Long titles suck! I’m sorry but long movie titles are hard to even remember at times and if you don’t have a memorable title, what is even the point? Anyway, I tried to find the three movies that have super long titles that I was actually okay with. That didn’t go so well so I’m adding one that I had mixed feelings about. Yet, that movie fits today’s theme perfectly and I’m guessing it’s a popular choice for many.
1. EXTREMELY WICKED, SHOCKINGLY EVIL AND VILE (2019)
Compared to the other two, this title is not too long but it proves my point – I could not say this title on the first go. I still don’t know it by heart and probably never will. I’ll just call it Zach’s Bundy movie, it’s easier. Regardless, this got some criticism and most of it was earned. Still, I quite liked it and was excited to see it on a big screen. I did review it, which was a rare thing for me in 2019 (I shall try to do better in 2020). Yet, I wish the title was a little shorter – doesn’t matter that it has a meaning and it connects with the movie. Long titles don’t really work… for somebody like me.
2. DR. STRANGELOVE OR: HOW I LEARNED TO STOP WORRYING AND LOVE THE BOMB (1964)
That time I was still doing my Blindspot thing (failed a lot of challenges this year), I watched this. Luckily it does have a shorter alternative, Dr. Strangelove which everyone uses over the actual title. This is the movie I wasn’t very thrilled about. It’s about war and politics, themes that escape me a lot of the times and it’s okay. I appreciate the strange commentary it makes and Peter Seller’s three roles are a standout. I also managed to answer a movie trivia question about it during a quiz so something good came out if it. Will I watch it again? I doubt it. But I’m glad I ticked it off my list.
3. THE ASSASSINATION OF JESSE JAMES BY THE COWARD ROBERT FORD (2007)
Not as long as Dr. Strangelove but quite the mouthful to say. Also ironic how the entire title of the movie gives away the plot. Yet, knowing it, this is still one hell of a movie to watch. I of course finally watched it during my Sam Rockwell fangirling and I’m glad I did. Pitt is absolutely wonderful here and the movie has some brilliant cinematography. I will definitely try to watch it again in the future because it feels like a movie that has that rewatch quality to it. Plus, after watching Ad Astra (even though I disliked it), I’m quite fond of Pitt these days. Most of his filmography is filled with great movies too so it would be easy to go down the memory lane with Pitt’s movies. Anyway, I’m going off course – this movie, good, watch it!
THIS SERIES IS CREATED BY WANDERING THROUGH THE SHELVES
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Oh I forgot all about the Ted Bundy movie! I totally understand why it has that title but what annoys me about it is I can never remember which way around it goes!
I’m so glad Sam thirst led you to watch Jesse James! i just adore this movie, it’s so beautiful made and it;s one of Sam’s best performances
Haven’t seen Zac’s movie. Nice to see him trying to expand beyond those awful crap comedies he risks becoming mired in but the subject is dark and distasteful. I remember when Ted Bundy was loose and the manhunt for him and that’s enough for me.
I don’t return to Dr. Strangelove often at all but it does make many trenchant points in a humorous way. Very fine acting from all.
Assassination of Jesse James was a one watch for me. The acting was excellent but the pace was far too leisurely for me to want to return to it.
My three are all from the 60’s and the first two at least had pretensions of greatness that were not met.
“Oh Dad, Poor Dad, Mamma’s Hung You in the Closet and I’m Feelin’ So Sad” (1967)-Madame Rosepettle (Rosalind Russell) arrives at a Caribbean resort for a vacation with quite a menagerie, her 24 year old son (Robert Morse) who acts like a 5 year old, his stamp collection and telescope, a pair of Venus Flytraps, her tank of pet piranhas and her dead husband (Jonathan Winters-who serves as narrator) who she’s had stuffed and travels with them in his coffin that she keeps in the closet. While they are there the hotel’s babysitter Rosalie (Barbara Harris) falls for the infantile young man while Madame is pursued by a crazy ship captain, Commodore Roseabove. Got that? Its theatre of the absurd and the kind of whack-a-doodle thing that could only be produced in the 60’s.
“Can Heironymus Merkin Ever Forget Mercy Humppe and Find True Happiness?” (1969)-Superstar Heironymus Merkin (Anthony Newley) is filming a movie of his life surrounded by piles of junk and a bed on a ribbon of beach as his mother and children bear witness. While the Greek chorus of devil’s advocate Goodtime Eddie Filth (Milton Berle) and The Presence (Georgie Jessel) battle for his soul Merkin works his way to the top of show biz becoming a drug loving sex addict along the way. Yet he longs for his lost true love, Mercy Humppe (Connie Kreski) despite his marriage to Polyester Poontang (Joan Collins-Newley’s wife at the time, their real life children play their kids in the film-Thaxted and Thumbelina!). Watching the uncompleted footage in a parallel time the producers of this opus scream for him to come up with an ending. Merkin shuffles through his memories to find some value in his life while singing a couple songs and screwing like a rabbit.
Confused? What with a title like that you were expecting coherence? Watching the film won’t clear anything up for you! Newley directed, produced, wrote & composed the music (all badly) for this exercise in vanity which was originally rated X.
“The Incredibly Strange Creatures Who Stopped Living and Became Mixed-Up Zombies!!?” (1964)-I really can’t better this IMDB description: “Jerry falls in love with a stripper he meets at a carnival. Little does he know that she is the sister of a gypsy fortune teller whose predictions he had scoffed at earlier. The gypsy turns him into a zombie and he goes on a killing spree.”
Or the tagline:
SEE: the dancing girls of the carnival murdered by the incredible night creatures of the midway! SEE: the hunchback of the midway fight a duel of death with the mixed up zombies! SEE: the world’s first monster musical!
It’s not good but it’s unique!
HOW COULD I FORGET ABOUT DR STRANGELOVE????
No idea, it’s like literally the longest title ever. 😀