# Mediocre films that stay with you **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 26, 2026, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mediocre-films-that-stay-with-you/1032577 "2026-08-26T15:56:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![joebuck20](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/74df32/32.png) [@joebuck20](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joebuck20)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2026, 6:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mediocre-films-that-stay-with-you/1032577/61 "2026-08-27T06:31:06Z")
I would say any late period Liam Neeson “old man throat punching and kicking ass” flick. I don’t care what anyone says, but to me movies like “Run All Night” and “Non-Stop” are solid grade-A action flicks, and if I happen to catch one while flipping through the channels, I can’t not stop and watch. ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2026, 6:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mediocre-films-that-stay-with-you/1032577/62 "2026-08-27T06:33:24Z")
> [@Lucas\_Jackson](#): > > **TRIANGLE** > Triangle sails into some strange waters, but this horror outing anchors its idiosyncrasies in a satisfyingly weirdly twisting and scary story. I really like this movie! ---
**Author:** ![iamatractorboy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iamatractorboy/32/21261_2.png) [@iamatractorboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iamatractorboy)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2026, 8:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mediocre-films-that-stay-with-you/1032577/63 "2026-08-27T08:30:52Z")
> [@Smid](#): > > Probably any of the Roger Moore bonds perhaps, but that is probably because I didn’t have the critical reasoning to realise they were crap when I watched them (oh nasa has launched a space shuttle, lets have a space shuttle bond, oh smokey and the bandit is popular, lets have redneck bond). That was going to be my suggestion too, although not all of them, because some are legitimately good (I am a Bond nerd though so probably tend to overrate them all). But I have seen all of the Bond films so many times (not just Rog’s) and speaking objectively a third at least are probably not of sufficient quality to justify that, but hey, I still love 'em. Just to note (because it’s the Dope, so of course I should), if by ‘redneck Bond’ you are referring to Sheriff JW Pepper from _Live and Let Die_ and _The Man With the Golden Gun_, weeellll, both those films predate _Smokey and the Bandit,_ so maybe the inspiration was the other way round! _LALD’s_ main inspiration was blaxploitation and _TMWTGG’s_ was Kung Fu/Bruce Lee. Oh also _Moonraker_ only really existed due to _Star Wars._ After _The Spy Who Loved Me_ the film makers even said ‘James Bond will return in _For Your Eyes Only_’, which got postponed after George Lucas made a tonne of cash). ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2026, 8:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mediocre-films-that-stay-with-you/1032577/64 "2026-08-27T08:49:22Z")
> [@robby](#): > > I would suggest _Highlander_ (the original film from 1986). It’s high art compared to the infamously awful sequel, but is still “cheesy, bombastic, and absurd” in its own right, as one critic put it. But people love it, including me. It’s beloved enough to be getting a star-studded remake… > **[Highlander (upcoming film)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Highlander_(upcoming_film))** > > Highlander is an upcoming American fantasy action film directed by Chad Stahelski, written by Kerry Williamson and Mike Finch, and starring Henry Cavill, Russell Crowe, Marisa Abela, Dave Bautista, Karen Gillan, Djimon Hounsou, and Jeremy Irons. It is a reboot of the film franchise of the same name. The film will be released by Amazon MGM Studios under the United Artists banner. A 16th-century Scottish warrior discovers that he is not human but an ageless "immortal" destined to fight with othe... ---
**Author:** ![Toxylon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f05b48/32.png) [@Toxylon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Toxylon)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2026, 9:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mediocre-films-that-stay-with-you/1032577/65 "2026-08-27T09:57:08Z")
Yeah, happened upon this film by chance, couldn’t stop watching, and it stayed with me to this day, even though I can’t objectively say it’s a great film. A perfect example. ---
**Author:** ![Horatius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/horatius/32/3572_2.png) [@Horatius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatius)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2026, 10:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mediocre-films-that-stay-with-you/1032577/66 "2026-08-27T10:13:40Z")
> [@Stratocaster](#): > > The Final Countdown. That one stayed with me, mostly because of the bait-and-switch of the ending. After all the debate about changing history, we’re finally going to see a bunch of F-14s absolutely curb stomp the Japanese planes attacking Pearl Harbor, and then _poof!_ Magic Time Storm shows up again to ruin it! ---
**Author:** ![Stratocaster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stratocaster/32/16393_2.png) [@Stratocaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stratocaster)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2026, 10:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mediocre-films-that-stay-with-you/1032577/67 "2026-08-27T10:26:12Z")
I agree. But if they had gone that route I don’t know how they’d have tied up the ending. But, yes, it seemed a lead up to some preemptive “payback” that didn’t play out. “How do you like _these_ apples, tough guys?” ---
**Author:** ![Horatius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/horatius/32/3572_2.png) [@Horatius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatius)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2026, 10:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mediocre-films-that-stay-with-you/1032577/68 "2026-08-27T10:33:07Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > It’s beloved enough to be getting a star-studded remake… _Highlander_ is one of those films that just has so much potential in the concept that it’s almost impossible to really do it justice. The TV show tried, and it probably fits the theme of this thread in its own self. It was definitely a Canadian-made mid-90s sci-fi show, but several episodes are legitimate stand-outs, and the over all tone is generally pretty good. ETA: I knew about the reboot, but I didn’t know this part: > [Russell Crowe](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russell_Crowe "Russell Crowe") as [Juan Sánchez-Villalobos Ramírez](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Juan_S%C3%A1nchez-Villalobos_Ram%C3%ADrez "Juan Sánchez-Villalobos Ramírez"), My God, Russel Crowe channelling Sean Connery to portray an ancient Egyptian who now lives in Spain? This could break the universe! ---
**Author:** ![Horatius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/horatius/32/3572_2.png) [@Horatius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatius)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2026, 10:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mediocre-films-that-stay-with-you/1032577/69 "2026-08-27T10:35:59Z")
> [@Stratocaster](#): > > But if they had gone that route I don’t know how they’d have tied up the ending. It sets up the sequel! “The Ultimate Final Countdown!” The Nimitz of 2020 has to go back in time to defeat the mid-80s Nimitz so that Japan can attack Pearl Harbor and set the timeline back to what it’s supposed to be. F-14s vs. Super Hornets, what’s not to like? ---
**Author:** ![Stratocaster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stratocaster/32/16393_2.png) [@Stratocaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stratocaster)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2026, 10:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mediocre-films-that-stay-with-you/1032577/70 "2026-08-27T10:36:33Z")
I’m in! ---
**Author:** ![ZonexandScout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zonexandscout/32/544_2.png) [@ZonexandScout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZonexandScout)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2026, 12:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mediocre-films-that-stay-with-you/1032577/71 "2026-08-27T12:38:52Z")
_Vanishing Point_ (1971) has been mentioned a couple times, but we need to remember that there were all kinds of pretty mediocre films being made after the success of _Easy Rider_ (1969). A lot of young filmmakers (and non-filmmakers, like James Guercio) got handed money to make films that would bring in the “youngsters.” Anyway, we ended up with films like _Electra Glide in Blue_ (1973), which is my second submission to this thread. Thoroughly ordinary, but often fascinating to watch. They probably could have saved a lot of the film’s budget and just filmed the ending as a short. ---
**Author:** ![Capn\_Carl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/838e76/32.png) [@Capn\_Carl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Capn_Carl)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2026, 1:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mediocre-films-that-stay-with-you/1032577/72 "2026-08-27T13:06:34Z")
You are not alone. ---
**Author:** ![We\_re\_wolves\_not\_werewolves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/838e76/32.png) [@We\_re\_wolves\_not\_werewolves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/We_re_wolves_not_werewolves)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2026, 1:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mediocre-films-that-stay-with-you/1032577/73 "2026-08-27T13:11:21Z")
Point Break. It’s completely idiotic, the pseudo philosophizing by Brody is gibberish, and a traffic cone is a better actor than Keanu Reeves, but damn if I don’t watch it every time I run across it on TV! ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2026, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mediocre-films-that-stay-with-you/1032577/74 "2026-08-27T13:17:50Z")
**Creation of the Humanoids** Low-budget science fiction movie from 1962 about a 23rd century post-nuclear war society (but not post-apocalyptic in the usual sense. Civilization and high tech survive). People are served by The Humanoids – human-shaped robots – and some fear that they’re becoming too pervasive. A group called The Order of Flesh and Blood opposes any further advances in robot technology. The sets, makeup, and acting are all kinda cheap. It feels almost like an amateur theater production. But the ideas are interesting, and well-told. The ending is a cliche, but it’s consistent with everything else. Worth a watch. > **[The Creation of the Humanoids](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Creation_of_the_Humanoids)** > > The Creation of the Humanoids is a 1962 American science fiction film, made by Genie Productions, directed by Wesley Barry and starring Don Megowan, Erica Elliot, Frances McCann, Don Doolittle, and Dudley Manlove. The film is based on an original story and screenplay written by Jay Simms. The special eye effects were handled by Louis Zabner, and Jack P. Pierce handled the makeup. In a post-nuclear-war society, blue-skinned, silver-eyed human-like robots have become a common sight as the survivi... ---
**Author:** ![salinqmind1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/958977/32.png) [@salinqmind1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/salinqmind1)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2026, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mediocre-films-that-stay-with-you/1032577/75 "2026-08-27T13:52:43Z")
This is possibly my favorite book of all time, by Peter S. Beagle, and it took a few readings for me to grasp it all. I think it’s a crying shame a live version was never made. (it was on the table years ago with Mia Farrow to play Molly.). It could be done today with CGI! …I think a young Adrian Brody would have made a great Schmendrick. There he is, a ‘magician’ - the type pulling a rabbit out of a hat - and then REAL magic possesses him, and that’s kind of thrilling. A young Amy Irving would have been a lovely Lady Amalthea, and a young Brad Pitt as the prince…but it will never be, except in my imagination. ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2026, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mediocre-films-that-stay-with-you/1032577/76 "2026-08-27T13:59:24Z")
> [@salinqmind1](#): > > Adrian Brody I have not read the book but I’m really curious. I will check it out! ---
**Author:** ![psiekier](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/psiekier/32/116_2.png) [@psiekier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psiekier)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2026, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mediocre-films-that-stay-with-you/1032577/77 "2026-08-27T14:05:10Z")
> [@Capn\_Carl](#): > > You are not alone. How do any of the [Evangelion rebuilds](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rof6qBz84vE) count as “mediocre movies”? ---
**Author:** ![salinqmind1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/958977/32.png) [@salinqmind1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/salinqmind1)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2026, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mediocre-films-that-stay-with-you/1032577/78 "2026-08-27T14:21:51Z")
It’s very poetic, a touch of magic realism, some humor. Not always straightforward. Just…lovely. and sad. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2026, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mediocre-films-that-stay-with-you/1032577/79 "2026-08-27T14:23:01Z")
> [@msmith537](#): > > This came up in another thread but _Maximum Overdrive._ And not just because of the awesome AC/DC soundtrack. Agreed. It’s a terrible film but it _commits_ to its vibe and I respect that. > [@Dark\_Sponge](#): > > Death of a Unicorn was not a good movie, but I thought about it quite a bit afterward. I think it was because my brain kept trying to fix the plot holes to make it logically coherent. The gore probably helped. _Death of a Unicorn_ was weird because the two protagonists played by Ortega and Rudd were practically background for most of the film, while all the best bits went to Tia Leoni, Richard E Grant and Will Poulter as the Evil Rich Family (plus a Very Honorable Mention to Anthony Carrigan who had very few lines but stole every scene he was in). There were some great lines and some brilliant subversions of tropes, even as the overall plot was thin and hole-filled in a lot of ways. I would give it a qualified recommendation - it’s bad overall but, like the proverbial [curate’s egg](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Curate%27s_egg), bits of it are excellent. > [@Infovore](#): > > Another one I just thought of is _Toys_. It starred Robin Williams and was just… weird. But I still think about it occasionally even after all these years, and it had an amazing soundtrack. That movie was where I discovered Tori Amos’s music. _Toys_ starts great, and then just about the time you think it should be winding up you discover there’s another whole hour to the film. There really did not need to be. > [@hajario](#): > > I might be the only one to love the 1984 version of _The Razor’s Edge_ with Bill Murray. I like the film better than the book because it removes the unnecessary (and pretentious) narrator character. The only weak spot, alas, was Murray himself. I know it was his vanity project but he was not a good fit for the lead role. I’m going to add **Undercover Blues** with Dennis Quaid and Kathleen Turner. It’s just unrelenting spy-related goofiness from start to finish. The leads are just having fun with the roles, the supporting characters in Fiona Shaw and Stanley Tucci compete to show off the most outrageous foreign accents and scenery chewing, and really nobody involved in the film appears to be taking it seriously. Which is why I like it, despite all its obvious flaws. ---
**Author:** ![aruvqan\_myers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ed8c4c/32.png) [@aruvqan\_myers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan_myers)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2026, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mediocre-films-that-stay-with-you/1032577/80 "2026-08-27T14:24:21Z")
Morty!!! I actually really like the absurd spy crime flick =) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mediocre-films-that-stay-with-you/1032577.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mediocre-films-that-stay-with-you/1032577.md?page=5)