April 11, 2024 | ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT | By Greta Patterson
As I sat in the movie theater watching “Madame Web” with my girlfriends, I knew I held a deep, dark secret inside of me: I was loving it. I was laughing harder than I had in a while and found myself truly delighted with the experience of the film. Aside from the movie’s Rotten Tomato score of 12%, this was a cinematic experience that I would gladly repeat.
Now you may be thinking, why on earth should I keep reading something from a girl who actually enjoyed “Madame Web?” A valid question, but let’s be honest here: in a world of film bros who tell you “you just don’t understand Quentin Tartantino” or “‘Fight Club’ is actually a really good movie,” it’s important to speak your truth, so here’s mine.
I love bad movies. I love movies that don’t have underlying meanings that can only be deciphered by watching the director’s entire filmography. I love movies where you know it’s going to end well, where all the characters will be happy and Letterboxd reviews don’t determine whether it should be seen or not. I love movies that aren’t deep or intense, and ultimately, I love movies that I “shouldn’t.”
Sitting in bed watching “Miss Congeniality” with my boyfriend, I found myself truly delighted with the film. Sandra Bullock can do no wrong, and who wouldn’t like a movie about how femininity and feminism don’t have to be conflicting themes? Upon looking over at him, I realized he was not having the same cinematic experience as I was. Something along the lines of “this is the worst movie I’ve ever seen” came out of his mouth, and I was a bit baffled.
I like good movies, right? Any time I’ve talked with my friends about the movies I enjoy, they’ve always been in agreement. The answer I came to was no, I do not like good movies. The average Rotten Tomatoes score for my top films hovers around 40%, with a score of 70% or above usually being considered a “good” film. With this numerical basis, I began to realize that the movies most people see as peak cinema are not my cup of tea. I realized I would much rather stick with my 40% films.
If you’re anything like me and find that you just don’t enjoy the cinematic masterpieces that the guys in your economics class rave about, know this: first, you’re not alone because some people are just afraid to admit that they actually liked “Fifty Shades of Grey” or “Ocean’s Eight.” Second, those who established the parameters for cinematic standards are old white men who fail to recognize that sometimes movies are only meant to be an hour and a half of light-hearted entertainment. With this, you must reject the evaluations given on Rotten Tomatoes or Letterboxd–what are rating platforms if not an attempt to show how much more intellectual someone is about film than another?
Finally, not everything in your life has to be serious or intellectual. It is so important to take time during your day where you do what you truly enjoy, regardless of external influence. So, do you, and watch the movies some people don’t like: secretly enjoy “Madame Web” and don’t take yourself too seriously.