Critics may suck, but so does Michael Bay

I always love it when people begin carping about movie critics . The argument usually goes like this: If most people like to watch Michael Bay movies, who are you to criticize their tastes?

Here’s my answer: I don’t criticize anyone’s tastes. We all have guilty pleasures. I, for example, am part of a book group with a bunch of beer-loving physicians. These guys love their microbrews, and when I’m with them I do, too. But when I’m alone, I tend to drink Corona . Not that I consider Corona a great beer. I just happen to like how it tastes.

Same with Michael Bay . I may like watching “Bad Boys,” for example. Or the first “Transformers” movie. But I would never try to convince anyone that Bay is a great filmmaker. In fact, if cinema were a language, the guy would be barely literate.

Except, of course, when it comes to making money . And putting fans in the seats. Which shows a certain ability to market but has nothing, at all, to do with overall quality.

Anyway, when I come to constructing Top 10 films of the year, I always try to add at least one particular fan favorite to the mix. Last year it was “Dark Knight.” This year it might be “Avatar.” Or “Star Trek.” Or both.

Either way, doing so may make Peter Bart happy. Not that I really care. For the most part, I think the guy’s full of … well, you know.

Below : Enjoy a French lesson while discovering just why Michael Bay sucks.