MovieChat Forums > The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008) Discussion > Why is this film so intensely disliked?

Why is this film so intensely disliked?

posted 8 years ago by PotassiumMan
9 replies | jump to latest

I find myself bewildered by how much flack and hostility this film gets compared to other Fincher works. It's not his worst film, not even close. But some people act like it's worse than Fight Club. A word of advice. Perhaps it would make sense to watch this again when you're further into your adulthood. I get the impression that most people who hate this film are pretty young and not mature enough to understand it.

To be sure, it's not a flawless film. There are some slow patches. But in terms of having a fascinating story and some great human truths, it's worth its weight in gold. That will always be my response to the ludicrous and inarticulate hatred that this film sometimes runs into.

[–] tastytomatoes 8 years ago

This is an underrated film for sure. I see people's criticisms are that it is boring and ultimately leaves them unsatisfied. This to me is a magical movie and is not necessary to be compared with Forest Gump. Benjamin Button is a more personal and beautiful story while Gump's is a more epic tale. I for one am more emotionally invested in TCCoBB

By the way this is not really intensely disliked, sure 1.1% users rated a 1 yet it still has a modest score of 7.8 and I personally loved it. One of my favorite scenes - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RQUdyJAJoAU

[–] redban (6318) 4 years ago

Too long

[–] snepts (11123) 4 years ago

It's not intensely disliked, it's just not a very engaging movie, imo.
I saw it fresh in the theater, and ultimately it didn't satisfy me.
A noble attempt, and I like all the people involved, but it didn't push the right buttons for me.

[–] CaptainCrozier (615) 4 years ago

It's not intensely disliked, it's just not a very engaging movie, imo.I saw it fresh in the theater, and ultimately it didn't satisfy me.
A noble attempt, and I like all the people involved, but it didn't push the right buttons for me.

That's exactly how I feel about this film.
I saw it when it first came out. I was 21. I am now 33 and my opinion of it hasn't changed one iota. I don't hate this movie, I just think it falls rather flat, particularly in the second half. I actually have always thought the first half of this movie is very strong, and then around the time that Benjamin's father dies it deteriorates into a sappy, simplistic, B-grade love story. Daisy and Benjamin's relationship, at least once he starts trying to 'sweep her off her feet,' as he puts it, just doesn't engage me and the guy's life from that point onward is rather dull. Except for him becoming a drifter, working odd jobs and backpacking in Asia, which I would have liked to see more of and would have much rather watched than sit through his and Daisy's banal, generic romance.

[–] Thaisticks (3077) 4 years ago

Not too intensely. 80% audience score on RT with a whopping 700,000 ratings (also 70% on the critic's side). And 7.8 on IMDB with again a whopping 582,000 ratings.

[–] rnmboon (411) 2 years ago

It revolves around a story gimmick and it takes its time doing it. Because of that last thing people notice it more and may get annoyed about it more easily.

That was my experience of this film anyway. It is a very well made film but in the end it felt a bit pointless.

[–] maximmm (3344) 2 years ago

Probably because a lot more people saw this film due to Brad Pitt's participation. A lot of people who would have never otherwise seen a Fincher film - since his films appeal only to a select group of viewers. Imagine a bunch of adults having to sit through a children's cartoon because they thought it would be a film for adults - or a bunch of children having to sit through McBeth play - same reaction.

[–] ADBruno1985 (3502) 2 years ago

I think because for many, it's just a little too out there. Telling the life story of a special man with a Southern twang in a multi-period piece just seems a little Gump. And the unexplained magical backwards aging gimmick was probably a bit too much for many.

But personally I think it's a beautiful film and I always find myself moved by it

[–] OnanTheBarbarian (12143) 9 months ago

But some people act like it's worse than Fight Club.

On what planet is "Fight Club" considered a bad film?