Sharknado - Cinematic Masterpiece

I truly believe Sharknado was, in all seriousness, one of the best films we have watched in class this year. Forget for a second all the film terms we learned in March, and how much we are supposed to appreciate what is generally defined as quality filmmaking, and think about how much our class actually enjoyed themselves during this film compared to the dozens of others we've watched. For me at least, watching Sharknado was a genuinely more enjoyable experience than almost all the others. We laughed hysterically at this movie's impossible premise, cliché characters, abysmal cinematography, and downright stupid dialogue. Bauks' wisecracks about the walking train wreck that is Tara Reid only furthered our laughter. But believe it or not, this is exactly what director Anthony C. Ferrante wanted when he set out to make this movie. The reason for Sharknado's existence and positive response from audiences is the same reason why people love shows like "Jersey Shore" and "Keeping up with the Kardashians": they're so bad that they're good. People like to feel superior, and watching awful movies gives people the chance to gain personal satisfaction through criticizing the work of others, and they are willing to pay just as much as they would for any other movie to do it. This is the model that an entire industry is built on: "stupid sells". This movie had just a $250,000 budget, but managed to garner $19 million in total revenue, a 7,600% return on investment. As long as it remains profitable, the "so bad it's good" world of cinema will continue to pump out these half-assed excuses for movies. But as much as I've grown to appreciate great cinema in this class, and as much I hate to say it, I'm as guilty as the rest of the moviegoing public in their love of stupidity. I loved Sharknado.