Do you like our choices for the best movies of the year? Or are you one of the critics who panned them? Let us know in the comments below. ..
Hook (1991)
Steven Spielberg’s Hook has a low Rotten Tomatoes score because it fails to connect with audiences. Critics didn’t like this grown-up Peter Pan tale because they failed to re-connect with the child inside themselves when they sat down to watch it in theatres. One critic called it a “woeful mishmash of a comedy” and another accused it of being “bombastically boring.” Would you agree with their negative opinions?
This is a decent movie with some good special effects and lots of rousing set pieces. Robin Williams gives a terrific performance as the adult Pan who manages to throw off the shackles of grown-up responsibility and the rest of the cast, including Dustin Hoffman as Captain Hook, Maggie Smith as Granny Wendy, Bob Hoskins as Smee, and Julia Roberts as Tinkerbell, are all equally as good.
Despite the low review scores, many kids seem to love this movie. Spielberg’s biggest target, it seems, may be adults who have lost touch with their inner child. If we can stop and remember the people we once were, maybe we can reconnect with our passions and learn to fly - figuratively speaking. ..
Superman III (1983)
In 1978, audiences believed that a man could fly when Richard Donner brought Superman to the big screen. The movie is still one of the greatest comic book adaptations ever made, and so too is Superman 2 which followed a couple of years later. Hopes were high when the third movie was announced but when it hit theaters, critics were less than impressed. “Superman III may be the summer’s biggest disappointment,” said Linda Deutsch of the Associated Press. And according to Roger Ebert, the movie is “shallow” and “silly.” Perhaps Ebert forgot he was watching a fun comic book movie! ..
Superman III is a good movie, but it isn’t the best of the Superman franchise. The fourth instalment was better.
This is a better movie than the critics would have us believe. Yes, it’s silly, as Ebert pointed out, but nobody comes to a Superman movie looking for high art. Well, unless you’re a fan of Zach Snyder’s DC movies, of course, which were technically well-made but not as fun as they should have been.
Constantine (1995)
The movie was met with mixed reviews when it was released in 2009. Some people found the acting wooden and the story confusing. There were also some who had problems with the deviations director Francis Lawrence took from the Hellblazer comic books that were the source material for the movie. Despite this, Constantine is still a decent movie with an undeniably cool (and not wooden) Reeves blazing his way through the story killing demons with a crucifix shotgun!
The movie is well-made and has a great vision of Hell, but it also has some flaws. First, the demons are very impressive and scary, but they could have been more realistic. Second, the acting is good but not great. Finally, there are some problems with the plot which make it difficult to follow.
The movie could have done with a bit more humour as it can be a little self-serious at times. But it’s far from the disaster many critics considered it to be, which could be why Reeves and Lawrence are reuniting for a sequel which is currently in the early development stage.
Cats (2019)
The critics seem to have had a lot of fun with this adaptation of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s popular musical, but audiences didn’t. The movie has a 19% Rotten Tomatoes score, which is likely because most people who saw it didn’t enjoy it. Critics seem to have had a lot of fun with the adaptation, but audiences didn’t.
Some people have found the movie to be terrible, but if you’re a fan of the original Broadway musical, there’s a chance that you might actually enjoy it. Sure, the special effects are dodgy and some of the roles have been miscast, but the songs are performed with gusto, most notably Memory which is sung by the very talented Jennifer Hudson, and there are a few show-stopping moments thanks to the excellent choreography. ..
Despite its cheesy dialogue and confusing plot, “The Catcher in the Rye” is not a disaster by any means. Some people may prefer it to “The Greatest Showman”, though that opinion is not shared by everyone. I am sure I am not the only person who does not think this movie is the musical equivalent of kitty litter, so please let me know if you enjoy it too! ..
Alien 3 (1992)
Critics and fans of the Alien franchise have had their say on the latest entry in the series, with many feeling that it wasn’t up to par. Director David Fincher didn’t enjoy the finished product and felt that studio interference was a major factor. Rotten Tomatoes has given the movie a 47% rating, which is lower than both Alien and Aliens’ scores of 98%.
Despite its flaws, Alien 3 is a visually stunning and unique movie that is worth watching if you’re a fan of the franchise.
The original cut of the film had its problems but the ‘assembly cut’ fixed some of these thanks to the longer running time which allowed for more character development and greater meaning to the movie’s story. But whichever version you watch, the movie still has the power to scare thanks to the Alien menace, and it is far more nightmarish (for the right reasons) than the inexplicably quirky Alien: Resurrection which followed a few years later.
Van Helsing (2004)
Critics have slammed this movie for its over-the-top action and gothic elements. I think the critics are being a little unfair, as this movie has some great action sequences and is definitely an over-the-top action movie. If you’re looking for a fun action movie with a slice of dark, gothic horror, then I think you’ll enjoy this one.
Hugh Jackman gives a spirited performance as Helsing and watching him take down the movie’s monsters, including Dracula’s vampire brides and Dr. Jekyll, is a lot of fun, more so because of the Bond-level gadgets he uses to take them down. The movie harkens back to the Universal monster movies of old, with one excellent sequence at the beginning that is reminiscent of the Frankenstein movies from the 1930s. You won’t be scared by this one in much the same way as audiences were back then but you might still appreciate the various homages to the movie monsters from those classic films.
The movie is packed with memorable setpieces, including the rooftop battle between Helsing and Jekyll and the beautifully orchestrated ballroom scene that features Dracula (Richard Roxburgh) and the hypnotized Anna (Kate Beckinsale) waltzing around a packed dance floor consisting of jugglers, contortionists, and fire-breathers. If you haven’t seen this movie in a while, perhaps because of the crucifix-carrying critics that condemned it at the time, perhaps now is the time to resurrect it again!
Clash Of the Titans (2010)
Despite the 27% Rotten Tomatoes rating, this semi-remake of the 1981 original isn’t that bad. A lot of critics had problems with the 3D effects that were part of the theatrical release but when sitting down with the movie at home on a 2-dimensional television screen, the movie can be better appreciated now than it was at the time.
Perseus sets out on a quest to save humanity from Hades before the world falls into darkness. Along the way, he must face challenges from the gods, including Zeus, who is determined to keep Perseus from completing his task.
In “The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of Water,” the beloved underwater cartoon character SpongeBob SquarePants teams up with his new friend, a sea snail named Patrick, to stop an evil pirate named Plankton from taking over the ocean. Along the way, he must battle various foes, including giant scorpions, the mighty Medusa, and the monstrous Kraken. Each of these creatures is brought to life using state-of-the-art special effects instead of the stop-motion animation from the original movie. ..
This is a remake of the classic B-movie Perseus, which is entertaining and not particularly memorable. Fans of the original will also appreciate the nods to that classic film, including the mechanical owl Bobo who makes an appearance in this enjoyable remake.
Troll 2 (1990)
This is a genuinely bad horror movie. The title is a lie for starters – it’s not a sequel to a film called Troll – and it has many problems, including bad acting from the cast of amateurs, cheaply-made monsters, and a script that makes very little sense. It’s little wonder that this film has a 5% rating on Rotten Tomatoes as it really is a masterclass in how not to make a horror movie.
Troll 2 is a bad movie that has many fans. This is something that can be said about the movie because its fans consider it to be the “best worst movie ever made.” If you would like to know more, you should check out this documentary which explores the production and the reasons why it is so loved by many. In terms of storyline, Troll 2 follows a small town that has been invaded by a small army of vegetarian goblins who want to turn the local residents into plants so they can eat them. The premise is ridiculous but more laughable is the aforementioned acting from the amateur cast who blunder every line they are given.
This movie is a nonsensical delight even if critics think it’s one of the worst films ever made!
Here are our picks for the films that we believe deserve a second chance, after being universally hated upon their initial release.
- “The Fault in Our Stars”
- “The Notebook”
- “The Help”
- “The Help”
Our list of the best movies of 2017 has been compiled and we would love to hear your thoughts on it. If you have any suggestions for movies that we should include or ones that you think should be higher on the list, please let us know in the comments below!
