As I am sure you have noticed, I enjoy providing you with my Top 10 Lists. I feel that my viewpoint is often valid and holds merit, but in no way do I claim to be an expert. This is because much of what I write about is too subjective to claim preeminent authority on any of it. After all, I am simply sharing with you my opinion on the subject matter. My lists are usually meant to create nostalgia and/or conversation. Here is a link to a summary page with links to all of my past Top 10 Lists in case you have missed any.

I would love nothing more than to have my lists trigger a memory reminding you of something you had not thought about in a while or generate enough interest for you to check something out for yourself. I don't expect you to agree with my viewpoint in all cases, but hopefully it is respected and I always encourage/appreciate feedback and discussion.

That being said, I have found myself looking closer at lists that others have published. In many cases I find lists that either exclude what are to me obvious choices and/or include what are to me apparent mistakes. I decided that a new feature of Kickin' it Old School will be providing you with examples of published lists that I have disagreement with. I will furnish you with the actual list and explain my disagreement. I will still provide you with my own Top 10 Lists on a regular basis, but I thought this would be an interesting way to mix it up once in a while.

I found many lists that I want to contradict, but I think I will start with a list from Premiere Magazine titled "The 20 Most Overrated Movies of All Time" which I believe was published in September of 2005 but is still active on their website. They did not rank them, so here is the list in alphabetical order:
2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)
A Beautiful Mind (2001)
American Beauty (1999)
An American In Paris (1951)
Chariots Of Fire (1981)
Chicago (2002)
Clerks (1994)
Easy Rider (1969)
Fantasia (1940)
Field Of Dreams (1989)
Forrest Gump (1994)
Gone With The Wind (1939)
Good Will Hunting (1997)
Jules And Jim (1962)
Monster's Ball (2001)
Moonstruck (1987)
Mystic River (2003)
Nashville (1975)
The Red Shoes (1948)
The Wizard Of Oz (1939)

I am a big fan of Kevin Smith and his debut film Clerks, but I can see how some people might not quite get it and wonder what all of the hype was about. I actually enjoy many of the films on this list and I cannot understand how Field of Dreams, Forrest Gump and Good Will Hunting not to mention Gone With The Wind can be included on such a list. Overrated is a very relative term, so it is comprehendible that someone could possibly feel that way, but I cannot see how you can possibly include them on a list published in such a popular magazine.

Though I seriously disagree with at least 8 of the 20 movies on this list, the fact that The Wizard of Oz is included causes it to lose all credibility with me. Here is the laughable argument that Premiere makes for it being overrated:
"Judy Garland's appeal is undeniable, Bert Lahr ought to have been in more pictures, and most of the tunes have earned their places in the Great American Songbook, but a lot of this monument to studio piecework is an over-calculated self-promo for the dubious brand of enchantment it's pushing. The candy-coated art direction, highlighting Technicolor at its most garish, provokes insulin shock, and the Lollipop Guild, Glinda's damned voice, and Frank Morgan's ‘folksy' Wizard all give off the pungent aroma of neglected cheese. The film's reputation as ‘kitsch-that-transc ends-kitsch' precedes it; a new viewer unaware of that rep might see kitsch, plain and simple."

I cannot disagree more. Bringing this fairy tale to life is one of the greatest accomplishments in cinematic history. I will quote the rebuttal of Premiere contributor David Schlow because I don't think I could put it any better myself:
"The fact remains that Oz is one of the most influential films of all time. Without it, there is no Star Wars or Harry Potter. Oz is an enchanted land, where the scenery is as Technicolor as the characters who inhabit it - and a bright and purposeful contrast to Dorothy's gray reality. Kitsch? Perhaps, but the movie offers life lessons for even the most cynical of us big kids-it's just a matter of having the heart, courage, and brains to find them."

I understand that it is more interesting to be a little controversial, but calling The Wizard of Oz overrated is downright ignorant and shameful. It is discreditable that an editor would even allow their magazine to publish something so absurd. So I felt this would be a good starting point for my new feature where I cover other Top 10 Lists that I find strong disagreement with.

It is amazing how many lists are published out there, so there are plenty to call attention to. I have not published a Most Overrated list yet, but I did publish my Most Underrated Movies which you might want to go back to read. That will wrap up this issue of Kickin' it Old School. I hope you enjoyed this new feature and be sure to click on the Archive buttons in the upper left column to be sure you have not missed any past issues. Peace and much love.

Check this out: If you hadn't guessed already, The Wizard of Oz has always been one of my favorite movies ever since I can remember. Despite that, here is a link to a very funny skit from MadTV which shows you an alternate ending to this classic film.

Quote of the day: Here are two quotes from The Wizard of Oz (both in reference to the Tin Man) that I have always liked...
"Hearts will never be practical until they can be made unbreakable."
"A heart is not judged by how much you love; but by how much you are loved by others."

Download this: There are many great covers of the famous song from The Wizard of Oz. I have already recommended one once before, but I will add two more versions to the list here... "Over the Rainbow" by Ella Fitzgerald & "Over the Rainbow" by Ray Charles