Most unexpectedly GOOD film you've ever seen?- Page 2

Posted: 5/18/08 at 11:50am

Not the most, but I did not expect to like STARDUST, and loved it! It was beautifully done.

[LePetiteFromage]

Posted: 5/18/08 at 11:50am

Updated On: 1/23/09 at 11:50 AM

[theaterkid1015]

Posted: 5/18/08 at 12:16pm

I ended up really enjoying Wedding Crashers, and I thought I would hate it.

[jeniferrenepatricia]

Posted: 5/19/08 at 12:46am

I hate Kate Winslet, but someone recommended "Little Children" to me and I gave it a shot. I really liked it, but hated the ending.

[mauriposa]

Posted: 5/19/08 at 12:53am

Count me in for "The Holiday" and "Stranger than Fiction." I'll also add "Knocked Up" to the list. I went in with such low expectations, and ended up really liking it.

[TheActr97J]

Posted: 5/19/08 at 1:38am

You hate Kate Winslet?! That hurts my soul.

[KrissySim]

Posted: 5/19/08 at 1:57am

miss pennywise, I agree, Farewell, My Concubine is a masterpiece.


I hope they'll release that one on blu-ray.

[jeniferrenepatricia]

Posted: 5/19/08 at 2:02am

Ok, I don't "hate" her- I just don't like her movies.

[Borstalboy]

Posted: 5/19/08 at 9:34am

I'd have to second THE NUN'S STORY...blah blah blah BREAKFAST AT TIFFANY'S blah blah blah FUNNY FACE...THE NUN'S STORY is Audrey Hepburn's finest moment.

Also, most recently, A MIGHTY HEART. Angelina Jolie was bloody incredible.

[Roscoe]

Posted: 5/19/08 at 10:00am

I was absolutely blown away by Erich von Stroheim's GREED when I first saw it, having no particular interest in seeing it, but it was on a double feature with a movie I wanted to see, so I figured why not.

I was not expecting THERE WILL BE BLOOD and ZODIAC to be as good as they were, as I'd pretty well detested the previous work of both directors.

[best12bars]

Posted: 5/19/08 at 10:12am

I would have to say Titanic. I have quite a few friends out here in L.A. who are either film critics or write for movie mags and newspapers. I heard how "terrible" it was before I saw it. Months before it actually opened. They all dismissed it.

I went to see it on opening day at the Chinese Theatre, with very low expectations. I thought I would barely be able to sit through it, but I was curious because I liked the subject matter and the cast. I also had two friends in it with minor featured roles.

And I was completely blown away by it. I called all of my critic friends and told them to get ready for a huge monster hit that will sweep the Oscars. No joke. I couldn't believe they had missed the mark so badly on that one. I asked them if they had seen the same film I did. And then I told them to find a nice crow, because they would all be eating it.

And they did, big-time.

[GClef2]

Posted: 5/19/08 at 11:48am

I was really impressed with Fargo. I remember thinking about how stupid it looked, but I really think its a great film. Please judge me

[lildogs]

Posted: 5/19/08 at 12:06pm

BIG Surprises:

The Proposition
Wonder Boys
Almost Famous

WAY better than they have to be:

In Her Shoes
Wet Hot American Summer

[roseaddams]

Posted: 5/19/08 at 12:19pm

Red Eye. I didn't know much about it going in 'cept it had Cillian Murphy and Rachel McAdams, and they're always nice to look at. But it was amazingly well-written and very suspenseful.

[lildogs]

Posted: 5/19/08 at 12:20pm

Loved RED EYE--one of the best of the year I thought...

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 5/19/08 at 12:33pm

IN HER SHOES and RED EYE definitely are recent ones...

[lildogs]

Posted: 5/19/08 at 1:33pm

SHOES is beautifully designed for a contemporary realistic film--that scene in the grocery store is GLORIOUS!

[doodlenyc]

Posted: 5/19/08 at 1:37pm

"Cider House Rules"
and
"Requiem for a Dream"

thought I'd hate both....loved 'em, of course.

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 5/19/08 at 1:51pm

IN HER SHOES is what a chick-flick should be.


I absolutely loved it...it was one of my favorite movies of that year.


RED EYE was wildly entertaining and a glorious return to form for Wes Craven. It is also what a crowd-pleasing thriller should be...smart, fun, brisk, and truly scary at points.

[EponineAmneris]

Posted: 5/19/08 at 1:54pm

I did not expect to like IRON MAN or TRANSFORMERS as much as I did.

Blame it on my brother

[justme2]

Posted: 5/19/08 at 2:29pm

I was dragged to "the new Warren Beatty film" way back in, what....1992? and ended up loving "Busgy" from beginning to end. Beautifully filmed, great acting, stunning costumes and sets and a soundtrack of songs and instrumentals that I still listen to today.

[little_sally]

Posted: 5/19/08 at 8:52pm

Superbad
Pleasantville
Almost Famous
Stage Beauty
Babel

[kate2]

Posted: 5/19/08 at 9:30pm

Dan in Real Life. I thought it was going to be stupid, but I ended up liking it a lot. It's one of my favorites!

[best12bars]

Posted: 5/19/08 at 10:02pm

I will add one more film that recently was released on DVD from 1939.

A movie that got "lost in the shuffle" back then, in what is to this day arguably the best year EVER for movies.

That movie is MIDNIGHT with Claudette Colbert, Don Ameche, John Barrymore, Mary Astor and Hedda Hopper.

I remember the first time I saw it around 20 years ago, I thought I'd discovered gold. I still do.

It ranks with the best, most hilarious, romantic screwball comedies ever made. And it was all-but-forgotten for so many years.

I'm happy to report that I'm not alone in my praise for this movie today. It's NOW considered a true classic. Critics and "folks like you and me" alike, all sing its praises.

For those of you looking for a brilliant, funny, romantic, clever comedy... don't hesitate. Rent or buy this sucker! You will not be disappointed.

Oh, and it would make one HELL of a good musical too.

AND! It has a hidden revelation in the plot. As "obvious" as it is to me now, I didn't get that I was watching a very familiar story to us all. It didn't occur to me until the big party scene, when...

SPOILERS!!!!







Claudette leans over to John Barrymore and says, "Don't forget, every Cinderella has her midnight."

I suddenly realized what I was watching. And all the characters fit. And the story and plot as well. So very brilliant and clever!

[roquat]

Posted: 5/19/08 at 10:14pm

best12--I'm glad you liked TITANIC, but I wouldn't have expected your friends to "eat crow." Lots of widely acclaimed, Oscar-winning popular successes aren't really very good (or don't stand the test of time.) DANCES WITH WOLVES and THE GREATEST SHOW ON EARTH, anyone?