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Most Underappreciated/Underrated/Overlooked Films
- Thread starter ecstasy
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
Donnie Darko is overlooked by virtue of the fact it barely made it to theaters (and only 58 of them then) and grossed just over a half a million domestically. The movie had the potential to be released wider with much better traction. Word of mouth has helped to spur DVD sales, but that doesn't compare to what it could have done with a wider release. Thus, many people who would have enjoyed it have never seen nor heard about it (I didn't hear about it until it was on DVD). That's why I say it's overlooked. I think it's appropriately rated (83% on RT).
Going to have to put in another vote for 25th hour. Don't think I have seen a bad Edward Norton movie.
Also going to add Waking Ned Divine. There's just that feel good humor about it that always makes me smile.
Also going to add Waking Ned Divine. There's just that feel good humor about it that always makes me smile.
Idiocracy anyone?
I bet no one mentioned Idiocracy by Mike Judge. It has got to be the most under appreciated and overlooked film ever - people simply did not understand the theme.
If you can cut through the form and reach for the crux - you will enjoy this film like no other - available on iTunes/ATV.
I bet no one mentioned Idiocracy by Mike Judge. It has got to be the most under appreciated and overlooked film ever - people simply did not understand the theme.
If you can cut through the form and reach for the crux - you will enjoy this film like no other - available on iTunes/ATV.
I mentioned it... Try reading the thread before posting
Hehe - like anyone reads the whole thread! (Especially when the search function is not that easy to use on MR and people are likely to make spelling mistakes for a word like Idiocracy which is oddball
)
Epic win.
Also to add:
The Legend of 1900
Manhunter (original Hannibal Lecter goodness)
Les Visiteurs (en francais, bien sur!)
Cross of Iron
Tampopo (Japanese film, I laughed so hard I cried)
Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind (anime)
Underrated:
Idiocracy - Mike Judge gets screwed over and still delivers his typical satire
City of God - proof that high priced actors are unnecessary with a good story
Lucky Number Slevin- Blind buy ....very surprised
The Prestige- A story with love for magic
28 Days - unique
The Believer - Ryan Gosling at his best
Toy Story 2- sequel bests the original
Man on Fire - Denzel at his best
Overrated:
Lost In Translation - more like bored in translation
Requiem for a Dream - I wanted to committ suicide from depression after watching this crap
Wanted - bleh
The Illusionist - a love story wrapped around magic
28 Weeks later - useless retread
The Notebook - I liked it but it's a bit overrated
UP- standard Pixar quality but story not quite as engaging
Training Day - Denzel not as his best
Idiocracy - Mike Judge gets screwed over and still delivers his typical satire
City of God - proof that high priced actors are unnecessary with a good story
Lucky Number Slevin- Blind buy ....very surprised
The Prestige- A story with love for magic
28 Days - unique
The Believer - Ryan Gosling at his best
Toy Story 2- sequel bests the original
Man on Fire - Denzel at his best
Overrated:
Lost In Translation - more like bored in translation
Requiem for a Dream - I wanted to committ suicide from depression after watching this crap
Wanted - bleh
The Illusionist - a love story wrapped around magic
28 Weeks later - useless retread
The Notebook - I liked it but it's a bit overrated
UP- standard Pixar quality but story not quite as engaging
Training Day - Denzel not as his best
Completely agree. 28 Days IMO is one of the best zombie flicks, but Weeks was needless. Couldn't believe how poor it was considering the fantastic original.
I also think Sunshine was underrated and Dead Man's Shoes was completely overlooked.
28 days later is my favourite film
28 weeks later is what would've happened if someone in hollywood had made 28 days later.
Delighted to see that someone else shares my taste on this. It is a movie that I have recommended a lot and is my favourite US movie of the past twenty years for its sheer multi-layered intelligence subtlety, insight and panoramic narrative. The soundtrack (which I have on CD and on my iPod) is terrific, too.
I also liked Unforgiven a lot, but I doubt that could be termed under-rated.
If anyone has movies to recommend that are as intelligent and thought-provoking as those, I'd be glad to learn of them.
Cheers
The Weatherman is one of my favorite movies. It barely made a dent when it was in theaters, and most of my friends in high school thought it was really dull. I've taken to using it as a screen for friends... if someone can't understand The Weatherman, I tend to not hang out with them I don't do it on purpose, it just happens that way. Also, one of my most memorable dates was seeing the Weatherman for the first time, with no idea what it would be about....
Also, nuckinfutz, Lost in Translation was all about the chemistry between Bill Murray and Scarlett Johansson. I think a lot of people never understood that and were looking for a more conventional movie. Same goes for Sideways.
Maybe I just love boring movies?
I don't do it on purpose, it just happens that way. Also, one of my most memorable dates was seeing the Weatherman for the first time, with no idea what it would be about....Also, nuckinfutz, Lost in Translation was all about the chemistry between Bill Murray and Scarlett Johansson. I think a lot of people never understood that and were looking for a more conventional movie. Same goes for Sideways.
Maybe I just love boring movies?
AGREED! I've never come across anyone who enjoys The Weatherman as much as I do. I first saw it in college a couple years ago and was completely enamored by it.
It's one of the few Nicolas Cage movies that I like.
Have you seen Black Snake Moan coupdetat? If you love character movies you will love this movie. The name clearly was a bit provacative but I spent freakin $30 to buy this in HD and I don't regret it.
As far as Lost In Translation I equate it with No Country For Old Men. Both movies had been hyped a lot before I saw them so I was expecting miracles. I watched NCFOM a second time and I enjoyed it much better because and I just bought LIT in HD and will watch that again and hopefully enjoy it more.
I'm a Sideways fan as well. It's "Thelma and Louise" for men without the sad ending.
The Color of Paradise
Goya's Ghosts
Black Book
The Impostors
La Vie en Rose
The Secret Garden (1993)
Downfall
Goya's Ghosts
Black Book
The Impostors
La Vie en Rose
The Secret Garden (1993)
Downfall
I actually don't think anything in recent memory was as disappointing as Sunshine was to me. The first two thirds of the movie where phenomenal; it was cerebral, beautiful, thrilling, and I thought it provided a brilliant meditation on the loneliness of space. The character development was a little lacking, but it felt like an honest-to-goodness science fiction movie in the vein of 2001, and I assumed we'd get that character arc in the third act.
Instead, it went all Event Horizon.
I think Danny Boyle is a talented director, but if you watch his movies you notice he's got an "issue" with third acts. He like to try and end his movies in a bit of a different direction than he began them. Sometimes it works, such as in 28 Days Later (although I would have preferred he not gone that direction), and other times it just falls flat.