zwolanerd

After Earth only made $27.5 million this weekend, which makes it a flop, even though if I made $27.5 million in a weekend people would be amazed. Sure, you have to take into account how much it costs to make it and everything, I guess, but it still seems like a lot of money to me. I guess people are going all Regina George on Will with the “Stop trying to make Jaden happen” or something, and this is all a backlash.  I don’t know, I didn’t see the movie, though I would like to at some point.

I’m sure Mr. Smith will bounce back from this. He’s a big, big star and very likable. You’ve seen the video from the Graham Norton Show, right? How fun is that? Plus, he’s already made a bunch of really popular things, so he’s got that going for him, which is nice.

This list was harder to order than I expected once I got past the top three, but I persevered because lists are what we’re all about here at zwolanerd, especially on Tuesdays.

10. Hitch (2005) – My favorite part is Will telling Kevin James how not to dance.

9. Wild Wild West (1999) – I know this movie is a mess, and I love the original show so I’m supposed to hate this, but Will brings the charm and it still works okay for me.

8. The Pursuit of Happyness (2006) – That misspelling will always bug me, but this is also a movie you won’t mind Jaden Smith in.

7. I Am Legend (2007) – I went to see this movie with a bunch of friends and one of them is still made at me about it because it was “awful.” I think he just got scared by the vampire-things because he wasn’t expecting them. I still like this movie, even if it would’ve been better if they’d actually filmed what the book was like.  And that dog, man. That dog.

6. Hancock (2008) – I liked both of these movies – the one you think it’s going to be when you start it and the one it actually ends up being. I probably would’ve liked them both if they had been separate full-length movies, too.

5. Seven Pounds (2008) – I won’t get many who agree with me on this one.  “Too sad!” I’ve heard.  My wife hates it. I couldn’t say exactly why I like it, other than here’s a guy who wants to help others in the only way he thinks he can.  I would probably say he’s wrong, but can appreciate at least part of the motivation behind his choice.

4. Enemy of the State (1998) – Even though we know the real-time video wouldn’t work like this, it certainly plays into our collective fear of being on camera all the time everywhere.  Frankly, since this movie was made, it’s actually more realistic now, what with the advent of smartphones, it would just look a little different.

3. I, Robot (2004) – Another movie that plays fast and loose with the source material, but if you don’t think of it as a movie adaptation of the book it’s another interesting look at the role technology plays in our lives and might come to play in the future.  Watch this one and then see Robot & Frank.

2. Independence Day (1996) – This movie is dumb on a lot of levels.  Like, a lot of levels. But you can’t tell me you don’t enjoy it.

1. Men in Black (1997) / Men in Black II (2002) / Men in Black 3 (2012) – Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones was an inspired bit of casting. The first one might be in my top 20 of all time, and even though the second one was… not good, the third one was decent and I enjoy the series overall well enough that I wouldn’t mind seeing more entries.\

You want to hear something weird? I’ve never seen a full episode of The Fresh Prince. It certainly seems like something I’d enjoy, I just haven’t seen it. If Netflix would start streaming it, I’d probably watch it.

Extra bonus: My favorite Will Smith song is “A Nightmare on My Street.” I used to be able to do the whole song, even though I never should have.

Tags: Tuesday10, Will Smith

Written by: Mark