Due to my constant praise of the entire Star Wars Saga, as well as yesterday's Jedi News article (which will appear here in a few short hours), I wanted to offer something to all of my readers.
I-III in particular are much maligned in popular culture for, as I've argued many times, no discernible good reason whatsoever. And I know for a fact that these are not the only ones.
So, dear readers, tell me some of your favorite things that seem to have a sizable hatedom. Pour it out to me, and I'll talk about them all in a post in the coming weeks.
If I like it too, it will be praised!
If I don't like it, I will respectfully explain why while still defending its right to exist and your right to like it! (unless it's something completely horrible like Nazi Propaganda or something). I will even find at least one nice thing to say about it!
If I haven't seen it or even heard of it, I will not pass judgement either way, and I will defend its right to exist and your right to like it!
Let's celebrate!
UPDATE 4/9/13: This will be split into two posts - Superheroes on Thursday the 11th, and The Rest on Friday the 12th. You guys have until then to give me any more.
Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. Man, I love Indiana Jones just as much as I love Star Wars, and it's so unfairly hated.
ReplyDeleteShamefully, I forgot about CS, but I'm so glad you brought it up.
DeleteBurton's Batman films are horribly misunderstood and maligned, especially in the wake of the Nolan films.
ReplyDeleteAre they really being maligned now? That's a damn shame. You know BR is one of my all-time favorite films.
DeleteReturns has never been particularly popular (which is a damn shame) and since the Nolan films I've mostly seen them called "outdated", "confusing", "style over substance", and all sorts of other comments that miss the brilliance of the films.
DeleteIn this case I honestly think its a matter of people just assuming the movies are dumber than they are and missing a lot of the intricacies because of that...Returns especially improves so much as a movie when you realize Catwoman and Penguin are *supposed* to be structural parallels of each other and Batman, and all of them are in some way forms of the 'outsider' that Burton connects so much to in his films.
Without giving too much away before the main post, we'll leave it that Burton's a genius.
DeleteThe Star Wars Prequel Trilogy (but you already knew that)
ReplyDeleteIndiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008)
The original Batman films (1989-1997)
Superman Returns (2006)
Every DTV Disney Sequel (I think they are treated unfairly when the 'net calls them "cash grabs" when they are simply trying to continue the story like any other sequel. I recommend you check out Ariel's Begiinng so you can see what happened to her mother)
Green Lantern (2011)
VAN HELSING (2004) (I normally hate Vampire movies, but this I actually liked. Think of it basically as "Indiana Jones and the Tomb of Dracula" with crossbows instead of whips)
The Grinch movie with Jim Carrey (Come on, guys it's a Christmas Movie, LIGHTEN UP!)
Every Batman cartoon after THE ANIMATED SERIES (TV shows, but I still would like to see them talked about)
I think that's it...for now. I look forward to your essay!
I talk about I-III all the time anyway, so this upcoming post is for the other stuff. But I like the way you think.
DeleteThe Transformers Movies. 'nuff said.
ReplyDeleteThe Bay ones or the animated ones?
DeleteThe Bay ones
DeleteWill do.
DeleteSpider-Man 3
ReplyDeleteIf nobody had suggested this, I'd have done it anyway.
DeleteEragon 2006
ReplyDeleteThere are DRAGONS in it!!!!!
How could it NOT BE COOL?!??!?!?!?!
Most Critics say it's derivative of STAR WARS and LORD OF THE RINGS, but I say that is the beauty of fiction: WE *NEVER* RUN OUT OF THE SAME IDEA!
I don't disagree with that critical assessment, but I will say something sincerely positive about it.
DeletePirates of the Caribbean 2 AND 3. I don't mind it when critics dismiss 4 but when 2 and 3 are bashed I don't like that. Some of them say that 2 and 3 were too confusing to follow (similar arguments about the SW prequels have been made) but I say that they were simply not paying attention.
ReplyDeleteI agree, and I thought 4 was fantastic as well. But more on that later...
DeleteI didn't really like the 3rd one, but I haven't seen it since it hit theaters in 2007. So I might change my mind if I see it again.
DeleteI didn't like 3 at first because of all the character deaths but I got over it and the film is great, easily my favorite, besides the first one.
DeleteIron Man 2
ReplyDeleteI have NO IDEA why this film gets as much crap as it does!
Iron Man 2 gets crap? I mean, it wasn't as memorable as the first, but it wasn't bad...oh well, more for later.
DeleteCARS 2
ReplyDeleteNot the greatest movie in the world, but guys lighten UP!
Never saw it since I wasn't too find of the first one, but I meant what I said and I said what I meant...
DeleteThe first GHOST RIDER. I didn't see the second one; but I just liked and understood the story of the first one
ReplyDeleteKnow what? I'm just going to do a giant Marvel section (also including the Hulks, FFs, X3, Wolverine, and Howard the Duck).
DeleteSo is your defense post going to be a multi-part post. That'd be sweet!
DeleteI'm going to say a few words on everything you guys suggest. It'll be a single mega-post.
DeleteMega-Post is even better
DeleteOkay, it's turning multi-part because of the stupid Label limits Blogspot has....
DeleteIf your defense post is going to talk about comic books too, I would like to nominate THE DEATH OF SUPERMAN story arc. One thing that bothers me when ever someone criticizes the story they always say it's weak but never offer a alternate solution for how the story could have played out. I have tried myself to write alternate versions for how the story could have played out...and none of them work. I think the story is fine the way it is.
ReplyDeleteFanboys: don't criticize a story unless you can offer a better solution!
I would like you talk about the Superman character as a whole. I don't see enough Superman stuff on your blog and since he is turning 75 this year and he's got a new movie coming out, talk about Superman more often please!:)
I....don't like the Superman character as a whole. I've enjoyed Superman-related media, but the character doesn't grab me so much. But that's me.
DeleteI also don't normally read issue-to-issue comics, and I know superhero deaths are a dime a dozen. Are you talking about the Doomsday story or something else? Either way, I'll mention it, but I can't promise much in the way of commentary.
Yes the Doomsday storyline back in the early '90s.
DeleteRead DEATH OF SUPERMAN for the *COMPLETE* story arc, or watch the SUPERMAN/DOOMSDAY animated movie for a more simplified (and more satisfying) version of the story.
I also request for you to see/review MAN OF STEEL when it comes out, and do a few Superman-related posts in June, please.
I'll definitely review MoS if I ever get around to seeing it, but what little I have to say about Supes I'll get into in the later post.
DeleteBlade Trinity
ReplyDeleteI must say that I appreciate you writing this article and defending and appreciating all of our (the readers) favorite things when "Geek culture/media" sees fit to do otherwise. I also don't like that Geek Media has turned "Good" and "Bad" from an opinion of taste into some kind of fact of life. Read more about in this great book:http://www.amazon.com/There-Are-Movies-Only-Audiences/dp/1453757295#reader_1453757295
ReplyDeleteI also would like to add Disney's HERCULES to the list, especially after all the crap it was put through on ThatGuyWithTheGlasses.com (especially by the Nostalgia Critic and the Nostalgia Chick) This movie means a lot to me because I am Greek and it is a privilege to see Disney make a film about my native country, and I believe that Hercules is a strongly done character that we can all relate to and look up to. GO THE DISTANCE INDEED!
Yeah, I don't like how snobby Chick is. Though I still love the Critic since, when not in character, he allows for and celebrates opposing viewpoints. I still call him out on negative SW references, though.
DeleteAt least the Crtic doesn't make *TOO* many negative SW references beacuse I think he said in one of his (out-of-character) videos that he belives that every joke about Star Wars (espically I-III) has been made already and he doesn't feel like he vcan add any more to that.
DeleteAll the odd-numbered STAR TREK movies.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite is STAR TrEK GENERATIONS; you gotta admit it is cool to see Kirk and Picard share screen time together!
Hmmmm.....
Deleteor at least just STAR TREK GENERATIONS...
DeleteGave them a quick mention.
DeleteDisney's HUNCHBACK get's it's fair share of criticism. Not by movie critics, Disney fans, or casual viewers (I can't think of one of those people who didn't like it.) But by Victor Hugo/Literary snobs (I mean critics)who give the Disney adaption a hard time because of how much it deviates from the source material. In all fairness none of the film adaptions follow the book to the letter; they all deviate from the book in some fashion or another.
ReplyDeleteHunchback is my personal fave. It'll get a lot of additional love. I included it in my current draft, but not by name.
Deletenot to mention the gargoyles...
DeleteOkay, you're right, I'll make a special reference.
Delete
ReplyDeleteHey! Lets not forget to mention the other STAR WARS movie geek culture likes to bash; STAR WARS THE CLONE WARS (2008)!!!!!!
Let's also not forget to mention the Ewok movies, The Droids Cartoon, The Ewoks Cartoon, and the 2003 CLONE WARS series. Those are not so much hated as they are neglected.
Oh and something else...
The Holiday Special...if you dare.
This post is for things other than Star Wars, but don't worry...
DeleteAll those will get their due soon enough...