Citizen Kane is overrated. On this we can all agree. Despite what the critics say, it is not the #1 movie of all time. The reason for this is simple: Godfather 2 is the best movie of all time. Well, then, you interject, Citizen Kane is at least the second best movie of all time. Wrong! The first Godfather is the second best movie of all time. Now, you might be thinking that Godfather 3 must be the third best movie of all time. Wrong again! Casablanca is the third best movie of all time. Godfather 3 is on the all-time list, but it is way down there somewhere around 11, after The Big Sleep and Double Indemnity. (Foreign films don't count, otherwise I would have mentioned Red and also White).
Citizen Kane is below eleven on the true all-time list, because it is worse than Godfather 3. Why is it worse than Godfather 3? It's simple:
Citizen Kane is about a man who loves a snow sled. Godfather 3 is about a man who loves his family. Now, loving a sled might make sense to movie critics, who prefer to stare at an inanimate movie screen for their whole lives. But most people would rather see a story about a man who loves other people. I can hear the whiny, high paid film school teachers sniveling right now: "But what about the symbolism?". What symbolism? Are you trying to say that Rosebud symbolized Kane's longing for a normal family life, which was 'nipped in the bud' when Kane was taken away under guardianship? Aren't you clever! Suppose this is right. Then, why would anyone want to watch a movie about a character who is such a wuss that he has to love a sled to deal with a mildly bad childhood, when they can watch a movie about a character who is so tough and real that he is directly or indirectly responsible for half his family getting killed, including his daughter and brother, and still manages to look sympathetic and manly in the end? Booya!
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