[seanandmolly]

For the second time in a month, The Exorcist has been listed as an overrated film. First by Michael Phillips on “At the Movies” (the film was defended by AO Scott) and now a list of overrated movies compiled by Entertainment Weekly.com. Are we living in a world where a movie as cutting edge and graphic (even by today’s standards) as The Exorcist is being trashed. Somebody please help me to understand.

[fatherbowdern]

Phillips often ranks animated/younger-audience-themed films more highly on his all-time-favorites lists than many of the movies that a true critic would rate from an overall perspective. For instance, in 2008, Up and Where the Wild Things Are ranked number 1 and 2, respectively, while the Oscar-winning film, The Hurt Locker, came in at number 4 according to Phillips tastes. Personally, I think he’s very off in his critiques because he rated Brokeback Mountain dead last on the top-ten scale while dismissing the Oscar-winner, Crash, altogether. I just gather that his Disney-esque frame of mind couldn’t handle The Exorcist.

As far as the EW ratings? That list of overrated top 20 films includes Gone With the Wind, Citizen Kane, 2001: A Space Odyssesy, and Doctor Zhivago as losers by EW voters. These are obviously individuals who lack any common sense and just dinged the all-time classics. With comments by raters such as this, “I LOATHE Close Encounters. It is the WORST. It makes me want to scratch my eyeballs out of my head. Ugh! — lettergirl,” I believe the valley-girl ratings speak for themselves.

Father Bowdern

[Get2Me]

Did anyone notice the EW.com article recycled the famous non-Linda, Exorcist II shot to accompany the blurb about why The Exorcist is overrated?

http://www.ew.com/ew/gallery/0,,20406056_12,00.html

Tsk. Tsk. You’d think they’d do a little research.

Now, if we’re talking about E2 being overrated as the worst film of all time, well it truly is that bad and so much worse than anyone could ever imagine – as a sequel to The Exorcist. I happen to enjoy certain scenes from it, but as a whole, the movie just left me scratching my head.

[Petronius]

If you head over to Rotten Tomatoes every so often you will find a few critics who throw a thumbs down on some of the greatest movies ever made.

Now, I’ll be the first to admit that not every movie is going to appeal to everyone. but….

….The OP provides a list by EW, which in my opinion does not explore any rationale for their decision. At least good critics will tell you why, in detail, they don’t like some movies.

Let’s remember that The Exorcist still is considered by many to STILL be the scariest movie ever made. By many critics as well. I can’t think of one movie that has that distinction for this long.

[fatherbowdern]

I couldn’t agree more with both of you. E2 was an absolute nightmare … and not in a good way to say the least. Even if The Exorcist didn’t exist, and we watch the film as new novelty, it was a total train wreck. Indeed, E2 crumbled Blair’s career by no fault of her own. The only plus is seeing Regan’s mounds of glory! 😉

With EW voters, these are the hounds of 15 minutes of fame by having their erroneous comments posted on a website for everyone to see. It’s sheer stupidity.

Father Bowdern

[Author]

Posts