Most Overrated Movies

This movie is so overrated! I can not, and will not, understand how anyone could love this film. But you can obviously tell from my 3 star rating that I did like the film at least somewhat and that is true. However, there are far too many flaws in the movie to be anything above what I've given it. And the biggest problem of all time in almost any movie (that has some people liking it, not you Monster Man, sorry) is the bitch of a woman, Jenny.

Jenny is a horribly constructed character. Throughout the movie your constantly thrown back and forth between hating her and sympathizing with her, and by the end of the movie you can't feel sad for her death. Maybe a little, but barely. I honestly do not know why Robert Zemeckis would make such careless decisions such as this (and I do love the man, he's made some great movies, especially Back to the Future). She's a whore, liar, drug user, and all around disgusting person. Do I think the actress who played her is at fault? No, not really. It's the fault of the screenwriter for creating such a useless person. My god. Anyways...

Tom Hanks, although maybe slightly overrated as an actor in general, gives a pretty decent performance as Mr. Gump himself. Yes, all his classic lines are tiring by now, and his portrayal of a mentally handicapped man is no where near as brilliant as Dustin Hoffman's performance in Rain Man, but he gets the job done. He provides some decent laughs, heartwarming moments with Bubba, and more. The man has clearly seen better days though (Big and Saving Private Ryan ring a bell).

One of the great performances in the movie I thought though, was by Gary Sinise as Lieutenant Dan Taylor. His career basically went down hill from here, but hey, at least he has this on his record. Throughout the movie he seems to almost play several stereotypes of Lieutenants or emotionally scarred war veterans, but beyond his initial skin lies a truly captivating performance that draws us into his character and why he acts the way he does.

Oh yeah and Haley Joel Osment's in this too. The robot child. It's clear he was always one, even at a young age. There's no way he's human.

I'll probably write a longer review, maybe later, but before I wrap up I have to mention the story, the plot, the inexcusable mess. I understand Zemeckis's purpose in having Gump live through the various decades of American history, but still, its too scattered and non-detailed that you really just don't care. Gump will fly through an event like his run across the United States, and several important events in history will be brushed over in about 5 to 10 minutes. It's pretty lame and should have been addressed by the director and the screenwriter, but hey, whatever. They made a whole bunch of money off the movie. Why do they care?

Ten Bears: [in Lakota] The white men who wore this came around the time of my grandfather's grandfather. Eventually we drove them out. Then the Mexicans came. But they do not come here any more. In my own time, the Texans. They have been like all the others. They take without asking. But I think you are right. I think they will keep coming. When I think of that, I look at this helmet. I don't know if we are ready for these people. Our country is all that we have, and we will fight to keep it.

I have to give Costner this. Out of all the horrible performances he's given, he never actually ruins a good movie. And surprisingly, he can make a decent movie as well. I'm not throughly convinced Costner can act his way out of a hat, unlike Nicholas Cage who has equally bad (if not worse) performances but still comes out with some incredible stuff like Adaptation, and it shows in this movie. I couldn't honestly tell you who would fit his role well, but it's definitely not him. Most of the scenes where the focus is on the Native Americans, or even on the beautiful landscapes Costner films, the film shines as something exceptional. But as it stands, the film has some serious flaws due to it's main reason for being, Kevin Costner.

Sincere, capable, at times moving, but overextended, this picture is seriously hampered by its tendency to linger over everything -- especially landscapes with silhouetted figures, and not excluding its own good intentions. Costner tends to look at something, whether it be the beautiful landscape or a filthy cup, and sometimes spend five minutes talking about it, paralleling it to situations or events that the audience just does not care about. Clocking in around four hours, you can see how this could become tiring.

The story revolves Lieutenant John Dunbar (Kevin Costner) who gets exiled to a remote western Civil War outpost after his eccentric behavior in the field of war. While there, Dunbar comes to realize the beauty and significance of the land the soldiers are taking from the Indian. He soon makes friends with one of the local tribes, after breaking the boundary of communication that would have stopped most other people from attempting to reach a common ground with the people. Dunbar finds help communicating with the leader, Ten Bears, through the use of a white settler turned Ponche, McDonnell's character, who he eventually falls in love with. Throughout most of the movie he develops a deep bond with the tribe members and helps them avoid the persecution of the army, at the risk of his own safety. By the end, Ten Bears comes to the realization that his tribes and the rest of the Native Americans will continue to run until there is no where left to run, as Dunbar and Mary ride off into the unknown future.

Costner's sincerity in making this film helps propel the film past an atrocity into something truly moving. The Indians like Ten Bears and Two Socks show a personal and humane approach to the way the peaceful tribes only strove to keep their land in an increasingly white, European dominated land. So the acting from the Indian actors are incredible, but what about the two main leads, Costner and Mary McDonnell? Well Costner has the same apathetic and pathetic style of acting as he has in every other movie, but manages to give some sort of enjoyment when he is around his Indian companions. McDonnell on the other hand, does the best with what she has and give a captivating performance as the confused white girl who was raised by Native Americans. Her journey's pretty incredible throughout the movie. She hasn't really been in much, except the phenomenal Battlestar Galactica, but she does great in what little she's in.

Review to be continued....

Overly blunt? Yes. Emotional powerhouse that draws you in and creates a true personal feeling with (most) of the characters? Absolutely.

I don't know there was just something about it...except for Butterfly McQueen. If the name doesn't say enough, her acting will, especially once your ears start bleeding.

This sucks. Period. Don't think this is underrated, it's just not good. Poor acting (besides maybe Thornton), decisions that no man with an IQ of over 10 would act upon, and just the whole film being overly ridiculous and unbelievable, make this Sam Raimi's worst flim. There are some good moments to be found throughout, but really, if you can't buy into the story then there's no chance of it being any good.

Overrated, but still an enjoyable experience. One of those movies where you are sitting there and wondering how the hell my dad ever thought this is one of the funniest movies of all time.

I don't really know how to feel about this and I think I missed something so I'm reserving my final opinion til I see it again.

I hate Rednecks and the ending of this movie. Yep. This film starts to show its age, though Jack Nicholson steals the show half way through. Plus, Dennis Hopper is amazing and totally drugged out of his mind like always.

Lots of singing and sex. And drugs. And Confederate flags. Good 'ol Nashville.

But apparently I must not have been in the right mood or "element"? I don't know, gotta watch this again.