Reviews. Going against the grain

[on:]

There are some films that everyone regards as masterpieces. Films that nobody could possibly dispute as all time greats.
Eg...The Godfather, Schindlers List, The Lord of the Rings, Star Wars, Citizen Kane, Jaws, The Shawshank Redemption....
You know the kind I mean.
But has anyone ever come across a bad review for films like this? Post them if you've found any.

And have you ever come across reviews praising a film that everyone knows is a huge heap of shit? eg Battlefield Earth.

The only example I can think of is a review of The Shawshank Redemption in a film guide I own, it got 1 star!!!
"The movie burns with a dubious ardor. No one is likely to disagree with its point of view. No one is likely to be much interested either".
I really should get around to throwing that guide away. 

[Reply #1 on:]

OH i am so upset to see BF:E bashed...again.
Popular movies tend to be good targets for critics, wether they are artistically good or not.
I havnt seen The Shawshank redemption. And judging by that review perhaps it had good production values and nice characters and a beutiful message, but didnt have much artistic merit.

[Reply #2 on:]

*Send's the reviewer of the Shawshank Redemption to Prison for life*

[Reply #3 on:]

Leonard Maltin gave Shawshank 2 1/2 stars, the same amount he gave Batman & Robin.  And he gave Taxi Driver 2 stars!  What's up with that?

[Reply #4 on:]

 

Originally posted by Nurdbot:
*Send's the reviewer of the Shawshank Redemption to Prison for life*

* Reviewer digs tunnel on otherside of picture of supermodel and escpaes. Proceeds to live in mexico with black guy from prison

[Reply #5 on:]

Two and a half stars from Leonard Maltin? The Shawshank Redemption is on par with Laserblast. I can't believe it.

[Reply #6 on:]

With critics you never know what you're gonna get. Ebert gave Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life 3 stars, the same amount of stars he gave to the two Lord of the Rings movies.

[Reply #7 on:]

ebert likes the boobies, it's a well known fact. That explains why tomb raider rated so high.

BF:E rocks and if you didn't like it you just didn't have the volume up loud enough to enjoy that great score.

I never really understood the big deal about "Shawshank". It was about as good as any made for TV hallmark movie, if you ask me.

[Reply #8 on:]

I think I posted this in another thread but I can't find it.  Anyway, here's a review of Battlefield Earth by San Francisco Chronicle writer Bob Graham.  And here is his review of The Matrix.

[Reply #9 on:]

 

Originally posted by VelourFog:
I never really understood the big deal about "Shawshank".

That's because you're a girl.......and you have no uterus. And you've never escaped from prison.

[Reply #10 on:]

Jeremy, I think you're on to something there.

Shawshank is basically the only "drama only" film in my DVD collection.
And, it's Limited Edition is relesed (although I'm not exactly sure what the differences are, Play.com doesn't give enough info).