Men in black was a family classic from the 1990s, but upon rewatching the film nearly three decades later, several problems stood out. While this sci-fi action comedy was a defining film that helped transform Will Smith from rapper and sitcom actor into a bona fide movie star, it's clear that the film has aged and certain aspects stand out to the modern viewer. While Smith and Tommy Lee Jones' incredible on-screen chemistry has remained as engaging as ever, it's impossible for a film with so many special effects not to feel a little dated all these years later.
It's clear the original was the best Men in black film that acted as an essential launch in the incredible careers of Smith and Jones. As a starting point for a major franchise complete with sequels and spin-offs, the harsh truth is that some aspects of the 1997 film had some negative impact on the later films in the series, as it introduced plot points that did them a disservice. Although all this was true, Men in black was still a beloved classic and one of the biggest box office hits of the 1990s.
8
CGI looks clunky today
Men in Black's special effects aren't as impressive anymore
The 1990s were an extraordinary time for computer-generated technology, as it represented a turning point in cinema as graphics and special effects reached a tipping point in terms of quality. The best example of this was the extraordinary representation of dinosaurs in Steven Spielberg's film. Jurassic Parkwhich allowed cinema to finally portray things that were previously unimaginable. That Pioneering technology opened the doors to films like Men in blackas they include aliens and futuristic technology with a level of realism previously considered impossible.
Although Men in black It still looks great for the time, the graphics were a bit clunky in some scenes.
Men in black made significant use of CGI through alien creatures like the Worm Guys or hilarious characters like Frank the Pug. However, looking back, it's surprising how much technology has improved since then, and although Men in black It still looks great for the time, the graphics were a bit clunky in some scenes. This was particularly apparent in the tunnel car chase, as Agents J and K chased antagonistic aliens in a scene that looks quite dated today in terms of CGI quality.
7
The cheesy humor of the 90s doesn't hold up
Men in Black's humor doesn't always hold up
Men in black was one of the most hilarious and family-friendly films of the 1990s, although not every aspect of its humor holds up well today. Characters like Jack Jeebs (Tony Shalhoub), the alien arms dealer and owner of a seedy pawnshop, were based on stereotypes of underground criminals and, upon watching Men in black with a critical eye, it came uncomfortably close to negative representations of immigrant communities as being associated with lives of crime or underhanded behavior.
Many of the corny jokes directed at the alien characters in Men in black serve as a playful take on the diversity of New York Cityand rewatching the film today, it's hard not to wonder if, at times, it began to border on offensive. Although these aspects only become problems when openly criticizing Men in black, and it's not fair to judge the minute details of a film like this so harshly, the idea of what the film's corny humor represented was still interesting food for thought.
6
Men in black have a gender problem
It's the Men in Black, not people, women or any other gender identity
The clue was in the name Men in black was headed for a male-dominated affair as this secret organization wore its gender bias on its sleeve. While Men in black featured some female characters, their main purpose was to serve the narratives of Agent J and Agent K. This was evident from the introduction of Dr. Laurel Weaver (Linda Fiorentino), a talented medical examiner whose character was quickly reduced to being a sweetheart interest of Agent J, and after being kidnapped by The Bug, fell victim to the common damsel in distress movie trope.
While the original Men in black was problematic when it came to the representation of womenthis was an issue the franchise later addressed. The standalone sequel Men in Black: International starred Tessa Thompson as a new MIB agent, and this film poked fun at the way the series title excluded women. The original Men in black also made a slight attempt to offset its stereotypical gender representation by having Dr. Laurel Weaver join the agency in the film's final scene.
5
Agents J and K could have been further developed
The protagonists of Men in Black weren't as developed as they could have been
Men in black was a film whose creative premise and extraordinary visuals helped it stand out among other family films of the 1990s. With an engaging sense of humor and strong world-building, viewers may not have even realized how thin Agent J's characterizations were. and Agent K in this first film. These characters' actions were motivated primarily by the plot rather than the deep sense of motivation that influences the decisions of the film's biggest characters.
Agent J represented the typical talented rookie cop entering a new world he knows nothing about. Agent K was the grizzled veteran employee, and both leaned into the standard archetypes of crime movie dynamics. Later Men in black the films delved much deeper into the lives and backstories of the two agentsBut in this first release, there's so much more to tackle that the audience doesn't really have time to get to know them. While this level of character depth would be a lot to ask for in a 98-minute children's film, Men in black could have gone deeper into his character development.
4
MIB's concept was more intriguing than its story
Men in Black's world was more compelling than its narrative
With an astonishing worldwide box office haul of over $589 million (via Box Office Mojo), it's clear that audiences responded well to Men in black and helped him become one of the highest-grossing films of the 1990s. This was because its concept of a secret organization unknowingly saving humanity from aliens behind the scenes was a unique and engaging premise that originated from the Marvel comic book series. The Men in Black by Lowell Cunningham.
With impeccable world-building and stunning special effects, Men in black it captured viewers' imaginations to such an extent that they didn't even realize how detailed its plot was. As Agent J was introduced to a new world of government conspiracy, he embarked on a simple hero's journey that retreads much of the same territory as every other crime adventure film. Men in black gifted viewers with a truly unique and entertaining world, but was unfortunately let down by a typical story that could have been much more exciting.
3
Wiping Agent K's memory was a mistake
Men in Black's conclusion to Agent K's story ended up stifling the sequel
In the opening scene of Men in blackAgent K's longtime partner, Agent D, realized he was too old for the organization and it was time to retire. This showed the audience that once an agent wanted to leave MIB, they would be neuralized and all memories of their time working for the agency would be erased from their minds. This idea came full circle at the end of the film, when Agent K announced his retirement and was reunited with his wife, who believed he had been in a coma for decades.
Although this would have been a fantastic ending if Men in black it would be an independent film, Agent K's erased memory caused problems when it came time to do Men in Black II. The harsh reality was that much of the sequel was spent undoing the emotional resonance of the original's conclusion that raised the question of why the makers decided to neuralize Agent K in the first place. This was an example of short-term thinking that got in the way Men in black reaching its full potential as a successful ongoing franchise.
2
This is where the franchise peaked
Men in Black never again reached the creative heights of its first edition
The success of Men in black meant a sequel would inevitably be producedbut the truth is that this story reached its peak in the first episode. Part of the appeal of Men in black was discovering a rich world of mystery and intrigue that simply couldn't be replicated in the same way by making more films. The shock when Agent J discovered the unexplored knowledge of the universe provided a truly exciting insight that this series has never been able to achieve again.
Agent J and Agent K have never been more engaging than when they first met.
From the introduction of talking alien agent Frank the Pug to the marvel of the neuralizer's memory-erasing power, everything good about Men in black It was apparent from the first film. Watching Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones display their incredible on-screen chemistry was a dynamic of diminishing returns as the franchise continued. Agent J and Agent K have never been more engaging than when they first met.
1
Later MIB films wasted the original's incredible potential
Men in Black could have continued in much more interesting ways than
It's no surprise Men in black There were two sequels and a spin-off film, but the harsh truth is that these installments wasted the potential of the original. While Men in black worked well as an independent film, Men in Black II simply recalled the jokes from the original and it seemed a pale comparison. While Men in Black 3 it was another return to form with an engaging time travel story, by this point it had been 15 years since the first film, and it was too little, too late.
Adding to this, the independent sequence, Men in Black: Internationalit worked as an uninspired sequel that was more influenced by potential box office revenues than a true desire to add something new to the franchise. Nature itself Men in black The premise means it could evolve in countless interesting directions, but the franchise squandered those opportunities with films that didn't live up to the original. While the proposal Men in black and Rua do Pulo 21 The crossover film could have been the perfect antidote to these issues, but this ingenious film idea was unfortunately cancelled.