What's the worst movie you've ever seen? I'm not talking about the acknowledged disasters, like Plan Nine from Outer Space or even Reefer Madness. I'm talking about a movie made by people with respectable resumes and careers, that had reasonable budgets (i.e., not made on a shoestring), and that the filmmakers obviously intended to be successful?
For me, it has long been and remains Superman III, with Christopher Reeve, Richard Pryor, and Robert Vaughan. I should point out that I saw it at a press screening during the time I was writing regularly for Starlog. I have always joked that it was movie I saw for free and still paid too much. I have steadfastly refused to ever see it again.
Second place would have to go to Ken Russell's abominable attempt to make a movie from Sandy Wilson's musical The Boy Friend, starring Twiggy in the role originated on stage by Julie Andrews (yes, you read that right). I also saw this at a press screening when I was in college, working for the campus radio station. What's wrong with it? Virtually everything--casting, tone (Russell took a light-hearted retro romp and turned it into a dark "behind-the-scenes" story), jettisoned all the best songs (or reduced them to a verse and a chorus, often performed while other action was taking the forefront), and filmed it all in cinema-verite style. Another film I have never made any attempt to see again (and I love musicals!).
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