What hasn't lived up to the hype? What has?

[MonkeyFunk]

A few threads here got me thinking.

A few things were so highly praised by people I like, that they were letdowns when I finally experienced them:

Idiocracy
Bill Hicks
Mitch Hedburg
Blair Witch Project

Not that they were BAD, but I expected so much more. Well, Hedburg was bad. Awful. But he was shitfaced and could barely get a sentence out. And Blair Witch just sucked any way you look at it.


Two movies, though, I just thought would suck and people kept praising them so highly that I finaly saw them and thought they totally lived up to what I'd heard:

Strictly Ballroom
Babe

Yeah, the talking pig. So many friends raved about it and I kept saying "it's a movie about a pig." Finally saw it on an airplane and just LOVED it. I've seen it many times since.

[newmajority]

1. I was kinda disappointed in Idiocracy myself.

The point of the movie was obvious, and certainly a possibility of becoming reality if the last decade or so is any indication. But I thought they could have done a better job with it. It basically came across as Mike Judge populating the entire world with live action versions of his cartoon heroes Beavis & Butthead.

[MonkeyFunk]

2. Yeah

I expected a masterpiece of satire, but this was just a hammer. It certainly had its humorous moments, but it was just awfully heavy-handed.

[zanne]

3. If you were talking about things in general...

The "Segway" would be my bet.

[malta blue]

4. I loved Babe.

I keep trying to get Little MB to watch it but she's not interested :shrug:

[YankeyMCC]

5. One thing that comes to mind that lived up to the hype

is the new Battlestar Galactica. I don't know what made me watch the miniseries when I first aired because I was certain that a remake with all that hype was definitely going to be horrible but I gave it a try anyway and happily so.

One thing in general that did not live up to the hype was marriage.

[trof]

6. My Prius has lived up to the hype.

Very happy with it.

[WinkyDink]

7. I was surprised the first time I saw John Candy in a movie. He is awesomely funny!

[taterguy]

8. The Grand Canyon lived up to the hype

Seriously, it's something that everyone should experience.

[u4ic]

29. I agree

Ditto with the Canadian Rockies.

[Mr. Blonde]

9. In my experience

music holds up much better than movies or books.

I fought listening to Arcade Fire for a long time. I thought an indie rock band from Canada everyone adores, thats been done and I didn't like it then don't need to waste my time now. I was wrong. They are amazing.

Citizen Kane and 2001 are the two most amazing overrated movies in my mind. I will give CK that it at least broke new ground filming wise. Doesn't mean it is worth watching now. Give me something it was influenced by any day.

I just finished reading Les Miserables. I wish Victor would have either had a strong willed editor or placed his 20 pages about the greatness of the Paris sewer system at the front of the book. That way I would have known to stop reading.

[masshole]

10. Worth every penny

by far the best razor I've ever used.

[MonkeyFunk]

12. yeah?

which one is that? Does it have 30 blades or something?

[ghostsofgiants]

21. That's the Fusion.

5 blades I think, plus a single blade trimmer dealie on the back. I have one, it's pretty decent.

[Deja Q]

11. What has: Casino Royale (2006)

What hasn't: 99% of what's out there. Plus a Special mention to "Star Trek: Nemesis". :puke:

[PeaceNikki]

13. Lost in Translation

It was OK... I suppose. But it did NOT live up to the hype.

[Zuiderelle]

15. I SOOOOO agree with you on that.

My partner loved it, but I could hardly sit through it. Actually, I don't think I made it past the first hour.

[PeaceNikki]

18. It knocked my ass out cold.

Pretty scenery and all, but total snoozefest.

[fizzgig]

19. yup

i tried to like it, but just couldn't. i didn't even finish it

[MonkeyFunk]

25. oh man - I left that one out

So many people RAVED about it, I bought it on DVD and expected it to rock. I kept watching it wondering "when does it get good?". Then it ended. :shrug:

[Zuiderelle]

14. Babe made me cry.

I takes a lot to make me cry. :)

[MonkeyFunk]

26. That'll do, pig

It's become one of my favorite movie lines ever.

[skooooo]

16. My Ipod has lived up to the hype..

..had it for about 4 months now and don't know what I did with out it before!

[Zuiderelle]

17. The Wii is great. Particularly Wii Sports (like tennis) and Wii Fit.

[LibraLiz1973]

20. The Godfather movies

did NOT live up to the hype for me.

:hide:


There is a scene from Family Guy where Peter thinks he might die, so he tells his family that he didn't like the Godfather.
They are stunned & when they ask him why he doesn't like it he says, "It insists upon itself".

I laugh my ass off every time I see that episode.

[sammythecat]

22. The United States of America has failed to live up to the hype.

The last Super Bowl lived up to the hype.
Lasers are still cool.
I think the internet is, or still has the potential, to live up to the hype.

"Independence Day" and "Armageddon" were hyped to hell and I thought both were a waste of time. I agree that "Babe" was a wonderful movie. Everyone should see it, really.

[SoxFan]

23. A few come to mind

Brian Eno (snooze)
Brian Eno-produced U2 albums (come on, Bono as Eurotrash?)
George Lakoff ("Don't Think of an Elephant" is intellectually shallow and a bit silly)
Bill Hicks (George Carlin and Lenny Bruce did it better 30 years earlier)

[bridgit]

24. Hover cars are having a rough time living up let alone taking off...

WALL-E lived up to the hype :thumbsup:

[Awsi Dooger]

27. Golf hybrids live up to the hype

460cc drivers do not. I'm talking from an amateur perspective. I finally convinced two friends to return to more manageable driver size and both have thanked me profusely.

The deep face bulky putters also flop. I'm always trying to restrain laughter when playing partners are using them. Invariably the stroke is screwed up, the putter too far off the ground past the ball.

IMO, HDTV and other recent TV changes also flop. TV prices were coming down but now the public is brainwashed that it needs smaller footprint and the latest and greatest picture. As a result, prices are outrageous per viewing area. A few years ago flat screen was the must have. Somehow I've never been fearful that basic picture and sound weren't good enough.

[Mutley]

28. Living year-round where other people take their summer vacations.

That DEFinitely hasn't lived up to its hype.

x(

[La Lioness Priyanka]

30. loved babe. hated that movie "there will be blood"

also eternal sunshine

[bluesbassman]

31. Deregulation.

Name one instance where any deregulation has been beneficial to the General Public in the long term.

[Fox Mulder]

32. Mt. Rushmore didn't live up to its hype...

the movie Titanic also didn't.

There's more, but I'm too lazy to type them.

[leeroysphitz]

33. One thing that lived up to the hype: Threadless handlebar clamps on mountain bikes.

One thing that has not: Swingers parties.


ETA: Threadkillah!