MovieChat Forums > Endless Love (1981) Discussion > The Most Underrated Pic on Imdb

The Most Underrated Pic on Imdb

posted 18 years ago by niko7sky
9 replies | jump to latest

There is no reason why this film is in the bottom 100. I think people felt the need to bash Brooke Shields' acting, when the reality is, that her mind boggling beauty made people want to pick her apart. This is a beautiful film (albeit imperfect), with a gorgeous score, and a touching, disturbing story, based on one of the best novels of the 70s. Aside from the magnificent looking Shields, Shirley Knight is a jewel, and the cast/screen debuts are wild. Compared to the dreck out today, this picture is a little gem, and criminally underrated. Brooke may have been a bit young and emotionally under developed for the part, but the character is supposed to be 15, and, aside from one scene in particular (where she is fighting with her father), which is faulty direction and editing, she still manages to pull it off gracefully. I challenge anyone to rewatch this film, from start to finish, and see if it still warrants a 3.6 on the imdb rating scale.

[–] jbjbcme 18 years ago

I am in agreement with you. This film is almost like the lost film of 1980s. First of all, people at many times have to stop comparing the book from the film. In many cases, books should not be compared to the films because they are usually two different products. Let's face reality: the book is almost 500 pages. How can you put all this in 110 minutes? As the book is magical in its own way, so is the film in its way. Interestingly enough, I'll take this film any day over The Blue Lagoon. Shirley Knight steals the show as the laid back mother to everyone. As a matter of speaking, this is my favorite film with her, as well as one of my favorite films of 1981. Another thing I'd like to say is that people are so biased when it comes to dramas with the young. Anyone can say that One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest as a film is horrible compared to the book. But they would not even dare. And they should note as that book is its own prize in it's perspective, so is that film a prize it its perspective. But back to Endless Love, they should release it on DVD in the US with the theatrical trailer, as well as a commentary by Franco Zefferelli. He actually made this the modern version of Romeo and Juliet, and with his difficulty with Universal to shorten the film, he did a great job. Funny is that this DVD is available on region 2 in the UK. I actually was giving the opportunity to see this version, and the picture is crystal clean. The UK always had better taste than the US in film and in music, and of course, we don't have the DVD here. There are no extras on theirs, but hopefully, if Universal wakes up they'll release it here with a done of extras. I still have the soundtrack on CD for almost 8 years, and yet no official DVD. Soemthing's wrong!

[–] mylarstar 18 years ago

I found this on EBay and while there are no menus, it is a very clean version.
I love this movie...after all these years.

[–] philipshepp 18 years ago

its flawed, and unintentionally funny in places, but it has its moments, and deserves better than 3.8, maybe 5.5 - 6 would be better.

[–] Seto012 18 years ago

It seems most of Brooke Shields movies has an unusually low rating.

Endless Love 3.8
Sahara 3.4
The Blue Lagoon 4.7

I haven't seen these films, however my friend tells me that she loved them and she has a pretty good sense of movie greatness.

Perhaps the IMDB users just don't like Brooke Shields way of acting.

[–] depabillaba 18 years ago

I'm going to quote the first post "I think people felt the need to bash Brooke Shields' acting, when the reality is, that her mind boggling beauty made people want to pick her apart." and then add that it's just out of pure jealousy that people don't like Brooke Shields.

I think that she has an "aura" of innocence surrounding her, and let's not get started about her rarely seen immense natural beauty. Let's just face it - the world doesn't like it when beautiful people show that they've got some brains and feelings too.

So what if Brooke was on the cover of Italian Vogue and what more? She was beautiful, she seized the moment and we all need to make our living in some way.

[–] 18 years ago

[deleted]

[–] DanceswCats 17 years ago

I agree, this movie is def. underrated!! I think the book "The Shining" was awesome but the movie paled in comparision. Yet, if you look at them as 2 separate pieces of art, the movie is still good; it tells the story and is entertaining and frightening. I think ppl. were unnerved (and maybe envious) by Shield's nearly perfect beauty, so they had to find something, anything, to pick apart, and they chose her acting.....

[–] filmsRreel 17 years ago

Yup...it's a classic. I loved that title song too. When I saw this when I was 12 I thought that I'd die for Brooke Shields

[–] 17 years ago

[deleted]