Summary of "Ben Shapiro’s Most OVERRATED Films" Episode from The Ben Shapiro Show
Release Date: December 27, 2024
Podcast: The Ben Shapiro Show
Host: Ben Shapiro
Description: Tired of the lies? Tired of the spin? Ready to hear the hard-hitting truth in a comprehensive, conservative, principled fashion? The Ben Shapiro Show delivers all the news you need in America's most fast-moving daily program. Ben brutally breaks down culture without giving an inch! Available Monday through Friday.
Introduction: Challenging Matt Walsh's List
[00:00]
Ben Shapiro kicks off the episode by addressing a recent list compiled by his "quasi friend" Matt Walsh, who labeled several films as overrated. Shapiro fervently disagrees with Walsh's assessments, asserting that Walsh's criteria are flawed.
Ben Shapiro: “Matt's standard for overrated is like a movie is like an 8 out of 10, but people think it's a 10 out of 10. That's stupid.” [00:45]
Shapiro elaborates that his definition of overrated extends beyond mere discrepancies between personal ratings and public acclaim. Instead, he proposes that a truly overrated film is one where critics and the general audience are both grossly inaccurate in their praise.
Defining "Overrated": Shapiro's Criteria
[01:30]
Ben outlines his criteria for labeling a film as overrated:
- Critical Discrepancy: A significant gap between critic scores and audience scores on platforms like Rotten Tomatoes.
- Mass Approval Misalignment: The film garners high praise universally, but Shapiro believes it fails to meet these expectations.
- Universal Misjudgment: Both critics and the general public are uniformly wrong about the film's quality.
Ben Shapiro: “It's the Delta between what people think a movie is and what the movie actually is.” [02:10]
Top Overrated Films: A Detailed Breakdown
1. The Shape of Water
[02:30]
Shapiro initiates his list with what he considers the most overrated film of all time.
- Critique:
- Script: Described as "horrible."
- Performances: "Universally terrible."
- Political Undertones: He argues the film is laden with political clichés, portraying marginalized groups as inherently virtuous and conservatives as inherently evil.
Ben Shapiro: “I cannot express my hatred for this movie in strong enough terms. It's just awful.” [04:15]
- Ratings:
- Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score: 92%
- Audience Score: 73%
Shapiro vehemently dismisses the film, highlighting what he perceives as its shallow plot and one-dimensional characters.
2. Avatar
[06:05]
Next, Shapiro tackles James Cameron's "Avatar," criticizing its storyline as "beautiful to look at and absolutely vacuous."
- Critique:
- Plot: Compared to "Alien FernGully" and "Dances With Wolves" with "blue aliens."
- Terminology: Takes issue with the use of "Unobtainium," viewing it as a simplistic plot device.
Ben Shapiro: “Unobtainium. Because you get it. It's not obtainable. It's rare. It's Unobtainium.” [07:30]
- Ratings:
- Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score: 81%
- Audience Score: 82%
Shapiro mocks the film's depth, suggesting that despite its box office success, it lacks memorable substance.
3. Titanic
[09:20]
Shapiro extends his criticism to another James Cameron epic, "Titanic."
- Critique:
- Characters: Labels Jack and Rose as "shallow, narcissistic, and ridiculous."
- Plot Weaknesses: Focuses on the unrealistic depiction of heroism and the infamous "door" scene, questioning the physical possibility of the lifeboat scenario.
- Emotional Manipulation: Criticizes the film's ending as the "single worst moment in any movie ever."
Ben Shapiro: “Lady. Get back to this in just one second.” [11:50]
- Ratings:
- Shapiro praises the visuals but lambastes the character development and plot resolutions.
4. The English Patient
[14:05]
Winning nine Academy Awards, "The English Patient" is another target of Shapiro's critique.
- Critique:
- Length and Pacing: Described as "9 million hours long."
- Character Development: Labels the characters as "entirely annoying" and the narrative as a "very, very long and non plot story."
Ben Shapiro: “I just remember wanting to go comatose while watching this film.” [15:30]
- Alternative Suggestions:
- Highlights "Hamlet" by Kenneth Branagh as a superior, award-deserving film.
5. Get Out
[18:45]
Jordan Peele's "Get Out" receives criticism despite its acclaim.
- Critique:
- Metaphor and Social Commentary: Shapiro finds the racial metaphors "obviously and obnoxiously" presented.
- Plot Devices: Dismisses the concept of the "Sunken Place" as insulting and ineffective within the narrative structure.
Ben Shapiro: “Jordan Peele thinks that you, as a conservative white person are any different. He thinks you're way worse than those people.” [19:10]
- Ratings:
- Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score: 98%
- Audience Score: 86%
- Shapiro's Rating: 4/10
6. Black Swan
[21:00]
Darren Aronofsky's "Black Swan" is criticized for its portrayal of mental breakdowns.
- Critique:
- Storytelling: Shapiro finds the narrative about a ballerina's mental deterioration and suicide "pretentious and obnoxious."
- Character Depth: Believes the protagonist lacks sufficient backstory to evoke genuine concern.
Ben Shapiro: “I hate Darren Aronofsky. I hate him with a passion of a thousand fiery suns.” [22:20]
- Ratings:
- Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score: 85%
- Audience Score: 84%
7. Hi, Barbie
[24:00]
Greta Gerwig's "Barbie" is singled out for its plot inconsistencies and character dynamics.
- Critique:
- Plot: Shapiro finds the storyline nonsensical, especially the rapid shift in gender dynamics.
- Character Focus: Criticizes the overemphasis on Ryan Gosling's role over Margot Robbie's Barbie.
Ben Shapiro: “This is so much better than being president. Honestly.” [25:45]
- Ratings:
- Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score: 88%
- Audience Score: 83%
8. Avengers: Endgame
[27:10]
Shapiro addresses Marvel's "Avengers: Endgame," questioning its narrative complexity and character development.
- Critique:
- Villain Portrayal: Describes Thanos as "not well drawn."
- Multiverse Concept: Views the multiverse as a problematic and overused trope that diminishes storytelling.
Ben Shapiro: “I am inevitable. Listen, I appreciate the ambition...” [28:30]
- Ratings:
- Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score: 94%
- Audience Score: 90%
9. Everything Everywhere All At Once
[30:00]
The film's ambitious multiverse narrative is another point of contention.
- Critique:
- Repetition and Pacing: Labels the film as "repetitive" and akin to a "repetitive music video."
- Underlying Ethos: Criticizes the film’s message attributing personal pain to parental relationships.
Ben Shapiro: “And the fact that it was treated as a clever mystery is an insult to the intellect.” [31:20]
- Ratings:
- Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score: 94%
- Audience Score: 79%
10. Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery
[33:00]
Rian Johnson's sequel to "Knives Out" faces criticism for its plot mechanics.
- Critique:
- Mystery Mechanics: Shapiro argues that the film fails to provide sufficient clues for the audience to solve the mystery independently.
- Character Development: Expresses frustration with inconsistent character introductions and plot resolutions.
Ben Shapiro: “Y'all dumb, stupid.” [34:10]
- Ratings:
- Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score: 91%
- Audience Score: 92%
11. Napoleon Dynamite
[35:30]
Shapiro concludes his list with the cult classic "Napoleon Dynamite," expressing strong disdain.
- Critique:
- Humor: Finds the film "stupid" and "annoying," with no jokes worth laughing at.
- Character Archetypes: Dislikes the protagonist's characteristics and the film's comedic style.
Ben Shapiro: “I hate it. I wish you'd get out of my life and shut up.” [36:00]
- Ratings:
- Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score: 72%
- Audience Score: 74%
Skipping Advertisements: Tax Network USA Segment
During the episode, there is a promotional segment for Tax Network USA concerning tax filing and IRS enforcement. This advertisement is excluded from the summary as per instructions to focus solely on content-related sections.
Conclusion: Challenging Opposing Views
[38:00]
Ben Shapiro wraps up the episode by reiterating his challenge to Matt Walsh's original list, asserting that his compilation of overrated films is more comprehensive and accurate.
Ben Shapiro: “I have, like an almost endless list of overrated films because I've seen so many films. So now I wish to issue my challenge to Matt Walsh. That's an actual great list of overrated films. It's way better than your list.” [38:45]
Shapiro invites commentator Matt Walsh to respond to his critiques, emphasizing the importance of honest and principled discourse in evaluating cultural products.
Notable Quotes with Timestamps
-
On Matt Walsh's Standards:
“Matt's standard for overrated is like a movie is like an 8 out of 10, but people think it's a 10 out of 10. That's stupid.” [00:45]
-
On "The Shape of Water":
“I cannot express my hatred for this movie in strong enough terms. It's just awful.” [04:15]
-
On "Avatar":
“Unobtainium. Because you get it. It's not obtainable. It's rare. It's Unobtainium.” [07:30]
-
On "Titanic":
“Lady. Get back to this in just one second.” [11:50]
-
On "The English Patient":
“I just remember wanting to go comatose while watching this film.” [15:30]
-
On "Get Out":
“Jordan Peele thinks that you, as a conservative white person are any different. He thinks you're way worse than those people.” [19:10]
-
On Darren Aronofsky:
“I hate Darren Aronofsky. I hate him with a passion of a thousand fiery suns.” [22:20]
-
On "Avengers: Endgame":
“I am inevitable. Listen, I appreciate the ambition...” [28:30]
-
On "Everything Everywhere All At Once":
“And the fact that it was treated as a clever mystery is an insult to the intellect.” [31:20]
-
On "Napoleon Dynamite":
“I hate it. I wish you'd get out of my life and shut up.” [36:00]
Final Thoughts
In this episode, Ben Shapiro offers a scathing critique of what he perceives as some of the most overrated films in recent cinema. He emphasizes a need for honest appraisal free from political bias and popular sentiment, encouraging listeners to critically evaluate the cultural products that receive widespread acclaim. Shapiro's passionate delivery and stringent criteria provide a clear framework for his listeners to consider when assessing film quality beyond mainstream opinions.