Films You Loved When You Were Younger That Don't Hold Up

[Adam]

What are the biggies for you guys? And what former favorites are you afraid of watching now; for fear of tarnishing golden memories? Also, if you like, how about stuff you were sure wouldn't hold up that totally does?

I watched Monster Squad this past Halloween for the first time in forever and, good lord, all the nostalgic blinders in the world couldn't clean up that mess. And a huge one that meant so much to me when I was in middle school or thereabouts is Empire Records and I'm definitely terrified of going back and revisiting that one. Like, I'm pretty confident Robin Tunney and the dance to The The have stood the test of time, but outside of that who knows. Also, Joe's Apartment more than likely sucks, but I will never re-watch that movie; forever choosing to remember it as my eleven year old self remembers it

EDIT: Although, actually it looks like Carter Burwell provided the score for Joe's Apartment (!!!) so maybe my eleven year old self had more discerning taste than I'm giving him credit for

[balmakboor]

Charly (1968) - I still love the book Flowers for Algernon, but this movie is so hopelessly dated now that it irritates me.

[MadMan]

Hmmm, I'll have to think about this. I'm sure there a couple of movies I watched during my youth that I am scared to revisit again, for fear of hating them. And then there are those, like Gremlins or 3 Ninjas that I still enjoy-the latter being goofy, childish fun.

[Sven]

I honestly have a difficult time with most Disney productions these days. There are a few that hold up extremely well (Dumbo, The Fox and the Hound, The Great Mouse Detective, and others). But most I find are like Cinderella, Peter Pan, The Jungle Book, and many of the animated shorts, where I can remember and see why I loved them so much but find mostly clumsy or annoying or absurd now.

[number8]

The Burton Batman films, Jurassic Park, Back to the Future, The Goonies...

I watched Street Fighter in theaters 3 times.

[[ETM]]

What's wrong with BTTF, 8? I thought it holds up best of all three of them.

For me it's Gremlins, Goonies... stuff like that. Last Starfighter and Tron hold up very well, surprisingly.

[number8]

;236234']What's wrong with BTTF, 8? I thought it holds up best of all three of them.

Hard to cite anything wrong with it. It just doesn't entertain me anymore. I guess I've always found the fun of the movie squarely on the story and not its filmmaking, so now that I can pretty much cite every plot point of that movie, I get bored watching it very quickly.

[Sven]

Jurassic Park is a great example for me too.

[MadMan]

Jurassic Park will never get old for me, ever. I'm holding onto my ancient VHS copy of the movie as long as I can. I mean, eventually I'll have to go out and buy it on DVD, unfortunately. The DVD copy doesn't have the same cool cover as the VHS one.

[dreamdead]

For me no film defines this thread more than Terminator 2: Judgment Day. Few films contain all of the apparent ability to astound while in reality it comes off now as treacly and overly-comical. Visual effects still work and look good, but the storyline feels so flat and uninvolved. The original doesn't hold up much better. Very sad.

I'm so afraid to revisit Lady and the Tramp as well.

[Sven]

Oh, also: Boyz 'n the Hood

LOVED it as a youth. Rewatched it within the last year. Holy cow, what a cliche ridden dumbfest.

[Philosophe_rouge]

I honestly have a difficult time with most Disney productions these days. There are a few that hold up extremely well (Dumbo, The Fox and the Hound, The Great Mouse Detective, and others). But most I find are like Cinderella, Peter Pan, The Jungle Book, and many of the animated shorts, where I can remember and see why I loved them so much but find mostly clumsy or annoying or absurd now.

I can agree with this, though I think I'd probably list different films in either category. Some Disney films have even improved as I've gotten older, while others... are frankly unwatcheable now. My drop in appreciation for Aladdin was probably the biggest depreciation of any and all Disney films for me.

[[ETM]]

Jurassic Park will always be lifted by Williams' wonderful score for me.
One of his best.

[Rowland]

The Indiana Jones sequels and Return of the Jedi immediately come to mind.

[Watashi]

Nothing.

My childhood is never wrong.

[lovejuice]

My childhood is never wrong.
weirdly enough, i seem to agree with wat here. if anything, it's the other way around. a movie i had never cared for as a child, but then appreciated it more as i grew older.

[megladon8]

Superman IV: The Quest For Peace

[Skitch]

Superman IV: The Quest For Peace

Great example. Thought it was the best of the four when I saw it in theaters. Rewatch over decade later and almost cried in pain. Oh to be a child again.

[Spinal]

Dragonslayer

[Spinal]

Nothing.

My childhood is never wrong.

All evidence suggests that you're still living it.

Not that there's anything wrong with that.

[lovejuice]

Dragonslayer
it has an awesome onesheet.
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_rzdB5a4kLAo/SwhCh9KCrnI/AAAAAAAARzA/DpHEtNYBr2I/s1600/dragonslayer.jpg
thinking more about it, this might fall under the catagory of films i enjoy more as an adult. i don't remember much except when the hero has to fight baby dragons (correct?) which was pretty cool back then. i vaguely remember some elements of this film going over my head.

or i might just confuse it with sir gawain and the green knight. :)

[ledfloyd]

aladdin stands out for me as well, i remember loving it as a child and i revisited it recently and it was absolute garbage.

BTTF, the goonies and jurassic park all still work for me.

[Qrazy]

aladdin stands out for me as well, i remember loving it as a child and i revisited it recently and it was absolute garbage.

BTTF, the goonies and jurassic park all still work for me.

As someone who hasn't revisited Aladdin yet but keeps hearing this... what's garbage about it?

[number8]

Robin Williams' Genie is really annoying.

Also, the sequel should've been Aladdin getting 6 more wives.

[Wryan]

Jurassic Park not holding up anymore?

On. What. Planet!?

I was almost about to say The Witches, but then I realized that I was fucking wrong and that it's still fucking awesome.

[Dead & Messed Up]

And the weird disparity between Aladdin's softly-drawn heroes and Middle Eastern caricatures stands out even more as an adult. Although numbers like "Friend Like Me" and "Prince Ali" hold up well.

For me? Oh God. So many. Return of the Jedi, Mac and Me, 3 Ninjas, and the Ernest movies, to name a few.

Still, some of the ones I loved as a kid remain favorites to this day. Specifically, Ghostbusters, Fantasia, and E. T.

[bac0n]

I musta watched my VHS tape of Krull a thousand times when I was in junior high. Watched in on Netflix a month or two ago and, wow. Big mistake.

[D_Davis]

I musta watched my VHS tape of Krull a thousand times when I was in junior high. Watched in on Netflix a month or two ago and, wow. Big mistake.


Ha. I almost watched this last week. Guess I shouldn't?

[Sven]

...the Ernest movies

I find the Ernest films very satisfying. I think it is because I place a lot of stock in bravura comic performance, and while the films' plots are a bit whitewashed for the family crowd, his skill with expression of the face, body, and voice, as well as his character's endearing sweetness and proclivity toward phantasmagorical (and frequently wittily written) rambling, make the films exceptional. Ernest Goes to Jail is practically a perfect film.

[Mara]

Ha. I almost watched this last week. Guess I shouldn't?

You absolutely should. It's a fantastic mess, with really bad wigs. And the hero is very homosexual, which I think I missed as a child.

It's also important that every time Liam Neeson speaks, you say aloud, "Shh, Daddy's talking." It adds a lot.

Invite friends.

[Qrazy]

I haven't revisited any Ernest films but Ernest Scared Stupid scared the crap out of me as a kid.

[Mara]

We should totally have a Krull watch-a-long. Everyone with Netflix Instant Watch can join, and we can all start at the same time and have a running commentary!

YOU KNOW YOU WANT TO.

[Spun Lepton]

Oh, man. Tons. TONS. I watched so many movies as a kid, it's ridiculous. Monster Squad was actually one that I re-visited for the first time after seeing in the theater and, yeah, it does not hold up. At all. It's like a third-rate version of The Goonies with Universal monsters thrown in -- and I don't even like Goonies.

Numerous horror movies, too many to name or even recall.

It's always like finding treasure when I go back to re-visit a movie and end up loving it even more. Oz's Little Shop of Horrors was one of those.

[Mara]

We should totally have a Krull watch-a-long. Everyone with Netflix Instant Watch can join, and we can all start at the same time and have a running commentary!

YOU KNOW YOU WANT TO.

WANT WANT WANT

[[ETM]]

We should totally have a Krull watch-a-long. Everyone with Netflix Instant Watch can join, and we can all start at the same time and have a running commentary!

YOU KNOW YOU WANT TO.

I know I have never seen it in the first place.

[Winston*]

I rewatched Labyrinth with some people a couple of days ago. Y'know, that movie holds up, genuinely funny. Don't really understand why it's necessary for the character of Jareth not to be wearing pants though.

[Mara]

;236368']I know I have never seen it in the first place.

You're missing out. You can't get Netflix, right? Can you get YouTube?

http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=6FF524668866C D0A&search_query=krull&rclk=pti

[Dead & Messed Up]

We should totally have a Krull watch-a-long. Everyone with Netflix Instant Watch can join, and we can all start at the same time and have a running commentary!

YOU KNOW YOU WANT TO.

Should we use a chatroom? Or post in here? Because I'm down like Charlie Brown

[Skitch]

I haven't revisited any Ernest films but Ernest Scared Stupid scared the crap out of me as a kid.

Me too me too!

[Mara]

Should we use a chatroom? Or post in here? Because I'm down like Charlie Brown

Either. We could have a Krull comment-along thread.

I can think of at least four other really awful movies that I'd love to do this with, too, if we survive the pain.

[Mara]

When's good for people? I'll build it, and they will come.

[Sven]

I haven't revisited any Ernest films but Ernest Scared Stupid scared the crap out of me as a kid.

Probably because it's terrifying. I watched it a couple of Halloween's ago. While I think it's safe to say I'm an adult now, it still scared my pants right off.

[Dead & Messed Up]

One I loved as a kid that I love even more as an adult is Jesus Christ Superstar. On a recent re-viewing, I was floored by Jewison's carefully controlled images (the landscapes!), and I teared up during Neeley's insanely passionate "Gethsemane." Its aim for operatic grandeur gives me, more than any other film about Christ, more than the New Testament, an idea of the emotional devastation and exuberance of a Messiah arriving, suffering, and dying.

Ironic, consider how I don't believe in the divinity of Jesus anymore.

[lovejuice]

i LOVE all ernest films!! with ernest goes to camp as my favorite.

labyrinth and connelly is like wine. the older i get, the more i want to have sex with her.

[Boner M]

labyrinth and connelly is like wine. the older i get, the more i want to have sex with her.
:|

[BuffaloWilder]

Best believe I'd better not be hearing any guff about the Ernest films.

[Wryan]

Probably because it's terrifying. I watched it a couple of Halloween's ago. While I think it's safe to say I'm an adult now, it still scared my pants right off.

I think it was its multiple noses, with snot coming out of every nostril. Also, it ran like a nightmare that would actually catch up to you before you woke up.

[lovejuice]

I think it was its multiple noses, with snot coming out of every nostril. Also, it ran like a nightmare that would actually catch up to you before you woke up.

"Eat Miak and Die!!" :lol: this used to be the funniest quotation in my life.

[Dead & Messed Up]

"Eat Miak and Die!!" :lol: this used to be the funniest quotation in my life.

"Ooh, look, it's one of those hook things!"

[Kurosawa Fan]

We should totally have a Krull watch-a-long. Everyone with Netflix Instant Watch can join, and we can all start at the same time and have a running commentary!

YOU KNOW YOU WANT TO.

If I'm available, I'm totally in.

[Sven]

Hilariously, Jesus Christ Superstar is one of those films that I watched religiously (pun intended!) and then recently, when showing my wife, could barely tolerate it. The music is soooooo obnoxious and, despite the sterling cinematography, some of the numbers are very greatly lacking. Simon's, in particular, and Herod's should be funnier. Scenes with Judas are great, especially his opening number.

[[ETM]]

You're missing out. You can't get Netflix, right? Can you get YouTube?

http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=6FF524668866C D0A&search_query=krull&rclk=pti

Amazingly enough it's not blocked.:lol:

I'm watching the credits now... Liam Neeson? Wow.
And it's awesome how the music is a TOTAL ripoff of the Khan score.

EDIT: HAHAHAHA! Horner, you bastard.

[Spun Lepton]

I tried sitting through Krull fairly recently, and just couldn't do it. Yes, I did see it in the theater as a kid, and yes, I do recall liking it then.

[Boner M]

I've found that my favorite films from my childhood (Jumanji, Jurassic Park, The Neverending Story, E.T.) have held up better than favorites from my adolescence (True Romance, Clerks, Fight Club, Magnolia).

[Kurosawa Fan]

I've found that my favorite films from my childhood (Jumanji, Jurassic Park, The Neverending Story, E.T.) have held up better than favorites from my adolescence (True Romance, Clerks, Fight Club, Magnolia).

Absolutely.

[lovejuice]

I've found that my favorite films from my childhood (Jumanji, Jurassic Park, The Neverending Story, E.T.) have held up better than favorites from my adolescence (True Romance, Clerks, Fight Club, Magnolia).
indeed.

[soitgoes...]

The fact that some people are using Jurassic Park as a childhood memory makes me sad. I think that came out my senior year or thereabouts.

[[ETM]]

The fact that some people are using Jurassic Park as a childhood memory makes me sad. I think that came out my senior year or thereabouts.

I was 14 and yes, it is a bit sad.

[BuffaloWilder]

The fact that some people are using Jurassic Park as a childhood memory makes me sad. I think that came out my senior year or thereabouts.

It's because you're old.


:)

[soitgoes...]

It's because you're old.


:)

At least I can claim never to have liked any Ernest movie, which means I've always had a greater level of taste than some of you.

:)

[BuffaloWilder]

i will fight you

[number8]

Being mid-20's rocks.

[Mysterious Dude]

My parents wouldn't let me see Jurassic Park. :sad:

[Watashi]

Boner gets so much rep for mentioning Jumanji.

I saw that again last week on cable and that film still rocks.

[MadMan]

Now that I think about it, my opinion of Jumanji remains the same now after a gazillion viewings as it did when I first saw it: that the movie is relatively entertaining, but merely a decent film at best. Still Robin Williams is perfectly cast, that's for sure.

[Bosco B Thug]

If memory serves me correctly, Jumanji is pretty epic. I ate it up as a kid. But I don't feel the need to re-watch it, so it's pretty safe as a fond memory.

The Omen I held in high regard as a "deep" film when I was really young. I still think it's pretty good, but yeah.

[B-side]

I used to watch Clueless religiously. I wonder if it still holds up.

[Beau]

Jumanji was a significant film to me during my three-year stint as a Kirsten Dunst fanboy. I later moved on to darker-haired and more European territory, but the memory of that time remains. Anyhow, even within Dunst's oeuvre, back when I cared about Dunst's oeuvre, I figured Jumanji was fun, but inferior to The Cat's Meow, The Virgin Suicides, and Interview with the Vampire. I never liked Spider-Man, though. Actually, Spider-Man ended my three-year stint. Or was it a four-year stint? I forget.

I would agree with the whole "childhood movie > adolescent movie" dichotomy, but the movies of my adolescence are The Rules of the Game, Stalker, and L'Avventura. Yes, I was that kind of adolescent. Took me a long time to make friends. I can't think of any film that has taken a definite plunge in my esteem. Maybe stuff with Van Damme. I used to think he was the shit. I can still agree with that, but I'd be using a different meaning of the term. I need to rewatch Timecop and Cyborg to be completely sure. Oh wait! I have an example! Terminator 2. Back when I was young, dialogue was one of those things that happened without my being aware of it, like breathing. Now I notice dialogue. And stuff like the main characters discussing the violence of humanity while little kids play with toy guns and the camera goes into soulful slow-motion? Not cool. At least Cameron delivers with the tripartite climax. But that's why I watch Aliens. All the climax, none of the little kids with toy guns. Unless Newt does some toy gun action and I forgot. Nah.

[Grouchy]

Hah, I watched parts of Street Fighter on cable recently. That movie still rocks. I also watched it in the theater, but only once.

I wonder how the Ninja Turtles movies hold up. Other than that, I got nothing.

[Adam]

Spinal's got Return to Oz in his signature right now and the fact that that movie holds up so well might be the biggest upset in all of 20th century film

[Dukefrukem]

Jumanji was a significant film to me during my three-year stint as a Kirsten Dunst fanboy. I later moved on to darker-haired and more European territory, but the memory of that time remains. Anyhow, even within Dunst's oeuvre, back when I cared about Dunst's oeuvre, I figured Jumanji was fun, but inferior to The Cat's Meow, The Virgin Suicides, and Interview with the Vampire. I never liked Spider-Man, though. Actually, Spider-Man ended my three-year stint. Or was it a four-year stint? I forget.

I would agree with the whole "childhood movie > adolescent movie" dichotomy, but the movies of my adolescence are The Rules of the Game, Stalker, and L'Avventura. Yes, I was that kind of adolescent. Took me a long time to make friends. I can't think of any film that has taken a definite plunge in my esteem. Maybe stuff with Van Damme. I used to think he was the shit. I can still agree with that, but I'd be using a different meaning of the term. I need to rewatch Timecop and Cyborg to be completely sure. Oh wait! I have an example! Terminator 2. Back when I was young, dialogue was one of those things that happened without my being aware of it, like breathing. Now I notice dialogue. And stuff like the main characters discussing the violence of humanity while little kids play with toy guns and the camera goes into soulful slow-motion? Not cool. At least Cameron delivers with the tripartite climax. But that's why I watch Aliens. All the climax, none of the little kids with toy guns. Unless Newt does some toy gun action and I forgot. Nah.

Jumanji is a good one.

Mortal Kombat would be one for my childhood. I remember seeing it more than once in the theater. Thought Johnny Cage was a riot.

My third entry would be 3 Ninjas. Was obsessed with that movie.

[Wryan]

There's nothing wrong with Jesus Christ Superstar, Jurassic Park, or Magnolia.

Heathens.

[Qrazy]

Probably because it's terrifying. I watched it a couple of Halloween's ago. While I think it's safe to say I'm an adult now, it still scared my pants right off.

The tree is too terrifying.

[Qrazy]

:|

Blahahha this exchange was priceless.

[Sven]

The tree is too terrifying.

I rewatched it last night, actually. It's pretty high quality. The scariness does not really carry through to its non-scary scenes, of which there are plenty, but goddamn goddamn, that troll is WAY too convincing. Its voice and facial movements are too good. And some of the scenes are way scary. (I'm thinking particularly of the girl in her bedroom scene. I can't believe they did that.)

But apart from its scariness, it's also a pretty good Ernest film. The scenes with the children are straight-to-TV tacky, very cliched and clumsy, but endearing I guess. Then there's Varney, who has many many inspired moments.


"Ooh, look, it's one of those hook things!"

I laughed really hard at this part. I love those schizo sequences. Where do they come from? What do they mean? And yet, they're entirely appropriate.

[Qrazy]

I rewatched it last night, actually. It's pretty high quality. The scariness does not really carry through to its non-scary scenes, of which there are plenty, but goddamn goddamn, that troll is WAY too convincing. Its voice and facial movements are too good. And some of the scenes are way scary. (I'm thinking particularly of the girl in her bedroom scene. I can't believe they did that.)

But apart from its scariness, it's also a pretty good Ernest film. The scenes with the children are straight-to-TV tacky, very cliched and clumsy, but endearing I guess. Then there's Varney, who has many many inspired moments.



I laughed really hard at this part. I love those schizo sequences. Where do they come from? What do they mean? And yet, they're entirely appropriate.

Hrm after an imdb perusal I guess he was the voice of Slinky Dog in the Toy Story films. I wonder what they'll do for the third one.

[Sven]

Hrm after an imdb perusal I guess he was the voice of Slinky Dog in the Toy Story films. I wonder what they'll do for the third one.

I saw the film Treehouse Detectives with him in it and thought that it was surprisingly solid.

[Spaceman Spiff]

I would agree with the whole "childhood movie > adolescent movie" dichotomy, but the movies of my adolescence are The Rules of the Game, Stalker, and L'Avventura.

Actually me too, which is interesting as I seem to have regulated my tastes in film to a more broad level now that I'm in my young adult stage. I find a happy medium between high-brow art and low-brow entertainment, that I think I was too snobby to enjoy when I was a teen, and not educated enough when I was a kid.