Doing a separate post per other entries:
-Jupiter Ascending: I wanted this to be good, really. I feel the Matrix sequels get bashed on way too much, and I wanted the Wachowskis to have some good luck. But...the film just isn't good. It presents an interesting world, mired by a repetitive plot that effectively goes nowhere. But hey, the visuals are nice.
-Avatar: Sometimes, I feel like I'm the only one who likes this film.
What's weird is that the criticisms I hear (cliched, preachy, 2D characters) are the inverse of why I love it (subverts cliche, subtle, 3D characters). But, yes, I love this film, but I guess it's the inverse of the above post - a film it would be easier to hate.
-Blade Runner: The best sci-fi film ever, IMO. That said, it's very easy to see why someone wouldn't like it, and it's similar to why I dislike 2001 - it's a slog to get through. A very engaging slog for me personally, but a slog nonetheless. I think the reason why I like Blade Runner and not 2001 is that, despite their similar pace, there's far more going on in Blade Runner visually, whereas in 2001, most of the time we're either seeing the emptiness of space, or a stargate sequence that lasts ten. Whole. Minutes.
-Guardians of the Galaxy: I had reasonable expectations for this - an MCU film that doesn't require me seeing all the others to understand what's going on? A space adventure with a band of outlaws fighting the good fight, in a vein similar to Firefly, Farscape, and Blake's 7? Count me in!
...I didn't like it much. The characters are cliche, the villain is two-dimensional, and the Guardians win by literally using the power of friendship to withstand the infinity stone. And I know, I've just stated how I didn't find Avatar to be cliche, but, well, beggars can't be choosers.
-Batman v Superman: I wanted to like this film. I really did. I wanted superhero films that I could actually enjoy. I mean, Man of Steel was flawed, but still above most other MCU films. I went in hoping for the best. Instead, I got a shuffling mess of a story. People bring up the "Martha moment," but that doesn't come close to the issues of pacing the film suffers from, and the lack of a clear direction in its plot.
-The Lord of the Rings Trilogy: Favorite movies of all time, at least with the extended editions. So, um, yeah. Not much more to say.
-The Matrix Reloaded/Revolutions: I'll say it. The Matrix Trilogy is a case of an excellent first movie, followed by a good second movie, followed by an average third movie. Do the sequels match the original? No. Is Revolutions lacking in terms of actual plot? Yes. But honestly, I still regard the trilogy as a net positive.
-Star Wars Prequels: I can't deny that the prequels are lacking in a lot of areas, even Revenge of the Sith, which is actually my #3 Star Wars film. But I've never hated them. I actually liked them more than the OT for a time, until I looked at them more critically. But are they bad movies? No. Not really. Flawed, yes, but there's a lot of good elements, or at least, hints at good elements. Certainly I welcome them more than The Force Awakens, even if it's more competently made.
-The Force Awakens: A New Hope 2.0. That's all I can say. No, it's not the worst Star Wars film ever made, but I have little love for it. How and why could fill a thread by itself, but yes, I can admit it's a well made film in of itself. But I just don't care for it, and unlike other films, don't see why I should feel that I should.
-Iron Man 2: The worst MCU film I've seen. It's lacklustre, the villain is weak, the plot is too easily resolved, it's just...bleh. Which sucks, because Iron Man 1 & 3 are among my top MCU films alongside Doctor Strange.
