re: Critically Acclaimed Movies That You Hate

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There's so much to discuss in this thread relative to the OP, but your Godfather discussion clearly attracts the most attention.

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For better or worse, not sure.

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First of all, it is perfectly reasonable to criticize the film or even consider it a failure. As you say, one's appreciation of specific art is subjective.

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Does everyone hold that belief though?

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My criticism of The Godfather is that, while visually stunning and technically well crafted, the film really consists of a series of discreet "set pieces" taken from the book. "Here's the scene where Michael gets hit in the face at the hospital", "Here's the scene where Sonny get's shot at the toll booth".

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Good points,

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it is not wholly believable or realistic when it comes to the Mafia. It does tend to smooth over some pretty rough edges.

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But so many take it as so.

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That said, I do enjoy the movie. It is a story of America and the family (with some fine performances).

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This is another thing, I never like the "story of America," play that the Godfather is given. It's a particular American experience, at a particular time, not "the story of America."

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Yes, in a sense he's forced into certain actions, but I think that's more because of who he really is rather than his initial denial of it. He's a ruthless Corleone who happens to be better educated and a war hero.

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Nothing wrong with that assessment. I would hope, in that education and "civilization," he would gain a better understanding of right and wrong. If not, and if this is the "story of America,"...then ouch.

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While I appreciate your point of view on a film having at least some positive moral point of view, it's simply not as critical to me that it do so in an obvious sense. I sort of enjoy moral ambiguity left up to the viewer.

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And I won't slight the belief, I KNOW and admitted that my focus on the moral responsibility of art is old fashioned for the most part. I know I'm probably rare in that belief.

And while I think there is a place for morally questionable films...like Requiem for a Dream, there's a point to the moral depravity, and it doesn't glamorize anything. In fact, it's a very obvious warning.