Underrated Movies

[Kirkman1987]

The French Connection II

[yt]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eByU9yZan9E&feature=results_video&playnext=1&list=PL957D2F143F1EBCCB[/yt]

This movie tends to get overlooked because it follows the much loved original, but it's a very solid film in it's own right. Gene Hackman continues to be amazing as Popeye Doyle. The scenes of Doyle attempting to quit heroine cold turkey are heartbreaking, tense, and at times even amusing ("Mickey Mantle sucks!"). Doyle as a fish out of water was interesting and the ending is great. Just as I love the first film's ending for it's open ended quality, I love this film's ending for it's abruptness and utter finality.

 

[EmoBorg]

Shadow of the Vampire released in 2000. One of my favorite movies of all time. Excellent acting by John Malkovich and Williem Dafoe.

The trailer is below.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JyBt5DDFcQY

 

[Tom Hendricks]

I have a triple play of Jeff Goldblum movies for you.

The first is Transylvania 6-5000. This was the first movie I ever saw him in, along side Ed Begley Jr. It also I believe the first movie for Geena Davis, could be wrong but she made a lasting impression on my from this film. Its not a great movie but a lot of fun.

The next two were both released in 1988 and saw both in the movies. The first one is Vibes and the second one is Earth Girls Are Easy. While Earth Girls are Easy is the more recognizable film, that included Jim Carry and Damon Wayans. For me Vibes is the better movie. Jeff stars in that one with Cyndi Lauper as Psychics and Jeff Goldblum is great in the role.

 

[J.T.B.]

The French Connection II

Yeah that's a good one, it was quite a bit better than I thought it would be.

It also I believe the first movie for Geena Davis, could be wrong but she made a lasting impression on my from this film.

Nah, not her first, I already had a lasting impression of her from Tootsie.

Another Goldblum movie I liked from around that time was The Tall Guy. I haven't seen it since back in '89 or whenever it played, but I thought it was pretty funny.

Justin

 

[auntiehill]

Shadow of the Vampire released in 2000. One of my favorite movies of all time. Excellent acting by John Malkovich and Williem Dafoe.

The trailer is below.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JyBt5DDFcQY

Excellent movie! A brilliant concept with wonderfully dark humor.

 

[Tom Hendricks]

I couldn't remember if Tootsie or T 6,500 was her first movie.

The French Connection II

Yeah that's a good one, it was quite a bit better than I thought it would be.

It also I believe the first movie for Geena Davis, could be wrong but she made a lasting impression on my from this film.

Nah, not her first, I already had a lasting impression of her from Tootsie.

Another Goldblum movie I liked from around that time was The Tall Guy. I haven't seen it since back in '89 or whenever it played, but I thought it was pretty funny.

Justin

 

[CorporalCaptain]

Flash Gordon (1980).

It had very poor box office performance, but it does have a good RT rating.

 

[Holdfast]

A couple of devilish additions:

Devils Advocate (1997) - Pacino as Satan and Keanu with an accent that can only have originated in hell. Great movie, especially once Pacino gets into his stride.
Bedazzled (2000) - Liz Hurley makes a deliciously pretty Devil. Admittedly, lots of this movie is truly dreadful, but it has a wonderful take on the relationship between God and the Devil that almost redeems it entirely.
The Ninth Gate (1999) - Depp is suitably bemused by the satanic circles he's plunged into. There are some interesting concepts, even if the execution is a somewhat wayward at times.

 

[A beaker full of death]

I don't get the Goldblum love. The guy only ever has one expression: perturbed befuddlement.

 

[DigificWriter]

I have to second The Count of Monte Cristo and Disney's The Hunchback of Notre Dame.

Staying with Disney movies, I also want to give shout-outs to the following:
Rudyard Kipling's The Jungle Book (live-action)
The Three Musketeers
The Great Mouse Detective (my favorite Disney animated movie)
The Black Cauldron (which featured animation by one Tim Burton)

Edited to add explanations:
Rudyard Kipling's The Jungle Book
I have never read the actual Jungle Book novel and am largely familiar with the story because of Disney's animated version of the tale, but I like the film because of the way it incorporates the familiar characters from the story into a live-action format, and because of its cast (speaking of which, did anyone else besides me not realize that Lena Headey was in this film?).

The Three Musketeers
Having actually read Dumas' original story, I have to say that my appreciation for this movie increased ten-fold because it took Dumas' original material and actually made an entertaining and decent story out of it (the novel absolutely sucks). The film also has a great cast from top to bottom.

The Great Mouse Detective
I'm honestly not entirely sure what it is about this movie that makes it my favorite Disney animated film, but I do think it's a film that ought to be more beloved than it is. The film's story might be fairly pedestrian and somewhat simplistic and goofy, but the humor is great, and the film's climax is one of my favorite sequences in film history.

The Black Cauldron
I don't remember how drastically different this story is from its source material, but the reason I like the film as much as I do is because it features animation by Tim Burton (as noted above) and because of the character of Gurgi, who was, for me, a precursor to the animal sidekicks that showed up in the likes of films such as The Little Mermaid, Aladdin, and Pochahontas.

Further edited to add the following: Apparently, the live-action JB fared very well critically, although it wasn't very widely reviewed as far as I can tell, which sort of, IMO, skews one's ability to determine whether or not it is actually underrated.

 

[captcalhoun]

which three musketeers are you referring to?

 

[DigificWriter]

^ Disney's 1993 adaptation, as I mentioned in my previous post.

 

[Tom Hendricks]

Another underrated gem for me is the movie Warlock. It stars Julian Sands, Lori Singer and Richard E. Grant. Julian Sands is pitch perfect as the evil Warlock of the movie, Richard E. Grant as the Warlock hunter is in top form, gives a better performance in this then Bram Strokers Dracula. Lori Singer is good as the damsel in distress, but really tougher then she appears. She went on to star in the TV show, VR5.

This movie was released in either 89 or 90 and was a product of the time, it had a really investing premise. The Warlock is sentenced to death but escapes and comes to the future to try and find out the real name of God and he is followed by Richard E. Grants Witch Hunter.

This movie made me an instant fan of both Julian Sands and Richard E. Grant. While Julian Sands was hot for a little while after this movie, Richard E. Grant went on to have a more of a career.

 

[Holdfast]

Another underrated gem for me is the movie Warlock. It stars Julian Sands, Lori Singer and Richard E. Grant.

That movie was great. Definitely underrated. It was so long ago that I can't remember all the details (something about having to collect various pieces of something together to end the world?) but as an overall entity, it sticks in my mind as a really enjoyable watch.

The Three Musketeers
Having actually read Dumas' original story, I have to say that my appreciation for this movie increased ten-fold because it took Dumas' original material and actually made an entertaining and decent story out of it (the novel absolutely sucks). The film also has a great cast from top to bottom.

The 1993 Three Musketeers is indeed a brilliant movie (I also like the earlier 1970s Michael York versions too).

However, I'm surprised to read the dislike of the novel. I think it's marvellously witty and full of unexpected satire and pokes at convention. Of course, it does veer very awkwardly from style to style and the characters aren't always consistent in their sense of self (a function of its original serial nature of the publication probably) but remains deliciously fun to read in my opinion.

My one dislike of the Dumas original is that Rochefort has such a minor role and the epilogue doesn't really help in this regard either.

Having said all of that, the Dogtanian TV series is a guilty pleasure in terms of Musketeer adaptations. Being a children's show, it deletes almost all the subtext but is still lots of fun!

 

[Greg Cox]

The 1993 Three Musketeers is indeed a brilliant movie (I also like the earlier 1970s Michael York versions too).!

The old 1940's version with Gene Kelly, Vincent Price, and Lana Turner is great, too.

Althought the 1970's Richard Lester version is probably the best.

 

[auntiehill]

I love the Michael York versions because they also starred the uber-awesomeness that is/was Oliver Reed.

 

[stj]

Another underrated comedy (and fantasy,) The Frighteners.

And, courtsey of DigificWriter, Willow.

 

[Goji]

"The Howling" - It tends to live in the shadow of "An American Werewolf in London", released the same year, but for my money it's the more interesting film, even if it is a little on the slow side. The werewolf designs are way cooler too.

"Phase IV" - An almost forgotten 70's scifi film about super intelligent ants. The premise is a little goofy (though in a way that I love) and the ending is pretty far out there (and reportedly the result of studio interference - what else is new?), but it's fascinating and has got some really impressive shots of the ants themselves.

"Mars Attacks" - This movie got ripped to shreds when it came out. These days it seems to be slightly better liked. Maybe it was because it came out when I was 9, but I've always loved this film (and hated Independence Day, which came out the same year, so me being 9 doesn't totally explain it). It's typical Tim Burton goofiness, but I really enjoy how bizarrely mean spirited it is for a big budget Hollywood production, stuffed full of big name stars playing horrible characters who all die in equally horrible ways. A lot of fun, in my book.

 

[DigificWriter]

^ I have to enthusiastically and wholeheartedly second Mars Attacks. A typically Tim Burton film as well as an adaptation of the Mars Attacks trading cards, the film is brilliant, with Burton getting a ton of humorous mileage out of his stellar A-list cast.

It might be way too recent to truly qualify, but I want to give a shoutout to Snow White and the Huntsman, which I think is a better film than its being given credit for.

 

[Itisnotlogical]

Twelve Monkeys. Mind-bending time travel movie that has a very intricate, yet still sensible plot. Although it's more of a cult classic than underrated, it deserves way more love than it's gotten. Excellent soundtrack, and some truly amazing camera and set work.