20 Underappreciated Blockbusters That Are Much Better Than You Remember
Not quite as awful as their reputations would suggest...
A common complaint levelled at many modern blockbusters is that they all seem to be cut from the same cloth and hit an alarmingly similar number of narrative beats; the hero must stop the villain from using some form of McGuffin to take over the world, cue third-act CGI bonanza with optional giant blue sky beam, post-credits scene to set up future instalments of franchise and fade to black.
Sorry, a spoiler alert should have been in there somewhere...
Its a formula that works, one that brings in billions of dollars on an annual basis, yet also delivers a whole lot of mediocrity. However, on the other side of the coin, there are a lot of summer blockbusters that don't get the credit they deserve and often take years to gain the appreciation they warranted in the first place.
Whether it's a sequel that can't match the success of its predecessor and as a result is labelled a disappointment, a misleading marketing campaign, box office bombs that didn't stand a chance or underrated gems that have age like a fine wine, these 20 blockbuster movies deserve a second chance.
20. Star Wars Episode II: Attack Of The Clones
Lets get this out of the way first in the interest of fairness; this movie has some of the worst dialogue ever spoken in a major Hollywood production, the plot is largely tedious and Hayden Christensen has both the charisma and acting ability of a moldy sponge.
Apart from those several (massive, admittedly) flaws, Attack of the Clones doesn't deserve all of the vitriol spewed in its general direction, just some of it. Well, maybe a bit more.
After the decidedly ropey Phantom Menace, this follow-up went a long way to steering the prequel trilogy back on track. Ewan McGregor settles comfortably into the role of Obi-Wan and the increased emphasis on the action generates plenty of excitement.
For a movie so invested in utilizing cutting-edge technology, there's also a surprisingly old-fashioned pulpy feel to the whole thing, from some deliciously hammy acting to the Errol Flynn-inspired dueling via John Williams' swelling score. Perhaps the most underrated entry in the entire Star Wars franchise?