Critics Or Audiences…Who’s Side Are YOU On?
It doesn’t surprise anyone that the opinions of professional film critics oftentimes don’t reflect at all what the people actually want to see. There are so many movies out there that critics have claimed to be inferior, but the audiences love.
In most cases, people loved these movies because they weren’t so artfully made. Goofy and funny comedies such as “The Replacements”, “Without a Paddle”, and “Soul Plane” are beloved by fans as they are despised by critics.
According to Business Insider, these are movies that divided critics and their regular viewers, as they have earned high user scores but very low critic averages.
Soul Plane – 2004
According to its critics, this movie didn’t deserve more than 33 out of 100 points. But according to its audience, “Soul Plane” deserves a solid 8.6.
The plot revolves around Nashawn Wade, played by Kevin Hart, who decided to sue a commercial flight that gave him one of the most horrific and humiliating experiences in his life.
He wins the suit and is awarded a $100 million settlement, with which he decides to invest in a new airline company that would become the airline of his dreams.
According to the Washington Post, “an hour and a half of real-life turbulence is way better than sitting through this bad and offensive material called “Soul Plane”. Ouch!
Self/less – 2015
According to critics, this movie didn’t deserve more than 34 out of 100. However, its audience gave it a solid 8.8 out of 10. In my humble opinion, I think the plot is super interesting.
There’s this extremely wealthy man, Ben Kingsley, who’s dying from cancer and decides to try a radical medical procedure that transfers his consciousness into someone else’s body.
That person is a healthy young man, played by Ryan Reynolds. However, things start to unfold the minute he tries to uncover the mystery of the body’s origin and a secret organization that will kill anyone to protect its cause.
As the New York Post wrote, “Self/less is just a celluloid smoothie blended from dozens of familiar elements, but neither is tasty nor nutritious.”
American Outlaws – 2001
In the eyes of all critics, this movie ranked even lower than the first two, as it received only 25 points out of 100. However, the public seemed to like it a bit more, giving a 7.9 out of 10.
The plot takes place in a Midwest town, where everybody suddenly finds out that a corrupt railroad baron captured the deeds to their homesteads without people knowing about this.
And here comes the part when things get a bit obvious, as a group of young ranchers is joining forces to take back what’s rightfully theirs. According to the Washington Post, the movie doesn’t deserve buying tickets to see it.
The Man – 2005
Although the movie has two great actors playing leading roles, it seems that the critics weren’t extremely impressed by it, as they gave it 33 points out of 100.
However, the audience seems to enjoy it a bit more, as it scored 8.7 points out of 10. The movie is basically a comedy about a dental salesman, played by Eugene Levy, and a hard-edged federal agent, played by Samuel L. Jackson, who are obliged to work together but eventually they grow a bond together.
According to the critics, the movie was simply awful, pointless, lazy, derivative, and extremely dull.
Sweet November – 2001
This movie is a personal favorite. However, critics rated it only 27 points out of 100. The story is about two people who fell in love with each other but have nothing in common, except an hour that they spent together in DMV hell.
They are extremely intrigued by each other, but none of them is ready to commit, so they decide to settle on a very unconventional decision: they date for only one month and then go their separate ways.
According to a review published in Chicago Sun-Times, the movie “passes off pathological behavior as a romantic approach. They’re two sick and twisted people who’re playing mind games and they’re calling it love.”
Black Knight – 2001
Jamal Walker, who’s played by Martin Lawrence, ends up at Medieval World, which is a theme park that seems as if it needs some serious renovations, and that it hasn’t been visited since Dark Ages.
After Jamal falls into the park’s fetid moat, he “wakes up” in fourteenth-century England. The Middle Ages are about to change. According to Austin Chronicles, “there’s precious little to like about decidedly tedious “Black Night”, other than the fact that it is unlikely to generate a sequel.” The critics gave it a 32 out of 100, but its users seem to have enjoyed it a bit more, as it scored an 8.7 out of 10.
The Punisher – 2004
This Marvel unstoppable vigilante managed to hit the big screens in 2004. An undercover FBI agent and a former Marine Frank Castle (Thomas Jane) decide to fully eradicate the crime scene in America.
The decision comes after he lost his family to mob violence. According to an article published in Variety, the movie isn’t something to die for. Even more, it managed to score only 33 points out of 100.
However, it seems like the public enjoyed it a bit more. Many have enjoyed watching the movie, with some of them even noting that it’s “my favorite all-time film!
By any means, it’s an extremely impressive film…the kind of film you can sit back, switch off and watch again and again. It’s a feel-good-kick-ass-film.”
Sonny – 2002
Sony is the story of a young man, played by James Franco, that’s living in New Orleans. He is taught and trained to learn and follow his family tradition of being a paid male prostitute for wealthy women.
According to New York Times, this is nothing but an “emotionally incoherent” movie, and perhaps that’s why it only scored 31 points out of 100.
On the other hand, users seemed to find it extremely interesting, because it got a strong 8.7 out of 10. Plus, let’s admit it, James Franco is a charming actor, and he absolutely killed it in this role!
Deception – 2008
Jonathan McQuarry has to answer a very simple question, however, the way he’s going to do it will change his life forever. A corporate auditor that’s part of New York’s power elite, Jonathan’s work means his life to him.
Even so, he gets this rare chance of meeting with Wyatt Bose, who’s a charismatic corporate lawyer, and introduces Jonathan to an extremely decadent playground for Manhattan’s executive upper crust.
It seems that the critics didn’t dig it so much, however. It received only 31 points out of 100. An article in San Francisco Chronicle noted that the movie is just “an overwrought and ultimately silly thriller.” But its users seem to love it, as it got an 8.8 out of 10.
Domestic Disturbance – 2001
“Domestic Disturbance” is a story about a divorced father, played by John Travolta, who discovers that her ex-wife’s new husband, played by Vince Vaughn, is not exactly who he claims to be.
He soon realizes that his son’s life might be in danger and is extremely determined to save him. Even if the scenario sounds extremely interesting, the critics didn’t seem too impressed by it.
It only scored 29 points out of 100, with an article in Washington Post that said: “The most surprising fact about the movie is that somebody actually bothered to make it in the first place.” Ouch!
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