Film going is all about expectations. We like a certain star or director or topic. The buzz is strong. The plot sounds intriguing. We buy the ticket, inhale the popcorn aroma, and find our way to our seats. Anticipation grows. I enjoy it. Will I be thrilled? Will I be swept away? Will I be bored? Will I be entertained? It's why we go to the movies.
Sadly, I get disappointed, frequently.
So as so many pundits, smart and dumb, are hyping their best ten lists or their worst ten lists to anyone who listens, let's look at 2007 disappointments. You can agree, disagree or mutter something unmentionable under your breath, but the following films offered high expectations, and did not deliver. These films are not necessarily bad in the traditional sense of bad, but as I left the theater, I was wondering who green lit it and why so many millions of dollars were wasted. Didn't anyone look closely at what they were doing? So here are my six disappointments for 2007.
THE GOLDEN COMPASS
The brain trust at New Line Cinema wanted to recapture some of the LORD OF THE RINGS magic with this $180 million adaptation. The special effects are great, good cast, but this film rests on the shoulders of an unproven 11 year old actress and she's not up to the task. Besides, no epic film, with some exceptions, has ever done well without a romance. Heads will be rolling at New Line. The losses will not be in millions or tens of millions, but hundreds of millions.
GOOD LUCK CHUCK
Jessica Alba and Dane Cook star in a boy meets-loses-gets girl comedy. With two rising stars was high, this sexual comedy had high expectations. Alba is an accident prone, relationship averse penguin lover. Cook is a sexually hyperactive Chevy Chase rip-off. There's no chemistry and few laughs. The only highlight is Alba's game physical comedy.
LICENSE TO WED
Oy, when Robin Williams makes a stinker, it's bad. He's a priest into wiretapping, spying and frustrating sex. What a schmuck! Mandy Moore, in dire need for a new agent, is the determined bride to be. The Catholic Church should condemn this movie as obscene.
EVAN ALMIGHTY
Keeping with poorly conceived religious comedies, this dud from the folks who made BRUCE ALMIGHTY is contrived, strained and as funny as all that poop at the bottom of the ark. BRUCE was fresh, original and hilarious. EVAN is a sop to the religious right. Steve Carrell is wasted. Morgan Freeman is wasted. Don't waste your time or money, it's biblically bad.
LIONS FOR LAMBS
Nothing spells disappointment like a preachy lefty movie. No audience wants instruction on why the Iraq war is a tragedy of ideological miscalculation and hubris. Films are about entertainment. They can have a message within them, Like CHARLIE WILSON'S WAR. but don't beat over the head with it.
ELIZABETH: THE GOLDEN AGE
The first ELIZABETH was terrific. Now the director turns great production values, good acting and an interesting story into an insipid Bollywood piece of trash. Even Cate Blanchett cannot rescue this film. It has no focus. It isn't even good history.
I see a lot of films. Too often, I come away disappointed. Above are some of my disappointments. What about you? What disappointed you in 2007?
Garen has been sitting in the dark for over 30 years as an film exhibitor, consultant and reviewer. You may have seen him on NE Cable or some other Boston station. More likely you heard him pontificating about films on NPR, TKK, RKO, New Hampshire Public Radio, or any number of other stations he's been on, but one thing is certain, he loves, and knows, film.
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Comments: 26
ELIZABETH: THE GOLDEN AGE, which was historically more correct than the first ELIZABETH. Socio-culturally it was also more realistic. The story line sucked but there were character portrayals that made up for it...almost...!
Donald, although the socio-cultural history may have been more accurate, I was under the impression it was different set of nbaval tactics that sent the Spanish Armada to its defeat.
Everyone else, thanks for the comments. Much appreciated.
That's because it was a film about such little things I couldn't see them!
Ie for example look into the golden compass say... ask yourself this, if you take out the story line and then adapt it to many years back ie the birth of christ you will see some similarities... the main one being the lion the witch and the wardrobe.. where aslam dies on the alter and then is reborn to come back.... his followers being peter, lucy etc..
sorry if it doesnt make sense but i know what my head is trying to say...
And yes, there is a romance - just wait.
Leslie, I doubt we'll see any sequels for COMPASS in the near future. The film cost $180 million to make, the advertising costs run around $40 million , and you need to double the combined number to see a break even point. The people who made the film have contracts. Those contracts come due at the beginning of 2009. COMPASS is such a sea of red ink, sequels are unlikely to be green lit. Besides, these folks just announced okaying THE HOBBIT. That'll be their redemption.
Susan, I'm curious to see what he thought was good. There were some excellent films out this past year. These were disappointments.
Everyone else, thank you so much for the feedback. It is appreciated. Let's keep the conversation going!
I'll gladly add to this conversation. With tickets costing $9.50 each for movies here, articles like yours do a great service and provide a "heads up" about movies to avoid. I have family members who like to go to a movie now and then but are on a limited budget. I've heard good things about The Kite Runner. I'll check your other articles but did you write about that one? I'll be looking forward to your list of updated "must sees" as a counterpoint to this excellent article.
I think the "buzz" on a movie often gets people to spend their hard-earned dollars and then they feel let down. This may end up doing more harm than good to the movie industry in the long run. Even good movies don't seem to be as spectacular as they once were. I don't think that is a case of my becoming jaded but of many other variables. I'm sure you'll bring up some of those variables in future articles.
Your pieces always get me thinking!
I haven't seen many movies this year but I was slightly disappointed in Knocked Up. I guess I'd heard too much about it, or it was overhyped before I saw it. When I finally saw it I couldn't figure out why people thought it was so funny.
We saw only one movie in a theater in 2007: Bella. It was wonderful. I highly recommend it for everyone, all ages. I've published a review of it on Gather.