Can you think of any great movies with bad titles?

[Irene Manor]

Can you think of any movies with bad titles? And I mean titles that don't mean anything even after seeing the movie. I can't think of a single great movie with a bad title.

[Dr Martin Luther Loomis]

I honestly can't think of anything at the moment, but I feel like there is definitely something out there. It seems like there's been a million times where I've said, "Gee... that's a kick-ass flick, but what a ridiculous title". I am on a mission, and I shall return!

[The Heart Collector]

While I like the title, THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION isn't exactly the best sounding thing ever.

[Irene Manor]

This is a tuffy - That's why I came here.

The thing about Shawshank is that it holds a lot of meaning to the story.

I have a friend who says that there is no great movie that has a bad name, even in comparison with the story. I spent a couple hours hitting him with titles, and everyone, we eventually agreed was pretty good.

I thought I had him with BEING JOHN MALCOVICH, but he retorted with the fact that not everyone thinks it's that great of a movie.

Errr....

We'll think of one, I know it!

[joblo2]

I think From Hell is a pretty shitty title. It sounds like a bad b-type horror/action movie.

[idealdiscountdude]

The World According To Garp........

I have always thought it was a bad title but I love that movie!!!!

[The Heart Collector]

The problem is you're used to hearing the names.

[Cyclonus]

Jo2, I think "From Hell" is a cool title!

Anyway, I haven't seen "The Mighty," but I think that title sounds pretentious. (I'm hoping the movie itself is good though!)

[Horror whore]

I didn't (and still don't) think RIDING IN CARS WITH BOYS was a very good title to a really good movie...

[Fergus]

The Verdict. I'm sorry, but even though the movie is fantastic, that is one of the most generic, obvious titles, that doesn't even pertain to the heart of the movie.

Return to me is a terrible title; the movie wasn't half bad.

[ColinM]

What about CROUTCHING TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON? Actually, I like the title (although I didn't like the movie), but I don't get why it was named that.

Also, how about BLOW? Every time I ask somebody if they've seen that movie, they giggle and joke about it.

[Fergus]

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by idealdiscountdude:
The World According To Garp........

I have always thought it was a bad title but I love that movie!!!!</font>

I absolutely love the movie too, but I never thought that the title was bad at all. John Irving doesn't have the best titles for his books in the first place. The Cider House Rules is a terrible title too. It has nothing to do with the movie really, and also it could be said two different ways. The Cider House, RULES!!!!!, or the other correct one which refers to the place at which at which Maguire's character grows up.

[Fergus]

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by ColinM:
What about CROUCHING TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON? Actually, I like the title (although I didn't like the movie), but I don't get why it was named that.</font>

The title is basically a metaphor. The "Crouching Tiger" refers to Chow Yun-Fat's character. "Hidden Dragon" is Zhang Ziyi's character.

[meccajay]

-Rumblefish

-Barton Fink

-The Unbearable Likeness of Being(or whatever)

[ilovemovies]

Extreme Measures is a very generic title to what is otherwise a terrific movie.
Fight Club isn't a terrible title but it is not really what the movie is about.

[Jimmy Da Gent]

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by ilovemovies:
Fight Club isn't a terrible title but it is not really what the movie is about.</font>

I agree, it wasn't really about a "Fight Club"

[Stubbyneez]

I can't think of any but I would like to comment on the Cider House Rules theory. In the movie the Rules of the Cider House do play an important role in Homer learning the ways of the real world. No big thing, just thought I'd get it off my chest.

[Obrotherrules]

ON a somewhat related topic, I feel that most great pictures have generic titles. Not necessarily bad, but given the quality of the film, they probably could've come up with somethng more creative.
1)Titles with names: BABE, CITIZEN KANE, THE GODFATHER
2)Titles with the central locale: CASABLANCA, ON THE WATERFRONT
3)Titles with the central theme/idea: SCHINDLER'S LIST, DRIVING MISS DAISY
You get the idea...very few films have really inventive titles. Even the great Kevin Smith can't get beyond two words (and no, JAY AND SILENT BOB STRIKE BACK does not count as creative; it's just long). Here is my vote for the most creative film title:
WAKING LIFE. Just hearing it over and over makes me want to see it.

[Danny L]

I have a really bad one. The movie "Swingers" is called "Du, var är brudarna?" (Swedish for Yo, where are all the chicks?"). Appalling.

[Tuukka]

WARNING: Shawshank Redemption SPOILER!

Translations to different languages are often horrible. Die Hard was in Finland "Only over my dead body". And can you imagine FOR FUCK'S SAKE: Shawshank Redemption was titled "Rita Hayworth - A key to escape". They are giving the twist away in the NAME of the movie!!!

[ColinM]

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by Tuukka:
And can you imagine FOR FUCK'S SAKE: Shawshank Redemption was titled "Rita Hayworth - A key to escape". They are giving the twist away in the NAME of the movie!!!</font>

That sucks!

[This message has been edited by ColinM (edited 10-30-2001).]

[Dr Martin Luther Loomis]

MISSION................FAILED! Nough said!

[neco82]

Shawshank Redemption was titled "Rita Hayworth - A key to escape". They are giving the twist away in the NAME of the movie!!![/B][/QUOTE]

And you just gave away the movie to someone who hasn't seen it, thanks a lot.

[Adam J. Hakari]

A SOLDIER'S DAUGHTER NEVER CRIES
SNATCH (great movie, but imagine the reactions when I told my friends I had seen "Snatch")

[Zed]

I think Attack of the Clones will deserve an honorary mention on this topic next year.

[Celestial-being]

I agree, 'The Unbearable Lightness of Being' was a totally bizarre title for what I thought was an excellent movie.

'The Talented Mr. Ripley,' although not the best film in the world, doesn't exactly have an eloquent title.

[Bartleby]

In exactly the opposite vein: I think Chasing Amy is a cool title. You hear it and you think, well Joey Lauren Adams is playing Alyssa, so who is Amy? It's an intriguing title that doesn't get explained until that infamous speech in the diner. Kevin Smith, you rule, dude!

[Bartleby]

Sorry, I just remembered, although it's not a great film 'Batman Forever's title sucks! It sounds like something a young Bruce Wayne may graffiti at the local quick stop. It's one step away from "Batman rulz, OK?!" Why couldn't it have been called...

Batman & The 3 Faces of Evil (or something along these lines?)

[This message has been edited by Bartleby (edited 11-03-2001).]

[iluvamber19]

mission impossible and mission impossible 2.
in the end he completes the missions. how the hell are they impossible?

[EBastard]

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by iluvamber19:
mission impossible and mission impossible 2.
in the end he completes the missions. how the hell are they impossible?</font>They're impossible...CAUSE HE'S DOING ALL THE WORK!

Anyway,my title has gotta be SwitchBack.

[Hannibal21]

Chasing Amy
American Beauty
Monster's Ball
The Sound of Music
Rain Man

All great films but I don't like the titles of these movies at all.

[Weasel]

I live in Montreal, so I often get to see film's in french version with their french titles and, most of the time, the traduction is pretty horrible.

The best exemple this year : Dumb and Dumberer (I know, it sucked, but it's juste an example (I'm not even sure if the word "example" takes an "e" or an "a")).

So, the first one, in french, was called "La Cloche et l'Idiot", which, in English, means something like "The Jerk and The Idiot". Anyway, it was all right for me.

But for the sequel, they decides to call it "Plusse Cloche et Très Zidiot", with intentional gramatical errors. In English, the same title would sound like "Moorre Jerk and Very Zidiotte".

Urgh.

[Scarface98.9]

Originally posted by ColinM
What about CROUTCHING TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON? Actually, I like the title (although I didn't like the movie), but I don't get why it was named that.

The title is a metaphor or translation for "hiding your strength from others" which is what Jen does in the movie

[Antonio]

I find most movie titles, esp. the action and comedy genres, very interchangeable and generic.

Case in point...the great romantic comedy IT COULD HAPPEN TO YOU, with Nicolas Cage and Bridget Fonda as lottery winners. The original title was COP GIVES WAITRESS $2 MILLION DOLLAR TIP. Which is more catchy?

[JustinKing665]

Best title ever is:

DR. STRANGELOVE: OR HOW I LEARNED TO STOP WORRYING AND LOVE THE BOMB