Why you should give bad movies a second chance

Sometimes you should give bad movies a second chance and approach them with an open mind, Dr Dan Hassler-Forest (Media and Performance Studies) says in The Conversation. He recommends five films to give another shot this lockdown.

The Matrix Reloaded

The first movie Hassler-Forest recommends is The Matrix Reloaded (2002): "While the Wachowski sisters’ groundbreaking first Matrix movie is by now an established modern classic, the sequels are only mentioned with hushed breath and raised eyebrows", Hassler-Forest states. "Released to enormous hype alongside a barrage of Matrix spin-offs, the second film smashed box office records in its opening weekend. But both the film’s reputation and its audience numbers dropped off precipitously."

Abrupt cliffhanger

"In the film’s opening moments it delivered similarly impressive visual effects. However, things took a turn as Reloaded moved away from the first film’s linear action-movie narrative to tell a sprawling tale of revolutionary uprising. This departure paired with the abrupt cliffhanger ending left many viewers frustrated and bewildered."

Jaw-dropping action sequences

"But freed from those expectations, Reloaded can be enjoyed not only for its truly jaw-dropping action sequences but also for shifting the franchise’s focus from the traditional hero’s journey to a focus on collective rebellion. And the fact that this rebellion is spearheaded by one of the most diverse casts ever assembled in an action blockbuster feels more urgent and meaningful now than ever", Hassler-Forest concludes.