The term 'subjectivity' can be defined, according to Google, as, "The quality of being based on or influenced by personal feelings, tastes, or opinions"; as such, not everyone's perspectives on various facets of life will be the same, and this is no different when it comes to popular culture; here are my top 5 unpopular opinions or 'hot takes' pertaining to movies. Seeing as these stem from my perspective, there's a very good chance many of you won't agree with my picks; feel free to leave your thoughts in the comments, but please make sure to keep it civil. With that being said, on to the list!
- I think Terminator: Dark Fate is the best of the post-Terminator 2 follow-ups. These days, it's a common opinion among Terminator fans that the series should've ended with 1991's beloved Terminator 2: Judgment Day, as 2003’s Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines, the 2009 prequel Terminator: Salvation, and the 2015 ‘soft reboot’ Terminator: Genisys have all been subjected to varying levels of scrutiny. Even though it also faced controversy of its own (with some even condescendingly nicknaming it ‘Woke Fate’), I consider 2019’s Terminator: Dark Fate to be just what the franchise needed after the ultimately wasted potential that was Genisys! Firstly, Dark Fate is the first installment in the series since Judgment Day to have an R-rating, and the movie certainly benefits from it, particularly in regard to its action sequences, which come off as significantly more visceral in aesthetic and (arguably) tone compared to what was seen in its 2015 predecessor. Another thing Dark Fate has going for it is the return of not just Arnold Schwarzenegger as the T-800, but also Linda Hamilton as Sarah Connor, reprising her role for the first time since Terminator: Salvation (in that movie, it was merely her voice that was used). Hamilton slips back into playing the character with little effort, as though nearly 30 years (that is, between the releases of Judgment Day and Dark Fate) barely even passed; the new characters, Natalia Reyes' Dani Ramos and Mackenzie Davis' Grace arguably could've used some additional 'work' (writing-wise) to give them more dimensionality and differentiate them from previous characters in the series (e.g., Kyle Reese from the original Terminator), but thankfully, the two actresses deliver believable onscreen performances that ought to help even casual viewers get invested in their characters to some degree. In addition, I wouldn't say they're the walking 'feminist propaganda' that some detractors claim them to be; after all, there's not one, but two memorable male characters to 'balance' things out in this movie (the villainous REV-9 and Schwarzenegger's T-800), with the latter receiving a fair amount of characterization whilst also being the 'lens' through which the concept of what'd become of a Terminator after completing its primary mission (e.g., 'offing' whoever it was sent to 'terminate') is explored. While this is an intriguing idea which one could argue feels in-line with some of the notions examined in Judgment Day, I do think more screen time could've been allotted to fleshing out this concept further. While Terminator: Dark Fate is certainly anything but perfect and may pale in comparison to the first two James Cameron-directed films, it's still all-around a step in the right direction compared to the last few movies, and I'm glad I saw it during its time in theaters!
- I find Captain Marvel to be significantly over-hated. Upon its release in 2019, Captain Marvel proved to be a rather divisive movie; with the titular character herself being among the greatest points of contention; some thought of her as being a worthy addition to the Marvel Cinematic Universe (or MCU) character roster, while others decried her as little more than a dull, un-engaging, and overpowered 'Mary Sue' (though arguably nowhere to the same extent as Rey from the Star Wars sequel trilogy). However, both times I saw it in theaters, I found myself engaged in/enjoying what was presented onscreen! Maybe I'm biased since I was already a longtime Marvel Studios fan at the time of watching Captain Marvel, but I don't think this flick deserves the sheer amount of criticism it's been subjected to in the 2 years since its theatrical run. For one, Oscar-winner Brie Larson (who plays the titular character) and Samuel L. Jackson have terrific chemistry with one another, and it shows in their characters' interactions, making for a character dynamic on par with the likes of fellow MCU duos Rocket and Groot (from the Guardians of the Galaxy series) and Sam Wilson and Bucky Barnes (as seen in the Disney+ Marvel Studios show The Falcon and the Winter Soldier) in terms of memorability! In addition, I found Captain Marvel herself, Carol Danvers, to be a rather over-hated main protagonist; granted, she's no Iron Man, Black Widow, or Captain America (in terms of character depth, arguably speaking), but she still has enough charisma to get viewers to care about her (and yes, she does smile or at least smirk more than once throughout the movie, contrary to what some may claim). In addition, the supporting characters manage to be interesting enough to get invested in, thanks to both the writing behind them and especially the talented actors bringing them to life (major examples including Lashana Lynch and Akira Akbar as Maria and Monica Rambeau, respectively, as well as Ben Mendelsohn as Talos). In general, while Captain Marvel certainly isn't on the level of such 'solo' MCU films as Iron Man (as in the 2008 original) or Captain America: The Winter Soldier, I nonetheless consider it a solid flick worth checking out!
- I am actually able to find enjoyment in the Michael Bay-directed Transformers movies (at least the first 4), even Age of Extinction. I'll go ahead and admit it up-front, this may not be the most controversial of opinions these days (as in the past, I've encountered a decent number of people who share my opinion), but seeing what a 'whipping boy' the Transformers franchise (not counting 2018's Bumblebee, which is currently the only live-action Transformers movie to have a 'Fresh' rating on Rotten Tomatoes) has become among critics in particular, I figured this perspective could be considered 'unpopular' enough to warrant a spot on this list. Whilst it's no secret I found a lot to like in the series' 2014 installment, Age of Extinction (which I previously did a review on), the other installments have their own merits as well. Firstly, if there's anything people can agree on positively regarding these movies, it's their visual effects, primarily in regard to how the titular characters were realized, courtesy of the VFX (short for 'visual effects') company Industrial Light & Magic (ILM for short). It's hard to think of any other company to bring the iconic Autobots and Decepticons to life on the big screen, as ILM's artists' craftsmanship when it comes to the numerous parts each Transformer is made up of, as well as making them move in a way that seems believable (among other things), is something most people seem to take for granted these days. To put this in perspective, in CinemaWins' video on the first Transformers, he points out how Optimus Prime, "Had over 10,000 moving digital parts"! In 2009's Revenge of the Fallen, the gargantuan 'combiner' Decepticon Devastator, according to VFX supervisor Scott Farrar in an article by syfy.com, "Is made up of upwards of 80,000 parts. The only thing that saves time is the camera position. The animators only have to transform the parts that are visible on screen." Suffice to say, while the screenplays for these movies (particularly those of the follow-ups to the 2007 original) definitely could've had more time dedicated to refining them, the visual effects are easily a highlight worthy of respect! Another facet of the series I find noteworthy are the number of memorable pieces of music courtesy of composer Steve Jablonsky; the first film gave us such tracks as "Autobots", "Optimus", "Optimus vs. Megatron", and the beloved "Arrival to Earth", Revenge of the Fallen has "Forest Battle" (which accompanies the eponymous action sequence), Dark of the Moon gave us "Battle" and "It's Our Fight", and such pieces as "Lockdown" and "Dinobot Charge" wouldn't exist if Age of Extinction wasn't made. As disappointing as I found 2017's Transformers: The Last Knight to be, it also gave us "Calling All Autobots" (which plays during one of the final scenes of the movie). Although fans of the 1980s cartoon (part of an era that's been dubbed 'G1') will likely disagree with me, I found the designs for the main Transformers to be visually distinctive and creative, especially in regard to the Dinobots in Age of Extinction; while many of the alien robots may not resemble their G1 counterparts, I personally didn't mind such differences; granted, the first live-action film was my introduction to the Transformers brand as a whole (making me somewhat biased), but, for example, the hulking and jagged profile Megatron possessed in the first two movies in particular seem rather fitting for such an intimidating and homicidal alien warlord, whilst effectively communicating to viewers (especially younger ones) that, as obvious as it may be, he's one of the 'bad guys'! Finally, the voice casts assembled to breath life into the 'robots in disguise' is to be commended, as they've showcased the talents of voice actors like Jess Harnell (aka Wakko Warner in Animaniacs) as Ironhide, Charlie Adler (the ill-fated Gazeem in Aladdin) as Starscream, Tom Kenny (the title character of Spongebob Squarepants) as Wheelie, and the legendary Frank Welker (Scooby-Doo, the Cave of Wonders in Aladdin, etc.) as Soundwave and Devastator (among others). Although Welker may be known as the voice of the G1 incarnation of Megatron (and reprised the role in both Age of Extinction (as Galvatron) and The Last Knight), and most certainly fits the role, I really enjoyed Hugo Weaving (Agent Smith in The Matrix and Elrond in The Lord of the Rings trilogy) as Megatron in the first three flicks; to quote CinemaWins, Weaving manages to "Add a whole new level of dominance with that ground-shaking voice." Said voice fits the infamous leader of the Decepticons nicely and combined with said Transformer's imposing profile, makes for quite the onscreen adversary! Finally, if there's one thing Michael Bay and co. did right, it was getting the one and only Peter Cullen to reprise his iconic role as Optimus Prime, and it's a good thing too, as Cullen proves multiple times throughout the series just why he's considered the quintessential voice for the beloved Autobot leader! Overall, whilst the Bay-directed Transformers movie franchise is no Star Wars (by which I'm referring to the original trilogy), I think the criminally underrated YouTuber (whose content I strongly recommend checking out, especially if you're a Jurassic Park fan) Shinobi-03 put it best: "I know the series has problems, but then again, what movie doesn't have problems?"
- I think Matthew Broderick was a terribly unwise casting choice for older Simba in the original Lion King, and find Donald Glover (from the 2019 version) to be a better fit. As was the case with numerous other young viewers, Walt Disney Animation's 1994 phenomenon The Lion King was a major part of my youth, thanks to its renowned narrative, animation that still holds up remarkably well to this day, an immersive score by the one and only Hans Zimmer (which garnered the composer his first Oscar for Best Original Score), and iconic characters. While this movie has multiple instances of excellent casting (e.g., the voice of Darth Vader himself, James Earl Jones, as Mufasa, Jeremy Irons as the duplicitous Scar, and Nathan Lane & Ernie Sabella as Timon & Pumbaa), the casting department wasn’t completely flawless in their selections; case in point, Matthew Broderick of Ferris Bueller’s Day Off fame as the grown version of the main protagonist Simba. While there are certain instances where he’s okay (at best) in his portrayal, the YouTuber Jambareeqi arguably puts it best: “A lot of the time, he is sounding a bit stilted, awkward, and insincere; it’s just how he reads lines.” Perhaps the most egregious showcase of just how miscast Broderick was can be found in the last third of the film, during the “I killed Mufasa” scene following Simba’s return to the Pride Lands; Broderick's line reading (particularly following Scar foolishly admitting to being responsible for Mufasa’s untimely demise) is arguably facepalm-inducing in terms of how lackluster it is, especially when compared to the more appropriate-sounding voiceover of Jonathan Taylor Thomas (of Home Improvement fame) as the younger version of Simba from the first half of the movie. On the other hand, while the 2019 version of The Lion King has gotten all sorts of controversy over such things as if it was even necessary to make in the first place, one thing I prefer about this version over its predecessor is Donald Glover (aka Childish Gambino, who was also a cast member of the show Community) as Simba; while there could've been other alternatives for the role, and Glover admittedly isn't on the level of Phil LaMarr (aka the title character of Samurai Jack and John Stewart/Green Lantern in the animated show Justice League and its sequel series Justice League Unlimited, to name a few roles), Keith David (aka Goliath in the cult classic show Gargoyles and Dr. Facilier in Disney’s criminally under-appreciated The Princess and the Frog), or Kevin Michael Richardson (Joker in The Batman, Trigon in Teen Titans, Captain Gantu in the Lilo & Stitch franchise, and Bulkhead in Transformers: Prime, among many other roles) in terms of voice acting talent, Glover felt like a more suitable casting choice all-around compared to his predecessor, especially helped by him sounding rather believably like an older version of JD McCrary (who voiced Simba as a cub in the 2019 movie).
- I find Spider-Man: Into the Spiderverse overrated. Spider-Man: Into the Spiderverse was the first non-Disney (or Pixar) animated feature since 2011's Rango to win the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature and was just what Sony Pictures Animation needed after the embarrassment that was The Emoji Movie. With that being said, what's my issue with this critically acclaimed comic book movie (besides what the website TV Tropes refers to as 'Hype Backlash')? Well firstly, despite its incredibly well-realized art style and animation, the action sequences, specifically the fight scenes, feel arguably too fast in terms of their choreography, as the speed at which the characters move can make it difficult to follow exactly what's going on, and thus hard to get fully invested & appreciate the choreography. If the filmmakers had slowed things down a bit, it'd be easier to make out what's happening onscreen, and thus less difficult to get 'sucked in'. In addition, for a movie that Rotten Tomatoes described as having, "Bold storytelling", I had trouble finding anything particularly 'bold' about the narrative (besides maybe the main antagonist's reason for his multi-dimension-scale meddling). Although Into the Spiderverse has received a substantial amount of praise for its music, besides the background music playing during "What's Up Danger" and the Prowler's awesomely ominous theme music, I've found it hard to name any other major musical bits that I'd consider 'memorable' (for instance, Post Malone's "Sunflower", while not 'bad' per se, simply isn't my 'cup of tea'). Finally, while the characters are quite well-casted (with standouts including Nicholas Cage's amusingly over-dramatic vocal portrayal of Spider-Man Noir and comedian John Mulaney arguably sounding like he'd be right at home playing a Looney Tunes character in his voiceover for Spider-Ham), I found various characters in need of additional 'work' in order to properly live up to the considerable praise they've received; for instance, the arc of Gwen Stacy, aka Spider-Woman or Spider-Gwen, a name given by the character's fans (voiced by Hailee Steinfeld from Bumblebee, which, funny enough, came out the same month and year as this movie) and the evolution of her relationship with main protagonist Miles Morales could've progressed in a way that felt more organic/'earned' compared to what we got, and the supporting 'Spider-people' (Spider-Man Noir, Peni Parker & SP//dr, and Spider-Ham) could've had more to them to make them more distinctive from the main 3 'Spider-people' (Miles, Peter B. Parker, and Gwen). Granted, despite all this, I haven't seen Spider-Man: Into the Spiderverse in its entirety (not counting bits & pieces I've glimpsed online) since I saw it in theaters back in December 2018. As such, perhaps a viewing of CinemaWins' (a YouTube channel which I HIGHLY recommend checking out) "Everything GREAT About Spider-Man: Into the Spiderverse!" video could change my viewpoint of this movie for the better, and warrant a rewatch, this time with a new perspective!
That concludes my list of unpopular movie opinions/hot takes. Like I said at the beginning, don't hesitate to leave your thoughts (regarding any unpopular opinions you may have, among other things) in the comments, but please make sure to keep it civil; after all, there's enough discourse in the world as it is presently! Thank you again for reading, and I'll see you all next time!
