# Great moments in otherwise mediocre movies **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 18, 2009, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-moments-in-otherwise-mediocre-movies/514252 "2009-10-18T22:12:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Uosdwis\_R.Dewoh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Uosdwis\_R.Dewoh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uosdwis_R.Dewoh)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2009, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-moments-in-otherwise-mediocre-movies/514252/21 "2009-10-19T18:35:36Z")
[Street Fighter](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0111301/) starring Jean-Claude Van Damme is a pretty crappy movie, but Raul Julia’s performance as the evil general was some awesome scenery chewing. There was one line that really deserved to be in a better film and Raul Julia delivered it perfectly. > [@](#): > > Chun Li: My father saved his village at the cost of his own life. You had him shot as you ran away. A hero at a thousand paces! > Bison: I’m sorry… I don’t remember any of it. > Chun Li: You don’t remember? > Bison: For you, the day Bison graced your village was the most important day of your life. But for me… it was Tuesday. ---
**Author:** ![gonzoron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a6a055/32.png) [@gonzoron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzoron)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2009, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-moments-in-otherwise-mediocre-movies/514252/22 "2009-10-19T20:16:13Z")
I don’t recall which Scary Movie it was, but the scene in which creepy butler Chris Elliot uses his deformed fingers to stroke the hair of one of the female leads was funnier than the rest of the movie put together. Matrix Revolutions was mostly a steaming pile sitting on the DVD’s of the first two. But hey, giant CG mechs. That was something worth seeing. ---
**Author:** ![joebuck20](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/74df32/32.png) [@joebuck20](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joebuck20)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2009, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-moments-in-otherwise-mediocre-movies/514252/23 "2009-10-19T20:34:13Z")
> [@gonzoron](#): > > I don’t recall which Scary Movie it was, but the scene in which creepy butler Chris Elliot uses his deformed fingers to stroke the hair of one of the female leads was funnier than the rest of the movie put together. > > Matrix Revolutions was mostly a steaming pile sitting on the DVD’s of the first two. But hey, giant CG mechs. That was something worth seeing. Speaking of Scary Movie, I thought it was awful. But I did get a kick at the end where Marlon Wayans, whose character is obviously on the DL, gets killed and falls on top of the other guy and it looks like he’s buttfucking him. Juvenile, I know, but also extremely hilarious to the 12-year-old in me. ---
**Author:** ![phreesh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/9fc29f/32.png) [@phreesh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/phreesh)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2009, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-moments-in-otherwise-mediocre-movies/514252/24 "2009-10-19T21:12:22Z")
The recent Liam Neeson revenge thriller ‘Taken’ was actually pretty decent, but the scene where his daughter is taken and he hears it through the phone is GOLD. I bet that sucker got greenlit on that scene alone. Clip takes place at the end of the scene. [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Y_Wu36wIEM) ---
**Author:** ![FallenAngel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@FallenAngel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FallenAngel)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2009, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-moments-in-otherwise-mediocre-movies/514252/25 "2009-10-19T21:50:56Z")
> [@ArchiveGuy](#): > > There are only two good things about _The Thomas Crown Affair_ remake, but they’re both very very good things: Rene Russo nudity and the [magnificent Nina Simone climax](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MhxTQ7rK_HU). I am a huge Steve McQueen fan, but the remake was superior to the original in every aspect. ---
**Author:** ![Reverse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e79b87/32.png) [@Reverse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reverse)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2009, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-moments-in-otherwise-mediocre-movies/514252/26 "2009-10-19T23:01:03Z")
The live action _Masters of the Universe_ movie was not mediocre, but instead just plain awful. It did have a few great moments to it, though: every time Skeletor was on screen. I have said it before and I will say it 'til the day I die, but Frank Langella as the Skeletor was the greatest movie villain of all times. It’s a shame that he was in such a terrible, terrible movie. ---
**Author:** ![Simplicio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c37758/32.png) [@Simplicio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simplicio)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2009, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-moments-in-otherwise-mediocre-movies/514252/27 "2009-10-19T23:30:27Z")
> [@phreesh](#): > > The recent Liam Neeson revenge thriller ‘Taken’ was actually pretty decent, but the scene where his daughter is taken and he hears it through the phone is GOLD. I bet that sucker got greenlit on that scene alone. Clip takes place at the end of the scene. > > [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Y\_Wu36wIEM&feature=related](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Y_Wu36wIEM&feature=related) I’d be willing to bet your right. They use the same scene in the trailer, and the title is obviously referring to it. I suspect they thought of that one scene and built the rest of the (mediocre) action film around it. Similarly, Hot Fuzz was decently funny action-parody that seemed to be built around having an awesome gun-fight at the end. I’m willing to bet they came up with the gunfight first, and the rest of the movie second. ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2009, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-moments-in-otherwise-mediocre-movies/514252/28 "2009-10-19T23:46:04Z")
One great scene made the rest of the movie even worse for me. Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow opened with giant robots shooting lasers from their eyes. Wow! This is gonna be a great retro action-adventure! No. No it’s not. ---
**Author:** ![carlotta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/898d66/32.png) [@carlotta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carlotta)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2009, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-moments-in-otherwise-mediocre-movies/514252/29 "2009-10-20T02:09:44Z")
**The Cable Guy** with Matthew Broderick and Jim Carrey is pretty bad, but right in the middle is this great scene in a Medieval Times restaurant. Janeane Garofolo is their disaffected serving wench and they end up in the arena fighting each other as Jim Carrey “sings” the Star Trek fight scene music. ---
**Author:** ![Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/le_ministre_de_l_au-dela/32/12181_2.png) [@Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Le_Ministre_de_l_au-dela)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2009, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-moments-in-otherwise-mediocre-movies/514252/30 "2009-10-20T02:47:39Z")
I hated the movie Ghost except for the 5 minute scene where Vincent Schiavelli played the ‘Subway Ghost’. THAT was brilliant! ---
**Author:** ![Fionn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a587f6/32.png) [@Fionn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fionn)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2009, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-moments-in-otherwise-mediocre-movies/514252/31 "2009-10-20T02:57:52Z")
I loved the scene in **Amistad** of ship destroying the slave-traders fortress with cannon fire, while an officer gives orders to fire and then dictates a letter that he is happy to report the fortress does not exist. ---
**Author:** ![GameHat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ed655f/32.png) [@GameHat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GameHat)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2009, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-moments-in-otherwise-mediocre-movies/514252/32 "2009-10-20T02:59:34Z")
The Matrix: Reloaded was pretty meh. But the scene where Neo fights hundreds of Agents Smith in the park? Genius. ---
**Author:** ![Aji\_de\_Gallina](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aji_de_gallina/32/260_2.png) [@Aji\_de\_Gallina](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aji_de_Gallina)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2009, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-moments-in-otherwise-mediocre-movies/514252/33 "2009-10-20T03:39:25Z")
> [@ArchiveGuy](#): > > There are only two good things about _The Thomas Crown Affair_ remake, but they’re both very very good things: Rene Russo nudity and the [magnificent Nina Simone climax](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MhxTQ7rK_HU). Agreed…the song is perfect, just perfect And Rene…damn ---
**Author:** ![Red\_Skeezix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/aca169/32.png) [@Red\_Skeezix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Red_Skeezix)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2009, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-moments-in-otherwise-mediocre-movies/514252/34 "2009-10-20T14:04:17Z")
> [@Simplicio](#): > > Similarly, Hot Fuzz was decently funny action-parody that seemed to be built around having an awesome gun-fight at the end. I’m willing to bet they came up with the gunfight first, and the rest of the movie second. Im inclined to believe you based on this earlier incarnation of a similar situation. [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/_P7dileY9sY/hqdefault.jpg "Spaced Gunfight") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_P7dileY9sY) ---
**Author:** ![Speak\_to\_me\_Maddie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/58956e/32.png) [@Speak\_to\_me\_Maddie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Speak_to_me_Maddie)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2009, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-moments-in-otherwise-mediocre-movies/514252/35 "2009-10-20T14:05:18Z")
The climax/confession scene in **Phone Booth** , where Farrell’s character makes a beautifully written, heartrending, confession of his sins. The Nightcrawler Presidential assassination attempt at the beginning of **X2** , set to Mozart. The fight scene with The Russian in **The Punisher** (2004), set to Verdi. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2009, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-moments-in-otherwise-mediocre-movies/514252/36 "2009-10-20T14:24:02Z")
_Swordfish_ was a terrible movie. But Halle Berry has great breasts. ---
**Author:** ![Sailboat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sailboat/32/461_2.png) [@Sailboat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sailboat)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2009, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-moments-in-otherwise-mediocre-movies/514252/37 "2009-10-20T16:06:18Z")
The otherwise-terrible 1994 movie of Heinlein’s _[The Puppet Masters](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0111003/)_ starred Donald Sutherland in his usual creepy-in-a-trashy-movie role. His bodyguard (whom I believe turned out to be his son) is tasked with protecting their small band as they move about, including chase scene through a building and down a stairwell. The movie was completely forgettable except for the outstanding competence of the bodyguard character. He didn’t identify and neutralize threats so much as anticipate and head them off. People reaching through doorways get the door slammed on their arm as the heroes pass without breaking stride; people reaching for guns find their arm seized, themselves spun around, and are heaved off the ledge before they can even emote, much less get the gun out; and so on. It was almost comical how effective this one guy was at predicting and pre-empting the bad guys. And with minimal wasted motion, too; he was frighteningly efficient. I found myself thinking, _that’s_ what I want in a bodyguard, not someone who draws his weapon _after_ I’ve been shot. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2009, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-moments-in-otherwise-mediocre-movies/514252/38 "2009-10-20T16:44:11Z")
I didn’t see the movie version of _The Puppet Masters_ but it sounds like it’s different from the book it’s based on. The character you’re describing as Donald Sutherland’s bodyguard was “Sam”, the main character in the book (which was written from his first person perspective). Sutherland’s character, the “Old Man”, was a supporting character. ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2009, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-moments-in-otherwise-mediocre-movies/514252/39 "2009-10-20T18:18:44Z")
**Coyote Ugly**. Pretty standard fluff, but I found “Can’t Fight the Moonlight” quite the kicky little song. ---
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2009, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-moments-in-otherwise-mediocre-movies/514252/40 "2009-10-20T18:26:15Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > I didn’t see the movie version of _The Puppet Masters_ but it sounds like it’s different from the book it’s based on. The character you’re describing as Donald Sutherland’s bodyguard was “Sam”, the main character in the book (which was written from his first person perspective). Sutherland’s character, the “Old Man”, was a supporting character. Having seen the film again not all that long ago, I’d say Sam was the main character. I also kind of liked the scene where he’s recovering from a seriously traumatic event\* and breaks down in the shower; I thought it had real emotion in it. Plus it was nice to see a hero who wasn’t totally immune to awful events aside from, perhaps, it just making him madder at their opponents. \*Having been taken over recently by an alien parasite and temporarily mentally assimilated into their hivemind, only to be freed later. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-moments-in-otherwise-mediocre-movies/514252.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/great-moments-in-otherwise-mediocre-movies/514252.md?page=3)