No discourse on cinema is complete without hot takes. The more scandalizing and more apparently indefensible an opinion, the more entertaining it is. One of the best feelings in the world of film discussions is the realization that a radical claim becomes meaningful upon hearing the evidence, which is, quite often, substantial. For example, establishing that Janice deserves empathy and isn’t as annoying as people claim is one of the better unpopular opinions about Friends.
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Without strong arguments that would actually change someone’s mind, listening to hot takes is dull. They’re just remixes of others; opinions embellished with personalized effects and have as much substance as a meaningless vanity project. Unpopular opinions for shows like Game of Thrones, which is beyond famous, are thus a mix of theories that change everything and random claims made to stay in the zeitgeist. But unpopular opinions about famous movies like Barbie are truly unpopular because there’s a significant popular take to oppose in such cases.
10 The Central Romance Of The Notebook Is Toxic
It Shouldn’t Be Celebrated As A Generational Story Of True Love
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3/10 The Notebook PG-13DramaRomance
Adapted from Nicholas Sparks’ novel of the same name, The Notebook is a romantic drama film that follows a couple who fall in love during the 1940s. Duke, an older man, recounts the story of two young lovers whose lives never lined up quite right to a fellow patient in his nursing home. Reading from the notebook pages, the movie keeps flashing from the present into the past to tell the story of the one that got away.
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*Availability in US Director Nick Cassavetes Release Date June 25, 2004 Cast Ryan Gosling , Rachel McAdams , James Garner , Gena Rowlands , James Marsden , Kevin Connolly , Sam Shepard , Joan Allen Runtime 124 Minutes
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Rightfully given a low score by critics on Rotten Tomatoes, The Notebook is an inexplicably beloved “romance” film based on Nicholas Sparks’ novel of the same name. While there’s undoubtedly good chemistry between the lead pair of Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams, and the film ends on a bittersweet moment of pure, long-lasting romantic love, the central couple for most of the film is simply toxic. Gosling’s Noah practically threatens McAdams’ Allie with suicide in the name of asking her out, which is a significant red flag.
Related 10 Harsh Realties Of Rewatching The Notebook, 20 Years Later
Though The Notebook is a beloved addition to the rom-com genre, looking back on it 20 years later reveals some issues with the story & characters.
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The premise of the film is that they’re meant for each other, so no matter where they are in their lives, they’ll always try to choose each other if possible. But if that comes at the cost of treating other partners like they’re disposable, or cheating on a current partner, then it’s an excuse for being a bad person. And in case Sparks fans forget, Allie slaps Noah for breaking up with her. This romance is anything but idyllic. The two are horrible people who only bring out the worst in each other.
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9 TRON: Legacy Deserves More Recognition
It Builds The Perfect World For More Stories To Be Told
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7.3/10 TRON: Legacy pg-13 Sci-FiActionAdventure
Tron: Legacy is the sequel to the 1982 cult classic Tron, in which Sam Flynn (Garrett Hedlund) receives a signal from his long-lost father, Kevin Flynn (Jeff Bridges). His search takes him into the Grid, a virtual reality created by his father, who is trapped inside. Father and son must work together with the help of Quorra (Olivia Wilde) to stop Clu, a malevolent program, from escaping the Grid and invading the real world.
Director Joseph Kosinski Release Date December 7, 2010 Writers Edward Kitsis , Adam Horowitz Cast Olivia Wilde , Garrett Hedlund , Jeff Bridges Runtime 2h 5m
With TRON: Ares set to be released next year, the franchise is finally being talked about again, but barring a cult following, TRON is largely underrated. While TRON: Legacy has some pacing issues that make the climax rushed, there are not enough flaws in the film to explain why it’s slept on. The greatest thing about the film is undoubtedly Daft Punk’s score, whose electronic notes complement the futuristic, techno-visual aesthetic of the world.
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TRON: Legacy also features a talented cast who are more than up for the task of picking up the emotional thread of the narrative whenever the showing off of cool stunts and visual design takes a back seat for the plot to progress. While there’s somewhat of an exposition dump in the middle of the film, TRON: Legacy‘s lore is solid and makes the world feel habitable and complex with politics and genuine stakes involved. The father-son relationship could be better developed, but as far as sci-fi films go, TRON: Legacy isn’t flawed enough to be ignored the way it is.
8 Tokyo Drift Is The Best Fast & Furious Movie
It Is A Refreshing Break From The Usual Over-The-Top Shenanigans
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The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift PG-13ActionDramaRacing
The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift is the third installment in the Fast and Furious franchise. Tokyo Drift follows Sean Boswell, a car-loving teenager shipped off to live with his Navy lieutenant father in Tokyo when his racing antics find him running foul of the law. When Sean discovers Tokyo’s nightlife, he embraces the dangerous underground world of drift racing.
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*Availability in US Director Justin Lin Release Date June 4, 2006 Writers Chris Morgan Cast Lucas Black , Bow Wow , Sung Kang , Brian Tee , Nathalie Kelley , Sonny Chiba , Leonardo Nam , Brian Goodman Runtime 104 Minutes Franchise(s) Fast and Furious Expand
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One of the coolest things a car can do is drift. So, it’s not a surprise that there’s a Fast & Furious movie that’s entirely focused on drifting, given that the franchise’s primary focus is vehicular stuntwork. Or rather, was, before a comically overdone emphasis on family and ignorance of the laws of physics became the franchise’s selling points. Shifting to a different location and focusing on different characters from the usual suspects of a Fast & Furious movie is apparently the best thing for the franchise, because Tokyo Drift has the most coherent storyline with real heart in it.
Tokyo Drift
is the only grounded film in the franchise.
With cars not flying, and people having regular concerns like impressing their crush and making enough money to fund their lifestyles, Tokyo Drift is the only grounded film in the franchise. The stunts are still thrilling and visually appealing because cars drifting around each other while spiraling through tight tracks is anything but boring. It might be the lowest-grossing film, but Tokyo Drift introduces Fast & Furious’ best character in Han. His nonchalant demeanor and suave style of speech make him the perfect supporting character for the story of Tokyo Drift, which moves faster than the cars featured in it.
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7 Kristen Stewart Did A Good Acting Job In Twilight
The Source Material Is To Blame For The Bland Characterization
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8.1/10 Twilight PG-13RomanceFantasyDrama
Based on Stephenie Meyer’s book of the same name, Twilight follows Bella Swan (Kristen Stewart), who falls madly in love with Edward Cullen (Robert Pattinson), who she soon finds out is a vampire. Falling in love with her at the same time, Edward and Bella must overcome obstacles to preserve their forbidden relationship.
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*Availability in US Cast Robert Pattinson , Ashley Greene , Peter Facinelli , Rachelle Lefevre , Elizabeth Reaser , Kristen Stewart , Nikki Reed , Jackson Rathbone , Cam Gigandet , Kellan Lutz , Taylor Lautner , Anna Kendrick , Billy Burke Director Catherine Hardwicke Release Date November 21, 2008 Writers Melissa Rosenberg Runtime 121 minutes Franchise(s) The Twilight Saga Sequel(s) The Twilight Saga: New Moon , The Twilight Saga: Eclipse , The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 1 Expand
When Twilight first came out, it garnered a cult following, but it became one of the most popular book-adaptation movie franchises. However, most viewers had two opinions: the story is dumb, and Kristen Stewart can’t act. People still make the wrong criticism of Stewart’s career due to Twilight, but she didn’t even do that bad of a job. Bella Swan is a famously one-dimensional character who has next to no personality development in the four Twilight books that were adapted into movies. Stewart is appropriately uninteresting in her portrayal of the character.
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Every character in Twilight has something of a backstory and goes through a challenging experience that fundamentally impacts who they are as a person. Bella goes through some traumatizing experiences too, but her entire personality is based on being obsessed with Robert Pattinson’s Edward or leaning on Taylor Lautner’s Jacob. The feminist interpretations of the film are justified by reading it as a form of reversal of gaze and a campy reinterpretation of the sexy vampire trope. Twilight isn’t boring, Bella is, and Stewart ensures viewers know that.
6 Jack Sparrow Is Just As Entertaining In On Stranger Tides As In The Main Trilogy
He Still Pulls Off Unbelievable Escapades & Can Get Out Of Any Trouble
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8.3/10 Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides PG-13ActionAdventureFantasy
Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides is the fourth installment in the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise. When Captain Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp) finds himself on the hunt for the fabled Fountain of Youth, he runs afoul of his old rival Barbossa (Geoffrey Rush) and the feared pirate Blackbeard (Ian McShane). Accompanied by the mysterious Angelica (Penelope Cruz), Sparrow races his competition to the fountain in the hopes of claiming the Fountain for himself.
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*Availability in US Cast Johnny Depp , Penelope Cruz , Geoffrey Rush , Sam Claflin , Ian McShane , Kevin R. McNally Director Rob Marshall Release Date May 7, 2011 Writers Rob Marshall Runtime 137 Minutes Franchise(s) Pirates of the Caribbean Sequel(s) Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales prequel(s) Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl , Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest , Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End Expand
While the first three films in Disney’s Pirates of the Caribbean franchise are no doubt the best and make a solid trilogy, On Stranger Tides is unfairly dismissed as being a weaker entry. Orlando Bloom’s Will and Keira Knightley’s Elizabeth are absolutely part of the charm because, providing the emotional hooks for most of the storylines. However, the real MVP of the franchise will always be Johnny Depp’s “Captain” Jack Sparrow, who is in On Stranger Tides and entertaining as ever. The very first scene features one of his most elaborate escape sequences.
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Sparrow’s style of combat, using his surroundings to get unfair advantages, his reliance on fortune to survive the day, and his quintessential charismatic persona that’s simultaneously repulsive and captivating, are all present, and less filtered than ever. Without the usual supporting characters, the focus is almost entirely on Jack, and he continues to manipulate people, somehow still doing the right thing, and eventually rejects the feisty heroine, played by Penélope Cruz, on his way to drunkenly get lost in search of his next adventure.
5 Jar Jar Binks Does Not Ruin Star Wars: A Phantom Menace
There Are Enough Good Things To Like About The Movie
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8.7/10 Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace PGAction Sci-FiAdventureFantasy
The beginning of the Skywalker Saga, Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace sees young Anakin Skywalker put on his path to discovering his ability to influence the Force. While attempting to thwart the nefarious Trade Federation in their plans for the planet of Naboo, two Jedi discover an exceptionally-gifted slave with the ability to wield the Force. Little do they know, rescuing him is just the beginning of a saga that will span generations of the Skywalker family.
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*Availability in US Cast Ewan McGregor , Liam Neeson , Natalie Portman , Jake Lloyd , Ahmed Best , Ian McDiarmid , Anthony Daniels , Kenny Baker , Pernilla August , Frank Oz , Ray Park , Samuel L. Jackson Director George Lucas Release Date May 19, 1999 Writers George Lucas Runtime 133 minutes Franchise(s) Star Wars Sequel(s) Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones , Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith , Solo: A Star Wars Story , Rogue One: A Star Wars Story , Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope , Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back , Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi , Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens , Star Wars: Episode VIII – The Last Jedi , Star Wars: Episode IX- The Rise of Skywalker Expand
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While he’s unanimously one of the most hated characters in movie history, and rightfully so, Jar Jar Binks simply doesn’t have enough screen time in Star Wars: The Phantom Menace to completely ruin the film as some of its haters like to claim. For those who watch the franchise in chronological order, it’s the first film they see. As far as introducing people to the lore of the Force, the concept of the Jedi, the politics that define Star Wars, and lightsabers go, Phantom Menace does a fantastic job.
Jar Jar Binks only appears for a total of 18 minutes in the 2 hours 16 minutes long
Star Wars: The Phantom Menace
.
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Darth Maul, albeit underutilized in the film, is one of the coolest villains of all time; the duel between him and Qui-Gon Jinn is tied with the high-octane pod race featuring a young Anakin Skywalker, as the best scenes in Phantom Menace. Ahmed Best didn’t deserve the unfair hurtful backlash he received for voicing Jar Jar, and more importantly, he’s too insignificant to ruin an otherwise okay film. It’s not the best Star Wars movie, but apart from Midichlorian tests, it doesn’t misstep worse than any of the other films before the sequel trilogy.
4 Joker Is Only A Good Movie For Those Who Haven’t Watched Taxi Driver
It Shamelessly Copies Almost Everything From Scorsese’s Classic
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15 8.4/10 Joker RSuperheroActionAdventureCrimeFilm NoirThriller
Directed by Todd Phillips, Joker is an origin story for Batman’s most iconic villain. Arthur Fleck (Joaquin Phoenix) is a down-on-his-luck clown who is trying to become a successful stand-up comedian. When things don’t go according to plan, and Arthur feels Gotham is oppressing him and others with mental illness, Arthur sparks a violent revolution within the city.
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*Availability in US Cast Joaquin Phoenix , Robert De Niro , Zazie Beetz , Frances Conroy , Brett Cullen , Shea Whigham Director Todd Phillips Release Date October 2, 2019 Writers Todd Phillips , Scott Silver Runtime 122 minutes Franchise(s) DC , Joker Sequel(s) Joker: Folie a Deux Expand
Todd Phillips’ filmography has the craziest twist of all time. He went from Due Date and the Hangover trilogy to making the gritty crime thriller Joker, which is a masterpiece about how society’s cruelty manufactures psychopaths. At least that’s what fans of Joker like to claim. He should perhaps have stuck to making comedies because all Phillips did was remake Taxi Driver, but without recontextualizing the protagonist from the 1970s. Arthur Fleck isn’t the real Joker, or even interesting, but a mouthpiece for the belief that violence is the solution to privilege disparity.
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Joker
is a bad film because it’s a poor remake.
Joker follows Taxi Driver‘s footsteps in introducing a protagonist with utter disdain for the very filthy behavior around him that he himself exhibits, but unlike Scorsese’s film, Joker isn’t self-aware.Taxi Driver works as a noir thriller because the film establishes beyond doubt that there’s no reason to condone its protagonist’s actions and that he deserves his judgment. Even if one were to think of it as a remake of the 1976 film and not related to the comic book character of the same name, Joker is a bad film because it’s a poor remake.
3 Avengers: Endgame Became That Popular Only Because of Nostalgia
It Has A Weak Plot That Doesn’t Stand The Test Of Time
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44 9.4/10 Avengers: Endgame PG-13AdventureActionSci-FiSuperhero
Avengers: Endgame, directed by Anthony and Joe Russo, concludes the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s Infinity Saga. It follows the remaining Avengers as they attempt to reverse the destruction caused by Thanos, navigating complex dynamics and forging alliances to restore balance to the universe.
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*Availability in US Cast Robert Downey Jr. , Chris Evans , Mark Ruffalo , Chris Hemsworth , Scarlett Johansson , Jeremy Renner , Josh Brolin , Don Cheadle , Paul Rudd , Benedict Cumberbatch , Chadwick Boseman , Brie Larson , Tom Holland , Karen Gillan , Zoe Saldana , Evangeline Lilly , Tessa Thompson , Rene Russo , Elizabeth Olsen , Anthony Mackie , Sebastian Stan , Tom Hiddleston , Danai Gurira , Benedict Wong , Pom Klementieff , Dave Bautista , Letitia Wright , John Slattery , Tilda Swinton , Jon Favreau , Hayley Atwell , Natalie Portman , Marisa Tomei , Taika Waititi Director Anthony Russo , Joe Russo Release Date April 26, 2019 Writers Keith Giffen , Stan Lee , Larry Lieber , Don Heck , Jim Starlin , Joe Simon , Steve Englehart , Jack Kirby , Steve Gan , Bill Mantlo , Stephen McFeely , Christopher Markus Runtime 181 Minutes Expand
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Before James Cameron returned with another Avatar film, Avengers: Endgame was the highest-grossing film of all time. An impressive feat, the achievement can only be attributed to one thing — fans’ nostalgia about the three-part saga comprising 23 films that ended with it. The first major flaw is the highly convenient explanation of how time travel works. Not only does the theory not survive scrutiny with imaginary scenarios, but the film decides to dismiss Back to the Future for having a weaker time travel theory, which is unnecessarily aggressive.
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Neither of the character deaths get their due diligence in the film, in terms of representing grief. The infamous funeral scene where none of the actors look as sad as their characters should be because they didn’t know what scene they were filming, is a good example of how poorly made Avengers: Endgame really is. Even as nostalgia bait, it can’t provide real closure, using the other significant character’s death to set up the climax, which begins by cutting short the scene where characters mourn her. In fact, it took deleted scenes to improve Avengers: Endgame.
2 The Snyder Cut Is Barely An Improvement on the Theatrical Cut of Justice League
Being Slower & Prettier Doesn’t Resolve Narrative Problems
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10 8.4/10 Zack Snyder’s Justice League PG-13ActionAdventure Sci-FiSuperhero
Director Zack Snyder’s initial vision for Justice League follows Batman (Ben Affleck), Superman (Henry Cavill), Wonder Woman (Gal Gadot), the Flash (Ezra Miller), Cyborg (Ray Fisher), and Aquaman (Jason Momoa) as they battle to prevent the forces of New God Steppenwolf from conquering Earth. The Snyder cut of the film differs significantly from the theatrically released original, including numerous additional story elements and sequences that were later cut from the film.
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*Availability in US Cast Ben Affleck , Henry Cavill , Amy Adams , Gal Gadot , Ray Fisher , Jason Momoa , Ezra Miller , Jesse Eisenberg , Jeremy Irons , J.K. Simmons , Willem Dafoe Director Zack Snyder Release Date March 18, 2021 Distributor(s) Max , Warner Bros. Pictures Writers Chris Terrio Runtime 242 Minutes Franchise(s) DC Extended Universe prequel(s) Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice Expand
One of the most talked-about superhero films in recent years is Zack Snyder’s Justice League, prompting a joke in Barbie about the director’s cut. It took petitioning to convince WB to allow the release of Zack Snyder’s uncut four-hour version. Snyder promised the unseen footage would solve every issue with Justice League. Instead, it’s just literally slower. The camera pans slowly over beautifully framed picturesque landscapes to fill up the runtime. Instead of context and backstory, the Snyder cut just adds an avant-garde aesthetic, as if all it needed was to look artsy.
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Related Zack Snyder Explains Why Cut Batman/Superman/Lois Love Triangle Plan Was So Exciting
Zack Snyder’s Justice League plan originally included a romance between Batman and Lois Lane, and now he offers more detail on the cut storyline.
The characters still feel like they don’t know why they have been chosen as the protagonists of the story, Superman’s death is still mostly ceremonial with emotional tolls barely explored, the visual effects of the Flash running are still horrible, and the climax still feels rushed. The first half turns into a slow burn in Snyder’s cut, but it drags in the theatrical cut too. If anything, that part should have been tighter, making time to explore the characters’ individual lives and motivations. Snyder’s flawed vision for the Justice League can’t be fixed with two extra hours of movie.
1 Interstellar Is Poorly Written & Is Overrated Due To Visuals
Neither Of The Main Female Characters Feels Like A Real Person
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37 9.1/10 Interstellar PG-13 Sci-FiDramaAdventure
From Christopher Nolan, Interstellar imagines a future where the Earth is plagued by a life-threatening famine, and a small team of astronauts is sent out to find a new prospective home among the stars. Despite putting the mission first, Coop (Matthew McConaughey) races against time to return home to his family even as they work to save mankind back on Earth.
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*Availability in US Cast Matthew McConaughey , Anne Hathaway , Jessica Chastain , Mackenzie Foy , Ellen Burstyn , Michael Caine , Bill Irwin , Timothée Chalamet , David Oyelowo , John Lithgow Director Christopher Nolan Release Date November 7, 2014 Writers Jonathan Nolan , Christopher Nolan Runtime 169 Minutes Expand
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It’s hard to find a movie as celebrated by cinephiles as Interstellar. Nolan’s film about a desolate future that can only be escaped by traveling through a black hole has stunning visuals, but that doesn’t absolve it of its writing flaws. Nolan is infamous for writing one-dimensional female characters who aren’t fleshed out enough. This problem is most glaring in Interstellar, where Anne Hathaway is a protagonist. Despite her significance to the storyline, the character isn’t given strong motivations or even a satisfying conclusion. It’s one of the harsh realities of Interstellar to reconcile with on a rewatch.
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While it’s celebrated for being a “smart people’s movie,” Interstellar uses too much armchair physics. It’d have been more immersive if Interstellar had simply committed to being fictional instead of becoming Nolan’s platform to prove time travel can be done. Hans Zimmer does provide an amazing score in “Cornfield Chase,” which will always live rent-free in people’s heads. But the whole movie should have to pay the rent of having a coherent emotional thread that’s not introduced only when there are no more cool visuals to show off. The weak script doesn’t deserve the reputation it has.