MovieChat Forums > La dolce vita (1961) Discussion > Fellini is so over rated

Fellini is so over rated

posted 20 years ago by inlovewithmovies
275 replies | jump to latest

Fellini is not a great film maker. He's not even a good film maker. To place him on the same level with the greats is an insult to the greats. He is completely self-indulgent. His films are pretentious, smug, and worse of all boring. He is not a visionary, but a phony. This movie is just a clear example of that.
La Dolce Vita has no plot and is exceedingly dull at a run time of 3 hours long. Gone With the Wind, the Godfather, and Titanic-- I can see as deserving of 3 hours, but this piece of triviality could have been told in 10 minutes. It's been a long time since a movie has inspired so much hatred in me for what was on the screen. I would rather be subjected to a Jennifer Lopez movie marathon, starting with Gigli than to go through another viewing of this never ending tortuous meaningless journey through Marcello's vapid existence. In fact, throw in a Ben Affleck marathon while you are at it starting with Surving Christmas and I'd still gladly take that torture then another Fellini "classic." I've tried to like Fellini and this about the fifth movie I've seen of his and I'm sorry but he is not brilliant. Fellini should take lessons from Goddard on what a cool movie is supposed to be like.

[–] aymansousa 17 years ago

I Agree!

Is that your blood?
Some of it, yeah.

[–] Premminger 17 years ago

The majority of Fellini lovers on this board come as quite snobbish. They've only proven it 100 times over with the little smug comments like "you don't know what art is" if you don't like Fellini or your credibility's been shot now that you've said you liked Titanic. Sorry, but Fellini is not a great film maker. The rest of the greats are rightfully haled for their brilliance. Fellini is not. He's been given too many accolades for such poor film making for far too long.

[–] 17 years ago

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[–] chiliwaterboy 16 years ago

I have to say, that is extremely harsh. There's nothing wrong with not enjoying a movie. If I don't enjoy a movie I just try and ask people how I could enrichen the experience. I didn't particuarly like La Dolce Vita, but Fellini's films are just not my cup of tea. My favorite film happens to be Oldboy, but I don't get irate if someone doesn't enjoy the movie.

[–] Trouter2000 17 years ago

Funny how you mention Godard, he's really not a director I like very much. In fact I've often thought of him as overrated. My best advice to you is to come back to Fellini in a few years. Wait until your tastes mature a bit, and you may find him much better. I know I wasn't initially impressed very much with 8 1/2, but after revisiting it I absolutely loved it. Fellini isn't for everyone, if he was he wouldn't be Fellini.

Edit: Are you seriously saying an unrealistic, shallow and cliched movie like Titanic is on par with Fellini? Fellini is at least original, all Titanic does is do what every other romance does. Fake characters, fake acting and an obvious plot. Just avoid foreign cinema in general, I don't think its for you.

Last film seen: The Maltese Falcon 9/10

[–] hoofo87 17 years ago

i completely agree with the original poster, for his originally stated sentiments

[–] Sleepless_84 17 years ago

I agree , Fellini is so boring ( especially Dolce Vita and 8 1/2 ) but he has some masterpieces as "Il Bidone" and "La strada"

[–] Trouter2000 17 years ago

Often times some of the big name directors are much to pretentious and boring; I hated Renoir's The Rules of the Game and Godard's Breathless, but Fellini is above all fun. His films are always engaging, never lacking in splendor and always classy. I can't wait to see more of him, he hasn't been disappointing yet.

Last film seen: La Dolce Vita 9/10

[–] 17 years ago

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[–] Trouter2000 17 years ago

La Dolce Vita: 9/10

8 1/2: 10/10

Nights of Cabiria: 8/10

Last film seen: Koko: A Talking Gorilla 7/10

[–] 17 years ago

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[–] stevem-26 17 years ago

This quote by Steiner in the film seems to suggest to me why so many have come to hate Fellini, sometimes virulently.

Steiner: Don't be like me. Salvation doesn't lie within four walls. I'm too serious to be a dilettante and too much a dabbler to be a professional. Even the most miserable life is better than a sheltered existence in an organized society where everything is calculated and perfected.

The people of America and maybe some or much of the rest of the world have become psychically boxed in. The scope of people has diminished. They have become more and more controlled by large systems to the point where the systems seem to parasitically have a will of their own. Along with that, logic and the left brain have ascended to dominate people's consideration and involvement with art.

This results in an environment where people resent Fellini's kind of filmmaking. They can't let go of this tight control and let Fellini just happen to them, which I think, is the only way Fellini's films can work their magic. It's the virulence of the hatred which to me is a key to the explanation of what is going on in so many people's minds and psyches. Or, what is not going on.

[–] inlovewithmovies 16 years ago

Or maybe it could just be that the movied sucked. It's terrible. Probably one of the worst movies I've seen ever. The movie is pretentious, long-winded meandering and just plain dull. Fellini is so self-indulgent and the whole dam movie is pointless.

[–] kenny-164 16 years ago

Calls itself in love with movies, yet has like 8 posts, more than half of which are anti-Fellini rants.

No cred.

[–] jamasian_man 16 years ago

Yeah, La Dolce Vita is my favourite Fellini films so far. I didn't enjoy 8 1/2 or Amarcord as much as this one.

I'm still looking for La Strada and a few others.

PS. Titanic is more overrated, it may have the biggest box office numbers in history and may never be topped, but is also 3 hours long.

Plus, titanic is a love story and more for entertainment.

That's like saying Transformers is more entertaining than the Godfather.
Totally different kinds of film.

If you like entertainment hollywood movies its okay, just don't go around bashing a director because you disklike him. Just go watch your own movies.

[–] e-a-milliken 15 years ago

Stevem--I think you're really onto something there!

[–] 17 years ago

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[–] ttride 16 years ago

"Fellini is not a great film maker. He's not even a good film maker."

Ooops. Bad start, buddy.

"I would rather be subjected to a Jennifer Lopez movie marathon"

Ouch! this is getting worse!

"throw in a Ben Affleck marathon while you are at it starting with Surving Christmas and I'd still gladly take that torture then another Fellini "classic""

WTF!!!

Then maybe yo should do just that! And then use your time for the JLo and Ben boards.

Bu the way, I son't think this film is a masterpiece, but it seems to me that you have gone way too far with your "review".

[–] arian_8769 16 years ago

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I've tried to like Fellini and this about the fifth movie I've seen of his and I'm sorry but he is not brilliant.
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You tried to like Fellini? Oh dont bother. You dont have to love him or like him. And you dont have to say moronic things about one of the greatest artists of the 20th century. You should just sit through the movies you like(Titanic, 10000 B.C. or anything you like or consider great! I dont intend to insult your taste. Just anything you think is great!) and enjoy yourself.

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Fellini should take lessons from Goddard on what a cool movie is supposed to be like.
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So you know about Godard and European cinema. Good for you. I also think that Godard is so great and innovative and influential but Fellini is still a greater master. If not the greatest.

[–] mustafatanyer 16 years ago

I didnt watch la dolce vita yet but from my experience with 8½, I am prepearing myself to a full boring and *beep* 3 hours. Shame on you teachers who define fellinis movies as art and give homeworks about them!!!!

http://www.imdb.com/mymovies/list?l=24795200
take a look:)

[–] 16 years ago

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[–] 16 years ago

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[–] mustafatanyer 15 years ago

it was a joke stupid ass, if you dont get it go get a life. these are the sideeffects of watching fellini I am tellin you.

http://www.imdb.com/mymovies/list?l=24795200
take a look:)

[–] 15 years ago

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