This is topic The Official Underrated Movies Thread in forum Books, Films, Food and Culture at Hatrack River Forum.


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Posted by KarlEd (Member # 571) on :
 
Post here about movies you love, which haven't gotten the mainstream notoriety you think they deserve. I don't care if people comment on what other people have posted, but I'm hoping the majority of the posts will list unique movies. (This is for selfish reasons, of course. I'm hoping to hear about movies I've missed but will be glad to see.)

I'm hoping this can be a thread somewhat like the " Interesting Space-Related News" thread, in that people will look it up and post on it whenever they come across an undeservedly overlooked movie.

I'll go first:

The Machinist, (Dir. Brad Anderson, Writ. Scott Kosar, Starring Christian Bale, with Jennifer Jason Leigh, et. al.)

This movie was brilliantly directed and acted. Christian Bale plays a machinist who hasn't slept in a year and begins to lose his grip on reality. It works as a mystery, to a certain degree, though if you approach it primarily as a mystery, you might be disappointed. What some people will think is "the twist" is pretty easy to guess, though enough details are left unanswered to provide some mystery right to the end. How this movie worked best for me is as a character study in paranoia and guilt. The direction is superb. Brad Anderson makes every facet of the film add to the atmosphere and the story, he is artistic without being "artsy".

Christian Bale has been most remarked for the amount of weight he lost to play this role. He is truly frighteningly thin, and that adds to the believability of the character. But his acting is good in ways that go far beyond the physical sacrifice for the role. He is infinitely believable as a man in turmoil, trying to understand a world increasingly strange and hostile. If it sounds like I'm dancing around the story, well, I am. It's difficult to give many details without revealing too much of the plot.

I never heard of this film when it came out. I only learned of it when Christian Bale was interviewed on NPR prior to the release of Batman Begins and the reporter commented on how he went from frighteningly thin to beefcake buff between the two films. I'm glad a checked it out.
 
Posted by ludosti (Member # 1772) on :
 
I too heard of this movie in relation to Batman Begins and was curious about it. So far, you're the first person I know that's seen it. Your endorsement means I'll add it to my Netflix cue. [Wink]
 
Posted by SC Carver (Member # 8173) on :
 
I thought "October Skies" was a great movie that didn't get much press when it came out a few years ago. It has the kid from "Day after tomorrow" (an over rated movie) in it.

Along the same lines "White Squall" was another really good coming of age story. It had Jeff Bridges in it.

I don't know if it is under rated because it was nominate for a few awards, but I don't know many other people who saw it. "Gattica" was great Sci Fi movie with no special effects. It relied totally on the story and characters.
 
Posted by Tammy (Member # 4119) on :
 
I watched The Machinist with my boys.

quote:
How this movie worked best for me is as a character study in paranoia and guilt.
Ditto!
 
Posted by theCrowsWife (Member # 8302) on :
 
Rushmore.

It mixes way-over-the-top events with believable characters. Max Fischer is a poor kid whose main purpose in life is attending the rich academy Rushmore and starting up new clubs. He develops a crush on one of the teachers and goes to incredible lengths to impress her, leading to his expulsion from Rushmore. His best friend Herman Blume (Bill Murray), a Rushmore alumnus, also falls for the same teacher. Their friendship degenerates into malice as they both pursue her.

This movie is great. I've watched it half-dozen times and each time is better. I just saw Napolean Dynamite for the first time, and although the movies have some similarities, I feel that Rushmore is superior.

--Mel
 
Posted by camus (Member # 8052) on :
 
I second SC Carver's picks for October Sky and Gattaca.

A Bronx Tale wasn't really anything special but I really liked it for some reason.

Let's see...here's some that may have gotten good reviews/press but weren't exactly box office hits.
Garden State - Simple movie about self realization
Memento - You have to piece the story together yourself. Really makes you think.
Donnie Darko - Another movie that makes you think. It also has some interesting ideas about purpose.
Mystery Science Theater 3000 - Comedy about crappy movies
The Wrong Guy starring Dave Foley, if you're into Kids In the Hall type of humor
Office Space - gives you a new perspective about work and life in general, and it's funny
Clerks - Most of the humor is from dialogue. Don't watch if you're easily offended.
Last of the Mohicans - Scenic and historical (kind of). Very good book too.

Some movies that we've probably seen as kids but which are still fun to watch...
The Goonies
The Sandlot
The Princess Bride


[ August 12, 2005, 01:58 PM: Message edited by: camus ]
 
Posted by katharina (Member # 827) on :
 
Keeping the Faith
 
Posted by SteveRogers (Member # 7130) on :
 
Super Mario Bros.
 
Posted by Chris Bridges (Member # 1138) on :
 
Oscar.
 
Posted by SC Carver (Member # 8173) on :
 
I'll second Camus's pick for "Memento". Another "Batman Begins" connection, Nolan directed both. He is the new "dark" movie guy in Hollywood. Most of the established big stars who were in Batman signed up for the chance to work with Nolan. I definately enjoyed both movies.
 
Posted by ludosti (Member # 1772) on :
 
Of the movies I've watched in the last year or so, the one I think best fits this thread is Harold and Maude. It's a little strange, somewhat silly, and is just a charming movie.
 
Posted by babager (Member # 6700) on :
 
American History X
 
Posted by mr_porteiro_head (Member # 4644) on :
 
If it is officially underrated, doesn't that make it no longer underrated, since it's higher rating is now official?
 
Posted by SC Carver (Member # 8173) on :
 
Um.. Yea, I'm going to need you to come in tomorrow... I agree Office space is great, but can you call it under rated. I would say it has a big following. You can buy Office Space t-shirts in the mall.
 
Posted by JaimeBenlevy (Member # 6222) on :
 
What if it was "The Official underappreciated by the majority of people movie thread"? Of course, that doesn't have the same ring to it that "underrated" has.
Edit: this was to mph
 
Posted by Jim-Me (Member # 6426) on :
 
some great choices here...

Real Genius and Searching for Bobby Fischer were great movies that were only moderately successful, while I'd like to jump on the bandwagons for Keeping the Faith and October Sky.

Rushmore, Clerks, and Memento are also great, but I feel they got pretty good props from most people.

Courage Under Fire didn't get the box office or oscar nods of Glory, but is quite good as well.

I loved Hudson Hawk, which was widely panned.

The Private Eyes, with Tim Conway and Don Knotts was good old-fashioned funny and never got much play.

Big Trouble (based on a Dave Barry novel) got pulled early due to 9/11...

But I'm gonna pick as my two most underrated movies of all time:
Young Sherlock Holmes and Time Bandits
 
Posted by Alcon (Member # 6645) on :
 
I third October Sky. That's one of my favorite movies of all time.

And hey, The Sandlot is a great movie, kid or not!
 
Posted by Puffy Treat (Member # 7210) on :
 
Return To Oz

People bashed it very badly when it was released...it wasn't a funny, happy Judy Garland musical.

It was dark, weird, disturbing in many places.

It's also a wonderfully-acted, beautiful film that's true to the spirit of L. Frank Baum's earliest Oz books...even if it does combine characters and plots from the second and third books mixed with some conceits from the MGM film.
 
Posted by Bob the Lawyer (Member # 3278) on :
 
The Sweet Hereafter (1997)

Nominated for 2 Oscars, if it hadn't been a Canadian film it might have actually won them. The movie is about community, and explores it by following the lives of the people in a small town torn apart by grief (though it doesn't dwell on it, but looks at the repercussions of it). Without a doubt Atom Egoyan finest work as a director, the movie also has a wonderfully subtle performance by Ian Holme. The movie is a breathtaking experience and contains, in my opinion, the most heart breaking shot in film.
 
Posted by James Tiberius Kirk (Member # 2832) on :
 
October Sky

Glory (The only problem with this one is that every time I saw Matt Broderick, I kept thinking of "Bueller? Bueller? Bueller...?")

--j_k
 
Posted by jeniwren (Member # 2002) on :
 
Strictly Ballroom, which isn't underrated on Hatrack, but other than Hatrack, I've never met anyone who has actually heard of it, let alone seen it. It's one of my all time favorite movies.
 
Posted by Crotalus (Member # 7339) on :
 
American Movie (independent documentary about a guy trying to make a movie...hilarious and tragic.)
 
Posted by Crotalus (Member # 7339) on :
 
Smoke Signals (movie about a young native american man transporting his father's ashes...best depiction of forgiveness i've ever seen on film.)
 
Posted by Crotalus (Member # 7339) on :
 
both of which won sundance awards, btw. for anyone who cares about such things
 
Posted by Jim-Me (Member # 6426) on :
 
I've heard of Strictly Ballroom, but never saw it...

Glory is awesome, but, having been nominated for a bunch of academy awards, it's hard to say it's "most underrated"
 
Posted by KarlEd (Member # 571) on :
 
I was hoping for a bit more about why you think the movie is great. Convince me I should see it. Some of you are doing this but most are just listing names of films. [/dictator of thread mode] [Wink]
 
Posted by Jim-Me (Member # 6426) on :
 
too lazy... sorry Karl-E [Razz]
 
Posted by Goo Boy (Member # 7752) on :
 
Welcome Home Roxy Carmichael
The Color Purple
Empire of the Sun
Star Wars: Attack of the Clones [Razz]
Outland

 
Posted by Carrie (Member # 394) on :
 
Death to Smoochy, with Robin Williams, Edward Norton, Catherine Keener and Jon Stewart. The critics absolutely HATED this movie - I believe the average rating was a D - and it did quite poorly at the box office, as people seemed to believe the reviewers.

I went with a friend (back in the day - it's at least four years old), and the two of us were rolling around on the ground howling with laughter. Death to Smoochy is one of the funniest movies I've possibly ever seen, and no one knows about it.

I also believe the ratings for Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story were a bit low for how clever the movie was, but I don't know that it's officially underrated...
 
Posted by Jim-Me (Member # 6426) on :
 
ooh! Outland! good one!

But Ep II is the worst star wars movie ever...

I will never forgive Lucas for making Obi Wan a wimp, even for one movie.
 
Posted by Carrie (Member # 394) on :
 
Episode I is the worst Star Wars movie ever, hands down. Between the "Yippee"s and the immortal "Are you an angel?" line, I think the lowlight was, naturally, the extended role of one Jar-Jar Binks. At least Episode II had two good-looking guys to drool over when the movie sucked.
 
Posted by mimsies (Member # 7418) on :
 
Elmo In Grouchland!
 
Posted by slrpycow (Member # 8483) on :
 
I've been lurking for a while, but this topic finally got me to post. With a crowd of SciFi fans, the best underrated movie out there is Galaxy Quest. When I first saw it in the theater, I was sure I would pass out from not breathing for the laughing. Having seen most of the Star Trek episodes/movies out there, there is no better parody of them that also celebrates the fun.

The plot is simple: The washed up stars of the Galaxy Quest tv show gets hired for a gig that turns out to be real aliens and a real working model of their ship. Tony Shalub is fabulous as the engineer who is calm always (so different than his great 'Monk' character). The most laughs come from the character of 'Guy', the unnamed extra who always dies on the away missions.

Watch this one again and again. I do.
 
Posted by Enigmatic (Member # 7785) on :
 
It's funny how many of these movies make me think "How is that underrated? Everybody I know LOVES that movie!"

But then I remember that a lot of people I know are pretty big movie buffs.

I just watched (like, 20 minutes ago) An Evening with Kevin Smith. Credit where credit is due: it was borrowed from ElJay. It's an awesome movie, just a collection of segments from his campus Q&A tour but filled with hilarious stories and weird trivia. Definitely worth watching for anyone who enjoys any of his actual films.

--Enigmatic
 
Posted by TL (Member # 8124) on :
 
Wild Things. Phenomenal movie.

It functions as both a spoof of and a great example of a modern twisty-turny thriller.

If I didn't think the spoofing aspect was purposeful, I would like it a lot less, but this is John McNaughton, and he cast Bill Murray.

People, Wild Things is really a comedy.

If you look at it from that perspective, it's a brilliant film.
 
Posted by Telperion the Silver (Member # 6074) on :
 
Rock & Rule
One of the best animated movies from the 80's. Didn't get enough publicity or movie house showings so it died quickly. Awesome music by classic rock icons. Finally out in dvd at last!
 
Posted by Epictetus (Member # 6235) on :
 
The Adventures of Mark Twain--I used to watch this as a kid all the time. It is an excellent claymation film that portrays several of his short stories, including the Diaries of Adam and Eve.

I'll second or whatever Memento, that's a great movie.

I'm not really sure if this movie is under-rated, but I really loved Elizabeth with Cate Blanchet.
 
Posted by Carrie (Member # 394) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by Epictetus:
I'm not really sure if this movie is under-rated, but I really loved Elizabeth with Cate Blanchet.

Not underrated at all, and I completely agree. I can watch this movie at any time of any day I love it so much. Although, interestingly enough, the first time I saw it was in a class (and for said class) called "Women in Turkish Society."
 
Posted by dean (Member # 167) on :
 
Some movies that I show all my friends when I first meet them include Memento, Hedwig and the Angry Inch, Cannibal! The Musical, and Tampopo.

Memento was voted for several times, but the gist of it is that we follow a guy who has no short term memory as he tries to solve his wife's murder. So that we get some of the sense of his disorientation, we watch the movie in short bits but the bits are not in sequence. Half of the clips start at the end of the overall plot and go backwards. The other half start at the beginning and go forwards. That sounds confusing, I know, if you haven't already seen it, but it's really not too hard to follow and all my friends have been blown away by it.

Hedwig and the Angry Inch is a rock musical following Hedwig and her band. Hedwig's story is gradually illuminated from her music and from flashbacks to her childhood in the communist half of Berlin, her botched sex-change operation, her music being stolen by a boy she fell in love with, and her eventual acceptance of who she really is and deciding to live her life without the masks she's been wearing throughout the movie.

Cannibal! The Musical is Trey Parker and Matt Stone's first movie, made over spring break when they were going to school together. It's very silly, and very amateurish, but also very fun. It follows Alferd Packer who was convicted of cannibalism in Colorado Territory. The songs all obnoxiously get in your head.

Lastly Tampopo is a live-action Japanese movie which mostly follows a woman named Tampopo and her quest, with the help of a truck driver friend, to make perfect Ramen noodles. The main story is also intersperced with vignettes following other Japanese people in their love of good food.
 
Posted by Billy Joel (Member # 5357) on :
 
Whale Rider. It's so sad that no one ever mentions when they think of perfect movies. It's also sad that not many people have seen this.
 
Posted by Goo Boy (Member # 7752) on :
 
quote:
It's funny how many of these movies make me think "How is that underrated? Everybody I know LOVES that movie!"

This is what I thought when I read slrpycow's post.
 
Posted by fugu13 (Member # 2859) on :
 
And in some ways most importantly, Tampopo is a "noodle western" [Wink]
 
Posted by SteveRogers (Member # 7130) on :
 
Good Burger
 
Posted by MyrddinFyre (Member # 2576) on :
 
Way too many of these movies are quite mainstream and are a little overrated, IMHO.

My vote would go for Bandits... but maybe that's just my Bruce Willis fetish talking. Also, eXistenZ. But maybe that's just my Jude Law fetish talking. Oh, I'll shut up now. [Smile]
 
Posted by Goo Boy (Member # 7752) on :
 
I feel judged.

Snob.
 
Posted by Goo Boy (Member # 7752) on :
 
I didn't think he was asking for non-mainstream movies, just movies we thought were better than their reception.
 
Posted by MyrddinFyre (Member # 2576) on :
 
Mainstream AND overrated. *points*
 
Posted by Goo Boy (Member # 7752) on :
 
Well I think your opinion is stupid. [Razz]
 
Posted by camus (Member # 8052) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by MyrddinFyre:
Way too many of these movies are quite mainstream and are a little overrated, IMHO.

What's your criteria for mainstream? I don't think a movie has to exactly be an independent film in order to not be classified as mainstream. I consider mainstream to be more or less a box office hit, meaning it made a lot of money when it was orignially shown in theaters. Movies like Clerks and Office Space had horrible results at the box office but have since gained kind of a cult following.

Overrated is a personal opinion. Anything that doesn't meet your personal expectations could be considered overrated. The fact that one person thinks a movie is overrated doesn't mean that other people aren't going to like it.

With that said, here are a couple other perhaps overrated movies that I personally thought were a bit underrated when they were originally released.

Pi - a movie with a mathematical premise (everything can be described through mathematical formulas). It doesn't have as much to do with the number pi, but has some interesting ideas about the power of mathematics and our limited knowledge of how it works in the universe. The movie style is interesting as well.

Requiem For a Dream - Very strong characters and acting. Jennifer Connelly is the only one that I know from other movies. It shows in very dramatic fashion the power and consequences of addiction and how three people's lives spiral out of control because of it.
 
Posted by MyrddinFyre (Member # 2576) on :
 
dear camus,

IMHO means "In My Humble Opinion".
 
Posted by camus (Member # 8052) on :
 
MF,
Then I apologize for my reaction to you. I figured that it was just assumed that everyone's posts were nothing more than their opinion, and I hastily concluded that you were being critical of everyone else's opinions.
 
Posted by MyrddinFyre (Member # 2576) on :
 
Oh geez course not, I was just amazed at how many of the movies are very well known and well liked (or too well liked) around here [Smile]
 
Posted by camus (Member # 8052) on :
 
Ok, that makes sense. I was just using the wrong tone when reading your post. [Smile]
 
Posted by Enigmatic (Member # 7785) on :
 
I think the actual goal here is better described as "overlooked" movies. I know I'd rather find out about something good that I'd never heard of before than talk about movies that I've heard of which got bad reviews or low box office numbers but are actually good.

On that note:
Dagon - Only if you like horror movies (and I don't mean modern suspence). Stewart Gordon takes another go at loosely adapting an HP Lovecraft story into drive-in splatterfest fun. This time it's The Shadow Over Innsmouth, only that's really more of a starting point. Mutant fish-people and a huge tentacled god, fun for the whole family.

--Enigmatic
 
Posted by MyrddinFyre (Member # 2576) on :
 
Alas! I'm pretty horrible at expressing myself IRL, never mind in typing!

Back to your regularly scheduled I Love Movies Thread!

edit: oops, I'm slow ^^
 
Posted by Cr1spy (Member # 8407) on :
 
Rustler's Rhapsody

I would swear I was the only person who ever saw this movie. Except those I have managed to make watch it with me who never seem to find it as funny as I do.
 
Posted by Nell Gwyn (Member # 8291) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by Crotalus:
Smoke Signals (movie about a young native american man transporting his father's ashes...best depiction of forgiveness i've ever seen on film.)

I'll second that. I had to watch it for a history class, and I was astonished by how good it was.

Freeway is one of my personal faves - it's a modern version of "Little Red Riding Hood", and it's a great satire of the judicial/legal system. Lots of swearing and violence, but the acting is spot on, and it's hysterical. Sadly, I didn't like the sequel as much.

Equilibrium - a dystopia-esque movie that exemplifies making the absolute most of a relatively low budget. Beautifully acted, beautifully filmed.

And I loved Donnie Darko. [Smile]
 
Posted by MyrddinFyre (Member # 2576) on :
 
I only wish they spent a little more time on the soundtrack to Equilibrium, it could have been a near-perfect movie.
 
Posted by Jim-Me (Member # 6426) on :
 
If anyone can find a copy of "Rosy Rapture" and review it for me that would rock!

It's one of the first films ever made... silent, based on a James Barrie play (the guy who wrote Peter Pan, yes), and stars G.B. Shaw and G.K. Chesterton... that one has got to be a hoot!
 
Posted by hansenj (Member # 4034) on :
 
I second Chris Bridges' mention of Oscar. [Smile] I hadn't ever heard of this movie until I had a roommate who grew up watching it. It's hilarious! It's my favorite Sylvester Stallone movie (but then, I find him obnoxious when he's being serious). Great cast, great humor, great dialog.
 
Posted by Uprooted (Member # 8353) on :
 
Waking Ned Devine
 
Posted by Icarus (Member # 3162) on :
 
quote:
I think the actual goal here is better described as "overlooked" movies. I know I'd rather find out about something good that I'd never heard of before than talk about movies that I've heard of which got bad reviews or low box office numbers but are actually good.

Why? If you were dissuaded from seeing it, but you end up discovering something you like and would not have given a chance to otherwise, what's the difference?

Two more from plebian little me:
Mulan
Hercules
 
Posted by Billy Joel (Member # 5357) on :
 
You Got Served.


Wait a minute... no... I think I remember that movie being the worst piece of crap excuse of a movie ever.
 
Posted by Storm Saxon (Member # 3101) on :
 
May--tight little horror movie about a girl who wanted to belong, her travels, and how she finally found a friend.

American Splendor--interesting study of the underground comic writer, Harvey Pekar, and how we are all heroes in our own right.

Alien: Resurrection--Last of the Alien movies, it potrays how Ripley at last finds love and becomes a mother.

Titus--luscious, sprawling movie of Shakespeare's Titus Andronicus that is more play than film.

The Iron Giant--One robot's quest for meaning.

[Smile]

[ August 13, 2005, 08:42 PM: Message edited by: Storm Saxon ]
 
Posted by digging_holes (Member # 6237) on :
 
I love The Iron Giant!
 
Posted by Storm Saxon (Member # 3101) on :
 
A lot of people on this forum do, but I think it's generally pretty overlooked. [Smile]
 
Posted by James Tiberius Kirk (Member # 2832) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by Jim-Me:
Glory is awesome, but, having been nominated for a bunch of academy awards, it's hard to say it's "most underrated"

Hm. Well, I think Glory is underrated in the sense that a lot of people I know have, sadly, neither heard of it nor seen it [Frown] But I guess you could say the same about a lot of Civil war films.

And The Iron Giant rules; it's probably my favorite animated movie (up there with The Incredibles) I saw it on TV again today, and will see it again tomorrow. I hope Brad Bird makes more films.

--j_k
 
Posted by Humean316 (Member # 8175) on :
 
Garden State. Best movie ive seen in a while.
Love Actually is a movie that is so good an complex. Also, Hitch. I loved that movie.
 
Posted by Jim-Me (Member # 6426) on :
 
Hercules was really neat and had some sweet touches... and Iron Giant was pretty awesome, too...

hehehe... "where's the robot now, Manley?"

I'm not as fond of Mulan, but it was definitely enjoyable.

if anyone hasn't seen "Glory" they should do so immediately.
 
Posted by Storm Saxon (Member # 3101) on :
 
The Black Stallion--For my money, the best 'children's' movie ever made. The cinematography alone is reason to see this movie.
 
Posted by Storm Saxon (Member # 3101) on :
 
The Killing Fields--Older 'rackers will know of this, but many of the younger ones will not. It is what happens to one man after the fall of Viet Nam. If you don't get a tear in your eye watching this movie, you are not human.
 
Posted by Puffy Treat (Member # 7210) on :
 
The Black Stallion is underrated? But...but...but...didn't it win all sorts of awards and glowing reviews when it was released? Wasn't it a hit?

Heck, it was one of the films that made the National Film Preservation Board's list. [Smile]
 
Posted by Storm Saxon (Member # 3101) on :
 
As did The Killing Fields. Like TKF, The Black Stallion was released decades a go, so I figure some might not know about it. At least, I've never seen either mentioned on this forum that I can remember.

I think the point of the thread for me and some others is to mention films people here might not know about, not necessarily films that (film award organization of your choice) never gave an award to.
 
Posted by Puffy Treat (Member # 7210) on :
 
The first post says "film you feel never got the msinstream notoriety it deserved".

True, 1979 was a long time ago...but TBS was hardly a film the mainstream negelected to notice.

Just sayin'. [Smile]
 
Posted by Dagonee (Member # 5818) on :
 
The Last Dragon

A movie that knew what it was aspiring to be and executed it so brilliantly that it surpassed the limitations of the plot, the dialog, and the actors.

I mean, the villians goals are 1.) to try to beat up the hero in front of everyone so everyone will admit Villian #1 is better than the hero; and 2.) to get the VJ of a local dance show to play Villian #2's girlfriend's video. They weren't even trying for deep or profound moral conflict.

Throw in a quest for enlightenment, some very good comic relief, and well-executed roto-scoping and choreography in the main fight scene and you've got one hell of a movie.

It rises so far above all the schlock that it becomes good, and there's no real reason for it to be so except that someone knew what makes a good Kung Fu movie and what makes a good pop-music-based movie and combined the two perfectly.
 
Posted by Jess N (Member # 6744) on :
 
I would nominate <i>Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow</i> as one of those sadly underrated flicks. I love it because it's an homage to those wonderful Saturday serial from the early days of movies. There are lots of crazy inventions, characters that pure serial types and yet wonderfully rich and full, and a villain that looms over the entire piece. The photography and costuming are also a treat.

I also agree with Billy Joel--<i> Whale Rider</i> is one of the best movies I've seen all year. What draws me to this film is it's mystical nature. The film makers could have really gone over the top with the whole "mystical whale" thing, but instead they allowed the mystical nature of the story to run it's own thread and become so naturally woven into the film that it is almost its own character.

Another film that many have forgotten (or maybe not) is <i> Fried Green Tomatoes</i>. My nine-year -old son discovered this movie just a few months ago and watches it every time he can see it on tv (I need to buy a copy). For weeks after he sees it again, he'll come up to me and simply say, "Secret's in the sauce!" It's one of those movies that reminds me why I love being from the South so very much. Tawanda!
 
Posted by Storm Saxon (Member # 3101) on :
 
I stand corrected, Puffy.
 
Posted by Storm Saxon (Member # 3101) on :
 
Though I do think that even if it's not within the letter of the law, it's within the spirit as exemplified by the comment "I'm hoping to hear about movies I've missed but will be glad to see". I guess I kind of transmuted 'I' into 'people on Hatrack'. [Smile]
 
Posted by Hmm216 (Member # 8403) on :
 
Boondock Saints!! Great Movie!!
 
Posted by beatnix19 (Member # 5836) on :
 
I just watched Merchant of Venice and thought it was great. I have only ever heard it mentioned once and I can't remember exactly where that was. It was some show where the critic made a quick comment about how it was one of Pacino's best roles. I figure that makes it underrated. I picked it up because I love Pacino and Shakespeare so I figured the two together would be great and it was.
 
Posted by Enigmatic (Member # 7785) on :
 
quote:
If you were dissuaded from seeing it, but you end up discovering something you like and would not have given a chance to otherwise, what's the difference?
Couple reasons, and these may very well not apply to most people who aren't me.
1) I don't put much stock in critics and box office numbers in the first place. So an "underrated" but widely-known movie has a good chance that I've already seen it.
2) I have enough movie-buff friends with different tastes that if something was in mainstream theaters for more than a month or two and I haven't seen it yet, I've probably heard good and bad opinions about it.
3) No matter how crappy a movie is, there's probably somebody who loved it. Maybe the "underrated" movie that I suggest really earned those bad reviews

So I'd rather an unheard of gem than something that I've already heard "no, it's really good despite the reviews" about. This is all, naturally, just my opinion and shouldn't prevent anyone from posting about whatever movie they feel like. As if it would, anyway.

Moving along.
Shadows of the Vampire had some reasonably big actors but didn't make much splash outside of a few horror buffs. It has John Malkovich as the director of the old silent film Nosferatu, with the twist being that he found an actual vampire to play the lead role. Willem Dafoe plays the Count in question, and is creepy as ever.

Wasabi is a strange French action movie set mostly in Japan. Jean Reno plays an overly violent cop who travels to Japan to settle the estate of his old love and finds out he has a daughter there he never knew about. Fun, overexagerrated action bits and a good sense of humor. Directed by Luc Besson, of Fifth Element and The Professional.

--Enigmatic
 
Posted by Treason (Member # 7587) on :
 
Babager, I LOVE American History X.

Puffy, Return to Oz ruled! Yes! That's when I developed my love of Fairuza Balk. (and before you get grossed out by me loving an 11 year old, I was 11 at the time as well.) [Smile]

For my own pick, Last Night was a great film about the last night on earth and what people would be doing. I loved it.

Also Starchaser: The Legend of Orin is fun, a cartoon that rips off Star Wars big time with it's characters.
 
Posted by Mrs.M (Member # 2943) on :
 
quote:
Keeping the Faith
Really, kat? How come? I hate that movie.

My list:

 
Posted by Carrie (Member # 394) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by beatnix19:
I just watched Merchant of Venice and thought it was great. I have only ever heard it mentioned once and I can't remember exactly where that was. It was some show where the critic made a quick comment about how it was one of Pacino's best roles. I figure that makes it underrated. I picked it up because I love Pacino and Shakespeare so I figured the two together would be great and it was.

I'm glad someone liked it. It kind of bored me. I was really excited to see Pacino doing Shakespeare, but was left wanting. The movie did pick up for me near the end, but... meh.
 
Posted by Treason (Member # 7587) on :
 
Oh! sorry but I left off one of my fav. movies ever!
Quills
 
Posted by Lyrhawn (Member # 7039) on :
 
This thread is confusing. Are we naming underrated movies, as in, movies that many have seen but rated lowly unfairly. Or are we talking about good movies that relatively few people have seen?

Many of the movies being listed on here highly acclaimed, but are cult favorites. Others have been widely seen and underrated. I don't know what to list.
 
Posted by Sho'nuff (Member # 3214) on :
 
quote:
The Last Dragon

A movie that knew what it was aspiring to be and executed it so brilliantly that it surpassed the limitations of the plot, the dialog, and the actors.

I mean, the villians goals are 1.) to try to beat up the hero in front of everyone so everyone will admit Villian #1 is better than the hero; and 2.) to get the VJ of a local dance show to play Villian #2's girlfriend's video. They weren't even trying for deep or profound moral conflict.

Throw in a quest for enlightenment, some very good comic relief, and well-executed roto-scoping and choreography in the main fight scene and you've got one hell of a movie.

It rises so far above all the schlock that it becomes good, and there's no real reason for it to be so except that someone knew what makes a good Kung Fu movie and what makes a good pop-music-based movie and combined the two perfectly.

Villian #1! VILLIAN #1!!!

The name is Sho'nuff fool!

And what's this about a hero? I'll whoop up on that fake wanna be master, Bruce Leroy.

I am the baddest...the meanest...the prettiest mo-fo around this town.
 
Posted by Strider (Member # 1807) on :
 
But in all seriousness, Dag said exactly what I was coming in here to say.

Only in the 80s could a movie like that have been made.

Don't have any other movies to add off the top of my head. There's been a lot of good ones mentioned already. Only some of which are actually "underrated". [Smile]
 
Posted by KarlEd (Member # 571) on :
 
Let me clarify, even if that means contradicting what I posted originally:

I want people to post movies that they LOVE, but that they feel are either underrated, overlooked, praised and/or watched and/or heard of less than they deserve. Really the field is wide open, though I'm hoping to hear about movies I haven't seen or thought about (which I have from many of you, thanks), so I'm not really looking for Pretty Woman no matter how much you think it deserves or doesn't deserve what you percieve as its reputation. [Wink]

What I most want, though, is your reason why you are posting the movie you are. Assume that I haven't heard of it, or have heard bad press about it, and convince me that it is something I should move to the top of my Netflix queue.
 
Posted by Dagonee (Member # 5818) on :
 
Strider, I can't HEAR you.
 
Posted by Kwea (Member # 2199) on :
 
I second Glory...that is the best Civil War movie I have ever seen. I loved the fact that they were from around here, in MA, where I now live.

Also, I really liked LEap of Faith, with Steve Martin. He did a great job, and the ending was a perfect ending for that film..although a lot of people I know didn't understand it, and disliked htat movie because of it...
 
Posted by starLisa (Member # 8384) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by KarlEd:
Let me clarify, even if that means contradicting what I posted originally:

I want people to post movies that they LOVE, but that they feel are either underrated, overlooked, praised and/or watched and/or heard of less than they deserve.



[ August 16, 2005, 04:35 PM: Message edited by: starLisa ]
 
Posted by Tante Shvester (Member # 8202) on :
 
I'm going to second the nominations for "Whale Rider" and "Clerks".

I would also like to nominate "Haiku Tunnel", and "But I'm a Cheerleader".
 
Posted by Tante Shvester (Member # 8202) on :
 
quote:
The Little Girl Who Lives Down the Lane
Oh yeah, I saw that, ages ago. Good call, Lisa. It was wonderful. That movie was where I first got the idea for poisoning people with cyanide in their tea and cookies.

Some day, I'll have to try that out, to see if it works as good as in the movie.
 
Posted by The Pixiest (Member # 1863) on :
 
Undercover Blues - This movie is just so cute. And I love the way they pick on Morty.
 
Posted by Enigmatic (Member # 7785) on :
 
Brain Donors - a modern version of Marx-brothers style zany comedy, with John Turturro in the Groucho-role. The funniest movie about ballet ever. Fast paced silliness and clever dialogue.

--Enigmatic
 
Posted by starLisa (Member # 8384) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by Tante Shvester:
quote:
The Little Girl Who Lives Down the Lane
Oh yeah, I saw that, ages ago. Good call, Lisa. It was wonderful. That movie was where I first got the idea for poisoning people with cyanide in their tea and cookies.

Some day, I'll have to try that out, to see if it works as good as in the movie.

<grin> I'll remember that if you ever offer me tea.

They're finally releasing this one on DVD come October. It's about time. It was actually hard for me to watch the West Wing for a while after the last time I watched this. I'd see Bartlett and hear this growl coming up from the back of my throat...
 
Posted by Hmm216 (Member # 8403) on :
 
The Village

Alot of people who I talked to about this movie said they didnt like it. They thought the previews made it look better then it was. I think the previews made it look scarier then it was, but I loved it!!! If it was not so hyped up to be a scary movie I think those who didnt like it would have a different opinion.

I absolutely LOVE Joaquin Pheonix!!!
 
Posted by Treason (Member # 7587) on :
 
While I can't argue with loving Joaquin Phoenix (Helloooo hottie with a scar, i love scars) I HATED The Village. Bah, booring.

I totally agree with Leon, though. Amazing movie. Weird that you actually start rooting for them to get together. (I did, anyway)
 
Posted by Beren One Hand (Member # 3403) on :
 
About a Boy -- Nick Hornby has a way of depicting immature but sincere men that makes them extremely symathetic and charming. And, of course, no one does charming better than Hugh Grant. [Smile]

Signs -- People are so fixated on M. Night Shyamalan's surprise endings that they sometimes overlook his mastery at creating believable characters facing intensely personal decsions about faith, destiny, and love.

Raising Victor Vargas -- A story about first love that doesn't rely on brain numbing cliches. Although not as sophisticated as some of the other movies I enjoy in this genre (e.g. "Say Anything," "Lucas," "The Man in the Moon"), this movie's simplicity makes it feel truer than any other coming of age tale I've seen in a long time. (It also has one of the most erotic kisses I've ever seen between actors. [Smile] )
 
Posted by El JT de Spang (Member # 7742) on :
 
I'm not sure if this has been mentioned (cause I'm too lazy to reread the whole thread), but I loved A League Of Their Own.

Tom Hanks deserved an Oscar for that movie, he was hilarious. Jon Lovitz was excellent as well.
 
Posted by SteveRogers (Member # 7130) on :
 
School of Rock
 
Posted by Tante Shvester (Member # 8202) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by Treason:
(Helloooo hottie with a scar, i love scars)

Yeah, me too. Always have. They remind me of Pirates.

My husband not only has scars, but also a sunken chest. Talk about hottie!
 
Posted by wordman (Member # 1307) on :
 
Pieces of April We picked this one up almost at random at the video store on a supply-met-demand weekend. April, the black sheep of the family, hosts Thanksgiving in her small New York apartment. She and her boyfriend jump through numerous comedies of error, while her family, driving in from out of state, reminisces about the good (almost none) and the bad (lots of examples) of their daughter, sister, and granddaughter April, trying to convince themselves that celebrating Thanksgiving with April is a good idea.

The movie has B- and C-list actors (and some from lists even further along the alphabet) who give some terrific performances. Shot very simply, the film is suprisingly touching and outshines all other Thanksgiving Day movies, such as Home for the Holidays.
 


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