Friday Top Ten: Most Overrated Movies

Here are the three ways I have defined "overrated:"

1. Moves that have achieved more critical success than they deserve.
2. Movies that have achieved more commercial success than they deserve.

Basically, any movie that is either popular with critics or the ignorant masses (or both), is a candidate for "overrated."

So let's jump right in.

10. Star Wars Trilogy

Let me start by saying I am a Star Wars fan. I mean it’s freaking Star Wars. However the reason everybody loves Star Wars is because of the nostalgia and aura the movies manifest, not because they are actually high quality films. The reality is they are campy, contrived, and incredibly formulaic. And that, ladies and gentleman, is exactly what makes them overrated. (I’m talking only about the original trilogy, by the way. Everybody knows the three new ones suck.)

9. The Aviator

I’m a Leonard DiCaprio fan. I think he is the best actor in Hollywood right now, and he was excellent as Howard Hughes in The Aviator. The movie itself though? Excruciatingly boring. I’d rather watch hockey than sit through that three hour snooze fest again. Kate Beckinsale is smoking hot though; so that’s something. I guess.

8. 25th Hour

I’m not sure if this movie is actually popular, but I know several people who liked it, and it has a 7.9 rating on IMDB so I’ll assume it is - at least relatively speaking. Me? I hate this movie. It failed magnificently at everything it tried to achieve. Watch it and you will know what I’m talking about. If you don’t know what I’m talking about, well that just means I’m smarter than you. How do you like them apples?

By the way if people actually like this movie, please let me know and I’ll move it up, because, well, I want to spite you.

7. 12 Monkeys

How the hell is this movie number 186 on IMDB’s top 250 movies? Seriously? How? Admittedly, I do not like science fiction, so I was leery of 12 Monkeys before I even watched it. My skepticism was rewarded, however, when the movie tried to force feed me all its political and social commentary. Unfortunately for director David Gilliam and crew, 12 Monkeys was so bad I vomited right after it ended.

6. Raising Arizona

First off, the fact that the Coens even agreed to work with Nicolas Cage is unbelievable. Coens = good. Cage = bad. Hence, one would expect Coens + Cage = Mediocre. Right? Wrong. Coens + Cage = Awful. Someone who is good at math should explain how this works, because I love most Coens movies. Is Nicolas Cage just that horrible? Apparently.

5. Superbad

40 Year Old Virgin and Knocked Up are about a thousand times funnier than Superbad. I just don’t understand the Superbad phenomenon. I laughed at most twice. Seriously. I think the problem with Superbad is Seth Rogen had a smaller role than Jonah Hill, and Jonah Hill is annoying.

4. Braveheart/Gladiator/Troy/300/etc.

I lumped these all together because otherwise this entire list would be comprised of these stupid middle age/medieval/whatever war movies. And, let’s be honest, they are all basically the same. I get it; half naked guys with giant swords battle each other to the death and spout some catchphrases. I just don’t understand why this always takes three hours. By the way, the worst buyer’s remorse I’ve ever felt was paying $12 to see 300 in IMAX. Not to mention we had to drive 40 minutes to get to the theatre. Worse movie experience of my life. Well, other than that time I wandered into a gay porn theatre, but that’s a whole other story…

3. The Matrix

Oooohhh we live in a parallel universe with cool special effects. Congrat-u-freaking-lations. You do realize that Keanu Reeves was the main character in this movie right? Like you know that is him? Let’s just move on because everything about this movie makes me sad.

2. Little Miss Sunshine

Little Miss Sunshine was one of the worst movies I’ve ever seen. I’m not even kidding. Why does everybody like this movie? Please explain. I demand at least one person step forward and explain in the comments section what makes this movie good. I never laughed once. And if you cite the dance Abigail Breslin’s character does at the end of the movie, I’m banning you from the blog. So come up with something else.

(Note: I’m just kidding, I won't actually ban you. We need all the readers we can get. Please don’t leave.)

1. Fight Club

I don’t get it. Not the movie itself, I get that. What I don’t understand is why everybody loves Fight Club. Is this just because it is one of those movies that people are “supposed to” love? Here’s the problem with that: Fight Club isn't just simply overrated, it is a bad movie. The entire concept is stupid and forced. If you want to watch a bunch of guys beat the crap out of each other that is fine, but turn on ultimate fighting or boxing. At least that is real. And by the way the “twist,” at the end of Fight Club isn’t sweet. It isn’t smart. It isn’t revolutionary. It is ridiculously, unbelievably, unfathomably awful. I have never been so pissed watching movie than during the ending of Fight Club. It makes me angry just thinking about it.

Honorable Mention:
V for Vendetta
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Casino
Pirates of the Caribbean