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Going 'Ballistic' on the Decade's Worst Movies
Yahoo ^ | 9/29/2009 | Jonathan Crow

Posted on 09/29/2009 8:39:18 PM PDT by Saije

Movie critics are, by definition, folks with strong opinions about movies. But opinions are personal and subjective, so usually critical response to any movie is split between the positive and the negative. Still, there are a few extraordinary films every year that unite reviewers. When they all uniformly praise a movie, it's probably close to a masterpiece. When they all hate a flick, it probably stinks worse than week-old Limburger.

RottenTomatoes.com, which aggregates the opinions of over 100 professional movie critics and distills them down to a single numeric "freshness" rating, has compiled the "Worst of the Worst," a list of the absolute dredges of cinema over the past decade. By looking at the movies with the highest percentages of negative reviews, they have ranked the 100 worst-reviewed films of the last ten years. The list encompasses a whole range of critically-reviled movies, from the John Travolta sci-fi fiasco "Battlefield Earth" in 2000 to Sandra Bullock's unfunny stalker comedy "All About Steve," which opened just a few weeks ago.

Looking over the list, there are plenty of memorably terrible flicks listed: Mariah Carey's first (and hopefully last) leading role in "Glitter," Madonna's most recent (and hopefully last) star turn "Swept Away," three "Larry the Cable Guy" movies, and Eddie Murphy's "The Adventures of Pluto Nash," which ranks as one of the all-time biggest box-office bombs.

Here's the bottom ten from RottenTomatoes's "Worst of the Worst": Fame 10. Witless Protection (2008) 9. Redline (2007) 8. 3 Strikes (2000) 7. Strange Wilderness (2008) 6. Superbabies: Baby Geniuses 2 (2004) 5. National Lampoon's Gold Diggers (2004) 4. King's Ransom (2005) 3. Pinocchio (2002) 2. One Missed Call (2008) 1. Ballistic: Ecks Vs. Sever (2002)

(Excerpt) Read more at movies.yahoo.com ...


TOPICS: TV/Movies
KEYWORDS: bad; movies; rottentomatoes
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I haven't seen any of these bottom 10 and only a few of the worst 100 in all so I guess I've saved myself a lot of time and money.
1 posted on 09/29/2009 8:39:18 PM PDT by Saije
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To: Saije

I did see Ballistic: Ecks Vs. Sever. I was just underwhelmed by it. I don’t remember it being particularly awful, just forgettable.


2 posted on 09/29/2009 8:41:00 PM PDT by Galactic Overlord-In-Chief (Our Joe Wilson can take the Dems' Joe Wilson any day of the week)
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To: Saije

My personal “worst” list:

6. What Women Want
5. Canadian Bacon
4. Jingle All The Way
3. Eyes Wide Shut
2. The Guru
1. The Interpreter


3 posted on 09/29/2009 8:43:24 PM PDT by xjcsa (And these three remain: change, hope and government. But the greatest of these is government.)
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To: Saije

I didn’t see any of the films listed, and haven’t heard of most of them although I’m a movie buff.


4 posted on 09/29/2009 8:43:26 PM PDT by BlueStateBlues (Blue State business, Red State heart. . . . .Palin 2012----can't come soon enough!)
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To: xjcsa

Dumd and Dumber is on my list.Any thing Borat also.


5 posted on 09/29/2009 8:46:15 PM PDT by Lurkina.n.Learnin
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To: Saije

They can say whatever they want about Sandra Bullock’s movies, she looks far better than 98% of the women in Hollyweird.


6 posted on 09/29/2009 8:46:40 PM PDT by wastedyears (The best aid we could ever give Africa would be thousands of rifles to throw out their own dictators)
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To: Saije
Oh, there are much worse films than what are on the author's list. I guess the author never saw Manos: The Hands of Fate.
7 posted on 09/29/2009 8:48:12 PM PDT by Army Air Corps (Four fried chickens and a coke)
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To: BlueStateBlues

That makes two of us. I have seen the Larry the Cable Guy movies but the rest of them, well, I’ve never heard of any of them. I do think this list is defective though because none of Michael Moore’s movies are listed.


8 posted on 09/29/2009 8:50:51 PM PDT by FlingWingFlyer (I don't remember Americans being called "racists" when we fought against Hillarycare.)
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To: Army Air Corps
Oh, there are much worse films than what are on the author's list. I guess the author never saw Manos: The Hands of Fate

Well, it's the worst of the last decade. Not all-time. : )

9 posted on 09/29/2009 8:54:08 PM PDT by TheBigB (I'd rather have a third Bush term than a second Carter term.)
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To: Saije
The worst movie I can think of is Battlefield Earth. Hard to believe Travolta would make such a film, but then again, L. Ron Hubbard wrote the book, so there ya go!
10 posted on 09/29/2009 8:55:25 PM PDT by boatbums (Not everything faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed unless it is faced.)
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To: Saije

If you count completely inconsequential family movies, nothing is as painful to watch as “Yours Mine and Ours” with Dennis Quaid, Rene Russo, and a bunch of kid actors from Nickelodeon.


11 posted on 09/29/2009 8:56:42 PM PDT by Minn (Here is a realistic picture of the prophet: ----> ([: {()
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To: Saije

Quite a few years ago a friend had a large collection of movies on tape. We were staying at a mountain resort and at times had a lot of downtime. I watched a lot of them but there is one I remember because I figured it just might be the worst movie ever made.

“Surf Nazis must die” At least they didn’t spend a lot of money making it.


12 posted on 09/29/2009 8:56:49 PM PDT by yarddog
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To: wastedyears; BlueStateBlues

dittos to you both.


13 posted on 09/29/2009 8:56:55 PM PDT by Lucius Cornelius Sulla (He said red, yellow, black or white, All are equal in his sight, Mmm, mmm, mm!, Barack Hussein Obama)
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To: TheBigB

Ah, the worst of the last decade. Hmmmm, so many of them sucked that I find it difficult to narrow the list to ten.


14 posted on 09/29/2009 8:57:02 PM PDT by Army Air Corps (Four fried chickens and a coke)
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To: Saije

Didn’t see any but Meet the Spartans, which earned its ranking. Had about three funny ideas and might have made a decent SNL skit.


15 posted on 09/29/2009 8:58:01 PM PDT by Sherman Logan ("The price of freedom is the toleration of imperfections." Thomas Sowell)
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To: Saije
... the John Travolta sci-fi fiasco "Battlefield Earth" in 2000 ...

I have made it my habit to run out and see the most reviled movies, and I couldn't miss this one. I firmly declare that it was "not that bad". Sure, a little quirky, but I think it kind of worked. Also, it used this kind of wavy looking special effect very convincingly. It was used on the exhaust of these rocket cars they had, and it made the blast seem very powerful. I've never really seen this equalled. Much better, all in all, than the abysmal MISSION TO MARS, say I.

... and Eddie Murphy's "The Adventures of Pluto Nash," which ranks as one of the all-time biggest box-office bombs.

Ran out and saw this one too. Nothing great to be sure, but it was "different", and I always savor this in a movie. Sort of sweet in a way.

They don't mention BASE-KET BALL or FREDDIE GOT FINGERED. Now those were bad movies! ... loved 'em both.

16 posted on 09/29/2009 8:59:35 PM PDT by dr_lew
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To: FlingWingFlyer

A recent one I did like was Inglorius Basterds. Tarentino makes some good time-fillers.

As for worst, nah, I don’t want to spoil anyone’s enjoyment of finding out for yourself.


17 posted on 09/29/2009 9:00:33 PM PDT by BlueStateBlues (Blue State business, Red State heart. . . . .Palin 2012----can't come soon enough!)
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To: Lurkina.n.Learnin
Dumd and Dumber is on my list.Any thing Borat also.

I love Dumb and Dumber. There's only been one Borat film; I found it hilarious but very wrong.

18 posted on 09/29/2009 9:05:02 PM PDT by xjcsa (And these three remain: change, hope and government. But the greatest of these is government.)
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To: karnage
Looking over the list, there are plenty of memorably terrible flicks listed: Mariah Carey's first (and hopefully last) leading role in "Glitter," Madonna's most recent (and hopefully last) star turn "Swept Away," three "Larry the Cable Guy" movies

(( ping ))

19 posted on 09/29/2009 9:08:59 PM PDT by Lancey Howard
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To: dr_lew

I enjoy good films, but I also have a weakness for B-grade flicks. Especially B-grade sci-fi and horror movies.


20 posted on 09/29/2009 9:09:16 PM PDT by Army Air Corps (Four fried chickens and a coke)
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To: Army Air Corps

Dude, remember the Lorenzo Lamas “Snake Eater” movies? Those were about the best B-grade flicks I have ever seen.


21 posted on 09/29/2009 9:12:43 PM PDT by randomhero97 ("First you want to kill me, now you want to kiss me. Blow!" - Ash)
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To: Saije
They forgot #1 of the decade and of all-time:


22 posted on 09/29/2009 9:13:15 PM PDT by Eccl 10:2 (Pray for the peace of Jerusalem - Ps 122:6)
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To: Saije

I just KNEW “Undercover Brother” wasn’t the worst movie of all times.


23 posted on 09/29/2009 9:15:39 PM PDT by stylin19a
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To: randomhero97

Damn, I haven’t! Now, I shall add them to my list if B-grade flicks to see.

Is the acting often bad? Are the scripts often confused if not a bit sparse or overdone?


24 posted on 09/29/2009 9:15:41 PM PDT by Army Air Corps (Four fried chickens and a coke)
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To: Saije
As a parent, sitting through Pokemon: The Movie 2000 was as bad as it gets. I'm glad my son liked it.
25 posted on 09/29/2009 9:17:04 PM PDT by vamoose
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To: Saije

I haven’t seen most of the movies on that list, but I still want back the 90 minutes of my life I wasted watching “Battlefield Earth.”


26 posted on 09/29/2009 9:20:03 PM PDT by PLMerite (Speak Truth to Stupid.)
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To: Army Air Corps

It was actually pretty good. Lamas is a funny guy. You can see some clips of it on youtube. The best part in the first one is when he goes “Rambo” with a M1 Garand.


27 posted on 09/29/2009 9:25:57 PM PDT by randomhero97 ("First you want to kill me, now you want to kiss me. Blow!" - Ash)
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To: Saije

They already made the list, so I guess it’s too late to cast my vote for Monsters vs. Aliens. I normally like going to the movies with the kids, but that one was about the dumbest one on record.


28 posted on 09/29/2009 9:26:55 PM PDT by Gil4 (I used to have a tagline. Who stole it?)
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To: stylin19a

I actually thought “Undercover Brother” was a surprisingly smart spoof, but if you aren’t into parodies, it definitely wouldn’t be your cup of tea.

For me, most memorably awful movies of the last decade would include:

Crank
The Black Dahlia
The Hours
Boondock Saints

No doubt there are others, but those immediately spring to mind.


29 posted on 09/29/2009 9:30:30 PM PDT by william clark (Ecclesiastes 10:2)
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To: Army Air Corps

Then I’m sure you’ve heard of MST3K!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CCHgyEieSAQ&feature=related


30 posted on 09/29/2009 9:32:03 PM PDT by 21twelve (Drive Reality out with a pitchfork if you want , it always comes back.)
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To: Saije

How did The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen fail to make the list? The stench still lingers.


31 posted on 09/29/2009 9:32:08 PM PDT by DeFault User
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To: Galactic Overlord-In-Chief

I also saw it. And while you could say it lacked an intellectual storyline or deep plot or whatever, that just makes it like any other generic action movie: you can still watch kinda-cool fights and gun battles and such.

Compare that to something like Gigli or Glitter, which would be miserable experiences and probably downright painful to sit all the way through.


32 posted on 09/29/2009 9:40:37 PM PDT by BobbyT
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To: xjcsa

Caddyshack II and Highlander II.


33 posted on 09/29/2009 9:50:27 PM PDT by USNBandit (sarcasm engaged at all times)
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To: Saije

The worst movie that I have seen in my entire life is “Intermedio” (2007) starring Edward Furlong. I challenge anyone to make through even 20 minutes of this steaming pile of poop.


34 posted on 09/29/2009 9:51:56 PM PDT by chris37
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To: Saije

any recent Will Ferrell movie


35 posted on 09/29/2009 9:53:08 PM PDT by SirJohnBarleycorn
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To: Minn
“Yours Mine and Ours” with Dennis Quaid, Rene Russo

It was a typical remake - not nearly as good as the original with Henry Fonda and Lucille Ball.

36 posted on 09/29/2009 9:53:13 PM PDT by reg45 (Be calm everyone. The idiot children are in charge!)
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To: xjcsa

“What Women Want” is an unbelievably fantastic movie because Marisa Tomei is in it.


37 posted on 09/29/2009 9:54:15 PM PDT by Chunga (Being A Libertarian Means Never Having To Actually Govern)
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To: reg45

Add anything that Scarlett Johansen has been in!!!! (great body—no talent)


38 posted on 09/29/2009 9:54:36 PM PDT by gman992
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To: boatbums

I’ll second that motion.That movie was a dog.travolta’s worst.


39 posted on 09/29/2009 9:55:52 PM PDT by puppypusher (The world is going to the Dogs.)
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To: yarddog
“Surf Nazis must die.” your friend is a connoisseur of 1980's b-rated films. i'd guess he knows about tromaville films (like "the toxic avenger").
:)
40 posted on 09/29/2009 10:09:52 PM PDT by robomatik
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To: Army Air Corps
... Especially B-grade sci-fi and horror movies.

Hmmm. How about FIRST MAN INTO SPACE ? I've got it on VHS. Made in Britain! Which I never knew.

41 posted on 09/29/2009 10:24:14 PM PDT by dr_lew
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To: Saije

The Contender...biggest piece of trash political hit job ever maybe...(2000?)

but the “did she or didn’t she?” sex scene with of all folks...Joan Allen was rather erotic surprisingly


42 posted on 09/29/2009 10:29:24 PM PDT by wardaddy
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To: william clark

I liked Boondock Saints...


43 posted on 09/29/2009 10:31:33 PM PDT by wardaddy
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To: dr_lew

I have one of those $10 DVD collections of 40 sci fi films (all B-grade, 60s and 70s stuff). One that stands out is “First Trip to Venus” ... turns out it was made in East Germany, I believe, during the Cold War. It was released here in the US redubbed obviously.

Despite the Communist leanings, it had some neat things like a “world wide” news channel and some other spectacular events that led up to the 1984 or 1985 launch of the world’s first manned voyage to another planet.

It’s dry, campy sci fi that takes itself too seriously, but still neat to watch.

My dad turned me on to classics like “When Worlds Collide” and “Rocketship XM” (loved both of those even as a teenager) ... I hear they are remaking “When Worlds Collide” ... I can’t wait to see how they ruin that.


44 posted on 09/29/2009 10:47:24 PM PDT by edh (I need a better tagline)
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To: edh
I have one of those $10 DVD collections of 40 sci fi films (all B-grade, 60s and 70s stuff). One that stands out is “First Trip to Venus” ... turns out it was made in East Germany, I believe, during the Cold War. It was released here in the US redubbed obviously.

I think I saw that. A friend of mine has a collection as you describe, but I thought it was 50 SF classics, or whatever. Anyway, it had a sort of Dr. Seuss set with ramps and bubbly goo and stuff, and a hugely international crew.

This collection had a number of memorable films - several Ray Harryhausen efforts - a Raymond Burr jungle monster flick - and a REMAKE of IT CONQUERED THE WORLD ( Original with Peter Graves and Lee Van Cleef. )

45 posted on 09/29/2009 11:05:19 PM PDT by dr_lew
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To: Army Air Corps
I see your Manos and raise you a Hangfire. A true winner-of-the-worst that had Jan Michael Vincent as the REAL actor.
46 posted on 09/29/2009 11:06:13 PM PDT by PugetSoundSoldier (Indignation over the Sting of Truth is the Defense of the Indefensible)
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To: SirJohnBarleycorn

“Step Brothers.” Dreadful. I had to shut it off after 10 minutes in (and I give almost anything a chance).


47 posted on 09/30/2009 3:51:06 AM PDT by fieldmarshaldj (~"This is what happens when you find a stranger in the Alps !"~~)
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To: Saije

Pinocchio (2002)

I thought it was quirky and OK.


48 posted on 09/30/2009 9:14:30 AM PDT by ansel12
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To: yarddog

A couple of cult classics you might not enjoy - “Surf II” and “The Forbidden Zone”


49 posted on 10/01/2009 6:10:16 AM PDT by bt_dooftlook (ACORN = Another Communist-Overrun Rats-Nest)
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To: USNBandit

Please forget “Blues Brothers 2000”


50 posted on 10/01/2009 6:11:01 AM PDT by bt_dooftlook (ACORN = Another Communist-Overrun Rats-Nest)
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