchise with this one so that he could stop making Austing Powers movies?
The two 'Star Wars Prequels.' Only I happen to know that George Lucas is deliberately trying to ruin the franchise with these pieces of ****. The queen is hot.
Peace,
Noddy Holder
21 Sep 2003, 14:35
I love James Bond movies for the action and special effectx but quite a few of them I had no idea what the plot was actually about.
Uncle Steve
21 Sep 2003, 20:45
Originally posted by Mooster7
'Altered States' WTF?
Good call.
Also:
The Naked Lunch. I saw this stoned and could not fathom what I was seeing. So I watched it again when straight, and still couldn't work out what was going on.
The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai. So why was the watermelon there?
Originally posted by GoalsFrom50Out
Original/Japanese versions are ten times better, Denoz.
I'm nominating 'The One', since that was weird and confusing. And 'Fight Club', but you have to see Fight Club more than once to get it anyway.
Agree, the original Japanese version is much clearer, as to what is happening.
Also Fight Club, the first time I watched it, I thought WTF, typical male bullshyte movie, then I hired the video & watched it by myself & actually understood it & thought it was a great movie.
Sometimes seeing a movie alone, rather than at a cinema, you can focus more on the storyline.
Tromeo and Juliet.
Granted I watched 30 minutes of it and stopped it, but the whole 30 minutes I was sitting there thinking "Why? Why? Why?"
If the copy I had hired was on tape (not DVD), I would not have rewound it.
Falchoon
21 Sep 2003, 23:29
I definitely missed a couple of goings on in Mission Impossible.
Stealth bomber
22 Sep 2003, 00:16
Vanilla Sky.
Absolute mindf--k. Went and saw this in the theatre and had a headache for an hour after it ended.
"Also Fight Club, the first time I watched it, I thought WTF, typical male bullshyte movie, then I hired the video & watched it by myself & actually understood it & thought it was a great movie."
Love Fight Club.
Sorry.. just had to say that ;)
Originally posted by Stealth bomber
Vanilla Sky.
Absolute mindf--k. Went and saw this in the theatre and had a headache for an hour after it ended.
Yep, quite possibly the worst movie I have ever seen. An absolute load of crap!
Pornstar
22 Sep 2003, 11:13
I struggled with Minority Report for a while. Gangs of New York i couldn't work out who was fighting who in the end. I can't remember names. so in the movies where they are talking about other characters i always get lost.
Asgardian
22 Sep 2003, 12:14
Cube (1998)
I sat rivetted to the chair watching this movie, coz eventually something would happen that will explain what the hell was going on. Visually striking, character wise ugly (which means they did good acting jobs). I can honestly say that I have seen nothing else that comes close to this movie.
Prospero's Books (1991)
Not even a porno has this much nudity, and all in the cause of a Shakespearian adaption??????????
Sir John Gielgud is absolutely brilliant, I don't know why, he just is.
They never taught Shakespeare like this when I was at school
Jonathan Livingston Seagull (1973)
After this I never want to see another bloody seagull in a movie again. Even my drugged up, boozed out, hip and with it mates have never understood this crap on film
I Dismember Mama (1974)
One of the few movies you can sit through, saying WTF the whole time, and everyone will agree with you
Lisztomania (1975)
Franz Liszt's biography? haha, you gotta be joking, a few sex scenes turned into a movie. I understood the sex, but that was about all
Mr. Snrub
22 Sep 2003, 14:27
Mulholland Drive. Although I think that was kind of the point. I'd heard from people it was pretty bizarre and had a weird ending, so I wasn't going into it blind, but still... It was making some kind of sense until the final scene, then it was "what's all that about?"
Vanilla Sky was deadset ordinary. I blame the Sixth Sense for giving moviemakers the idea that a movie with a final twist to explain everything is automatically going to be a good movie. Especially if the rest of the movie is then made really weird to accommodate that final twist. Some movies (eg Memento, Fight Club) do it well, lots of others don't.
Apparently Dragonfly (Kevin Costner, I think?) is another one of these movies that's both weird and bad, but I haven't seen it so I can't really include that in my list.
Beffery
22 Sep 2003, 14:30
Momento -
Ok, yes I did realise it was going backwards but my god.. it lost me after about 15mins. Watching it with a hangover doesn't help the situation either.
TheMightyDons
22 Sep 2003, 15:24
The Ring
Jim Boy
22 Sep 2003, 16:03
Originally posted by Asgardian
Prospero's Books (1991)
Not even a porno has this much nudity, and all in the cause of a Shakespearian adaption??????????
Sir John Gielgud is absolutely brilliant, I don't know why, he just is.
They never taught Shakespeare like this when I was at school
Anything by Peter Greenaway
Originally posted by TheMightyDons
The Ring
Another person saying The Ring, I wonder which version people have seen, I have only seen the original Japanese version, which I had no problem understanding what it was about, might have to get out the Yank version, to compare it. :confused:
All the people who have said The Ring, can you please say which version/s you saw.
Originally posted by Mr. Snrub
Mulholland Drive. Although I think that was kind of the point. I'd heard from people it was pretty bizarre and had a weird ending, so I wasn't going into it blind, but still... It was making some kind of sense until the final scene, then it was "what's all that about?"
Vanilla Sky was deadset ordinary. I blame the Sixth Sense for giving moviemakers the idea that a movie with a final twist to explain everything is automatically going to be a good movie. Especially if the rest of the movie is then made really weird to accommodate that final twist. Some movies (eg Memento, Fight Club) do it well, lots of others don't.
Apparently Dragonfly (Kevin Costner, I think?) is another one of these movies that's both weird and bad, but I haven't seen it so I can't really include that in my list.
Actually I thought Dragonfly was a good movie. I certainly would not put it in the too hard to understand category.
But I definitely agree with you on Mullholland Drive. You really need to watch that movie closely to understand everything that goes on in it. I made the mistake of watching it on a Friday night after a long hard week, I was tired and the last thing I wanted to do was watch something that required total concentration.
TheBloods
22 Sep 2003, 17:25
The Adventures of Pluto Nash... but then again, I was completely and utterly toasted at the time... ;)
Bombers 2003
22 Sep 2003, 17:52
Despite Spacey's brilliance in The Usual Suspects i cant REALLY see it's point.i thought he was a lot better in K-Pax.
Demon37
22 Sep 2003, 18:41
Originally posted by mantis
Another person saying The Ring, I wonder which version people have seen, I have only seen the original Japanese version, which I had no problem understanding what it was about, might have to get out the Yank version, to compare it. :confused:
All the people who have said The Ring, can you please say which version/s you saw.
I saw the one that came out this year.
I didn't get it either. I was with it until the horse killing crap, or whatever it was.
Originally posted by Demon37
I saw the one that came out this year.
I didn't get it either. I was with it until the horse killing crap, or whatever it was.
I thought that most people might be talking about the Yank version, guess I will have to get it on DVD & compare it, but you should definitely watch the Japanese version, I think you will understand it then.
mellowyellow
22 Sep 2003, 18:56
Originally posted by Asgardian
Cube (1998)
I sat rivetted to the chair watching this movie, coz eventually something would happen that will explain what the hell was going on. Visually striking, character wise ugly (which means they did good acting jobs). I can honestly say that I have seen nothing else that comes close to this movie.
so unengaging on just about every level.
In the end i couldn't care less for any of the characters or whether they found a way out.
A tiring 90 odd minutes of entrapment .
Deestroy
22 Sep 2003, 19:01
Originally posted by Asgardian
Cube (1998)
I sat rivetted to the chair watching this movie, coz eventually something would happen that will explain what the hell was going on. Visually striking, character wise ugly (which means they did good acting jobs). I can honestly say that I have seen nothing else that comes close to this movie.
Agreed. The move was for lack of a better word odd. The way the whole thing played out just seemed pointless, and in the end I just wanted them all to die so it would be over.
Originally posted by Uncle Steve
Also:
The Naked Lunch. I saw this stoned and could not fathom what I was seeing. So I watched it again when straight, and still couldn't work out what was going on.
It's funny that you should say that because I bought the book & tried to read it...........well I recognised all the words but once I put them all together it didn't make any sense whatsoever.I read a few pages & gave up & so it still sits on my shelf looking as new as the day I bought it.
At least it sounds like the film is a true adaptation of the book.:D
Docker_Brat
22 Sep 2003, 23:27
Originally posted by Beffery
Momento -
Ok, yes I did realise it was going backwards but my god.. it lost me after about 15mins. Watching it with a hangover doesn't help the situation either.
Certainly not a movie that you can take your eyes off for a couple of minutes, also excellent for repeat viewings.. seen it 5 times and there was an important part that I had missed until the most recent viewing.
Donnie Darko is a movie that knocks many people for 6, there are several levels to it. Love it though and has a great sound track.
Magpira
23 Sep 2003, 18:06
Originally posted by Mr. Snrub
Mulholland Drive. Although I think that was kind of the point. I'd heard from people it was pretty bizarre and had a weird ending, so I wasn't going into it blind, but still... It was making some kind of sense until the final scene, then it was "what's all that about?"
Yep, I'm with you Mr Snrub. I was all over the shop trying to work that one out but I loved it.
I went to a few sites and read peoples views on what it all means and I am still struggling.
A typical David Lynch film, so I went into it the same way you did. As far as I can tell it's all to do with dream sequences...
Originally posted by mace007
Pi. Watched it half asleep, admittedly, but it went riiiiight over my head.
i agree...
i think i was watching 'brazil' and 'pi'...
very late at night...
falling asleep...
will have to get them out again some time...
police academy is also a complete mind ****... :cool:
GoalsFrom50Out
23 Sep 2003, 20:03
Fight Club rules hard. I just watched it this afternoon for no reason at all =P
Dragonfly was utter garbage.
Understandable and one of the worst productions I've ever seen.
Fight Club rocks, though ;)
Richoagain
23 Sep 2003, 21:15
Freddie Got Fingered
Some friends of mine were arguing over whether this movie was either awesome or the crappest, most pointless movie ever.
I figured I needed to see for myself...
Holy ****, I don't think I've ever seen less plot, or more gratuitous manual animal stimulation. It WAS funny though, by the time the sheer stupidity had worn your defences down.
If you haven't seen it, rent it out. It's worth seeing once...
Hungry29
23 Sep 2003, 21:17
How about Eraserhead? Now that's a doozy!
Originally posted by Stealth bomber
Vanilla Sky.
Absolute mindf--k. Went and saw this in the theatre and had a headache for an hour after it ended.
Ditto. Pure rubbish
evade28
23 Sep 2003, 22:59
yep stealth, i agree that vanilla sky was a total crock of, err, something, no one knows what!!! me and my cousin had a big joke about it when it was on fox every night, 'watching vanilla sky 2nite?' etc.
other movies i had no idea about were
snatch with brad pitt, couldnt understand what he was prattling on about, lost interest pretty quick.
the matrix, i was like WTF is going on here? i sorta got it in the end, i think u need to see it a few times to get it!
sliding doors, i went and saw it without knowing the plot, ie if she had have caught the train this would have happened, and if she didnt THIS would have happened.
Originally posted by evade28
the matrix, i was like WTF is going on here? i sorta got it in the end, i think u need to see it a few times to get it!
Glad I'm not alone!
Sort of got it the second time around though.
Richoagain
24 Sep 2003, 00:07
Originally posted by evade28
other movies i had no idea about were
snatch with brad pitt, couldnt understand what he was prattling on about, lost interest pretty quick.
Are you kidding?!
Snatch is incredible. Possibly my favourite movie of all time.
Originally posted by Hungry29
How about Eraserhead? Now that's a doozy!
I thought Eraserhead was great. :confused:
Just commenting on a few people have already mentioned.
Donnie Darko was great and I recommend it to anyone, it is a thinker but very good all the same.
Cant believe some of the comments about the Cube. I love that movie and I think it was fantastic that they left it where they did. Makes the viewer decide why they are there and where in fact they actually are? Great movie, I hear a second was made and came out recently in the US. Im not holding my breath.
Onto my gripe, now I havent seen the original but I watched the new Solaris last week starring George Clooney. On the cover it says, "one of the greatest SciFi movies of all time" So I was like, sweet, love a good sci fi, Ill give it a bash. Absolute crap, slow and boring. And to make it even worse they never even told you why it was happening or how it was happening? Extremely frustrating movie.
Uncle Steve
24 Sep 2003, 11:29
Originally posted by Hungry29
How about Eraserhead? Now that's a doozy!
See avatar :D
Hungry29
24 Sep 2003, 18:08
Originally posted by Uncle Steve
See avatar :D
Lol, well there you go! Don't suppose you could explain the film to me?? ;)
2001 Odyssey
and I'll be watching it again..
Uncle Steve
25 Sep 2003, 10:24
Originally posted by Hungry29
Lol, well there you go! Don't suppose you could explain the film to me?? ;)
Hell, I got no idea ;) but some other people have had a go at deciphering it:
http://www.geocities.com/Hollywood/2093/papers/wolfe.html
Saw Vanilla Sky.... Have to agree with the majority here... an absolute piece of ****.
Anything by Pier Paolo Pasolini, but especially his mid sixties experimental stage, "Theorem", "Medea" and "Pigsty".
Visually he one of the most striking directors, but I have seen "Medea" at least 5 or 6 times, and I'm still not sure what's going on.
Some of his later film, "The Decameron", "Canterbury Tales" and "Salo, 120 Days of Sodom" are a lot easier to understand, but are very hard to stomach.
sandeano
25 Sep 2003, 11:39
Originally posted by DEVO
Anything by Pier Paolo Pasolini, but especially his mid sixties experimental stage, "Theorem", "Medea" and "Pigsty".
Visually he one of the most striking directors, but I have seen "Medea" at least 5 or 6 times, and I'm still not sure what's going on.
Some of his later film, "The Decameron", "Canterbury Tales" and "Salo, 120 Days of Sodom" are a lot easier to understand, but are very hard to stomach.
Then there's "Teorema", in which Terence Stamp may be Jesus, may be the Devil or may just be a naughty boy...
Mobbenfuhrer
25 Sep 2003, 15:50
What about those films that that bloke does? Umm ... somethingicon ... can't remember ... french or spanish or italian or something ... bah sorry for wasting everyone's time. :o
Mobbenfuhrer
25 Sep 2003, 15:53
satyricon!
beckybiglands
25 Sep 2003, 16:26
Vanilla Sky- thats 2 hours of my life i'll never get back...
Fight Club i watched twice before it made super-sense, same with Donnie Darko
Snatch- that freaking rules.... Guy Ritchie flicks are an awesome mind twisting feast! "sugar" "no thanks turkish, i'm sweet enough" :p
oh_my_hat
25 Sep 2003, 21:14
2001 - A Space Odyssey.
Originally posted by beckybiglands
Vanilla Sky- thats 2 hours of my life i'll never get back...
Fight Club i watched twice before it made super-sense, same with Donnie Darko
Snatch- that freaking rules.... Guy Ritchie flicks are an awesome mind twisting feast! "sugar" "no thanks turkish, i'm sweet enough" :p
"Do you know what Nemesis means?"
any david lynch film. if you say you understand it you're lying. if you think you understand it your wrong. that said some of them arn't half bad.
p.s. fight club rocks.
TheRealBuzz
26 Sep 2003, 15:08
Originally posted by noodle
any david lynch film. if you say you understand it you're lying. if you think you understand it your wrong. Pretty broad statement.
David Lynch lets you come to your own conclusions about his films. That's what makes them so appealing to me.
Mulholland Drive, for example, was made in a way that it was almost like watching someone's dream/nightmare. Completely absorbing, and able to be interpreted in many different ways.
But, yeah, some of his stuff can be hard to understand. Usually you need to watch it a couple of times.
hans moleman
27 Sep 2003, 00:13
Gummo...
though the fact i didn't 'get' it might be a good thing.
Originally posted by Uncle Steve
The Naked Lunch.
"I can think of 2 things wrong with that title"
NorthBhoy
27 Sep 2003, 23:40
Donnie Darko.
I understood it I 'spose, but it headfuked me until I swa it again.
I would still like someone to give me their rundown of it though..........
Originally posted by Bee
Yep, quite possibly the worst movie I have ever seen. An absolute load of crap!
Ditto. That was a shocker.
The Matrix, the first hundred times I watched it.
St-KriS
28 Sep 2003, 22:06
12 Monkey's
It's been a long time since I've watched it, but I didn't get it at all. I'll have to get it out again and see if I can make any sense of it.