Most overrated ever?

Rating: 6/10 (23 December 2005)

This movie boasted some amazing technical advances (great montages, lighting, spatial perspective, editing, etc.), which seem to have blinded critics over the years as to how little the audience cares about the main character. It's similar (okay, I'm exaggerating a bit) to stating that Jurassic Park is one of the greatest movies ever because it advanced the technology so much. We don't care why Kane turned out to be such a miserable jerk. While the notion of "what/who is rosebud?" drives the film to its conclusion, the payoff is predictable and contrite, and doesn't add much sympathy to the character. This film is far inferior to Welles' own "Touch of Evil".