Saturday, August 16, 2014

What Are Your Dealbreaker Movies?

We all have them.

You know those movies that you love so much that you can't be friends with someone if he/she doesn't like them? Or the movies you can't stand and don't want to associate with a person who thinks it's great? Those are dealbreaker movies. What are yours?

68 comments:

  1. Easy Pb. Evil dead 3. Or should I say The medieval dead as it was called in the UK. If you dont find it funny you have no sense of humour and you ain't no friend of mine. Strike 1.2 and 3 all in one go. Your out

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  2. If you don't like Big Trouble In Little China then we need to talk (looking at you, Riske!)

    If "Shawshank Redemption" is your favorite movie, then you most likely don't really watch movies. If it's "Boondock Saints" your most likely a douche. If it's "A Serbian Film" then stay the fuck away from me.

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  3. I don't know if I really do have deal breaker movies, because I know everybody has different tastes. That being said, if you don't care for at least the majority of the movies in my top 5, we may have less to talk about.

    1.) Almost Famous
    2.) Singin' in the Rain
    3.) Back to the Future
    4.) To Kill a Mockingbird
    5.) Scott Pilgrim VS the World

    It's a nice mixture, so certainly you can find something you like.

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    1. That's a very solid Top 5 you have there.

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    2. Thank you, Gil! :) Sometimes the order can move around a bit, but these are my favorites, for sure!

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  4. I really don't like any movie made after 1953.

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    1. Im sure Back to the future was made some time after 53. If your saying you dont like Back to the future then PB will be after your blood

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    2. Well, I don't like movies with sound. The Germans had done everything worth doing by 1927.

      BUT SERIOUSLY...I'll tell you something personal. My mother in law cites Sean Connery as her favorite James Bond, yet she hasn't watched any Bond films since Roger Moore. This really bothers me. It's a deal breaker and I'm looking for a new mother in law.

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    3. Well, BttF took place largely in 1955, so that's close enough, right?

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    4. JB, this made me laugh out loud!

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  5. If you think Freddy Got Fingered is the funniest movie ever, I don't wanna know you.

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  6. If they don't like Almost Famous or Shaun of the Dead then we have issues. If they like Tyler Perry films or any Adam Sandler film of the last decade then I'm long gone.

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  7. I won't have a problem if someone simply says that Cloud Atlas wasn't for them. However, if a person openly mocks the movie for being "stupid" or "silly" or "too sincere," that person will become persona non grata.

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  8. If you use the Rotten Tomatoes score as a reason to watch or not watch a movie, that's a dealbreaker.

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    1. But there are some universally liked movies such as It's a Wonderful Life, Jaws, Raiders of the Lost Ark, Back to the Future that are non-negotiable in my opinion.

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  9. If you don't like JAWS, and I've never actually met this person, I would have no use for you.

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    1. I don't like the second half. Yes, it's expertly done, but sharks simply don't attack wooden vessels with their snouts any more than humans intentionally bash their nose against other people, not to mention they don't hunt vessels or individuals at all, and I just can't get over that, and therefore disengage. The first half is indeed terrific, though. Judge away! :P

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    2. Whatever you say, Mask of Zorro. :P

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    3. Are you daring me to say it? 'Cause I will, you know. I ain't afraid. Okay, fine, here goes: while not as historically significant, obviously, as an artistic whole, The Mask of Zorro is indeed a better film than Jaws.

      :P

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    4. Oh yeah? Well, my deal has dancing... and if you and your friends don't dance, you ain't in no deal of mine. ;)

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    5. I'll take Lorraine Gary over Catherine Zeta Jones any...aw, who am I kidding.

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    6. While Lorraine gives good spear, Catherine smokes while she's pregnant. That, my friends, is called a Dealbreaker.

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  10. Maybe I'm too empathetic, because I can understand why anybody could like or dislike any movie.

    I can usually tell what type of person they are if I ask which Batman movie is their favorite. You know, since there's the Adam West film, the two Tim Burton films, the two Joel Schumacher films, the three Christopher Nolan films, four spin-off films from Batman: The Animated Series, and numerous entries in that direct-to-DVD DC series. Seeing where their tastes fall there is generally a good indicator of their overall movie tastes, and therefore their quality as a human being.

    Nah but honestly, I only care about somebody's taste in film if they're into film too.

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    1. Mine are - and I'm being honest, not trolling - The Mask of Zorro, and the series Arrow.

      ... Well? How am I? :P

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  11. If you can't sit through There Will Be Blood because there isn't enough action, I'm not going to continue watching movies with you.

    If you don't want to watch a badass Korean revenge flick because you "don't watch movies to read" the deal will be officially broken.

    If you come to the theater I work at and ask me if you should see TMNT or Step-Up 3D, I'mma suggest the worse one and then sell you a Stubs Card. (They're both the worse one.)

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    1. I had a to take a class yesterday to the movies and most of the students wanted to see TMNT and only one wanted to see Step Up 5 so I had to chaperone that one. I've seen worse.

      Tell us more about working at AMC. Do they make you pray to the altar of Campea? ;)

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    2. To be honest, I had to Google who Campea was, so no. I work there when I'm home for school for the summer. I make barely over minimum wage, as expected, but we get to see as movies as we want for free. I basically earn an additional paycheck by the end of the summer just from what I'd save from seeing all my movies for free.

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    3. I managed a couple movie theaters over the course of six years so I know what you mean. I miss getting free movies.

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  12. If you think Crash (2006) is a good movie we need to talk. We need to talk, THE ACADEMY.

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    1. So true. I think the Academy is long overdue for an intervention.

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  13. When I'm thinking of getting serious with a girl, I show them Punch-Drunk Love or Something Wild. After gauging their reaction, I either abort or go from there...

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  14. There isn't a single movie, or type a movie, someone could like that would turn me off of them as a person. Often times someone can clue me into what they see in the work and perhaps enlighten me in the process. Sometimes we just don't talk about certain films because we clearly don't see eye to eye.

    Maybe in my teens I would have fought harder against those with different tastes, but life's too short now for petty arguments.

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  15. Just thinking about this for a few minutes, "12 Angry Men" (1957) comes to mind. I think it's a great movie. I don't need people I care to associate with to agree, or even to have seen the movie. But if I ever had a conversation with another adult about the movie, and that person either didn't like it, or the subject matter didn't do anything for them, or they were bored by the fact that it's mostly sitting and talking, or that it's in black and white, or that the person doesn't recognize any of the stars of the movie, then I may have to excuse myself from that person socially.

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  16. If you don't like Hoop Dreams: a) we can stop talking now b) get some help.

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  17. I'm with Cameron. I used to care a lot more strongly about this, but since then I have made a lot of friends who like different movies -- many of them movies I have very little fondness for -- and like them for a whole variety of reasons. Their reasoning may not line up with what I want out of a movie, but I don't begrudge them their enjoyment.

    On the opposite side, I am also the guy who has disappointed a whole bunch of friends by telling them I don't like any of the Star Wars movies. I feel thankful they didn't think that was reason enough to stop hanging out with me.

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  18. Look, I'm not going to automatically dismiss someone over a movie, but Netflix keeps suggesting I watch One For the Money (because I watched ONE lousy ABCFamily movie) and it's kinda making me want to break up.

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  19. I'll ask what their favorite movies are, if our tastes differ, I simply don't talk about movies with them again. Also, I don't like when people won't give a movie a chance due to its runtime.

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  20. Okay, I have plenty of movies that I love but I totally get if you don't get into them (The Lord of the Rings trilogy comes to mind). And you never know when you have a cinematic blindspot - so if someone genuinely likes a movie, I never hold it against them. (Hey, I LIKED Jack the Giant Slayer, so what?).

    But...

    I knew someone who was outright dismissive of Raiders of the Lost Ark. Not in the mindset of "it's not for me" or "I don't LOVE it like you do", but an active distaste for the movie. It was "pointless" and "stupid" apparently. WHAA? I had no idea how to interact with this person after that. The same person said The Incredibles was horrible.

    Other than that, I don't really have dealbreaker movies. I have plenty of "litmus test" movies though (although, that's probably another topic).

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  21. Ooh the dealbreaker movie, I think for me it would be the original Star Wars trilogy. I think I'm of the same mindset as Gil when it comes to it, you don't have to love it or even like it a ton but how you could say the movies are actively boring is beyond wildering. I'm not a huge fan of the Trek Universe but even I can appreciate what they are doing in a lot of their films (and I realize not all Trek is equal.) The Lord of the Rings trilogy feels like it could use an editor especially in the 2nd and 3rd films but thats for another topic.

    On an unrelated note to folks who live in Chicago F-Head country, if anyone is looking for a new roommate for their apt or house in the chicago area please send me a line. I usually wouldn't do this on the site but after multiple searches on other sites I've been hitting a brickwall. Anyone who does help to get me up to Chicago will get Dinner and a night at the Music Box (or theatre of your choice) on me. I'm like Han Solo near the end of A New Hope- I got the lunch boxes full of credits I just need someone to give them too. Thanks gang

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  22. The Twilight "saga". Unless you're watching them with Rifftrax commentary or purely ironically.....get away from me. And don't call me when your boyfriend beats you up yet again.

    I'm starting to feel that way about people who insist on seeing Michael Bay films. It's also like talking to someone who won't break off an abusive relationship. He's shown you who he is - believe him.

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  23. I don't have a specific movie dealbreaker, but I lived with a Mormon girl for much too long and she outright refused to watch any movie at all above PG-13, no matter the subject matter or content. If it was rated R, she would not watch it, period. Turns out this is a major dealbreaker. If you don't like violent slasher movies, fine, but if you won't watch ANYTHING made for adults, I just can't live with that. It made me feel like a kid, waiting until she went to sleep to go to another room to watch Dirty Harry or whatever.

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    1. I understand. Been there in similar situations myself.

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    2. I think Mr. JP won the thread. :P

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  24. Yeah, no absolute dealbreakers for me either - I like Gil's "litmus test movies" idea though. Cloud Atlas is a recent one for me. If you don't like it, fine, but if you LOVE it, we can probably connect on a different level.

    And this is a bit out there but when I found out a friend of mine, who I considered a bit of a movie snob (who is ho-hum about Back to the Future (almost a dealbreaker!)) loved The Raid and wanted to go to The Raid 2 with me, I gained new affection for her.

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  25. I don't have a dealbreaker either. I fell in love with a girl back in the day who didn't like Pulp Fiction so who am I to say what a dealbreaker is. She turned out to be a piece of work so yeah I guess Pulp Fiction is my dealbreaker.

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  27. I think that a few people have mentioned this but I think it is more movie attitudes that are deal-breakers rather than particular movies. If you don't want to watch a black and white movie because you think it will be boring I don't think we will get on very well. The same goes for people who don't want to watch foreign language films. I have never met anyone who actually prefers dubbing but I don't think I would get on with that person either! I think dubbing in family films and animation is fine because you know a) there are children who are not on that level yet watching them b) animation is already being dubbed even in the original language. Anything else being dubbed is just unpleasant. With movies, my very close friends and I have some very different movie tastes in some areas but are very similar with others. So long as we have a few areas where we like or dislike the same thing, I am sure we will have plenty to talk about.

    Kathy reminded me of something I really hate though. People who think Twilight is better than Harry Potter and people who compare J K Rowling to Stephanie Meyer on youtube. I want you to go to the moon, right now.

    Funnily enough I had a friend who found Jack and Jill funny (if you like this movie I don't understand you) and now we aren't friends (because of something completely unrelated). But like Adam I will now take this as a clue that we will probably be incompatible if you like it.

    Something bizarre happened to my laptop when publishing the previous comment, sorry about that.

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    1. And you've reminded me about black and white movies. I have a hard time with people who won't watch anything made before about 1970.

      I know someone who calls wonderful old movies like Casablanca, The Philadelphia Story and the like "Walking and Talking Movies" were - they say - nothing happens.

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    2. Yikes. If they aren't a fan of "walking and talking movies," don't ever show that person the "Before" trilogy.

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  28. If you don't appreciate Jaws, and/or think The Avengers is the greatest thing ever made, you need to get the fuck of my lawn.

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    1. But then my argument immediately loses weight as a I said "of" instead of "off" when trying to be witty, so what the hell do I know.

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    2. Those are two of the my favorite summer movies, mang.

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  29. This is a tough one for me, because I think a lot of people are choosing movies that they've grown up on. Like, for me, I didn't see the original Star Wars until I was 12 or 13, so to me it's always been a big ol' bag of "ehhh." I also didn't love the Lord of the Rings books as a kid, so they movies have never done anything for me. Same goes for Harry Potter. So when someone tells me they're really fond of a movie that I can't stand, especially if it's something they loved as a kid, I can't really hold it against them.

    That being said, if someone tells me they don't like No Country for Old Men because the ending is stupid, I immediately can't trust their opinion.

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  30. Not a specific movie but respect of Movie Space can be a deal breaker.
    We're watching a movie. Respect that space. Don't start an unrelated convo part way through. Don't ask "what happens next " "does he end up doing it? " etc etc. Dont decide youre bored so you get up and start doing the dishes in the kitchen that's part of the open plan living area. Dont dont don't. Its a movie. You decided to watch it. So sit down, shut up and watch the damn movie. If you can't do that then get the fuck out.

    Respect Movie Space.

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    1. I like that. Texting too. Put the bloody phone away and watch the movie

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    2. Heheh - hope that's not your Sheila you're talking about Brad! ;)

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    3. Nah, she's not that bad mainly because she doesn't start the movie in the first place. She does have a habit of cooking while I watch though (not completely open plan) and not giving warning when she turn on the blender. She then can't hear me yelling for her to stop. But I then need to remind myself to cool my jets because she's usually cooking something for me (us) which makes me a lucky lucky boy.

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  31. The answer is none. There is no movie someone loves/hates enough for me to make that a focal point of whether I want to hang out/like/be friends with that person. Life's too short, movies are entertainment. I value people more than movies, and you know how much I like movies. :-)

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  32. I try to be okay with whatever, even if it's "White Girls is the funniest movie ever made" but I still cannot help but fail at this sometimes. Nothing specific comes to mind in terms of dealbreakers...although if you outright HATE Raiders of the Lost Ark, we probably won't talk movies much.

    I was just starting to date this girl once, however...she came over and I thought I'd show her a couple of my favorite movies (this was about '96), so I threw on Pulp Fiction and she didn't laugh ONCE. Which I found strange, but -- okay. Not the biggest deal in the world. Then I put on Halloween, and she laughed AT IT the whole time.

    We never went out again. So, I guess there are specific instances where there are, in fact, dealbreakers for me.

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    1. Yeah, F that girlfriend! Movie compatibility (or a love of movies in general) isn't a big part of my wife's and my relationship, but at least she loves the ones that really matter - Pulp Fiction (and pretty much everything QT) being one of the more important ones!

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    2. Same. My fiance digs QT, so we're all good. Although she's super animal lover plus, so I had to warn her to close her eyes at the start of Django when the horse got shot.

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  33. I once had a girl I was dating laugh during the Exorcist. That's a little odd...

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