MovieChat Forums > The Lawnmower Man (1992) Discussion > Well, I liked it

Well, I liked it

posted 19 years ago by threeoranges
16 replies | jump to latest

I'm amazed it got such bad reviews! I'm not saying it's the greatest film I've ever seen, but actually *awful*? There were only two actively bad elements, and they were both very minor - 1) Jobe's "Hick Hayseed" outfit and hair at the start 2) the line "He learnt Latin in two hours, it took me a year just to learn the alphabet" (erm, dimwit...)

So why didn't the critics/people like it? Admittedly it was simplistic, a little bit predictable and the characters were stereotypical, but this is a moral allegory/revenge drama, it goes with the territory.

What we have is a sort of FRANKENSTEIN/FLOWERS FOR ALGERNON/TRON mix, which means it's not short on philosophy and pretty graphics. Plus, Pierce Brosnan wanders around topless for much of the action, which is always a bonus ;)

[–] richard_flood05 19 years ago

yeh i thought it was good and i think the story line is clever, well up until he can make things float with his mind.

[–] TheSolarSailor 19 years ago

I think that, overall, it is a solid piece of work. Rather dated with it's early CGI effects, but then again, that is part of it's charm for me. I mean, I still think Cyber-Jobe is extremely cool to this day!!

* * * *

OK, so what's the speed of dark?

[–] 19 years ago

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[–] mrhanky911 19 years ago

and i add, those worse horror movies get more recognition than needed.... :(

Everytime i hear someone talk about Jeff Fahey, they say his best movie was BODY PARTS! i mean, its an ok flick if your bored, but c'mon!!!

"revenge is a dish best served cold."

[–] 19 years ago

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[–] acquiesce213 19 years ago

I've always liked this movie

[–] Howlin Wolf 19 years ago

So why didn't the critics/people like it?

1. Bad dialogue - "He's the best chimp I ever had!" It took me 15 seconds to come up with a better line myself, ("He's the best subject I've ever worked with") only I wasn't hired to write the darn thing...

2. Lazy, hambone acting from Brosnan. - Looking all bug-eyed and frantic as he says something about tempering excitement with caution. Someone's been overdosing on campy Hammer Horror... Perfect MST3K fodder...

"Pretty graphics"??! If I'd wanted to see superior images of that type - even in '92 - I'd have just dropped some LSD...

"Americans are prudes who left Europe 'cos they hated all the kinky sex"

[–] threeoranges 19 years ago

1. Bad dialogue - "He's the best chimp I ever had!" It took me 15 seconds to come up with a better line myself, ("He's the best subject I've ever worked with") only I wasn't hired to write the darn thing...

Yes, but "chimp" gets over the doctor's essential contempt for his subject - to him, Jobe ain't a human, he's just an experiment. Corny line in its lack of subtlety, but it does let you know the doctor is not a nice guy at this point.

. Lazy, hambone acting from Brosnan. - Looking all bug-eyed and frantic as he says something about tempering excitement with caution. Someone's been overdosing on campy Hammer Horror... Perfect MST3K fodder...

This I cannot deny Pierce is no Pete Cushing, and he's just embarrassing if he tries to be. But I like Hammer Horror in all its campness, so I suppose that's why I didn't have any problems with TLM.

[–] Howlin Wolf 19 years ago

Yes, but "chimp" gets over the doctor's essential contempt for his subject - to him, Jobe ain't a human, he's just an experiment. Corny line in its lack of subtlety, but it does let you know the doctor is not a nice guy at this point.

... No; it's when he's talking about an ACTUAL chimp, in the beginning!

"Americans are prudes who left Europe 'cos they hated all the kinky sex"

[–] threeoranges 19 years ago

Colour me extremely embarassed - and, note to self: go back and watch the film before you attempt exegesis!!!

[–] Howlin Wolf 19 years ago

... I only watched it for the first time myself this morning - so I should remember!!

"Americans are prudes who left Europe 'cos they hated all the kinky sex"

[–] Possessed-like-a-Fish 18 years ago

It was a very FUN Movie. Something to be enjoyed and only watched once every 10 years.

[–] buckshot69 18 years ago

ITs a great movie in my opinion I thought it was a new story compared to all the remakes and new spins on the flim under different circumstance I think this film would make a great cult classic.

[–] Navy_Maroon 18 years ago

I thought it was good. The story drove me to keep watching. I thought this was a movie that could keep one intrested and make you keep watching to find out what happens next. As for the CG, I can understand why most complain that its outdated. Yes, some things are, but I think like the V.R. sequences are meant to look the way they do because I'm sure when we were still in the early stages of V.R. and we couldn't make it look realistic yet.

"Yes, I speak...and read...and think...and know the ways of man."

[–] AndyKing1967 (38411) a month ago

A good concept, poorly executed.

[–] stevewyzard (1612) a month ago

Is threeoranges the person we now know as fourlemons?