underrated and unfairly panned
Some more well-known movies that I think are better than they get credit for.
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- DirectorLana WachowskiLilly WachowskiStarsEmile HirschMatthew FoxChristina RicciYoung driver, Speed Racer, aspires to be champion of the racing world with the help of his family and his high-tech Mach 5 automobile.For me this movie perfectly blended cartoon with live action in terms of dialogue, action, shots, characters, and visuals. I guess it was too frenetic and epileptic for people's tastes. For me it was a delight.
- DirectorM. Night ShyamalanStarsJaden SmithDavid DenmanWill SmithA crash landing leaves Kitai Raige and his father Cypher stranded on Earth, a millennium after events forced humanity's escape. With Cypher injured, Kitai must embark on a perilous journey to signal for help.Didn't think it was amazing, but I thought it was an extremely successful adventure film. Perhaps that was due to my expectations were somewhere down in the core of the earth, but I definitely thought it got more hate than it deserved.
- DirectorJames CameronStarsLeonardo DiCaprioKate WinsletBilly ZaneA seventeen-year-old aristocrat falls in love with a kind but poor artist aboard the luxurious, ill-fated R.M.S. Titanic.Obviously it swept all the awards that matter and did gangbusters at the box office, but I think it's lost quite a bit of favor since. I meet too many people who have never seen it and don't wish to ever see it as some sort of reaction to its insane popularity when it was released. Sure, it was overhyped and people went way too crazy over it, but it's a modern epic, regardless. The love story is somewhat sappy, but it actually serves very well to lay out the social and economic class issues that are indelible to the true story of the Titanic. Then there is the CGI. While it isn't up to the best that we have today, it is still a visual feast and holds up well enough. The size and grandeur of the ship and the subsequent tragedy is communicated perfectly.
When I was younger I pretty much only watched the sinking in the second half. But as I get older I find myself appreciating the first half and wishing the sinking didn't have to happen.
If you haven't seen it. Quit being a stubborn git and rent the damn thing. - DirectorM. Night ShyamalanStarsPaul GiamattiBryce Dallas HowardJeffrey WrightApartment building superintendent Cleveland Heep rescues what he thinks is a young woman from the pool he maintains. When he discovers that she is actually a character from a bedtime story who is trying to make the journey back to her home, he works with his tenants to protect his new friend from the creatures that are determined to keep her in our world.It seems like when people start disliking an actor or a director, they're just less willing to suspend their disbelief for their movies, regardless of whether they're good or not. For me it was just a lovely fairy tale filled with quirky and likeable characters.
- DirectorMel SmithStarsBrian BenbenMary Stuart MastersonNed BeattyA series of mysterious crimes threatens the existence of a new radio network.A lot of the hate seemed to be from the non-stop gags and slapstick. There are constant one-liners slipped in and the pacing is pretty breakneck. Sure, some of the humor is silly, but it's essentially a farce. One of my favorite movies ever.
- DirectorJames MangoldStarsTom CruiseCameron DiazPeter SarsgaardA young woman gets mixed up with a disgraced spy who is trying to clear his name.It was just fun. Over the top and ridiculous, but sometimes I'm willing to sacrifice reality for some fun. I wonder whether Tom Cruise was the cause of the panning? Also, my hatred for Cameron Diaz was overcome by how much I enjoyed this one.
- DirectorJohn McTiernanStarsBruce WillisJeremy IronsSamuel L. JacksonJohn McClane and a Harlem store owner are targeted by German terrorist Simon in New York City, where he plans to rob the Federal Reserve Building.This movie is PERFECT. It got mixed reviews in 95', but for me it's the best entry in the entire series.
- DirectorTyler PerryStarsTyler PerryBlair UnderwoodLynn WhitfieldWhile planning her family reunion, a pistol-packing grandma must contend with other dramas, including her love-troubled nieces and the runaway who was placed in her care.I'm certainly not a huge fan of Tyler Perry movies, but I have to imagine that the hate for them seems to stem from the humor being lost in cultural translation. Clearly a lot of black folks love Madea or they wouldn't keep making the movies as well as spin-off shows and stage plays.
- DirectorMichael BayStarsShia LaBeoufMegan FoxJosh DuhamelSam Witwicky leaves the Autobots behind for a normal life. But when his mind is filled with cryptic symbols, the Decepticons target him and he is dragged back into the Transformers' war.Once again. It was just fun. When I go into a movie about giant robots directed by Michael Bay I'm not going in expecting Oscar quality. I'm going in expecting explosions, gimmicks, a babe, and some jokes. It delivered for me. And I laughed the entire time. Thought the first one was okay. Thought the third was pretty bad. But something about the second one just pushes all the right buttons for me. Michael Bay isn't the best director, but in his own words: "I make movies for teenage boys. Oh dear, what a crime."
- DirectorAndrew DominikStarsBrad PittRay LiottaRichard JenkinsJackie Cogan is an enforcer hired to restore order after three dumb guys rob a Mob protected card game, causing the local criminal economy to collapse.Admittedly, it wasn't what I expected. What it was was a brooding, dark, grim, realistic, and unflinching look at a seedy underworld. Was conflicted the first time around, but on second viewing I loved it. Especially for James Gandolfini's excellent acting work.
- DirectorSteven SpielbergStarsHarrison FordCate BlanchettShia LaBeoufIndiana Jones becomes entangled in a Soviet plot to uncover the secret behind mysterious artifacts known as the Crystal Skulls.Most of the hate I hear seems to stem from it being about, and featuring, aliens. But those people are forgetting that the first Indiana Jones was about the Ark of the Covenant, filled with spirits from the Old Testament that kill you when you gaze upon it. The second one was about an evil priest with a zombified cult who can pull your heart out of your chest with his bare hands. And the third was about the holy grail that heals you when you drink from it and has been guarded by a living knight for 700 years.
Aliens aren't that big of a step. In fact, it seemed the only logical step.
The action was over the top. But it's Indiana Jones. Massive, adventurous sequences are part of the package. I wonder whether the comedy/action is just more suited to the 80's. People these days seem to come down so much harder on entertaining adventure films as if every movie should be Oscar-worthy.
Not a fantastic movie, and probably the least of the series, but it was just fun. - DirectorJohn McTiernanMichael CrichtonStarsAntonio BanderasDiane VenoraDennis StorhøiA man, having fallen in love with the wrong woman, is sent by the sultan himself on a diplomatic mission to a distant land as an ambassador. Stopping at a Viking village port to restock on supplies, he finds himself unwittingly embroiled in a quest to banish a mysterious threat in a distant Viking land.When it came out it was a critical and box office flop, for the most part, though it has faired far better in the years since. Still, it's initial failure seems to have buried it in a shallow grave in the cemetery of forgotten movies. I think it's a fantastic film.
- DirectorRidley ScottStarsSigourney WeaverTom SkerrittJohn HurtThe crew of a commercial spacecraft encounters a deadly lifeform after investigating a mysterious transmission of unknown origin.I know that everyone has heard of Alien and probably even saw it ten years ago when they were kids. But it just doesn't get the recognition it deserves. It's flawless. Every shot is perfect. Every scene. Every character. Every line. At many points it's more of an art movie; A study in composition, lighting, exposition, and atmosphere. Not just one of the best horror movies of all time, but one of the best movies of all time.
- DirectorJohn Lee HancockStarsDennis QuaidBilly Bob ThorntonEmilio EchevarríaBased on the 1836 standoff between a group of Texan and Tejano men, led by Davy Crockett and Jim Bowie, and Mexican dictator Santa Anna's forces at the Alamo in San Antonio Texas.It is a somewhat slow movie for the first hour or so, but the time is spent developing numerous characters and backstories. Otherwise, I think it's a fine film and a definite success for fans of war-movies. There are also some very well-acted, larger than life characters with some awesome character development.
- DirectorRupert SandersStarsKristen StewartChris HemsworthCharlize TheronIn a twist to the fairy tale, the Huntsman ordered to take Snow White into the woods to be killed winds up becoming her protector and mentor in a quest to vanquish the Evil Queen.I wonder whether we have another case of a disliked actor tainting the reception? Sure, we're all K-Stew'd out, but I really thought the movie soared despite her lackluster performance. I went in expecting a hollow cheese-fest and, instead, got an epic tale set in a nicely crafted fantasy world. The side characters, namely the dwarfs, were surprisingly deep and really well-made. I kept forgetting that they were actually actors of normal height - a pretty awesome feat of special effects. Some parts were corny, but overall I felt like I was watching something Peter Jackson might have made. Of course, it's not as good as LOTR, but it came much closer than I could have even hoped for.
- DirectorTim BurtonStarsMichael KeatonDanny DeVitoMichelle PfeifferWhile Batman deals with a deformed man calling himself the Penguin wreaking havoc across Gotham with the help of a cruel businessman, a female employee of the latter becomes the Catwoman with her own vendetta.It pretty much gets its due now, but, still, people seem to only ever talk about the first one. Lay film-watchers seem to have forgotten, but this sequel is just about perfect. Perhaps, at the time, audiences didn't expect such a dark and grim superhero movie. You can't top The Joker in the first, but a strong argument could be made that this is the superior movie.
- DirectorPeter BergStarsAlexander SkarsgårdBrooklyn DeckerLiam NeesonA fleet of ships is forced to do battle with an armada of unknown origins in order to discover and thwart their destructive goals.Went into it expecting a hunk of solidified excrement, but instead I thought it was pretty entertaining and way funnier than I expected. Not a masterpiece, but good enough for a successful lazy Saturday rent. I also really liked the lead. He was goofy and a total screw up, when I expected him to be a muscle-bound Ameri-Bro. Humor goes a long way for me.
- DirectorAndrew StantonStarsTaylor KitschLynn CollinsWillem DafoeTransported to Barsoom, a Civil War vet discovers a barren planet seemingly inhabited by 12-foot tall barbarians. Finding himself prisoner of these creatures, he escapes, only to encounter Woola and a princess in desperate need of a savior.Poor Taylor Kitsch. In the same year he had TWO massive budget flops. Both of which weren't all that bad, in my opinion. Especially John Carter. It was a pretty huge gamble for Disney. I, for one, knew pretty much nothing about JC before I heard about the movie, and, as a result, I wasn't that interested. Seems like nobody else was either. It's rated somewhat fairly by those who actually saw it, but the problem was that basically no one saw it.
It captured my imagination and contained adventure and humor aplenty. If more people had been interested, this could have easily created a franchise. - DirectorEdgar WrightStarsMichael CeraMary Elizabeth WinsteadKieran CulkinIn a magically realistic version of Toronto, a young man must defeat his new girlfriend's seven evil exes one by one in order to win her heart.Not really underrated or unfairly panned, but it definitely didn't get the recognition it deserved. Maybe that's because the audience it plays to is somewhat specific. Regardless it accomplishes blending film with comic book/video games flawlessly. The editing is incredible. In short: this movie is effing awesome.
- DirectorBryan SingerStarsBrandon RouthKevin SpaceyKate BosworthSuperman returns to Earth after spending five years in space examining his homeworld Krypton. But he finds things have changed while he was gone, and he must once again prove himself important to the world.This is one of those rare ones that critics liked more than audiences. It was long and a bit drawn out and maybe they should have rebooted it instead of just continuing from the last one like 20 freaking years before, but I still thought it was successful. Unlike Batman, I prefer to keep the lightness and comedy inherent to Superman. And I very much prefer this to the awful hunk of trash that is Man of Steel.
- DirectorAlex ProyasStarsNicolas CageChandler CanterburyRose ByrneM.I.T. professor John Koestler links a mysterious list of numbers from a time capsule to past and future disasters and sets out to prevent the ultimate catastrophe.I think there was a good amount of animosity towards Nic Cage when this came out. It was around when Next and Ghost Rider and Bangkok Dangerous (dafuq?) came out and Nic's financial troubles were the butt of many jokes. Amidst all of that was this little gem. There are some plot holes but I think it suffered most because it sounded a lot like Next. In fact I didn't bother seeing it in theaters for that very reason, but I was pleasantly surprised when I finally got around to renting it. It's a solid sci-fi mystery with some spooky elements. There is even a scene involving a jetliner that is one of the coolest things I've ever seen in a movie.
- DirectorQuentin TarantinoStarsPam GrierSamuel L. JacksonRobert ForsterA flight attendant with a criminal past gets nabbed by the ATF for smuggling. Under pressure to become an informant against the illegal arms dealer she works for, she must find a way to secure her future without getting killed.Probably Tarantino's most overlooked movie and, in my opinion, his absolute best.
- DirectorIvan ReitmanStarsDavid DuchovnyOrlando JonesJulianne MooreA fire-fighting cadet, two college professors, and a geeky but sexy government scientist work against an alien organism that has been rapidly evolving since its arrival on Earth inside a meteor.This one's a polarizer. I think it's hilarious and clever, but I've had friends watch it without a single giggle.
- DirectorPete TravisStarsKarl UrbanOlivia ThirlbyLena HeadeyIn a violent, futuristic city where the police have the authority to act as judge, jury and executioner, a cop teams with a trainee to take down a gang that deals the reality-altering drug, SLO-MO.Despite a pretty poor showing at the box office, Dredd has amassed an avid fanbase and is well on its way to becoming a cult classic. Fans are also petitioning for a sequel. I'm not sure why the movie failed. Perhaps it was something to do with marketing. I know I wasn't really interested until I read reviews and found out it was penned by Alex Garland. For the most part, critics and those who saw it liked it and, for my part, I thought it was beautiful and completely badass. It has sold well on DVD/Bluray, so here's hoping a sequel happens.
- DirectorJared HessStarsMichael AngaranoJemaine ClementMike WhiteA teenager attends a fantasy writers' convention where he discovers his idea has been stolen by an established novelist.Jared Hess's humor just resonates with me. I consider Napoleon Dynamite to be an absolute work of genius. While many think he's mean spirited to his characters, I'd say he loves them and is intensely loyal and accepting of their awkward natures. Gentlemen Broncos might be his worst outting yet, but, for me, it was still hilarious and filled with little moments of strange brilliance. Hess's attention to detail is impressive. You really have to pay attention to characters in the background or to little utterances that could easily be missed, sometimes off camera.
If you love the awkward awesomeness of wolves howling at the moon, homeschool, or bad sci-fi, or if you enjoyed Napoleon Dynamite or Nacho Libre, give Gentlemen Broncos a try.