Josh's Top Ten Guilty Pleasure Movies

This was a very fun list to make. I relied on the movies' ratings on www.rottentomatoes.com to determine if the movie was "bad." I did not include anything higher than 50%, even though there were some movies I thought got a little too much love on the old tomatometer. These are ranked based on the level of love I have for the movies, and not necessarily the level of guilt. The number in parentheses is the rating on the tomatometer. Also, I tried to provide clips where I could, but due to the unnecessary hating on some of these movies, I couldn't find a clip for everything.

10. Volcano (42%)
Why do most people not like it? A volcano erupts in downtown Los Angeles. Most moviemakers/critics are from the LA area. Nobody likes the idea of their hood being destroyed, ergo most critics don't like Volcano.
Why do I like it? We learn that lava is one of the most badass villains ever. It's only weakness? Concrete and Tommy Lee Jones. Also, more on lava later.



9. Meteor Man (31%)
Why do most people not like it? They are racist and don't like the idea of Robert Townsend playing a Superman-like character that can also learn everything a book says instantly, but only retain that knowledge for a brief time.
Why do I like it? The 90s had a severe lack of Superman movies. When I was younger this was a great replacement. As I aged, I came to appreciate the magnitude of Meteor Man's power. Talking to dogs, green thumb and learning things from books = god-like.


8. Zorro: The Gay Blade (46%)
Why do most people not like it? Anti-gay, obviously.
Why do I like it? This classic comedic revamp of the Zorro character shows that movies can be made about old characters, and made funny. We don't have to resort to movies re-enacting scenes from other movies with people falling down at the end, in order to have decent comedy. We are better than that, and Zorro:The Gay Blade proves it.



7. Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Movie (39%)
Why do most people not like it? I'm assuming there are two reasons. First, they didn't like seeing Zordon get so disrespected. Second, they didn't like the new zords.
Why do I like it? This movie finally explores the link between Zordon and the power of the rangers. It forces the heroes to push themselves farther than they have before if they want to save Earth. It's realism and grittiness are a great pre-cursor to films like "The Dark Knight."



6. Bad Boys 2 (24%)
Why do most people not like it? People probably got a little tired of the genre. After several runs of "Beverly Hills Cop" and the first "Bad Boys," the action/comedy had already had its day at the box office when "Bad Boys 2" came out. That, and they foresaw that Martin Lawrence would completely let his acting career go, and they wanted to punish him prematurely.
Why do I like it? I did not have my fill of the action/comedy. I also love buddy comedies. I don't have much to say besides that. The clip is a "best of" compilation that speaks volumes.



5. A Lot Like Love (41%)
Why do most people not like it? It was admittedly a formulaic, frothy little rom-com. Also, the orange sweater-jacket Amanda Peet wears is atrocious, so I'm assuming that aroused the ire of many. Finally, Amanda Peet is much more attractive than Ashton Kutcher, so that took away from the realism.
Why do I like it? Well, first of all I love romantic comedies. That's out there. Deal with it. I also love Amanda Peet. And who hasn't learned how to play the guitar in order to impress someone, shown up at their door, sang them a song, and then found out that they were engaged?



4. Battlefield Earth (3%)
Why do most people not like it? I think a lot of critics and people generally have a hard time accepting the idea that humans are not the dominant species in the galaxy. Their superiority complex prevents them from enjoying any movie where mankind at one point gets its ass kicked.
Why do I like it? This movie teaches two valuable lesson. One: Forest Whitaker kicks ass as an alien. Two: You should always have leverage over people. Also, I think of this movie every time that song "Cyclone" comes on. Finally, I like the idea that I could learn how to fly a fighter jet just from playing video games. And be awesome at it.

3. Hook (22%)
Why do most people not like it? I honestly have no idea.
Why do I like it? This movie has an all star cast, and they all play their roles well. Dustin Hoffman makes a great Captain James Hook. Also, Gwyneth Paltrow has a brief cameo as the young Wendy. I love Maggie Smith as well. Further, it is an interesting interpretation of the Peter Pan character. We learn that family and friends are important, and that you shouldn't become a corporate douche bag. The movie reminds us that there is a child in all of us. It teaches us that suppressing that child will only result in being miserable. That being said, if you embrace the child in you, you can fight and fly and crow.



2. The Postman (10%)
Why do most people not like it? The only reason I can think of is that they were burned out on Kevin-Costner-starring-post-apocalyptic-movies after Waterworld. Also, it confirmed that postal workers will kill the shit out of you.
Why do I like it? I love Kevin Costner. Also, I love this genre, exploring a post war destroyed America. And I love epic movies, which this definitely is. Finally, I hate the Confederacy. It broke my heart that I couldn't find a good clip from this film online.

1. Superman IV: The Quest for Peace (11%)
Why do most people not like it? 1. Nuclear Man isn't a very good character. 2. It was bathing in the light of Superman III's shittiness. 3. That kid who plays Lex Luthor's nephew is annoying. 4. People don't like Superman ending the cold war, it was a huge economy-driver. 5. It's easy to hate on the Man of Steel. He is such an epic character that anything not living up to the expectations is going to be shit on by critics.
Why do I like it? Devotees know that I am a sucker for Superman. I am also a sucker for powers on powers battles. I also enjoyed that in this movie we learn of lava's other weakness: Kal-El. Also, this movie taught me something about languages. In eighth grade we had a class where we spent 1/3 of the year on a different language. At one point the teacher said that people's names are the same no matter the language. I wisely informed him that in Superman IV, when Superman goes to different parts of the world people call "Superman" according to subtitles, but they are speaking in their native tongue. Thus disproving his assertion. Finally, this is the last Superman movie Christopher Reeves did, which is heartbreaking. I like Brandon Routh, but it will take a long time for anyone to throw on that "S" and not be compared to Chris.



Runners Up:
My Fellow Americans (50%)
Dragonheart (50%)
Teen Wolf (44%)
Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants (77%)