Why such a low rating? - On the Road (2012) Discussion

[–] ArthurJimbo 12 years ago

Judging only by reading the very mixed bag reviews as well as hearing personal reports from friends..I'm half inclined to think that the audience members that believe this movie is extraordinary are probably dulled by the last decade of films that have come out. Hollywoods storytelling has diminished so very much in the last decade that most people see an OK movie and by comparison it seems extraordinary and at least a half breath of fresh air maybe?

ALso, not all the movies out now have to live up to such a high esteem. Every bit necessary but not altogether fair in the slightest. THey bit off a bigger chunk than they could probably ultimately manage so to speak.. At least in terms of making a masterpiece. Pleasing everyone who loves the book is never going to be an easy task. More like a downright hellish one.

The fact that they attempted makes me proud of them. I respect that a great deal

I dont know. Glad you thought the film was great. Your feelings matter the most here.. i would think. ;^)

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[–] mmitchell355-2 12 years ago

The movie is in such limited release, few have even seen it. I have to wait a few more weeks. And some people will give it a low score, just because they don't like particular actors or actresses. I hope the box office picks up in January.

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[–] Falconeer 12 years ago

I honestly don't understand how fans of the book could be so "displeased.." This great film stays incredibly faithful to the book, in every way. But your comment is accurate; after being bombarded with all the mindless Hollywood vomit of recent years, a film like this WOULD seem like a revelation to anyone looking for a little substance or artistic value in their entertainment. I loved "On the Road," as much as I hated "Zero Dark Thirty.."

"IMdB; where 14 year olds can act like jaded 40 year old critics...'

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[–] ArthurJimbo 12 years ago

I feel ya and know what its like where youre coming from. "Glory" has been my absolute favorite movie since I was a kid. I layed with my head face down in the carpet and actually wept on a few occasions as a child the movie moved me so..

I later read the historical account and found that they took some liberties in the movie. Just the same I was overall still very satisfied with the films approach in its telling of the story. I think the film is absolutely beautiful and damn near perfect! lol

I recently went to see the film on IMdb here to see all the praise it must surely have. I was surprised to find that many people were appalled by the liberties the film took and said all sorts of ghastly cruel things about it.

It just seemed to me out of line a bit. I rarely give films a 10. I think of Glory as a 9 at least. Maybe even a 10 in my personal opinion.

Not the case with others as its rating is like a 7.9

Still pretty good but I disagree. Its at least an 8.5! lol.

ANyway..thanks for sharing your thoughts here. You have a kind and thoughtful spirit

"Silences crossed by Worlds and by Angels" - Arthur Rimbaud

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[–] Falconeer 12 years ago

Thanks for the nice words; I hate to admit, I have never seen "Glory" but I have heard many good things about that film over the years. I will check it out though, based on your positive recommendation. Actually a 7.9 rating on this site is extremely good, so don't be too displeased with that score. I think "On the Road" has like a 6.2 now, which i find to be absolutely nuts, as well as inaccurate. but I do believe that it will find it's audience over time, and it will gain it's cult following. I can't imagine such a good film being forgotten..

"IMdB; where 14 year olds can act like jaded 40 year old critics...'

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[–] Falconeer 12 years ago

Obviously there is no accounting for taste on this very mainstream board. I think people have been inundated with so much throw-away junk at the theater, that many don't even recognize a truly fine film when it comes along. "On the Road" is one of the best things to come around in a very long time. I also gave it an '8' rating.

"IMdB; where 14 year olds can act like jaded 40 year old critics...'

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[–] jerrellejames-1 12 years ago

Obviously there is no accounting for taste on this very mainstream board.

Yes, blame the "mainstream" taste for the reason this mediocre movie got a less-than-stellar rating.

There are plenty of indie/arthouse movies on IMDb with a score of 7/10 and higher. Some examples:

Me and You and Everyone We Know (2005) -- 7.3/10
Welcome to the Dollhouse (1995) -- 7.3/10
sex, lies and videotape (1989) -- 7.1/10
The Motorcycle Diaries (2004) -- 7.8/10
Stranger Than Paradise (1984) -- 7.5/10
The Kids Are All Right (2010) -- 7.1/10
The Station Agent (2003) -- 7.7/10
Lost in Translation (2003) -- 7.8/10
Little Miss Sunshine (2006) -- 7.9/10
Synecdoche, New York (2008) -- 7.2/10
Y Tu Mamá También (2001) -- 7.6/10
George Washington (2000) -- 7.4/10
This Is England (2006) -- 7.7/10
Killer of Sheep (1979) -- 7.3/10
Wendy and Lucy (2008) -- 7.1/10
Caché (Hidden) (2005) -- 7.3/10
Mulholland Dr. (2001) -- 7.9/10
Blue Valentine (2010) -- 7.4/10
Winter's Bone (2010) -- 7.3/10
Frozen River (2008) -- 7.2/10
Donnie Darko (2001) -- 8.1/10
Trees Lounge (1996) -- 7.1/10
Paris, Texas (1984) -- 8.0/10
Take Shelter (2011) -- 7.5/10
Dinner Rush (2000) -- 7.1/10
Half Nelson (2006) -- 7.3/10
Blue Velvet (1986) -- 7.8/10
Ruby Sparks (2012) -- 7.2/10
Eraserhead (1977) -- 7.3/10
Buffalo '66 (1998) -- 7.3/10
Chop Shop (2007) -- 7.1/10
Beginners (2010) -- 7.2/10
Waitress (2007) -- 7.1/10
Dogville (2003) -- 7.9/10
Hunger (2008) -- 7.6/10
Shame (2011) -- 7.3/10

Furthermore, On the Road's paltry rating seems to in line with the critics. On Rotten Tomatoes, it's 45% ROTTEN on the Tomatometer with an average rating of 5.6/10. As for audiences, 40% of them liked it.

http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/on_the_road/

The movie is just not that good.

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[–] Falconeer 12 years ago

Yes, i do blame the "mainstream taste" for this stellar film receiving a low rating; it's just because the "mainstream" moviegoers have a "less than stellar" level of intelligence, and a less than average understanding of the art of filmmaking.. i'm guessing from your response that you are a "mainstream" kind of guy/girl?

"IMdB; where 14 year olds can act like jaded 40 year old critics...'

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[–] 12 years ago

[deleted]

[–] jerrellejames-1 12 years ago

Yes, i do blame the "mainstream taste" for this stellar film receiving a low rating;

I repeat, the movie is mediocre and a lot of the critics seem to agree. It has now dropped to 44% ROTTEN on Rotten Tomatoes. Critics usually warm up to arty movies. Some of the obvious examples being, The Tree of Life, which is 84% FRESH on Rotten Tomatoes; Meek's Cutoff, which is 86% FRESH on Rotten Tomatoes; Blow-Up, which is 85% FRESH on Rotten Tomatoes and countless others.

it's just because the "mainstream" moviegoers have a "less than stellar" level of intelligence

What is so 'intelligent' about the film adaptation of On the Road? Most of the characters are shallow without anything important to say and the rambling story goes nowhere. If you want to see an intellectual film, watch Waking Life.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0243017/reference

That movie has a 7.5/10 IMDb rating and is 80% FRESH on Rotten Tomatoes.

i'm guessing from your response that you are a "mainstream" kind of guy/girl?

You guessed wrong seeing how I compiled a list of indie/arthouse movies with favorable IMDb ratings (many of which I liked).

I even included the director's previous road film, The Motorcycle Diaries, into the list and that has an IMDb rating of 7.8/10 and an 84% FRESH rating on Rotten Tomatoes. But I guess that must be some 'mainstream' conspiracy, right?

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[–] Falconeer 12 years ago

It seems like you are spending WAY too much time on "Rotten tomatoes.." Perhaps you should get out more?

"IMdB; where 14 year olds can act like jaded 40 year old critics...'

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[–] madali0 11 years ago

You are an idiot. The guy takes his time to formulate an intelligent answer to you, with evidence, and you duuuurrr you should get out more.

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[–] Blackedoutsober 12 years ago

Most are not able to put the cultural impact because we live in a time where we've become to take ourselves far more seriously with issues that are actually far less serious, if that makes any sense. Most do not understand this film because it appeals to a certain type of intellect, one that sees past the facade of our modern culture, but at the same point, this book actually started the shaping of our modern culture so its impact to most has passed them by, and you have to understand that underlying principle in order to appreciate the book and the movie. The response you received from the person showing off "arthouse" knowledge kind of proves this point. Our society now believes in a more faux intellectualism, the same way being a faux "outsider" is actually the "coolest" thing you can be. Kerouac was trying to shape a culture that couldn't believe one could be so indulgent as to just travel the states, and visit places where people talked and gathered, now that thought is considered "boring" even though the concept itself is more foreign now than it was back then. In the end, though, who cares what others have rated it? The amount of garbage that passes itself off as good literature, or good filmaking, or high brow entertainment is sickening, just be thankful the folks involved took a shot at possibly inspiring a new generation that has been brainwashed into believing the lie of our corporate culture.

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[–] jerrellejames-1 12 years ago

The response you received from the person showing off "arthouse" knowledge kind of proves this point. Our society now believes in a more faux intellectualism

Faux intellectualism? You're such a pretentious snob. But I guess that's the demographic that likes this movie.

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[–] madali0 11 years ago

Have you even read On the Road? I loved it, one of my favorite books, but 90% of the characters there were the model of " faux intellectualism.

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[–] shempXIV 11 years ago

This is JUST opinion, so try not to get upset:

I don't think "On The Road" (the book) has aged well. It's its time, it may've been cutting-edge but now seems like lots of repetitive (we get drunk/laid, talk, go on to another city, get money from my aunt, etc.), unfocused (but nicely written, nonetheless) ramblings by a guy and about his pals that are pretty irresponsible. (Golly, Dean, do you think you should send some child support to the kids you fathered?)

In real life, Jack Kerouac was NOT that cool: He was an arch-conservative (in favor of the Vietnam War, hated the hippies), alcoholic mama's-boy, a bisexual guy that railed against "Jews and *beep* (his words, not mine).

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[–] ellandroad_allstars 12 years ago

I wouldn't worry about imdb ratings. Just look at some of the films that have high ratings.

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[–] goodellaa 12 years ago

I'm afraid some of the low ratings may have resulted from spite. I thought there might be a generational component to this but the breakdown viewed by clicking on the number of user ratings shows an unusual consistency. Young ladies like it more than young men, interestingly and not surprisingly. Imitation "hipsters" and their admirers can be mean as hell and dreadfully elitist. I gave it 7, which to me means recommendable and pretty good. I like to disregard the 10s and 1s. This book is so literary in nature and such an over-rated classic that the movie can hardly help but be an illustration. It is good though to see things referred to acted out and things detailed at times omitted, and I think we can count it as a contemporary interpretation. Now the movie has one more chance: the test of time.

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[–] ciprianl 12 years ago

You're perfectly right, it does deserve a 7. The book may well be a masterpiece, but this movie certainly ain't one.

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[–] 12 years ago

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[–] gazbomb 11 years ago

I thought the film was great personally,the casting was inspired and it was incredibly true to the spirit of the book.

No mean feat by any means.

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[–] moovemkr 11 years ago

It was not a good film and it did not capture the spirit of the book. 6 is just about right.

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[–] nikkiten1979 11 years ago

As someone who isn't a fan of Kerouac's I thought his writing would interpret better as a movie... this movie was stupid, sorry... it was a whole lot of nothing, people that overthink their lives and their purpose on this pathetic planet, people who do too many drugs to fill their emptiness - seriously what's so inspiring or even aspiring about that? There was nothing redeeming about this movie. I love a good artsy fartsy hipster film if it's well done, but this was too much of a mess for me and after a painful half hour I had to switch that garbage - I gave it a 4 (the acting was decent.)

(•_•)

can't outrun your own shadow

I AM DEE BEE -- 10 years !

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