2019 Against The Crowd Blogathon

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Summer is almost over and that means it's time for another Against The Crowd blogathon from Dell! I love everything about his blog, but especially this feature because it's so fun to write every year. It's a great feeling to champion a film you think is under appreciated, then bitch about another. It's my 6th time participating. Below are the rules:

 1) Pick one movie “everyone” loves (the more iconic, the better). That movie must have score of 75% or more on rottentomatoes.com. Tell us why you hate it.
2)Pick one movie that “everyone” hates (the more notorious, the better). That movie must have a score of 35% or less on rottentomatoes.com. Tell us why you love it.
3) Include the tomato meter scores of both movies.
4)Use one of the banners in this post, or feel free to create your own (just include all the pertinent details).
5)Let us know what two movies you intend on writing about in one of the following ways: Comment on this or any ACB 2019 post on this site, Tweet me @w_ott3, E-mail me: dellott@yahoo.com.
6) Publish your post on any day from Friday, August 23 through Sunday, August 25, 2019 (tighter schedule this year), and include a link to this announcement. If you’re a podcaster or YouTuber that is interested in participating just talk about your chosen movies during your closest podcast and/or video to those dates and mention that you are taking part in this blogathon. You could also just tweet about it!

The funny thing about this year's Against the Crowd blogathon is that I actually started thinking about it back in February. I was watching another movie with Benjamin Walker and immediately thought of my "worst" pick. So let's start with the better of the two.
Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter

 I'm sneaking by Dell's 35% mark, but y'all...this movie is hysterical. Why do more people not appreciate one of the most influential presidents in the history of the United States being re-written as a vampire hunter? It's brilliant. The cast of Walker, Anthony Mackie, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Jimmie Simpson, Dominic Cooper and Rufus Sewell is more than solid. It's actually shot very well. (Sure, they use slow motion a lot but it looks cool here) It's just a fun movie to watch with friends, or even alone when you need a good laugh. I know the actual Lincoln (2012) movie got all the love, but don't sleep on this one. It should be a cult classic.

 But speaking of an actual cult classic that I just didn't love...
Akira
I know, I know. This is the film that made Americans love anime but I think it's garbage. Even more so because it legitimately has an intriguing concept and wastes it with a convoluted plot, ridiculous pacing, sexism, and it breaks the cardinal-rule of having a movie that follows unlikable characters by not making them or their goals the least bit interesting. I can't do it. I can't like this.

As always, thanks for another opportunity for me to gush and bitch about something, Dell! 

Comments

  1. BirgitAugust 25, 2019 at 9:55 AM

    I have never even heard of Akira but it is not something I would want to see. I have to admit, I want to see Abe kills some vampires.

    ReplyDelete
  2. DellAugust 25, 2019 at 9:56 AM

    I didn't hate Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter, but I didn't like it as much as I wanted to. I actually thought it took itself a tad too serious and should've been even more bonkers. Love the chooce. I am a fan of Akira, but I already knew how you felt about it. Your point of view is well taken. Thanks for doing this again!

    ReplyDelete
  3. thevoid99August 25, 2019 at 2:30 PM

    I thought Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter was OK as I liked the concept of it. I just wish it was more gory. Sorry you didn't like Akira.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Brittani BurnhamAugust 25, 2019 at 8:02 PM

      It could've used some more gore. I agree with you there.

      Delete
  4. joel65913August 25, 2019 at 8:23 PM

    I'll be honest and say right up front that Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter just seemed like such an idiotic concept I never read anymore about it. i hadn't realized Dominic Cooper and Rufus Sewell were in it, I'm a fan of both so maybe I'll give it a shot. One thing I was concerned with was that it would be abundantly gory but it sounds like its not. Another factor in its favor.

    I hate anime, which I guess is no surprise since I'm not an animation fan either, so Akira good or bad will remain a mystery to me.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Brittani BurnhamAugust 26, 2019 at 9:27 AM

      Please see it then tell me about it lol. It IS stupid, but it's fun stupid. And like others mentioned, it isn't that gory. It's a pretty soft R.

      Delete
  5. The Wiggles (@TheWiggles)August 25, 2019 at 9:49 PM

    We recommend Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter.

    ReplyDelete
  6. s.August 25, 2019 at 11:44 PM

    I never saw that Lincoln thing but it seems stupid so it's perfect for me 😅

    ReplyDelete
  7. keith71_98August 26, 2019 at 10:31 AM

    Cool choices. I thought Abe Lincoln was kind of a hoot. It was ludicrous by design. Didn't mind it a bit.

    ReplyDelete
  8. epileptic.moondancerAugust 27, 2019 at 4:47 AM

    I'll have to watch Vampire Hunter. I've never been able to enter this blogathon =/ I can never find a film that I like under the mark he sets =//

    That's a bummer about Akira. Haha another top film of mine, I understand most of your points though. Its been awhile since I watched it, I can't remember it being sexist? It feels like 50% of movies nowadays seem to be given that tag and I often don't understand why (though I honestly would like to).

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Brittani BurnhamAugust 27, 2019 at 7:35 AM

      A girl getting her top ripped off and punched in the face is pretty sexist to me. That didn't need to be in there at all.

      Delete
    2. epileptic.moondancerSeptember 20, 2019 at 12:30 AM

      ah, I don't remember that scene at all, as I said its been a while. It does seem a bit unnecessary.

      I'm still trying to figure out what's what, mainly among film, after the MeToo movement (which obviously NEEDED to happen).

      Sorry to play devil's advocate, but if those roles were reversed, say a female rips off a guy's pants and punches him in the crotch (I know that is stupid), would that be sexist? To me it would be on the same level as the scene you mentioned, I don't think sexism should only go one way. But I'm honestly interested in a female's opinion on a hypothetical like that.

      Delete
    3. Brittani BurnhamSeptember 20, 2019 at 7:24 PM

      Of course that would be sexist. Especially if it was - like the scene in Akira - the only act of sexual violence in the film. Sexism goes both ways, unfortunately women just experience more of it because of the patriarchy.

      Delete
  9. ChrisSeptember 3, 2019 at 5:25 AM

    I just took a look back at my review of Akira and seems I reached a similar opinion in terms of the plot. I liked the action and visuals more than I liked the confusing story.

    ReplyDelete

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