A couple of weeks ago I had the unfortunate
displeasure of going to see Wes Anderson’s newest film “The Grand Budapest Hotel”. Personally, I anxiously awaited weeks
for this film to make its theater debut and alas it did. I had one day free to
myself and I went to the local theater to buy my overpriced ticket of $10
(usually I go on the $5 days). Then I waited
in awe for the start of this supposed, magnificent film. I was not infuriated. To me the basic’s that constitutes a good
movie is a film that
I feel is worth my:
·
Time-
When I finish watching a movie I want to feel that it was time well spent. I
want to feel satisfied that my time was not wasted.
·
Money-
When a movie is over I want to feel that my money was well spent. Whether it was the $1 I spent at redbox to
get the latest movie on DVD, or the $5-$10 I spent on a ticket to enjoy the
experience of actually going to the theater and sitting in a seat that I feel hasn't
been cleaned since the 80’s.
·
Attention
Span- Finally, I want a movie that will hold my attention through its entirety.
I hate when my mind wanders during a movie.
During a movie I don’t want to realize there are more productive things
I could be doing. When I watch a movie that’s all I want to think about. Movies
are supposed to be an escape from reality for better or worse.
This film fulfilled none of these
qualifications. I know a quite a few people who liked this film and I expect it
will be big come awards season next year due to all of its pre-release hype
generation that started the people talking.
Either way, personally I couldn't stand it.
The film was 100 minutes of me
thinking “it’s got to get better than this, right?” but it didn’t. I sat in the
dark theater watching diligently until I realized it had only been 20 minutes
since the movie started. I sat their twiddling my thumbs, jealous of the dust
particles who roamed free past the brightly lit film projector and constantly
checking the time wondering when the next bus could take me home.
The film told by the point of view
of Mr. Moustafa who grew up working at this hotel as the personal bellhop to
Mr. Gustave. Gustave was the former
owner of the hotel and Moustafa told all about his adventures and reminisced about
old times. But, you really don’t
understand this concept until the last five minutes of the film.
The film was chunky, the events didn’t
flow together and the transition scenes were heavily manufactured. By the last
half hour of this film I couldn’t take it anymore. I was ready to walk out and go
home but I fought the urge, stayed in my seat.
I was determined to get my money’s worth.
When the movie ended and the house lights came
up I dashed out of the theater in disgust.
I was furious thinking that I will never get back those 100 minutes of
my life. So, I have forewarned you. At
all cost avoid The Grand Budapest Hotel. But, after all that you read, if you still feel
the need to watch this film please, please, please, wait for redbox or your
local bootlegger. Save your money and
your time you’re worth it.
