I think Peter has it right… those films are trash but it has little to do with special effects or budget. Take a look at some of his previous reviews of successful, big budget films like Lord of the Rings. The missing piece of the equation for these films is writing.. which separate popcorn fun from popcorn trash. And before you are so quick to dump on Peter, have a look at Rotten Tomatoes and see how the other film critics line up on these films. This isn’t a generational issue, but rather a quality issue. Like a previous commenter wrote… expect more and you’ll get more.

maybe instead of insulting each other over the slightest grammatical error, maybe we can teach other things that would make us all better writers . . .

. . . Nah, fuck that!!!

. . . elipses are a thing of beauty when done right . . . Don’t you think . . .

. . . Happy Fuckin’ New Year . . . what a depressing shit holiday . . . you need to get fuckin’ blasted because time’s slipping away from us all . . . until we FUCKIN’ DIE . . . Adios . . .

it goes like this: . . . idiot!

I don’t think anyone in the world likes or respects Peter Travers… And I don’t even like any of those 3 movies either & won’t bother watching them, but all the same…

The previous version of this post has an typo in it; I would like to post it again.

Thank you.

Re National Treasure: two words, Jerry Bruckheimer. I saw the first NT at a pre-release screening for theater managers, before which he addressed the group and hyped the film as the next great franchise. Afterward, I was so disgusted I wanted to hurl, but when I went said “what a bunch of crap” to the next guy, he wouldn’t respond until he knew what my role was! The exhibition industry knows this is shit but it sells popcorn, and that’s all most of them care about. But a new day IS coming in HD, and that will eliminate a lot of gatekeepers from the equation. Demand better and we’ll get it!

“Eat shit. One billion flies can’t go wrong!” How’s that for “philosophizin’”, Helvis II, you “dawg”?!

If you think that’s philosophy you should silt your wrists!

Pete, this is RS mag, for crissakes!
Most guys here are meatheads and losers! It’s a lost cause. You are a lone crusader in a land of infidels. You won’t make it. Let ‘em have their cake. And for you, soporific masses, remember what they say, “Eat shit. One billion flies can’t go wrong!” How’s that for “philosophizin’”, Helvis II, you “dawg”?!

Maybe if we weren’t at war people would want to go see depressing films like Into the Wild.

I have loved over the years how OLD critics will dump on the films that make the most money. It is time that Rolling Stone hired a younger more aware of the times talent to review the films made today !!!!!!

An ode to Mr.Travers:
bravo on another tirade against the corporate Hollywood beastie. One finds you to be demonstrative and lively, but thou hast overlooked a basic formula:
big budget and/or special effects = big box office + popularity

I haven’t seen any of the three movies that you mentioned there. But I must say, that as a consumer and avid movie goer, I want to FORGET the world outside for awhile. I don’t want to be blown away by some virtuoso performance in a plodding movie. I want some sort of adventure. Maybe it won’t be the best action sequences or have the most logical storyline, but come on. Movies are made for two basic reasons nowadays: to make money, and to entertain. Oscar and Golden Globe movies don’t always do that. So why not relax and see something that doesn’t require sitting through two hours of storyline to end up with an existential ending. I can do without parodies and mindless chick flicks, but you have to have these mindless action movies to fill the void.

The new National Treasure is a great movie. How can you knock something that’s 6 bucks to go see and enjoy it… These critics forget that this is about having a good time, not overanalyzing and justifying their ridiculously useless job.

I thought the 1st national treasure was a pretty fun movie. It didn’t change the world or make me think differently about anything but it was a good time with the family. Perhaps that is why people escape to these movies for a few hours. I am excited to see all the movies that received excellent reviews from the always reliable Peter Travers but sometimes you just want to go sit in a dark theater with a bucket of popcorn and be a zombie.

It’s beyond me. A Renaissance is coming, I think, though, spearheaded by this year, which had the best films since whenever.

Don’t hog it, man. Pass it over here. Brett, man will you stop it? You alway say this crazy shit when you smoke. We just went through 2007! Not 1967, not 1977, hell, it was barely 1997. You’ve got to stop philosophizin’ when you’re burnin’ trees, dog!

I know what you mean P-Trav.
Movies like No Country, Sweeney Todd, no one sees, but National treasure.
It’s beyond me. A Renaissance is coming, I think, though, spearheaded by this year, which had the best films since whenever.

When did Jack Nicholson start looking like the head of a penis?