Top Ten Movies I Was Supposed to Love, But Couldn't

Have you ever had that feeling of watching a movie you were genuinely excited to see and couldn’t stop talking about, only to find out you couldn't get into it at all? I have. And it’s not just one movie; there are quite a few movies that I wanted to love but couldn't. If you're curious about why, here are the top ten movies that I struggled to enjoy, along with some of the reasons behind my dislike.

The All-Time Box Office Hit That Once Stopped Me

Gone with the Wind was my driving-in experience at 17. It was the first time I had seen this classic, and all I knew was that Clark Gable was the star. I had no clue what the movie was about or what to expect. Fast forward years later, and while I recognized its historical significance, I still found the film 'lame' and couldn't sit through it in its entirety. However, I did appreciate some of the Civil War scenes and the work of Gable. The movie's longevity and its place in mainstream USA culture through numerous release dates is a testament to its importance. It's a barometer of American culture in the 20th century, and I like it for that reason, but I really can't get into it.

The Top Ten Movies I Wanted to Love But Couldn't

10. Mama
The rule of thumb is that less is indeed more. I found some parts of this movie effectively spooky, but the CGI ghost that looked too goofy dragged the whole movie. This lesson is a harsh one for me to learn.

9. Ghostbusters (2016)
There's a whole movie's worth of not being funny. I wanted to give this movie a chance, but it was unfunny, and I didn't find any jokes amusing. The actors, including Melissa McCarthy, didn't do much for me. There was no genuine laughter, and I left feeling like the movie stole 13 bucks from my wallet. Not a good experience at all.

8. Captain Marvel
This lady in the movie provided no energy, and it was massively overrated. I am a Marvel fan, but even that couldn't save this movie. Brie Larson's performance was bland, and I felt lost due to the overuse of CGI. This movie broke $1 billion in ticket sales, but for me, it was a dreadfully boring and mediocre experience.

7. E.T. The Extra Terrestrial
There are definitely aspects of this classic that I didn't care for. The government agents' dismissive attitude towards E.T. and me? Not appealing. And the characters I encountered on E.T.'s side? They were obnoxious and not endearing to me in the least. Elliot, the main character, was insufferable and a terrible little creature that I wanted to send back to his own planet.

6. Police Academy
How can you not laugh at this movie? The constant use of megaphones was just too much for me to handle. Despite the promise of laughs, I didn't once find myself chuckling. Not a good experience at all.

5. Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull
The addition of Shia LaBeouf was just one of many detractors. The CGI, the aliens, and the refrigerator were all too much. The absence of Nazis as antagonists, and the whole plot, were just mediocre. This movie could have been a lot better with a different storyline and casting choices. I think if I made this film, I would have dubbed it 'Indiana Jones and the Quest for Metamucil.'

4. Spider-Man 3
Topher Grace as Venom was criminally bad, and this movie was a huge disappointment. If Spider-Man 2 is the greatest superhero movie of all time, then Spider-Man 3, with its flat-out failure performance by Topher Grace, doesn't live up to the hype at all.

3. Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen
The Transformers franchise took a significant dip with this installment. Shia LaBeouf could not carry the film, and the story was overly convoluted and poorly written. The CGI was stunning, but it couldn't make up for the plot holes.

2. The Dark Knight Rises
While Heath Ledger's Joker was a genius role, Nolan's batbaby-ways were just not for me. The excessive use of melodramatic storytelling and the excessive focus on Batman's psychological state took the film down a darker path that I didn't appreciate.

1. Saturday Night Fever
Back in the day, I had a friend who raved about this movie. I watched it and found it to be incredibly slow. I was knocked out because I didn't really like the music and couldn't relate to the plot at all.

Conclusion

It's clear that everyone has a different taste in movies. While some might be completely enamored with these films, for me, they just didn’t work. These are my top ten most underwhelming movies. They may not be your cup of tea either, but it's essential to try and find what resonates with you the most. After all, movies are meant to be enjoyed, at least to some extent, and if they don't, they serve no purpose in my opinion.