Skip to main content
Tsarstepan's profile
Tsarstepan
50k Badge

2.7K Messages

 • 

70.2K Points

Thu, May 7, 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?

LIST: https://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).

Idea

 • 

Updated 

3 m ago

28

15

3

Responses

MST3KandNarniaisAwesome

4.4K Messages

 • 

123.8K Points

1 y 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. 

4

Tsarstepan

2.7K Messages

 • 

70.2K Points

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?

Like

1 y ago

MST3KandNarniaisAwesome

4.4K Messages

 • 

123.8K Points

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!).  

Like

1 y ago

Tsarstepan

2.7K Messages

 • 

70.2K Points

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

Like

1 y ago

MST3KandNarniaisAwesome

4.4K Messages

 • 

123.8K Points

Thanks!

Like

1 y ago

ElMaruecan82

4.4K Messages

 • 

129K Points

1 y 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

4

Tsarstepan

2.7K Messages

 • 

70.2K Points

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.

Like

1 y ago

ElMaruecan82

4.4K Messages

 • 

129K Points

Yes, that's the film :)
Hilarious indeed

Like

1 y ago

Tsarstepan

2.7K Messages

 • 

70.2K Points

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

Like

1 y ago

Tsarstepan

2.7K Messages

 • 

70.2K Points

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.

Like

1 y ago

0

cinephile

2.3K Messages

 • 

46.7K Points

1 y ago

7

MST3KandNarniaisAwesome

4.4K Messages

 • 

123.8K Points

True, true!

Like

1 y ago

Tsarstepan

2.7K Messages

 • 

70.2K Points

Like

1 y ago

cinephile

2.3K Messages

 • 

46.7K Points

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.

Like

1 y ago

Tsarstepan

2.7K Messages

 • 

70.2K Points

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.

Like

1 y ago

Tsarstepan

2.7K Messages

 • 

70.2K Points

Can you address my questions Cinephile regarding your choice?

Like

10 m ago

0

Tsarstepan

2.7K Messages

 • 

70.2K Points

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

Like

9 m ago

0

Tsarstepan

2.7K Messages

 • 

70.2K Points

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).

Like

5 m ago

0

goddangwatir

236 Messages

 • 

8K Points

1 y ago

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

1

Tsarstepan

2.7K Messages

 • 

70.2K Points

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?

Like

1 y ago

dan_dassow

Champion

 • 

14.1K Messages

 • 

419.7K Points

1 y 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.

2

Tsarstepan

2.7K Messages

 • 

70.2K Points

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.

Like

1 y ago

dan_dassow

Champion

 • 

14.1K Messages

 • 

419.7K Points

Tsar,

I understand. It was worth a try.

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

Like

1 y ago

Pencho15

Champion

 • 

2.9K Messages

 • 

78.9K Points

1 y ago


The closest I can find to your parameters is Alexander's Ragtime Band. But I must say I don't find it utterly awful, but simply mediocre. All the terrible films I have seen don't have a promising start I can remember.

Alexander's Ragtime Band started strong, while it is nothing original and it follows the structure of many musicals, it presents the two lead characters and lovers to be, puts a rivalry between them as they both want to have the spot in a musical number, and they end playing the title song together. We know what follows but it can be done right or bad, and this films odes it bad as the rest of the film has little substance, not great perfomances and never again has a great musical number like the first one.

Picture is of the main characters, is not of the first scene, but I think there isn't one.

1

Tsarstepan

2.7K Messages

 • 

70.2K Points

Added to the list. Thanks. Sorry, it took so long to finagle it with the rest of the nominations.

Like

10 m ago

ferry_silitonga

832 Messages

 • 

29.3K Points

1 y 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. 

4

Tsarstepan

2.7K Messages

 • 

70.2K Points

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

Like

10 m ago

ferry_silitonga

832 Messages

 • 

29.3K Points

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

Like

9 m ago

Tsarstepan

2.7K Messages

 • 

70.2K Points

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

Like

9 m ago

Tsarstepan

2.7K Messages

 • 

70.2K Points

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?

Like

5 m ago

0

Hoekkie

1.1K Messages

 • 

26.6K Points

10 m ago

The World’s End (2013(

4

Tsarstepan

2.7K Messages

 • 

70.2K Points

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)?

Like

10 m ago

Hoekkie

1.1K Messages

 • 

26.6K Points

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.

Like

10 m ago

Hoekkie

1.1K Messages

 • 

26.6K Points

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.

Like

10 m ago

Tsarstepan

2.7K Messages

 • 

70.2K Points

Perfect. Thanks Hoekkie.

Like

10 m ago

imdbmember

204 Messages

 • 

8.9K Points

10 m ago

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

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

0

nikolay_yeriomin

Champion

 • 

3.6K Messages

 • 

230K Points

9 m 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: 

3

Tsarstepan

2.7K Messages

 • 

70.2K Points

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?

Like

9 m ago

nikolay_yeriomin

Champion

 • 

3.6K Messages

 • 

230K Points

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. 

Like

9 m ago

0

Tsarstepan

2.7K Messages

 • 

70.2K Points

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.



Like

9 m ago

Helpful Widget

© 1990-2020 by IMDb.com, Inc.