Did Anyone Else Not Really Like the Movie on First Viewing?

[Quaker Dude]

May I be forgiven for ever entertaining such thoughts (even if it was a very long time ago), but when I first saw "The Big Lebowski", I remember thinking to myself, "I love the dialogue and the characters, but the plot doesn't seem to be going anywhere, and I don't really see a point to any of this."

I'm pretty sure I know what I "did wrong" the first time I saw the movie; I got caught up in the search for a storyline and let all the simple magic outside of that completely pass me by.  I made the same rookie mistake that Bruce Lee's green young student made in "Enter the Dragon"; when the sensei pointed up at the moon so that I could observe its heavenly glory, I looked at the finger pointing toward the moon instead of the moon itself.  BIG mistake, and one I made a conscious effort to avoid repeating the second time around.

The second time I watched "Lebowski", I decided to ignore the plot and completely focus on the characters and their interactions with eachother.  This removed any sense of stress I felt at having to "keep up" with the convoluted storyline, and freed up my mind to completely immerse itself in the incidental foibles and human qualities of The Dude and his associates.  By the third viewing, I knew the movie was truly something special, and by the fourth viewing, it was in my top five favorite movies of all time (up against some pretty worthy fuckin' adversaries if I do say so myself, so "Lebowski" is not exactly a lightweight).

I've heard the same phenomenon reported before - unsuspecting viewer watches "Lebowski", doesn't think much of it at first; then watches again and falls head over heels - but I always figured this was the exception to the rule, and that most Achievers experienced love at first sight.  So, I finally yielded to my curiosity and decided to ask some wiser fellers than myself.  How many viewings (if more than one) did it take for you to really see the impact of this film on your life?

[Abideist]

...Well, "convoluted story line", won't win you any movie critic review points. That's like...Your opinion man.

Which I don't agree with. But good for you for associating with some of the greatest characters of all time. The Dude, Walter, Donny, and the rest of the gang are all part of the Coens genius. But, only part.

The story is deffinately there, and perhaps if you venture into a sixth viewing you may see it?

Anyway, I myself think the film is memorable for every single frame, but especially it is the story that I enjoy.

Although, i am not here as a dudeist because of the movie at all. And I was a dude long before I ever watched TBL. Though I say, if TBL has inspired you or anyone to venture down the path of dudeism, than I am all for it.

let me *raise an oat soda* to your continued adventure into the life of the dude.

[cckeiser]

Well dude it's like this, I didn't hear about or see TBL till close to 10 years after it first came out. I heard it was a Bowling movie so I just had to see it. Borrowed TBL from my brother-in-law and thought it the best "Bowling" movie yet made. I didn't really care for King Pin because no one in the movie really knew how to bowl. So since no one actually bowled in TBL it won by default. But like you and many others, I enjoyed the movie the first time I watched it, but didn't appreciate it's greatness till I acquired the 10th Anniversary Edition myself and watched it a few more times. Of course by that time TBL was already a legend with a dedicated following. I actually didn't know that either till I watched the Bonus Features disc. Attempting to find out a little more about these Lebowski fanatics on the Internet is how I came to the Dudeism web site and this forum a little while after.
Yeah, I liked the movie the first time I saw it, thought it different and interesting, but had no idea how special and addicting it really was till a second/third look.
But what really makes TBL special is the community of fucktastic dudes who come with the movie!
And then of course there's Dudeism which is the rug that ties the whole thing together.
If the movie don't get you...Dudeism will!

[Outer Element]

I watched the movie for the first time less than a year ago, although I had heard about it for many years. It was ok--kinda fun, kinda weird. A couple of months ago, I was parlaying with my brother on Skype after he had a few too many oat sodas and grown a goatee (not in that order, although that could be debated).  Damn, he looked and talked just like the Dude! Highly entertaining. Soon after that, he sent me the dudeism link. The spiritual context sealed the deal, and I'm now a fan.

As far as plot, I never did pay it no never mind. Shucks, I just let the whole durn thing ride on over me, givin' me the idear that just maybe some kinda Agatha Christie thing is goin' on in thar.

[meekon5]

I enjoyed the film but think "The Man Who Wasn't There" or "No Country For Old Men" where better films.

Don't get me wrong I do like the film, but you can see a real maturity in their recent films (especially "True Grit").

[Outer Element]

Man Who Wasn't There--excellent. No Country For Old Men--gripping, but fell off in a big way at the end. My favorites--Fargo and Blood Simple. Both great in different ways.

[Tripnastic]

The first time I saw it, I was on a date at the movies, and uh..wasn't really paying attention.  Due to that I went through the next few years saying "Yeah, I saw that, it was OK".   Then I saw it again on video (by myself) and was enlightened.