'guilty pleasures'

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Of course the term 'guilty pleasure' usually refers to a film that someone is ashamed to admit to liking. But why be ashamed?? Quite often it's plain and simple snobbery (the same with dismissing a film because it's a 'chick-flic').
But these films are really very BAD and yet I'm not ashamed to say I love them because of that!
In the case of Plan 9 From Outer Space, we all know this is a bad film and no-one in their right mind could EVER say otherwise. But I include it cus Ed Wood really believed he was making great art and he loved what he was doing and the fact that he failed so miserably so often with his films only adds to your love of the finished mess because, after all, he truly believed in what he was doing (how many film-makers working in the Hollywood mainstream could ever claim that?)
Films such as Strait-Jacket (which, it has to be said, is not really that bad.) and Show Girls (which REALLY is!) are treasures to behold mainly because of the utter conviction of their leading ladies who gave their all. Joan Crawford in Strait-Jacket), ever the professional movie star, is an absolutely eye-popping marvel (I could watch her strike that match on the gramophone over and over) and Elizabeth Berkley in Show Girls, believing in every single dismal line she utters. These 'terrible' films defy a Star rating but they are at the very least great fun and should be cherished, not sneered at...

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  McKittrick's Rating My Rating
1
Strait-Jacket (1964,  Unrated)
Strait-Jacket
Giving this film a star rating is so redundant. It's a dreadful mess of a film. BUT...
I love it - it's outrageously camp and such great fun.
Joanie, ever the movie star, plays it straight of course and you have to love her for it. It's full of so many stand-out moments but the most fantastic is the scene where she strikes her match on the gramophone record! It makes me weep with laughter every time.
2
Plan 9 from Outer Space (1959,  Unrated)
3
Mommie Dearest (1981,  PG)
4
Showgirls (1995,  NC-17)
Showgirls
Show Girls is an outrageous piece of crap and also great fun! Elizabeth Berkley gives the (worst!) performance of a lifetime but you have to love her cus she totally believes it and gives her all. Her failure should be treasured not sneered at! Poor cow! what has she done since??
And Gina Gershon's lipstick lesbian-by-numbers is lypsmackingly wonderful (pun intended!!).
You will be amazed at the 'dance moves' and at least one sex scene that will leave you stuck for words. Camper than a row of tents (which probably contain a Judy Garland AND Cher tribute show!)
5
Empire of the Ants (1977,  PG)
6
Top Gun (1986,  PG)
7
Flash Gordon (1980,  PG)
8
Warlords of Atlantis (Warlords of the Deep) (1978,  PG)

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