MovieChat Forums > Cecil B. Demented (2000) Discussion > That was a pretty mediocre movie

That was a pretty mediocre movie

posted 18 years ago by whomever23
29 replies | jump to latest

I don't have anything super intelligent to say, but I don't think it's really fair that it gets so much praise just for attacking hollywood movies. It was an amusing enough movie, but it wasn't great. The characters were basically all flat, static stereotypes--except Honey's character, who was a bit more interesting. The script was unimpressive (throwing in some "Hollywood in-jokes" does not a good script make), as was the acting. As for the main point of the movie, I thought it did a much better job of portraying the psychology involved in being part of a cult than of making any truly coherent statement about cinema. I guess I would say it was most interesting as a psychological study. All that said, I don't regret watching it. But I don't see how anyone can say it was a great movie, or that you "need" to watch it.

[–] strawberryicecream 18 years ago

The big mistake that a lot of people seem to make when watching this movie is to take it seriously. This movie was never ment to be taken seriously at all, it's just really violent and sexual and funny and mean. It wasn't ment to be a movie that provokes you to re-examine your life or a movie that is so moving that it makes you cry. This happened to my friend and than I told her to re-watch it and not take it seriously. And she loved it!

[–] tapdanze 17 years ago

even if you don't take it seriously (I never did), I think it's very boring. Among the worst movies I've ever seen.

[–] Double-o-Negro 17 years ago

you're a loser. and you have obviously never worked a day in the industry

Try BrokeBack Mountain. I'm sure you'll love it

Loser.

[–] tapdanze 17 years ago

you're a loser. and you have obviously never worked a day in the industry

thanx. you seem to know me well.

[–] StinkFist14 17 years ago

This guy obviously writies crappy melodramatic teenage poetry. FYI, Brokebrack was a great movie, and no I am not gay, and yes, you are a juvenile homophobe.

[–] dulaithas 17 years ago

what's with the "you're a loser. and you have obviously never worked a day in the industry" ....two ppl said that

[–] 17 years ago

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[–] tuncies_the_driving_cat 18 years ago

have you ever seen, and if so enjoyed, other John Waters films?

[–] grampashab 18 years ago

I have to second whomever's thoughts. I'm a decent John Waters fan. This movie was boring, it was just a bunch of references (most of which I got). Serial Mom is a masterpiece, though.

[–] tuttt 17 years ago

I agree. Given John Waters exceptional talent, it could have been a lot better.

Still, I LOVE the premise.

Teresa
http://MermaidLady.com

[–] enrique-bastardos 17 years ago

im a big john waters fan but i have to agree...the underground films are the best...maybe the funniest films ever....but he hasnt lost it since crossing over to the mainstream ...pecker is really sweet...serial mom is brutal...so he can still make films..but this is just...tedious...its nowhere near as funny as it thinks it is...and john waters is certainly clever enough to write a more exciting hollywood satire than this...if he couldnt he shoulda just made a funny film..hes been getting his own weird ideas into hollywood without compromising too much since the 80s...he can even make a family film like hairspray without losing it....i just dont know what happened here...the cast was pretty decent and everything but it still falls totally flat...good title though.....

[–] dulaithas 17 years ago

aww I loved it....especially that whole Baltimore crab-cake thing..I dunno I love silly films like this, especially if it´s John Waters

[–] endpin10 17 years ago

I have to agree with those who have nothing but bad things to say about this movie. I realize Waters was trying to make a very stylized comedy but it fails miserably. I kept wondering how these actors thought this would be a good career move.

This is the kind of movie that only people in the industry can enjoy. Seeing people acting as though the film industry is worth rioting over is really just insulting to those who think there is more to life than movies.

I think that's why the movie fails. Everyone in the movie talks/behaves in this revolutionary manner about something that would never cause an actual revolution. But to those in the industry, they seem to think it would. Ridiculous.

[–] hadmatter 17 years ago

I have NO connection to the film industry at all. I have never worked or even been on a film set. Nevertheless, this flick is freaking HILARIOUS. it is the most punk rock thing that John has done since he went "legit" back in the eighties, and to me it really demonstrates that although he has grown as a filmmaker and as a writer, he hasn't lost any of what made him such a vital voice to begin with. "Cecil" is not going to have a wide appeal, but anyone who knows something about filmmaking should understand the points that he's trying to make in the movie. To me, it was really funny, but I can understand that it would be most funny to folks who actually DO have some Hollywood experience.

Ooo, baby, your domestic gross is SO BIG. That's how I know how GOOD you are!

[–] Howlin Wolf 15 years ago

Seeing people acting as though the film industry is worth rioting over is really just insulting to those who think there is more to life than movies.

Only if you take it seriously - which I don't think you were meant to...

Good satire purposely exaggerates; it's showing these things happening in an alternate universe to make a point.

Do you like having sex? Then DON'T buy a Nintendo!

[–] count27 17 years ago

I often enjoy b-movies.

Calling this mediocre is to increase its earned rating, which is negative 2 stars. Yes, I have negative integers on my scale.

It is not funny, not cute, not camp, and not good. I am glad this only cost about $1 via Netflix and my time (valued higher, thank you).

The title *is* creative.

This movie would be rated 3 stars IF 1 or more of the following applied:

[1] Budget of $43.12

[2] Made by High school freshmen & sophomores.

[3] Made by mentally retarded persons

[4] Lots of nudity, lots of sex, or lots of both.

[5] I think there are only 4 possibilities, ergo there is no #5.

If it were made in Texas, it might have been better.

The persons involved in this flick owe me oral sex as compensation. Partial compensation.

.

[–] sinatrad 16 years ago

Come on man, you're missing the point. The movie isn't loved because it makes some profound psychological statement. It's funny. It makes a bunch of jokes that film majors and snobs will think are funny. The characters aren't supposed to be complex; you're supposed to be flexible.

Are you familiar with Mr. Waters' other work?

[–] RoddmannW 16 years ago

Film majors don't find the jokes in this film funny. I just sat in a theater at my University and a handful of my campish colleagues were heard occasionally guffawing, but few others.

As someone said before, in-jokes do not equate to a good script. Cliche jokes about drugs and Satan worship are more like the stuff found in juvenile mainstream teen comedies this movie purports to attack.

Terrorism is the war of the poor, war the terrorism of the rich - Peter Ustinov

[–] Kainoknight 16 years ago

This was never meant to be taken seriously.

[–] RoddmannW 16 years ago

Does that absolve it of its mediocrity?

Epic Movie is not meant to be taken seriously either but I have no doubt it's diabolical.

Terrorism is the war of the poor, war the terrorism of the rich - Peter Ustinov

[–] sjanis 16 years ago

he's making fun of film majors especially. That's why they didn't laugh, they were being mocked.

[–] RoddmannW 16 years ago

I laugh when I'm being mocked. South Park is the perfect example of a show that satires many facets of contemporary culture that I myself feel apart of (ie - left wing, punk, guitar hero episode) that I also find legitimately funny.

This movie is not funny, and I've had non-film majors concur with me.

Juts because you don't particularly enjoy something doesn't necessarily mean you misunderstand it. If anything I would say film majors should appreciate it more because they should grasp the more obscure references peppered throughout the film.

Terrorism is the war of the poor, war the terrorism of the rich - Peter Ustinov

[–] Howlin Wolf 15 years ago

Cliche jokes about drugs and Satan worship are more like the stuff found in juvenile mainstream teen comedies this movie purports to attack.

Irony?

Do you like having sex? Then DON'T buy a Nintendo!

[–] Retro-Cutiie_SlasherFan 16 years ago

This movie was good imo, but I feel that its John Waters feelings about films and how they are made put on screen. John Waters is very unique and he even says that his movies are not to be takin seriously. It was perfect tho. It seems that soon as the 90's hit Waters films began to die down as of entertainment, well really after Cry-Baby.
But it still was better then Polyester imo.

[–] stevenr3 16 years ago

I'm not sure what anyone was expecting out of this movie. I didn't think it was great but it was entertaining enough.

I think everyone got too caught up in the film student angle to enjoy it. Yeah Waters mocks Hollywood but in turn is also mocking the underground. He pokes fun at Hollywood's penchant for canned B.S. sequels and remakes but then also pokes fun at the indie people who end up essentially making a highly sensational, poorly acted, over-the-top (i.e. Hollywood) movie - they just think that doing it without any money gives them superiority. If anything (like true John Waters) his characters also function to completely make fun of the filmmakers represented on the tattoos and as usual, nothing is safe. Clearly the acting is bad, each character is far more infatuated with something else (porn, drugs, satan worship, etc) which is what made me laugh at those people i.e. just because you're familiar with Andy Warhol and have been in a couple porn movies, you think you can make a movie? I even thought the references were unnecesary, I laughed at obviously inept characters trying too hard to create a masterpiece.

And since when did John Waters become high brow humor? Because he made nasty sex jokes back before it was acceptable, does that make any of his stuff now that we're in 2000 bad and immature? The Teamsters getting chased out of the porn theater by masturbating "zombies" was hilarious!

I'm not convincing anyone who hated the movie to suddenly like it. I'm definitely not worshipping it, I'm just saying why I thought it was worth a watch.

[–] 16 years ago

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