MovieChat Forums > The Sting (1973) Discussion > Am I the only person on Earth who doesn'...

Am I the only person on Earth who doesn't like this film?

posted 12 years ago by kolnoaMograbi
66 replies | jump to latest

...not only didn't like it, actually fell asleep! I was 13 that summer, and was a junior counselor for nine-year-old girls at a day camp. All my campers raved about this flick. Went to see it with a friend and honestly couldn't keep up with the plot. Seemed to me to be one long poker game (about as exciting as watching someone get their braces tightened) punctuated by I don't know what, 'cause I fell asleep. For real.

When you think of garbage, think of Hakim!

[–] ZevII 12 years ago

Yes. Yes, you are.

OK seriously, you read the boards and every movie has people that don't like it. Some people don't like Citizen Kane; I've never gotten into the Loprd of the Rings trilogy. Everybody has different tastes, depending on our backgrounds and when we see the movies.

I believe that the music, TV shows, and movies we like best are generally the ones we get hooked on growing up. People in their 50s probably remember the 1960s as the golden age for entertainment, those around 40 probably loved the '80s.

[–] kolnoaMograbi 12 years ago

Uh, gee. How...edifying. Thanks for that.

When you think of garbage, think of Hakim!

[–] ck1-5 12 years ago

Hey, you're the one that asked the question....don't whine when someone gives you an answer.

[–] oh_no_mrbill 12 years ago

He (or she) said they saw it at age 13, and all the 9 year old girls at their summer camp were raving about it.

I'm going to go out on a limb and say, this is not a real post.

[–] mdunford74 10 years ago

no kidding,
first of all I don't blame a 13 year for not liking the movie, not exactly the target audience
that being said
I didn't think 9 year old girls were the target audience either

there are many movies I watched when I was younger that were "classics"
that I didn't care for/understand
until I saw them when I was about 10 - 15 years older

i'm sure if the OP watched it again as an adult
hopefully he is by now,
he would really enjoy this movie.

[–] DabacTSP 12 years ago

Go watch it again, with 13 1/2 it's a whole new world opening...
Just kidding; give it another try, focus and you'll enjoy.

[–] 12 years ago

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[–] boxerrebellion 12 years ago

I think your decades are off and you missed the 70s. In terms of movies, I love the 80's ones with the Brat Pack, Top Gun, the original Star Wars Trilogy & Indy. Television, M*A*S*H, Little House, basically 70s stuff, but also the re-runs we saw from the 60s. Music, mostly 80s, and many of those songs bring back instant memories of a place, situation or people. I also love the older movies - anything with William Powell and Myrna Loy, Fred, Bing, or Kathryn Hepburn. Right now I have a serious problem with TCM, I keep staying up until 2AM watching movies because where we live we can't use DVR or tivo or anything like that and our VCRs have all expired.

[–] boxerrebellion 12 years ago

Short answer, 'yes'. Maybe you should watch it now that you are older and hopefully more mature.

[–] forbidden10 12 years ago

Yes, I am afraid you are. :)

[–] ecarle 12 years ago

And also, critic David Thomson(see post "David Thomson is wrong on The Sting" on this thread.

For every "great film," for every "Best Picture," for every "Greatest Film Ever Made" -- there HAS to be someone who doesn't like it.

Its just the odds...

[–] hiddenagenda1 12 years ago

Yes.

Volker Flenske: (While torturing David) I don't know why you're doing this to yourself!

[–] jwalsh67 12 years ago

For me, 'The Sting' took multiple viewings to fully appreciate. The first time I saw it was on TV--in black & white to boot--and I knew that it was going way over my head. I did, however, like the music, the characters, and the action. With the advent of the VCR, I was able to rent it and catch all of the details. Clearly this is a film that beckons scrutiny and questions from its audience--just look at all of the points/counterpoints on this board! If anyone claims to have understood the plot fully on first viewing, I would have a tough time believing it.

He who conquers himself is mightier than he who conquers a city.

[–] kolnoaMograbi 12 years ago

jWalsh, thanks for at least taking my query seriously and somewhat validating my view.

When you think of garbage, think of Hakim!

[–] spookyrat1 12 years ago

"For me, 'The Sting' took multiple viewings to fully appreciate."

I agree. I've always liked it, but it does seem to reflect its many merits with age and further viewings.

IMO it's one of those almost perfect films right from the opening bars of the "Entertainer" accompanying the introductory credits.

And IMO it lives up to it's promise and delivers in spades, never failing to entertain.

[–] bald_tony 12 years ago

not liking "the sting" is like going to las vegas and being bored

[–] BlondeVixen 12 years ago

<nine-year-old girls at a day camp. All my campers raved about this flick.>

Probably because of Robert Redford more than the story itself. I remember adolescent girls going on & on about how cute they thought he was.

[–] rochelle-rochelle 12 years ago

The poker game was like 10 minutes of a two hour movie. You should probably see the entire film before posting on a message board that you don't like the film based on a 30 year old memory.

[–] 12 years ago

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[–] brefane 12 years ago

Honestly I prefer Harry in Your Pocket about an older con man teaching the ropes to a younger would be criminal. Small scale and entertaining though no great shakes as a film it was released the same year as The Sting and I came to care more for the characters in Harry than those involved in The Sting which is too long and over-rated IMHO. The Sting won Best Picture the same year Mean Steets, Sleeper, Badlands, and Serpico were released though none of them were Best Picture nominees.

[–] kolnoaMograbi 12 years ago

Thanks for your validation!

When you think of garbage, think of Hakim!

[–] hurk130 11 years ago

I am perfectly fine with someone not liking this film. It is ok to have different taste and different interest. I did not like Avatar at all. Thought it was Pocahontas with CGI overload. I don't like any of the Alien movies. Just too gross. I thought "The Rock" was just plain stupid. I could go on and on. Others love those movies. I thought Shindlers List, Saving Private Ryan and Blackhawk Down were excellent movies. Top of anything ever put on film but I could only watch them once. While one of my all time favorite movies is El Dorado with James Cann and John Wayne. Not a very good movie, cheesy dialog, plot holes, and bad acting. I have watched it at least 100 times. It is like a comfortable pair of shoes or an old friend. Bottom line. To each its own.

I would hope you would give it one more chance and if you still don't like it, never speak the words "The Sting" again! Ha!!!

[–] kolnoaMograbi 12 years ago

Thanks for your validation!

When you think of garbage, think of Hakim!

[–] 12 years ago

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