Films that disappointed upon first viewing but became a favorite?

[H.E. Pennypacker]

Man, I sure HATED The Life Aquatic! I went to the theater expecting a more Groundhog Day sort of Bill Murray (come to find out, he's always been the same great actor I just perceived him poorly) and absolutely hated it the entire time and did not think it was funny at all.

About two years later I watched it again with some friends and fell in complete love with it! Had never seen any Wes Anderson film before that film and I now love all of them! One of my favorite directors.

[MrBlonde]

[Popcorn_Bliss]

One that stands out for me is...



I watched the original theatrical version first (which I still think was best), thought parts were captivating but didn't really "get" it as a whole. I later watched the REDUX and it finally clicked! I preferred the added length and especially the French Plantation scene, which I felt was gorgeously shot with the light seeping in through the blinds during the table conversation. It is a very elegant scene, perhaps counter to the subject matter, but a welcome diversion in my eyes.

I STILL advocate watching theatrical cuts in many instances, but this became one where the director's cut ended up being the better choice. It's said that the version you prefer likely depends on how you view the journey up the river. Those that see it as a dark, linear, focused mission tend to prefer the original. Those who see Willard's journey as more of a surreal, fragmented, never-ending trek tend to like the Redux. I found I fit into the latter. The Redux is, overall, more "cinematic" to me.

Anyways, this is one that definitely grabbed me only upon a second viewing.

P.S. I see that the edition I posted above is due out in June. It looks like a handy edition! It's billed as a triple feature containing the original, the Redux, and the highly acclaimed "Hearts Of Darkness" documentary. I know the Full Disclore Edition carried these three as well. I don't know if this is just a more affordable version or if any new extras are being added?

[realrp93]

I didn't like Taxi Driver the first time I watched it, but a few months later I just really enjoyed it. I guess something clicked, I think I might have watched it on the wrong day, in the wrong mindset. It's actually my favourite film now, along side The Third Man!

[jarrod_inf]

Kill Bill.....I wasn't ready for what was to follow.

[Ultra_Violence]

2001: A Space Odyssey
Blade Runner

[frogmort]

The first time I saw The Big Lebowski, I thought it was mildly entertaining, now it's one of my absolute favorites.

The first time I saw No Country for Old Men, I felt gypped. Almost angry at the cut-off ending. Now it's also one of my favorites.

I do likes me some Coen Bros.

[L-Rouge]

Originally Posted by Packerfan75

I wouldn't say I love TFA now or call it a favorite but its gotten better on subsequent viewings. I had to lower my expectations and accept it as not the sequel I wanted but the sequel I got. I was crushed when I saw it and still have some of the same issues I had with it the first time but I can watch it now and enjoy it on a level. I wouldn't do this for anything but Star Wars.

hah that is a good swing around, I remember the comments in the dedicated thread. happy though that as passionate about the subject of Star Wars as you are, that this movie is breaking down the barriers a little.

[L-Rouge]

I did a 360 degree on 2001 a space odyssey. Loved it as a child. hated it as a young man, I grabbed a VHS of the film in 1998, with such a poor pan and scan translation, I saw only the films flaws..which turned into gems with the DVD's release and a deeper appreciation once the Blu-ray was released.

the film is a sure stunner.

[Gizz]

I hated it when I first saw it but now it's easily one of my favourite Bond films.

[zorbonaut]

Originally Posted by H.E. Pennypacker

Man, I sure HATED The Life Aquatic! I went to the theater expecting a more Groundhog Day sort of Bill Murray (come to find out, he's always been the same great actor I just perceived him poorly) and absolutely hated it the entire time and did not think it was funny at all.

About two years later I watched it again with some friends and fell in complete love with it! Had never seen any Wes Anderson film before that film and I now love all of them! One of my favorite directors.

Maybe I will have to give this a second viewing. Love Wes Anderson but this is one of his films that I just didn't like at all.

[HockeySlasher]

The Prestige.

My wife and I rented the movie from Blockbuster (HA!)... I think I fell asleep during my first viewing.

Then, back in the day when Circuit City was doing their B1G1 offer on certain Blus, I got several movies, and this was one of them - only because I needed to pick one more and this was the "best of the lousiest" if you know what I mean.

Now, after re-watching, it has become one of my favs.

[Blu-Curry]

Originally Posted by Gizz

I hated it when I first saw it but now it's easily one of my favourite Bond films.

I wouldn't say it's one of my favourites, but I really like the first half-3/4 of the film, especially his shocking car lol. The climax didn't really do it for me, but it's been a long while since I've seen it, so I should give it another watch lol.

[Rodney-2187]

The Fifth Element

[baheidstu]

Originally Posted by Hellhound

Like many others in this thread, The Big Lebowski is one I did a turnaround on. I'd say it's definitely one of those films that needs to be seen a least a couple of times to really take in.

The only other one that comes to mind is Anchorman. I really wasn't a big fan of Will Ferrell during his SNL days but eventually I started to get his brand of humor.

I liked Anchorman from day 1 but I didn't like Talladega Nights when I first saw it, but I ended up seeing it a bunch of times when it aired on cable and I started to enjoy it.

[Monroville]

I would have to say it was APOCALYPSE NOW! for me.

The first time I watched it in the late 1980's, early 90's, I appreciated the visuals but good LORD it was slllloooooowwww. Then I read HEART OF DARKNESS by Joseph Conrad and BAM! I was like "Hey! This is APOCALYPSE NOW!" And being a book, I could take my time reading it, which helped tremendously in comprehending the messages contained within.

So when I went back into APOCALYPSE NOW! I had a framework of what was going on underneath the visuals.. like a rosetta stone, the book translated the movie for me.

[robgmun]

I'm going to buck the trend here and say despite watching The Big Lebowski 3 times i still don't see it any more then an average movie, not bad, but horribly overrated

[s2mikey]

Bram Stoker's Dracula(The Coppola one). Saw it in the theater and was expecting more of action-centirc vampire film. Of course its not like that at all and I was rather bored and irritated with it. Many years later I tried it again and now I really enjoy it.

[Rory]

Originally Posted by Monroville

I would have to say it was APOCALYPSE NOW! for me.

The first time I watched it in the late 1980's, early 90's, I appreciated the visuals but good LORD it was slllloooooowwww. Then I read HEART OF DARKNESS by Joseph Conrad and BAM! I was like "Hey! This is APOCALYPSE NOW!" And being a book, I could take my time reading it, which helped tremendously in comprehending the messages contained within.

So when I went back into APOCALYPSE NOW! I had a framework of what was going on underneath the visuals.. like a rosetta stone, the book translated the movie for me.

I just clicked on this thread to say the same thing! Except for me, even after reading "The Heart of Darkness," I still think APOCALYPSE NOW! is a murky, muddled mess.

So, a movie that was a disappointment upon first viewing but now a favorite. Keeping tothe vampire theme in the post above...

THE FEARLESS VAMPIRE KILLERS

[Ninty64X]

Originally Posted by Rory

I just clicked on this thread to say the same thing! Except for me, even after reading "The Heart of Darkness," I still think APOCALYPSE NOW! is a murky, muddled mess.

So, a movie that was a disappointment upon first viewing but now a favorite. Keeping tothe vampire theme in the post above...

THE FEARLESS VAMPIRE KILLERS

I still need to re-watch The Fearless Vampire Killers. I don't feel like I really knew what I was getting into when I first saw it, it's definitely a unique horror-comedy blend.