So you ever hear about these movies that critics proclaim as "fantastic" and "the best movie of the year?" And you thought, "Really? That's what the critics think are cool? What the hell?" Well, these are those movies. Except I think that they are some of the most overrated films that have ever existed.
#5 The Notebook
Why It's Overrated: It's just one big ball of sickening, cheesetastic romance cliches. I'm probably the only thing with a uterus that hates this film and I catch flak for it from every girl I know. It's one terrible romantic cliche after another, for two friggin' hours: oh, he writes a letter every day of the year; oh, she's rich and her parents don't want her dating a poor guy; oh, they die together in the end. GIVE ME A BREAK! THAT DOES NOT HAPPEN I REAL LIFE! It's just one big farce that will never, ever happen to any of us in real life. And the worst part is that every being that possessed a vagina fell for it. Damn.
#4 Scarface
Why It's Overrated: Sorry all you dudes out there-- including all the rappers/gangstas. This movie is highly overrated to me. That's just my opinion, and I am prepared for your scathing comments. It was a badly written, badly filmed hunk o' violent crap that, for some odd reason, every dude likes. Being a fan of typical "dude movies" myself, I can understand violence and the word "f***" being said every two seconds, but c'mon it should at least be backed up with reason. Al Pacino is a fine actor, but if you wanna see some of his real work, go for Dog Day Afternoon, Heat or even Glengarry Glen Ross for God's sake. Even if you don't think that this film is overrated, you have to admit that it's the worst gangster film ever made.
#3 Monster's Ball
Why It's Overrated: I still don't understand why Halle Berry won a Best Actress Oscar for this film. I mean, she was against Ellen Burstyn and Laura Linney for crying out loud-- the women are stiff contenders! I just think this was a reason to show Halle Berry naked...again (I'm looking at you Swordfish.)
#2 2001: Space Oddysey
Why It's Overrated: Now, I'm guilty of loving this film. I really do like Space Odyssey-- but it's just so damn long and boring. It has its moments, and it has its memorable lines ("I'm afraid I can't allow that Dave.") and, at the time, it was a visual achievement. But still, why did Kubrick have to force us to sit through 20 grueling minutes of silent before anyone ever spoke? Every. Single. Time. That's why this film makes the list: for making the audience wanna scream "SOMETHING HAPPEN!" every long, boring minute.
#1 The Matrix
Why It's Overrated: This is quite possibly the most self-righteous movie ever. "Oh, look at us, we can do wire tricks! Oh we set the bar high for technology in movies in the nineties!" That still doesn't excuse a foggy plot and the fact Keanu Reeves is your leading man. I blame this film for a generation of computer geeks who still think they look good in leather. You don't dude. So stop it with the floor-length leather coat in the middle of June.
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The Matrix is structured to match the work Joseph Campbell (the Hero's Journey), so it's no wonder that it spawned a million followers, i.e., jackasses with floor-length leather coats in the middle of June. Star Wars, too, is very similar in fundamental structure (not surprising since George Lucas was a student under Campbell.)
So it seems that the guy's work inadvertently created a couple very devout nerd communities. Both franchises are based on religious or mythological archetypes, so it's no wonder that you see those digital punks acting as they do. Being overrated was entirely its intent; getting devotees to pour over every inch of its text, and replicating it in their own lives (where possible).
And that's a long way of explaining the "effectiveness" of the Matrix... for better or worse? I, like you, would say worse.
I think the filmmaker that makes the best of the Hero's Journey is Scorsese. Albeit, it's not necessarily your traditional Campbell, I think it's definitely an effective way to tell a story on-screen. You look at films like "The Departed" and "Gangs of New York" and it's a beautiful story structured like Campbell and it doesn't attract hordes of mindless drones like The Matrix did. But that could just be my love for Scorsese showing.
It's hard to say what exactly pushes The Matrix over the edge; maybe because of its transparency? The religious context is pretty overt, and I guess that clicks with people.
Another factor is that no one will be dressing up as an Irish street rat any time soon. So you're right: it would be wrong to say that Campbell's work has only spawned magnets for fanboyism... far from it. Although it's easiest to associate those particular films with the monomyth: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8AG4rlGkCRU
Very cool little featurette. Now if only more people could actually SEE that within the film and appreciate it, instead of going on "oh, the effects blah blah blah" I could maybe give The Matrix a little more credit. Unfortunatly, most people don't see the undertones...
#1: Good, but yeah, overrated.
#2: I am not guilty of loving that film. Not one bit. I ranted about it a bit here.
#3-5: Never actually saw these...
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