Wait, you think Travolta is smug onscreen, yet you like The ROCK? Now, I like both of them, but I think they have the same "check me out" vibe.

Maybe, but one of them is actually worth checking out, and the other one is smarmy.

[have to give props to the excellent comeback by Dana here. Made me laugh]

I will always go see a movie if it seems like it's gonna be good, no matter who is in it. Writing/directing trumps actors for me every time. Actually, I kind of like an actor I don't like surprising me in a good way.

Jim Carrey

Ok, I avoid his movies. But I'm not sure if it is the actor or the kind of comedy he does, which is pretty much not my thing.

Writing/directing trumps actors for me every time

True, but so much of my seething hatred of Costner and Gibson has to do with their conviction that they should write and/or direct.

I don't avoid movies for any actor, I just complain once I've seen them.

Travolta is the avatar of smug for me, and recent Hanks is the summation of smarm. No Hanks projects have actually touched me, but it sure seems like that's the love-me, feel-me, I-am-everyman thing he has going.

Oh yeah. But for Get Shorty, and I assume for the new one, it kind of works for the role and seems to be making fun of his own smug. I won't see him in something he's playing straight.

Hanks bugs the crap out of me.

Michael Douglas I dislike, but I think a lot of it stems from the time I notice what a consistent string of anti-woman roles and films he's chosen. It put me off him entirely.

Robin Williams I hate with the passion of a thousand suns. Though I will say that One Hour Photo was a damned good movie - and one I only saw because I couldn't get out of it politely.

Pacino? Pah. Plays himself in every role.

Who else do I hate? Michael Caine skeeves me for some reason I've never figured out.

Jeez. It's a wonder I ever see any movies at all.

[have to give props to the excellent comeback by Dana here. Made me laugh]

Whoo! bon bon props!

Richard Dreyfuss. I refuse to see anything with Richard Dreyfuss. Luckily there isn't much like that anymore.

Pacino? Pah. Plays himself in every role.

Two words. Donnie Brasco.

I've been known to avoid Jim Carrey movies, unless I hear that "it's not a normal Jim Carrey movie". I.e., he is not allowed to traipse around mugging for the camera in unbelieveably irritating fashion. Actually I can only think of one movie in which he successfully avoided mugging throughout. (And it's only one of two movies of his I've watched all the way through.)