MovieChat Forums > Out of Africa (1985) Discussion > Truly..the worst film ever

Truly..the worst film ever

posted 18 years ago by jim154
180 replies | jump to latest

"The Worst Film Ever." This is quite a common refrain on IMDB. It took me 20 years to come around to expressing my views about this film. "The Worst Film Ever." I saw this in the discussion board about the movie "Sideways." I am so very sorry, but "Sideways" doesn't even hold a candle to this god awful movie, if that's what you want to call this absolute waste of celluloid.This movie was just down right boring. I paid more attention to the happenings going on in the theatre then on the screen. My brother was so bored with this picture he fell asleep in the theatre. I tried to wake him a few times, but he just fell right back to sleep. His snoring became so loud that some of the other theatre patrons complained. They called the theatre usher to tell my brother to either wake up or just leave the theatre altogether. When it came out on VHS in 1986, my mother rented a copy from the neighborhood video store. I warned her about this movie. I told her that she would be disappointed. She loved Robert Redford and wouldn't listen to word I had to say about this film. Sure enough..she became so disappointed with this movie - she pulled the plug on this movie before it was even half way over. The movie was just that bad.

[–] gwydion-7 17 years ago

I think is very simple. People who don't read books tend to hate long, paceful, thinkful films. On the other hand people who love to read novels and all kind of literature will hardly get bored with films like out of africa. I myself found it moving, belivable, well acted for the most part and with very beautiful visuals.

[–] gnolti 17 years ago

You nailed it, gwydion. I'd never thought of it before: That watching Out of Africa is like reading a good book. Good analogy -- for those of us who read books.

"As Balzac said, There goes another novel."

[–] kerryblue 17 years ago

I love this film, apart from the casting of Redford (much as I admire him, I don't think he was right for the part of Finch-Hatton). However, I think my opinion of the film is coloured by the fact I lived in Africa for 23 years. For me, Africa is the star and the characters are portrayed as those who came and attmpted to change her for better or worse. I also view the film as a picture of pre-war colonialism, and I think the scenes of Karen Blixen leaving are terribly sad. For me, the romance was only one aspect of Blixen's experience in Kenya.

I can understand why some might find it boring, but this is a response none of us have any control over. While I love this film, and other so-called "slow" pictures such as Lawrence of Arabia, I found (to my surprise) that The English Patient taxed my endurance. I suspect that the latter was a case of trying to film a "difficult" book, similar to Miss Smilla's Feeling for Snow or The Shipping News. I think there are some interesting comparisons between Out Of Africa and The English Patient, especially in the light of their Best Picture wins. Both have great cinematography, production design and music. The former has a more straight-forward narrative, while the latter twists and turns more, with characters such as Caravaggio and Kip entering to change the direction. Pollack and Minghella are both great directors. I suspect The English Patient will have more fans, but I love Out Of Africa and am happy it won Best Picture. Twenty years have not dimmed my opinion.

[–] 17 years ago

[deleted]

[–] ex-pfc-wintergreen 17 years ago

Quote:

"The Worst Film Ever." This is quite a common refrain on IMDB. It took me 20 years to come around to expressing my views about this film. "The Worst Film Ever." I saw this in the discussion board about the movie "Sideways." I am so very sorry, but "Sideways" doesn't even hold a candle to this god awful movie, if that's what you want to call this absolute waste of celluloid.This movie was just down right boring. I paid more attention to the happenings going on in the theatre then on the screen. My brother was so bored with this picture he fell asleep in the theatre. I tried to wake him a few times, but he just fell right back to sleep. His snoring became so loud that some of the other theatre patrons complained. They called the theatre usher to tell my brother to either wake up or just leave the theatre altogether. When it came out on VHS in 1986, my mother rented a copy from the neighborhood video store. I warned her about this movie. I told her that she would be disappointed. She loved Robert Redford and wouldn't listen to word I had to say about this film. Sure enough..she became so disappointed with this movie - she pulled the plug on this movie before it was even half way over. The movie was just that bad.

End Quote.

You and all the other people who think classic movies are "the worst film ever" should go back to looking at comic books and Schwartzenegger movies.

[–] sebacascardo 17 years ago

You seem to have a HORRIBLE taste for movies.....

Out Of Africa is an amazing picture, very moving with excellent performances and a beautiful cinematography.

Out Of Africa is a slow movie, but that's not a flaw!! Old movies used to be slower because the world used to move slower than nowdays. And I really prefer slower but GOOD movies.....

[–] chromeburn 17 years ago

Opinions are funny things. Everyone has one; everyone thinks their's is right, and everyone else's is wrong. Personally, I love this film, and I love it all the more the older I get. I was only 10 when it came out in theaters, but I could tell there was something special about it. One thing that this film is a master of, is subtlety. From the acting, to the dialogue, to the shots. There is grandeur underneath it all, you just need to pay attention. And if your not careful you will miss a lot. For people that hate this movie, I don't angry, or defensive. It's a waste of time. I do feel sad and maybe a little pity that they can't experience the same thing when watching this.

[–] IFeelLikeAnActor 17 years ago

I thought this film was boring.
But maybe I'll come around to it in a couple of years.
You never know.

"Let's Surrender."
"Never."

[–] ragreen259 17 years ago

I don't think I've ever seen anyone type ten lines of ranting about how bad a movie was, and never even approach explaining why they thought that. Boring? What were you expecting, "2 Fast, 2 Furious?"
No offense, but if you're going to cry about a movie like a little bitch, at least explain why, or you just look like an idiot.

[–] 17 years ago

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[–] TomBrook11232 17 years ago

Perhaps if the deaths were more graphic, gory, and gratuitously action packed you would have been able to replace your boredom with a mindnumbing adreneline rush.

[–] ZaneyMcBanes 17 years ago

ANYONE who calls ANY movie The Worst Film Ever, has not seen Evening. (ironically, that one also had Meryl Streep in it.)

"A man writing an opera for a woman? Oh sirrah! How deliciously absurd!"

[–] petdix-1 17 years ago

What on earth have you been watching? I do not "love" Robert Redford and I have met him (at the Boulder Police Dept. during a tragic case). I do love Kenya. I lived there in the von Blixen home in 1977. It would be impossible to tell her whole life's story in one film. Michael Kitchen is brilliant as the best friend of Denys. If you've seen Kitchen in "Falling" you'd see what a range of acting he has. Streep is fine as von Blixen, although now I believe that Cate Blanchett would be wonderful as Karen. The scene where she tells the story "Broken Blossoms" at the dinner table to Denys & Kitchen's character is lovely. Heavens above, calling this the worst film ever made is absurd. Have you seen ROBO CHIC? My husband is in that film & he agrees that it, indeed, is The Worst Film Ever. It is featured on Badmovies.com as one of the worst movies ever made. Dixie in Colorado

[–] tramky 16 years ago

Nothing can match the boredom of reading jim154's drivel. This guy, his mother & brother should take a pistol with 3 bullets in it and each take a crack at it a la Russian roulette, and put themselves out of their bored miseries. Someone please delete this whole thread.