Xixax Film Forum

Okay now i know this is phucking lame, but i believe some of these DVD's deserve some sort of recognition, now keep in mind these are my TOP ten underrated DVD's.

10. Galaxy Quest - What the fuck can i say? I WANTED to hate this movie, i really did....but it was phucking AWESOME!!! Everytime i watch it, it just keeps getting better.

9. Bill & Teds: Bogus Journey - Before i go to sleep, all i have to do is think of Death getting "Melvined" and i giggle like a little school girl.

8. Phonebooth: What the hell did anyone NOT like about this film again? I was pretty shocked that i enjoyed it after all the media bashing that went on over it...

More to come, im phucking sleepy......add more to the list!!! Ya fuckos!

Three Kings: I felt like this never quite got the recognition it deserved.

Swingers: Classic movie to watch after a breakup. "You're so fucking money."

The Sting: One of my favorite Redford/Newman movies. Great story and gets a bonus since I got laid on a second date once while watching it with the girl.

Half Baked: Best comedy about weed ever.

Wet Hot American Summer - Yeah, we know about it, but ask anyone on the street and you'll get a blank stare.
KITH: Brain Candy - Ebert hated it, but so what. One of my favorite comedies ever.
Dark City - better than the Matrix with an eight of the recognition. Beautifully shot, great acting, and above all a sci-fi movie without overly cheesy special effects. They do exist Virginia.
Four Rooms - as discussed on the board, many don't like it, but I think Roth just makes this one into a gem.
Gross Point Blank - If you've seen it you know why.
A Life Less Ordinary - I love this movie.
Quills - An excellent film that got nearly no recognition.
Human Nature - usually people's least favorites of Kaufman's films, but it has so many brilliant parts even if it's somewhat uneven as a film.

Quote from: RaikusDark City - better than the Matrix with an eight of the recognition. Beautifully shot, great acting, and above all a sci-fi movie without overly cheesy special effects. They do exist Virginia.

I don't get it. Just because they are both 'dark' sci-fi films? On the grander scale, Matrix has it's roots in action; Dark City in film noir. It's like comparing Die Hard with Blood Simple.

gone with the wind
casablanca
citizen kane
the godfather

Quote from: MacGuffin

Quote from: RaikusDark City - better than the Matrix with an eight of the recognition. Beautifully shot, great acting, and above all a sci-fi movie without overly cheesy special effects. They do exist Virginia.

I don't get it. Just because they are both 'dark' sci-fi films? On the grander scale, Matrix has it's roots in action; Dark City in film noir. It's like comparing Die Hard with Blood Simple.

The ideas are from the same well. I don't hold to the theory Matrix ripped off Dark City by any means (most of us know the Matrix script has been around since '94), but they are definitely similiar movies--the same archetypal ideas. One's just a murder drama while the others an action movie.

-Both deal with a "savior" figure to rid the world of the non-human intruders who now enslave the humans.
-Both center around the "do it for love" theme.
-Both deal with the "savior" figure using the enemies powers against them.

I don't think Die Hard and Blood Simple have those type of similarities.

Quote from: RaikusDark City - better than the Matrix with an eight of the recognition. Beautifully shot, great acting, and above all a sci-fi movie without overly cheesy special effects. They do exist Virginia.

I totally agree that Dark City is wayyyyy underrated.  I didn't think it was that original though.  It reminded me a lot of Akira.

Quote from: Pgone with the wind
casablanca
citizen kane
the godfather

Are you being serious?  :?

I think Swimming with Sharks is underrated.  Spacey really surprised me.  I'll take that over American Beauty any day.  The DVD isn't so great, but I think this thread lost focus of that long before this post.

Notorious: What's the best Hitchcock film? Most folks say Psycho, Vertigo, The Birds, Rear Window or North by Northwest. But for me, "Notorious" is a very strong No. 2 by Hitchcock, behind only Vertigo (which I have in my all-time top five). It's got Bergman, Grant, Rains, Nazis, romance. What more could you want? And it's a gem of a DVD.

Thirteen Days: A movie has to do an awful lot of good things to overcome a mediocre Boston accent by Kevin Costner. This one does. Bruce Greenwood and Steven Culp are brilliant as the Kennedy brothers. The tension throughout this one proves that real life is much more dramatic than any plot that Tom Clancy would ever come up with. And another stellar DVD.

Chicken Run: Pixar is (deservedly so) atop the animation world these days. But few seem to mention this recent flick when asked about their favorites in the genre. It's absolutely stuffed when movie history in-jokes and makes you care about chickens. It blows "Shrek" out of the water, IMHO, and holds its own with the Toy Story movies. Again, a great DVD.

Heavy: I think James Mangold's debut remains his best film. Pruitt Taylor Vince is fantastic as a quiet fat guy circling around the orbits of Shelly Winters, Blondie and Liv Tyler. The DVD ain't much, but you're missing out if you don't find a way to see this film.

Gattaca
Sexy Beast

Quote from: Raikus

Quote from: MacGuffin

Quote from: RaikusDark City - better than the Matrix with an eight of the recognition. Beautifully shot, great acting, and above all a sci-fi movie without overly cheesy special effects. They do exist Virginia.

I don't get it. Just because they are both 'dark' sci-fi films? On the grander scale, Matrix has it's roots in action; Dark City in film noir. It's like comparing Die Hard with Blood Simple.

The ideas are from the same well. I don't hold to the theory Matrix ripped off Dark City by any means (most of us know the Matrix script has been around since '94), but they are definitely similiar movies--the same archetypal ideas. One's just a murder drama while the others an action movie.

-Both deal with a "savior" figure to rid the world of the non-human intruders who now enslave the humans.
-Both center around the "do it for love" theme.
-Both deal with the "savior" figure using the enemies powers against them.

I don't think Die Hard and Blood Simple have those type of similarities.

Interestingly enough, Dark City is supposedly has the shortest Average Shot Length for a narrative.  It is around 1.6 or so seconds...I might be wrong on that figure.

Quote from: SHAFTR

Quote from: Raikus

Quote from: MacGuffin

Quote from: RaikusDark City - better than the Matrix with an eight of the recognition. Beautifully shot, great acting, and above all a sci-fi movie without overly cheesy special effects. They do exist Virginia.

I don't get it. Just because they are both 'dark' sci-fi films? On the grander scale, Matrix has it's roots in action; Dark City in film noir. It's like comparing Die Hard with Blood Simple.

The ideas are from the same well. I don't hold to the theory Matrix ripped off Dark City by any means (most of us know the Matrix script has been around since '94), but they are definitely similiar movies--the same archetypal ideas. One's just a murder drama while the others an action movie.

-Both deal with a "savior" figure to rid the world of the non-human intruders who now enslave the humans.
-Both center around the "do it for love" theme.
-Both deal with the "savior" figure using the enemies powers against them.

I don't think Die Hard and Blood Simple have those type of similarities.

Interestingly enough, Dark City is supposedly has the shortest Average Shot Length for a narrative.  It is around 1.6 or so seconds...I might be wrong on that figure.

Thats funny because i would think that every Michael Bay film would be in a tie for the shortest average shot length.

The Last Time I Committed Suicide
Things to do in Denver When You're Dead
Cop
The Man in the Moon (not to be confused with the Andy Kaufman film, which is also great)
Boiler Room (where the fuck is Ben Younger these days)
I Love You to Death
The Commitments
Grand Canyon (that film holds up strong)
Mumford ( I guess I have an affinity for Kasdan, speaking of which -
The Zero Effect (his son directed this)

Quote from: EEz28Gattaca

good . call on that one..

And would like to add:

1.) Copland
2.)  In the Name of My Father(where's the SOLID dvd)
3.)  below
4.)  Bringing out the Dead
5.)  Meet Joe Black( i didn't find this that bad at all)
6.)  you can count on me
7.)  sleepers
8.)  Con-Air
9.)  The Truman Show
10.)  The Basketball Diaries.....

HULK
minority report, AI
the frighteners.

i'm serious this time.

Quote from: PHULK

:yabbse-thumbup:

And I have the same fear for 28 Days Later.

Catch 22

i agree on minority report, half baked and conair.

also, robocop movies
lost highway
tripple x

Monument Ave.
King of the Hill
Whatever

Quote from: RaikusThe ideas are from the same well. I don't hold to the theory Matrix ripped off Dark City by any means (most of us know the Matrix script has been around since '94), but they are definitely similiar movies--the same archetypal ideas. One's just a murder drama while the others an action movie.

I can see the similarities, but I still don't think because of that the two films warrant enough of a comparasion that one is better than the other.


Anyway:
The Wrong Man
The Grifters
The Waterdance
Exotica
Tucker: The Man and His Dream
Roger Dodger
Some Kind Of Wonderful
Bugsy
Quiz Show
The Truth About Cats and Dogs
A Midnight Clear
The Chocolate War
Talk Radio
Menace II Society
Backbeat
Nurse Betty
The Edge
Streets Of Fire
Before Night Falls
Basquiat
The Rapture
Homicide
Wings Of The Dove
The Trigger Effect
A Perfect World

Quote from: MacGuffinNurse Betty

Yes! I love that movie. That's probably the only great performance of Zellwegger's career. Incredible movie, yet so easy to shrug off if you haven't seen it.

Quote from: MacGuffin

Anyway:
The Wrong Man
The Grifters
The Waterdance
Exotica
Tucker: The Man and His Dream
Roger Dodger
Some Kind Of Wonderful
Bugsy
Quiz Show
The Truth About Cats and Dogs
A Midnight Clear
The Chocolate War
Talk Radio
Menace II Society
Backbeat
Nurse Betty
The Edge
Streets Of Fire
Before Night Falls
Basquiat
The Rapture
Homicide
Wings Of The Dove
The Trigger Effect
A Perfect World

Some really nice picks. I love Nurse Betty, The Grifters, A Midnight Clear and Quiz Show.

I see we're finally, finally, finally getting a widescreen DVD of "A Midnight Clear" in October.  :-D

But, apparently, there will be no special features.  :(

Quote from: Find Your MagaliI see we're finally, finally, finally getting a widescreen DVD of "A Midnight Clear" in October.  :-D

But, apparently, there will be no special features.  :(

They'd be stupid to not carry over the excellent commentary on the full screen dvd.

Quote from: MacGuffin

Quote from: Find Your MagaliI see we're finally, finally, finally getting a widescreen DVD of "A Midnight Clear" in October.  :-D

But, apparently, there will be no special features.  :(

They'd be stupid to not carry over the excellent commentary on the full screen dvd.

Oh, there's a commentary? You know, as good as that movie is, I didn't even give the original DVD two seconds worth of consideration when I saw it was full-screen.

Quote from: MacGuffin

Quote from: Find Your MagaliI see we're finally, finally, finally getting a widescreen DVD of "A Midnight Clear" in October.  :-D

But, apparently, there will be no special features.  :(

They'd be stupid to not carry over the excellent commentary on the full screen dvd.

Yeah it makes alot of sense to release a widescreen version and not include the commentary.

Quote from: Find Your MagaliOh, there's a commentary?

By Ethan Hawke and Keith Gordon.

If I didn't get it for free, I probably would have bought it anyway since it did have a commentary and not thinking this would be one title that would get an upgrade. Now if Warner Bros. would only letterbox Frantic and Stand And Deliver.

what is the appeal of the Grifters for everyone? I still can't see why Scorsese himself thought so highley of it as to produce. So little of that movie actually worked for me.

The script, the acting.  I saw it in the theater when I was in my teens and it was such a different movie to me, at the time, but I saw it again recently it I still love it.  A nice little movie about some fucked up people.

Where the Day Takes You
Lantana

Nice picks, MacGuffin.  I loved The Truth About Cats and Dogs when I saw it way back in ... 1995, I think it was.

Skimming down the list for others ... Ebert and Berardinelli, at least, agree with you about Exotica's excellence.  It may be that it's underappreciated by the public at large.  With a title like that, though, it's no wonder.  Saw Quiz Show, was one of the best of 1994, though overshadowed by Pulp Fiction and Forrest Gump, of course.  And agreed, A Perfect World was great.  That's pretty much it for what I've seen for that list.  It really boggles my mind, reminding me how many movies I need to see.

Speaking of underrated movies and movies that NEED to be released in widescreen, I also noticed today on Amazon that there's finally a widescreen special edition two-pack of the Babe movies being released in September --- for 23 bucks!

"Babe" will have a making of documentary and a director's commentary.

Not sure of the features on "Babe: Pig in the City"

This is awesome news.

this is being posted by a friend of ebeaman's exactly as he wrote it, he'd rather this was his last post for awhile. I'll try to put what I'm taking in verbatim in one of those quote box things.

Quote-Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore
-All the Real Girls
-At Close Range
-Cry Baby (fans of Hairspray must see)
-Drugstore Cowboy
-Edward Scissorhands
-Fear (the Mark Whalberg one)
-Niagra, Niagra
-Safe Men
-Uptown Girls (seriously really fucking great)

he also just wanted me to say that his current obsession is the movie Uptown Girls and that EVERYBODY here should ignore the reviews and see it now, he says it's the best new movie he's seen since All the Real Girls. He wants me to check for PM's every once in awhile for feedback on what people thought of it over the next week or two.

Whoops...he did more than 10, I missed 4 of them:

QuoteAlice Doesn't Live Here Anymore
All the Real Girls
Arizona Dream
At Close Range
Cherish
Cry Baby
Dogfight
Drugstore Cowboy
Edward Scissorhands
Fear
My Own Private Idaho
Niagra, Niagra
Safe Men
Uptown Girls

Remember to see Uptown Girls, he expects some PM's soon.

I can vouche for Dogfight, that is awfully underrated, see that one if you can.

I can think of heaps that I consider under-rated:

Ali
The Frighteners
A.I.
Hard Eight
Bully
Made
The Cable Guy
Little Nicky
Mystery Men
One Hour Photo
The Beach
Predator 2
Get Carter (remake, yes the remake)
Tresspass
The Great White Hype

These lists are hard. If I wanted to attempt to make any comprehensive one, I'd likely forget something and be pissed about it. Naming more than one or two makes me want to name even more.

I'll keep it simple with one. An older movie, a 60s comedy that is known now because it starred a famous musician. My own belief is that the movie is comedic in structure but purposely unfunny. The comedic structure allows for it to be prolly be the most thought out film of its kind and if labeling comes from that, maybe the best comedy I've ever seen. Thats a mis cue of course because the purpose of the film is to be morally shocking without taking sides (where the comedy element comes in). It's an anti war film that is not just about war is hell and such, but also about every man's ego and how it is driven to want the elements of war in themselves even if personally against the ones waged by nations. It achieves more than just a comedy and the filmmaking is so consistently innovative that for me, it seems wrong the film is hardly known and only getting 3 stars on my tv guide. I guess the 3 stars is out of respect for the good reviews it originally got but the lack of attention in public acclaim and an ability to be known amongst popular culture today. and oh yea, the film is: How I Won The War.

~rougerum

Quote from: The Gold TrumpetThese lists are hard. If I wanted to attempt to make any comprehensive one, I'd likely forget something and be pissed about it. Naming more than one or two makes me want to name even more.

I'll keep it simple with one. An older movie, a 60s comedy that is known now because it starred a famous musician. My own belief is that the movie is comedic in structure but purposely unfunny. The comedic structure allows for it to be prolly be the most thought out film of its kind and if labeling comes from that, maybe the best comedy I've ever seen. Thats a mis cue of course because the purpose of the film is to be morally shocking without taking sides (where the comedy element comes in). It's an anti war film that is not just about war is hell and such, but also about every man's ego and how it is driven to want the elements of war in themselves even if personally against the ones waged by nations. It achieves more than just a comedy and the filmmaking is so consistently innovative that for me, it seems wrong the film is hardly known and only getting 3 stars on my tv guide. I guess the 3 stars is out of respect for the good reviews it originally got but the lack of attention in public acclaim and an ability to be known amongst popular culture today. and oh yea, the film is: How I Won The War.

~rougerum

Wow. Great description! I've never seen it, but your praise makes me want to run out and get it this weekend.

(which I guess is one of the whole side points of this thread, to tip folks off to great movies that might have fallen through the cracks)

Wayne's World

Quote from: MacGuffinA Perfect World

I love that movie...terrifically sad

Quote from: RaikusDark City - better than the Matrix with an eight of the recognition. Beautifully shot, great acting, and above all a sci-fi movie without overly cheesy special effects. They do exist Virginia.

I say the same about equilibrium

Why didn't GodDamn finish his list?

Few More:
Searching For Bobby Fischer
Red Rock West
The Last Seduction
River's Edge
Safe
The Fabulous Baker Boys
What's Love Got To Do With It
The People vs. Larry Flynt
Threesome
The Craft

Fresh
Kicking and Screaming
Internal Affairs
Beautiful Girls
Flirting with Disaster

The Gambler
Day of the Locust
California Split
Blue Collar
Straight Time
Who'll Stop The Rain
Return of the Secaucus 7
8 Million Ways to Die
Street Smart
Bitter Moon
A Soldier's Daughter Never Cries

Goddamn!  I scroll through three pages of posts and end up having 2 of my faves pop right up at the end-- Soixante, totally agree on Blue Collar and Straight Time (where's this dvd fer cryin' out loud?).
Don't know if all these qualify as underrated, but most are unseen by peeps when I bring 'em up:
- Point Blank (Fuck 'Payback')
- The Woman Chaser
- I Stand Alone
- Everything Put Together
- The Tenant
- Light Sleeper
- Videodrome
- Miami Blues (All you Grosse Pointe Blank fans need to catch it)
- Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Garcia
- Mother Night (or anything by Keith Gordon for that matter)
- The Hidden
- Saint Jack
- Bad Day at Black Rock

Quote from: Weak2ndAct
- Miami Blues (All you Grosse Pointe Blank fans need to catch it)

Right on!

Quote from: Weak2ndAct
- Point Blank (Fuck 'Payback')
- Miami Blues (All you Grosse Pointe Blank fans need to catch it)
- Saint Jack

Yes, these are good ones -- especially Point Blank.  This film was way ahead of its time.  It is one of John Boorman's best films.  It also needs to be put on DVD.

Miami Blues is cool.  Haven't seen Saint Jack since it came out, but it was sort of a comeback film for Bogdanovich.

the other side of heaven

Titus.

Dick Tracy

Quote from: OnomatopoeiaDick Tracy

I love Danny Elfman's score to that movie. It's some of his best stuff.

Agreed.  That's one of the things I love most about the movie.  Plus, the cinematography, the dialogue, the characters, the use of color -- pretty much everything about it.  Ebert gave it four stars, but it's only got a 5.7 rating on IMDb.  I don't know why more people don't like it.  When I was a kid I'd watch it over and over again, and I brought it up 'cause I saw it on HBO last night.  It's just so perfect.

QuoteYes, these are good ones -- especially Point Blank. This film was way ahead of its time. It is one of John Boorman's best films. It also needs to be put on DVD.

Miami Blues is cool. Haven't seen Saint Jack since it came out, but it was sort of a comeback film for Bogdanovich

Why Point Blank isn't out yet truly boggles my mind-- I mean it's an MGM title and they put anything and everything out (and cheap).

Saint Jack is out on dvd under the 'Roger Corman Presents' banner.  There's a good commentary track, but the transfer is rancid.  Still worth picking up though if you can find a deal.

Yeah, I'd go with A.I. and Minority Report -- though I don't know how underrated they are. But I think just about everything else mentioned deserves to be underrated.

I thought A.I. was overrated. (didn't like the Spielberg ending)

You didn't get the ending. It wasn't a "Spielberg ending." It was the most subversive conclusion to a film I've seen in a long time.

Quote from: mutinycoYou didn't get the ending. It wasn't a "Spielberg ending." It was the most subversive conclusion to a film I've seen in a long time.

While I didn't think AI was overrated, a "subversive conclusion" it did not have.

How did JB not GET the ending?  

Pompousness hardly flatters anyone

Quote from: mutinycoYou didn't get the ending. It wasn't a "Spielberg ending." It was the most subversive conclusion to a film I've seen in a long time.

What translates to you as 'subversive' may come across to someone else as 'too spielberg'. I also fall into the latter category.

Quote from: RegularKaratePompousness hardly flatters anyone

I like that..

A.I. too for this jj was too long, worn out and overdone, the ending, makin' me wish I had the remote closer by ...if I were stanley k. I would be flippin' in my bed.  someone owns me 146 minutes.

agreed on the endin'...I didn't mind this as I like jude law if nothing else, but the ending killed it for me....

I loved the movie until the end. I loved it, which is why I hated the ending so much. It should have ended in the ice.

Quote from: Jeremy BlackmanI It should have ended in the ice.

exactly...and honestly I thought that was the endin' while watchin' this....and was pleased, then it went on to distory my already fond feelings.  ...grrrr

Cruel Intentions.  



I thought this movie was great and wasnt apprecited b/c everyone considered it a teen movie.

Do you guys fully comprehend the ending? The kid is thawed years later by super machines. They find him special because he is the last machine in known existence to have had direct contact with humans -- who were ultimately responsible for creating the machines which now populate Earth.

David was programmed to always have the mentality of a child. His reasoning would never mature. He would always love Monica. The ending with his mother never actually happened in the physical world. The super machines simply programmed him to have this final memory as a debt of gratitude.

He doesn't become a real boy at the end. He's terminated. Dead.

By dying, he's now like every human that ever existed: dead. Everybody dies in the end. Only humanity is incapable of reconciling this. So we create religion to comfort us and technology to extend and make our lives more comfortable. And it's these things which are ultimately our downfall.

What you mistook as a happy ending is really the DEATH OF HUMANITY. By David being terminated the last link with humanity is terminated. And as a mecha programmed to love, perhaps that dies with him as well.

This is the most subversive thing I can imagine -- dressing up the apocalypse with overdone sentiment, tricking people into thinking they're watching one thing while something else entirely is taking place.

Quote from: mutinycoDo you guys fully comprehend the ending?

yes.

right, its the bleakest ending ever. tell me why you think these memories of him and monica are implanted.

besides, the end of humanity IS a happy ending, so either way...

Watch it. The machines are lying to him. Lying to him the way parents lie to children who don't understand any better. Also, just plain look at it. It's totally artificial looking. What, the machines were actually going to completely rebuild his house and bring her back to life? He's a machine. It's just input. Whether it's physical or programmed is of little importance. It's just information.

All of which opens up another can of worms. This film will be revered in the future.

Quote from: mutinycoThis film will be revered in the future.

along with HULK and eyes wide shut.

anyway, to continue the AI debate i invite u all to this place. (http://xixax.com/viewtopic.php?t=848&start=45) it's collecting dust.

machines lie now? i guess i overlooked the shot where we clearly see that their fingers are crossed

this kind of behavio(u)r ("The super machines simply programmed him to have this final memory as a debt of gratitude") is completely illogical for a machine. does your computer console you after a hard day? does it thank you for adding ram?

bleak or not,  the ending was inspired so much by the ending of 2001 that it seems easy to discredit because of how similiar they are.

I use to like AI a lot. I use to like Kubrick a lot as well. For me, the film is a physical road map of two directors in theme, directing and storytelling that really never amounts to much of a single work at all. Its just a history of two directors when book comparison could have been so much easier.

mutinyco, most argument and attention towards you seems not really of disagreement for your position, but for your attitude. So, do you get it?

~rougerum

Quote from: mutinycoDo you guys fully comprehend the ending? The kid is thawed years later by super machines. They find him special because he is the last machine in known existence to have had direct contact with humans -- who were ultimately responsible for creating the machines which now populate Earth.

David was programmed to always have the mentality of a child. His reasoning would never mature. He would always love Monica. The ending with his mother never actually happened in the physical world. The super machines simply programmed him to have this final memory as a debt of gratitude.

He doesn't become a real boy at the end. He's terminated. Dead.

By dying, he's now like every human that ever existed: dead. Everybody dies in the end. Only humanity is incapable of reconciling this. So we create religion to comfort us and technology to extend and make our lives more comfortable. And it's these things which are ultimately our downfall.

What you mistook as a happy ending is really the DEATH OF HUMANITY. By David being terminated the last link with humanity is terminated. And as a mecha programmed to love, perhaps that dies with him as well.

This is the most subversive thing I can imagine -- dressing up the apocalypse with overdone sentiment, tricking people into thinking they're watching one thing while something else entirely is taking place.

It's completely Spielberg's fault for making me overlook this. I assumed it was another happy ending he tacked on.

Still, it felt too happy. Even if it was subversive, it was too happy. I want a Kubrick subversive ending. I want the movie to end in the ice.

While you're at it, can you redeem the end of Minority Report?

I already have redeemed MR. Look elsewhere.

Quote from: Jeremy BlackmanStill, it felt too happy. Even if it was subversive, it was too happy.

It did. Thats why, in nyc's good summing up of the ending, I don't really believe it. It makes logistical sense for what is in the movie and all, but the feeling and filmmaking talent suggest something else. That's why much of the movie bothers me. It tries to understand Kubrick's intentions with Speilberg's talent. I think Speilberg is great and all, but not the filmmaker for this movie. He seems like he is playing with just a children's story by only making it mature. He doesn't take it the extra mile and apply Kubrick's skill to make it mean and feel more. A lot of the scenes in the movie feel like Speilberg trying to extend his skills into narrative too far removed and confusing with what he has to focus the immediate story on.

~rougerum

Quote from: mutinycoI already have redeemed MR. Look elsewhere.

http://xixax.com/viewtopic.php?t=1603&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=45

And... do you really think Speilberg has entered a phase of self-parody? Don't you think that he believed, maybe at least a little, that the robot kid became a real boy? After all, the premise and the tagline was... "OMFG! Can A.I. be human?" It's not funny as irony. I try to see it as a joke, and it's way over the top... no less cheesy than Minority Report. And it just feels so unecessary. Maybe it's less about the realities of the movie and the nuances of the plot, and more about the feeling. It feels stupid and wrong. And as a parody, it's exploitative and cheap. (this goes for MR too)

Down By Law ... way underrated even amongst the "art lovers" and "Che Guevara 4 prez" type of people.

Excalibur is kinda underrated too, it was nice movie with a good score and great performances by stars in the making.

Sometimes, I think mutinyco is just a really clever computer. :(

Road to Perdition.

I think Kubrick was precisely right in choosing Spielberg. He was the perfect Trojan Horse. He was the perfect messenger to deliver these ideas and themes because nobody expected him to do it. It wasn't self-parody -- it was deconstructing his symbols.

I don't think the film plays as 2 people's ideas of what it should be. Time will melt away any of that stigma. The fact is, the areas people think were inherently Kubrick's and those that were Spielberg's are different. Kubrick fully designed the first act and the third act (including the finale where he dies looking like a Hallmark commercial), but had never connected the pieces of the middle section -- Spielberg did that.

And I met Jan Harlan and Christiane Kubrick 2 years ago -- and they were adamant that this film is as Stanley intended it to be.

The problem is that people brought too much expectation with them to see a film by one or the other. That's why time will lull that response. And we'll just be left with a pretty ballsy film.

And yes, I am a computer. An Apple. :)

Quote from: mutinycoAnd I met Jan Harlan and Christiane Kubrick 2 years ago -- and they were adamant that this film is as Stanley intended it to be.

How can that be truthful though? Given both are different filmmakers, both naturally will approach a script or a story from different avenues of thought and a different feeling that could take the other's easily out of context and all. Its like saying that two men, given the same Shakespeare play, will make it exactly the same because the text is the same. No! Each person will do it differently because the matter of the text is in choosing how and what to look at most importantly. Generally,  I believe Kubrick would have lingered through the story. Speilberg ran through it. Both are different filmmakers and would have approached the work in the editing room (where Kubrick has said the real art of film comes because it the reshifting and reshaping of the movie to your specific desire at the time after doing all the work and having had the movie in your mind for years). Personally, I think that quote came from an advertiser's perspective of selling a movie.

~rougerum

Dude, get a life. You have nothing to say.

no, gt is right. its okay for you to like ai, but dont try to force feed us these speculations of what kubrick intended and this bogus interpretation of the ending. its like youre rationalizing

Quote from: mutinycoDude, get a life. You have nothing to say.

mutinyco, you are pretty damn passionate about these two films

..Jesus Son.....

that film needs a proper s.e. on dvd

Stranger Than Paradise.. There's an underrated flick. I guess it's respected here, but I'd say its one of the very best of the 1980's.

Quote from: BankyCruel Intentions.  



I thought this movie was great and wasnt apprecited b/c everyone considered it a teen movie.

any comments or am i alone on this one ?

Quote from: MrBurgerKingStranger Than Paradise.. There's an underrated flick. I guess it's respected here, but I'd say its one of the very best of the 1980's.

I agree 100%.  it's a terrific film.

I'm not force feeding anything. There's nothing to interpret about the ending. I'm right.

Quote from: mutinycoI'm not force feeding anything. There's nothing to interpret about the ending. I'm right.

the artist's position.......not.

~rougerum

Actually, I prefer doggy-style...

Quote from: Banky

Quote from: BankyCruel Intentions.  



I thought this movie was great and wasnt apprecited b/c everyone considered it a teen movie.

any comments or am i alone on this one ?

for me, yea, you are. The language and respect for the characters who are teenagers is definitely unlike other teen movies. The extension of the original novel to a story about teenagers seems unbelievable though, even if they are rich. The crimes suggest a situation with more maturity. Its nice to see a movie with teenagers who are smart, but this feels way too far fetched and a dragging process of getting teen roles to fit the characters and language in the novel. Another world. I think a good story was sought and they just assigned the novel to a genre film because it equated to all the essentials in the genre film when mixed properly.

~rougerum

Quote from: Banky

Quote from: BankyCruel Intentions.  

I thought this movie was great and wasnt apprecited b/c everyone considered it a teen movie.

any comments or am i alone on this one ?

Maybe you're alone on this one. I did like a lot about it but I still valued it as a teen movie. I think the dialogue and how it was treated by the actors contributed to that the most for me. Yet they're all talented actors, but it was made in 1997 and they're a bit more seasoned now. I dunno... Don't get me wrong, I really liked it at the time but I don't have the same respect for it now.

Quote from: mutinycoDude, get a life. You have nothing to say.
There's nothing to interpret about the ending. I'm right.

Buddy. Do us all a favour and cream your pants.

I already creamed. What do you think happened to that old broad's face?

Quote from: The Gold Trumpet

Quote from: Banky

Quote from: BankyCruel Intentions.  



I thought this movie was great and wasnt apprecited b/c everyone considered it a teen movie.

any comments or am i alone on this one ?

for me, yea, you are. The language and respect for the characters who are teenagers is definitely unlike other teen movies. The extension of the original story to a story about teenagers seems unbelievable though, even if they are rich. The crimes suggest a situation with more maturity. Its nice to see a movie with teenagers who are smart, but this feels way too far fetched and a dragging process of getting teen roles to fit the characters and language in the story. Another world. I think a good story was sought and they just assigned the novel to a genre film because it equated to all the essentials in the genre film when mixed properly.

~rougerum

thank you .  That was a good fucking reply.  I hate when i post shit and no one answers.

I see what you mean though.  I dont know, i guess to me, when all the teen movies got hot around this time, i was suprised to see a movie with this dark of a plot.  I thought it was strange to see all the popular teen actors in a movie, that to me, wasnt a teen film.  This film was chalk full of them.  It was like the cast from Dawsons Creek and I know what you did last summer put together.

haha. cool. you're welcome.

~rougerum

And after I was done with the old broad I wrote XIXAX on Brittney's ass...

Quote from: mutinycoAnd after I was done with the old broad I wrote XIXAX on Brittney's ass...

really?  I could have sworn that was somebody else.

People sometimes mistake me for Colin Farrell...

Mutinyco, you are one sexy bastard.

Quote from: Banky

Quote from: BankyCruel Intentions.  



I thought this movie was great and wasnt apprecited b/c everyone considered it a teen movie.

any comments or am i alone on this one ?

I don't know about anyone else, but I fully agree that Cruel Intentions is a great, wholly underrated film.  It's much more entertaining than the snoozefest based on the same material, Dangerous Liaisons.

Quote from: Onomatopoeia

Quote from: Banky

Quote from: BankyCruel Intentions.  



I thought this movie was great and wasnt apprecited b/c everyone considered it a teen movie.

any comments or am i alone on this one ?

I don't know about anyone else, but I fully agree that Cruel Intentions is a great, wholly underrated film.  It's much more entertaining than the snoozefest based on the same material, Dangerous Liaisons.

exactly

Then I'll defend "Dangerous Liaisons".

It is more cutthroat and witty, and is one of Glenn Close's best performances, along with Malkovich's. The dialogue is simply perfect.

You want snoozefest, go watch "Valmont".

Bram Stoker's Dracula....(it still holds up even though whoa! is in there)

any given Sunday...

Clear and present danger.....(great political thriller.)

Teen Wolf starring Michael J. Fox.... if lovin' this movie is wrong, I don't wanna be right!

I think one of the most Under Appreciated movies of all time is easily Vanilla Sky.  This movie is the most complex, dynamic, and may i saw beautiful movies ever made.  Every single performance is on point, to say the least.  The care and effort Crowe put into this movie is unlike anything ive ever seen.  Every shot, word, look, noise, prop, location, has a well thought out purpose.  I think it is one of Tom Cruies's best performances and easily Cameron Diaz and Penelope Cruz's best.  Maybe its just me but this movie gets me somewhere very few films come close to.  The score by Nacy Wilson is amazing and fits so well.  The elevator scene, to me, is some of the best cinema in the last 15 years.  The way that it explains itself yet for the unsatisified gives more than enough clues to draw your own conclusion is brilliant.  This movie didnt really connect with me until the second viewing and thats the reason i think it might be dismissed.  I was upset at the lack of Academy attention it got.  Once again, Maybe Im alone on this one.

Any thoughts?

Agreed.

Quote from: eward

Quote from: MrBurgerKingStranger Than Paradise.. There's an underrated flick. I guess it's respected here, but I'd say its one of the very best of the 1980's.

I agree 100%.  it's a terrific film.

Yes, I said Down By Law but it might as well have been Stranger Than Paradise. Jarmusch is underrated in all he does, point.

..the doors is underrated
dogma is ..
and blade 2 also
..
along with first elm street..
can't forget solaris (soderbergh)
got to mention sleepers..
and just remebered to include face off

Quote from: BankyI think one of the most Under Appreciated movies of all time is easily Vanilla Sky.  This movie is the most complex, dynamic, and may i saw beautiful movies ever made.  Every single performance is on point, to say the least.  The care and effort Crowe put into this movie is unlike anything ive ever seen.  Every shot, word, look, noise, prop, location, has a well thought out purpose.  I think it is one of Tom Cruies's best performances and easily Cameron Diaz and Penelope Cruz's best.  Maybe its just me but this movie gets me somewhere very few films come close to.  The score by Nacy Wilson is amazing and fits so well.  The elevator scene, to me, is some of the best cinema in the last 15 years.  The way that it explains itself yet for the unsatisified gives more than enough clues to draw your own conclusion is brilliant.  This movie didnt really connect with me until the second viewing and thats the reason i think it might be dismissed.  I was upset at the lack of Academy attention it got.  Once again, Maybe Im alone on this one.

Any thoughts?

Seeing Abre los ojos may change your mind about this.  This is one of the reasons why I'm not too impressed with Cameron Crowe at all.  It was bad enough he had to take a decent film and remake it, but to pretty it up for "stupid Americans," simultaneously watering it down and not adding anything to it that the first film didn't address just makes it all even more disappointing.

I wanted to love Vanilla Sky.  It was my most anticipated film of 2001, looking back at it now.  It had such a promising premise, and a kick-ass trailer and tagline.  But once you realize Crowe doesn't mean to live up to the promises made in the trailer because he's only interested in a remake (with a few impressive shots and a cool "theme" song), all that possibility goes down the drain.  There's other threads floating around here where I talked about Crowe, I'm sure.  But that's my take on Vanilla Sky in a nutshell.  I realize there wasn't anything specific there, but I'm tired and have class tomorrow, so, later maybe.

i saw Abre Los Ojos, and thought Vanilla Sky improved everything that could be improved upon to make a better film.  ALO was a great idea, an okay movie.   Crowe took those ideas and made them into a better film.

Ravenous

Quote from: themodernage02i saw Abre Los Ojos, and thought Vanilla Sky improved everything that could be improved upon to make a better film.  ALO was a great idea, an okay movie.   Crowe took those ideas and made them into a better film.

I disagree, I think ojos is better. I'm gonna get lynched, but I pretty much hated vanilla sky

Quote from: tremoloslothRavenous

i love that film

In Ebert's review of "Jawbreaker", I think, he said "I can't recall the last movie I saw that didn't end with a prom or some other high school dance. Maybe it was 'Ravenous'." I though that was funny. :(

But imagine if "Ravenous" had ended with a prom. :(

Vanilla Sky was almost unwatchably bad.

Vanilla Sky WAS unwatchably bad.[/quote]

Quote from: rustinglass

Quote from: themodernage02i saw Abre Los Ojos, and thought Vanilla Sky improved everything that could be improved upon to make a better film.  ALO was a great idea, an okay movie.   Crowe took those ideas and made them into a better film.

I disagree, I think ojos is better. I'm gonna get lynched, but I pretty much hated vanilla sky

I'm on the same page.  I love Abre los Ojos...i hate hate hate vanilla sky

INSTITUTE BENJAMENTA

BOY MEETS GIRL

MUAVAIS SANG

Vanilla sky is a shit film... I had always skipped it's predecessor just because of how shitty Vanilla sky was, which I normally wouldn't do, you should always assume that the original is better, but everyone who liked ALO liked VS as well or better... now I see that's not necessarily the case and maybe I'll watch the original.

I liked Abre Los Ojos waaaaaaay more that Vanilla Sky-- actually, I flat out hated that one.  Found it to be way to masturbatory.  Amenebar made a thriller, Crowe just wanted to tell us he how much he loves pop culture.  And arrrrrggggh, that music.  I think the next movie he makes should be called "I Love Nancy Wilson."  Or "Can't Hold Billy Wilder's Jock."  Or "Yes, I Actually Won an Oscar for Writing."  Sorry to get on a Crowe-bashing rant, but I really loathed his last two movies.  I wish he would get over himself and make a decent flick.

the Crowe Vanilla Sky was absolute suck partly because the screenplay couldn't decide whether it was going to be a full-on remake or a full-on copy of the original.. it dallied back and forth.. but watch the original for sure. really, really better.

It's too bad there's more discussion here about "Vanilla Sky" than in Cameron Crowe's forum.

Quote from: MacGuffinIt's too bad there's more discussion here about "Vanilla Sky" than in Cameron Crowe's forum.

I wouldn't know.  If I go over there, I'm afraid I'll go nuts about how much I hate Almost Famous.

hey i have an idea, ill make up these strong opinions that i dont really have so i can be part of a thread that is brutaly, an unfairly, bashing a movie

Quote from: Bankyhey i have an idea, ill make up these strong opinions that i dont really have so i can be part of a thread that is brutaly, an unfairly, bashing a movie

Trust me, I truly do have these strong opinions and am not posting just join in on the gang-bang.  I really enjoy everything he's done, pre-Almost Famous.  Well, except I wasn't 100 percent into Singles.  I think he's enormously talented and wanted to like his last two movies.  Almost Famous was the got-the-keys-to-the-kingdom movie after the smashing success of Jerry Maguire, and it shows.  Yes, it was personal, but I felt he was throwing out too much.  I would have rather seen a movie about either the band, the girl, or the kid-- not all three at once.  I grew tired of the 'cut to' comedy-- end a scene with a line, show the complete opposite ('golden god' being the most obvious).  Hudson' OD scene was preposterous to me, it felt horribly awkward once the music kicked up and it turned almost... happy? at the end.  Didn't like that tack on with Crudup coming back at the end, felt to much like an idealized movie and not a truthful story-- which it was based on in the first place.  I managed to read Crowe's longer, older version of the script, which while I didn't really *love* it, it at least had a more concise perspective.  As for Vanilla Sky, once again, I really wanted to like that too.  I'm not against remakes for good or bad movies... as long as they bring something good to the table.  The first forty minutes or so moved along pretty well, and I was in.  But once the story had to turn suspenseful-- that's what Amenabar's film was in the first place, a mystery/thriller-- that's when Crowe fumbled.  In Ojos, there was a general tension as to what was happening once the 'switches' started to happen.  I didn't buy the conceit that 'the board' could be against Cruise, it wasn't earned, as for Lee's possible turn.  The relationship between the friends in the first movie was strained and far more dark (their introductions say it all).  I can't say for sure whether or not the TV ads for the cryo business was too much of a dead giveaway in VS since I knew what they were leading to.  BUT, and this is most important of all, I felt that at the end of VS, when it's all said and done, Crowe gave us an absolute truth.. and it was one I didn't dig and don't think he earned.  I liked the ambiguity of the original's end (my only gripe is the cgi's budget, yikes!) and how the revelation was a sucker-punch, and it was so outrageous that it could *possibly* be false.  The often praised elevator scene was just too expository for me to handle in the remake.  All the music ref's were a bit too much for me, it felt like Crowe got to throw out a lot of stuff he didn't get out from the last movie.

*whew* I will see the guys' forthcoming films, still definitely ready to give him a shot.  I would like to see him keep working with Jim Brooks (he produced his two best, IMHO) and to have 'the man' breathing down his neck a little more.  Some filmmakers, when the get TOO much creative freedom, get bogged down in their own world and forget that they've got to put a show on for the audience.

i respect a well thought out post.  I just felt on the previous page everyone was trying to out do eachother on how much they hated it.  I dont agree with some of your comments on AF.  He uses the cut to comedy in every movie.

just watched Gattaca........why isn't this film talked about more? beautiful cinematography......great tone

i agree also with:
Human Nature

A.I. (the third act was written by Kubrick, not tacked on by Spielberg........i figured the ice was where Kubrick would have ended it, but alas it was not and is not and shall be not, not)

is Willy Wonka underrated? if so, i'll add that.

Quote from: bigideasjust watched Gattaca........why isn't this film talked about more? beautiful cinematography......great tone.

I'll even add Andrew Niccol's "S1mone". I don't know if it's a guilty pleasure or underrated since it's never talked about either, but I really like that film too.

Trapped In Paradise
The Animal
Little Nicky

seriously speaking, I'd say:
The Professional (aka Leon)

and I'll add:
Boondock Saints
Miami Blues

a perfect world

lenny

Bringing out the dead
Jackie Brown
Fear and Loathing in LV
Punch Drunk Love
PI


wish more (and more)ppl had watched, understood and liked them.

coyote ugly

jude

titus  (i know it's already been said, but i'll re-state it)

deep blue sea

jesus christ superstar (1973)

kissing jessica stein

Quote from: AK
wish more (and more)ppl had watched, understood and liked them.

how do you know people didnt understand it -- maybe they just didnt like it.

Quote from: cowboykurtis

Quote from: AK
wish more (and more)ppl had watched, understood and liked them.

how do you know people didnt understand it -- maybe they just didnt like it.

i don't think ak's point was to condescend.

Quote from: cowboykurtis

Quote from: AK
wish more (and more)ppl had watched, understood and liked them.

how do you know people didnt understand it -- maybe they just didnt like it.

based on ppl i talk to:

Bringing out the dead - didnt like it
Jackie Brown didnt watched it
Fear and Loathing in LV didnt like it
Punch Drunk Love didnt watched , understand and like it
PI -didnt  liked and understand it

so, just PI and PDL were about understand+like....and I heard and read  clearly the sentences: "I hate it because i didnt get it"

Quotei don't think ak's point was to condescend.

when I appreciate something, I wanna show to  others....and it sads me when they HATE...dont aks for condescendence on this...

Quote from: AK

Quote from: cowboykurtis

Quote from: AK
wish more (and more)ppl had watched, understood and liked them.

how do you know people didnt understand it -- maybe they just didnt like it.

based on ppl i talk to:

Bringing out the dead - didnt like it
Jackie Brown didnt watched it
Fear and Loathing in LV didnt like it
Punch Drunk Love didnt watched , understand and like it
PI -didnt  liked and understand it

so, just PI and PDL were about understand+like....and I heard and read  clearly the sentences: "I hate it because i didnt get it"

Quotei don't think ak's point was to condescend.

when I appreciate something, I wanna show to  others....and it sads me when they HATE...dont aks for condescendence on this...

i really didnt like fear and loathing in las vegas.  i didnt really like PI either, though, i really think i should give it another chance.  i had a very bad headache when i saw it, and i think that might be why i didnt like it.

Quote from: ewardi didnt really like PI either.

me neither.  i think aronofosky is wildly overrated.  his films create a disturbing, depraved mood but they don't actually say anything original.  i thought requiem for a dream was powerful but it didn't really challenge my thoughts on drugs or drug use or present interesting characters that i could genuinely care about.  Pi had a few very effective scenes but again, it seemed more an exercise in mood and style than story and characters.

Quote from: eward

i really didnt like fear and loathing in las vegas.  i didnt really like PI either, though, i really think i should give it another chance.  i had a very bad headache when i saw it, and i think that might be why i didnt like it.

Blah, whatever....it passed one at morning and i'm tired (what turns me a little tolerant)

PI gaves em headaches too,but i guess that s what Aronofsky wanted.

Quote from: AK

PI gaves em headaches too,but i guess that s what Aronofsky wanted.

thats why im reconsidering it.  i didnt enjoy watching it, but the more i think about it, the more i admire it.  ill make sure the conditions are a-ok before i pop it in again.  fear and loathing just annoys me though.

blow

Quote from: AKBringing out the dead
Jackie Brown
Fear and Loathing in LV
Punch Drunk Love
PI


wish more (and more)ppl had watched, understood and liked them.

LOVED - Bringing Out the Dead, PDL, Jackie Brown

HATED - Fear and Loathing, Pi

I wanna buy Bring Out the Dead so bad. That is a great movie. So so good.

yeah i didnt think fear and loathing in las vegas was as good as the book

Quote from: Sanjuroyeah i didnt think fear and loathing in las vegas was as good as the book

It's so annoying. Maybe the most annoying movie ever. And it's too bad cause the characters are kinda cool and there are some would-be funny parts. Johnny Depp was great though, I'll admit. I couldn't believe how well he potrayed Hunter.

Quote from: pookiethecat

Quote from: ewardi didnt really like PI either.

me neither.  i think aronofosky is wildly overrated.  his films create a disturbing, depraved mood but they don't actually say anything original.  i thought requiem for a dream was powerful but it didn't really challenge my thoughts on drugs or drug use or present interesting characters that i could genuinely care about.  Pi had a few very effective scenes but again, it seemed more an exercise in mood and style than story and characters.

...... :?
..i feel quite the opposite w/ you on this..::thinking::..um.....well i think he is original in his style..NOBODY HAS EVER (THAT I HAVE SEEN) PRESENTED HIS  FILMS IN THIS WAY/STYLE/FORM...you "may" be right in terms of "orinal story or character developement"..but I think he uses his visual style to hammer his points home rather than broad character dialouge..which is orinal and effective..original b/c he is one of few who are very visual but not for show..

and effective becuse you feel awkrward after viewing his filmss......

Quote from: NEON MERCURYI think he uses his visual style to hammer his points home rather than broad character dialouge..which is orinal and effective..original b/c he is one of few who are very visual but not for show..

the film never showed you the humanity of these characters.  thus when they reacted to such extremes, it seemed unrealistic.  i couldn't identify with these boring cardboard characters, so when they went ape shit, instead of "this could be you" it alienated me.    

i also never felt that the way he went about showing each character's demise according to their obvious exterior was lame and predictable.  ellen burnstyn character=fat (going nuts on diet pills) jennifer connelly character= sexually attractive (prostitution) marlon wayans=black (gets beat up by racists while in jail).    

Quoteand effective becuse you feel awkrward after viewing his filmss......

if his sole effect is making the audience feel awkward and uneasy, then you're right, he succeeds.  the question is: Is that enough?  Provoking feelings of uneasiness is not the same thing as provoking genuine thought.  aronofsky has struck me as a much better mood-setter than a storytelling.  i think he is amazingly talented, but he hasn't really shaped it into something truly impressive YET.

i also thought requiem was unrealistic but the filmmaking and performances (especially ellen burstyn) was just incredible.

how do you quote what someone said??

Sanjuro, a very wise Jedi once told me to "hit the quote button" ... seek this button out.

Burstyn is great. ...

I picked up Requiem recently but haven't watched it yet. (i know, i know, some you are hissing at me now, but this is Whiskey Mags talking)

My favorite Burstyn thing is one of my favorite guilty pleasures of all time "Same Time, Next Year"

I DEFY anyone to watch this all the way through and not get teary.*


*--Whiskey Mags is not entirely sure that "teary" is a word

Quote from: Find Your MagaliSanjuro, a very wise Jedi once told me to "hit the quote button" ... seek this button out.

thanks. right in front of my face hahha
now i think i got it right this time... took me a while to figure out

Quote from: NEON MERCURYwell i think he is original in his style..NOBODY HAS EVER (THAT I HAVE SEEN) PRESENTED HIS  FILMS IN THIS WAY/STYLE/FORM...you "may" be right in terms of "original story or character developement"..but I think he uses his visual style to hammer his points home rather than broad character dialouge..which is original and effective..original b/c he is one of few who are very visual but not for show..

oliver stone.

Speaking of Oliver Stone, I think U-Turn was underrated (I don' know if anyone mentioned it before, but I just could not read every page of this thread...

i think Boondock Saints was way underrated and that people bash on it too much.  

then again, I also liked Fear and Loathing.

Thats true, a lot of people here didn't like 'Fear and Loathing' that much. Whereas I absolutely loved it. I think these things are called opinions... don't ya just love 'em?

Quote from: ***beady***Thats true, a lot of people here didn't like 'Fear and Loathing' that much. Whereas I absolutely loved it. I think these things are called opinions... don't ya just love 'em?

(https://xixax.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.almostrammstein.com%2Fimg%2Fhitlartime.gif&hash=f976a0bb5b7b813217e69dd475df80421efcef1a)
Hitler hates opinions.  But damn he loves to dance.

Quote from: jasper_windowBoiler Room (where the fuck is Ben Younger these days)

It's Prime Time for Sandra Bullock & Meryl Streep
Source: The Hollywood Reporter

Sandra Bullock and Meryl Streep will star in Ben Younger's feature film Prime, which is not related to the Marvel comic of the same name.

The romantic comedy is a New York-set story that centers around the emotion and humor that ensues when a 22-year-old painter from Brooklyn falls in love with a 37-year-old career woman (Bullock) from the Upper East Side. Streep is attached to play the Bullock character's therapist. The part of the young male painter has yet to be cast.

Younger will direct from his own script.

"jesus' son"--actually this probably wouldnt fall under the category 'underrated' but more like 'barely viewed'

'teenage mutant ninja turtles'-- the first one of course, i love this movie maybe even more than when i was a kid. its dark, its funny and for a kids movie its characters have a pretty tremendous amount of depth

I think that The Truman Show was very underrated at the time. I really loved it and have watched it several times because it just had a certain beauty to it. I think when it was released it wasn't well recieved because it was Jim Carey in a more serious role which people didn't want to see and also there was EDtv at the same time. Maybe I'm wrong but I really liked it.

Antonia Bird's Ravenous...I adore that movie...

Quote from: chriskelvinAntonia Bird's Ravenous...I adore that movie...

I love you

Quote from: Slog

Quote from: chriskelvinAntonia Bird's Ravenous...I adore that movie...

I love you

do I read sarcasm in there?

i don't know, do you?

Quote from: Pi don't know, do you?

well, I see. Did you know that the word "cynic" means "the one who is like a dog"?

as a matter of fact i did.

great...then urinate against someone else's leg

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I was being serious anyway.  Ravenous is fucking cool, I don't know how many times I've said that on here.

I apologize, slog. I apologize, P. Sorry.

Quote from: SlogRavenous is fucking cool, I don't know how many times I've said that on here.

Including your praises for the soundtrack, exactly six times. And I agree with all of them.

Quote from: MacGuffin

Quote from: SlogRavenous is fucking cool, I don't know how many times I've said that on here.

Including your praises for the soundtrack, exactly six times. And I agree with all of them.

The soundtrack is brillant indeed. It was done by Michael Nyman who composed also the new soundtrack for Man with a Movie Camera. A part of it was also used in Ravenous.

Quote from: chriskelvinIt was done by Michael Nyman...

...and Damon Albarn of Blur.

Quote from: jasper_windowThe Commitments

Agreed, and I'm glad I didn't give in to the full screen DVD:

At last making its debut on March 16th is a special edition reissue of the Alan Parker cult classic The Commitments. This two-disc set boasts a 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen transfer and Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack, plus an audio commentary by Parker, the full-length "The Commitments: Looking Back" and "The Making of The Commitments" documentaries, an additional "Dublin Soul: The Working Class & Changing Face of Dublin" featurette, a "Treat Her Right" music video plus "Before the Next Tear Drop Falls" and "Taking on the World" original songs, a still gallery, and promotional materials including the theatrical trailer, six TV spots and four radio spots. Retail will be $26.95.

the blair witch project

color of pomegranate.

outside providence

Ok, whoever said Brain Candy is RIGHT ON!  

Also, everyone forgets about the Hitchcock flick Strangers on a Train....

Mystery Train

underrated movie - Not an obscure movie, but a movie everyone knows, yet no one takes seriously.


This is the definitive top ten most underrated movies list, as compiled by the world's foremost authority on such matters--myself:

1. (John Carpenter's) The Thing

2. True Romance

3. The Empire Strikes Back

4. Starship Troopers

5. Miami Blues

6. Killing Zoe

7. Robocop

8. Cable Guy

9. Three Kings

10. (TIE) Tron / Bladerunner

Quote from: The Disco Kid3. The Empire Strikes Back

how can it be underrated when it is generally accepted as the best of the series?

other flaws in ur logic: the definition of the terms "everyone", "no one", and "seriously".

i think these flaws render ur list less than definitive.

also they're all American movies made after 1980 about angry dudes.  Hey, would you happen to be an angry American dude made after 1980?

Quotehow can it be underrated when it is generally accepted as the best of the series?

I suppose you think you got me or something, but although it is generally considered the best of the series, the series itself isnt taken very seriously beyond its effect on popular culture.

There is a huge difference between unknown and underrated...hence my compulsion to start my list with the qualifying definition. Maybe this answers my fellow Bostonian  Pete's question(You should have my back, man!).

Quoteother flaws in ur logic: the definition of the terms "everyone", "no one", and "seriously".

Dont know what youre getting at here. My logic is sound; either yours isnt, or your reading something incorrectly or far too literally.

And you can add Rob Roy to the list as well.

i can tell you the film ZERO EFFECT is greatly under rated by critics and the general public.  (for me) it's the most under rated film of the 90s.

Quote from: The Disco Kid

Quoteother flaws in ur logic: the definition of the terms "everyone", "no one", and "seriously".

Dont know what youre getting at here.

you're speaking in definites about something on which you can merely speculate. i think what you are trying to say is that underrated means 'under-appreciated' and not 'under-appreciated due to being unheard of'. but you have to consider how many levels of film awareness there are.

Quote from: The Disco Kidalthough it is generally considered the best of the series, the series itself isnt taken very seriously beyond its effect on popular culture.

There's a big difference between "no one takes it seriously" and "not enough people take it seriously enough."

Handle with Care (aka Citizens Band)
Semi-Tough
Blue Collar
Who'll Stop the Rain
Big Red One
Modern Romance
Shoot the Moon
Breathless (1983 version)
Street Smart
Sea of Love
Metropolitan
Q&A
Bitter Moon
Kansas City
Career Girls
Celebrity
Black and White

how can people underrate movies they haven't seen.

refer to ur sig.

(https://xixax.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fhome.cwru.edu%2F%7Erra4%2Fowned-hatonfire.jpg&hash=13af403c0d3172a4e8b6099ea9faa4b07dd9023e)

tee  hee

Quote from: soixante
Handle with Care (aka Citizens Band)
Big Red One
Shoot the Moon
Breathless (1983 version)
Metropolitan
Bitter Moon
Celebrity

i agree 100%

Quote from: Pubrickrefer to ur sig.

fencing is cool.  touche.  good one.
--boner

My favorite underrated movies, in no particular order (save the first one):

1.  The Addiction
2.  Sphere
3.  Mission Impossible
4.  The Rainmaker
5.  Hulk
6.  The Hudsucker Proxy
7.  A.I.
8.  Batman Forever
9.  Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me
10. The Cell

What Dreams May Come

I don't usually hear people talking about it, so that's what makes me assume it's underrated.  This is a very well done film.

here's some- (IMO)
Crossroads (1986)
Never Cry Wolf
The Road Warrior
Aquirre, The Wrath of God
The Sweet Hereafter
McAbe & Mrs. Miller
Network
Chinatown
The Color of Money
Crash
House of Games
The Last of the Mohicans
Man Bites Dog
The Mosquito Coast
Midnight Run
Nashville
Tender Mercies
Fandango
Urban Cowboy  :lol:

Quote from: bigperm
Aquirre, The Wrath of God
McAbe & Mrs. Miller
Network
Chinatown
Nashville

those are anything but underrated.

sorry, I know you kids dig them. Outside of this circle though, there are some who do not know.

Quote from: bigpermhere's some- (IMO)
Crossroads (1986)
Never Cry Wolf
The Road Warrior
Aquirre, The Wrath of God
The Sweet Hereafter
McAbe & Mrs. Miller
Network
Chinatown
The Color of Money
Crash
House of Games
The Last of the Mohicans
Man Bites Dog
The Mosquito Coast
Midnight Run
Nashville
Tender Mercies
Fandango
Urban Cowboy  :lol:

not to nit pick, but I think you can only consider a few of those as "underrated"...

Aguirre, McCabe & Mrs. Miller, Nashville, The Sweet Hereafter, Man Bites Dog, Network, The Road Warrior, and Chinatown are all considered pretty respectable films that are commonly discussed/dissected in film classes and have been majorly celebrated by many esteemed critics...  

The Mosquito Coast, Tender Mercies, House of Games, Last of the Mohicans, and the Color of Money are commonly recognized/given their proper due (although not as much as the former list) as well.  All are definitely good flicks though...

This definitely re-iterates the question of what qualifies a film as underrated...

sorry I broke the thread.

hey, Bigperm...  Crash???  That movie is a big pile of crap!

I think he rests his case.  Others here don't agree with you, though: http://www.xixax.com/viewtopic.php?t=450&start=15

Quote from: Dottie_Hinklehey, Bigperm...  Crash???  That movie is a big pile of crap!

crash is good
crash make me horny
crash make me stick me penis in me gas tank and jiggle
crash is good


seriously, crash like most if not all cronenbergh films a wicked stuff man.
i like it alot.

1. midnight run
2. they live
3. the minus man
4. the thing
5. day of the dead
6. diamond men
7. the ninth gate
8. the red violin
9. love lisa
10. People under the stairs

-sl-

i'm totally obsessed with ZERO EFFECT.  i already watched it 4 times this week!  if you haven't seen this film, please, please, please do yourself a favor and rent it today!

barry lyndon -- many have not seen it -- other dismiss it as a hollow and tedious tecnical showcase - i think it could be my favorite kubrick film. the plot line between lyndon and lord bullingdon is absolutely captivating.

that being said eyes wide shut as well,  underrated in my opinion -- could be kubricks most facinating film.

also i agree with pubrick that A.I. is grossly underrated -- although a large part of my viewing pleasure may come from imagining where kubrick would have taken it if he directed.

Quote from: socketlevel
8. the red violin
9. love lisa

-sl-

these both were utter garbage -- the script was vaccant

1) Marnie (Hitchcock) - Better than The Birds

2) The Miracle of Morgan's Creek (Preston Sturges) - Criterion, please!

3) Frenzy (Hitchcock) - Best second-string Hitch ever.

4) A.I. (Spielberg) - A film I would get into a fist fight to defend

5) Catch-22 (Nichols) - Why M*A*S*H and not this?

6) Crooklyn (Spike Lee) - Outside of Jackie Brown, suffered the most acute case of "follow-up syndrome"

7) Grand Canyon (Kasdan) - Magnolia's daddy

8) The Adventures of Baron Munchausen (Gilliam) - The only clear audience for it is Gilliam fans

9) Any Given Sunday (Oliver Stone) - Will be cemented in film history if/when Jamie Foxx wins the Oscar this year

10) Schizopolis (Soderbergh) - Criterion treatment notwithstanding.  Try getting anyone who doesn't post on this site to see it...

i personally think schizopolis was not good. a novel attempt at best -- and the novelty wore off pretty quick.

Quote from: cowboykurtisi personally think schizopolis was not good. a novel attempt at best -- and the novelty wore off pretty quick.

And you've illustrated beautifully why I put it on my list.

Great Films, that aren't talked about as much, by Great Directors
Bed and Board / Truffaut
My Life to Live / Godard
King of Comedy / Scorsese
For a Few Dollars More / Leone
Brink of Life / Bergman
Targets / Bogdanovich

Films that I think are great for their genre:
Dawn of the Dead (Remake)
Speed

Films Recognized here, but not necessarily everywhere else:
Punch-Drunk Love
All the Real Girls

Agree with all, except King of Comedy. I can't judge Brink of Life as I haven't seen it.

Soberberghs Solaris - The first hour or so only, a great hour of filmmaking that uses sound amazingly.

Cant Hardly Wait - This movie has a John Hughes like charm, I love it and im probably alone, but it's so much fun.

Gummo - Say what you want about Korine, but even if you are not a fan of his (like me)  you gotta admit that Gummo kept you watching.

Belly - Someone brought this film up a few days ago and I feel it gets totally shat on but doesn't deserve it. True, it was all over the place but the cinematography was awesome.

Casualties Of War - And to a lesser extent Sisters. DePalma is the man, don't deny it. He has lost a few steps in his old age, but out of the big time filmmakers, who hasnt?

Signs - Maybe this could be overrated at the same time, but I think it's great. It was kind of silly at times but the fact that there was an alien invasion and Night decides to stay with this ONE family is a feat in itself, how bad could this have been? Imagine Michael Bay at the helm.

Desert Blue - I don't even know if anyone has even heard of this movie, but it's from the guy that did Hurricane Streets (underated also) Desert Blue is just a great movie about people spending time with eachother, check it out if you haven't seen it.

Summer Of Sam - I love this movie, it's very enteraining and I like the collection of characters that are in it.  Spike Lee is very underrated.

I could think of more but these are the ones that come to mind right away as being underrated to me.  I'll add more if I can think of some.

Quote from: SHAFTRGreat Films, that aren't talked about as much, by Great Directors
My Life to Live / Godard

http://xixax.com/viewtopic.php?t=5109&start=0

Quote from: SHAFTRBed and Board / Truffaut

:yabbse-thumbup: :yabbse-thumbup:  :yabbse-thumbup:  :yabbse-thumbup:

Quote from: hacksparrow

Quote from: cowboykurtisi personally think schizopolis was not good. a novel attempt at best -- and the novelty wore off pretty quick.

And you've illustrated beautifully why I put it on my list.

you're a smug bastard aren't you?

Quote from: cowboykurtis

Quote from: hacksparrow

Quote from: cowboykurtisi personally think schizopolis was not good. a novel attempt at best -- and the novelty wore off pretty quick.

And you've illustrated beautifully why I put it on my list.

you're a smug bastard aren't you?

I like to think of myself as more of a cocky prick than a smug bastard.  

Sorry if you found me threatening.

Quote from: hacksparrow

Quote from: cowboykurtis

Quote from: hacksparrow

Quote from: cowboykurtisi personally think schizopolis was not good. a novel attempt at best -- and the novelty wore off pretty quick.

And you've illustrated beautifully why I put it on my list.

you're a smug bastard aren't you?

I like to think of myself as more of a cocky prick than a smug bastard.  

Sorry if you found me threatening.

not threatening, just a little smug - and out of curiousity what do you like about schitzopolos -- other than the principle of it.

Quote from: cowboykurtis

Quote from: hacksparrow

Quote from: cowboykurtis

you're a smug bastard aren't you?

I like to think of myself as more of a cocky prick than a smug bastard.  

Sorry if you found me threatening.

not threatening, just a little smug - and out of curiousity what do you like about schitzopolos -- other than the principle of it.

First and foremost, I think it's funny.  I loved the absurd humor.  But while it all seems random, a lot of it has a point to it.  It was such an unusually conceived film that, whether you like it or not, you have to give it credit for that.  It's the kind of film that the humor (if you like it) can take you through a first viewing but leave you with a "What the hell did I just see?" kind of feeling.  But with repeat viewings, things become a lot clearer.

Schizopolis is about communication and how easily things can be misinterpreted (not unlike how my response to you was misinterpreted as smug).  There's a line in the movie where one of the characters says (I had this as my signature a while back), "The other day, you said 'appearances'. I thought you said, 'A fear is this.'" That small, throwaway line sums up the point of the movie: It's so easy to interpret things incorrectly or communicate things incorrectly and cause major problems as a result.  

And even the backstory to the making of the film, that Soderbergh wrote it partially as a response to his divorce, clarifies things a bit.  I think it's a fascinating way to deal with that sort of thing and it's an interesting concept to explore, especially in such a bizarre way.  Therapy would have been cheaper but considerably less interesting for us.

That's about as short as I can put it.

Quote from: Jeremy Blackman

Quote from: SHAFTRGreat Films, that aren't talked about as much, by Great Directors
My Life to Live / Godard

http://xixax.com/viewtopic.php?t=5109&start=0

I know, but it's still not talked about as much as it should be (by those outside of this board).

Alright here's a few on my list...

Great Expectations - Yes, the Alfonso Cuaron version. It's become one of my very favorite films over the past several months since I saw it last year. It's brilliant, stylish, emotional, sexy and just plain lovely. Most of the critics didn't like it because it wasn't anything like the Charles Dickens novel. But it's a modern day interpretation so of course it's gonna be totally different. The performances were great by Ethan Hawke, Gwyneth Paltrow, Anne Bancroft and Robert De Niro. The movie also has one of the best soundtracks/scores I've ever heard. The music by Tori Amos, Mono, Chris Cornell and the composer Patrick Doyle adds to the movie in a huge way. People ignore the film completely now and it's a real shame because they're missing a real masterpiece.

Far and Away - I guess I'm totally alone here when I say this movie is great, really great. I heard it bombed when it first came out with the critics and most of the audience. I think a lot more people have started to like it since it plays on TV a lot. I thought this was easily Ron Howard's best and most underrated film. I didn't think Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman were bad at all like so many people have said. They were great together and did just fine otherwise. The score by John Williams was absolutley gorgeous in every sense. One of the great soundtracks. Of course the cinematography was beautiful too.

The Village - The movie was probably doomed by it's ads and trailers. They made it look like a real horror movie, which is the opposite of what it really is - an intellegent, mind-bending, slow-paced character study. I didn't like it the first time I saw it. But after seeing it a couple more times, I fully appreciated what Shyamalan offered here. Joaquin Phoenix and Bryce Dallas Howard were terrific in their leads. The score by James Newton Howard was achingly beautiful. I'd say this movie is Shyamalan's best film if it wasn't for The Sixth Sense.

Before Sunrise - People really loved Before Sunset but I kinda like Before Sunrise even better. Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy were great and the cinematography plays a huge role in the movie. Richard Linklater's most beautiful gem.

Someone mentioned Summer of Sam earlier, i really really dig that movie adrien brody is great. Now as far as critical failures that i just can't agree with, it has to be Fear and Loathing. First of all screw anyone who says "The book was better" because a film and book are miles apart. Second, Terry Gilliam has impressed me with everything he's done, this includes 12 monkeys, Brazil, great, Time Bandits has been my favorite movie since i was 10....third, it's johnny depp doing a most incredible job as the good doctor and who didn't watch pirates of the carribean and think "Gee, that reminds me of Depp as Hunter"?....well i know that's what i said..Fear and Loathin in Las Vegas is the best adaptation of a Hunter S. Thompson work we're going to see...(unless this rumor of Depp reprising his role in the adaptation of the Rum Diaries is true)

and people don't talk about Network enough either! pssshaawww

Summer Of Sam is definetely underrated. I've been saying it for awhile. it's one of Spike Lees better efforts imo, which makes it really good. It really captures the feel of the heat in New York during that summer, and that almost givea it a hallucination type feel to it. Which is fitting seeing as how what the movie is about.

Fear And Loathing is good, but I feel kind of bad liking it cause of how other non film people percieve it. They think of it as a drug movie, I think of it more as a buddy movie, about two terminal stricken friends trying to find themselves before they wither away and die. I think it's Gilliams best film after Brazil and may be his most epic film, but not in the traditional sense, but more in the sense that the scope is huge on a small scale.

As for an underrated movie....Galaxy Quest, man. And also John Carpenters The Fog.

Honestly I think all Spike Lee films outside of Do the Right Thing (which is rated where it should be, if not as underrated as well) and Malcolm X (which is at least overhyped) are underrated.

When people would ask me for a good sad movie to watch, I used to say Summer of Sam.

Spike Lee will never get the props he deserves....cause of Spike Jonze.

He Got Game was underrated.  Denzel was great, as was the cinematography.  

James Toback's Black and White and Two Girls and a Guy were both underrated.

i think heavens gate and year of the dragon are underrated

Quote from: cowboykurtisi think heavens gate

i'm considering watching the whole 219mins at this film festival. would u say it's underrated enuff to sit through that experience?

Yes.

i think so - Im a huge cimino fan - so my opinion could very well be biased -  regardless, the pure scale and magnitude met with the backstory of the film is well worth the watch. seeing the creation of a filmmaker who more or less had a blank check from a studio rarely happens in this day and age.

10 random ones that are my mind these days:

Equilibrium - My logical mind tells me that this movie sucks and is hammy.  Yet the geek inside enjoys the hell out of it and keeps rerenting every now and then.
Another Day in Paradise - Glorious use of Jimmy Woods and finally some appropriate use of Melanie Griffith.  Amazing soundtrack.
Thunderbolt and Lightfoot - Cimino's debut is pretty stunning.  Great performances, not to mention and wonderful left turn where all of the crooks try to hold down day jobs to finance their big score.
Day of the Dead - Often unjustly maligned.  Howard Sherman's turn as Bub rocks.  You won't find a better performance in 'Land.'
Club Dread - It could have been a bad 'Scream' knockoff.  The copious amounts of laughs and Paxton's turn as Pete keeps it afloat.
The Blues Brothers - It's liked, but is it APPRECIATED?  A kick-ass musical, a kick-ass comedy, and some of the best car chases ever put to film.
Zebraman - Fuck franchise superhero flicks, Takashi Miike's film shows what it's like to actually become one.  Consistently fun and entertaining.
Serial Mom - Easily Waters' best film, and highly quotable.  He murdered 'Annie' for God's sake.
The Man Who Wasn't There - I fear this is the last great Coen film.  Funny, mesmerizing, and beautiful.
Wet Hot American Summer - I know it's classified as a 'cult movie' now, but there are still sooooo many people who still haven't seen it.  Paul Rudd is genius in it.  And don't even get me started on Chris Meloni.

Quote from: Weak2ndAct
Day of the Dead - Often unjustly maligned.  Howard Sherman's turn as Bub rocks.  You won't find a better performance in 'Land.'

Serial Mom - Easily Waters' best film, and highly quotable.  He murdered 'Annie' for God's sake.

The Man Who Wasn't There - I fear this is the last great Coen film.  Funny, mesmerizing, and beautiful.

I definitely agree with these.

Pink Flamingos and Polyester were better

Quote from: BrazoliangePink Flamingos and Polyester were better

than what?

Quote from: Pubrick

Quote from: BrazoliangePink Flamingos and Polyester were better

than what?

Serial Mom

Quote from: Hedwig

Quote from: Pubrick

Quote from: BrazoliangePink Flamingos and Polyester were better

than what?

Serial Mom

and day of the dead, and the man who wasn't there.

i think it was in response to Week2ndAct saying "Serial Mom" was Waters' best film.

i think peter greenaway is underrated in general

i think you're completely right

QuoteThe Man Who Wasn't There - I fear this is the last great Coen film. Funny, mesmerizing, and beautiful.

Now this i just don't agree with. Sure Intolerable Cruelty was more than not good, and the ladykillers is sub-par at best...but you have to remember that The Man Who Wasn't There was the last COMPLETELY ORIGINAL Coen brothers work that they put out and to decide that they're never going to do anything "great" ever again is just ridiculous. Keep in mind that these fellas created Blood Simple when they were only in their twenties and I'm posivitve we will see something magnificent in the future from the brothers coen

Quote from: Hedwigi think it was in response to Week2ndAct saying "Serial Mom" was Waters' best film.

DINGDINGDINGDINGDINGDINGDINGDING

arthur penn's NIGHT MOVES, which FINALLY came out on DVD today.

So im gonna offer a few of mine. I was apprehensive about it at first cause I felt I would get redirected, but I don't care here they are. They may suck, but I think they are underrated.

Singles - Cameron Crowe nailed this one. This is a film where there are no bad guys, but there aernt any good guys either. Every character is flawed. And that's what makes it fantstic. Plus there are mad cameos by some of my favorite early nineties musicians. It's just a fun movie that I enjoy all the time. It never gets mentioned cause maybe Crowe is trying to forget it ever happened but I remember it did. hahah who else laughs when Dillon is cranking Fondas stereo system and Cornell walks by nodding his head then.....catastrophe. HAHA. Its just a fun movie, nothing more, nothing less.

Signs - This is really underrated. Cause it's almost a character study in what would you do if your family was threatened? We really don't see shit but it doesn't matter cause its happening. I never laughed during this film like the audience I saw it with did. I just felt really compelled to see how this "one family came out" and imo thats what makes it great. Audiences got upset cause you didn't see shit, but thats what makes it so great for me.

Soderberghs Solaris Remake - Now, the Tarkovsky original is fantasitc and i no way underrated. If anything it's overrated. Dobbs wrote a book that was really beyond anyone but a scientist. But I felt this Soderbergh remake (reimagining) is underrated. After the last half it falls to shit, but the first half is really atmospheric and makes you think. There is some amazing acting in this film and I feel it gets underrated. Some of this film almost feels like it isn't a film at all but real life. And I like that. How many people are NASA folks? And how many are in love with someone who died? NOT MANY. And that's what makes it so good. There is good stuff in this movie, and it's unfortunate that not many have seen it.

Make fun of me. I dont care. These movies are good, and you may disagree but hey, that's what makes them underrated right?

Quote from: StefenI was apprehensive about it at first cause I felt I would get redirected

i don't see why u would think that, unless ur high. u posted movies u think are underrated in the underrated movies thread. pretty obvious and non-redirectional.

So do you agree the movies I mentioned are underrated? Or do you just wanna keep xixax from a berg holocaust?

Quote from: StefenSo do you agree the movies I mentioned are underrated? Or do you just wanna keep xixax from a berg holocaust?

i don't hav to think they are underrated for u to be able to post them. what are u trying to say?

Nevermind, just stop being you. People hate posting here cause of that.

Do you like Singles?

Don't dis Pubrick... he's the guy who discovered that one can replace the word "you" with the letter "u".

Homer: "I just tripled my productivity."[/size]

Anyway.  Underrated movies.  Changing Lanes.  Waking The Dead.  World Traveller.  Event Horizon (seriously... talk shit about EH and I'll fuck you up hardcore).  Anything Else.  Happy Accidents.  And, as the old "Gilligan's Island" theme song went, the rest.

Quote from: StefenNevermind, just stop being you. People hate posting here cause of that.

I second that

It's official... the site's most important members agree... P, you're outta here.

Doesn't matter. In five days, xixax will die.

NOOOOOOOOOOOO!!! (http://vadercoaster.ytmnd.com/)

I agree with that :

http://avclub.com/content/node/41714

I didn't know Office Space was underrated.

Quote from: walruSI didn't know Office Space was underrated.

it's not.

the rest of the list is mostly ok tho..

Quote from: Pubrickthe rest of the list is mostly ok tho..

I thought American Psycho was really overrated and not even close to underrated.

Quote from: Pas RapI agree with that :

http://avclub.com/content/node/41714

Office Space:  See also: Besieged, Bringing Out The Dead, The Rage: Carrie 2, Summer Of Sam

???

i think theres a difference between underrated and underappreciated.

I think Hudsucker is underrated

I think Paths of Glory is underappreciated

i don't understand.

for instance

hudsucker is not regarded very highly - the critics were disapointed - many fans consider it one of the worst efforts from the coen bros. because of this it is underrated - people do not see/embrace the quality of the material.

Paths of Glory, on the other hand, was (and still is) embraced by both the critics and audiences alike. No one aruges or denounces its quality and resonance. However, Paths of Glory is under-discussed and overlooked even by huge Kubrick admirers. For the most part, I find that the two films that many "Kubrick fans" have not seen are Paths of Glory and Barry Lyndon (which is also grossly underappreciated).

Overrated and underrated are purely based on where you are, I've noticed.  I don't really know any movies that are universally overrated and unerrated.

Quote from: WalrosferatuOverrated and underrated are purely based on where you are, I've noticed.  I don't really know any movies that are universally overrated and unerrated.

or underrated....hehe j/k.

or URINATED

come on ppl join the fun

Bamboozled.

I just read through this looking for movies to watch and soixante (pg. 3, 12) and Weak2ndAct (pg. 3, 15) are clearly the mvps.  Page 14 is the best page, and the argument about Vanilla Sky is questionable (pg. 4-6).

I'm looking to pick up some underrated films.  My list to see, including those added by combing through this topic:

Manny & Lo
The Lady & The Duke
Modern Romance
Un Flic
Valerie & Her Week of Wonders
Le Petit Soldat
Hole
Black Widow
The Blue Gardenia
The Last Seduction
The Big Clock
Mississippi Mermaid
No Man's Land
Miami Blues
Street Smart
Smile
Ragtime
Miracle of Morgan's Creek
The Strange Love of Martha Ivers
Night Moves
Accattone
The Sorrow and the Pity
The Life of Jesus
Goodbye South, Goodbye
Angels and Insects
Hidden Agenda
Humanite
L.A. Story

As always, comments/suggestions welcome.

Some of my personal favorites:

The Adjuster
The Day of the Locust
To Live and Die in L.A.
Body and Soul (47)
Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Garcia
Les Misérables (98)
The American Astronaut
Animal Factory
Trees Lounge
Midnight Express
The Life and Times of Judge Roy Bean
X: The Man with the X-Ray Eyes
Basquiat
The Comfort of Strangers
Escape from New York
Screamers
Pet Sematary
Mother and Son
Papillon
Simple Men
In the Company of Men
Léolo
Smoke
The Mosquito Coast
The Flower of My Secret
In the Soup
The Claim
Show Me Love
The Tenant
God's Comedy
Purple Noon

excellent work.

Waterworld  (not a fantastic film, but got a lot more trashing than it deserved)

Eyes Wide Shut

Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom

Jackie Brown

A.I.

Quote from: jigzaw on June 11, 2006, 07:57:13 PM
Waterworld  (not a fantastic film, but got a lot more trashing than it deserved)

how can a film be underrated if it's not fantastic?

check your cig.

Quote from: ©brad on June 11, 2006, 08:38:54 PM

Quote from: jigzaw on June 11, 2006, 07:57:13 PM
Waterworld  (not a fantastic film, but got a lot more trashing than it deserved)

how can a film be underrated if it's not fantastic?

It's underrated because while it's not a superb film, it's certainly entertaining fluff with some great imagery.  The general consensus, though, is that it's one of the worst films ever made, thus it's underrated because it isn't as horrible as it's generally considered.

Quote from: jigzaw on June 11, 2006, 11:34:01 PM

Quote from: ©brad on June 11, 2006, 08:38:54 PM

Quote from: jigzaw on June 11, 2006, 07:57:13 PM
Waterworld  (not a fantastic film, but got a lot more trashing than it deserved)

how can a film be underrated if it's not fantastic?

It's underrated because while it's not a superb film, it's certainly entertaining fluff with some great imagery.  The general consensus, though, is that it's one of the worst films ever made, thus it's underrated because it isn't as horrible as it's generally considered.

it still doesn't belong in this thread. you really think it's one of the most underrated films ever? you said it yourself that it's not a great film but it has some redeeming qualities. i still think an underrated film has to be at least good to very good on the good-o-meter.

I think jigsaw is defining 'guilty pleasure.'

you have got to get over cinematography and cinematographers. it's hardly a reason to watch a movie.

this artsy martial arts movie came out last year called "Seven SwordS" that was so good but it was kinda trashed by the critics and dismissed by the public, virtually killing its chance to make it in the US, despite superior filmmaking and inventive fight sequences.  it's based on a novel from the 1920's (therefore outdating Seven Samurai), about a swordmaster and his five disciples (and two recruits), calming China's turmoils as the imperial government went overboard with the ban on civilian martial arts trainings.  It's supposed to be the first part of a seven-part moviie, though I doubt there will be other movies to come after the bomb at the box office.  I liked it because it was an epic without too many epic cliches, not too many contrived "arcs", just a lot of nice moments between characters.  and the fights are wild, they're laden with special effects but mostly practical ones, with interesting camera and editing techniques to boot.  The whole movie feels very "street" despite it being a period piece in a village.  Maybe that's a bad thing, but not to me.

also, Cradle Will Rock.  It's so moving, and it's another example in a movie where the play is as good as the movie.  Though many people have dismissed its politics as obvious and the last shot too preachy, I found the whole film to be very organic and I've never seen Emily Watson in a better performance.  The ensemble is wonderful, and for a movie starring an ensemble of great actors and comedians putting on a play with a "liberal bias", nobody in this movie got too clever or greasy.  Everyone was dignified and sincere.  Jon Tuturro too, he was great.  Compared to the other-last-performance-in-a-theater-for-the-NPR-crowd movie, "A Prarie Home Companion", this one is quite a bit more moving and more grand.

(https://xixax.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dvdplanet.com%2Fimages%2FMuzeDVDCovers%2F47%2F247847.jpg&hash=8b7d98be2f429b4f36bb4f6281e04dc8e7091d7a)

I haven't seen a B movie go all out like that on such a stupid idea.  There will never be a better Calamari Wrestler movie.  I'll tell you the truth:

1.  Octopus vs. Squid.
2.  Squid vs. Lobster
3.  Squid/woman love scene
4.  Dancing women in bikinis celeberating Calamari Wrestler
5.  Squid vs. man
6.  Man vs. Lobster
7.  Crazy appropriate dialogue

I'm just saying.

check out kaiju big battel at kaiju.com, it's a studio that puts out monster wrestling matches, and you can see my work in a few of their dvds.

Big Night

I saw sucker free city by spike lee last night, and even though it was supposed to be a piolet for showtime, i gotta say it really works on it's own as a stand alone film.

however, imdb rates it real low (and used to be lower) and i'm curious why.  too many comparisons to "the wire" and too many San Fran peeps pissed off that a new york film maker made it.  i thought it was great and would have loved to seen more.   too bad it wasn't picked up.

very underrated

I've been thinking about that movie Cellular and how good of a script it was.  I'm gonna rent it again just to be sure.  Has anyone else seen that movie?

Quote from: pete on March 03, 2009, 01:45:12 PM
I've been thinking about that movie Cellular and how good of a script it was.  I'm gonna rent it again just to be sure.  Has anyone else seen that movie?

Not much feedback in the thread:

http://xixax.com/index.php?topic=6327.0

But I liked it. As one of those race-against-the-clock type thrillers, it works. Is smart and takes those common cell phone cliches (no service when you need it; battery dying) and works them to its advantage.

When I originally watched Cellular, I too thought it was pretty good. Re-watched it on TV a year ago and the original praise was a little overblown. I think a lot of it has to do with how extended the third act is with the consistent twists. Audience expectation with thrillers is to expect a certain number of twists, but Cellular managed to jam two film's worth of them into one film. The rest of the film is still standard thriller, but the third act redeems it a little.

Cellular? really? I thought we were discussing top 10 UNDERRATED ever I guess, but i guess we've geared towards "guilty pleasure movies of 04'" i am in need of this script. anyone want to email that? There is not a bone in my body that can believe this script reads any better than this film is.  YES the 3rd act is fucking awful, and as for the cast, a few favors must've been owed to ole FINAL DESTINATION 3 director Dave Ellis. 

Quote from: MacGuffin on June 12, 2006, 12:07:10 PM
I think jigsaw Cellular is defining 'guilty pleasure.'

:oops:

I haven't seen it since I saw it on TV in '06.  I thought it was gonna suck, but it delivered quite nicely - the script was witty, logical, and lean, if I remembered correctly.  That was I guess also during a time when we didn't have too many thrillers like that, we still don't.  It's becoming a dated genre - or at least thrillers in that format.  I hated the nina simone remix, that's all I remember disliking, and it never builds up to anything serious - just a bunch of witty reversals and sequences, but it was convincing the entire way through and contained very few shortcuts or cheats.

See, a recommendation like Cellular is much more interesting and justified here than a lot films that have been previously mentioned. Many films might be underrated in public regard, but most of them seem to have unanimous critical praise behind them.

Something like Cellular, which I haven't seen but will probably rent now, is much more exciting and deserving. Because it's recommendation means that it succeeds in it's intended genre, which is pretty easily embraceable by the masses - and yet was still pretty much ignored by active and passive film fans alike.

Just like last year when GT recommended Mr. Brooks, a film I would have otherwise never bothered with, and I'm still appreciative of that recommendation a year later. So lets go with that example a little further - it's a fantastic film, and the sentiment I have towards it has already been shared in it's proper thread. But it's very hard to find critical praise for the film. Even Stereogum, with their current "Hunt for the worst movie of all time" articles seem either stubborn, snotty, or clueless in their panning of the film. Not that I'd expect the writers of Stereogum to know better, but you think they'd be a little more open minded than most critical outlets. So, yeah, something like Mr. Brooks is completely underrated for what it is.

Which reminds me, I really need to see Paul Feig's Unaccompanied Minors - which I've been told is a really enjoyable, wholly underrated kids film.

I'm pretty tired, so if none of that made much sense.... just ignore it.

Quote from: Neil on March 03, 2009, 07:01:31 PM
Cellular? really? I thought we were discussing top 10 UNDERRATED ever I guess, but i guess we've geared towards "guilty pleasure movies of 04'" i am in need of this script. anyone want to email that? There is not a bone in my body that can believe this script reads any better than this film is.  YES the 3rd act is fucking awful, and as for the cast, a few favors must've been owed to ole FINAL DESTINATION 3 director Dave Ellis. 

Quote from: MacGuffin on June 12, 2006, 12:07:10 PM
I think jigsaw Cellular is defining 'guilty pleasure.'

:oops:

I can't see how the script is better because the only times the film is inspiring is when it uses some decent filmmaking to tie together those final twists. The story becomes exciting and the film handles everything pretty well. There are some Jules Dassin-like moments of excellence here. I think of the film, Night and the City, and the way it made the final chases really click at an excellent and efficient speed. No, the film isn't that great, but it's a good surprise for the genre. On paper this movie would look a lot worse.

this is a good thread.  some that haven't been mentioned

Electroma
Kung Pow: Enter the Fist
UHF
Phantom of the Paradise
Body Double
Grindhouse
Wicker Man
Orange County
Vixen
Batman Returns

My Picks...

Suicide Kings
Radioland Murders
Whats up Doc?
Key Largo
Arsenic and Old Lace
Death Becomes Her
My Blue Heaven
Hurly Burly
Memento
Casino

Waking the Dead - not necessarily underrated, since most people who see it like it, but hardly anybody has seen it. 
Event Horizon - say what you will about Paul W.S. Anderson, but this movie has more moments that genuinely scare me than any other that I can think of.
Tigerland - Much like Waking the Dead, it's not that people don't like the movie, it's just that not nearly enough have actually watched it, or are even aware of its existence, it seems.
Bamboozled - Spike Lee's angriest film, and I love it for that.  I place it right below 25th Hour and Do the Right Thing as one of the best of his career.
Changing Lanes - I'll never understand why this movie was so quickly forgotten by everyone.  It's a master class in screenplay structure, and features Ben Affleck's best performance, the only one that's ever truly redeemed him as a dramatic actor in my eyes.
Roger Dodger - In a perfect world, Campbell Scott would have a shelf full of awards for this performance.  In this world, he was nominated for an Independent Spirit Award and ignored by everyone else.  Fuck this world.

Quote from: polkablues on March 04, 2009, 02:21:36 AMRoger Dodger - In a perfect world, Campbell Scott would have a shelf full of awards for this performance.  In this world, he was nominated for an Independent Spirit Award and ignored by everyone else.  Fuck this world.

I LOVE that movie.


And I totally agree with Bamboozled.

Going to have to agree with Silias about Death Becomes Her and especially agree with Polka about Changing Lanes.  The tension in Changing Lanes swells just as perfectly as you begin to feel for the two main characters.  It's a shame that it was overlooked like it was.

And I'll third that agreement on Bamboozled.

Quote from: SiliasRuby on March 04, 2009, 12:51:49 AM
Memento
Casino

Underrated?

I totally agree with Changing Lanes and Vixens.

Quote from: Walrus on March 04, 2009, 01:02:44 PM
Going to have to agree with Silias about Death Becomes Her

the first 40 minutes are nearly perfect, but the movie just falls apart once they realize they're dead.

i know i like it mostly because it's bad, but there are SOME genuinely good moments in the movie "perfect."

the bicycle thief and citizen kane are pretty good too.

Quote from: bonanzataz on March 05, 2009, 11:04:25 AM
the bicycle thief and citizen kane are pretty good too.

those are more guilty pleasures.

I believe all the following movies are not ''unliked'' but maybe not enough mentioned.

Southern Comfort : a New Orleans based Deliverance. I think I like it even more than Deliverance because Burt Reynold's look has not aged well.

Angel Heart : I discovered this movie recently after watching The Wrestler and looking for more performances by Mickey. There were few. But this one was good and I'd never even heard of it so I guess it's pretty underrated.

The IPCRESS File/Billion Dollar Brain/ My funeral in Berlin : This is the thinking man's James Bond. You got Michael Caine in a kickass performance, funny and strong yet subtle and ''beatable'' (in the sense that James Bond is never in real danger, Michael Caine here is)





Something you guys wouldn't understand because you have no way of knowing : some comedies, especially the 80s SNL-actors stuff and also the 90s silly comedies (Baseketball and some Adam Sandler stuff I have in mind) are so crazily translated in french that they are very much improved by the process. Like Eddie Murphy's french voice is so over the top and the language he uses is so inexistent that some expressions where actually invented by these films and subsequently used in society. So in a sense some of these are really underrated but only for frenchies like me.

Quote from: Pas Rap on May 17, 2009, 08:43:44 PM
Like Eddie Murphy's french voice is so over the top and the language he uses is so inexistent that some expressions where actually invented by these films and subsequently used in society.

haha awesome. examples?

Quote from: Hedwig on May 17, 2009, 10:10:10 PM

Quote from: Pas Rap on May 17, 2009, 08:43:44 PM
Like Eddie Murphy's french voice is so over the top and the language he uses is so inexistent that some expressions were actually invented by these films and subsequently used in society.

haha awesome. examples?

haha I guess this one would be a good example : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oiUqb2jjdCA&feature=related


The first line ''T'es pas bien dans ton crâne de merde'' which means I guess : ''there's something wrong inside your skull made of crap'' which is pretty silly. but it's a pretty common to say to someone who's sayin crazy stuff. Also the translators didn't understand Joe Louis so he says something like : ''Joe Elwy''

Another reallllly crazy one is in 48 Hours they translate a redneck insult to ''couilles de loup'' which means : ''wolf balls'' .... what the fuck kind of insult is that

Quote from: Pas Rap on May 17, 2009, 10:41:51 PM
''there's something wrong inside your skull made of crap''

I think it's imperative that lame comedies be processed and retranslated through French like this.

I'm currently subtitling The Dreamers, you know that 2003 Bertolucci film? What a great little forgotten gem.

I now remember I sent you that DVD by mail P and you never got it? I wanted to send it again but it was too much trouble by then. That DVD was like below 10$ I think here, what a deal back then.

Anyway point of my post:

This film must make absolutely no sense in english! We talked about dubbing on the Let Me In thread but in this case the dubbing is not only perfect but must make way more sense. And they had the great idea of making Pitt's character talk with a huge american accent.

Do the french talk in english in the english version?

Quote from: Pas on May 27, 2010, 08:29:26 AM
I now remember I sent you that DVD by mail P and you never got it? I wanted to send it again but it was too much trouble by then. That DVD was like below 10$ I think here, what a deal back then.

wow that must have been a really long time ago! i barely remember this happening.. i eventually rented the movie and burned myself a copy.

Quote from: Pas on May 27, 2010, 08:29:26 AM
This film must make absolutely no sense in english! We talked about dubbing on the Let Me In thread but in this case the dubbing is not only perfect but must make way more sense. And they had the great idea of making Pitt's character talk with a huge american accent.

Do the french talk in english in the english version?

haha that is so bizarre, yes they all speak in english in the english version (also known as the NORMAL version) but the frenchies (eva green and her sicko brother) speak with really huge FRENCH accents.

there is some french at the cinema and the demonstrations or gatherings that happen around there.. and i remember not having any subtitles for it but later realising i needed to turn them on myself on the dvd setting, which is always a problem with english films that have occasional non-english parts in them. anyway, it's been a while since i saw it. i do know there's lots of french in it but the majority of the film, that is all the conversations between pitt, green, and the other guy are in english.

Haha that's what I thought. That is so stupid. This american guy goes to France to perfect is french, and everyone around him end up talking to him in english and he learns no french at all.

At least in the dubbed version he practices is french a lot and by the end he's pretty fluent. Well, I guess they didn't take it as far as making him improve his french over the course of the movie. That would've been a bit over the top. Maybe for a sequel or something. (jk)

Now that I think about it though, the english (or NORMAL lol) version is more realistic. Americans come here all the time to learn french and they never make a god damn effort to speak any french. We end up having to spend 2 weeks speaking english to them, it gets really annoying. Meanwhile all they do is fuck our chicks. Also they get really drunk on almost no beer so we make them do stupid shit.

That's really basically what happens in the Dreamers NORMAL version. You could say the dubbed version makes Michael Pitt look a lot more sophisticated.