Top Ten most Over-Rated of the last decade
2010 January 12
One of YOU requested that we post our top 10 list of most over-rated films of the last 10 years (2000-2009) so here it goes. I know this will be VERY controversial. Feel free to disagree.
(These are in no particular order.)
- Watchmen (2009) – I get that the graphic novel was groundbreaking, but it makes a horrible movie.
- 300 (2006) – Yes, the visuals and action were amazing but it felt like I was watching a bunch of high school football players getting pumped up before a game. And the film had WAY too much sexual content. These two elements put this film on my list.
- Every Wes Anderson Film – I just don’t get any of his films. I guess I should re-watch to try and figure out what everyone likes about these movies. They all seem to be about a depressed character (or series of characters) sitting around and doing nothing. I’m not saying his films are badly made – I just don’t get them.
- No Country for Old Men (2008) – I’m still scratching my head. To be fair, I’ve only seen it once so I should give it another try. But honestly, it just felt like the Coen Brothers were trying to win an Oscar. Guess it worked.
- Transformers (2007) – I would have forgiven all the plot problems if for 5 minutes Michael Bay had LOCKED the camera down so I could see what was going on. The last 30 minutes, I couldn’t tell who or what was where. At one point, a robot died but I didn’t know if I should be sad or happy because I couldn’t tell what side he was on.
- Judd Apatow films - I’m just not a fan. I’m sorry.
- The Bourne Movies - I still can’t get over Matt Damon as an action hero. I’ve tried re-watching these movies to find out the appeal and they just don’t excite me. Someone clue me in. Please. I want to be in the club. I respect so many of you that love these movies, so there must be something there, right?
- Sin City (2005) – The same with 300, I was impressed with the visuals but the story didn’t excite me. It’s such a depressing world. I don’t care to spend 2 hours there. And again way too much sexual content.
- Lost in Translation (2003) – Remember when Bill Murray was funny?
- Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004) – Ugh. You might see a theme – I don’t like movies about depressed people.
So that’s our list. What did we miss? What do you disagree with? Let’s start a lively debate!
28 Responses
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Watchmen – definitely over hyped even the nude scenes of Dr Manhattan,
But I gotta disagree with 300 and the Bourne movies – I loved them.
Judd Apatow?
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind – some people ranked it high on their top 10 of the decade, for me it was just odd.
Yeah. I was expecting a lot more of the giant blue penis than there really was. Maybe it was more distracting on the big screen.
ESOTSM is near the top for me of fav films of the 00′s. Such creativity and little to no CGI. Yes, they were depressed, but I watch that film again and again to re-inspire me about what filmmaking can do.
Point taken on the visuals. For me it was the worldview that I didn’t enjoy. I do need to give it another try though.
I gotta watch it again. Especially after your comment.
I love the Bourne trilogy. I think it’s kind of a male dream to be a super secret agent, and in his case so secret that even he didn’t know. You wake up one day, don’t remember anything, and yet you can kick everyone’s butt. Also cool to see how he circumvents the system to achieve his goals and get the bad guys. For me it was just about fun, and almost as though I would imagine myself in his place or something
Hmm. I see your point. I guess I’d rather be Daniel Craig’s Bond. He gets to do all of that AND visit cooler places with much hotter women. Ah Vesper Lynd.
All except the Bourne films. I liked them a lot.
Dude, I’m glad someone finally agrees with me about Eternal Sunshine and Wes Anderson!!!! I agree with almost everything on the list. The Bourne movies were quite dull in retrospect. Likewise with Sin City, although that movie seems like a masterpiece compared to The Spirit (awful!).
Totally disagree on The Bourne movies. We just watched all 3 the other night! Now, who really stinks as an action hero is Ben Affleck. Uh, Daredevil anyone? I don’t think so?”
Yes I completely disagree with Bourne as well. I think they did a fantastic job presenting Damon as a credible threat to those in the films. He played a split and shattered man very well I think. He isn’t the action hero type, because that’s not what Bourne is anyways. He’s not REALLY the typical jump in and save the day guy, he’s the bad guy in all the movies (according to the world around him). He doesn’t even reclaim his status as the good guy. He escapes…yet again. The real bad guys get their due though
I think Transformers 2 should be on the list more than the first. It was 10x as ridiculous as the first was, and far more convoluted in the action scenes.
Watchmen is tough for me because although I understand the hype it got maybe being a bit much for some, the film was never marketed to be anything other than what it really was…and it didn’t even do very well, so can it really be called overrated?
But I think most people generally agree that TF2 is terrible. I meet people all the time that think TF is the best action film ever. I don’t get it.
I think my list of overrated films would include AVATAR (yea you heard me), Indy 4, Spiderman 1, Star Wars Prequels, etc.
I’m counting Phantom Menace because technically that IS a decade ago.
Lots of movies could be in this list…
Does anyone think the Star Wars prequels were good (rated)? So how could they be OVER-rated? Haha. Indy 4 on the other had perplexes me – why do people like this movie? And yes, I agree with Avatar, even though I loved it. Way too much hype over the film – though the techniques deserve the hype. Amazing what Camera developed.
Where is Benjamin Button? He may have grown younger, but the film got old as I watched it.
I like some of Judd Apatow’s works, despite the crude content, a few do present moral messages to a lower i.q. audience.
I, for some crazy reason I can’t explain, actually didn’t mind watchmen. To me it was better to be confused for a little while than re-watching Ang Lee’s Hulk… or Daredevil, or Elektra, or Catwoman, or even Ghost Rider and Punisher re-boots and the slightly better Fantastic Four movies…or X-Men 3 Guess there were more strikeouts than successes huh… Although I suppose Superman Returns and Spiderman 3, while disappointing were still more fun. … but I agree that it was over hyped… but glad it finally got made. It could have been far worse, and it boasted sales for the GN.
I don’t care for the Frank Miller adaptations either, nor the Bourne series.
I think I just kept liking Wes Anderson after Bottle Rocket, but don’t know why.
No Country was clever, but haven’t rewatched it either which probably means something.
Transformers wasn’t as bad as Transformers 2, and was a stinkin masterpiece when compared to Michael Bay’s deadliest sin: Pearl “Freakin” Harbor.(2001)
Oh… I loved Eternal Sunshine, brilliant writing I thought. And at least Frodo got another job.
Favorite line in your comment – “I think I just kept liking Wes Anderson after Bottle Rocket, but don’t know why.”
Thanks for your thoughts!
I totally agree with most of your list, especially Wes Anderson, Lost in Translation, and Eternal Sunshine. So many of my friends love them, but I just don’t get them — they feel forced. “Look at me, I’m a brilliant indie flick, and I’m deep. So deep that you just won’t understand, but you’ll pretend like you do so you fit in with your hipster friends.”
Same with No Country for Old Men.
Watchmen, Sin City, and 300 were all enjoyable to me, but I agree that the sexual content was over the top. Otherwise, I felt they were impressive movies.
Judd Apatow embodies what is wrong with so many modern comedy movies: the humor is crass and crude, lacking subtlety and characters with the kind of humanity that makes me want to root for them.
While I didn’t LOVE them, I did like the Bourne movies and Transformers, even if the latter was stupid, and even though they were all apparently edited by a hummingbird who couldn’t focus on a shot for more than a quarter of a second.
So true re: indie flicks. So many people pretending. Love the hummingbird comment!
All of the Lord of the Rings movies. It took them three movies to show a guy walking with a ring and about a million useless battles that have nothing to do with said ring. Could have been 15 minutes, including the previews.
Prince Caspian for sure — have Peter fight for half an hour with the bad guy under the guise of avoiding a war — only to have the war anyhow.
Remember the Titans – the same Disney…over… and over…and over…… See More
I agree with you with “Lost in Translation”. Not a good film at all. But it does go to show you what can happen if you are related to Frances Ford Coppola.
I’m not a fan of Wes Anderson, but The Darjeeling Limited had excellent characters and, at the very least, he has a style. But his films are generally long.
I do defend “Eternal Sunshine”, though. By far the most original love story in years. The cinematography was very cool and the fact that they used a lot of practical effects was surprising.
Dude. You cut me to the quick. Lord of the Rings? Dude. Dude.
Agreed on Caspian.
Remember the Titans?
Agreed on the FX of Eternal Sunshine.
Lord of the Rings? Did you have a rough childhood?
Shock and dismay. My head is reeling that you don’t get or like Rushmore et al Anderson films. I can’t even finish the list.
Haha. Sorry Michael.
Avatar. As to the list itself:
300 was fun
Bourne was fun
Watchmen was interesting although I certainly wouldn’t categorize it as overrated … seems like most critics downplayed it.
I obviously have a few different thoughts.
The Bourne Identity I could see as being over hyped, but what I thought was great about Supremacy and Ultimatum was the fact that every directorial decision was made with the character’s ultimate desire in mind. Plus it was interesting watching a character in the worst situation discover that bad he has done and not liking that he had done it. It was a great character piece on seeking redemption.
Wes Anderson is liked for his unique perspective on characters and how odd they can be. Also they bring a sense of reality in the dark humor sort of way.
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind was Michel Gondry genius in my opinion. It kinda had an uplifting ending.
No Country for Old Men to me was Coen brothers through and through, I thought Burn After Reading was a great follow up too.
I really gotta watch Bourne again.
I totally agree with you on the Bourne movies — they suck. I’m off lunch break, but I’ll post back later as to why I think they are bad movies. Also, I hate how everyone uses this series as a bench mark of what spy movies are supposed to be — pleaaaaaaase.
Glad I’m not the only one who thinks this, Woof. Thanks for your thoughts.