Raging Bull...Why can I not like it???

[gram99]

I have tried sooo hard to watch this film all the way through on many occcasions and have bought and sold it twice, but no matter how much I like De Niro and like the idea of this film I just cannot get through it. I find myself getting bored and depressed. I like boxing too so considering some people say its one of the best movies ever I find myself wondering why I cannot get into it. Any ideas?

[Hendrik]

...wouldn't worry about it too much... some things just are... (when I think of the -famous- movies I don't like, or even despise... say, The English Patient, or Vertigo, or Metropolis, or most Oliver Stone movies, or...)

. . . :o . . .

[Dear Mr Echo]

I wouldn't worry about it either. You don't have to like any film despite its reputation. At least you have given it more than one go. I think that the important thing is not to say things like "this film is rubbish... why do people rave on about it" as we see quite often on the forums.

A lot of the time I think you have to be in the right frame of mind to watch particular films... I don't think you can just 'chuck on' a film like Raging Bull (or any seriously good film) and sit back and relax - it demands your attention, it tends not to be a passive experience.

I tried to watch The Seventh Seal a few weeks back on Film Four but had to turn it off after an hour because it was about 8.00pm when it started, I'd just finished work, couldn't concentrate blah, blah, blah... it just wasn't the right time for me to watch it. But I will go back to it at some point when I know I'll be able to get more out of it. Like has been said before films gain a reputation for a reason and usually requires some effort on the viewers part to enjoy it.

I bought Raging Bull recently but I have no idea when I will actually watch it. But it is there whenever I get the urge to. So I would say hang on to it and you may find yourself in the right mood sometime.

Having said all that you still don't have to like it but at least you will know why.

Andrew

[Panavision]

You don't have to like a film cos the critics say it's good

[Arch Stanton]

Raging Bulls one of those films that's fantasticaly well made on all acounts but it's relentlessly grim and not a film you watch to be cheered up.

But i'd never say it was a bad film.

[nc]

I'm with gram on this. I'm a big fan of De Niro, Pecsi, Scorcese and boxing. I've watched it a couple of times and it bores me. Yet top critics rate it as one of the best films ever. This will always mystify me.

[Paul Bennison]

The acting is flawless, I guess it's an accurate account of the life of Mr LaMotta and the whole feel of the film really puts you 'there'. However these things do not an 'enjoyable' film make.

I got through it and found it interesting, but will make no efforts to purchase or re-watch.

In a similar vein, it took me 4 attempts to watch the Godfather. (till I discovered the problem was watching the TV version - no one should even try to kick off their first viewing of such an epic at 10:40pm - after the news)

[phlebas]

I'm with gram99 too - I recorded it off FilmFour a while back and only got about half way through it before I got too bored and gave up. Admittedly I'm not a boxing fan but I do usually like De Niro and Pesci. Perhaps I'll give it a go again when it's next on TV, but I doubt I'll buy the DVD.

[Davester]

Time to start flaming ;)

You are very strange no to like it :D

Seriously I agree it was okay - the soundtrack was great btw. Probably the worst de niro pesci colaberation I have seen.

[Bob B]

Originally posted by gram99
I have tried sooo hard to watch this film all the way through on many occcasions

Me too. I have tried to watch it and am always impressed by the acting, the realism of the fight scenes and the use of music .. but I find the whole movie just too much to take. I bought the DVD in the January sales and am determined to sit through the whole thing, but I will have to pick a time when I am in the right mood for this sort of film.

I am glad to know I am not the only one having difficulty watching it as up until now I have never heard anyone say anything bad about the film.