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Overrated masterpieces


Who do you think are some overrated 'masterpiece' films? I would say Citizen Kane, E.T, Interstellar, Avatar,

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I don't think ET is overrated, particularly since it's not rated that high (7.9 on IMDB).

I personally think all the new superhero movies are rated too high for what they are (Dark Knight, Avengers, Captain America...). I mean they're good fun and all, but I don't see them as among the Top 250 movies of all time.

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I agree with you on Dean - died young but his movies weren't that good.
Another one is The Misfits - Gable's last movie.
More recently - Driving Miss Daisy and Crash

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How can you say that about The Dark Knight when it was Heath Ledger's best performance ever? He was amazing in it and made the whole film.

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When the OP says overrated, does this mean overrated according to the IMDb Top 250? If so, even Citizen Kane should not be considered overrated since it's 8.3 on IMDb. Here are some films that are rated 8.3 or higher which I do consider to be very good films yet overrated if you were to compare them with cinematic masterpieces such as Citizen Kane:

1) City of God - 8.6
2) Whiplash - 8.5
3) The Intouchables - 8.5
4) La La Land - 8.4
5) The Lives of Others - 8.4
6) Snatch - 8.3
7) The Hunt - 8.3
8) Inglourious Basterds - 8.3
9) Requiem for a Dream - 8.3
10) Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind - 8.3

I thought I should also add that several on this and other threads consider Stanley Kubrick's sci-fi masterpiece 2001: A Space Odyssey, which is also rated 8.3 on IMDb to be overrated, when in my opinion this was a groundbreaking film that was one of the most influential films of all time in this genre, as it preceded and set the precedent for other great sci-fi films such as Star Wars and Alien.

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I am not talking just about iMDB

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So perhaps you may want to include in your OP, which criteria should be used in judging whether or not a film should be considered overrated such as the critical acclaim and accolades such films have received. In other words, films are considered overrated masterpieces by whom?

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[deleted]

I agree with you the new superhero movies weren't that good. They were shouldn't be on the top 250 list.

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The Dark Knight deserved to be in the Top 250. Maybe at 250th if you insist, but absolutely deserved.

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I found 2001 A Space Odyssey more weird than classic. Many Woody Allen films. Rebel Without A Cause didn't make that big of an impression on me, I wonder if it would still be considered a classic if James Dean had not died young.

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I do think 2001 A Space Odyssey it's one of the best movie i ever have to see. It's magical.

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But the entire 60 minutes of LSD scene is indeed weird.


I always hit fast forward every time. Ain't nobody got time for that!

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[deleted]

with trump as President, Citizen Kane is more relevant than ever.

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Perhaps ET was overrated, but not Citizen Kane. It's a classic, and one of the best films of all time. And 2001 is the best film of all time imho.

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I didn't know ET was considered a masterpiece, and while I liked it, I don't consider it that way myself.

First (and last) time I saw Citizen Kane, after a big build-up about what a masterpiece it was, I was disappointed. Loved the cinematography -- the panning in from outside through inside Kane's bedroom window, and into the snow globe -- but once I got to the end and found out what/who Rosebud was, all I could think was WTH? What a letdown. The "big reveal" just didn't have anywhere near enough emotional impact for me.

I'm not a huge fan of Gone with the Wind either. Personally, I found Bette Davis's Jezebel to be much more interesting as far as plot and character development.

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Titanic

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The first half of the film is rubbish but from the moment it hits the iceberg onwards it is an amazingly crafted film.

See it in 3D at the cinema and you realise what a truly brilliant horror film it was. Especially the part where they are sitting in their boats safely while watching it slowly sink and hearing the echoing screams of the people still onboard. That really brings it home because all the while you know that this is was it was like in reality for them.

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That's a very clever critical approach to Titanic, keybored. I hated the love story part of it. Cameron is my favorite action-movie director and that's the only reason I watched the whole thing. I did enjoy the sinking and the dying. It's a travesty this thing beat L.A. Confidential for Best Picture 😡

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Thanks for that.

The awesomeness of the second half of the film can't really be appreciated fully until you see it in 3D at the cinema and I would recommend to anyone to experience it at least once.

You could feel the whole audience audience holding their breath and then quite a few sobs and gulps during that particular scene as they comprehend the immensity of what happened. It is hard to just describe how that scene plays out in 3D, it has to be experienced. It is one of the most sad and moving scenes I have ever seen and I've seen the film several times before then but never in the same way. Took me by surprise for sure.

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Yes the first part of Titanic was rubbish, and the last half was technically well done.

But for my money "A Night To Remember" is the penultimate Titanic film. But then I'm an old skol guy.

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But did you ever see Titanic in 3D? A night to remember was also good though.

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No, but I'm not a big fan of 3D. To me it's just a gimmick. Also I wear glasses and I'm afraid the 3D glasses would scratch them. Also they're a hassle.

That would not change my opinion. The film is mediocre imho.

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Agreed. While I didn't think the first part of Titanic was rubbish, and overall thought it was a more than decent film, it lacked the pathos A Night to Remember had.

For me it was good, and I enjoyed it, but think it was overrated and a bit too Hollywoody for it to be great in my estimation.

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I also prefer "A night to remember".

As a curiosity, I know a guy whose grandfather was a sailor on Carpathia when they rescued people from Titanic.

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Jezebel is a great movie!

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Isn't it? Much more interesting (IMO) than Gone with the Wind's plot.

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And Bette Davis is just better than anyone. LOVE HUH

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I've got to agree!

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<< I'm not a huge fan of Gone with the Wind either. >>

This. Is. SACRILEDGE!!

It's true the first part of the film moves more quickly and is generally more entertaining than the second...but it really IS impressive. The acting, casting, design and direction are all superlative...I think if it has a weakness it's that the story's basically no more than an elaborate Harlequin Romance, at heart.

It's amazing the book won the Pulitzer Prize (!!!) I mean, dear god...I wonder what the competition was??
.

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So … so, in your world I have blasphemed?! I'd do film blasphemy penance (whatever the H that might be), but, sorry, can't retract.

I agree the plot is basically a Harlequin Romance. The good part was it was set against the Civil War, and the burning of Atlanta, and the personal consequences that had on the residents, was fascinating (to me, anyway).

For me, Gable was great, the guy who played Linton, not so much, and Vivian was good but to me not nearly as good or complex as Bette in Jezebel.

Have you ever read the book? I haven't, so have no idea how good or meh it is/was. Unlike you, I found the first part to be less entertaining than the second.

Addendum: I always find your posts to be Quite Amusing ;)

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I was going to say Citizen Kane as soon as I saw this thread title. Then I see you already said it.
I am glad I am not the only one who just does not fall down in worship at that movie. In some circles, saying you don't like it is like saying you don't breathe air. People just look at you like you are an alien.

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"In some circles, saying you don't like it is like saying you don't breathe air. People just look at you like you are an alien."

Very true. An alien or the worst kind of Philistine.

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The Shining - very campy and almost laughable now.

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I agree. I keep thinking I should rewatch it....but I just don't care enough : (

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I've seen part of it, but it never captured my interest enough to watch it from beginning to end. Plus, I'm not much of a Nicholson fan to begin with. Except maybe Chinatown and Cuckoo's Nest.

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Chinatown was confusing and overrated IMHO.

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I disagree about The Shining. It has an even stronger impact on me now that I'm older than it did in it's early years. It's my favorite movie (tied with The Exorcist). The atmosphere in that movie is beyond words for me. I think it's brilliant.

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I agree with you April. The Shining (1980), scared the living crap out of me! I saw it when it first hit the theatre in 80 and for 2 weeks straight, I was scared to be alone at all! I also saw The Exorcist (1973) in the theatre in 74, I loved it but it didn't really scare me. Another film that scared the crap out of me was the old B&W, Night of the Living Dead (1968). I saw it for the first time on, Bob Wilkins-Creature Features, late at night in 1976, at a friend's house a few doors up and when it was over, I had to walk home in the middle of the night, alone and thoroughly creeped out as the wind was blowing slightly, making all the trees rustle. I ran down the hill so fast that I passed up my driveway a bit. Then I ran up the stairs so fast, into the house, bee lined for my bedroom, jumped in my bed and pulled the covers over my head. I slept like that all night...clothes and shoes still on. I was 16 at that time.

The Shining, has had the longest lasting effect on me...which was 2 weeks. No other film, since then, has been able to stick with me that long...a few were only able to stick with me for a few days to a week. I'm still looking for a horror film to outlast, The Shining, but it's been 37 years and no luck yet. 😩

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The Haunting (1963 original) scared the cr@p out of me. Granted I saw it when I was a kid, alone at home, at night, on TV, but it still scares me the heck out of me more than any other film, because of its building atmosphere and the fact that you never actually *see* anything, so it's all in your imagination. *shudders*

It's had the longest lasting impression on me. That horrible creepy priest-like voice mumbling indiscernible yet awful things, the hand-holding when nothing was there holding anyone's hand, the creepy faces in the wallpaper, and more. Eeek!

Unfortunately the remake was truly awful, despite having a great cast. But the original is brilliant, as is the novel it was taken from, Shirley Jackson's The Haunting of Hill House.

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Oh wow, I'll have to try and see that one! I've seen the 99 version with Liam Neeson and Catherine Zeta-Jones and loved it...maybe cause I didn't see the original one. Thanks for the reference, Cat. 😊

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I think I'd have liked the remake okay if I wasn't so familiar with the original, and of course the book. I think you'll like them both!

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HAHAHAHA just picturing that run!!!! Reading The Shining had that same impact on me!! The lady in the bathtub chapter had me running to get up and shut the bedroom light and running back to my bed and throwing the covers over me LOL. It's funny how us humans just instinctively do that in the hopes that doing so will keep us safe from all that's bad!!

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You read it?

Now that I think of it, I'm not sure I've ever met anyone who's read The Shining. The Exorcist yes, and any other number of King's novels. I've only read The Stand, but I didn't like it :/

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Oh yes. It's my favorite book (Stephen King or otherwise). I've read it about 5 times and listened to the audio book 3 times. Incredible novel!!!!

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Is it better than the film? (Keep in mind I wasn't so big on the film.)

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All books (almost anyway) are better than their film counterparts. They have a way of delving into minute details and thoughts that movies can't touch in 2 hours. The TV remake of The Shining (utter garbage) follows the book more closely but lacks pretty much EVERYTHING that Kubrick accomplished in his version. It's definitely worth a read. Grant it, it won't have the same impact on you that it would have had you read it say, 35 years ago. But I think you'll be pleasantly surprised by it. :)

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Usually they are, although I can think of a couple of exceptions. I didn't know there was a TV remake of The Shining. Huh. That would be a hard act to follow, given the wide acclaim the original has been given.

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And you know what the saddest part about that god awful remake is? Stephen King himself had the biggest hand in getting that made. Stephen is most definitely a master at the written word. But most films he has a hand in making turn out bad. He should stick to books LOL.

And as far as movies that are better than their novels, the one that comes to mind for me is Delores Claiborne. Good book. Excellent film!!!!

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Interesting, that.

I think the only films made from his novels I liked were Dolores Claiborne (because was more subtle, and Kathy Bates was great) and Stand by Me. Misery was kind of interesting too, but very creepy and made me feel very TENSE! (Which isn't exactly my favorite feeling :D)

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Let's not forget The Shawshank Redemption and The Green Mile. Both are masterpieces (film). 💜💜💜💜

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Oh right, I loved both the Shawshank Redemption and The Green Mile. More than Misery, and probably more than Dolores, too.

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Just goes to show that King is soooo much more than a horror writer. But what makes these GOOD Stephen King movies so good is their directors (and script writers).

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All these films you guys named are great but I really, really loved, The Green Mile! I love them all but it's one of my faves! 💜💙💜

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We each owe a death, there are no exceptions. But oh God, sometimes the Green Mile seems so long...

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Yeah, it can be. That's why I allow for 6 months to a year before re-watching it.

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LOL true, it is long. Long and amazingly good. I love long movies. I hate to see them end. What I was saying though was the last line of the movie. 😃

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Oh, right...that was the last line wasn't it?...DOH! I'm getting sleepy, it's 3:20am. But it is definitely an amazing film!

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Also, I love long movies too but only if they're really good one's that I don't want to end as well. I'm like that with songs too.

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<< Let's not forget The Shawshank Redemption and The Green Mile. Both are masterpieces (film). >>

Oh god...if we're going to be honest (and I hope that if you become a mod you don't ban me!) I know those two films are very beloved by filmgoers, but almost nothing comes back to me from those viewing experiences, and I never need to see either again : (

I think Stephen King's best when he doesn't try to be important and overly noble/mystical. (I like DELORES CLAIBORNE and MISERY....and especially CARRIE) (the original).
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😂😂😂😂

http://i35.tinypic.com/2qt9wqp.png

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Speaking of DOLORES CLAIBORNE-land....the actress who played Agnes (Dolores' snooty, manipulative boss) also plays an addled, but sweet, aged nun on the popular BBC series CALL THE MIDWIFE:

See: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pRpfeY9bt9k

(Or you can click this SAFE YOUTUBE LINK )

She hasn't actually changed that much!
.

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Are you saying my link isn't safe? 😢😢😢😢

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Oh no, pet.

It's just I posted a clickable link here last week or so, in answer to someone, and they said they don't trust links....I forget who it was! So now I feel like I have to over-explain, I guess!

HEY, WORLD: APRIL'S LINK ABOVE WAS FINE!
.

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Ok cool!! I might have to reconsider that ban now then. 😜😜😜😜

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Yes, Cat, it was in 1997 with, Rebecca De Mornay & Steven Weber. I like them both but certainly didn't like that remake at all.

Never mind, it's Jake Weber that I like, not Steven Weber. I always get their names confused...lol. But Steven was in this remake.

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Totally agree, April, the remake of, The Shining, was trash!! I know it was suppose to be more by the book but nobody could play, Jack, the way, Jack, could, that part was tailor made for him. King didn't like the first one cause it was not like the book but, he liked the God awful remake...yuuuuck!!

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I know right? Steven Weber is a clown. He had no business playing Jack! And he plays in numerous Stephen King movies and all the ones he's in stink!! 😫😫😫😫

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I liked him in some...oh wait, scratch that. It's Jake Weber that I like in some films, not Steven Weber. 😱

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Yeah Jake's great!! Medium, Dawn of the Dead remake, Wedingo...

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Dawn of the Dead was excellent, Jake was great in that! And Wedingo too! I didn't watch Medium but a few times but he was good in that from what I saw. I don't really watch TV shows...except for The Walking Dead...all else I watch are movies.

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Same here. No TV shows, only movies. I used to LOVE TWD though. But stopped watching after awhile. Ever notice how much better in was in the beginning? Well, to me it was anyway. That's because back then it was Frank Darabont's The Walking Dead. He is the very same genius who brought us The Shawshank Redemption and The Green Mile (and The Mist, another great Stephen King movie)!!!!

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Yeah, it was much better in the beginning but I'm still liking it enough to keep on watching.

Okies, I'm gonna hit the hay, eyes are burning too much. I'll catch up on anymore posts sometime tomorrow. Thanks for the chat, it's been nice. G'night. 😪💤💤💤💤

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Same here. Nite. ZZZZzzzz, drool...

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They remade The Shining?? When was that?

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It was a TV 3 part mini-series shown in 97.

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And it was H.O.R.R.I.B.L.E. And this is who they got to play Danny. The positively most insufferable, annoyingly child actor I've ever experienced in my life!! He made watching that miniseries nearly unbearable. 😕😕😕😕



https://suchabooknerd.files.wordpress.com/2010/10/courtlandmead.jpg

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Thanks. I did not know that. From your description I'm glad I missed it. Another lesson in the folly of remakes of classic films.

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And especially Made-for-Television remakes of classic films. 😉

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Yep...I forgot to mention that it sucked big time! What a flippin' disaster! And to think that Stephen King didn't like the original but liked the remake (because it followed the book) was disappointing as well. So what if the original one didn't follow the book, it was still waaaay better than the remake by far IMO!

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I read, The Exorcist, in 73...loved it...and still have the book! In 74, I finally saw it in the theatre...loved it!! I loved watching, The Stand, have seen it several times but never read it. I loved it too! I've seen lots of Kings films, I think King is awesome! 😃👍👍

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I had to wait years after The Exorcist's release to watch it. Too many of my friends told me it scared the pants off of them for at least a few days. Haven't read it though.

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I heard a lot of people walked out of the theater back then. I can just imagine it happening at the point when the mom walks in and she's "masturbating" with the crucifix (more like stabbing herself with it) saying let Jesus fuck you. Then mashing the mom's face into her hoo-ha saying lick me, lick me!! 😱😱😱😱 I can only imagine the utter shock of that scene to all those sensitive, unblemished, "virginal" minds of the time LOL. Seeing something like that now is STILL on the shocking side. But not nearly like it would've been back then. I remember my sister was 18 and I was 3 at the time and when she came home from seeing it she was so scared that she insisted I sleep in the bed with her that night LMAO!! She's still a scaredy cat though, even to this day. Still afraid of the dark and what may be hiding under the bed at night. 😱😱😱😱

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I was only 14 when I finally managed to sneak in and watch it at the theatre in 74 and, surprisingly, it didn't really scare me but more like...fascinated me. I actually had a ouija board shortly before the film came out and used to ouija in my closet all the time, at night, with a candle and sage incense burning. I was a weird kid...still weird...lol. To this day, I still have my ouija board but haven't used it in awhile

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OMG April, I was a pretty fast runner back then and was going full speed down a steep hill we lived on...my brakes were pretty bad at that point...lol. I didn't read the book but I'm sure it was a lot better...I think I'll buy it.

LMAO about having to run back and turn the light off then running back to bed and throwing the covers over you. I did that for years! I can remember ever since I was 4, doing that after watching an episode of, The Outer Limits, every night back then (1964). I always felt safe...like nothing can attack me as long as I was completely under my blanket. It was a race from my light switch to my bed every night. Often times I wouldn't quite pull the switch down before I leaped into bed so I would have to get up and try it again. I think I finally grew out of that by the time I hit 20. Yeah...it was quite comical...lol!

What's a drag now is that I'm so desensitized that it takes something HUGE to even, remotely scare me anymore. That sucks. 😩

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Yes, me too. We've seen it all by now. It takes something quite special to have any effect on us. I think the only modern scary movies that made me cringe are CERTAIN PARTS of the movie Insidious (such as the red faced demon behind the chair) and parts of the Paranormal Activity movies. For me, the PA movies got scarier with every sequel. But I've not seen all of them, only the first 3.

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I loved Insidious, The Conjuring and Sinister. Sinister gave me a really sick, uneasy feeling that stuck with me for a few days...it was very disturbing for me but wasn't exactly scary. The red faced dude in Insidious was pretty creepy but not really scary for me either. I watched PA, didn't scare me in the least. But, truthfully...I really hate found footage type films...even Blair Witch sucked for me, not one bit scary. Found footage films are just not my cup of tea.

Another film I really love is, Ghost Ship (2002), that one was pretty creepy and interesting with great atmosphere.

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Now see for me, The Blair Witch Project was VERY creepy in some scenes. The found footage thing was new at that point so for me, what was happening in the movie was SOOOO very realistic. Like you were there with them. I felt scared along with them as they're running in the pitch black woods with all those sounds around them not knowing what they were. It just seemed like you were watching something real happening and not a movie. I love it and thought it was very well made. It's the realistic atmosphere that makes me like found footage movies.

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I've tried several times to give that genre a chance but it just didn't work out for me. In the early 70's when I'd go visit my dad in Louisiana, there were woods right across the street from us that my little brother and I practically lived in...maybe that desensitized me from being afraid of the woods. We really had a blast in those woods! I miss that.

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I loathe The Shining.

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Thank the gods you're here! I don't get anything from THE SHINING, either. (Aside from the way they used the spooky, booming "Dies Irae" in the opening credits.)

(It also features in SWEENEY TODD.) ("Swing your razor high, Sweeney / Hear it singing Yes...")
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and Styx "redrum" hahaha

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I liked the "redrum", couldn't figure out what the kid was talking about until I saw the mirror reflection...lol. 😉

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😳

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😂😂😂😂

https://res.cloudinary.com/teepublic/image/private/s--KwGuFws1--/t_Preview/b_rgb:36538b,c_limit,f_jpg,h_630,q_90,w_630/v1446152433/production/designs/21255_1.jpg

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LoL...cute, April. 😉

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https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1797737977172268

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OMG! That's flippin' hilarious!! And Tony...lololololol!! 😂😂😂

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I know right? LMAO!!! I wish I was creative enough to come up with great stuff like that!! 😂😂😂😂

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So do I! It seems my imagination just falls flat in the creativity department...lol. 😉

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