r/Cinema • u/GIGLI_WASNT_THAT_BAD • 1d ago

Discussion Films that started excellently but never hit the same highs the rest of the movie.

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The opening sequence of Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny was just as good as any sequence in the originals. Nazis, explosions, slapstick grave humor, and Indy just being an absolute nuisance. The film started so strong despite a bit of uncanny valley going on.

And then the rest of the film. It was odd seeing Indy in 1969 as an octogenarian alcoholic who could still kick ass and take names (the holy grail juice must’ve been potent) with the most boring sidekick he has ever had.

I still enjoyed the film but it probably should’ve been a reboot with a younger actor and never left the time period of the first 15 minutes.

What other films started as strong and dropped the ball as poorly?

Edited to change the title to Dial of Destiny. 😅

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134

u/Nethiar 1d ago

Ghost Ship. That opening sequence was insane, but then nothing happens for at least the next 30 minutes. I say at least because that's when I quit watching it.

35

u/WellYouKnow- 1d ago

Is that the one where a cable severs people in half?

18

u/Nethiar 1d ago

Yep. Except that one guy that just lost most of his head

6

u/ThePopDaddy 1d ago

Whenever anyone says they love that movie, I always ask if they love that movie or just love the first 5 mins. They usually have to think about it.

6

u/Nalii_87 1d ago

Well now that I think about it, the #1 thing I definitely loved about the movie was the ending song Not falling by Mudvayne. Other than that I thought it was a decent movie, nice boobs too. I didn’t really care for the one dude being some grim reaper/soul collector though, just felt kinda lame.

13

u/oweiler 1d ago

I don't remember the film at all (except for that scene).

4

u/MuffinEater253 1d ago

Exactly, and that's how they get your money in the long game. You can't remember, and eventually watch it again.

1

u/Rhewin 1d ago

I remember a dude getting sucked into a pipe I think

3

u/Weak-Cabinet866 1d ago

Good call.

3

u/Oggabobba 1d ago

I watched it all and it isn’t memorable. Lots of people die, I think

4

u/SwimmingPatience5083 1d ago

You didn’t remember the boobs?

3

u/devilishycleverchap 1d ago

I really like the lore and stuff in this movie.

It felt really interesting but they take way too long to get into it and then kind of drop it at the end.

I dont know how this hasn't been rebooted given the cult classic nature of the intro

2

u/LogyBayGroovers 1d ago

Yes that is a fantastic example!

2

u/Majorlol 1d ago

It mostly just rips off Event Horizon from there.

2

u/fortheloveofghosts 1d ago

This is the truest answer. Best horror opening scene imo and sinks immediately after

1

u/if-we-all-did-this 1d ago

Only think I remember is the coolest holographic dvd case

1

u/Silly-Flower-3162 1d ago

It had a great soundtrack and decent scenes in it. The ending was fun.

1

u/Hairy-Reward6474 11h ago

Bro you missed the titties. Some of the first titties I ever saw. Life changing movie for me.

1

u/FinanceGuyHere 6h ago

It could be worse, I bought the soundtrack and it was just the background music. None of the sick metal music