Popular movies that are actually trash

Do not buy into the hype

By Jessica Berget, Staff Writer

I’m a film snob, I admit. They are a great escape; they tell a story, and these stories are easy to get lost in. You can also learn a lot by watching films. They offer insight into the lives and experiences of other people, of the human condition, and can also be an aid in understanding relationships, or even one’s self.

That being said, a lot of films are legitimate garbage. Especially the films that are pumped out every year starring the same five Caucasian actors in an attempt to win a meaningless award (because Hollywood is based on white supremacy). The truth is, most popular movies nowadays are cheap recreations of older films, overly fabricated real-life stories, or just plain bad, but some are still regarded as classics in the film industry. Here are some film “classics” that do not deserve the hype.

Fight Club (1999)

Two words: fake deep. The atrocity that is Fight Club is cleverly disguised as an existentialist, anti-corporate message, when in reality, it has about as much depth as a glass of water. Since when is a movie about guys beating each other up in order to rebel against the system considered a classic film, and not the fever dream of an angsty teen? This is a good movie if you don’t watch a lot of movies, or are impressed very easily.

Avatar (2009)

Does anyone remember the names of the actors, or even the characters in this movie? Avatar is an enigma. In 2009 it was the movie everyone was talking about, and it still remains one of the highest grossing films of all time, but no one can recall anything about it. Remember earlier, when I said most movies are cheap recreations of older movies? Avatar is essentially Pocahontas, but with blue people, and in 3-D.

The Departed (2006)

This movie is as boring as it is annoying. Based off of the 2002 Hong Kong crime film Internal Affairs, The Departed couples bad acting, confusing sub-plots, and a lame attempt at symbolism. If it weren’t directed by Martin Scorsese, it would be seen for what it is: A barely decent crime thriller that has absolutely no reason to be two and a half hours long. Those are two and a half hours of my life I will never get back.

Inception (2010)

“You just didn’t understand it!” they’ll say. However, I don’t think there was much to understand. The entire plot of Inception is pretty much just people travelling through dreams and a van falling off a bridge for 45 minutes, matched with mediocre cinematography and dazzling (even distracting) visual effects. “Maybe you need to watch it again,” They’ll respond. “Please no,” I beg. 

American Beauty (1999)

There are actually a lot of things I like about this film. However, the pretentiousness of the famous plastic bag floating in the wind scene is not one of them. American Beauty is shallow, no doubt about it, but it is enjoyable. Less enjoyable when you realize how creepy it can also be, but enjoyable nonetheless. From Kevin Spacey’s character having sexual fantasies about his daughter’s high school friend to the classic trope of the strange, misunderstood teen stalking and taking pictures of his crush, this film never has a dull moment.