Being movie nerds like we are here at Flix Junkies, we all have directors we love. Once a director you like attaches themselves to a movie you get excited. Usually you can forgive a bad movie or two from your favorite directors, but when you start to see failure after failure you either stop seeing their films or pray for a comeback.
Here are five directors that started out so promising, but fell so far. Hopefully one day will win our love back.
Will George Lucas ever direct again? “Why would I make any more when everybody yells at you all the time and says what a terrible person you are?” George Lucas once told the New York Times.
Well you are not a terrible person George, you’re just not good at making movies anymore.
George Lucas started out insanely strong directing films like
“American Graffiti” and “Star Wars: IV- A New Hope.” He then passed the directing reigns on for installments V and VI of the Star Wars saga. He then decided to direct the prequel installments, Episodes I-III. We could write hundreds of pages of what is wrong with those films, but if you’ve seen them you already know.
So maybe it is better he has called it quits for now.
Burton has kind of got himself back on the right track with his latest movie “Big Eyes,” but before that can you name the last Tim Burton movie you liked?
For me it was 2003’s “Big Fish.”
Burton’s quirky directing style made him a hit with movies like “Beetlejuice,” “Edward Scissorhands” and “Batman” among some other awesome films. Then enter Johnny Depp. This weird partnership with Depp has produced films like “Dark Shadows,” “Charlie and Chocolate Factory” and a few other misfires.
Burton might have a chance to right the ship if “Beetlejuice 2” ever ends up happening. We all could use another Burton classic in our DVD collection.
Stone scored two Oscars for his directing skills back in the day. “Platoon,” “Born on the Fourth of July”, and “Natural Born Killers” are just a few of his earlier success. He was so good that the main focus of his trailers were the fact he directed the movie.
Well now when you see it is an Oliver Stone film you roll your eyes. How could you not after films like “Any Given Sunday”, “Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps” and “Savages”? His over-directing has become almost as comical as his movies. Almost.
Hopefully his upcoming film “Snowden” will get him back to his old self, but I am not holding my breath.
I think it might be time to retire to your mansion Mr. Stone.
“Alien”,“Blade Runner”, and “Gladiator” are all classic films. Scott’s films are larger than life, and he has the ability to put you right in the action. If you’ve ever seen “Black Hawk Down” you know what I am talking about.
These days, however, when I see a Ridley Scott film is coming out I can count on two things: it will be long and likely not that great. “Exodus: Gods and Kings” was a flop, “Robin Hood” put me to sleep, and I couldn’t bring myself to see “The Counselor.” Some argue that “Prometheus”, was pretty good, but it was no “Alien”.
Scott directed the upcoming big screen adaptation of “The Martian,” which comes out later this year. I still have high hopes for this one. Hopefully “Exodus” him a lesson and he’ll learn from his mistakes and get back to his roots.
Oh M. Night, what happened to you buddy? I will start by saying I am a M. Night fan. I loved “The Sixth Sense,” “Unbreakable” “Signs” and “The Village.” I even liked “Lady in the Water,” which most people hated. Then “The Happening” happened and it’s been downhill since.
I tried watching “The Last Airbender”, could not get through it, and the only reason I did watch it is because he directed it. I was excited he teamed up with Will Smith to make “After Earth,” but that was another massive failure and major disappointment. I watch his earlier films all the time and wonder how he fell so far?
His next film “The Visit” comes out later this year and the rumor is he is back to his old self. Well let’s hope so, because this might be his last chance before all his fans finally give up on him.