You’re not going to believe this but we ended up seeing BASEketball because our first choice wasn’t available and I don’t remember the last time I laughed so hard. It had a plot and everything. I admit I went in having really low expectations, but I bought it when Blockbuster had a previously-viewed copy for sale and I force everyone to watch it who comes in the house, pretty much.
On the complete opposite end of the spectrum, the recent (3-4 years ago?) remake of “Miracle on 34th Street” (with Elizabeth Perkins and they guy from The Practice) really impressed and moved me. It was so well done and beautiful to look at. Everyone was so good looking and polite and well groomed. (Well, except for the drunk Santa, naturally.) A fantastic job of creating a mood and feeling and really making you care. We own that one and watch it every year.
Marge: “You know, Homer, it’s very easy to criticize.”
Homer: “Fun, too!”
Drain, I did read Fannie Flagg’s book, after I saw the movie for the first time. I was not too surprised to discover that the lesbian relationship between Ruth and Buddy that was hinted at in the movie, was confirmed in the book.
I enjoyed both the book and the movie, for perhaps different reasons. Much like “Gone with the Wind” and “Thorn Birds.”
> “Them” was really much better than a movie
> with a pro wrestler should have been.
I think you mean the 1988 film They Live, which stars Rowdy Roddy Piper, rather than the 1954 film Them, which was mentioned by RealityChuck. Actually, They Live is one of the films that I should have listed in my post. It works well despite the fact that Piper isn’t a very good actor, just like Code of Silence, which I did list, works well despite the fact that Chuck Norris isn’t a very good actor.
My buddy and I saw it when it first came out and had no idea what to expect and it was just hilarious, from the inscription of JFK’s photo to the diner scene to “Serpentine!”.
I just thought of another film that I unexpectedly liked - the 1992 movie Ruby. By all rights, I should have hated this film. It came out less than a year after JFK, and it offers a conspiracy theory that’s even stupider than those in Oliver Stone’s film. But Danny Aiello can actually act, unlike Kevin Costner, and he does great job stranded in this hopelessly stupid plot.
“The Sixth Sense”: I avoided seeing this movie in the theaters because my S.O. hates horror films (she’ll wake me up in the middle of the night for days afterwards). But after at least a dozen friends reassured us that it wasn’t what it seemed to be in the movie trailers, we saw it on pay per view. Great movie.
“South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut”: I know, I know. I had heard positive reviews of it, but wasn’t prepared for how good it truly was. Yes, it has more swear words per minute than Pulp Fiction. Yes, it has its share of bathroom and sexual humor. But: it’s a musical, for one, and the music is not bad. The music included snippets of “Les Mis,” “Rent,” “The Little Mermaid,” and, of course, the Disney-esque cheesy song over the final credits (sung by Michael McDonald!). And the movie itself was funny, a decent satire, and all in all, a top-notch rental (Parental Guidence more than suggested).
Saw BROKEN BLOSSOMS (1919) when I was about 13, primarily for historical reasons, it being a D.W. Griffith movie and all. Came away from it hopelessly in love with Lillian Gish.
Last year a macho, film-noir-loving friend with hair on his back started watching girlie movies. He refused to listen to my mockery, insisting that I go rent QUEEN CHRISTINA (1933). Came away from it hopelessly in love with Greta Garbo.
“Meet Joe Black” It seemed to be panned in the reviews I read but I thought it was a very touching and poignant look at death (or at least to the point that Hollywood ever addresses it in any way other than with violence). Made me cry.
Despite myself, I also liked “Instinct” and “Rain Man”. I only pick comedies or sci-fi and hubby made me watch these two. Had to admit to likeing them.
“Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas” - I was wondering how the hell they were going to put all of that only-in-the-mind drug madness on the screen, but I should have trusted in Terry Gilliam. He’s a wizard. The ether casino scene is perfect.
“Fight Club” was different than I expected, but I have not decided if it was better. I was expected a twisted buddy movie along the lines of “Bad Influence” (with Rob Lowe and James Spader, also surprisingly good and complex), but got an entirely different experience. I’m not sure if I liked it THAT much, I was a little annoyed at the ending. I may have to see it again to decide. I am surprised that it was that memorable.
Some mornings, it’s just not worth chewing through the leather straps.
– Emo Phillips
I think some people in this thread are cheating - mentioning movies that got an awful lot of hype.
Who didn’t hear good things about “Sixth Sense” ?
I thought the idea of the OP had to do with more under-hyped out-of-the-way movies that you stumbled across without knowing anything about them, critically or otherwise.
Hey, Ike, I gotta loan you ‘Min and Bill,’ just to see if you come away hopelessly in love with Marie Dressler . . .
If you liked ‘Broken Blossoms,’ wait’ll you see both Gishes in that copy of ‘Hearts of the World’ I just sent you . . . You’ll no doubt be fantasizing a Gish three-way . . .
Yeah, the romantic magic of the silver screen…I just watched BOY, DID I GET A WRONG NUMBER…that Phyllis Diller is HOT.
Shame on you, Eve. Lillian Gish is a Seraph of Heaven, not meant to be sullied by the filthy touch of mere mortals. (Toldja I was 14 when it hit me. Still haven’t gotten over it.)
When I was 12, my mother and the lady from next door took me, my 10 yr.-old brother, and 10 yr.-old neighbor to the local cinema. They parked and bought our tickets, so that they could go shopping while we watched the latest “space” movie.
We grabbed front-row-center seats, and the next thing we knew, we were staring at Jane Fonda’s neKid titties, floating around in space. The movie was Barbarella.
We couldn’t quit grinning for about a month.
(It felt like we’d just won the tittie lottery)
… and later (when they found out what was what) our mothers told us that if we ever mentioned it, they’d kill us and bury us in the garden.
“Swingers”–best movie EVER (not really, but it’s my favorite)
“Seven”–best ending EVER (really)
“The Thomas Crown Affair”
“Fight Club” didn’t surprise me–I knew it was going to be great.
“Big Daddy”–I thought I was sick of Sandler. This is my favorite of the movies that he stars in. That being said, my biggest pleasant surprise ever was:
“Airheads”–pure hilarity.
The IQ of a group is equal to the IQ of the dumbest member divided by the number of people in the group.