For the most part, film critics and moviegoers tend to agree on what makes a great film. Several of the movies on IMDb's Top 250 list (not the perfect way of measuring a film's quality, but a solid system nonetheless) are also Certified Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes. Since film criticism is based on opinion, it should come as no surprise that there are certain films that the two parties disagree on. In some cases, a film could be critically acclaimed and even see Oscar glory, but the audience hates it. Other times, moviegoers flock out of the theatre saying "that was AWESOME!" only to find that their favorite critics loathed what was on the screen. This list examines some of these cases.
Note: I am not going to use box office returns as a measurement for this article.
Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen may have made millions of dollars, but critics and audiences both think it was awful.
6. Titanic
What critics say: "A mostly unqualified triumph for James Cameron, who offers a dizzying blend of spectacular visuals and old-fashioned melodrama." - Rotten Tomatoes (88%).
Titanic also won a record-tying 11 Oscars in 1997, including Best Picture and Best Director.
What audiences think: Despite raking in $600 million domestically,
Titanic always finds itself on inglorious lists such as "Worst Best Picture Winners" or "Most Overrated Films Ever." While the film certainly has its supporters, there are many who feel that the screenplay and characterization is severely lacking or that the 3-hour run time is too long. The general consensus is that Best Picture should have gone to
Good Will Hunting or
L.A. Confidential that year.
Who's right? Both sides have legitimate points.
Titanic is truly a spectacle to behold on screen, as great care was brought into capturing the time period and recreating the doomed vessel (it was one of the last big hurrahs for practical effects workers). From a technical standpoint, it is one of the finest films crafted. However, audiences rightfully gripe about the script, which has thin characters and a rather over-simplified rich vs. poor struggle as a running theme during the love triangle plot.
Red Letter Media's analysis of Cameron's Oscar champion goes into greater detail and I recommend you watch it. Another issue I had with the film was the "modern-day framing device," which saw an old Rose tell the story to a group of treasure hunters. I felt this was superfluous and did nothing to service the story. While the film is a little long, the finale is extremely impressive (if a tad undramatic since the audience knows Rose survives the sinking), and if you can get through the first two hours, that alone makes it worth watching.