# Movies that still hold up but only God knows why **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 4, 2019, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-that-still-hold-up-but-only-god-knows-why/836541 "2019-07-04T23:02:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![mbh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a6a055/32.png) [@mbh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mbh)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2019, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-that-still-hold-up-but-only-god-knows-why/836541/41 "2019-07-05T17:34:32Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > This far down, I’m surprised no one has mentioned _ **Forbidden Planet** _ or _ **The Day the Earth Stood Still** _. When it comes to “holding up over time,” I’d say these two are strong contenders for first place. > [@](#): > > **Movies that still hold up but only God knows why** We know why those two hold up. The OP was asking about lesser works that still manage to be entertaining. The 1939 version of _The Four Feathers_. Yeah, sure, it’s imperialist, colonialist, militarist, racist, sexist, and elitist. It’s still worth watching. The Hammer horror films. Not as good as the Universal originals, but even with shoestring budgets, they gave it their best. I am fond of some of the lesser-known films, like _The Two Faces of Doctor Jeckyll_ and _Quatermass and the Pit._ ---
**Author:** ![Dale\_Sams](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/779978/32.png) [@Dale\_Sams](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dale_Sams)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2019, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-that-still-hold-up-but-only-god-knows-why/836541/42 "2019-07-05T17:39:04Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > This far down, I’m surprised no one has mentioned _ **Forbidden Planet** _ or _ **The Day the Earth Stood Still** _. When it comes to “holding up over time,” I’d say these two are strong contenders for first place. Adamantium-solid sci-fi concepts. For me, there’s no…“Wait, why is this still working?” Granted when it comes to Sci-Fi, for me…I just automatically screen out anything that may make it look dated, and just lock into the theme and whatever happen to be timeless. In the above, besides the themes and story, there’s great soundtracks and sound effects. Man, that giant ID attack. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2019, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-that-still-hold-up-but-only-god-knows-why/836541/43 "2019-07-05T17:50:09Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > I totally agree about The Fifth Element. It’s just so much fun and I like the set design and costumes, and the way they created the aliens, spaceships and so forth. (And then I went to see Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets in the theater, hoping it would be as much fun. I was _so_ disappointed. I do that a lot actually; if I like a director’s movie, I’ll seek out others made by him or her. Sometimes I’m happy but usually I’m disappointed.) I suggest you seek out his _The Extraordinary Adventures of Adèle Blanc-Sec_, It’s delightfully bizarre, with pterodactyls flying through 1912 Paris, mummy’s curses, and a woman with a hatpin in the brain. ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2019, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-that-still-hold-up-but-only-god-knows-why/836541/44 "2019-07-05T18:03:40Z")
> [@XOldiesJock](#): > > In 1975, I saw “Jaws” at a drive-in. Recently, I watched it for only the second time. I expected the clunky special effects would render it hopelessly dated. I was surprised. Although it could be done today with much better special effects, it would be a CGI gore-fest and look totally unrealistic. But what really puts “Jaws” over the top is the acting. Scheider, Shaw and Dreyfuss could never be improved upon, and that’s really what makes it still work after all this time. The lack of CGI is one of the reasons JAWS is a great movie. A big element of the suspense is that you don’t get to actually see the entire shark until near the end of the movie. That wasn’t intentional at the time - Spielberg had this awesome mechanical shark built, and planned to use it a lot, right from the beginning of the movie. But the damned thing kept breaking down, so they had to use it very sparingly. The result was that the shark became this shadowy killing machine of unknown size, which made it much scarier. Spielberg has said that in retrospect the way the shark was used was much more effective than what he had originally planned. If JAWS had CGI available, the shark would have been just a shark, with little mystery element. The movie would have suffered for it. CGI in the wrong hands can ruin a movie. For example, look at the difference between the original Star Wars, which was almost all practical effects, and the prequels, which were largely shot in front of green screens. CGI made Lucas lazy, and the films suffered for it. Back on topic: I can watch ‘The Blues Brothers’ over again any time and enjoy the hell out of it. The same goes for ‘Monty Python’s Life of Brian’. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2019, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-that-still-hold-up-but-only-god-knows-why/836541/45 "2019-07-05T18:09:18Z")
> [@Dale\_Sams](#): > > Adamantium-solid sci-fi concepts. For me, there’s no…“Wait, why is this still working?” True, but they’re more than a half-century old. Their enduing appeal is what’s truly remarkable. Not many science-fiction movies can make that claim. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2019, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-that-still-hold-up-but-only-god-knows-why/836541/46 "2019-07-05T18:13:15Z")
> [@Sam\_Stone](#): > > Back on topic: I can watch ‘The Blues Brothers’ over again any time and enjoy the hell out of it. Good example. I disliked it when it first came out because it was such a mess. Now I love it especially for the cameos by blues performers. ---
**Author:** ![KarlGauss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/karlgauss/32/3713_2.png) [@KarlGauss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarlGauss)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2019, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-that-still-hold-up-but-only-god-knows-why/836541/47 "2019-07-05T21:22:00Z")
I can’t pass up watching (the original) [Red Dawn](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0087985/?ref_=nv_sr_1?ref_=nv_sr_1). I’ve always been addicted to documentaries. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2019, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-that-still-hold-up-but-only-god-knows-why/836541/48 "2019-07-05T21:45:54Z")
> [@TheCuse](#): > > I just watched it again on TV last weekend. Sadly, it doesn’t hold up well on TV. All the funny was removed. ---
**Author:** ![Alpha\_Twit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alpha_twit/32/265_2.png) [@Alpha\_Twit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alpha_Twit)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2019, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-that-still-hold-up-but-only-god-knows-why/836541/49 "2019-07-05T22:08:01Z")
> [@Gatopescado](#): > > Sadly, it doesn’t hold up well on TV. All the funny was removed. Agreed, if you’re not watching it unedited, as Mel intended, don’t even bother. ---
**Author:** ![Odesio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/odesio/32/20003_2.png) [@Odesio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odesio)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2019, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-that-still-hold-up-but-only-god-knows-why/836541/50 "2019-07-05T23:15:50Z")
> [@Alpha\_Twit](#): > > Agreed, if you’re not watching it unedited, as Mel intended, don’t even bother. Back in the 80s my mother was excited to watching Blazing Saddles with me and was quite upset that they edited all the rude sounds from the campfire scene. The cowpokes would rise up while eating, sometimes grunt, and sit down but without the rude sounds the scene was much less effective. ---
**Author:** ![Saintly\_Loser](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saintly_loser/32/4045_2.png) [@Saintly\_Loser](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saintly_Loser)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2019, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-that-still-hold-up-but-only-god-knows-why/836541/51 "2019-07-05T23:20:29Z")
> [@XOldiesJock](#): > > In 1975, I saw “Jaws” at a drive-in. Recently, I watched it for only the second time. I expected the clunky special effects would render it hopelessly dated. I was surprised. Although it could be done today with much better special effects, it would be a CGI gore-fest and look totally unrealistic. But what really puts “Jaws” over the top is the acting. Scheider, Shaw and Dreyfuss could never be improved upon, and that’s really what makes it still work after all this time. It’s not just the acting, it’s the editing, almost as much. \*Jaws \*doesn’t really belong in this thread. It holds up because it’s a solidly good movie. No “God knows why” about it. ---
**Author:** ![madsircool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madsircool/32/3432_2.png) [@madsircool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madsircool)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2019, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-that-still-hold-up-but-only-god-knows-why/836541/52 "2019-07-05T23:24:50Z")
The Ninth Configuration. Stacy Keach, Ed Flanders and Hershcel from The Walking Dead were great in it. Sent from my LGMS210 using Tapatalk ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2019, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-that-still-hold-up-but-only-god-knows-why/836541/53 "2019-07-06T00:16:02Z")
Point Break. The original of course. Patrick Swayze Keanu Reeves Gary Busey Lori Petty Music in there by Concrete Blonde. Some great filming and action shots. And some perfect one liners. Oh, well that’s why it stands up. But it’s a pretty cheesy guy flick. An eye-roller for my Wife, but it works. ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2019, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-that-still-hold-up-but-only-god-knows-why/836541/54 "2019-07-06T00:22:27Z")
> [@Saintly\_Loser](#): > > It’s not just the acting, it’s the editing, almost as much. > > \*Jaws \*doesn’t really belong in this thread. It holds up because it’s a solidly good movie. No “God knows why” about it. I agree. It is still a movie that scares me, even when I know what is coming. That is the measure of a good horror flick. Anyone ever read the book? It was an ordinary summer potboiler, nothing special. Spielberg changed just about everything except the names of the characters, and it is a great movie. I remember I saw it in 1975, and thought I had learned where all the spoilers were. Then came the bigger boat scene, and I saw a whole theater full of people screaming(including myself) and making involuntary pushing moves with their hands. ---
**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:** [July 6, 2019, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-that-still-hold-up-but-only-god-knows-why/836541/55 "2019-07-06T04:04:09Z")
I like action movies and I like bitches that kick ass. So liking The Long Kiss Goodnight when I first saw it was a gimme. It’s full of great lines, incredible think-on-your-feet action sequences and very large explosions. Plus Samuel L. Jackson being all Sam Jackson-y. But I’ll watch it again and again for Gena Davis. Sweet Sam and Badass Charlie. We watch them fight for this woman’s soul and I find it facination. And also for the punch lines. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2019, 5:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-that-still-hold-up-but-only-god-knows-why/836541/56 "2019-07-06T05:24:14Z")
> [@Baker](#): > > Anyone ever read the book? It was an ordinary summer potboiler, nothing special. Spielberg changed just about everything except the names of the characters, and it is a great movie. I remember I saw it in 1975, and thought I had learned where all the spoilers were. Then came the bigger boat scene, and I saw a whole theater full of people screaming(including myself) and making involuntary pushing moves with their hands. Like _The Godfather_, definitely an example of the movie being way better than the book. ---
**Author:** ![Dale\_Sams](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/779978/32.png) [@Dale\_Sams](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dale_Sams)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2019, 6:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-that-still-hold-up-but-only-god-knows-why/836541/57 "2019-07-06T06:04:01Z")
> [@Biggirl](#): > > I like action movies and I like bitches that kick ass. So liking The Long Kiss Goodnight when I first saw it was a gimme. It’s full of great lines, incredible think-on-your-feet action sequences and very large explosions. Plus Samuel L. Jackson being all Sam Jackson-y. > > But I’ll watch it again and again for Gena Davis. Sweet Sam and Badass Charlie. We watch them fight for this woman’s soul and I find it facination. And also for the punch lines. In the same vein…I think Im the only one who likes The Quick and the Dead. Its a GD cartoon with several famous cast members. Who is this movie hurting? I love it. ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2019, 6:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-that-still-hold-up-but-only-god-knows-why/836541/58 "2019-07-06T06:20:29Z")
> [@galen\_ubal](#): > > [_Flash Gordon_](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0080745/) from 1980. The effects are either badly dated or just bad, the acting ranges from nonexistent to completely over the top, with no middle ground, and it’s just generally silly. Oh, yeah, and the soundtrack is…unique. > > I _love_ it! I don’t know if it holds up for others, but it certainly does for me. > > (dundundundun FLASH! AH-AH!) Shit, it was never good. But by the time it played in my home town we were already able to use it as a sing-along movie 😃 > [@enipla](#): > > Point Break. The original of course. > > Patrick Swayze > Keanu Reeves > Gary Busey > Lori Petty > > Music in there by Concrete Blonde. Some great filming and action shots. And some perfect one liners. > > Oh, well that’s why it stands up. But it’s a pretty cheesy guy flick. An eye-roller for my Wife, but it works. Also a favorite of lots of women. It doesn’t even have to be women who’d be happy to watch Swayze or Reeves spell out a phone book, it’s one of those movies that have always been called “bad” by people who think They Know Better but which keeps coming up in personal lists of favorites. Which actually seems to apply to a lot of Swayze 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21906_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2019, 1:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-that-still-hold-up-but-only-god-knows-why/836541/59 "2019-07-06T13:02:44Z")
I’ve got to agree with _The Fifth Element_ - love it. Another my husband and I have watched a lot is _Demolition Man_. I can’t stand Stallone, but I can’t not watch this one when it comes on. What’s really weird is that I’m not a big sci-fi-futuristic society fan, but I still like both of these flicks. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2019, 1:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-that-still-hold-up-but-only-god-knows-why/836541/60 "2019-07-06T13:15:20Z")
D.O.A. (the original movie from 1949). In spite of a ridiculous, murky plot and horrendous overacting from Edmund O’Brien, the campy _noir_ atmosphere makes it fun. Best scenes include jazz hipsters urging on musicians in a nightclub and the nonexistent bedside manner of doctors trying to diagnose O’Brien’s “luminous” poisoning. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-that-still-hold-up-but-only-god-knows-why/836541.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-that-still-hold-up-but-only-god-knows-why/836541.md?page=4)