Your Opinion? -- The Bridges of Madison County --- did the movie suck??

[skooooo]

The Bridges of Madison County, a movie starring Clint Eastwood came out about 10 years ago. The absolute unshakable malaise that hit me after watching it in the theatre has never quite left me.

Therefore, I put this question to you: WASN'T THE BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY ONE OF THE ABSOLUTE WORST MOVIES YOU'VE EVER SEEN???

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And as a follow up, I would invite discussion of the levels on which this movie really sucked.

Thank you.

[truthseeker1]

1. I actually liked it.

No, it wasn't one of my favorites, but it was worth seeing. Now my husband is a different story. He absolutely hated it, but then he hates any movie where the woman is unfaithful. In fact, he refused to watch Unfaithful with me.

[skooooo]

3. ....what did you like about it?

How were the characters sympathetic? Please explain if you like.

[skooooo]

2. Let's open discussion on this.....

First of all, what kind of loser was the woman in the movie??! She had a short one or two-night-stand on the side of her marriage and then for some reason ENSHRINED those memories, worshiped those memories, but never lifted a finger to change her life out of loyalty to her husband.

Ok, loyalty is good, not knocking that. Extra-marital affairs are not that uncommon, and in many cases, I guess life goes on. But if some affair on the side that lasted only 4 days made such a huge impact on your life, wouldn't that be a clue to you that something is wrong???

Maybe the times were too different for her to get out of her marriage, I don't know. But the whole damn thing doesn't make much sense to me. If anyone has any insight, please enlighten me.

[Paladin]

4. I Thought It Was Terrific

Well acted, well directed, and not nearly as overwrought as the novel.

There were also some personal circumstances involved concerning my liking the movie, but I'd just as soon keep those to myself.....

[skooooo]

5. ..but what was likable...??

I'm not baiting you, it's an honest question. The woman just seems like such a pathetic loser. She made the choice to stay with her husband, which may or may not have been the right choice, but what's heroic about staying in an unhappy situation while all the time enshrining a memory of fleeting happiness and then leaving a letter to your kids about it??

I don't get it.

[LynneSin]

6. I still cry like a baby when I watch it

It's a chick flick

:shrug:

[BlueJazz]

7. I'm a Man but I have to admit I thoughly enjoyed it. N/T

[FrankBooth]

8. I still can't figure out why I watched the film after reading the book

both were exceptionally awful.

[bigwillq]

9. I really enjoyed it

It's a hell of a lot better than the stupid book. Meryl and Clint put some class into the movie. It was passionate and a well made movie.

The book made it seem like the women was having an a sinful affair. I thought they portrayed both the male and female leads in the book as sex-crazed addicts.

The movie justified the affair, if an affair can be justified. I think when I got to 'see' why she had the affair, it made the viewing experience much better for me.

[skooooo]

11. Ok, well still no one has addressed the premise..

....of the movie, which I find udderly idiotic. I've asked questions that no one will answer, so I guess I'll never know what some people see in the movie.

[bigwillq]

12. The premise of the movie is very realistic

House wife is bored of her life, wants something different and thrilling. Loves her family and is loyal to her job duites but wants some excitement.

She jumped at the chance of a quick fling with a charming outsider and went with it. I bet this happens a lot.
The movie 'Unfaithful' touched on these issues as well. Well, despite the murder twist and all.

[skooooo]

13. I just don't get all the sacharine sentiment...

...I understand the plot. The whole situation and pretense of the storyline seems absurd. Read my earlier posts, I guess...

[bigwillq]

16. I just liked the acting, the script, the direction, the

cinematography and the lush scenery. I enjoyed it. It kept my interest and stirred my emotions. I even cried during the scene when Meryl was with her husband in the car and saw Clint and she had her hand on the door. I don't know what else to tell you. I think I made my point clear but I still don't know if I answered any of your questions.

[skooooo]

17. yeah...ok

parts of it were maybe good, and the cinematography was good....

thanks

[bigwillq]

18. Did I answer your question or not?

I really want to help answer your questions. I like a challenge.

[skooooo]

20. Ok...here it is..

I DO remember that certain scenes in the movie were pretty good. Even the romantic ones between her and Clint, etc. But it's more the overall "message" of the movie...it's just kind of weird.

I mean the movie opens right after she dies and her kids are going through her personal stuff. So she's left ALL this detail about her affair, explaining EVERYTHING to whoever stumbles on to this information. She kind of leaves a "tribute" to the relationship or something.

First of all, I think it's weird to leave details and explanations of something like that behind for your kids (???!). It's also kind of morbid that this was the only thing in her life that was ever worth anything to her.

See what I mean?? It just seems kind of creepy.

[bigwillq]

21. I see your points

Yes, the one strange thing to me is that, like you said, these 4 days seemd to be the only thing she remembered and cherished about her life.

However, it didn't really bother me at all. I stilled enjoyed the movie.

But I do see what you mean but I can't tell you anything else to persuade you to like it. We just have different views on the movie, which is cool.

[MikeG]

10. Very romantic untill you consider the guy who got cheated on.

[SarahB]

14. Not great, but not terrible

I can relate somewhat to the female lead, but boredom alone would never lead me to do something like that. I don't have a lot of empathy for her in the long term when she wanted something more out of her life and could only find it in this man alone. She needed to also look within herself. This was what she looked back on as her "big moment" in her life. Strangely though, I can understand how, even briefly, it may be possible to connect with another person on a level beyond what you can explain and that stays with you.
It certainly happens where you find yourself making what you think are the right choices that you "should" do and ending up miserable. However, if she wasn't satisfied with her life- she should have done something! She should have divorced or gone back to school or taken up a career or opened a little shop in town- something! I know the story was set in the mid-60's, but it wasn't the dark ages in the mid-60's either.

[skooooo]

19. EXACTLY!

The items you mention are some of the same ones that struck me. It's hard to have much sympathy for her. Seems to me she took pleasure in wallowing in her misery -- like she wanted to suffer and be bored. She took one realitively minor chance with hooking up with Clint. This should have helped her realize that there was more out there in the world. She wanted to stay with her kids -- but they were already half-grown...I dunno...doesn't make for an intriguing character in a movie in my book.

[GOPisEvil]

15. This movie pissed me off!

Of course, I'm a guy who's been cheated on, so maybe I'm predisposed to dislike it. :silly:

[MrSlayer]

22. Refuse to see it because I know it sucks.

Just a bunch of pap.