Sci-Fi Movies That Have Come Out That Excited You but Disapointed You

[sidious618]

Re: Sci-Fi Movies That Have Come Out That Excited You but Disapointed

Superman Returns comes to mind immediately. I thought that film would rock and instead I almost fell asleep.

 

[JiNX-01]

Re: Sci-Fi Movies That Have Come Out That Excited You but Disapointed

Star Trek: Insurrection.
IMO, it was nothing more than a big-budget variation of the 7th season episode "Journey's End" -- tiny colony doesn't want to be relocated by Big Bad Federation. Bleah.

 

[LitmusDragon]

Re: Sci-Fi Movies That Have Come Out That Excited You but Disapointed

Reading this thread, and agreeing with most of the posts, I think it's probably rarer that a sci-fi movies lives up it's hype and expectations and is actually quite common for it to be anti-climactic.

It seems like most of the classics have come out of left field (the Matrix, Star Wars, Alien).

 

[mostly_nameless]

Re: Sci-Fi Movies That Have Come Out That Excited You but Disapointed

All of the Batman movies except Batman '89 and Batman Begins. It's like they make a good one every 15 -20 years just to get my hopes up.

SW2 Attack of the Clones: time for the CLONE WARS we've been dying to see for decades and we spent over half the movie watching the worst, most unbelievable romance ever filmed. Disappointed is such an understatement.

Van Helsing: Hugh Jackman, Kate Beckinsale and Dracula. That HAS to be good, right? WRONG.

Mummy 3: I heard enough bad things about this one before hand, but still had high hopes.

Star Trek Nemesis: Everyone said it was bad, and I expected it to be bad, but, OH, I didn't believe it could be THAT bad.

 

[MyCylon]

Re: Sci-Fi Movies That Have Come Out That Excited You but Disapointed

Hmm, let's see:

- INS: FC was my second favorite Trek movie. And since Frakes was directing again, there was the idea of Picard going up against the Federation or Starfleet and there seemed to be some ties with the Dominion war, I was really excited about this. It turned to be one of the very few movies I almost walked out on (I've never actually walked out on a movie so this is saying something for me). I find there is just so much wrong with this movie, from a weak and plodding story to weak characterization and awful humour to basically a total disregard for everything that was interesting and exciting about the Trek universe at the time. Plus I found the bad guys repulsive in a way that makes me not want to see the movie and couldn't stand the 'shiny, happy people' they were trying to save - Trek's clichéd image of a happy society. At least this film ensured I wasn't disappointed by NEM, having my expectations lowered this much.

- Sunshine: This film just made me wonder what the hell they were thinking. It's got a mostly wonderful first two thirds or so only to tack on "Event Horizon" at the end (not that I mind EH - it just doesn't belong there). This could have been a very fine 'contemplative' sci-fi film with some beautiful imagery and they just blew it.

- I, Robot: I should note first of all that this is a film I've come to really enjoy quite a bit. I love the music and the atmosphere it builds, and it has some striking imagery and effects. But when I saw it initially, I simply felt it fell very flat compared to what it could or should have achieved, based on the source material and the themes. Plus there were scenes that were just so incredibly over-the-top (Will Smith hopping off his bike and firing at robots, then safely landing, anyone?). The key to liking the film for me was basically reconciling the more serious material with those scenes, taking them simply as fun and slightly goofy. I enjoy the film now for what it is, not for what I wanted it to be (note: I'd love to do that for the other films I listed but find I can't).

- TPM: Actually, this one wasn't a HUGE disappointment for me. I've never been a huge SW fan. So my expectations weren't huge to begin with. Still, it's hard to overlook some points that could have made this movie as well as the whole prequel trilogy so much better with very little effort, really. Things that bothered me most here include the never-ending race scene (boring!), JarJar (though I don't hate him as much as most), Darth Maul's death (the whole build-up he gets just feels totally worthless when he dies so soon), and just giving such a young kid way too many achievements. I've always felt they spent too much time on the very young Anakin. And it hurts the other movies because they lack time to develop the character where necessary. Oh, and I hated the way they messed with the score in places.

 

[Too Much Fun]

Re: Sci-Fi Movies That Have Come Out That Excited You but Disapointed

All of the Batman movies except Batman '89 and Batman Begins. It's like they make a good one every 15 -20 years just to get my hopes up.

I'm intrigued that you mention "Batman Begins" as an exception, but not "The Dark Knight", which most people (including me) consider superior to its predecessor (though not without its flaws). Just out of curiosity, why did this movie disappoint you so much?

When I started reading that Star War post, at first I thought "TPM" was a misspelling of "TMP", as in "Star Trek: The Motion Picture". I think it's a funny coincidence how similar the acronyms are for the two disappointing opening installments for movie series related to the two most successful sci-fi franchises.

 

[MyCylon]

Re: Sci-Fi Movies That Have Come Out That Excited You but Disapointed

^
I'd forgotten about TDK. That's one I probably should have mentioned on my own list. I adore BB. I think it's not only a great superhero movie but a great movie overall. It's not perfect but at the very, very least it has its 'heart' in the right place.

The characters are all spot-on IMHO and get time and space to develop. There is also a simple yet powerful story that manages to engage and entertain while never losing sight of those characters. I also adore the atmosphere created by some of the wonderful designs and cinematography as well as the music which I really like a lot.

I did enjoy TDK but not nearly as much as BB. It's very consequent in that it takes the theme of the Joker literally pushing Batman into a corner with every step he takes until Batman can't really win anymore. It's consequent so I admire it from somebody who's familiar with the creative process.

However, for this particular viewer I felt that this consequence resulted in a poor viewing experience and also found that the character pretty much got buried in a breathless chain of events overpowering everything else as well.

Interestingly, the color palette in both movies reflect rather well how I feel about each of them. BB is dominated by warm browns and oranges. It reflects the warmth of the relationships between Bruce and his father and Bruce and Alfred. Amid the fighting and the soul searching, there is this warm, sheltered space that Bruce (and other characters) are allowed to retreat to at times in the film.

TDK is dominated by steely blues and greys. There is no warmth left, no place to retreat to at all. And, again, I admire this on a creative level because it reflects the place the Joker puts Batman in. But it also feels to me like a very, very important aspect of BB was lost in the process. It's good to be consequent. But if you push it too far you stand to overshadow or even bury important elements such as the characters.

Now, I've argued this whole thing before with other posters. And I am aware that there are, indeed, quite a few important character moments in the film. But my main problem is that while I saw them, I never truly felt them. And that's the main difference for me between BB and TDK. BB was a movie I very much 'felt' on many different levels. The movie had 'heart' and managed to convey that to me as a viewer. TDK I could only hear and see. There was nothing to feel about it other than being overwhelmed by simply to many action peaces and defeats strung together breathlessly.

So for me, yes, TDK was certainly a disappointment. And while I often feel like rewatching BB, I never have that feeling about TDK, really.

As an aside, there are other complaints I have about TDK. E.g. the police convey with Dent IMHO needlessly going to the lower lever where they are easily ambushed. Or how many coincidences some of the Joker's plans rely on. But then I have similar complaints about BB. However, they don't matter to me in BB because everything else works so well whereas I don't have that feeling with TDK.

 

[DWF]

Re: Sci-Fi Movies That Have Come Out That Excited You but Disapointed

Highlander II: The Quickening

 

[Jax]

Re: Sci-Fi Movies That Have Come Out That Excited You but Disapointed

ST: Nemesis - The idea of an evil clone sounds good for SCI FI but not when his creation leaves the plot with more holes than the big E after its battle. Clone, B-4 and how the remans came out of nowhere just were some fo the minor problems not too mention ZERO character closure and Bev got to say about 5 lines.

Blade Runner - Boring beyond belief and the other 3 people who watched it with me agreed. Nothing happened it shown off an interesting look to the future but the pace, direction and plot was seriously poor, weak and a classic no way.

 

[jefferiestubes8]

Re: Sci-Fi Movies That Have Come Out That Excited You but Disapointed

Ghosts of Mars: John Carpenter remakes the same movies over and over. His mojo ran out in the 90's.

Escape from LA: John Carpenter remakes the same movies over and over. His mojo ran out in the 90's.

John Carpenter's Vampires:John Carpenter remakes the same movies over and over. His mojo ran out in the 90's.

I'm kidding. I mean, the part about being excited about any of those movies.

Agreed. Ghosts of Mars was awful.
"The Island" was a letdown but now I'm more aware of a director's track record. Michael Bay also directed the PG-13 "Transformers" that felt like a PG movie with a little violence and it was a letdown.
"Mission to Mars" was a letdown. "Matrix 2 Revolutions" was a letdown as already mentioned. "Deep Impact" was a major letdown.

Yes agreed go see "Moon" to make up for years of letdowns...

 

[Marie1]

Re: Sci-Fi Movies That Have Come Out That Excited You but Disapointed

X-Men the Last Stand- What was up with that???

Transformers: ROTF- just because it wasn't quite as good as the first. I don't consider it a horrible movie, I just wish the writing had been better. And I find it ridiculous that Decepticons can always find ways to bring anyone/thing back, but Autobots always seem 10 steps behind... beat them up and take their stuff!!

Star Wars 1-3, especially 1 & 3... and whatever, all three of them...

I liked the Matrix waaaayyyy better than 2 & 3, especially 3.

Ummm, I think Daredevil and Elektra were terrible.

 

[Captain Shaw]

Re: Sci-Fi Movies That Have Come Out That Excited You but Disapointed

Star trek Generations-you know your in trouble when they can't even make up there minds on what uniform to wear.
Star trek insurrection-Like a 2 parter TNG ep.
Star trek nemesis -Poor writting
The last 3 star wars films
And WTF was blade runner about the slowest film in history.
And the Batman film with the riddler my friend fell asleep in the cinema when we went to see it.
Also the 2nd matrix film was crap.
Forgot to add TMP and star trek 5 another boring film.

 

[FalTorPan]

Re: Sci-Fi Movies That Have Come Out That Excited You but Disapointed

Spider-Man 3
Sunshine's stupid monster ending
The Hulk's stupid monster ending
Star Wars prequels -- all of them
Bela Lugosi Meets a Brooklyn Gorilla -- I like a lot of shitty movies, but this one takes the cake. Dang, it's bad!

 

[DarKush]

Re: Sci-Fi Movies That Have Come Out That Excited You but Disapointed

SW: The Phantom Menace
SW: The Clone Wars
Event Horizon
Babylon A.D.
Hancock
War of the Worlds
AVP
Hellboy 2
Superman Returns
Hulk
I Am Legend
X-Men 3
Wolverine
Spider-Man 3
Fantastic Four 2
Transformers
ST: Nemesis
Matrix Reloaded
Matrix Revolutions
Deja Vu
Underworld 3
Push
Batman Forever
Mission to Mars
Red Planet
Robocop 2
Mummy Returns
Mummy 3
Doom

Some of these I actually liked leaving the theater but my opinion changed once I had a chance to think more about them. For others, it was the opposite. I was disappointed with them on first viewing but they became more tolerable over time.

 

[RandyS]

Re: Sci-Fi Movies That Have Come Out That Excited You but Disapointed

I remember being hugely excited for Batman Forever when the trailers were running, but the end result was flashy, irritating nonsense. I was kinda entertained the first time since I was just a kid, but remember being let down by the Riddler and Two-Face, who bore little resemblence to their cartoon counterparts.

This was the first one to come to my mind. I was a 15 and was excited to see a new Batman, but when I left the theater, I thought it was awful. It didn't seem to bare much resemblance to what came before it, and as you said, it seemed flashy and irritating. I knew better not so see Batman and Robin in the theater.

Star Trek V was probably my first disappointment. I was only 9, and it was my first Star Trek movie to see. It turned out to be rather disappointing even for 9 year old. Funny thing is in my older age, I've actually kind of sort of in a way warmed up to TFF.

Nostalgia has a way of doing that.

Now here's my list:

Batman & Robin
Star Trek Insurrection (favorite Star Trek cast, horrible movie, thank God for Nemesis)
Star Wars Episode I
Superman Returns
Terminator Salvation

 

[Chrisisall]

Re: Sci-Fi Movies That Have Come Out That Excited You but Disapointed

I Am Legend
Matrix 3
Highlander 2
Lost In Space
Star Wars 1, 2, 3
Superman Returns
The Dark Knight
Mummy 3
Sunshine
And, of course,
ALIEN 3!!!!!!!!

 

[mostly_nameless]

Re: Sci-Fi Movies That Have Come Out That Excited You but Disapointed

All of the Batman movies except Batman '89 and Batman Begins. It's like they make a good one every 15 -20 years just to get my hopes up.

I'm intrigued that you mention "Batman Begins" as an exception, but not "The Dark Knight", which most people (including me) consider superior to its predecessor (though not without its flaws). Just out of curiosity, why did this movie disappoint you so much?

My biggest disappointment with TDK was the way they totally mishandled and threw away the character of Two Face as an afterthought in the last act of a movie that wasn't about, and didn't need, Two Face. If he had lived to menace another day, I still wouldn't have liked the movie, but it wouldn't have been as bad. (Although I've got to say I didn't care for the makeup either. Nobody could really be walking around like that.)

I didn't like a lot of the Joker parts. They just seemed like set up pieces to show off Heath Ledger. I especially loathe the scene where he skips away in the nurse's uniform after blowing up the hospital. There was not only no cop or security guard to shoot him, but nobody who just lost a loved one could bother to run over the SOB with a car?

And the part with the idiot who knows who Batman is, ticks me off too.

And, the bizarre scene in jail with the guy who had a bomb sewn inside his stomach?

And, I could go on and on.

I think with a tighter script and some better editing to bring it back to being about BATMAN,(and lose the Two Face stuff at the end) it could've been a great Batman movie, but instead, it was mediocre Joker movie instead.

 

[RandyS]

Re: Sci-Fi Movies That Have Come Out That Excited You but Disapointed

All of the Batman movies except Batman '89 and Batman Begins. It's like they make a good one every 15 -20 years just to get my hopes up.

I'm intrigued that you mention "Batman Begins" as an exception, but not "The Dark Knight", which most people (including me) consider superior to its predecessor (though not without its flaws). Just out of curiosity, why did this movie disappoint you so much?

My biggest disappointment with TDK was the way they totally mishandled and threw away the character of Two Face as an afterthought in the last act of a movie that wasn't about, and didn't need, Two Face. If he had lived to menace another day, I still wouldn't have liked the movie, but it wouldn't have been as bad. (Although I've got to say I didn't care for the makeup either. Nobody could really be walking around like that.)

I didn't like a lot of the Joker parts. They just seemed like set up pieces to show off Heath Ledger. I especially loathe the scene where he skips away in the nurse's uniform after blowing up the hospital. There was not only no cop or security guard to shoot him, but nobody who just lost a loved one could bother to run over the SOB with a car?

And the part with the idiot who knows who Batman is, ticks me off too.

And, the bizarre scene in jail with the guy who had a bomb sewn inside his stomach?

And, I could go on and on.

I think with a tighter script and some better editing to bring it back to being about BATMAN,(and lose the Two Face stuff at the end) it could've been a great Batman movie, but instead, it was mediocre Joker movie instead.

While I didn't hate THE DARK KNIGHT, I agree with most of this. Plus, the movie just seemed too dark (like the title says) to me. I'm sick to death of all this dark and gritty shit on TV and in the movies. Things don't need to be "all light and happy", but there should be a balance, like Babylon 5, and Batman Begins.

 

[Tulaberry whine]

Re: Sci-Fi Movies That Have Come Out That Excited You but Disapointed

Off the top of my head:

The Golden Compass
War of the Worlds
Spider-Man 3
Alien Resurrection
Star Trek: Insurrection
The Dark Knight
The X-Files: Fight the Future
The X-Files: I Want to Believe

 

[melancholymecha]

Re: Sci-Fi Movies That Have Come Out That Excited You but Disapointed

Im suprised no ones mentioned AI: Artificial Intelligence yet. (Not me though, I loved it.)

as for my choice: X-Men 3, what a waste, although Im planning to rewatch it again soon to see if it really was as disappointing as I remember it being...