8 Disappointing Movies That Should Have Been Great

Is there anything worse than being disappointed by a movie? Think of the ones you waited patiently and eagerly for, only to discover that everything you imagined in your head hadn't made it up onto the screen. Like, at all. There are certain movies that had the odds weighed against them from the very start, and we're not going to be dealing with those here: think George Lucas territory, what with The Phantom Menace and Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. You willed them to be amazing, of course, but you knew the chances of success were on the lower end of the spectrum: in those cases, George Lucas is a generally lousy filmmaker, and the hype machine was in maximum overdrive. But what about the flicks whose ingredients seemed perfectly placed, only for the final product to emerge mediocre in every sense? Motion pictures with marketing campaigns that made us feel as though their studios were promoting genuine classics? What about the movies that boasted an idea so brilliant that it seemed impossible for the filmmakers to screw it up? Here's our pick of seven movies that fall into such a category: despite their esteemed cast and crew, each one failed to meet our (rightly) high expectations. 8) Pacific Rim (2013) (Dir. Guillermo del Toro) What We Thought Before: Transformers meets Godzilla in a Guillermo del Toro movie. A film starring Rinko Kikuchi, Charlie Hunnam, Idris Elba, Charlie Day and Ron Perlman - that will surely guarantee high levels of awesome, no? Did I mention it also has Idris Elba in it? What We Got: A movie so bad, it actually generates a palpable sense of shame at the excitement once felt while watching the trailer. Sure, the robots and monsters look awesome, but if that’s the extent of interesting stuff in your movie, you might want to extend those scenes a little bit and dispense with the half-hearted attempts at an actual plot. Oh, and, incidentally, in case any ladies out there were wondering – in this vision of the future, you play no part of any significance whatsoever. I mean, sure, there’s Mako Mori (Kikuchi) – an effective fighter – but she’s so sensitive and delicate, thanks to a traumatic childhood experience, she has be removed from piloting a robot on her first run out. She manages to get over it in time to help with the final battle, but is literally ejected by a man before the end. According to this film, she can’t even speak to another woman. Why? Because there are no other women whose roles require them to speak more than a couple of words. We must give credit where credit is due, though. There are a few women in this 21st century film - in the crowd scene, right at the back - if you pause it, and squint. What They Should Have Done: They should have employed radical concepts of modern cinema - such as plot, structure and people that aren’t men. Redeeming Features: Apart from having Idris Elba in it, there is a moment - right in the middle of all the tedium - when we are suddenly transported to what feels like an actual Guillermo del Toro film. Mako Mori (Kikuchi) relives the childhood memory of being attacked by a Kaiju (monster), and being saved by a Jaeger (robot), piloted by Stacker Pentecost (Idris Elba). This sequence – though only a few minutes long – serves to remind us whose work we are watching. It is a beautifully presented episode that, in and of itself, builds perfect dramatic tension and resonates with the audience on a deep emotional level. It is the stunning, yet tiny, diamond in a whole heap of rough. But then, as quickly as it appeared, it is gone, and we are slammed back into a messy, directionless vat of testosterone - filled with disposable and forgettable characters. 7) Death Proof (2007) (Dir. Quentin Tarantino) What We Thought Before: Quentin Tarantino and Kurt Russell are making a car chase movie? And this one looks to be fully embracing Tarantino's love for exploitation and slasher flicks, which means he's making an unabashed genre movie with old-fashioned titles and everything. There's a seemingly endless line of pretty girls starring in this one, too, which isn't anything to complain about. I'm totally in! What We Got: A surprisingly long-winded talkfest that perfectly showcases how Tarantino's dialogue might actually grate on an audience's patience. Women seem to natter on endlessly with stories that aren't at all interesting to somebody who wasn't there with them when they happened. I mean, there's one story about a girl falling in a ditch, for God's sake. And there's not enough Kurt Russell. What They Should Have Done: Tarantino needed to discipline himself somewhat and make this thing more plainly fun. The action scenes are fantastic, but even for somebody who loves listening to the director's characters just talking to one another, the conversations here just aren't that enjoyable to listen in on. Less talk, more action. Redeeming Features: Well, arguably the best car chase of the 21st century. 6) The Lost World: Jurassic Park (1997) (Dir. Steven Spielberg) What We Thought Before: Given the huge success that was Jurassic Park, who wouldn't want Spielberg to return for another slice of dinosaur-based mayhem? And with Jeff Goldblum - definitely the original film's best and most enjoyable character - in the lead? Yes please. What We Got: Something that feels like it's trying to be a Steven Spielberg film by somebody who isn't Steven Spielberg. A surprisingly hollow affair from the sentimental master, devoid of the magic that surrounded the original. There are some good sequences, but there's nothing here that wasn't done better in the first film, making this sequel utterly pointless in every way. Even Jeff Goldblum can't bring some spark to the material, his character having been greatly reduced of its charisma and fun and swapped for that of the straight man. Oh, and that f*cking scene where that kid gymnastic-kicks a velociraptor is absolutely the worst. What They Should Have Done: Developed its characters more, essentially bringing something to this movie that even the original lacked. That way, even when the SFX sequences don't astound the second time round, the movie would have the depth of story that would make it a worthwhile entry. Redeeming Features: The RV suspended over the cliff is one of Spielberg's best ever set-pieces. And it's fun to see a T-Rex stalking the mainland for a bit, isn't it? 5) The Beach (2000) (Dir. Danny Boyle) What We Thought Before: Alex Garland's perfect meditation on backpacker culture is ripe for cinematic adaptation, given that the novel's writing style reads like that of a screenplay and the man himself admitted to being far more influenced by movies than books. With Danny Boyle at the helm (who made two of the best British films of the 90s), they've hired a director who can actually get to the heart of the material. It can't possibly fail. What We Got: A complete misreading of the source material, with a ham-fisted ending that utterly defies the point of the entire book. The first twenty minutes are great in their attempt to capture the tone of the book, but after that the movie descends into a horrible mediocrity. Why remove the darker aspects of the novel? And though Leonardo DiCaprio is alright as protagonist Richard, the character was unabashedly English in the book - having an American in the lead just doesn't feel right. What They Should Have Done: Stuck to the much better source material, which basically serves as an in-depth blueprint for a great film adaptation. Barely anything needed to be changed. Redeeming Features: There are a few inspired casting choices, especially with Robert Carlyle as mad Scotsman Daffy Duck. 4) Killing Them Softly (2012) (Dir. Andrew Dominik) What We Thought Before: A modern gangster pic with Brad Pitt taking the inspired lead as a charismatic mob fixer. What's not to like? And with Andrew Dominik - who made the brilliant The Assassination of Jesse James By The Coward Robert Ford - behind the camera, this thing is sure to knock it outta the park. What We Got: Though it's beautifully shot and acted, the film never comes together after the first hour, and insists on ham-fisted political intercuts that don’t fit with the material as seamlessly as the director thinks they do. There's also a lack of drama, given that Pitt's character is never required to exhume much energy. Ultimately, it's a little dull and a little boring, especially when the characters seem to talk and talk and said scenes seem to go on and on and on. The plot, too, is extremely slight. What They Should Have Done: Got rid of the unnecessary political avenue and emphasized the film's inherent Martin Scorseseness. Cut down some of the longer scenes that have you checking your watch. Redeeming Features: A spectacular opening twenty minutes, with a seriously tense and well-executed heist sequence. There were some great comic moments, too, though few and far between. 3) Prometheus (2012) (Dir. Ridley Scott) What We Thought Before: When the trailer for Prometheus hit the web, nobody could quite believe what they were seeing: it appeared as though the greatest sci-fi film ever had been created out of nowhere. And Ridley Scott back in the film genre he helped define in the 70s and 80s? Michael Fassbender playing an android? A film that looks to be both beautifully-detailed and intelligent-crafted? Oh My God. What We Got: A fair and enjoyable space thriller that failed to explore its story with any intelligence. Prometheus shoots itself in the foot as it repeatedly chooses to ask questions it never even attempts to answer (Damon Lindleof, we're sure that's all you). And there are plot holes all over the place, not to mention a whole host of characters acting as if they don't have a brain cell between them. What They Should Have Done: Spent more time on the script. Picture how mind-blowing Prometheus could have been if the writing matched its awesome visuals. Failing that, get a time machine, go back and un-hire Damon Lindleof. Redeeming Features: A visual masterpiece in every sense. The set design, costumes and SFX are genuinely superior. 2) Hancock (2008) (Dir. Peter Berg) What We Thought Before: What a great idea! Will Smith - playing an invincible superhero who doesn't give a shit about humanity and just wants to laze about all day and drink - must be rehabilitated by PR guy Jason Bateman. The potential for great action sequences, comedy moments and plain old fun are endless. Get me a ticket to this thing. What We Got: Tone-confused and nasty, Hancock completely fails to realize the potential of its premise and instead shifts itself into bizarre plot-twist territory that only serves to spoil the fun. Will Smith even lacks his usual charisma due to a script that refuses to play ball with its actors. And although it starts out better than it ends up, Peter Berg's film never feels comfortable with itself. Here's to the brilliant anti-superhero movie that never was. What They Should Have Done: Settled on a tone and simply made it funnier. It's rare that a Will Smith vehicle will make you feel so down in the dumps, but Hancock emerged as the feel bad movie of the year. Redeeming Features: Jason Bateman, likeable as always. 1) Public Enemies (2009) (Dir. Michael Mann) What We Thought Before: Michael Mann doing a period gangster movie? With Johnny Depp playing John Dillinger? And Christian Bale as the obsessed agent on his tail? What could possibly go wrong? What We Got: A somewhat boring, middling picture lacking an emotional heart and well-defined drama. The actors are taking the material dead seriously, but both Johnny Depp and Christian Bale come across as rather vague and unlikable. Mann's decision to shoot in digital and HD is also ill-judged: the feeling of the 1930s is completely lost as a result. Even the action sequences seem un-Mann like. What should have been riveting, pulse-quickening entertainment is surprisingly mediocre despite its ambitious attempt to capture Dillinger's life. So much so that it ultimately feels... well, pointless. What They Should Have Done: Tightened the drama and found better emotional cues for Depp's character. And Mann really should have shot this thing on film. Dillinger would have been better being more charismatic and not so bloody brooding. There are only so many handsome/melancholic Johnny Depp moments you can take in one movie. Redeeming Features: Steven Graham is very good as Baby Face Nelson. Which sure-to-be-brilliant movies disappointed you immensely upon their release? Which ones have we missed out? Let us know in the comments.