As “Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen” continues to climb the all-time movie money-making chart, a legitimate question should be pondered: Is this bucket of robotic bolts the worst box-office champ ever?
Consider the top 10 box-office movies, a list which “Transformers 2” (at $363.8 million through last Sunday) will join this weekend.
1. Titanic, $600.8 million
2. The Dark Knight, $533.3 million
3. Star Wars, $461.0 million
4. Shrek 2, $441.2 million
5. E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial, “$435.1 million
6. Star Wars: Episode I — The Phantom Menace, $431.1 million
7. Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest, $423.3 million
8. Spider-Man, $403.7 million
9. Star Wars: Episode III — Revenge of the Sith, $380.3 million
10. The Lord of the Rings — The Return of the King, $377.0 million
The answer, in a word, is yes: This summer’s “Transformers,” a crashing, gnashing, gear-grinding escapade in CGI excess masking the lack of a story or interesting characters, is lamer than any megahit on this list.
“Titanic” and the “Lord of the Rings” film each won best picture and own 11 Oscars apiece. The original “Star Wars” and “E.T.” are beloved classics also nominated for the big prize.
There were many — myself included — who considered “The Dark Knight” the best picture of 2008. “Shrek 2” was an animated joy. Many favor “Spider-Man 2” over the first Spidey flick, but the original was no slouch artistically. While that “Pirates of the Caribbean” episode was waaaay too long, it had deck-full of fun characters.
Which leaves those two second-generation “Star Wars” films. OK, which really leaves “The Phantom Menace,” the inferior sequel-prequel-whatever you want to call that edition of George Lucas’ movies.
And it’s not close. Jar Jar Binks? Please. “Revenge of the Fallen” often fills the screen with annoying scrap-metal worthy of such ridicule, and the picture does so without a hero as interesting as Liam Neeson’s Qui-Gon, a villain as compelling as Darth Maul or a female presence as talented as Natalie Portman.
“Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen” isn’t just bad, it’s historically atrocious.
