The magic of cinema – it has the power to transport us to new worlds, evoke powerful emotions, and leave us in awe of the human experience. But, let’s be real, not every movie is a masterpiece. In fact, some films are downright terrible, with cringe-worthy dialogue, poorly developed characters, and plots that fall flat. However, even in the midst of cinematic chaos, there can be a glimmer of hope – a single scene that shines so brightly, it makes us forget (if only for a moment) the mess that surrounds it.
The Crow (2022) – A Bloodthirsty Action Sequences
Morningpicker takes a closer look at The Crow, a recent movie that, despite its shortcomings, boasts an epic action sequence that showcases Bill Skarsgård’s performance as Eric Draven.
The Crow’s Epic Action Sequence
Analysis: The Crow’s big, grandstanding action scene is a visually stunning and intense set-piece that showcases Bill Skarsgård’s performance as Eric Draven. The sequence sees Eric, now in full Crow regalia, ambush crime lord Vincent Roeg’s men at an opera house in the middle of a show. In order to reach Roeg’s right-hand woman Marian, Eric slices and shoots his way through more than a dozen of Roeg’s goons in one hell of an ultra-violent set-piece, which is neatly intercut with a performance of the opera Robert le diable.
The Crow’s Influence on Action Movies
Implication: The Crow’s influence on action movies is evident in the film’s use of elaborate fight sequences, which are reminiscent of the John Wick films. Given that the recent remake of The Crow was clearly inspired by the aesthetic and world-building of the John Wick films, it’s little surprise that the only worthwhile sequence in the movie is an action sequence that feels more-or-less ripped out of a John Wick joint.
The Crow’s Legacy in Modern Action Movies
Practical Aspect: The Crow’s success as an action movie has led to the creation of several low-budget remakes and reboots, including this film. The film’s attempt to recreate the classic H.G. Wells novel is overly ambitious and ends up feeling like a disaster, with too much repetition and not enough tension.
Red One (2021) – A Soulless Holiday Romp
Morningpicker examines Red One, a recent movie that, despite its lackluster storyline, features a standout Krampus sequence that boasts Oscar-worthy makeup and a game performance from Kristofer Hivju.
The Krampus Sequence – A Soulless Performance
Analysis: The Krampus sequence is a highlight of the film, with a game performance from Kristofer Hivju and Oscar-worthy makeup, but the rest of the movie fails to live up to its potential. Mid-way through the film, Santa Claus’ head of security Callum Drift teams up with hacker Jack O’Malley to visit Santa’s adoptive brother Krampus in the hope of finding out where a kidnapped Santa is. Here Krampus is depicted like less of a monster and more of a hilariously boorish hedonist, enough that he’s goaded into a game of “Krampusschlap” – basically a slap fight – with Callum.
The Lack of Character Development
Implication: The film’s lack of character development makes it difficult to become invested in the characters and their storylines. Given that the recent remake of The Crow was clearly inspired by the aesthetic and world-building of the John Wick films, it’s little surprise that the only worthwhile sequence in the movie is an action sequence that feels more-or-less ripped out of a John Wick joint.
The Unoriginal Storytelling
Practical Aspect: The film’s story is unoriginal and relies heavily on familiar tropes, making it feel like a remake rather than a fresh take. The film’s attempt to recreate the classic H.G. Wells novel is overly ambitious and ends up feeling like a disaster, with too much repetition and not enough tension.
The War of the Worlds (2020) – Too Long and Too Over-the-Top
Morningpicker reviews The War of the Worlds, a recent movie that, despite its ambitious scope, ends up feeling like a disaster due to its overly long runtime and over-reliance on CGI.
The War of the Worlds Disaster
Analysis: The film’s attempt to recreate the classic H.G. Wells novel is overly ambitious and ends up feeling like a disaster, with too much repetition and not enough tension. The film’s use of an unreliable narrator adds to the sense of confusion and mistrust, making it difficult to become invested in the story.
The Unreliable Narrator
Implication: The film’s use of an unreliable narrator adds to the sense of confusion and mistrust, making it difficult to become invested in the story. The film’s lack of character development makes it difficult to become invested in the characters and their storylines.
The Film’s Over-Reliance on CGI
Practical Aspect: The film’s reliance on CGI and visual effects makes it feel like a CGI-heavy film, rather than a well-crafted sci-fi story. The film’s attempt to recreate the classic H.G. Wells novel is overly ambitious and ends up feeling like a disaster, with too much repetition and not enough tension.
The Holiday Calendar (2018) – A Cringeworthy Romantic Comedy
Morningpicker examines The Holiday Calendar, a recent movie that, despite its familiar storyline, fails to deliver due to its cringeworthy comedic moments and lack of chemistry between the leads.
The Holiday Calendar’s Overly Familiar Storyline
Analysis: The film’s storyline is overly familiar and relies too heavily on tropes, making it feel like a rehashing of familiar romantic comedy cliches. The film’s cringeworthy comedic moments are laughable and feel like they were inserted for shock value rather than actual humor.
The Cringeworthy Comedic Moments
Implication: The film’s cringeworthy comedic moments are laughable and feel like they were inserted for shock value rather than actual humor. The leads’ chemistry is non-existent, making it difficult to become invested in their romance.
The Lack of Chemistry Between the Leads
Practical Aspect: The leads’ chemistry is non-existent, making it difficult to become invested in their romance. The film’s storyline is overly familiar and relies too heavily on tropes, making it feel like a rehashing of familiar romantic comedy cliches.
Death Race (2017) – A Misguided Remake
Morningpicker reviews Death Race, a recent movie that, despite its ambitious scope, ends up feeling like a misfire due to its shallow storyline and lack of depth.
The Death Race Reboot – A Misguided Take on a Classic
Analysis: The film’s attempt to reboot the classic Death Race franchise is overly ambitious and ends up feeling like a misfire, with too much repetition and not enough tension. The film’s cinematography is inconsistent, with some scenes feeling overly stylized and others feeling too realistic.
The Cinematography – A Mixed Bag
Implication: The film’s cinematography is inconsistent, with some scenes feeling overly stylized and others feeling too realistic. The film’s story is shallow and lacks depth, making it feel like a shallow rehashing of familiar sci-fi tropes.
The Lack of Depth in the Story
Practical Aspect: The film’s story is shallow and lacks depth, making it feel like a shallow rehashing of familiar sci-fi tropes. The film’s attempt to reboot the classic Death Race franchise is overly ambitious and ends up feeling like a misfire, with too much repetition and not enough tension.
Red Sparrow (2018) – A Hollywoodized Spy Thriller
Morningpicker examines Red Sparrow, a recent movie that, despite its intriguing premise, ends up feeling like a misfire due to its overly Hollywoodized take on the classic spy thriller genre.
The Red Sparrow Story – A Hollywoodized Take on a Classic
Analysis: The film’s take on the Red Sparrow story is overly Hollywoodized, with too much emphasis on action and not enough on character development. The film’s lack of depth in the supporting cast makes it difficult to become invested in the characters and their storylines.
The Lack of Depth in the Supporting Cast
Implication: The film’s lack of depth in the supporting cast makes it difficult to become invested in the characters and their storylines. The film’s storyline is overly familiar and relies too heavily on tropes, making it feel like a rehashing of familiar spy thriller cliches.
Conclusion
The Unapologetic Truth: 10 Terrible Recent Movies That Deserve Our Attention
In a world where cinematic masterpieces are consistently pushing boundaries and defying expectations, it’s easy to overlook the lesser-known gems that fail to impress. The article “10 Terrible Recent Movies With ONE Redeeming Scene” is a scathing critique of the cinematic landscape, highlighting 10 recent films that, though flawed, still manage to leave an unforgettable mark.
These films, though marred by poor storytelling, overlong runtime, and cringe-worthy performances, often find themselves redeemed by a single, electrifying scene that elevates their narrative and challenges the viewer’s perceptions. From the visceral intensity of “The Descent” to the clever wit of “Palm Springs,” these films prove that even the most heinous missteps can be salvaged by their most memorable moments. The significance of this topic lies in its ability to spark a nuanced conversation about the nature of entertainment and the importance of taking risks in filmmaking. By confronting our shared disdain for these movies, we can begin to question our very notion of cinematic excellence and what it means to be a great storyteller.