Movies that surprized you!

[ToucanSpam]

This thread is for movies that you recently viewed that were far better than expected. These can be rentals or films that are currently in theatres. It doesn't even have to be recent, actually.

For me, my recent 'sleeper hits' are as follows:

Fight Club- I had not seen this movie nor understood the many references to it that I have missed over the past few months, but it was reccomended to me to go see this thing. I went one step further and bought it for 8 bucks. It was worth every cent, as it had me wondering exactly what in the blue hell was going on with the protagonist the whole movie. Really cool concept, well written although the book is probably better. Definatly a B+ movie.

[Mr Films]

I believe Fight Club will go down in history as one of the most initially underrated movies of all time.

on the subject of the thread, though, I choose "In the Bedroom"

[ToucanSpam]

I believe Fight Club will go down in history as one of the most initially underrated movies of all time.


The truth is I thought it would be a shit film with way too much fighting and not enough about everything else, but I was pleasantly surprised as the film went on and we the audience learned more about the world around the protagonist. Plus, Brad Pitt plays a good asshole.

[Mr Films]

The truth is I thought it would be a shit film with way too much fighting and not enough about everything else, but I was pleasantly surprised as the film went on and we the audience learned more about the world around the protagonist. Plus, Brad Pitt plays a good asshole.

it's funny, the first time I saw it- within the first 20 minutes I thought it was hella-gay. Then the ending punched me in the face like 80 times.

It's one of the few movies that you actually can enjoy exponentially more each time.

I also enjoy watching to see if Fincher will ever be able to top it.

[Beckalina]

toucan spam 3 - up the bum.

the twist at the end was shocking :eek:

[Mr Films]

more on Fight Club:

i read the book afterwards and concluded the movie is actually better. seems to me the book would be kind of incomprehensible had you not seen the movie.

kinda odd.

also, a lot of scenes from the book are reinterpreted for the movie and are much much better.

[ToucanSpam]

toucan spam 3 - up the bum.

the twist at the end was shocking :eek:
I remember that one vividly....so many cocks.



Also, add Requiem for a Dream into the list; I heard things about it that made me think it was just going to be a shitty drug movie compared to Traffic, but I found that I hated and sympathized the main character as he fell further into his addiction.

[Waus]

Igby Goes Down


Just kind of heard about it somewhere and decided to rent it. I really really liked that flick.

[ToucanSpam]

None, really.

Of all the threads in the WWW, he had to come to mine.

[Clockwork Ninja]

Escape from New York. i don't know what it is about that movie that gets me, but i like it so.

[Echewta's Son]

Here's looking at you, kid.
:(

[Echewta's Son]

I'm off to my room to listen to Dad's copy of Simple Plan's newest album.

[QueenAdrock]

The Notebook. But it wasn't a good surprise. It was a bad one. Everyone told me that it would melt even the toughest heart.

IT WAS CRAP, YOU HEAR ME? I WAS EXPECTING SOMETHING AT LEAST SEMI-NON CORNY. :mad:

[Randetica]

casablanca was shit

[Echewta's Son]

casablanca was shit
That's such an ignorant comment, with no justification.

[Randetica]

casablanca was shit!

[zorra_chiflada]

not so much recently, but i really didn't want to see the lord of the rings trilogy. but then i saw it, and it was actually really good.

[jlees_mcsd]

Along the lines of fight Club
Identity........ I loved that movie and I thought i wouldn't, also I really liked Being John Malcovich.

[zorra_chiflada]

i didnt' like the ending of that

[jlees_mcsd]

i didnt' like the ending of that
Which one?

[jackrock]

i watched Identity when i was 10, holy crap i had nightmares. I closed my eyes in the laundry scene, cause i knew smething bad was coming up, i was traumatized enough i dont wanna see no laundry!

[zorra_chiflada]

Which one?

malkovitch

ooh, and in the special features for it, there's a video of spike jonze vomiting out his car door. (y)

[jackrock]

that's probably one of the most random, coolest, things ive ever heard.

[ToucanSpam]

Resevoir Dogs was my first non-Kill Bill Tarantino flick. I was impressed, thought it was better than Kill Bill.

[jlees_mcsd]

i watched Identity when i was 10, holy crap i had nightmares. I closed my eyes in the laundry scene, cause i knew smething bad was coming up, i was traumatized enough i dont wanna see no laundry!
So that makes you what? 16 now?

[jackrock]

no

[jlees_mcsd]

no
Sorry i thout that movie came out in 2000. That was my bad. :)

[DroppinScience]

Besides "Fight Club" (I definitely thought it would be just a dumb fighting movie, how wrong I was), another one that surprised me was "Three Kings."

The trailer made it look like a mindless action movie, but HOLY CRAP, it was so amazing. Very funny, very violent and very thought-provoking all at the same time. I was quite taken aback.

[Justin]

"clueless" always surprises me when i watch it..

[cosmo105]

Igby Goes Down


Just kind of heard about it somewhere and decided to rent it. I really really liked that flick.
great movie.

it amazes me that there are people around that are just barely seeing fight club.

and films, how could you not like the book? palahniuk is a master.


how about films that you thought you'd like but didn't? garden state. i was so disappointed by that.

[Mr Films]

and films, how could you not like the book? palahniuk is a master.

how about films that you thought you'd like but didn't? garden state. i was so disappointed by that.

i think maybe my view of the movie just overshadowed the book.

and garden state rocks my socks.

another movie that really surprised me is Moulin Rouge. I was expecting some really flmaboyant, quasi-metro musical and then.......well...........the point is, it surprised me.

[Randetica]

im watching water boy right now and i think it's complete garbage

[Lex Diamonds]

Fight Club was surprisingly pretentious and boring.

[Randetica]

Fight Club was surprisingly pretentious and boring.

something i never thought i would hear out of a guy's mouth

[Lex Diamonds]

something i never thought i would hear out of a guy's mouth
You calling me gay or something? Cuz if so then I love Fight Club.

[TimDoolan]

Memento shook the hell out of me. I missed it in theaters because it didn't interest me at all and I didn't know who Guy Pierce was. It is now on my top ten list.(y)

[beastieangel01]

nothing earth shattering, but I didn't think the 40 Year Old Virgin would be all that great and I found myself laughing the entire time.

Also, whoever said Three Kings, good call.

p.s. I like Fight Club but it being the most underrated movies of all time? HAHAHA. Sorry.

[cosmo105]

moulin rouge was a visual assault.

[Waus]

The Squid and The Whale


We were pretty desperate trying to figure out what movie to get one time - saw that on the shelf. I think I paid like $4 in late fees. Great movie - hit me out of left field.

You could really see both sides of the different characters, and the deadpan personality jokes made me laugh. Bonus points for Elliott Smith in the soundtrack.

[Randetica]

You calling me gay or something? Cuz if so then I love Fight Club.

i would fuck you even if you were gay so dont worry

[GetYourWarOn]

chicago

[GetYourWarOn]

akira is another one. i've never been into anime, but i was told this was different and that i had to see it. it was really, really good.

[Lex Diamonds]

i would fuck you even if you were gay so dont worry
Tasteful anal? :confused:

[enree erzweglle]

The Squid and The WhaleMaybe because I'd heard so much hype about that movie ahead of time, but I was underwhelmed.

I was surprised by United 93 and I remember thinking that Fight Club wasn't nearly as gory as I'd heard it was going to be; same with Pulp Fiction.

The one that surprised me the most--and on numerous levels--was The Sixth Sense. I went to the theater with my kid to see some other movie that wound up not playing at that theater and the only movie that was playing that we could catch was The Sixth Sense. It had just opened that day and I didn't know anything about it, only that it was a Bruce Willis movie. Because of that, I was expecting the smirk and death-defying rooftop jumps and heroics and big guns. So that movie was a great surprise because it was none of those things and also for the other (obvious) reason about the plot.

[Randetica]

Tasteful anal? :confused:

hahhahahahahaha (y) ehh i mean (n)

[ampm]

Sorority Sluts 4. I swore to myself that Summer was going to blow Hank. But low and behold she blew Mark instead. I didn't see that coming.

[Documad]

I used to see all the critically acclaimed movies as soon as they came to town, and most of the time I was disappointed. I rarely go to the theater anymore. I guess I would say Capote because despite its critical raves I expected it to suck -- especially because I'd read In Cold Blood and enjoyed the b/w movie and I didn't think that even the great PSH would be able to capture Capote.

I saw Fight Club with two friends and they let some guy from their softball team tag along. My friends and I laughed so hard we cried, but the extra guy didn't, and neither did anyone else in the theater. Same thing happened when my friend and I saw Sid and Nancy. I don't think people in Minnesota get black humor.

I dragged a bunch of friends to Igby Goes Down after a happy hour and I was the only one who liked it. I think post happy hour you want to see Pulp Fiction or its ilk -- that was one of my few good post happy hour suggestions. I wonder if I was younger and was seeing Pulp Fiction for the first time today whether I'd like it. I think hype kills my ability to like a movie. I rarely like the four star classic b/w movies that everyone else loves.

[enree erzweglle]

I used to see all the critically acclaimed movies as soon as they came to town, and most of the time I was disappointed. I rarely go to the theater anymore.It's taken >4 months, but the other day, I realized that I've recovered from Crash taking the oscar for best picture.

I've tended to enjoy movies that win for best feature and best foreign film in the Independent Spirit Awards. Past Independent Spirit Award winners for best feature are:

2006 Brokeback Mountain
2005 Sideways
2004 Lost in Translation
2003 Far from Heaven
2002 Memento
2001 Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
2000 Election
1999 Gods and Monsters
1998 The Apostle
1997 Fargo
1996 Leaving Las Vegas
1995 Pulp Fiction
1994 Short Cuts
1993 The Player
1992 Rambling Rose
1991 The Grifters
1990 sex, lies, and videotape
1989 Stand and Deliver
1988 River's Edge
1987 Platoon
1986 After Hours

[Echewta's Son]

The Phantom of the Opera surprised me. I thought it was going to be a terrible rendition of the broadway musical, but it was much better than I expected.

Oh my god Platoon.(y)

[avignon]

I watched Running Scared with Paul Walker last night. It was awesome.

[TimDoolan]

I just the Machinist yesterday. I thought it was fantastic, but I am now convinced that Christian Bale is himselft crazy. You can't do that to your body without being a little nuts. He looked like a concentration camp prisoner.

[enree erzweglle]

I watched Running Scared with Paul Walker last night. It was awesome.
You watched it with Paul Walker. What's he like in person and what did Walter have to say about that? :)

[DIGI]

Grandma's Boy. Hilarious.

[avignon]

You watched it with Paul Walker. What's he like in person and what did Walter have to say about that? :)
heeheeehee we're not telling Walter, are we enree! Hmmmm, what is Paul Walker like in real life? He's kinda shy but very thoughtful and polite. And he smells good.

[abcdefz]

Memento shook the hell out of me. I missed it in theaters because it didn't interest me at all and I didn't know who Guy Pierce was. It is now on my top ten list.(y)



(y)

[enree erzweglle]

heeheeehee we're not telling Walter, are we enree! Hmmmm, what is Paul Walker like in real life? He's kinda shy but very thoughtful and polite. And he smells good.If Walter asks, you were with me last night and we power walked in 80s flashdance clothes.

[avignon]

If Walter asks, you were with me last night and we power walked in 80s flashdance clothes.
hahahah! yes, that's why I'm so tired today.

[Randetica]

flashdance is shit

p.s. i never watched 'pretty woman

[Documad]

It's taken >4 months, but the other day, I realized that I've recovered from Crash taking the oscar for best picture.

I've tended to enjoy movies that win for best feature and best foreign film in the Independent Spirit Awards. Past Independent Spirit Award winners for best feature are:

2006 Brokeback Mountain
2005 Sideways
2004 Lost in Translation
2003 Far from Heaven
2002 Memento
2001 Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
2000 Election
1999 Gods and Monsters
1998 The Apostle
1997 Fargo
1996 Leaving Las Vegas
1995 Pulp Fiction
1994 Short Cuts
1993 The Player
1992 Rambling Rose
1991 The Grifters
1990 sex, lies, and videotape
1989 Stand and Deliver
1988 River's Edge
1987 Platoon
1986 After Hours
That's a great list! In the past 4 years, the only one I saw was Lost in Translation and I thought it was bleh, but I was probably not expecting something that slow. I like movies with clever screenplays rather than lots of long shots of scenery and nothing happening.

I saw all the pre 2003 movies though. :)

I can't believe it's been 20 years since After Hours. That movie never gets any love, and it's wildly uneven, but I saw it again recently and I still love it. How great are all the supporting actors?

[TimDoolan]

That's a great list! In the past 4 years, the only one I saw was Lost in Translation and I thought it was bleh, but I was probably not expecting something that slow. I like movies with clever screenplays rather than lots of long shots of scenery and nothing happening.

I saw all the pre 2003 movies though. :)

I can't believe it's been 20 years since After Hours. That movie never gets any love, and it's wildly uneven, but I saw it again recently and I still love it. How great are all the supporting actors?

Lost in Translation was a very un-Bill Murry movie. I wasn't feeling it.

[iceygirl]

i thought i saw touchan spam in a car behind me yesterday and i threw up in my mouth a little bit

[GetYourWarOn]

house of flying daggers: i wasn't expecting much at all, but it turned out to be one of the best movies i've seen in the last year.

[CrankItUp!]

The Boondock Saints was a good watch. (y)

[BangkokB]

Movies I could always watch include but aren't limited to

*Lost Highway~ What can I say? Makes as much sense as Mulholland Dr.
*Twin Peaks ~David Bowie WTF was he about? and the backwards talking miget WTF. I love midgets but a backward talking midget is morally wrong
*To Live and Die in LA~The "hero" gets shot in the head
*Lord of Illusion ~ Cults that are head fucked 20 yrs after the fact pique my curiousity
*Texas Chainsaw Massacre II~ Music is my Life

[jackrock]

Howl's Moving Castle.I doubt anyone else has seen it, but it was much better than i expected.

[GetYourWarOn]

Howl's Moving Castle.I doubt anyone else has seen it, but it was much better than i expected.

i just got this from blockbuster online yesterday. i'll probably watch it tomorrow.

[jackrock]

i just got this from blockbuster online yesterday. i'll probably watch it tomorrow.
can you tell me how it ended? the disc was scratched so i couldn't finish it