[knife_fight]

I didn't like Napolean Dynamite OR Donnie Darko.

I didn't like Napolean Dynamite b/c it just seemed like a cheap knockoff of a Wes Anderson movie. Although I'll admit that there are some parts that make me laugh out loud (there is no denying the humor in someone getting hit in the face with a steak), I thought the jokes were mainly aimed at a semi-hip, yet semi-dull and behind the times, crowd. I really hate to say such negative things about it, b/c my fiance loves it, but it just kinda rubbed me the wrong way, I guess. It's like whoever wrote that movie took Rushmore and dumbed down the humor to make it more obvious so that the Mtv crowd would "get it." I'll leave it at that, unless pressed for more...

I got into a HUGE thing on here about 2 years ago about Donnie Darko. everyone loved it and I thought it was overrated crap, so I was on the losing end of an outnumbered match, an injured dog in a corner, so to speak. I guess the main thing I didn't like about it was that it left WAY too many loose ends. It seemed like it would touch on some random subject briefly, and then move on and never return. I haven't seen the movie in a long time (guessing, I would say 3 years at least), but I do remember this glaring example: There is a scene when he is at his therapist/psychologist/whatever and he's hypnotized and talking about something or other. While he's lying on the couch hypnotized, one hand is in his pants, masturbating furiously. This was a big scene in the movie, and one that was never explained. The guy obviously had some sort of sexual issues, but it never came back to it. It's like they just stuck that scene in there to say, "Wow. this dude is a weirdo!!!!" As though we didn't know that already. Anyway, there were other reasons I didn't like the movie, but that was a big one.

One way I always end up judging movies, is based purely on how they are presented to me. part of the reason I didn't like Donnie Darko was b/c I was in college, learning to think critically, and all I heard from my friends was how intelligent and thought-provoking Donnie Darko was. so I went into it thinking it was gonna be this really cerebral experience. thus, I was disappointed.

Same with Napolean Dynamite. when I saw it, it was still small, and every now and then I hear some slight whisper or murmur about this really funny movie, and how I, personally, would think it was hilarious. but, when I saw it, no dice. sure, there were some great moments, but it definitely didn't live up to the hype. and I can't stand disappointment.

sorry for such a long post...