American Beauty. Yeah, I know it got a s__tload of awards, but I figured it was just another hypefest–how could anything live up to the press it was getting? But I rented it a few days ago and was pretty damned impressed.
Terminator. I went into this cold, expecting a grade-Z POS, and instead it was marvellous. Completely blew me away.
Oh, and count me in for Galaxy Quest; again, I had really low expectations, but DAMN.
I knew you’d all point and laugh about 3000 Mi. to Graceland. But even though it was entirely unbelieveable, somehow, I liked it! Maybe because it was free? I’d been avoiding it at Blockbuster for ages.
seconds to The Matrix and Dude, where’s my car?
The Matrix I expected to be run of the mill. Keanu was a major reason, but the second Trinity kicked the cop, I was hooked.
Dude looked beyond moronic, but was goofy, Dumb & Dumber style fun. I’ll have to see it again from the beginning, since I walked in halfway through.
The promos for Fight Club had me thinking that it was drivel, a litmus test for stupidity. Wow, was I wrong.
Taxi Driver. Several years ago, I decided to stop avoiding movies made since 1970, and I deliberately made out a film list for myself that included this movie. I expected a depressing, gruesome shoot-em-out movie, but was totally blown away by Robert De Niro’s performance and with the ideas that drove the movie: alienation from society, sanity and the lack thereof, and the challenge of being male in the modern world.
BTW, other films on this list included:
The Godfather
Raging Bull
Dog Day Afternoon
Midnight Cowboy
**L.A. Confidential ** I put off seeing it like the plague for the longest time because wheneve I saw a clip it looked so dry and boring. Was I ever wrong. The fine line between real drama and kitsch was delicious.
I am another guilty lover of 3000 Miles to Graceland.
I also found out that I liked:
The Iron Giant
The Shawshank Redemption
Home For the Holidays
Braveheart (despite the historical inconsistencies)
another vote for Galaxy Quest (and I am not a huge fan of Tim Allen
Cyrano De Bergerac is my favorite play so I almost didn’t go see Roxanne (1987, Steve Martin, Daryl Hannah). It was well-done, although I didn’t like the way they changed the ending.
I’ll second TREMORS.
It was a “smart” monster flick where the characters actually had brains to match wits with the monster (no stupid “I think he’s dead, instead of chopping his head off i’ll check his pulse.”)
Also Reba McEntire is hillarious as a gun-toteing NRA extremist with her husband (the dad from Family Ties).
For me ditto to Monsters Inc.,Shreik and Fight Club.
I enjoyed Gangs of New York more than I thought I would, even though it was offensive at some parts. Still a damn good movie.
The biggest sleeper hit for me though was Equilibrium. Every critic I know called it a matrix wanna be and dissed it to the Earths core. however I personally cannot wait for the DVD of that film, espically if they hae a “how to do the Gun Kata” feature 
A Fish Called Wanda…I almost peed my pants.
Happy Gilmore
Galaxy Quest
Raising Arizona
All these films I either watched because they were free or cheap. I went in with much eyerolling :rolleyes: and low expectations. I absolutely laughed until I cried. mmm… good times, good times.
mmm…
Yet another vote for:
Dude, where’s my car? I started watching it halfway through on HBO one night and it was really fun. I had to check the schedule to find out when it would be on again.
American Pie 2 I had not even scene the first one, and rented the second one on a lark. What a riot!
I’ll add my vote to “Fight Club” (the trailer turned me off bigtime, I didn’t see it until a couple of years later after reading the book, and loved it) and “Galaxy Quest”.
I’ll also add “Spy Kids.” I got dragged to this one by some friends and ended up loving it.
“About a Boy.” I expected to like it, but not nearly as much as I did.
On the other hand, I expected to like “Beyond the Mat” (the wrestling documentary) and ended up having to leave before it was over because it gave me such an overwhelming feeling of despair that I couldn’t stand watching it any longer. Go figure.
The first Austin Powers movie. I thought it looked like it might be the most stupid movie ever, but I believe Dr. Evil is the funniest character ever. I like the second movie even more and I guess I would say I was surprised at how much I enjoyed that one too.
The Matrix - as a fervent Keanu-hater, I went in with almost zero expectations. Two hours later, the rest is history.
Memento - This time I went in the theatre with moderate expectations…Loved it.
Rules of Attraction - disturbingly delicious.
Killing Zoe - Killing who? An ultra drugged out violent study in how NOT to rob a bank. Julie Delpy is HOT
American Psycho - the problem with seeing films late in their theatrical run is that you hear all sorts of BS comments. For the most part everyone I know who saw this hated it. I didn’t.
Attack of The Clones - I actually saw a french-quebec translation of this film (my daughter speaks only french) and I guess I was spared the corny dialogue. I really liked this film. Almost as much as Empire Strikes Back
Another vote for Deuce Bigelow. It was much more good-hearted than I expected it to be, and quite funny, I thought.
I had low expectations for The Dream Team, w. Michael Keaton, Peter Boyle and Lorraine Bracco. It remains one of my favorites.
Recently, Gangs of New York. It was getting so many bad reviews that I ended up very impressed.
Seconds (thirds, fourths):
Fight Club, Galaxy Quest, Babe, The Matrix, X-Men
Additions:
When Harry Met Sally - I didn’t expect much, but it is an all-time favorite. Only good thing I’ve ever seen Billy Crystal in, as far as I can remember (except for the Princess Bride, in which he was the low point).
Sense and Sensibility - I expected to be bored to tears. It wasn’t boring at all.
Fire in the Sky - UFO abduction movie? Robert Patrick was very good and the alien bits were horrifying.
Near Dark - Beyond low budget vampire flick, but really great in spite of itself.
Sunset Boulevard - Okay, I was ignorant.
Once Upon a Time in the West - Spaghetti Western, but hilarious in parts and dramatic (if a bit melo-) in others. Henry Fonda as the villain!
L.A. Story - Steve Martin? Expected a goofy comedy. I can’t categorize this movie. It’s funny as hell, but parts of it just blow me away.
The Sum of All Fears I haven’t liked a movie based on a Tom Clancy novel since The Hunt for Red October. This one was a pleasant surprise.
And if you ever see Vulgar at the video store, run away and never go back again. The title fits the movie.