Tsarstepan's profile

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Thursday, May 7th, 2020 4:44 PM

3

Poll Suggestion: IMDb Poll Board's Great Starts to Utterly Terrible Movies

Which of these utterly terrible movies* start off with a great opening scene before devolving into a hot mess of a trashy garbage film?

LISThttps://www.imdb.com/list/ls099964992/
POLL


*Chosen by members of the IMDb Poll Board. Nominated films rated by the respective member with 4 or fewer stars. 

REQUIREMENT: If submitting a film for inclusion, please find a corresponding image in the film's respective IMDb image page to add to the list. The scene must take place in the opening 5 or so minutes of the film (give or take opening credits if the opening credits do not involve the depiction of the film's plot/narrative).

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124K Points

5 years ago

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1014759/mediaviewer/rm4175730689

Tim Burton's 'Alice in Wonderland' starts off pretty well, depicting Alice as an underappreciated imaginative young girl who discovers the rabbit hole... but it soon evolves into nightmarish signature Burton mess. 

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I'll include it. But "pretty well" doesn't sound like you think it was a "great start." Do you consider a particular start like this one to be breathtaking? Did it make you openly go "wow!" out loud? That's what I'm looking for.

I'll include your descriptive text but will exclude the latter negative half. That being redundant due to the structure and nature of the poll. Is there a better way to depict the falling down a hole scene that made a big (positive) impression on you that you would prefer to put in place in your option?

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Okay, I see what you mean...  I went through my lowest rated movies, and this was the only one that at least started good, instead of being awful all through.  :)  Let;s try this one:
 
The opening scenes of Burton's 'Alice in Wonderland' grabbed me, as it depicted Alice's life and her discovery of the rabbit hole wondrously (no pun intended!).  

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Sweet. Much appreciated and will copy and paste the updated text into its proper place now.

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Thanks!

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5 years ago

I don't have a picture because it's a voice-over narration, but it's got to be the most hilarious opening to a comedy, followed by what I consider one of the worst comedies ever.

Here's the link to the gag, if you don't speak French, you won't get it...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cc1aiu2WtzE

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Can you verify the title of this movie? I've taken the liberty and screen-captured the punchline and will upload it to the page when verified.

RRRrrrr!!! (2004)? https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0357111/reference?

"Le 9 mai 1969, à deux kilomètres de la frontière nord du Laos, La 101ème Division d’Infanterie de l’armée américaine progresse vers la colline 937. Pour eux c’est une simple reconnaissance. Pour les Viêt-Cong, la colline 937 est une zone stratégique. La dizaine d’appelés de la 101ème Division, peu formée au combat, devait effectuer cette mission de routine en moins de deux heures. Ils résisteront héroïquement pendant neuf jours.

Ce film ne raconte pas leur histoire."

BTW: That's brilliant bait and switch narration.

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Yes, that's the film :)
Hilarious indeed

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Uploaded the respective still frame to the movie's image gallery. I'll post it when it's approved and published.

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Let me know if you want to add something to the text of this esoteric option to clarify, opine on, or leave it as is.

Your option is now on the list.

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5 years ago

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True, true!

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This one: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0063350/mediaviewer/rm502540800 is my favorite.

It began so well, the graveyard scene was amazing then you just end up with a trash movie about a bunch of dudes hiding in a house for 1h00, and with and even worse and more simplistic ending where those policemen and angry citizen come of nowhere to kill everyone.

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Can you describe the opening scene? On why it's a great scene? That's the nature of the poll more than the critique of the entire film.

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Can you address my questions Cinephile regarding your choice?

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Cinephile, still waiting for a brief couple of sentences on what made the opening scene notable for you.

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One more time... but with feeling... or any kind of reply.

Can you offer up a sentence or two on why you thought the opening scene to Night of the Living Dead was noteworthy? And to clarify, this isn't a poll about a good or great movie that went bad because of the ending. Most of the movie is supposed to be considered bad by you (but only after a solid or great opening scene).

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@Tsarstepan 

The scene was great because of how the joke and the taunting the protagonist's boyfriend soon becomes horrific. It is my type of humor.

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Like the zombies (of the forgotten dead) of that movie, I have forgotten this attempt at a poll. My instinct is to let it die in a shallow grave. Since I am going against that kneejerk reaction, I belatedly added your text to your nomination, Maxence.

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5 years ago

In my personal opinion, Easy Rider (1969) starts off quite well, but it just turns into a mess during the second half.

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Looking for more of a nosedive in quality in a given film, somewhat soon after said opening scene.

I haven't seen the film. Do you know if there's a related image in its image gallery here at IMDb?

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5 years ago

Tsar,

This may not exactly fit your criteria. However, Penny Serenade (1941) starts out well but towards the end becomes infuriating.

A childless couple pray for a baby boy. Eventually, they adopt a baby girl. The film shows the baby girl grow into a young girl who dies from a sudden illness. The couple's tears of sadness are turned into tears of joy when the adoption agency provides them with the baby boy that they originally prayed for.

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Sorry, Dan. But that seems to be the opposite of what I'm looking for. Your example seems to be about a good or great movie with a terrible ending.

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Tsar,

I understand. It was worth a try.

Regardless, I become upset every time I see Penny Serenade (1941).

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5 years ago

San Andreas (2015

Its actually really good opening, but later I think this is the most selfish movie about disaster I've ever seen. And the part later found in the movie's story, scientifically wrong, land earthquake don't trigger tsunami. 

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Do you know what image best suits the opening of San Andreas?

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I don't really remember but I think this would work 
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2126355/mediaviewer/rm3422024704

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Put up the image but can you better describe what makes the opening notable?

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Good evening. The question still stands. Can you offer up a sentence or two on why you thought the opening scene to San Andreas was noteworthy?

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4 years ago

The World’s End (2013(

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Can you provide an image corresponding to the film's opening scene and a brief couple of sentences that highlight why you found the opening scene so effective or moving or great before diving off the quality-cliff (TM pending)?

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I didn’t know it’s about the opening scene. I thought it’s about the beginning of the movie, the first half hour or so. I think I have to give you a different movie.

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https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0071230/...
For now I chose this one.
The opening credits and the opening song are great! So I was looking forward to a cool, classic western movie. A little comedy in it is okay, but it’s over the top and silly.

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Perfect. Thanks Hoekkie.

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4 years ago

Blazing Saddles and Night of the Living Dead? "Utterly terrible"?  Bah!

And nothing was ever great about Disney's latest Alice in Wonderland.

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4 years ago

This ought to be a controversial poll and discussion. 

From the depths of what I've seen and from the top of my head, Hitler Kaput (2008) is the case if good title sequences count. It starts with a really impressive and creative title sequence which I can easily compare to a great main-on-end title sequence in Suicide Squad (2016), however, what follows is a very messy and unfunny Russian absurdist comedy with fewer jokes landing anywhere near funny.  

Here's an official screener on YouTube, if anyone wonders, first 2-5 minutes will do to understands the scale of the situation: 

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Video doesn't work. Can you: 1. drop a screenshot image of the opening scene (I guess the credits); 2. write a couple of sentences describing the opening credits and why they're notable?

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Stephen Atwood, my bad. Although it seems that video is only blocked for integration and is still could be viewed here.

Quite basically, there's a creative title sequence, let's just say it does a better job of having characters and gags in one stylistical vein than any scene in the movie itself. 

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Didn't need to see the actual opening credits. I was just asking for an appropriate example/image of the opening scene. Took a couple of screenshots and will upload them afterward.



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4 years ago

Can't think of anything with a great start, but I'll suggest Dark Shadows because the opening had me thinking the story would at least be faithful to the source. The gradual tone shift from dramatic to an unnecessary comedy was weird and made the opening stand out more as comparatively good.

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1077368/mediaviewer/rm2326698241

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Maybe, I wrote this one a bit too vague (which is why I'm not so excited about it as when I initially put it out there). 

The poll is more about the opening scene and why it works (more than why the rest of the film stank). Can you better address that in a descriptive sentence or two? 

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Oh, I can probably think of a different title if the poll is about a great opener and ends up being a mediocre to bad.

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I think it is a common answer but I will say Spectre. I remember seeing the unique camera work and watching Bond in this open environment traversing through the event, just amazed me. The costume/set designs were perfect icing to this treat of a scene.

I honestly can't remember anything else about the movie except the movie hammering in Blofeld for no reason and Bond talking to Sedoux on a train.

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Spectre has been added to the list. Let me know if you prefer a better image of the opening scene....

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4 years ago

I think this fits the criteria for me: Due Date (2010).

In the opening sequence, RDJ is talking to his wife over phone and going to airport, but then his car gets hit by a taxi with Jack coming out of it. They have a devilish eye contact and began talking I just felt it was another Hangover fun! But, it turned out be snoozefest with no jokes, no fun and less emotion.

https://m.imdb.com/title/tt1231583/me...

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Added (and slightly grammatically edited).

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4 years ago

Stephen, will you add Ardan's choices?

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Uploaded three images from the opening scene. They'll be up in a day or so.

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Yay!