Overrated/Underrated Geek Media

[Zardnaar]

The only two things I've seen The Rock in that weren't entirely forgettable were The Scorpion King (which is not forgettable because it's one of the absolute worst pieces of trash I've ever had the displeasure of paying to see in a theater) and The Rundown (which was actually pretty fun, despite The Rock being cast as one of the leads).

He's charismatic but yeah not good lol. Armies runs rings around him.

Scorpion King I kinda liked in a cheesy way.

 

[payn]

Underrated: Final Fantasy V
Overrated: Final Fantasy VI

I think I both agree and disagree with this but I’ve never been able to get the FF numbers straight. So, maybe?

 

[Gradine]

I think I both agree and disagree with this but I’ve never been able to get the FF numbers straight. So, maybe?

V is the one with the evil tree, VI is the one with the evil clown

 

[GrimCo]

Underrated:
Space:Above and beyond. Very solid military sf from the 90's, unfortunately, it got canceled after only 1 season.

Overrated:
Dune books, especially God Emperor, Heretics and Chapterhous. It's just booring snozefest of philosophical ramblings.

Atlas Shrugged- some people love it as a philosophical novel, but as dystopian SF novel, it's just boring.

 

[trappedslider]

Underrated:
Space:Above and beyond. Very solid military sf from the 90's, unfortunately, it got canceled after only 1 season.

also a dash of political conspiracy and I happily own the one season,

 

[Ruin Explorer]

The only two things I've seen The Rock in that weren't entirely forgettable were The Scorpion King (which is not forgettable because it's one of the absolute worst pieces of trash I've ever had the displeasure of paying to see in a theater) and The Rundown (which was actually pretty fun, despite The Rock being cast as one of the leads).

Agree completely.

There's a scene in The Rundown ("Welcome to the Jungle" in some countries, including the UK) where Schwarzenegger essentially passes the baton to The Rock, and I remember talking to friends about how The Rock was, like, quite similar to very early Schwarzenegger, and that it was cool we had a new one.

But... the thing is Schwarzenegger actually got better at like, acting, and comedy particularly, and became more charismatic.

Whereas The Rock... it kind of seems like he got less and less charismatic? And maybe technically better at acting but also less compelling? No-one even cares if we can smell what's cooking anymore.

The only movie I can think of where he was actually decent most-Rundown was Jumanji. He's in a lot of stuff where they cast him as if he is charismatic, and it just doesn't work. Like, in Jungle Cruise, his acting is surprisingly decent, but it's very hard to care much about him, mostly because he's not compelling and has absolutely zero chemistry with Emily Blunt (like negative chemistry). The movie kind of needs him to be Harrison Ford, and... he ain't.

Most things as you say, he's just kind of there, and looking at a list of his films I legit forgot he was in a lot of them (including the demented Pain and Gain).

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

Atlas Shrugged- some people love it as a philosophical novel, but as dystopian SF novel, it's just boring.

It's a bad choice to hang out with anyone who loves Atlas Shrugged as a philosophical novel.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

The Rock is a surprisingly good actor in both of the Jumanji movies. But he definitely is getting poisoned to death by his own ego at this point. We'll see if he can pull his head out of his ass and regain his likability.

 

[TiQuinn]

Agree completely.

There's a scene in The Rundown ("Welcome to the Jungle" in some countries, including the UK) where Schwarzenegger essentially passes the baton to The Rock, and I remember talking to friends about how The Rock was, like, quite similar to very early Schwarzenegger, and that it was cool we had a new one.

But... the thing is Schwarzenegger actually got better at like, acting, and comedy particularly, and became more charismatic.

Whereas The Rock... it kind of seems like he got less and less charismatic? And maybe technically better at acting but also less compelling? No-one even cares if we can smell what's cooking anymore.

The only movie I can think of where he was actually decent most-Rundown was Jumanji. He's in a lot of stuff where they cast him as if he is charismatic, and it just doesn't work. Like, in Jungle Cruise, his acting is surprisingly decent, but it's very hard to care much about him, mostly because he's not compelling and has absolutely zero chemistry with Emily Blunt (like negative chemistry). The movie kind of needs him to be Harrison Ford, and... he ain't.

Most things as you say, he's just kind of there, and looking at a list of his films I legit forgot he was in a lot of them (including the demented Pain and Gain).

To boil it down simplistically, I think Schwarzenegger was concerned with making good movies that fit building his personal brand. Johnson’s brand is selling himself (and his side gigs) first, and making good movies is wholly secondary. And to be fair, I think Hollywood in general is less concerned with making good movies, and are comfortable with cookie cutters filmed by average directors. Schwarzenegger was working with directors like Cameron, McTiernan, Verhoeven.

 

[Ryujin]

To boil it down simplistically, I think Schwarzenegger was concerned with making good movies that fit building his personal brand. Johnson’s brand is selling himself (and his side gigs) first, and making good movies is wholly secondary. And to be fair, I think Hollywood in general is less concerned with making good movies, and are comfortable with cookie cutters filmed by average directors. Schwarzenegger was working with directors like Cameron, McTiernan, Verhoeven.

Schwarzenegger seems to have embraced that he's past his physical prime and works it into his choice of projects. Johnson is always just.... Johnson.