How is this the top comedy on IMDB? I've never been a fan of their voting systems, (too much of a popularity contest and too easy for recent movies to shoot to the top), however this movie doesn't even seem to be that popular based on the lack of written reviews and message board posts.
I recognize that it has a fairly high rating (8.9) but don't they have a fancy formula to correct this kind of thing. This film isn't even on the Top 250, so how can it be #1 in comedy?
All of a sudden, 2 Turkish films appear in the Top250, both from the 70's. Don't know what's going on, but it doesn't seem right. (maybe a big forum all voting 10 on these films?)
shareI wish I could find English subtitles for these movies. I've found the movies themselves, but I haven't come across any subtitles, and I'd really like to watch them.
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I know what gold does to men's souls.
Can everybody here give this movie a 1 vote and also too all these other ridiculous entries in these Imdb tops that have less than 5000 votes and have no recognition whatsoever.
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Please commit a digital suicide - IMDB would be so much better without your presence.
shareSorry Scenic Harlan County, while I completely agree with your viewpoint to one degree--or rather, this idea that just because some people don't agree with a movie being on the IMDB250, they can vindictively give it a "1" EVEN THOUGH THEY HAVEN'T SEEN IT simply so that it'll go down--the sudden inclusion of this movie on the list kinda just likewise goes to show how suspect the voting system is (and in turn, tells me that it hasn't proven itself/doesn't deserve to be on the list).
I mean really, an international movie with under 3,000 votes suddenly shows up on the list above films that have been around nearly as long (if not longer), that have 10 TIMES the votes?? And this certainly isn't the first time it's happened.
I realize that the IMDB250 is highly suspect, that many films with show up on it no doubt due to overzealous, overenthusiastic voting, often at the cost of other films that have proven the test of time (witness the b.s. way that 'Dark Knight'--last summer took the #1 spot from films like 'The Godfather"s and "Shawshank," simply because some A-holes were giving those films '1's). So in turn will many of these films understandably trail off over the weeks/months as the hype dies (case in point, 'The Hangover,' a film I've yet to see, was #130 towards the end of June, now it's down to #239).
That being said, I've try to view the IMDB250 as a list where both critical and public opinion meets; after all there aren't many lists out there that have both "Rashomon" and "The Usual Suspects" (a film Roger Ebert didn't even like) on them. Thus if I see a lesser-known classic (something like "Ox-Bow Incident") or international film (like "Umberto D") I'm more inclined to check them out.
But yeah, these obscure Turkish comedy films that have just been suddenly showing up on here out of nowhere?? I just chalk their inclusion up as proof of the fallibility of the voting system, and totally disregard 'em. Sorry Turkey, but get these films into Cannes or the Criterion Collection, and then MAYBE the rest of the film-going world can give them the benefit of the doubt...
Yes, this shows a fallacy of the IMDB voting system. Oh, well. I've been following the Top 250 list for some time and this is the sixth Turkish movie that has made an appearance on the list (that I have seen myself, that is, there may have been more in that time period). They have all dropped off the list very soon, presumably due to people voting them as 1's, or maybe it's been because of a change in the average number of votes.
I use the second one as a possibility because that's how the Buster Keaton classic Sherlock, Jr. seems to keep appearing and disappearing from the Top 250. It's been in and out several times, but when it appears, it always shows up around #160 as opposed to bouncing in and out at the bottom.
So have no fear those who despise seeing this movie on the sacred list. It will be gone soon enough.
I kind of agree and disagree with some of you guys about the appearance of this film. I would never vote for a movie that I haven't seen. Therefore, I can't say whether I feel it should be in the Top 250. It bothers me though, that a movie is there, that I have absolutely no way of seeing, until someone actually makes subtitles for it (this coming from someone who has seen every film in the Top 250, aside from District 9 and 500 Days of Summer). It might be getting undeserved praise, but who can say? It seems none of us in this topic have really seen it, aside from one guy here. Why should the Top 250 be limited to just the US audience? Imdb is an international site, and it should represent more than one country. Yeah, I know it has a number of foreign films, but they are all very popular in the US as well. These Turkish films are something that hasn't hit the US yet, but so what? They may be very well loved in their respective region, and it isn't our right to down vote them because we haven't been able to see it. It's like in Slumdog Millionaire, during his first question. It was about an Indian movie star named Amitabh Bachchan. Would any of you really have known that? But it would be common knowledge for locals, and represents something great to certain cultures.
I use the second one as a possibility because that's how the Buster Keaton classic Sherlock, Jr. seems to keep appearing and disappearing from the Top 250. It's been in and out several times, but when it appears, it always shows up around #160 as opposed to bouncing in and out at the bottom.
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You are really stupid you know that?
You want to give the movie you never watched rating 1 because you are a fan of some english spoken movie,try watching this movie then rate it, troll.
By the way,i never watched this movie,i just have common sense to realize that Hollywood isn't the only one making movies.
This film is ranked #168th on the Top 250 so it deserves much more reviews, comments and discussion. However, in my opinion, the film has not a world-wide popularity -people here are asking for its English subtitles and cannot find!- because of its language. The film is made in Turkey by Turkish most famous comedy stars including Kemal Sunal, Halit Akcatepe, Sener Sen, Aysen Gruda,Adile Nasit etc. using Turkish language. This makes the film local rather than a global one. Also, the jokes and words reflect the Turkish sense of humour and they may not make any other people who is unfamiliar to that culture laugh. To sum up, this film might not be at the top of comedy section; but those who have not seen the film should not vote 1 for it because it is injustice and against the rules of IMDB. Personally, I like this film and watch it whenever it shows up on TV -I've watched it more than 20 times in my 20 years life-
shareYeah, it's a bad joke that this film can make it onto the imdb top 250. Five user comments, two board threads and it sounds just AWFUL - a 'Turkish Pink Panther'. No doubt it's a lot like the Bollywood garbage that my university lecturer would tell me was worthy because 'it's their culture'. (By that argument, everything is worthy, eg the Police Academy movies, because they're all a product of someone's 'culture'.) This sort of 'cultural relativity' drivel is to blame for all sorts of modern day problems, and it's the issue here.
Imdb, with its strange 'only votes from the top 1000 voters count' policy means that it's the VOTERS and not the films that count. So say Abdul in Turkey has voted for 50,000 films (which he may or may not have seen) he has a huge influence on the top 250.
The top 250 has some good things about it but the way new films often shoot into the top slots, or foreign rubbish like this gets in, utterly discredits it.
It's just amazing how Americans and English native spakers are so damn idiots and racists, like if the only language that should be universally spoken is English! Suddenly a Turkish film appears so high for the 5th or 6th time, and everybody wants it out of the Top 250 by giving it a vote of 1.
Yeah, it's a bad joke that this film can make it onto the imdb top 250. Five user comments, two board threads and it sounds just AWFUL - a 'Turkish Pink Panther'. No doubt it's a lot like the Bollywood garbage that my university lecturer would tell me was worthy because 'it's their culture'.Let me see if I got these right, Skint111. You haven't seen the film, but you are already affirming that it MUST be like the "usual" Bollywood garbage. Why? Oh, it's just because it suddenly appeared on the list and has two board threads and five comments, one of them saying it is like a "Turkish Pink Panther" (who also said it was one of the funniest films he had seen, by the way...). I knew you guys were retard, but not so goddamn narrow-minded! You people even let other people's opinion to become your own with no solid arguement whatsoever.
(By that argument, everything is worthy, eg the Police Academy movies, because they're all a product of someone's 'culture'.)You will not fool us with that out-of-place comment, but you are fooling yourself. It is pretty funny how you actually chose one of the worst American comedy franchises and compared it with a Turkish film that is undoubtedly superior, don't you think? Why didn't you brought up Woody Allen or even Charles Chaplin, who also are "part of your culture"? Oh, sorry, I remember the answer now: because this film is foreign and, without seeing it, MUST be crap.
The top 250 has some good things about it but the way new films often shoot into the top slots, or foreign rubbish like this gets in, utterly discredits it.My eyes are bleeding after having read that blasphemous comment. Yeah, it's the VOTERS who disgrace the list, but why be against a foreign film? Well, because IMDB's Top 250 is a popularity list, not a race for the best films ever made. Therefore, it is full with American crap. Films like 300, Watchmen and The Hangover, not to mention other pathetic samples of American fimmaking, immediately make it into the Top 250. Whether they stay or get out is partially irrelevant; one gets an idea of how the list, with each new year, gets worse and more painful to see. It is not these foreign films that suddenly pop out the ones that discredit the list, but all of you people giving 10 to films that are far from being among the 250 best films ever. Let's imagine for a moment that the film that recently popped out has two board threads, five comments (one of them which says something bad about the film) and little popularity, but instead of being a Turkish film, it is an American one. I'd bet my life this wouldn't even be happening, including to assume that "it must be crap." You would definitely say "it's American: let's see it! A new film has appeared!"
Actually watchmen is movie with pretty good message and your comparison to 300 and hangover ruined your post for me.
But on the other side,i hate when people think english is only language spoken,first and foremost there is probably more than 2 bilion Chinese in the world,do the math.
Second thing i must point out,just because movie has subtitles doesnt mean people will understand Turkish sense of humor,i am from serbia and i must say that we have two great movies,best movie comedies i have ever seen and their names are:
"Maratonci trce pocasni krug" and "Ko to tamo peva",for people here those movies are our best comedies,and that humor is pretty understandable,but so much i lost in translation that movie loses its appeal to english speaking viewers.
By the way,my two favorite comedy shows/movies are :"Only fools and horses" and "Black Adder"
Actually watchmen is movie with pretty good message...XD That's nearly the most hilarious thing I have heard this week. Thanks for the laugh.
But on the other side,i hate when people think english is only language spoken,first and foremost there is probably more than 2 bilion Chinese in the world,do the math.Are you talking to me? I hope not. I NEVER said that. I never said anything implying that it was MY way of thinking. Re-read my sentence since I feel lazy to re-write it.
Second thing i must point out,just because movie has subtitles doesnt mean people will understand Turkish sense of humor...That statement does not only apply to Turkey, but to the world in general. I'll mention an example. I didn't get *beep* about the humor of A Fish Called Wanda. I never laughed, not even smiled. Did I dislike the film? Definitely not. It had a smart plot, a pretty much intelligent and talented script, hilarious performances, among other positive aspects. If I get to see this film, I may not even perceive it as a comedy, but my view towards cinema includes several things to be enjoyed and analyzed that go beyond the sense of humor itself. It helps me to appreciate several filmmaking branches. Despite being a depressing, Tarantinian drama, Amores Perros has LOTS of dark humor hidden beneath which is mainly present in the dialogue, a thing that subtitles are NOT able of translating because most of the times the humor consists in a set of words that, put together, mean something different. Even so, it is in the IMDB Top 250. That may not be the best example, but I'm trying to prove my point. Whether it is good or not, this film deserves to be seen.
El Cochran90 - just to reply to a few of your points.
Your point about the Police Academy movies doesn't make sense, or rather, you have misinterpreted my meaning. My citing of those films was to underline the intellectual vacuity of forgiving a bad movie for being bad because it's part of a people's 'culture'. ALL movies are part of someone's culture yet this does not give them automatic defence against criticism. If something is rubbish, it's rubbish, it doesn't matter who or where or when it was made.
I note that you chastise me for slating the film when I haven't seen it. Yet you haven't seen it and defend it, so what's the difference?
You also seem to misunderstand my opinions of foreign films. I do not dislike foreign films, I dislike bad films. I could point to The Good, the Bad and the Ugly, Cinema Paradiso, City of God, Amelie, The Lives of Others, Rashomon, Downfall, The Seventh Seal, Bicycle Thieves, Les Diaboliques and scores of others as brilliant films I love.
You claim that if this was an American film that entered the chart in this way there would have been none of this outcry. I disagree. I groan as much as you do when I see the likes of The Hangover, Zombieland, Planet Terror and Watchmen shoot into the chart in their first week. (The archetypal imdb voter does seem to be a 23-year-old American male with a love of sci-fi.) I do actually make this point in my previous post.
The imdb 250 is deeply flawed but it's still, generally, a good guide. It reminds me of Churchill's words on democracy, that it's the worst system there is, apart from all the others that have been tried.
ALL movies are part of someone's culture yet this does not give them automatic defence against criticism. If something is rubbish, it's rubbish, it doesn't matter who or where or when it was made.Since we agree on that statement, I must ask again, what makes you be SO sure that this film actually does not deserve to be there just because it has appeared now? My point is you have no solid argument since you haven't seen it. It surprises me coming from a person who loves foreign films (that are pretty much basic and famous, but yet brilliant).
I note that you chastise me for slating the film when I haven't seen it. Yet you haven't seen it and defend it, so what's the difference?You don't seem to get the point despite how many times it has been repeated throughout, not only by me. I may illustrate it with an example: Les Diaboliques is not in the IMDB Top 250 list (I know that's not true, but let's suppose). However, because of "X" or "Y" reason, it reaches the spot it has today. A thread like this one is started, claiming that new crap is appearing in the middle of the list out of the blue with comments agreeing and trying to convince people that haven't seen it to give it a 1 so it can be kicked out. Since you have already seen it, my guess is you would defend it. If not, at least you would disagree. Get it? The difference is that you may even be bashing a film that you haven't seen. Since this film has climbed half of the list, I'll definitely find it. I never heard of it before. THAT'S the difference. You complaining about this film appearing is based on a highly stereotypical assumption that just because it belongs to a culture outside of your country, it must be gargabe.
You claim that if this was an American film that entered the chart in this way there would have been none of this outcry. I disagree. I groan as much as you do when I see the likes of The Hangover, Zombieland, Planet Terror and Watchmen shoot into the chart in their first week.I wasn't specifically referring to you, but to all of the users that have deteriorated the beautiful list that IMDB had years ago. If you bash Zombieland, Watchmen and other crap, that's OK. However, not everybody has the same attitude. A similar thread may appear in those films' pages, but the majority loves them. They actually ARE/HAVE BEEN on the list.
The imdb 250 is deeply flawed but it's still, generally, a good guide.It still is, but it is no better than the one IMDB had years ago. It will be getting worse and worse. I remember when the list had three Bergmans, 3 Tarkovskys, 4 Buñuels, and 40 others that I could list right now. They have been painfully replaced. If these kind of films (Saban Oglu Saban) are the best films that can be rescued, then I'll give it a try. A popularity list will never modify my taste in films. It may be good, it may be not, but this kind of attitude may be the reason of masterpieces being ignored. You may actually love it. It may take me ages to find it, but I'll give it a try and even write a review. I'll definitely won't ignore it just because it belongs to a culture that is not so commonly seen in cinema, not to mention the retarded decision of rating a film I have never seen with a 1.
El Cochran90 - I think we actually agree on a lot more than either of us first thought.
Firstly, I would NEVER give a mark to a film I hadn't seen. As you say, this is pathetic and childish and anyone doing so is a moron. (Maybe imdb should tweak their system by 'downgrading' the 'influence' of those who give '1' to the likes of The Godfather. Complicated and controversial possibly, but could be worth it.)
My own policy has been to see all imdb 250 films that I can, which usually means renting the DVDs or sometimes downloading. My frustration at not being able to see this one perhaps led to my angry first post! I'd LIKE to see it, I'll give anything a chance. Over the years I've discovered some terrific films thanks to imdb voters that I otherwise wouldn't of (and some ruddy awful ones, too).
I think your point about Les Diaboliques is difficult to argue with because it's hypothetical. But I'm not automatically antagonistic to foreign films, I promise.
And while I've moderated my position on this movie, I still maintain that it's very, very lucky to be on this list and it's largely because of a strong 'local' following. There are just too many things about it that set my alarm bells ringing: the fact that I haven't heard of it; the dearth of comments; the pedigree of those involved in the making of it. I've never been to the Moon but I'm pretty certain you can't breathe there.
The greatest films, the very greatest films, can be admired by people all around the world. They transcend their culture. Look at Tokyo Story, Let the Right One In, The Diving Bell and the Butterfly, Infernal Affairs, The World of Apu, even Slumdog Millionaire. The best films will always rise to prominence.
If I ever see Saban Oglu Saban and love it I will gladly eat my words with a huge dollop of ketchup.
I totally get your point. I'd cross Internal Affairs and Slumdog Millionaire off that list, but I agree with worldwide films that literally become outstanding, auteur cinematic samples in their own culture. However, not because of the fact that you have never heard of the film means that your alarm bells should ring.... or, perhaps they should in a positive way.
I'll dare to choose an almost unknown director. Have you ever heard of Theodoros Angelopoulos? He has probably made some of the best films ever committed to celluloid: Meres Tou '36, The Travelling Players, The Hunters, O Megalexandros, and his possibly most famous Landscape in the Mist. Those 5 films are definitely among the best samples of cinema I have ever witnessed. Had I heard of Angelopoulos before? Definitely not until one month ago! I can imagine an extremely remote possibility of O Megalexandros hitting the IMDB Top 250 because of a "strong local following". It would be the first time for some people to ever hear about Angelopoulos, and it would definitely be the first time for several people to know such film exists. O Megalexandros has the saddest amount of votes I have ever seen :(
I'm not saying this film may be as big and masterful as those Greek films I mentioned, but I am eager to witness several films regardless of their culture, even if they became famous in a popularity list because of a local following. I even defend them. I cannot be helped with that, lol.
Thanks for replying. I just got furious the first time while reading the whole thread concerning the possible "solutions" of rating it with 1 and ignoring it because it must be similar to the famous Bollywood stuff. Besides, the film, as we speak, has reached the 236th spot. Even so, I got the opportunity to become aware of its existence. Also, if it frustrates you that it may be somewhat hard to find this film, you may rest well in you sleep tonight since it is about to be kicked out of the list.
http://www.imdb.com/mymovies/list?l=8636185
To your post about watchmen,how can you cry out in anger to those giving 1 to this turkish movie when you are bashing watchmen and all people that like it,isn't that hypocrisy?
I had nothing against your post,i agreed with most of it expect the watchmen part,if you havent noticed story maybe you should watch the movie few more times,since you compared it to the zombiecrap and 300
goods of this world is the funniest film that I never say, funny. those who say bad films funny films the best choice if you say stupid ta 1977
a film made ​​of
I have been living in US for several years, and I am pretty into US culture. Still I dont understand why this movie is judged as 'not funny' even before people watch it. I think it is very funny movie, and much better than latest American funny movies: for example Hangover and Good Luck Chuck. I think the script is much smart in these movies though it could be hard to explain cultural jokes. This movie is at least equivalent to Big Lebowski if you could understand fully in my opinioun.
You can watch some parts in English subbed on youtube translated by some user, which is not great but would give you some idea for who wonders about it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rj1PPvZvzsU (Part 1)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nGc-zVE0HH8 (Part 2)
Some people wonders, if this is such a great movie, then why the producers do not sell dvd in english. My guess is the production company for these movies do not exist anymore, these famous funny Turkish movies are made between 1970-1985, after then it stopped.
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