MovieChat Forums > Le scaphandre et le papillon (2008) Discussion > This movie was terrible!

This movie was terrible!

posted 16 years ago by amaranthine_glory
37 replies | jump to latest

My friend and I were both stunned that the ratings were so high. It wasn't half as amazing as we thought it was going to be.

I have no idea what anyone can find artistic or inspiring in this film, at least in an amount worth commending. I kept waiting for something bigger to happen, but it never did. There was hardly a message here. It felt like it was trying to go somewhere but just kept wandering aimlessly around an underdeveloped concept. A few glimpses of something flashy here and there, but nothing spectacular, nothing that wasn't already familiar. I was very disappointed. I felt like there was so much potential that was never reached. Visually it was not captivating either, except for a few minor, fleeting accomplishments.

My advice, don't waste your time. Watch The Fall by Tarsem Singh or The Fountain by Darren Aronofsky instead.

C for effort. Generously. Acknowledging that the writer is a third-grader.

[–] toresf 16 years ago

I think its important to remember that this movie is based on a true story. Expecting a movie about a guy who barely can blink his eye to have a lot of drive and big happenings, will probaly dissapoint you.

And its a bit unfair to compare the visuality in this movie to fantasy movies like The Fall and The Fountain, who has a lot more liberty to use visual images as agent. This movie has to focus on the person I think, not visuality.

Ps. Sorry for my bad english!

[–] xynth90 16 years ago

I don't know.. it's my first french artsy film I've seen. It's not really for my taste either but it wasn't terrible. More like Cannes content. It's 7/10 for me. A patient suffering from stroke slowly generating from self-pity and writes a book. Fair enough.

"No... I'm in touch with humanity." - Patrick Bateman

[–] edmatper 16 years ago

Your comment is terrible. It's a wonderful movie about life and gives a fresh point of view of existence. And it's not a "french artsy film", it's a good movie. Not artsy, nothing is iconoclastic and uncomprehensible in this movie. Of course, compared to Transformers it's more intellectual... and fundamental.

[–] xynth90 16 years ago

Thanks. I really needed another war about "what's art and what's not". Care-meter rising. - - - - -. Wow. Five degrees already. No really. I say this directly: ART MOVIES aren't supposed to be too damn convulted like music or paintings because otherwise they probably wouldn't have a point. They need a plot, a message.. something that makes them what they are.. movies and POSSIBLY .. art. They avoid mainstream. I honestly don't care for them very much but I do like great crime/thriller/dramas. They can achieve art too.

"No... I'm in touch with humanity." - Patrick Bateman

[–] MitchConnor24 9 years ago

Lol! You think this film's "artsy".

You know that not every film that doesn't use English is an art film? Whilst the majority of films contain a degree of art, this isn't an "arts" film in the context in which you suggest.

I hope you've been able to acquire a more cultured taste in the 7 years since you've written your post; but I doubt you've experienced any true art films in the meantime.

As for 'The Diving Bell and the Butterfly', it's a very good film. A lot of people have compared it to 'The Sea Inside', but I prefer this. I watched 'Untouchables' recently too, but that felt so contrived compared to this and 'The Sea Inside'.

[–] long4021 16 years ago

are you serious?! one of the best movies of 2008. how can you not see the point about how life shouldnt be taken so seriously?...this movie was nothing close to terrible

chrissssy,

[–] kuno_lala 16 years ago

i can not believe you don't see the point of this movie .. the story itslef is the message... the only thig this guy could do was blink and he created a book blinking and u say there's nothig spectacular .. and comparing a movie that's based on a true story with sf movies doesn't really work, though u chose 2 great movies..so before u go on and say what a terrible movie this is u should think that maybe u just didn't get it or that it's not ur type ...

[–] SeisCinemaSeis 16 years ago

Hardly a message here????
You and your buddy are a couple of retards who should stick to pop-corn flicks.
Not only the story is very touching, inspiring and wonderfully acted, also the edition, score and cinematography are excellent and groundbreaking.

[–] dadeaux 16 years ago

"Not only the story is very touching, inspiring and wonderfully acted, also the edition, score and cinematography are excellent and groundbreaking."

Ii is one of the great illusions that a movie dealing with pain, debilitating diseases or suffering children, especially if based on a true story, is automatically good. Well, that's a ridiculous presumption, as this movie shows all too well, but some filmmakers definitely count on their audiences' reluctance to call a spade a spade, that is trash, if faced point-blank with Human Suffering.

From a technical point of view, it's a well-made film, with some interesting camera solutions, but it has a cold, calculating heart and no connection with the protagonist whatsoever. This film is a predator, set upon awards. It's the worst kind of exploitation, hiding between a dead man who probably blinks in horror beyond the grave, seeing what they have concocted out of his tragic story. Two hours of stiff boredom, and I am being generous.

If you want to see a truly good movie about a person paralyzed from his neck down, AND based upon a true story, see Alejandro Amenabar's "Mar Adentro". Now, that one will make you cry.

Disclaimer: I'm not from the USA.

[–] jebgeorgesuk 16 years ago

nothing to see here . . .move along. nothing to see here . . .move along.

[–] IMDB-Fangirl 12 years ago

I totally agree with whatever you said. The story was touching and interesting but the film was boring and not well-made IMO. I had great expectations from it but I was disappointed. I also agree that 'Mar Adentro' is a brilliant movie.

[–] TCOFamily 16 years ago

"My friend and I were both stunned that the ratings were so high. It wasn't half as amazing as we thought it was going to be."

Let me guess. Are you and your friend from the USA ?

[–] webba-3 16 years ago

I think the problem is that people have expectations of what film must be. Hollywood has conditioned many film-goers that film must be the chronicling of a story. Subsequently, the story itself must be compelling enough to assume the spotlight. However, you can only do so much with a story. What you can do, however, is change the lens through which you view the story. This film does just that. This film gets at something that Hollywood film making lacks. It immerses you into the experience of being Jean-do. It is more than just the experience of being physically incapacitated -- it is what it is like to experience this life with all the mental faculties and ontological nuances of Jean-do himself. For instance, in the majority of Jean-do's imaginings his mental representation of himself is reflective of how he knew he used to look. This is because he hasn't yet fully inspected his current physical state. Only when Jean-do has perceived himself (through incidental reflections) fully and has integrated his physical appearance into his perception of the "self" do we begin to see Jean-do's current physical state pervade his imagination. Finally, at the end Jean-do recounts the incident that forced him into his current state. However, the cinematography denotes that we are viewing the experience from within the eyes of the current Jean-do. The shots are stationary and often slightly askew, similar to the way in which Jean-do perceives the world due to his paralysis. He has rejected from his mind the way in which he used to perceive the world, instead accepting his current perspective into his sense of self.

This film is beautiful.

[–] starkrayz 16 years ago

Let me guess. Are you and your friend from the USA ?

I'm from the USA and I appreciated and enjoyed the film. What does the country have to do with it. Am I to assume that since you made such a pompous and moronic assumption that every foreigner is as asinine as yourself?

[–] keyser_soze_08 16 years ago

Mostly because most Americans are known for liking *beep* movies. Which would explain why most of our biggest blockbusters are crap. Yes, I said ours, as I am an American myself.

You have to admit, most Americans have poor taste in movies.

Seriously, IMDB has proven this.

http://keysersoze1984.dvdaf.com/owned

[–] oshelley55 16 years ago

"Are you and your friend from the USA ?"

The film was made by people from the USA, so what is your point?

[–] acd4753-1 16 years ago

TCOFamily, way to generalize.

"Wisdom begins in Wonder"
-Socrates

[–] aphexxx 16 years ago

It's always a mistake to watch a film with preconceived high expectations.

I knew nothing about it before hand and was totally blown away.

Also I think creative/imaginative/artistic/romantic people are more draw to this type of film.

It's all about the details.

[–] Terzastella 16 years ago

Okay, I was mildly disappointed by this, even though it still made me care and kept me watching.

...but The Fountain??!! Really?!
Talk about a festering pile of muddled, manipulating, self-pleasuring crap!

[–] keyser_soze_08 16 years ago

I think you have the wrong take on The Fountain.

http://keysersoze1984.dvdaf.com/owned

[–] Terzastella 16 years ago

You mean to say that you disagree with me?
Or that you're right and I'm wrong?

[–] lcourtnell 16 years ago

I do find it a bit strange to describe this film as terrible. It leaves very little room for films that everyone must agree are truly terrible, a recent example being the new Pink Panther film, but there are hundreds, if not thousands, of such films that can be classified as terrible. Having said that I haven't seen the other films you mention and will do so.
The enjoyment (probably more accurately, appreciation) of The Diving Bell....is probably subjective. Had you a friend or relative suffering a severe stroke you may think differently.
I do find that these posts do attract iconoclasts who seem to get some sort of pleasure with disagreeing with the majority opinion(s).

[–] ogiekeaney 16 years ago

i find it hard to believe that anyone could find this film terrible..each to their own i guess

[–] OldSpiegel 16 years ago

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