Okay, guilty pleasures time:
Howard the Duck. I remember seeing this in the theater. It really isn’t that horrible of a film. Really. It’s more disappointing of a film. With talent like George Lucas and ILM, plus Lea Thompson, Tim Robbins, Jeffrey Jones, plus John Barry and Thomas Dolby on the music … you’d expect something a lot better. I think it was the disappointment factor — plus schadenfreude over Lucas, the Star Wars wunderkind — that led to the gleeful bad press and poor box office that haunts the movie’s rep to this day.
Really. Take it as it is, and it’s just a fun romp. Nothing to change cinematic history, no Citizen Kane. Just fun.
Lost in Space. I remember this one from the theaters, too, and I remember being terribly disappointed. But, y’know — again, it’s a matter of expectations. Be prepared for cheese, and it plays a lot more enjoyably. The plot, and acting, are a zillion times better than the TV series (not to mention the effects), and if there are awful lapses in logic and the like, there’s still plenty to just enjoy, whether it’s the Robot, or Gary Oldman as Dr. Smith (Edward!), or even a bit of unexpected poignancy over the whole time travel schtick.
Again — take it for what it is, sit back, and and let it race along your lowered expectations. Pretty colors, some amusing lines, and the Robot with his “real” voice make for some fine popcorn for the brain.
71 view(s)
I always thought HtD did poorly at the box office because people didn’t know what to expect of the character. As a fan of the comics, I was fairly pleased with the film, but if I had gone in expecting a funny talking-animal story, I’d likely have been confused and/or disappointed.
I do have one rule that applies to this movie, though: No film with Jeffrey Jones in it can be all bad.