Fire

so- I finaly watched the Big Lebowski for the first time, and while I cannot say that I disliked it that much, it was kind of a letdown in many departments- The characters were great, but beyond that i could not see what all the fuss was about- also the fact that the movie just, well, stops without anything resolved kind of rubbed me the wrong way- does this movie grow on one over time, or have some deeper meaning that I am missing? I am looking for as many peoples perspective on this film as possible as I realy do not understand why it has such a huge following.

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bigbad

Everyone I've talked to that has seen it has either immediately loved it or hated it with a passion, so I think it's something that either you get right away, or you won't ever. I like it because it makes you go "WTF, why is that happening?" all the time, the absurdity of it is what makes it funny, but others don't find it so. It all depends on your sense of humour.

ChrisJericho

You definitely have to see the movei more than once. The first time I saw it I was like "Uhhhhh what?", but I think the key thing to enjoying the movie is not trying to think about the plot too deeply. Don't focus on whether Bunny really kidnapped herself, just appreciate what's going on in that particular scene.

That being said I would have to say The Big Lebowski is one of my favorite comedies. It leaves you asking yourself one important question: Is this your homework Larry?

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Latch

I'd agree with the "more than once" theory.. it does take a bit to grow on you. I really enjoy the movie, but hated it at first. You do have to let go of any idea of viewing it as you would a typical movie. Just sit back, relax, and enjoy.

If you're anything like me.. in the next few days.. you'll find yourself quoting it and thinking about it hehe.

Oh, and it teaches you stuff.. like what happens if you FUCK a STRANGER in the ASS.

Golgothas

It's not a movie you watch for a deeper meaning or to get anything resolved. It's genius is in the minutia of chatter and absurdity.

-Ever-

It's one of the greater comedies of all time Just sit back and get into each of the characters. Try to imagine them as your own friends or something. They're just nuts!

"I don't roll on the sabbath Donnie!"
-T

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Embracing the goddess energy within yourselves will bring all of you to a new understanding and valuing of life. A vision that inspires you to live and love on planet Earth. Like a priceless jewel buried in dark layers of soil and stone, Earth radiates her brilliant beauty into the caverns of space and time. Perhaps you are aware of those who watch over your home And experience of this place to visit and play with reality. You are becoming aware of yourself as a gamemaster...
--Acknowledge your weaknesses--

Batman976

Like most people said, you have to watch it more than once, but more importantly, you have to watch it with friends! The more friends you watch it with, the funnier it becomes.

"Obviously you're not a golfer"

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Charlatan

It is an absurdist comedy... don't look for deeper meaning... just let it wash over you like fine wine or a face full of toilet water...

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VitaminH

I can't say I loved it the one time I saw it, but I won't say I hated it either. It was more sort of a 'huh' noncomittal grunt that went through my head at the end. I have had the urge to rewatch it though, especially since my movie buff of a friend loves it and insisits like many of you that much must watch it again and again...

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cartmen34

"You can call me The Dude, or your dudeness, or just dude if your not into the whole brevity thing."
(or something like that)

"I'm sure you can guess what happens next."
"He fixes the cable?"

I like to enjoy to movie simply for it's endless supply of quotes.

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philosopherking

About a month ago a local bowling alley showed it on the TVs above each lane while people bowled. Several people showed up in costume, it was great. In a movie like this, the atmosphere you see it in means everything.

Redjake

I don't see how anyone can be like "huh" or "what?" after seeing this movie. Perhaps at the end of 2001: A Space Odyssey a "huh" or "what?" is needed, but not The Big Lebowski. The movie is funny as hell, has a great plot, great characters, and all the good stuff. But that's besides the point! The movie <b>just isn't that hard to understand or "get."</b> I think people over-exaggerate how weird this movie is, or how "you have to 'get' it." It's not that complicated.

The guy is a fucking loser and wants his rug back.

What else is there to not understand or "get?"

The movie is pure genious

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mercury-hg

i turned it off halfway through the first time i saw it, though that was with a girlfriend who wasn't enjoying it at all. it's gotten better with every re-watch though. i think that's usually the case with character-driven comedies - the more familiar you are with the characters and situations, the more you can appreciate the subtleties. the big lebowski, super troopers, and office space may never get old for me.

Fire

cool- thanks for the input- guess I will watch it a few more times and see if it sprouts- Certainly agree with the characters and quotes- in that respect it is certainly genius

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bgivnin

I didn't like it at all when I saw it. Mercury-hg brought up Super Troopers and Office Space. Those movies were instant hits for me. I didn't need to watch them with friends, or watch several times to get hidden meanings, or even watch them several times to understand them... I got them all right away. TBL never did anything for me, but if all you TFP'ers like it, I might just have to watch it again.

jay-g

I know what you mean. I heard people talking about it all the time, and saying how good it is. I watched some of it, and got annoyed. All i remember, it was about main character finding his rug. Wow fun......

strange

Classic movie. I can watch it again and again.

Jack Ruby

Liked it the first time, loved it the second time.

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livewirerc

I don't really see what there is to "get". I think it's a pretty straightforward (and incredibly brilliant) character-driven comedy, not a lot of hidden meaning anywhere. All the strange stuff occurs in his dreams which can be explained away with dream logic.

Every once in a while my friends and I will watch the movie, smoke a bowl, down a few caucasians and head down to the local bowling establishment (within stumbling distance) to throw some rocks. It's almost a tradition around here. Now THAT's an evening's entertainment!

MPower

dude.

Lucifer

I'm the Dude!!

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Anomaly_

There really isn't supposed to be a coherent plot; it's all about the characters. I didn't think much of it myself until I watched it again a couple years after it came out. I love the dialogue because it sounds natural with sentence fragments and incomplete thoughts galore, as opposed to the very wooden dialogue of someone like Kevin Smith. If you watch it enough you'll pick up all the phrases that the Dude hears and then later misuses i.e. "A young trophy wife, in the parlance of our times..."

Kaos

I still have never seen it. Maybe I should make it my next movie rental...

ironchefkorea

It's all about the dialogue and characters. The strength of the movie is in how the characters react to each other in the situations and the dialogue, not the situations themselves, which are ridiculous.

I love when the Dude is in that porn guy's house and he sees the guy scribble something on a notepad and walk away, then the Dude runs over and rubs a pencil across the notepad, revealing that the guy was just drawing a figure with a big dick.

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Vales419

NOBODY FUCKS WITH THE JESUS!

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Cuball

shut the fuck up donny

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QuasiMojo

a very funny, sublime, movie

The Cohen Brothers movies are kind of like Kubrick movies for me, in that I don't get the full effect right away...they sort of creep up on me and by the time I go out and buy it or rent it again my mind has been ripening...

watch it again.
and if that don't work...watch it again.
and if that don't work...watch it again.
and if that don't work...get help, you're a fucking masochist!

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Conclamo Ludus

Or a nihilist

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teshadoh

Woah! You mean there are people who don't like The Big Lebowski? Sure I would imagine someone like Ashcroft or Cheney to not like it - since they're part of the establishment, man - but otherwise I can't understand why anyone wouldn't like it.

At a loss for words, anyways - most fantastic piece of art ever.

Jack Ruby

You mean vagina ?

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KnifeMissile

We believe in nothing, Lebowski...

Roark

I think I need to watch that again.. I remember I loved it when it come out in the theaters.

ChrisJericho

Nice marmot.

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gonad

I feel sorry for anyone who didn't enjoy this movie. In my opinion it's one of the funniest films ever made. I laugh every time I watch it and it never loses anything.

"Smokey this is not Nam, there are rules."

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Booray

I love The Big Lebowski. It definitely ranks up there with my favorite comedies of all time.

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TheClarkster

Goddamn you beat me to it.

Mark it a 0 Smokey.
Smokey, you are entering a WORLD of PAIN!

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Batman976

The Big Lebowski was on Comedy Central today. It just isn't the same.

"They peed on your valued rug."

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jvwgtr

I'll join the pile of people who were really let down by the first viewing. The next few times, I really got into it. Now I've seen it hundreds of times, and it's one of my favorite movies.
Classic.

Anybody see this hilarious He-Man/Lebowski short?
http://www.idiotwork.com-media-MastersofLebowski05.mov

Heel Turn

There's actually been a term coined from the increased enjoyment of something based on repeated viewings: "The Lebowski Effect". Add me to the list of people who say that you need to watch it more than once to truly appreciate it, much like the "blade into the chest" scene in "Run Ronnie Run".