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Interesting thread. First, my responses to the films mentioned that I've seen...
Padre Padrone: I saw it years ago and remember almost nothing about the actual film. All I remember is being bored to tears.
Cinema Paradiso: Like I said earlier, I consider this film overrated, too. However, it's not so terrible. I didn't particularly dislike it. I just don't see what all the fuss is about. And it's way too nostalgic for my tastes.
The Omen (1979): Yeah, overrated. I actually preferred the first sequel (never saw the others), but even that wasn't great.
Billy Elliott: I don't know if it's overrated, but I really like the story and the acting. I do have a huge problem with the film though: are we really supposed to believe that this teenager is 11 years old? I like Jamie Bell's presence in the film. I'm not saying they should have cast someone else - but they should have rewritten his role and made him 14.
Oliver Twist (2005): I don't think it's overrated, because I don't believe anyone actually was that impressed with it. The boy playing Oliver is cute. But aside from that, it's thoroughly conventional and forgettable. Polanski used to be a great filmmaker.
Central Station: Oh yes. Very overrated. I liked it the first time I saw it, but the second time I was turned off by the overbearing sentimentalist approach. There are a few shots at the end that just make me want to gag. VERY cute boy, though.
Amarcord: Depends how you judge it. As a "boy movie" - I agree it's not great. As an average Fellini movie, it kind of does the trick. Far from his best work, but far from his weakest either.
Gummo: Again, depends how you judge it. If you're expecting anything like a conventional film, you'll probably hate it. As a challenging piece of experimental filmmaking, it's actually quite interesting. Not one of my favourite films, but I respect its radical rejection of traditional filmmaking expectations.
Mean Creek: Not overrated. I think it's great.
Birth: I would argue this is underrated, actually. Most people don't really like it. I do.
Time of the Wolf (Haneke): Again, underrated. It's one of Haneke's most difficult films, but Haneke is making some of the most intelligent and formally daring films I've seen The more of his work I see, the more I am in awe of him. He's probably one of my top 10 favourite directors working today.
Funny Games: Well, Haneke sure is not getting a lot of love on this forum. :) This was the first of his films that I saw and I didn't like it at first. Now, several years later, having seen most of his other films, read a lot film theory/criticism, and become more familiar with contemporary international cinema, I consider it one of the most important films of the past decade.
Mac and Me: Calling this overrated is ridiculous, but not because it has any value whatsoever. It's just that everyone I know who has ever seen it considers it one of the worst films ever made - or, like Cal says, don't even believe that it qualifies as a "film". An complete waste of celluloid to be avoided at all cost.
Jingle All the Way: Very, very bad. Again, I don't know who considers this a good film, though, so probably not overrated.
Godsend: Agreed! This is a terrible film.
Diabolique: I haven't seen the remake and I don't intend to see it. I saw the original at the Cinematheque last night, though, and it's brilliant!
Spy Kids: I've only seen the first, and I didn't care for it at all.
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Now for my own picks:
Digger (1993) - I rented it and tried watching it three times. Never made it to the end. Everytime the kid started whistling I got the urge to throw something at my television.
Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter and Spring (2003) - Pretentious and vacuous generic Asian film fooling international audiences into thinking it's a profound, spiritually uplifting film, just because it contains a few pretty pictures and not much dialogue.
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005) - It pains me to include this in the list, because I had such high hopes for it. Freddie Highmore is brilliant and beautiful. But the film is crap.
Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (1999) - I'm not sure this counts, because most people know it's crap. But I'd be inclined to say even those who don't like it probably overrate it. It's even worse than people say it is.
For a Lost Soldier (1992) - So terribly unfaithful to the book! Contains none of the subtlety, complexity or grace that the novel has. The story and characters were simplified, and in the process the essence of it all was completely lost. I would love to remake this film. (Probably never going to happen.)
Hearts in Atlantis (2001) - Sickening. This is the movie that made me hate Stephen King.
Turtles Can Fly (2004) - I appreciate the director's good intentions and the message of the film, but that doesn't change the fact that it's poor filmmaking filled with obvious and heavy-handed clichés. (Baby crying next to barbwire fence? Give me a break!)
The Cell (2000) - Everyone raves about the great set designs, costumes and art direction. I say the movie still sucks. And the boy doesn't get that much screen time.
Eternity and a Day (1998) - Considered a masterpiece by many. The story is all right, but I couldn't stand the style. That incessant slow camera movement is infuriating.
George Washington (2000) - A poor Terrence Malick ripoff with one of the worst screenplays I've ever encountered. How this movie can be considered great is a complete mystery to me. Nice cinematography, though.
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Most Over-Rated Boy Actor Films Ever (Read 8,189 times)
