Forgettable
Watched this when it first came out. Can hardly remember anything about it? Anyone else feel this way? Would it be worth a rewatch?
shareIf it didn't resonate with you the first time, I can't imagine it resonating with you a second time tbh.
shareThanks
shareIndeed. I was captivated by it from the start, was thinking about the movie every day for maybe a week after I watched it. And still I come back to it from time to time, that's why I'm writing this stupid reply.
And never there was a time for me when I wasn't impressed with a movie from the get-go, but on the second watch I suddenly started appreciating it. It's usually just a bigger disappointment and feeling of a wasted time.
So while I'm thinking that Pearl is great, just don't waste your time, trust your first impression.
Captivated is a good word. That's how I totally felt. The last few minutes haunted me for the next week lol
And never there was a time for me when I wasn't impressed with a movie from the get-go, but on the second watch I suddenly started appreciating it.
Now that you mention it, I can't recall if this has ever happened to me either. But with Pearl, I think with how distinctive it is, I really can't imagine anyone changing their opinion on a second view. share
I'll butt into the conversation here to add that I personally have appreciated films more on a second watch. I'm a big believer in giving some films a second chance. So much can alter how you view a film, be it the hype going into it getting your expectations too high, you were in a sour mood the day you watched it or you were tired/drunk whatever.
Some that come to mind for me;
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2 (1986) - Thought it was loud trash the first time I watched it but over subsequent rewatches I've grew to love it.
Chopping Mall (1986) - Didn't really get into it first time around, not sure why, but upon a rewatch I fell in love with it.
Hereditary (2018) - The first time I watched it I thought it was unintentionally hilarious and extremely overrated. On rewatches I've grew to like it some what, I still find it overrated but it does have some merits.
Re-Animator (1985) - I found it strangely boring... I soon learned that the director prefered the theatrical cut and the 'integral cut' had the filler that was put into the television cut to replace all the good bits. The shorter theatrical cut is a lot better, nice and lean as it should be without the near 20 minutes of filler.
All the Colors of the Dark (1972) - Didn't care for it the first time I saw it, probably because it was a more satanical cult riff on giallo as opposed a straight giallo. Upon a rewatch I really enjoyed it.
The Slumber Party Massacre (1982) - I liked it a bit but found it oddly flat and boring, now I absolutely adore it. Not sure how I found a 77 minute film with a lot of nudity, humor and kills boring but as I said up top sometimes you're just not in the right mood.
Interesting. I had a different experience, there are some really popular movies that cemented my opinion that it's not worth trying watching something twice if you didn't like it the first time.
The Royal Tenenbaums (2001) - it was so universally accepted and had such a high score, that I thought at first that maybe I'm watching the wrong movie or something. Few years later gave it another try and nothing has changed, later I understood that I don't like Wes Anderson's work at all.
2001: A Space Odyssey (1968) - this movie was the reason why for the longest time I thought that Kubrick is overrated. Until I got to watch Barry Lyndon and Eyes Wide Shut, which I consider masterpieces. I sometimes think how many people got turned off by Odyssey and didn't bother exploring his other works, because it's considered his Magnum Opus and gets recommended so much.
Countless Marvel movies about Iron Man, Thor and the the whole gang - desperately was trying to understand what people find in them, watched twice and gave up.
So I guess it's different for everyone, but for myself I've learned that
- It's not worth it rewatching a movie you didn't like
- You didn't miss anything that would've changed your reaction
- Ratings and popularity don't matter
- People often shill wrong movies, doing a disservice to the director they're trying to praise
It's kinda cool that you can find something in the movie that you didn't like initially, but the finality of my approach appeals to me, maybe I just hate self-doubt that much.
If you let enough decades pass, your mind can change.
As an adolescent I found Altman synonymous with “boring” but after rewatching “The Long Goodbye” and “California Split” years later I came to admire both. It’s hard to grasp some ideas when young, and back then I just didn’t get Altman at all.
You mentioned a few movies, but do you remember why you had a different perspective on the rewatch?
I feel like this had to have happened to me before, but I can't remember anything right now. I feel like it would have been based on movie's intention vs my expectation. Like, if I hated starship troopers the first time, because I wanted a serious scifi film, but then later, recognized it for the satire it was.
But I can't really think of any. I guess I might have done some memory overwriting for any films I might have appreciated on a second watch lol
Expectations plays a huge part.
I remember going into Hereditary having heard all the hype, scariest film in years, this generations The Exorcist, a masterpiece of horror... when I watched it the hype deflated rapidly. I honestly couldn't believe this was the film everyone was going crazy over. When I later decided to rewatch it I started to appreciate some aspects of it such as the cinematography, editing, OST and a few of the performances. I realized it was a decent film that had some things going for it and worthy of praise. My first viewing was basically me in shock that all these people online were supposedly traumatized by the film.
When you've already seen it, and been disappointed by it, upon a rewatch you know exactly what you're getting, you also go in knowing you didn't care for it so you have no expectations of it, sometimes you then start to come around to the films merits and lighten up on your stance.
That's another thing, some films take a direction which you don't like. I didn't like the ending of Get Out, didn't like the direction they took as it felt too unrealistic and Sci-Fi. I liked it more the second time around, instead of being disappointed by the ending I was in a stage of acceptance I guess. I knew that's how it would end so when it was revealed it wasn't a disappointment.
Other times mood/outside circumstances can play a part. I recall watching a film once and having to pause it several times due to family drama that was going on, needless to say I didn't care for the film much as my viewing of it was interrupted several times and I was stressed out. I later revisited the film and liked it a lot.
So did you delete your account? Can you even see this? I remember there was another regular posted who ended up being deleted. Dunno if he ever comes round anymore.
You definitely make a good argument. I think maybe, I don't get bothered by the genre surprises unless I thought it's writing flaw (e.g. recently saw this https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8191620/ and I thought the movie shifted from one movie to another abruptly to the disservice of its protagonist and plot development). But perhaps that's what you felt about Get Out. And maybe I'd feel differently if I rewatched Ravage, now that I know the direction it's taking. Maybe, just maybe.
Agreed about the circumstances for sure. I think also, watching with a friend or whatever can also change one's reaction too, now when I think about it. Sometimes movies make more sense when discussing it actively with a friend, and it can be a lot more enjoyable then.