In your opinion, who is the biggest hack director?
 

as the title of the thread asks: in your opinion, who is the biggest hack director?

NOTE: i did say "in your opinion", so criticizing others opinions is already unjustified. open debate on their opinions, however... :D

i'll start by saying that i think it doesn't get much worse than Chris Columbus, director of such classics as Home Alone, Home Alone 2, Mrs. Doubtfire, Stepmom, Bicentenial Man and the first two Harry Potter movies.

the reasons why the first 2 HP movies had no style? C. Columbus.

the reason why the third HP movie had style and got much better reviews than the first 2? they weren't directed by Columbus.

-di doctor-

How would you define hack exactly? Just so everyone knows how to properly rip down someone.

i don't know... i think "hack" is a fairly subjective term.

my idea of a hack is somebody who might be able to competently make a movie (especially a Hollywood movie) but who gives little to no style or substance to the effort; the ultimate cookie maker - the person who does what Hollywood dictates with few to no personal flourishes thrown in or if they are personal flourishes, they are too bland or banal to warrant attention.
-di doctor-

what the fuck is the talk of "style and substance". Oooh, you mean tossing in music of the time and flavor of the week actors? "Hack" does seem a bit off to bring Chris Columbus up. I mean his movies were successful for a reason and he does direct childern pretty well.

I'm sure lucas will be tossed into the list here. It's only a matter of time. Seems like pure flame war material really.

I'll get in the obvious choice right now: Michael Bay.

Paul Anderson

McG

&

Brett Ratner

Michael Bay is the epitome of a hack.
he never ran across a scene that couldn't use a crane shot.

Lucas has become the worst kind of hack (going back and screwing with what were fine, soundly constructed, well paced films in order to incorporate unneccessary, meaningless spectacle...UGHHH!).

Stephen Somers

Re: In your opinion, who is the biggest hack director?
 

You may or may not be pleased with this news:
Chris Columbus to Direct Sub-Mariner
http://www.comingsoon.net/news/topnews.php?id=7449

[dvdtalk]

Insert popular director who has made successful movies.

[/dvdtalk]

Peter Segal.

He directed 50 First Dates, Anger Management, The Klumps to name a few... he seems like a hack for hire who keeps getting jobs to make highly unfunny movies...movies that have great casts and pretty decent concepts, but never come together to their full potential... I'm hoping he proves me wrong with THE LONGEST YARD...but I doubt it.

MATT

:up:

Yeah, that sounds about right.

John Carpenter?










Oh... I thought we were talking about creepy slasher films. My bad. ;)

Luca$



(not really...I love his work. just wanted to be the first, cause i know it's coming)

Brett Ratner, without a doubt. I have no idea why this guy gets work, he's totally lacking in style or imagination. "Rush Hour" movies make money, so he gets stuff like "Red Dragon" pushed out.

Too slow:

oops, missed that. BTW...that's not my quote up there!

Francis Ford Coppola...

We all gave you one pass (G pt III), but then you had to go and make Jack. Good day sir.


....I said good day sir!

rotfl

My vote goes to Michael Bay

like the director and (remake) film: Shall We Dance

Paul WS Anderson.
His films are comepletely devoid of style or imagination. Whatever knowledge of or reverence for the material he uses are minimal at best. From his "ooh! Let's rip off Solaris completely, but with HORROR!" piece of stupidity Even Horizon to the just plain awful and indefensible Alien Vs. Predator, he has shown time and again that he just does not know how to make a decent film. Paul... I challenge you to make a film that could be construed as "good" or "entertaining".

Shawn Levy
Huh boy. The Paul POS Anderson of "comedy". Big Fat Liar, Just Married, Cheaper By The Dozen... about as bad as

Raja Gosnell
The Scooby-Doos and Big Momma's House. Yikes. Next up - Big Baby, about a dude who doesn't want a kid, then suddenly starts behaving like an infant. Hi-larious again, I see.

Andrzej Bartkowiak.
Once a respected cinematographer, now the director of cheap beat 'em ups with Jet Li and/or DMX. BNext up - a video game adaptation! Going places, I see.

Dominic Sena
Just watch... we have a challenger for Mike Bay's throne...

Ivan Reitman
Hasn't made a good film since Dave. After Junior, which seemed more like a personal film for him, he's just done paycheck pictures.

Harold Becker.
Hal, I've seen your work. You're better than your Mercury Risings, your Domestic Disturbances...

Stephen Hopkins.
I think I can include a "happy ending"... after doing just by-the-numbers pictures for anyone willing to pay, he's beginning to come into his own, shepherding "24" into existence with Joel Surnow and getting good notices for The Life & Death Of Peter Sellers.

Stephen Norrington.
Blade was fun and Steve seemed into that film; stuff on the DVD shows how involved he was. But then... The League Of Extraordinary Gentlemen...

Francis Ford Coppola.
I know, I know. But look at his films since Dracula.

Jack
The Rainmaker
and, supposedly, Supernova.

All just generic market films that Coppolla did for a buck. I understand, guy's gotta eat. But this guy did four of the best films in the seventies, a few of which are seen as THE BEST EVER MADE, and this is what he's directed over the last ten years? I understand he's been producing, and hasn't that been great? I mean, Jeepers Creepers and Jeepers Creepers 2... nice work, Franky.

that'll do for now.

well hey now, I thought Big Momma's House was pretty funny.