While feted on release, they now come across as heavy-handed, insensitive, cringe-worthy, or downright offensive.
With this in mind, this list looks at someclassic films that have aged poorly.
One note here is thatD.W.
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Griffith’sThe Birth of a Nationis not listed.
Although a big hit on release, the fifthJames Bond flickis a pretty lackluster one to revisit.
The plot also takes a series of awkward and unnecessary detours, culminating in a chaotic and overstuffed finale.
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Indeed,You Only Live Twicefalls off in the second half, becoming more and more ridiculous.
It’s all simply too cheesy and the usually stellar Connery is far from his A-game.
The overreliance on gadgets borders on the cartoonish and most of the action sequences are decidedly dull.
Finally, some modern reviewers have critiqued the scenes where Connery goes undercover as a Japanese man.
This sequence has significantly marredHoliday Inn’s legacy.
As misunderstandings and whimsical encounters ensue, love and intentions are tested.
The movie is certainly well-intentioned, but these ideas could have been explored with more nuance.
There are also some cringe-worthy conversations about sex and what some of the students will do to get it.
Plus, the scene where Bluto spies on nude female students is uncomfortable to watch.
Despite its cult status and influence in shaping the college comedy genre,Animal Houseis certainly not perfect.
5’Rambo III' (1988)
Directed by Peter MacDonald
“God would have mercy.
This is coupled with a cartoony ‘the enemy of my enemy is my friend’ philosophy.
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Indeed,many have criticized the movie for presenting an overly sanitized view of racism.
It’s reluctant to engage with the realities, making it rather toothless and saccharine.
While this approach might have been effective in 1989, it feels tone-deaf now.
Finally, the repetitive scenes of Jessica giving orders to Hoke start to become grating after a while.
“Revenge of the Nerdsbears some similar problems toAnimal House.
Using ingenuity, pranks, and camaraderie, the nerds prove their worth and make a stand.
The humor and archetypal underdog story made the movie a cult favorite.
The third act, in particular, starts to drag, with the jokes slowing to a trickle.
Hepburn’s style here continues to be referenced and emulated today.
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It was partly for this reason thatTruman Capote, who wrote the original novella, so disliked the movie.
Film historianRobert Osbornehascalledthe character a “caricature” and “totally embarrassing”.
Rooney’s exaggerated, stereotype-ridden performance unfortunately detracts from the films otherwise charming atmosphere.
The Palm Beach Story follows the comedic journey of Gerry Jeffers, who plans to raise money for her husband’s invention by divorcing him and seeking the affections of a wealthy Florida magnate, J. D. Hackensacker III. As misunderstandings and whimsical encounters ensue, love and intentions are tested.
The 1961 film stars Buddy Ebsen, Audrey Hepburn, Patricia Neal, and George Peppard.
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Chasing Amy is a romantic comedy-drama film by writer-director Kevin Smith. Following the viewpoint of comic artist Holden McNeil (Ben Affleck), the movie focuses on his hopeless romantic attachment to a fellow comic artist who happens to be a lesbian - and his best friend’s attempts at voicing his disapproval. The film explores the complex layers of love and what forms it takes.
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Image via TriStar Pictures
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An old Jewish woman and her African-American chauffeur in the American South have a relationship that grows and improves over the years.
At Adams College, a group of bullied outcasts and misfits resolve to fight back for their peace and self-respect.
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In 1910s London, snobbish phonetics professor Henry Higgins agrees to a wager that he can make crude flower girl Eliza Doolittle presentable in high society.
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Breakfast at Tiffany’s is a romantic comedy film by director Blake Edwards and is based on Truman Capote’s 1958 novella. The 1961 film stars Buddy Ebsen, Audrey Hepburn, Patricia Neal, and George Peppard. The plot revolves around Holly Golightly as she falls in love and the trials and tribulations that come along with it.
