The only reason people are calling this over-rated is because it's been given a label that is impossible to live up to, built on the assumption that any movie could possibly be the be-all, end-all, greatest of all time. Yes, it’s good, very good. 5/5, 10/10, whatever, but is it the greatest film of all time? No, because nothing ever will be.
"Probably the most unfortunate thing that ever happened to `Citizen Kane' was that it found itself atop the AFI top film list. Now, no one can simply enjoy the film. Everyone feels compelled to scrutinize it and make a decision about its greatness."
The movie is years, perhaps decades ahead of its time. Watch a bunch of movies from the same time period and compare, it's like comparing a diamond to sea shells. Pay close attention to the lighting and especially the camerawork. It's all things we have come to know and love now but this is 70+ years ago. I agree with another commenter that no movie could ever really be the "greatest" of all time, cinema is far too varied for that. The vast majority of people who call it "overrated" most likely saw this movie as #1 in a few lists and then watched it as one of their first old movies they've ever watched, (once again, it's 76 years old for Pete's sake.) If you are strictly a contemporary movie watcher it's understandable it won't be your thing. A taste for classic movies is a quality obtained over time and study of classic films.
I can't claim it to absolutely positively be the best of all time. It is, however, one of the most meticulously and well crafted movies ever made, without question. Orson Welles strikes an imposing character who is impossible to take your eyes off of. The movie begins brilliantly and over the course of the film we find that, like newspaper stories, reality is far different and infinitely more complicated than the headlines...
"Perhaps not your favourite movie ever made, but still the most important one to American cinema's history" would be more accurate. Lots of countries were making exceptional cinema before Kane reached foreign shores on a significant basis.
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Big A2
The only reason people are calling this over-rated is because it's been given a label that is impossible to live up to, built on the assumption that any movie could possibly be the be-all, end-all, greatest of all time. Yes, it’s good, very good. 5/5, 10/10, whatever, but is it the greatest film of all time? No, because nothing ever will be.Melvelet
"Probably the most unfortunate thing that ever happened to `Citizen Kane' was that it found itself atop the AFI top film list. Now, no one can simply enjoy the film. Everyone feels compelled to scrutinize it and make a decision about its greatness."DisneyStitch
The movie is years, perhaps decades ahead of its time. Watch a bunch of movies from the same time period and compare, it's like comparing a diamond to sea shells. Pay close attention to the lighting and especially the camerawork. It's all things we have come to know and love now but this is 70+ years ago. I agree with another commenter that no movie could ever really be the "greatest" of all time, cinema is far too varied for that. The vast majority of people who call it "overrated" most likely saw this movie as #1 in a few lists and then watched it as one of their first old movies they've ever watched, (once again, it's 76 years old for Pete's sake.) If you are strictly a contemporary movie watcher it's understandable it won't be your thing. A taste for classic movies is a quality obtained over time and study of classic films.I can't claim it to absolutely positively be the best of all time. It is, however, one of the most meticulously and well crafted movies ever made, without question. Orson Welles strikes an imposing character who is impossible to take your eyes off of. The movie begins brilliantly and over the course of the film we find that, like newspaper stories, reality is far different and infinitely more complicated than the headlines...
StigAnder
It was no Citizen Kane, but...Pallium Invisibilitatem
one of those rare movies which lives up to its hype...baraka92
It ain't my favorite movie, but I can see why it's considered the greatest of all time. Quite perfect.Yojimbo
"Perhaps not your favourite movie ever made, but still the most important one to American cinema's history" would be more accurate. Lots of countries were making exceptional cinema before Kane reached foreign shores on a significant basis.Jonathan_Hutchings
What else can be said about this film? One of very few that lives up to the hype (and considering Citizen Kane's hype, that's saying A LOT).contrafugal
Well, this film was pretty good, but it's no Fantastic Four.RandomBeast
Believe the hype. It really is that good.ArkRyan
Totally lives up to the hype. Considering the year it was made, it's light years ahead it's time.piratediscoking
There's no such thing as the "best" movie of all time, but this is a damn good onetimmy_501
Just as good the second time, definitely lives up to its reputation.frankqb
Perhaps not your favourite movie ever made, but still the most important one to cinema's history.danisanna
Amazing writing.
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