Welcome to That’s So Overrated! Each week (or so) I’ll be bringing you a different film/actor/performance etc. which I believe is overrated. Simple enough really, of course this means that I’ll likely be venturing into territory that many will feel the complete opposite about and will get some of you frothing at the mouth, but wouldn’t life be boring if we all thought the same thing? For this inaugural instalment I’ll be treading fragile ground…I invite you to read on good people!
Are we all quite done shouting about how awesome and kick ass the Avengers was? I suggest we take a few minutes and calm ourselves down. I know it was a long time coming and everything, but I think we could all do with taking a second to mop the pool of drool from our laps. Feeling better? Ok good.
Now don’t get me wrong, I just want to say now I’m by no means saying The Avengers was a BAD film, in fact I rather enjoyed it. I just want to take things into perspective. As your average popcorn blockbusters go, The Avengers is certainly up there with the best of them. But do you honestly think that it’s one of the best films ever? I find it mind boggling that based on user ratings, The Avengers comes in at No. 46 in the IMDB top 250, coming above so many true classics such as Taxi Driver, The Shining, Lawrence of Arabia and Gladiator. It even has the same average point score as Citizen Kane, AFI’s official greatest film of all time.
Personally I don’t even think it’s the best comic book film, I’m no expert on the world of comics but I enjoyed the two Nolan Batman films and Kick-Ass much more.
Let’s break it down shall we?
8 Actresses Who Tricked You Into Thinking You Saw Them Nude
11 Irresistible Movie Moments That Wore Out Your Pause Button
100 Things Wrong With The Dark Knight Rises [Video]
10 Scenes You Won't Believe You Missed in 2012
10 Most Infuriating Movie Cliffhangers
10 Major Plot Holes You Probably Missed
10 Happy Movie Endings That Probably Had Horrific Consequences
12 Ruthless Movie Villains Who Were Defeated By Complete Fools
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29 Comments
Completely disagree with you, you are just one of the few that try to draw attention to your writing by finding fault in a movie that had alot of positive reviews and was very successful at the Box Office
I agree with Tristan. No one says it should win an Oscar. Although some would say it out of sarcasm & joking. Maybe the WhatCulture lady writer thought people were serious about that. I’m waiting to hear (and frantically) for The Dark Knight Rises is over rated bit. And b4 the movie comes out, #LOL.
It’s fair to disagree with me, but does that mean that I can’t disagree with positive reviews? I liked it, I’m just saying that I personally don’t think it’s a top 250 film.
@Curtis – it’s a new movie. All new movies that most audiences love end up higher on the imdb scale than they should. It will probably drop out or linger on the fringes a few years later.
Also you have to realize how the imdb makes it’s 250 list. It’s not 250 highest rated movies. You have to have a fairly popular movie so some gems are lost
See, this is why we can’t have nice things.
The presumption that because The Avengers doesn’t have Robert Deniro (who I madly love) making some cold cynical statement about the state of the world, or some witless rehash of the same tortured old romance jockeying for Oscar bait, does not condemn this film to irrelevance.
Critics need to get over this presumption that anything produced by Hollywood equals trash, and fans need to stop feeling self-conscious about enjoying the hell out of a lovingly crafted, enjoyable movie ride.
And it’s not as if there’s not some meaty material there, beyond the snappy dialogue, depth of character (now, finaly, Hulk has identity), and (I’m gonna have to flat out disagree with you) playful and engaging acting all around (although, maybe I’ll let you have Colbie Smoulders).
Loki is an emblem of control – a force of will that strips humanity of its agency. The Avengers, in all their clunky, mismatched, disordered, fractured chaos are a symbol of heroism coming in the harmony of diversity. Sure there is crap blowing up everywhere, and people getting punched in and around the face area, but that doesn’t mean that the film can’t be speaking metaphorically, and with something worthwhile to say.
loved the film–
Hype is what generate interest. I enjoyed the Avengers.Is it the best film ever made? No, neither is Ghostbusters, Star Wars, LOTR etc. However, it’s not often you get a crew together who understand and love the genre they’re putting on screen. No movie is perfect, tastes are subjective.
Totally agree with your article Curtis, particularly about your confusion when the cinema erupted in laughter at things that really weren’t very funny.
It’s is a good film but I doubt I’d bother watching it again.
i think your just playing the role of being hard to please.
the film was amazing FUN and pretty much everyone enjoyed it.
i suggest you watch it again as a child, not as a guy picking faults
I’ll admit I’am hard to please, but that doesn’t change my entitlement to an opinion now does it? And actually, my favourite film of 2012 so far (UK release) is the Muppets, a film hasn’t brought a smile to my face like that for years!
finally, someone that agrees with me! I also liked the Avengers a lot, but to call it the best comic book movie ever is just absurd!
What Ed said.
Hey Curt, I think it’s all just a matter of opinion I mean I could pick plenty of films from the IMDB top 250 which I wouldn’t put there myself such as Schindler’s List at I might get flak there but I just didn’t enjoy it. I have even seen Citizen Kane, again which I found boring however I do agree that the cinematography was amazing especially for when the time it was produced but for me films are a form of entertainment and I don’t find it entertaining being analytical while watching taking notice of camera shots etc.
I might have to agree with you on the two Nolan Batmans as I did really enjoy them, but I thought Iron Man 1 was nearly on par with them. However with Kick-Ass after watching it twice I still don’t see what the fuss was personally, I know it tried to be funny but I didn’t find it as such.
I think overall it’s just down to personal tastes as I know you are not too keen on sci-fi for example, but really enjoy films such as The Damn United. I know you tried to write an article why you thought a film was not as good as the majority of the population thought, but it’s just that a majority opinion. I feel the way you wrote the article seemed more of a statement of fact rather than opinion with the use of numbering.
Thank god we have a plethora of different genres/styles of films, that’s when people could really complain about the film industry :).
I agree 100%. I liked the movie, but the fact that it’s at #42 on IMDb just makes that website less relevant. It is completly ruled by die-hard fan-boys who have 10 different screen names just so they can vote movies a 10 over and over. Personally, I think a rating of 7.8 is fair. Good summer movie, but not one that will stay with you long…
I think you are dead on with you points. If we can’t examine a movie’s flaws then how can we judge it properly. That being said, like you I thought it was a good film. I’ll probably buy the DVD/Bluray.
can’t believe its in the top 500 never mind top 50. Wonder where it will be in a years time?
Well said Ed….
I agree with you completely Curtis. For me it felt as thought this movie tried to do too much and failed at capitalizing on its characters – a common problem in an ensemble movie. I am still baffled as to why it has a 93% rating on rotten tomatoes. An enjoyable movie with particularly nothing memorable enough for it to be considered a classic.
Highlight of the movie for me: Hulk goes on his mini rampage and punches Thor at the end of it.
Characters were carbon cutout and generic, performances were average, plot and storytelling wasn’t engaging enough, even the action sequences were scrappy and uninspired. I for one still hold the Iron Man 1 at the top of Marvels recent attempts, however, good old Robbie couldn’t save this one.
I agree. Such a great quote, such a great movie and such a great director. And remember, we DO not talk about Fi…
Totally overrated. Which enemies did it have? Aliens and a semi-god. Wow. That’s veeeeery original. It doesn’t even have a story. People should just shut up about the “awesomeness” of this movie. I personally think that movies like Watchmen, X-Men and The Dark Knight are much better. Sorry, Avengers, you don’t deserve the excelent reviews and awards that you have.
I really liked the film but I agree with almost everything you wrote.
Just about Loki I disagree a little. (no, that’s not a fangirl attack, he’s anyway overrated)
Loki isn’t soooo bad at all (according to the own Nordic Mythology) and I think that was his papel show it. He is completely different from Joker so that this comparison has no sense. Joker is really INCREDIBLE as a villain, more than Loki I guess, but they have absolutely nothing in common.
Perhaps just a semi-god-not-so-evil was a little insufficient to a movie like The Avengers, but he was a good enemie even with his situation.
Yeah. I really was waiting for this movie with bated breath, but unfortunately I have to agree with Curtis. It just felt so 1 dimensional after all the hype. What I was most dissapointed with was the story as I’m sure that Joss Whedon could’ve dug around a little deeper in the imagination sack. The 3d was good for post conversion and the special effects were awesome, but like games, graphics alone don’t make it good.
Best recent comic book movies would have to be Iron man 1 and The Dark Knight. My favourite of all time is still the original Robocop.
Just watched it, not a fan. Mildly amusing at points but really needed a decent plot, not just catch pigeon, lose pigeon, fight pigeon.
I totally agree with you on all points. I just watched the movie last night, and it was just ‘ok’. A good one but nothing sensational.
Joss Whedon has a “geek god” status that I’m not convinced that he deserves. (Save for 2-3 seasons of Buffy he hasn’t done anything I have found entertaining since.) But the fact remains that all he has ever proven is that he’s Michael Bay with Diablo Cody’s writing skills. (Obnoxious explosion after explosion mixed with obnoxious one liner after one liner.) I’m not even convinced that he even READ an issue of the original Avengers no matter how much he claims he was their biggest fan. (Based on just how much he butchered this movie.) His fanboys/apologists made this movie the success it was but 5 years from now it will be as laughed at as Batman and Robin is.
Finally! I thought I was the only one who felt this movie was overrated
I Agree. I love super hero movies, I dont even care if they’re “bad”. Seeing super powers on screen is just awesome to me. Having said that, I watched the Avengers after my brother said it was amazing. I didnt enjoy it as much as I thought I would. None of the action scenes were very original and it was just kinda like “Team up! Fight Bad Guys! Yay!”. Honestly I love Batman and Robin way more than this movie. No reason to watch it again.
I agree with this review to a far extent because the avengers, to me, is nothing more than the pinnacle of summer popcorn blockbusters. It does not really say, contribute or explore anything about the human condition, humanity or society. The one character that displayed a small spark of this was Loki (Due to Tom Hiddleston’s acting). This character could have been more than just the guy in the black hat. His story (as seen in “Thor”) is really one of injustice and tragedy. It is something that should have been further explored and more deeply followed so audience can have a better understanding and fully grasp his corruption and every action he does. Such a thing could have led audience to be in an ambiguous state and possibly at times rooting for the so called “villain”. The fact that Loki, as a villain, was a product of his adoptive father’s biased love and favoritism; was solid, dark and is a true human condition that many individuals have experienced at one point in their life (whether they were able to overcome it or not). Sadly, he was again ignored in favor of the black and white hat immature beliefs of his oblivious, barbarian, daddy’s boy brother and an unneeded beating from the Hulk. I know that a film like “The Avengers” is made to appeal to fan boys and the average movie watcher, but it also could have learned from Terminator I and II. That is, one can have the explosions and the nonstop action, but one can also have characters that can make us: question ourselves and our actions towards the world we live in, question the motives that drive us in this world, try to not see the world in the color of a 50′s television show and lastly (in terms of Loki)inform audience that humanity is a fragile thing and that any individual may be susceptible to losing it giving a particular set of situations (whether to a person looking in they may be insignificant, significant, life altering of life shattering.
Movie was wat eves needed to be alot more serious and the heroes never realy seemed to be challenged or in any real danger i feel that one of them alone could have defeated loki. Loki was not a good villian he was no master mind at all no trickery that stumps the heroes and actualy makes them think the comedy was anoying why would anything be funny during an alian invasion the dark knight is an amazing movie because its serious and batman is sorta the underdog the avengers were never the underdogs in the movie it was never once hinted that the avengers might loose the only strue they had was working together the only sad part of the movie was wen that guy who was a huge captain america fan so the movie needed a more inteligent plot, some sort of devistation, and since loki sucks at fighting he needed to be more of a mastermind so hopefully if they make a sequal it is way better than this one cuz the action was ok but everything was weak sorry