It's a common question that comes up in regular conversations: what are some of your favorite movies? And while there seems to be such a wide selection of flicks to choose from, ever since I've been in college I keep coming across the same film interests from a lot of people. \nIt's not that they have poor taste in movies or anything of the sort. In fact, some of these films are actually worth a damn. However, when someone keeps referencing the same ones again and again, it's easy to lose interest fast. So now I find myself compiling a list of what seem to be the most common (and in some cases most overrated) flicks found on college campuses today:
Eternal Sunshine of the \nSpotless Mind\nSure director Michel Gondry's incredibly original film penned by unique screenwriter Charlie Kaufman is entertaining, but is it really worth watching again and again? While it was a bit of a sleeper hit in the theaters, you would swear every person who saw it in theaters must've went half a dozen times (which surely doesn't reflect it's poor box office performance, it barely took in more than $30 million.) And while everyone bitched and moaned at how "Eternal Sunshine" should've got an Oscar nod for Best Picture, it didn't, so just deal with it.
Garden State\nChances are if someone loves "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind," then they equally love Zach Braff's debut flick "Garden State." Everyone I come across says the same thing: "Oh I can really relate to the characters." Really? That would mean everyone is overmedicated and as annoying as Natalie Portman is in the film. While it is humorous at times, repeat viewings seem to lose the overall effect. Watching "Garden State" won't change your life, nor will listening to the annoying soundtrack (which deserves its own award for being so overrated).
\nAmélie\nAny time I meet someone who loves Jean-Pierre Jeunet's wonderfully entertaining film "Amélie," I always ask them if they've seen any of his other movies or other French films in general. Eighty-five percent of the time the answer is no. It almost seems like "Amélie" is the only French film in existence which is quite disappointing, considering all the amazing films that have come from that country. And director Jeunet's filmography is worth the viewing experience, especially "A Very Long Engagement" and "City of Lost Children." I guess some folks just can't handle reading subtitles.
Good Will Hunting\nThe popularity surrounding "Good Will Hunting" always baffles me. While I'm glad it put Matt Damon on the map and showed that Robin Williams was capable of doing more than just comedy, it's also the film that (unfortunately) put Ben Affleck on the map. "Hunting" also easily takes the blame for people saying how much they love indie films, something I always find amusing considering you show these same fans any other Gus Van Sant movie and they complain about how boring and/or stupid it is. Watching "Good Will Hunting" doesn't mean you like indie films in general; it just means you've seen one.
The Shawshank \nRedemption\nNow I'll be honest from the get-go and say that I am a huge fan of "The Shawshank Redemption" and its wonderful performances. Yet I am always bothered by the fact that people take no interest in director Frank Darabont's other humanistic works such as "The Green Mile" and "The Majestic." While so many love the fact that it is a "prison escape" movie, chances are they've never seen any other ones such as "Grand Illusion," "Stalag 17" or even "The Great Escape," all films which in certain aspects are much more satisfying than "The Shawshank Redemption."
Napoleon Dynamite\nSaving the best example (and worst film) for last, "Napoleon Dynamite" is easily one of the most annoying films ever created. Responsible for unleashing so many ridiculous quotes and being just downright ugly to look at, I'll never fully comprehend how such a moronic movie is so damn popular. I've seen it in states of inebriation and complete soberness, and both times I was equally disappointed. Hopefully the fascination with "Napoleon" dies out soon, so then it'll have had the lasting popularity of other stupid things, like Pogs.
