Cecil B. Demented?

Jared5446 · 02-10-01, 08:06 PM

Is Cecil B. Demented worth picking up? It is near the top of my list, is it worth the $20?

Starlover · 02-10-01, 08:16 PM

I am a big John Waters fan and I even loved his more recent stuff such as Pecker and Serial Mom. And while I thought the concept behind Cecil to be very interesting the movie itself was lackluster. It was a bad movie, but was never boring, which is a good thing. The story was half-baked and the humor never took off. It seemed to be a pointless excercise without much passion. I'd give it a rent at least before purchase.

Big Dave · 02-10-01, 11:15 PM

It is a decent movie, but not the type of movie you can watch over and over again. However, if you are a fan of Waters, I heard his commentary track is decent, so in that case you may want to pick it up. I could not see paying $20 for it though, maybe if there was a real great deal on it.

bdots48 · 02-11-01, 01:33 PM

If your a big waters fan you'll want it, otherwise rent it. The movie is not good. The commentary is a hoot, though, as was his commentary for pecker. Actually more fun than the movie.

chuckd21 · 02-12-01, 03:41 PM

Here's a review, if needed:

http://www.jaxfilmjournal.com/bmcecilb.html

Gil Jawetz · 02-12-01, 05:54 PM

I think it works best for those who have spent time involved with the Baltimore film scene (a very small audience to be sure) since the film actually makes fun of specific non-celebrity people and places in jokes that I would guess 99.999% of the people watching could never understand. For instance, we saw it in NYC and were cracking up at stuff that no one else was laughing at. However, it's not a very good movie and doesn't really do as much with its premise as it could have (but then again Waters is a pretty sketchy filmmaker). Polyester is still, in my opinion, his best movie by far.

Jet_Jaguar · 02-27-01, 11:18 AM

Just rented this one. I liked it but I am a fan of unhinged films. Having a knowledge of showbiz helps as well.

As Waters makes clear in the commentary (and the film) this is a movie for the anti David Lean crowd.

I felt that the only real problem was with the various deaths. I don't think that killing anyone added an inch (edge) to this film. It just got in the way of the comedy.

DVD Smurf · 03-04-01, 01:25 PM

I got it for 50 cents, and more would not be fair for me to pay ofr it. However, it has a very interesting introduction to each character through the directors (I hope I did not spoil anything here.)

JaxComet · 03-04-01, 03:20 PM

This one made a few worst of the year lists....

Anko · 05-21-02, 03:25 PM

In one unfortunate segment of the commentary (recorded before 9/11) John Waters says, "Forrest Gump is the World Trade Center of movies. I mean it's won Academy Awards and everything... who could really hurt it?"

garmonbozia · 05-22-02, 10:52 AM

I know barely anything about the Baltimore film scene (that I haven't heard from a Waters commentary, etc...) but I still found a lot in this film to be funny. Is it one of Waters best? no. Nor do I think it is his worst film. I enjoyed it and got a lot of fun out of it. I think it does help to know a bit about film history in general as that's where a lot of the jokes make fun of.

I agree with the person above who said that Polyester was his best film.

garmonbozia · 05-22-02, 11:11 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Jet_Jaguar
As Waters makes clear in the commentary (and the film) this is a movie for the anti David Lean crowd.

I just find it funny that I am a big fan of David Lean and John Waters.

02-10-01, 08:06 PM	#1
Jared5446 Member Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Maine Posts: 145	Is Cecil B. Demented worth picking up? It is near the top of my list, is it worth the $20? __________________ "This job would be great if it wasn't for the customers."

02-12-01, 03:41 PM	#5
chuckd21 DVD Talk Limited Edition Join Date: May 1999 Location: Florida Posts: 6,776	Here's a review, if needed: http://www.jaxfilmjournal.com/bmcecilb.html __________________ Blog \| Twitter \| YouTube \| The DVD Talk October Horror Movie Challenge: 2009 \| 2010 \| 2011 \| 2012 360/PS3/Steam/GameCenter: SmarmyJerkface \| Video Game Report Card: 2010 \| 2011 \| 2012 \| 2013

03-04-01, 01:25 PM	#8
DVD Smurf DVD Talk Platinum Edition Join Date: May 2000 Location: Mouthweathercity, IL. Posts: 3,521	I got it for 50 cents, and more would not be fair for me to pay ofr it. However, it has a very interesting introduction to each character through the directors (I hope I did not spoil anything here.) __________________ The fool doth think he is wise, but the wise man knows himself to be a fool. -William Shakespeare Cinematica.org - Film Reviews, Top 10, Brilliant Films, Vote for Your 5 best films and more.

05-22-02, 10:52 AM	#11
garmonbozia DVD Talk Limited Edition Join Date: Apr 2000 Location: Philadelphia, PA Posts: 5,919	I know barely anything about the Baltimore film scene (that I haven't heard from a Waters commentary, etc...) but I still found a lot in this film to be funny. Is it one of Waters best? no. Nor do I think it is his worst film. I enjoyed it and got a lot of fun out of it. I think it does help to know a bit about film history in general as that's where a lot of the jokes make fun of. I agree with the person above who said that Polyester was his best film. __________________ "Little moments like that prove to me that there is some kind of all-powerful, all-knowing force that controls everything in the universe. And it's so fucking bored, it'll actually take time out to orchestrate a petty letdown like that." -- Georgia Lass

02-10-01, 08:16 PM	#2
Starlover Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2000 Location: NC & NY Posts: 348	I am a big John Waters fan and I even loved his more recent stuff such as Pecker and Serial Mom. And while I thought the concept behind Cecil to be very interesting the movie itself was lackluster. It was a bad movie, but was never boring, which is a good thing. The story was half-baked and the humor never took off. It seemed to be a pointless excercise without much passion. I'd give it a rent at least before purchase.

02-10-01, 11:15 PM	#3
Big Dave DVD Talk Special Edition Join Date: Nov 1999 Location: Chicago Posts: 1,612	It is a decent movie, but not the type of movie you can watch over and over again. However, if you are a fan of Waters, I heard his commentary track is decent, so in that case you may want to pick it up. I could not see paying $20 for it though, maybe if there was a real great deal on it.

02-11-01, 01:33 PM	#4
bdots48 DVD Talk Special Edition Join Date: Jan 2000 Location: Lakewood,OH,USA Posts: 1,926	If your a big waters fan you'll want it, otherwise rent it. The movie is not good. The commentary is a hoot, though, as was his commentary for pecker. Actually more fun than the movie.

02-12-01, 05:54 PM	#6
Gil Jawetz DVD Talk Hall of Fame Join Date: Jan 2000 Location: I was here but I disappear Posts: 8,407	I think it works best for those who have spent time involved with the Baltimore film scene (a very small audience to be sure) since the film actually makes fun of specific non-celebrity people and places in jokes that I would guess 99.999% of the people watching could never understand. For instance, we saw it in NYC and were cracking up at stuff that no one else was laughing at. However, it's not a very good movie and doesn't really do as much with its premise as it could have (but then again Waters is a pretty sketchy filmmaker). Polyester is still, in my opinion, his best movie by far.

02-27-01, 11:18 AM	#7
Jet_Jaguar Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2000 Location: Approaching the periphery shield of vortex seven Posts: 472	Just rented this one. I liked it but I am a fan of unhinged films. Having a knowledge of showbiz helps as well. As Waters makes clear in the commentary (and the film) this is a movie for the anti David Lean crowd. I felt that the only real problem was with the various deaths. I don't think that killing anyone added an inch (edge) to this film. It just got in the way of the comedy.

03-04-01, 03:20 PM	#9
JaxComet DVD Talk Limited Edition Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Cromwell, CT Posts: 5,394	This one made a few worst of the year lists....

05-21-02, 03:25 PM	#10
Anko Cool New Member Join Date: Apr 2000 Posts: 23	In one unfortunate segment of the commentary (recorded before 9/11) John Waters says, "Forrest Gump is the World Trade Center of movies. I mean it's won Academy Awards and everything... who could really hurt it?"