Scene - Blogs - Transformers gives hit movies a bad name

"Transformers" gives hit movies a bad name
Published: 7/22/2009 6:28 PM
Last Modified: 7/22/2009 6:28 PM

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.

Reader Comments

Show: Newest First

Learn About Our Comment Policy

To post comments on tulsaworld.com, you must be an active Tulsa World print or digital subscriber and signed into your account.

To sign in to your account, go to tulsaworld.com/signin.
To activate your print subscription for unlimited digital access and to post comments, go to tulsaworld.com/activate.
To purchase a subscription, go to tulsaworld.com/subscribe.

I See Movies for Free

“I was born a poor, black child” … not me, actually, but Steve Martin’s character in the “The Jerk.” That absurd opening line is just one of the absurd number of film facts, quotes and minutiae contained in movie critic Michael Smith’s brain, at his disposal to toss out on a moment’s notice. It’s a key requirement as Tulsa World film critic to know these things. Michael learned a few other life facts along the way (seven years as a Crystal’s Pizza & Spaghetti manager) before attempting journalism and joining the Tulsa World in 1996, where he’s covered everything from a school shooting in Fort Gibson to a tornado in Stroud to witnessing an execution. A little community theater coverage was sprinkled in there, too. Movies engender many of his happiest memories, from standing in line for “Star Wars” and “Grease” at the Southroads Cinema to the James Bond and Pink Panther movies that always premiered at the enormous Continental Theater.

Follow Michael Smith on Twitter

Subscribe to this blog

Archive

Past Articles By Michael Smith

2/16/2013		Broken Arrow movie theater moves to discount showings
2/15/2013		Review: 'Amour'
2/15/2013		Review: 'A Good Day to Die Hard'
2/15/2013		Review: 'Beautiful Creatures'
2/14/2013		Review: 'Quartet'
2/14/2013		Shirley MacLaine to speak at Osage Casino
2/14/2013		Weekly rewind: February 14
2/14/2013		REVIEW: 'Beautiful Creatures'
2/12/2013		Belgian best picture hopeful 'Amour' opens in Tulsa on Friday
2/10/2013		'Die Hard' marathon at AMC Southroads on Wednesday ends with new film
2/9/2013		Review: 'Identity Thief' a stupid movie from stupid idea
2/8/2013		Oscar audit: Critics choices for best picture hold up over time

Michael Smith's Blog Archive:

2/2013	1/2013	12/2012	11/2012	10/2012	9/2012
8/2012	7/2012	6/2012	5/2012	4/2012	3/2012
2/2012	1/2012	12/2011	11/2011	10/2011	9/2011
8/2011	7/2011	6/2011	5/2011	4/2011	3/2011
2/2011	1/2011	12/2010	11/2010	10/2010	9/2010
8/2010	7/2010	6/2010	5/2010	4/2010	3/2010
2/2010	1/2010	12/2009	11/2009	10/2009	9/2009
8/2009	7/2009	6/2009	5/2009	4/2009	3/2009
2/2009	1/2009	12/2008	11/2008	10/2008	9/2008
8/2008	7/2008	6/2008	5/2008	4/2008	3/2008
2/2008	1/2008	12/2007	11/2007	10/2007	9/2007
8/2007	7/2007	6/2007

michaelsmithTW
michaelsmithTW

Join the conversation

Your bookmark will appear on your Profile page. Please give it a title, and short description so that visitors to your page will understand where the bookmark leads.
Bookmark Title :

Bookmark Text :