Could it be because he is one of the few people in Hollywood who has any tallent?

Boom shake shake shake the room....

I always thought that if Eddie Murphy never existed, Will Smith would not be a TV or movie star like he is now. He is what Robert Townsend made fun of in his movie Hollywood Shuffle, where the hollywood types were saying "..get me an Eddie Murphy ... " Thats my main problem with Smith. He is imitating Murphy in most of his movies. He even sounds and acts like Murphy in interviews. He never established a different or unique personality. I'm sure he is a nice guy in real life and all. But, I have always been puzzled by his superstardom as well.

I often wonder about his appeal myself.

My wife wanted to go see Hitch this past weekend so I told her if she could name one good movie he starred in we would go see it. She couldn't. We didn't.

...erm...Six Degrees Of Separation...

. . . :0 . . .

Shark Tale

My thing with him is I've been a fan of his for something like 17 years. It started with DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince - He's the DJ, I'm the Rapper. I watched Fresh Prince of Bel Air because I enjoyed his music. I watched Bad Boys because I enjoyed his music, enjoyed his TV show, and liked Martin Lawrence. I just kept going from there.

thats an awesome quote btw andycapps

I wonder too, I guess I dont get it either like some of you but I do like him, respect him. I always thought he was normal down to earth guy, well until yesterday where I read in my local paper about his "open marriage" arrangement he has. It none of my business but it shocked me abit and gave me the creeps. Basicly he was saying they have marriage where they are open about being attracted to other people. Which I thought was cool and honest approach to marriage. Then he said they need to ask for permission first before having sex with others. Sounded like he did that alot. Which to me leads to billion other issues and questions that lead down very dark and dangerous path.

Well it is like Emiem says "Will Smith doesn't have to cuss to sell records but I do so fuck him and fuck you to"

maybe you thought he felt out of place in I, Robot as there weren't many other black people in that movie ? I'm thinking back to it, and I don't remember seeing many other than the large lady who had her robot taken down by him.

but hes not bad, maybe not great either. I haven't seen Ali even tho I love Michael Mann. I like him but him starring in a movie doesn't quite excite me. Prolly stems from the 2 movies I saw him in prior... MIB 2 (this sequel blew) and Wild Wild West (shudder....).

I do not see the appeal. Every single review I read which talks about him as actor always refers to "Six Degrees of Seperation." It seems if he was actually a good actor reviewers wouldn't have to continually rely on one movie out the dozen+ he has made.

But let's get real, Will Smith is obviously popular, and quite frankly audiences aren't interested in him doing offbeat or otehr types of roles. He was also quite good in Ali besides Six Degrees. But in the end, people love him in a certain type of role. That's where he excels, and I dont' see too much problem with him living up to that.

While I admire an actor who extends their range, and really tries to place themselves in new, challenging material, I also do not have a problem with a star like Will Smith. He plays similar characters in light hearted entertainment, but audiences love him for it, and he's good at giving the audiences what they want.

Six Degrees is one of the only films Smith has done that's mroe high brow, which is why it's the one that is brought up. But I do not think his films, which are in general light entertainment, makes him irrelevant. The ability to entertain so many people, effectively, and with consistancy, is not something anybody can do, even if you are an amazing actor.

because he was on American Chopper

Didn't he refuse to kiss a guy in this movie even though it was in the script? Some actor.

Well he has had mostly big hits so why shouldn't he brag? Adam Sandler brags on talk shows about the ridiculous amounts of money he gets paid per film.

That sounds like something IMDB would publish as a news brief.

But he plays it in a cool bad-ass kinda way, not like a pansy like Wayne Brady.

That's sad. I mean I love the most pretentious movies on the planet but even I can admit to enjoying Will Smith movies. Very sad.

I think if you are comparing him against other actors who star in intense drama's that leave you thinking about the film afterwards, then you are definitely going to be confused by his popularity. But look at the films he's been in. They are big, fun, enjoyable movies. While I think he does these big blockbusters because he enjoys them, I also doubt he's getting scripts for movies like...Million Dollar Baby.

Also realize he's not even 40 yet. He has a lot of time to mature his acting craft, and dabble in a film that is very dramatic or edgy that makes everyone go "wow, this isn't the Will Smith I'm used to at all." This is what Robin Williams eventually did, and now people see him as both a funny man and a dramatic actor. Denzel Washington and Tom Cruise also changed their image a little with each did Training Day and Collateral.

You can't be that big of a prick can you?

Oh yeah...play Halo 2 with me sometime.

We saw Sideways instead and after seeing that overhyped movie I guess we should have stuck with her suggestion of Hitch.

No...what is sad is that you admit to enjoying Will Smith movies. Very sad.

Let's go thru the rundown.

Fresh Prince of Bel-Air - seriously cheesy TV sitcom...but then again...what isn't usually?
Six Degrees of Separation - one of his first movies and obviously people have to name this movie b/c he did a decent drama (12 years ago).
Bad Boys - he is okay but only b/c he has not half as obnoxious as Martin Lawrence.
Independence Day - one of the worst blockbusters ever created
Men in Black - decent flick but with Tommy Lee Jones it is hard to go wrong.
Enemy of the State - I like this film and I liked him in it. He doesn't have time to be a smart-ass because he is always running and out of breath most of the time.
Wild Wild West, Men in Black II, Lengend of Bagger Vance, Bad Boys II - do I have to comment?
Ali - he is decent but the movie is so-so which is mostly not his fault.

I have not seen Shark Tale, I Robot or Hitch mostly b/c of the last few movies he has starred in. I will check them out eventually on dvd or HBO.

Several turkeys in that list with a couple of so-so flicks. But what the hell do I know...he is a multimillonaire and I am wasting time giving my opinion on my $500 computer.

I like him, he's a pretty likable actor and his movies are generally fairly easy to swallow. Plus, he's the legend who brought us "Nightmare on My Street", so he immediately gets a pass on any bad things.

I'll be seeing Hitch because of Kevin James, not Will Smith.

I certainly don't see anything funny about Robin Williams.