Why is the movie Garden State so highly regarded?

[MartyMcFly3]

Alright I just finished watching this movie. The soundtrack is really the only thing this movie has going for it. If Zach Braff or Natalie Portman's characters had gotten hit by a bus, I wouldnt have cared. Im a huge Scrubs fan (so dont think i dont like Zach Braff). I dont know, the whole movie just kinda bored me. I couldnt feel anything for any of the characters. It had like one or two good moments but other than that it wasnt THAT stellar of a movie. It doesnt live up to the hype.

Someone care to enlighten me?

 

[T2T III]

Well, the movie points out how life is for some people. The guy's father was a psych who wouldn't let his son get by the fact that it was a complete accident in how his mother got injured. Instead, the father chose to keep the son medicated. I thought the movie was O.K. - I'd give it 2.5 out of 4 stars. At $4.00 to rent, it was worth it. Not sure if I would have paid $9.00 to see it in a theater, though.

 

[GT1999]

It's a strange, unique kick in the face about reality. I enjoyed it.

 

[MartyMcFly3]

I mean I will give in that the characters were interesting, but with the amount of hype this movie got, you would think it ranks up there with The Godfather or Casablanca or something.

 

[T2T III]

Originally posted by: MartyMcFly3
I mean I will give in that the characters were interesting, but with the amount of hype this movie got, you would think it ranks up there with The Godfather or Casablanca or something.

Sadly, though, almost all movies nowadays are completely over-hyped. What really bugs me is how a comedy gets hyped - and when you go to see it, all of the funny parts were revealed in the previews and the movie completely blows.

 

[GT1999]

Originally posted by: MartyMcFly3
I mean I will give in that the characters were interesting, but with the amount of hype this movie got, you would think it ranks up there with The Godfather or Casablanca or something.

I believe it was indi, was it not? Lots of people really like indi stuff...

 

[bozack]

Originally posted by: MartyMcFly3
I mean I will give in that the characters were interesting, but with the amount of hype this movie got, you would think it ranks up there with The Godfather or Casablanca or something.

the only thing which hit home for me really were the messed up family aspects and wanting to leave and never come back combined with the friends at home who are townies and still live with their parents...

The thing which didn't hit the mark was that he seemed perfectly able to reintegrate himself with his friends from before even though he had changed and they really had not....something I couldn't do when I tried, just too many differences in lifestyle, ethic and outlook.

the plot was kind of tired and the characters mediocre at best. But I do like his performance in scrubs.

I wonder how much this work is a reflection on his own life though....

 

[MartyMcFly3]

Originally posted by: Geekish Thoughts

Originally posted by: MartyMcFly3
I mean I will give in that the characters were interesting, but with the amount of hype this movie got, you would think it ranks up there with The Godfather or Casablanca or something.

I believe it was indi, was it not? Lots of people really like indi stuff...

Yeah it was an indie. It wasnt horrible but its nowhere near stellar. A lot of my friends said "You MUST see this movie and fall in love with it." but I dont see why I should.

 

[T2T III]

Originally posted by: bozack

Originally posted by: MartyMcFly3
I mean I will give in that the characters were interesting, but with the amount of hype this movie got, you would think it ranks up there with The Godfather or Casablanca or something.

the only thing which hit home for me really were the messed up family aspects and wanting to leave and never come back combined with the friends at home who are townies and still live with their parents...

The thing which didn't hit the mark was that he seemed perfectly able to reintegrate himself with his friends from before even though he had changed and they really had not....something I couldn't do when I tried, just too many differences in lifestyle, ethic and outlook.


the plot was kind of tired and the characters mediocre at best. But I do like his performance in scrubs.

I wonder how much this work is a reflection on his own life though....

I think the reason it was so easy for him to integrate was due to the meds. It seemed as though the meds his father prescribed had put his whole life on hold. He couldn't feel any emotion on them. By stopping the meds and getting back with his friends, he allowed himself to see what life was really like once again and how it felt to feel things.

I don't think he could sustain the group, though. Which is why he decided to initially leave - to allow himself to regroup and understand what life was about.

 

[So]

Originally posted by: MartyMcFly3

Originally posted by: Geekish Thoughts

Originally posted by: MartyMcFly3
I mean I will give in that the characters were interesting, but with the amount of hype this movie got, you would think it ranks up there with The Godfather or Casablanca or something.

I believe it was indi, was it not? Lots of people really like indi stuff...

Yeah it was an indie. It wasnt horrible but its nowhere near stellar. A lot of my friends said "You MUST see this movie and fall in love with it." but I dont see why I should.

I felt exactly the way you do about the movie, except it wasn't really all that hyped by my friends, we were just bored one night. Some people loved it, I was 'meh, it was better than some of the crap I've seen'

 

[MartyMcFly3]

Bump for the day crowd.

 

[Scouzer]

i hadn't even heard of this movie before i went. i came out raving.

it was a really good movie.

 

[Patt]

I watched it last night too ... and although it was OK, it certainly wasn't my favourite. Don't ever mind looking at Natalie Portman though ...

Not rave-worthy ... 2.5/4

 

[rasholianmon]

artsy.... fartsy...

 

[ggnl]

I thought it was good, but I agree that it did not live up to the hype surrounding it. I think it's a case of the trailers being better than the actual movie.

 

[nitrousninja]

The movie was so so but I thought Natalie Portman was great in it. Especially her first scene in the waiting room.

 

[Albis]

maybe i'm just stupid but i didn't get the movie

i'm just not deep lol

 

[MartyMcFly3]

The thing I dont get was this was put in the comedy section. Nothing was really funny in it. It's also supposed to apply to "our generation" (college students/recent graduates) but like it only applies to the emo kids (who i cant stand).

 

[b0mbrman]

Just saw it myself and really liked it. The Zach Braff-Natalie Portman interaction was what really made it worthwhile for me.

I really hadn't heard any of the hype so I had no real expectations going in. We don't pay attention to the arts here in Texas...unless it has something to do with high school football

 

[imthebadguy]

its not, the movie is trash do not watch it

 

[QueHuong]

I just saw this and really enjoyed it. I think the selling point is that Zach Braff both wrote and directed the movie - not bad at all for the "newbie." I just saw 2 sh itty movies (Code 46 and Canabola or whatever it's spelled) and I'm glad the third one's a charm.

 

[Gooose]

Just saw it, i must say, i liked it a lot.

I guess you would have to have some type of connection with the actors to really feel it.

Soundtrack rocks as well

 

[pyonir]

Originally posted by: bozack
I wonder how much this work is a reflection on his own life though....

He says during the Special Feature "The Making of Garden State" that about 80% is based on actual events...not necessarily all his though.

I completely enjoyed it, and related to Braff's character. It's all about how you can relate to the characters in a movie like this...if you don't really relate, then you won't like it. Marty said how he hates emo kids, well, that tells me you would never relate to any of the characters in this movie.

 

[RabidMongoose]

I really enjoyed it. Seems to fit in well for mid 20's people that haven't been home for a while.

 

[Don Vito Corleone]

I just tried watching this last night and hated it - just trash IMO. My GF and I made it for about an hour and finally turned it off, because it was going nowhere, and Natalie was so irritating. To me the movie had an overriding preciousness to it, and she just made it worse. This was the worst film I've seen since Episode II (which just happened to also star NP!).