In a beloved science fiction film from 1959, aliens invade Earth in an attempt to blockade the greed of humanity. In doing so, these extraterrestrials resurrect the deceased, creating zombies. Sounds like a cool concept, right?
This film has a name, and it’s "Plan 9 from Outer Space," commonly referred to as the worst movie ever made. Even the worst movie has things about it that are good. In "Plan 9," the acting is complete trash and the dialogue might as well have been written on a roll of toilet paper.
Not to mention, the set is composed of cardboard and toy airplanes, and this all fell under Ed Wood’s beyond passive direction. BUT, even though the screenplay was mockery, maybe the story had a little bit of potential? The story structure was definitely there, it just wasn’t enough.
Maybe if Ed Wood had the right budget and the resources, and was a lot more confident, Plan 9 could have been a good film.
A good film without a doubt works just the same. Some of the greatest films ever made have details that may drive an average critic crazy. In "Jaws," the shark (that they catch before they realize it’s not the one they’re looking for) is so clearly unreal.
"The Godfather" used a real horse head, why can’t you use a real shark? Don’t get me wrong- Jaws is still one of my favorite movies.
Given these circumstances, what makes a film mediocre? Let’s analyze the most mediocre film ever made: "The American" starring George Clooney. Every single good thing in "The American" is canceled out by a bad thing, or vice versa.
In The American:
The acting is fine, but there’s barely any action
The plot is climatic, but the 90-minute movie feels like it’s taking up your whole day
The film is loaded with symbolism, but you don’t care enough to look into it
You want to feel bad for George Clooney, but he kills innocent people left and right
The ending is pretty well played, but was it worth the wait?
Want to see a good movie? Watch "The American." Want to see a bad movie? Watch "The American." You can’t lose, and you definitely can’t win.
