MovieChat Forums > RocknRolla (2008) Discussion > What an incredibly over rated film !

What an incredibly over rated film !

posted 12 years ago by jay_alexander51
9 replies | jump to latest

I just don´t understand the imdb rating of this film. The whole plot of the film was confusing, the characters boring and the dialogue predictable. I have to take my hat off to Guy Ritchie because he knows that there is a niche for these types of films and he knows his audience and they wont recognise the numerous flaws in the film.

How many different styles did Ritchie try to adopt in the film? Tarantino does it but he gets away with it. The dance scene between 1-2 and thandie Newton´s character with the subtitles was just bizarre. It looked like a tv advert for some clothing catalogue. The continuity goofs were ridiculous in the scene when they hit the Russians in the car. The whole sub-plot of 1-2 and his gay friend had potential but it didn´t go anywhere. Was I supposed to be cracking up with laughter that a hardened gangster had a friend who was gay? If that was the intention then he failed miserably.

Lock, stock and two smoking barrels was a fun cult film,but I watched it recently and it has aged badly. Snatch was his best film. This film was just boringly predictable. The idea for the film wasn´t bad but the delivery was awful. The film opens with the voice-over of what a rock n´rolla is. I was actually excited at this point.. but sadly there was no pay off. The real rock n´ rolla character in the film wasn´t a rock n´ rolla at all. Where was the sex, drugs and rock n´ roll? The one sex scene in the film was also a big disappointment. No seduction, no playfulness just a montage of overused quick edits of 1-2 and thandie newton´s sex faces. Ritchie used this style of edit in Snatch. It has been overused so often in cinema. Why does he do it?

This is one of those films that have a high cool rating just because of the themes that are involved. But when you look past those themes what you are left with is a very poor film.

[–] x_x_Pirate_Jimbob_x_x 12 years ago

Hi, I can see where you are coming from, for me I love Richie's films, I'm just a simple movie lover, and I can put it on whenever and know whats going on. The plot really isn't complicated when you've seen it a few times. I prefer this to Lock Stock, but not to Snatch, as that is just about the funniest film I've ever seen. With Tarrantino, theres no doubt his films are great, but for me, a little too heavy going when I've got an hour or two to spare.

Now I just wanted to skip to your 3rd paragraph, in the beginning credits, the character Archy explains that with a rocknrolla, it's not about the music, drugs and hospital drips(/trips?), "There's more there than that my friend, we all like a bit of the good life, some the money, some the drugs, others - the sex, the glamour, or the fame. But a rocknrolla, oh he's different, why, because a real rocknrolla wants the *beep* lot." Now this was supposed to be a trilogy, I've heard, and I took this paragraph to mean that Johnny was on his way to becoming a real rocknrolla, as the end credits suggests the gang will be back. Because you look at them all, they're all basically wannabe rocknrollas.

Thats just my 2 cent anyway.

[–] YellowManReanimated 12 years ago

You're right, the film just wanted to be cult and cool without actually having anything to offer. No pay-off for the plot points, how the hell does Strong suddenly just feed his boss to the fishes without anyone protesting. How does the son know all the information he does when it's clear that his adopted father doesn't care about or trust him and would never give him sensitive info. The whole gone to rehab and sorted myself out stuff in the space of about five seconds in movie time was forced and lacked credibility. Not to mention the supposedly powerful Russians being dealt with off-screen, takes weak to a new level, shouldn't they all be cacking themselves now bearing in mind how rich and powerful these Russians are. This film was garbage, a dull-witted, plodding mess of a film.

What does it mean to regret, when I have no choice

[–] r_freeman 10 years ago

Yeah, it felt like I'd seen it all before, and I was clock-watching the last hour or so. Also, some of the acting was ropey and brought me out of the film.

[–] spookyrat1 10 years ago

You're right, the film just wanted to be cult and cool without actually having anything to offer.

I guess you clearly didn't get what it did offer.

...how the hell does Strong suddenly just feed his boss to the fishes without anyone protesting.

Really easy! He's second in command and he and his fellow felons have just found out Lenny is a snitch who has caused many of them to suffer prison terms.

How does the son know all the information he does when it's clear that his adopted father doesn't care about or trust him and would never give him sensitive info.

He's grown up in an underworld family and kept his ear to the ground. The film also suggests influential characters like Archie have been instrumental in his upbringing.

The whole gone to rehab and sorted myself out stuff in the space of about five seconds in movie time was forced and lacked credibility.

It was important for us to see Johnny Quid recover from his gun shot wound and get his habit under control???

...shouldn't they all be cacking themselves now bearing in mind how rich and powerful these Russians are.

Should they? The Russians are untouchable?

This film was garbage, a dull-witted, plodding mess of a film.

Clever, witty, funny film that zinged along at a very brisk pace, filled with memorable characters and dialogue, all wrapped up in a terrific soundtrack.

[–] thisjustin804 10 years ago

Had they made a sequel I could see arguing it's merit. Without one, it's pretty sloppy. The way they tied up 3 or 4 subplots in the last 3 minutes of the movie was insulting. If they end up making another, I will come back and edit my reply.

[–] spookyrat1 10 years ago

I'm not sure why a sequel should influence your decision to argue the merits or otherwise of this particular film, but a poster has to do, what they have to do.

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[–] milstar 9 years ago

Ritchie's first two are truly awesome, but this one is very subpar when compared to them. Movie is just seems empty and spiritless. And boring as s--t.