If contentiousness had a patron saint, it’d probably have to be Stephen King, who has as many defenders as incredulous detractors. He’s the first “grown-up” author many people discover and, even though his novels can be really great — intelligent, exciting, moving, terrifying — many will always associate his name with adolescence. It’s frustrating for his educated, adult admirers (of whom there are plenty) to engage with those who have decided he writes silly monster stories for 15 year-olds.

So, it’s fitting that the 25th selection into our Heroes of Contentiousness is a film based on one of his short stories. 2007′s The Mist was directed by Frank Garabont, also behind the massively popular adaptation of King’s The Shawshank Redemption. With an ensemble cast that features Thomas Jane and Marcia Gay Harden, The Mist opened to mostly positive reviews and a mostly successful run in theaters.

At Criticker, the film is one of those that has nearly as many “red” rankings as “green”. With a FCQ of 48.88, it’s one of the most contentious films in our database (FCQ = Film Contentiousness Quotient; details on the math here). The positive reviews tend to emphasize the screenplay’s intelligence and psychological terror, while others couldn’t get over cheap-looking production values and unconvincing characters.

The Mist

• Great! (75%, 30 Votes)
• Terrible! (25%, 10 Votes)

Total Voters: 40

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Allow battling Criticker users to influence your decision!
Knowlesey – “While some might say this film may only be remembered for the ending I feel it was a very strong film overall. Slow in some parts yes, but the characters, especially Mrs. Carmody, really draw you in and make you pay close attention. Some stand-out acting as well, obviously from Marcia Gay Harden, and I also thought Lauire Holden did a very good job. As for the ending, it’s fair enough to say it will shock you like no ending had before. Well worth watching and overall a great film!”

Dean Franz – “Yawn inducing siege film with all the usual clichés intact. What the hell happaned to Marcia Gay Harden? She used to be solid. I blame Darabont for ruining one of the five or six good actresses in Hollywood.”

Last time, Bad Santa was put to the vote. You liked it! We’re glad.

- IT Clown Doll

It sounded like a project which was guaranteed success. The guys behind South Park, arguably the greatest television program ever, doing a puppet movie mocking America’s view of its standing in the world. Early reviews were extremely positive and I remember that I was already laughing before I arrived at the theater. It’s name was Team America: World Police, for the love of God! This was going to be the greatest movie ever.

It wasn’t. In fact, a lot of people hated it, resulting in a very high FCQ of 49.01 (Film Contentiousness Quotient — details on the math here).

So what happened? Well, a film that calls itself Team America: World Police and sets its climax in North Korea ought to deliver some scathing political satire, and this just didn’t do it. There were some funny scenes — the Montage song and “MATT DAMON!” are brilliant — but those were apolitical. And how many jokes can you make about Kim Jong-Il’s bumbled attempts at English? It’s ignorant to ridicule non-Americans for not speaking in a perfect American accent.

Team America: World Police

• Great! (72%, 23 Votes)
• Terrible! (28%, 9 Votes)

Total Voters: 32

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And now, let’s hear from some Criticker users:

booksyouburn – “Once again, Trey Parker and Matt Stone combine intellectual satire with vulgarity on a level that defines film as art in its own weird way. And also once again, the songs in the film are more memorable than the action movie montage music that it parodies.”

Ytdadel – “One of the most overrated movies of 2004. The real cats and the AIDS song are the lone highlights. Anyone who actually takes this as a trenchant political satire is broken.”

Empire Records was put to your vote in the last installment, and we’re happy to say that by a nearly 2-1 margin, you’ve deemed it TERRIBLE. We agree.

A unique visual style does not by itself make a good film. That pretty much sums up the argument against 300, the 21st entry in our collection of contentious films. But perhaps a boldly unique visual style at least makes a film worth seeing. 300 was of 2007′s “event” movies, which you kind of felt obligated to endure, regardless of your interest level. It has almost equal numbers of defenders and haters, which explains its high FCQ of 47.62 (FCQ = Film Contentiousness Quotient: details here).

Style over substance? Definitely. An adaptation of Frank Miller’s graphic novel, 300 doesn’t bother itself too much with historical or visual accuracy. But that doesn’t matter to its legions of supporters — nor does the almost complete lack of a plot and possibly racist political undertones. But to many viewers, these shortcomings mattered a great deal. Critics, too, were almost evenly split about the film.

So let’s settle it. 300: great or terrible? I’m going to throw my hat into the latter category; I found it almost as tedious as it was offensive.

300

• Great! (62%, 31 Votes)
• Terrible! (38%, 19 Votes)

Total Voters: 50

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Here are a couple battling opinions from Criticker users.

krytonix: “Mythologized story of the 300 spartans. Despite the hype, it was still crap-my-pants entertaining and I was simply unable to look away at any point during this movie. I thought the simple yet emotionally evocative story and dialogue were enough for the stunning visuals to stand on. That’s all I was hoping for, and it fully delivered.”

Manhatta: “Another perfect adaption of a misogynistic, juvenile Frank Miller book. With added homophobia, as well. It looks just like the pages, and Gerard Butler gives a great Bill the Butcher impression, but the fight scenes got old quick, the rape scene was shameful, and everything else was tedious.”

Last week, you voted on Star Wars III: Revenge of the Sith, and Mr. Lucas will be pleased to learn that the final film in his much derided prequel trilogy has earned the Criticker community’s seal of approval.

And here’s our up-to-date list of the top 10 most contentious films at Criticker:

1. Across the Universe – FCQ 57.96 – Poll Result: GREAT!
2. Eyes Wide Shut – FCQ 56.05 – Poll Result: GREAT!
3. The Rocky Horror Picture Show – FCQ 53.21 – Poll Result: GREAT!
4. Stay – FCQ 52.7 – Poll Result: GREAT!
5. Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith – FCQ 52.43 – Poll Result: GREAT!
6. The Butterfly Effect – FCQ 49.94 – Poll Result: GREAT!
7. Chicago – FCQ 49.71 – Poll Result: GREAT!
8. The Life of David Gale – FCQ 48.95 – Poll Result: TERRIBLE!
9. Dumb & Dumber – FCQ 48.21 – Poll Result: GREAT!
10. Brotherhood of the Wolf – FCQ 47.9 – Poll Result: GREAT!