# Movies you have watched with low expectations only to be surprised by how much you like them. **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 21, 2014, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-you-have-watched-with-low-expectations-only-to-be-surprised-by-how-much-you-like-them/686609 "2014-04-21T14:37:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2014, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-you-have-watched-with-low-expectations-only-to-be-surprised-by-how-much-you-like-them/686609/1 "2014-04-21T14:37:42Z")
I am just watching, for the second time, a movie that I only watched because the lead role is played by someone who rarely chooses a dud movie. **Flight** with Denzel Washington. I saw the trailer at the movies and they made it seem like some formulaic poor victim of evil forces movie. But it is way way darker than that. Second time round I am enjoying it even more. Further suggestions invited. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2014, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-you-have-watched-with-low-expectations-only-to-be-surprised-by-how-much-you-like-them/686609/2 "2014-04-21T14:45:05Z")
Hot Tub Time Machine. Don’t eschew it based on the stupid name. Netflix kept recommending it and I just wanted something on in the background one day, as I tell people, I went in expecting Bill and Ted and got Back To The Future. It was funny basically from beginning to end. I think I’ve watched it two more times since then. ---
**Author:** ![Superhal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Superhal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superhal)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2014, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-you-have-watched-with-low-expectations-only-to-be-surprised-by-how-much-you-like-them/686609/3 "2014-04-21T14:47:06Z")
It’s called “The Catwoman Effect.” When you go to a movie with bottom of the barrel expectations, and of course the movie exceeds them. I will often track down movies with good fight scenes, even if there’s only 1 minute of fighting in the entire film. Catwoman uses capoeira, which is one of 2 Hollywood films to have it. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2014, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-you-have-watched-with-low-expectations-only-to-be-surprised-by-how-much-you-like-them/686609/4 "2014-04-21T14:48:17Z")
Speaking of time travel, _12 Monkeys_. The ads for it all looked extremely idiotic, but one evening I was visiting a friend and he was watching it, so I watched too to be polite. Best time travel movie I’ve ever seen. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2014, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-you-have-watched-with-low-expectations-only-to-be-surprised-by-how-much-you-like-them/686609/5 "2014-04-21T14:50:23Z")
> [@Superhal](#): > > It’s called “The Catwoman Effect.” When you go to a movie with bottom of the barrel expectations, and of course the movie exceeds them. > > I will often track down movies with good fight scenes, even if there’s only 1 minute of fighting in the entire film. Catwoman uses capoeira, which is one of 2 Hollywood films to have it. I’ve never heard of capoeira, so I looked it up. Wiki lists several movies that have it. > **[Capoeira in popular culture](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capoeira_in_popular_culture#Movies)** > > The Brazilian martial art of capoeira, noted for its acrobatic movements and kicks, has often been featured in and influenced popular culture. > Capoeira and capoeira mestres have been featured in several Brazilian films and documentaries including: > Capoeira has been a focus of several martial arts films, including: ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2014, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-you-have-watched-with-low-expectations-only-to-be-surprised-by-how-much-you-like-them/686609/6 "2014-04-21T14:54:39Z")
I watched _Babette’s Feast_ for the first time because it was on my Oscar nominees list. The description I had of it was basically, “Lady makes dinner for the town.” Sounded like nothing I really wanted to endure. Boy, was I wrong. I wound up giving it a 9, and repeat viewings (thank you, Criterion Collection) will probably move it up. ---
**Author:** ![buddha\_david](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ee7513/32.png) [@buddha\_david](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/buddha_david)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2014, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-you-have-watched-with-low-expectations-only-to-be-surprised-by-how-much-you-like-them/686609/7 "2014-04-21T15:09:05Z")
**The Hunger Games:** Only watched this as “research” due to the popular style of PvP in Minecraft. Surprisingly entertaining, though the dialogue was flat and boring – I wouldn’t call it a “great” movie, but at least it did keep my interest. **Star Wars II: Attack of the Clones:** After getting kicked in the teeth by the deplorable _Phantom Menace_, I probably enjoyed this one much more than it deserved. **Zathura:** Wow, this movie caught me totally by surprise. Very entertaining, with engaging characters and a tightly-written plot (if a tad predictable – I figured out the ending “twist” almost immediately); and unlike _Jumangi_, where the dumb characters couldn’t figure out they should just stop playing the game, that wasn’t an option – the characters in Zathura _must_ keep playing, in order to bring their house back from outer space. Definitely one of Jon Favreau’s best. ---
**Author:** ![Suburban\_Plankton](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/suburban_plankton/32/219_2.png) [@Suburban\_Plankton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Suburban_Plankton)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2014, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-you-have-watched-with-low-expectations-only-to-be-surprised-by-how-much-you-like-them/686609/8 "2014-04-21T15:12:47Z")
**Pirates of the Caribbean**. I mean, come on…a movie based on a theme park ride? Also, **Big Trouble in Little China** …I was expecting some dumb kung-fu flick. Which, to some extent, it was. But that didn’t stop it from being great fun! ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2014, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-you-have-watched-with-low-expectations-only-to-be-surprised-by-how-much-you-like-them/686609/9 "2014-04-21T15:19:09Z")
**The Gate** (1987) - I just _knew_ this was going to stink on ice, but–BIG SURPRISE–I really enjoyed it. Went in expecting a 1 star film, came out feeling I’d seen a 6 to 7 (out of 10) star movie. ---
**Author:** ![johnspartan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a183cd/32.png) [@johnspartan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnspartan)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2014, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-you-have-watched-with-low-expectations-only-to-be-surprised-by-how-much-you-like-them/686609/10 "2014-04-21T15:19:42Z")
Borat. I walked into this pretty much convinced it was going to be unfunny, that it would just substitute filth and/or OMG can you believe he just… shock value for humor. I laughed pretty much the entire way through. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2014, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-you-have-watched-with-low-expectations-only-to-be-surprised-by-how-much-you-like-them/686609/11 "2014-04-21T15:24:22Z")
**Babe** – yes, the pig movie. It was far more enjoyable than I expected. Though in a later viewing, it didn’t hold up particularly well. The cuteness was stale. ---
**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:** [April 21, 2014, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-you-have-watched-with-low-expectations-only-to-be-surprised-by-how-much-you-like-them/686609/12 "2014-04-21T15:34:40Z")
**[The Doberman Gang](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0068491/)** (1972). Don’t know why I went – maybe because my girlfriend liked dogs – but I expected it to be awful. Instead it was an entertaining caper flick; the dogs were fun to watch, and the ending was a hoot. ---
**Author:** ![OneCentStamp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/13edae/32.png) [@OneCentStamp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OneCentStamp)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2014, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-you-have-watched-with-low-expectations-only-to-be-surprised-by-how-much-you-like-them/686609/13 "2014-04-21T15:37:06Z")
> [@buddha\_david](#): > > **Zathura:** Wow, this movie caught me totally by surprise. Very entertaining, with engaging characters and a tightly-written plot (if a tad predictable – I figured out the ending “twist” almost immediately); and unlike _Jumangi_, where the dumb characters couldn’t figure out they should just stop playing the game, that wasn’t an option – the characters in Zathura _must_ keep playing, in order to bring their house back from outer space. Definitely one of Jon Favreau’s best. It also has pre-megastar Josh Hutcherson and Kristen Stewart! ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2014, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-you-have-watched-with-low-expectations-only-to-be-surprised-by-how-much-you-like-them/686609/14 "2014-04-21T15:37:10Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > **[The Doberman Gang](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0068491/)** (1972). Don’t know why I went – maybe because my girlfriend liked dogs – but I expected it to be awful. Instead it was an entertaining caper flick; the dogs were fun to watch, and the ending was a hoot. I thought this was a movie with James Garner as the lead, but apparently not. Wasn’t there some movie with James Garner and a doberman? ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2014, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-you-have-watched-with-low-expectations-only-to-be-surprised-by-how-much-you-like-them/686609/15 "2014-04-21T15:40:52Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > I thought this was a movie with James Garner as the lead, but apparently not. Wasn’t there some movie with James Garner and a doberman? “They Only Kill Their Masters,” with Katherine “Hubba-hubba, Ahh-ooooogah, Daddy Likee” Ross. ---
**Author:** ![Doug\_K](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b5ac83/32.png) [@Doug\_K](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doug_K)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2014, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-you-have-watched-with-low-expectations-only-to-be-surprised-by-how-much-you-like-them/686609/16 "2014-04-21T15:43:59Z")
On Golden Pond. I expected to hate it just because of Jane Fonda’s participation. I ended up really liking it. Years later I got to see a stage production (starring Don Knotts) and liked it even more. ---
**Author:** ![simster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/simster/32/1047_2.png) [@simster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/simster)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2014, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-you-have-watched-with-low-expectations-only-to-be-surprised-by-how-much-you-like-them/686609/17 "2014-04-21T15:46:25Z")
**Hunger Games** - \*\*BattleShip \*\*(this was a _real_ surprise) ---
**Author:** ![Roderick\_Femm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/roderick_femm/32/14875_2.png) [@Roderick\_Femm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roderick_Femm)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2014, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-you-have-watched-with-low-expectations-only-to-be-surprised-by-how-much-you-like-them/686609/18 "2014-04-21T16:02:32Z")
> [@Doug\_K](#): > > On Golden Pond. I expected to hate it just because of Jane Fonda’s participation. I ended up really liking it. Years later I got to see a stage production (starring **Don Knotts** ) and liked it even more. ??? In the Katharine Hepburn role? As an anthropomorphized fish in the lake? Sorry for the cheap shots, but I just can’t picture it. Now you’re going to tell me he was surprisingly good in the role. ---
**Author:** ![Southern\_Yankee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/southern_yankee/32/2800_2.png) [@Southern\_Yankee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Southern_Yankee)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2014, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-you-have-watched-with-low-expectations-only-to-be-surprised-by-how-much-you-like-them/686609/19 "2014-04-21T16:18:41Z")
_Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters_. Rented it a few months back and enjoyed it. Sure it’s ridiculous, but that’s kind of the point. ---
**Author:** ![aruvqan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aruvqan/32/2891_2.png) [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2014, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-you-have-watched-with-low-expectations-only-to-be-surprised-by-how-much-you-like-them/686609/20 "2014-04-21T16:34:40Z")
> [@KneadToKnow](#): > > I watched _Babette’s Feast_ for the first time because it was on my Oscar nominees list. The description I had of it was basically, “Lady makes dinner for the town.” Sounded like nothing I really wanted to endure. > > Boy, was I wrong. I wound up giving it a 9, and repeat viewings (thank you, Criterion Collection) will probably move it up. Seriously - food porn! I adore the movie, and I love the way that the poor feckless General doesn’t realize that everybody is only supposed to barely tolerate that evil foreign food and subverts everything by reminiscing about the wonderful food in Paris. One of my absolute favorite movies, and I would love to see a well dubbed version made so it would be more widely accepted here. Americans and their dislike for subtitled foreign films sucks ass. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/movies-you-have-watched-with-low-expectations-only-to-be-surprised-by-how-much-you-like-them/686609.md?page=2)