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| Look! ^^^ 7 Brides For 7 Brothers! Now THAT is worth the watch! |
We all know those movies; the ones quoted about a gazillion times, the ones whose merchandise and collectibles swamp stores around the holidays, the ones OTHER movies even reference. Yep, the movies that have slipped from entertaining film to legendary folklore.
But are they all deserving of the title "EPIC"? My answer? A resounding NO.
Below is a list of the top five most overrated films in cinema history. Keep in mind, this is not a list of bad movies; the flicks listed here pass as good. However, they are no where near deserving the cult following of fans they've adorned throughout the years.
Buckle up Betsy; this might just take a jab at one of your all-time favorites (but all in fun.) Here we go:
1.
Gone With The Wind (1939)
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| Beautiful everything. Underwhelming movie. |
There, I've finally said it. Gone With The Wind is overrated. Wow, that was liberating; like announcing the emperor isn't wearing clothes, I've daringly stated what many of us think. Yes the costumes and acting are to die for but after all the hype around this classic film, I really expected more when I first watched it.
What's wrong with it? Well, first of all, it's loonnngggg; this isn't always a bad thing for a movie... unless it feels as loonnngggg as it is and, trust me, Gone With The Wind feels very, very loonnngggg. Maybe it's because the main character has no redeeming qualities at all. Seriously people, Scarlett O'Hara is a horrible human being! Urgh. I spent the second half of the movie begging the screenwriting gods to throw in a twist and have Rhett and Melanie run off together leaving whiny Ashley and conniving Scarlett to each other. And then, good riddance I say! Now that would have made the 36 hour long story worth sitting through.
What to watch instead:
My Fair Lady (1964) ~ If you're in the mood for a classic film with mind-blowing costumes and great acting then this one is the better bet AND, as a bonus, the main character is actually likeable. Thumbs up for that!
2.
Breakfast At Tiffany's (1961)
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| Classic Audrey but not her best role. |
Audrey Hepburn was a great, beautiful actress but even she couldn't redeem this film. Why do people love this movie? Why is this considered an iconic romantic hit? I honestly have no idea. The main characters are shallow, selfish, and desperate. The script drags on and on and nothing important ever happens. Sorry Tiffany lovers; this is the type of film that should have been popular for a few years afterwards and then fizzled off. It certainly is not worthy of note over fifty years after its release date.
What to watch instead:
3.
Grease (1978)
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| Nope and no. Still don't get it. |
Aw, Grease; the ultimate "had to be there" type film. Seriously, that is the only reason this film has hung onto its popularity; people who love it do so because it reminds them of a time that's long gone. In reality, it lacks charm which is something a film this campy desperately requires. Maybe I would "get" this film if I had a huge John Travolta crush but since I don't, I'll pass on it if I ever make an epic cinema must-see list.
What to watch instead:
4.
E. T. (1982)
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| A plush E.T.?! Okay, seriously, this has gone too far everyone! |
It's been over thirty years since E.T. first debuted on the silver screen and people still love this film. It's supposed to be a memorable and delightful children's romp with an adorable alien but, quite frankly, E.T. comes across as more than just a little creepy. I'm pretty sure I've picked shriveled bits of food out from under my kitchen table that look a lot like this little extra terrestrial. Despite the cult following that surrounds it, E.T. is void of the warmth we've come to expect in what are timeless children's films. It's cold, complicated, and the adults in it are detached and aloof.
What to watch instead:
5.
A Christmas Story (1983)
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| This film has still yet to make me laugh, even once... |
Look! A Christmas movie totally void of Christmas spirit and magic. Nothing says holiday cheer like watching a potty mouth dad lose his cool repeatedly, a boy spending the whole film trying to figure out how to get the stuff he wants (yes, because Christmas is all about the stuff), and a weak and haggard mother trying to hold everything together. Sounds exhausting and not fun to me.
Let me add, I utterly loved the book this tale is adapted from; it's hilarious and resoundingly true in it's depiction of growing up "back in the day" in small town USA. Living in the shadow of this awesome novel might be what makes A Christmas Story feel so empty to me.
What to watch instead:
ANY Christmas movie would be a better pick for holiday fun!
Riding In Cars With Boys (2001) ~ If you truly want to enjoy a movie of family dysfunction and life in vintage, small town America, Riding In Cars is a treat. It's subtly funny without being obnoxious and the whole cast does an excellent job of making each character feel real.
~~~
So, what's your favorite forgotten, underrated cinema masterpiece? Let me know, because I'm always looking for a good movie to take me away on a cloudy day...
(movie theater)photo credit: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/81389833@N00/4911899614">Classic Movie Night</a> via <a href="http://photopin.com">photopin</a> <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/2.0/">(license)</a>
(my fair lady)
photo credit: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/37624835@N03/3814390866">"My Fair Lady" poster, 1964</a> via <a href="http://photopin.com">photopin</a> <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.0/">(license)</a>
(little women)
photo credit: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/40143737@N02/8663887061">1949 ... 'Little Women'</a> via <a href="http://photopin.com">photopin</a> <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.0/">(license)</a>
(an affair to remember)
photo credit: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/89093669@N00/1547220246">An Affair to Remember (1957)</a> via <a href="http://photopin.com">photopin</a> <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/">(license)</a>
(Grease poster)
photo credit: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/59568944@N00/3427589834">Grease</a> via <a href="http://photopin.com">photopin</a> <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/">(license)</a>
(Hello, Dolly!)
photo credit: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/94172598@N00/1163558022">1960s ATC</a> via <a href="http://photopin.com">photopin</a> <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.0/">(license)</a>
(ET plush toy)
photo credit: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/19457811@N00/375020446">alien headshot</a> via <a href="http://photopin.com">photopin</a> <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/2.0/">(license)</a>
(Old Yeller)
photo credit: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/61412872@N00/2237473349">oh, Tommy Kirk</a> via <a href="http://photopin.com">photopin</a> <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.0/">(license)</a>
(A Christmas Story)
photo credit: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/23307937@N04/4175759716">wanna get away?</a> via <a href="http://photopin.com">photopin</a> <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/">(license)</a>
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