Most unexpectedly GOOD film you've ever seen?- Page 3

[ashley0139]

Posted: 5/19/08 at 10:23pm

MEAN GIRLS.

My best friend dragged me to it for her birthday. I dislike Lindsay Lohan and thought I would hate it. It is now one of my all-time favorite movies. Hysterical.

[mattonstage]

Posted: 5/19/08 at 11:13pm

A few that come to mind, that I expected to be okay, but ending up loving:
Millions
In America
A History of Violence
(the last two I felt did not get enough recognition from the Oscars, brilliant films both).

One I caught on cable one day that I had never heard of and ending up buying:
Series 7 (with great performances from Brooke Smith and Marylouise Burke)

[soapguy17]

Posted: 5/19/08 at 11:35pm

I'm going to have to third Stranger Than Fiction, it's awesome. One of my favs.

[Roscoe]

Posted: 5/20/08 at 9:06am

I didn't expect to enjoy HARRY POTTER AND THE PRISONER OF AZKABAN as much as I did. I'd seen the first film and liked it well enough, and seen the second one on DVD and been bored senseless. I can't remember why I went to see AZKABAN, but I'm very glad I did, it introduced me to the work of Alfonso Cuaron, who is now one of my very favorite filmmakers.

[Urban]

Posted: 5/20/08 at 9:23am

For me it was definately HOLES.

At the time I was having a regular weekly movie outing with a few friends and it wasn't my turn to choose to movie (naturally), I thought it was going to be a stupid kids movie, but it turned out to be highly enjoyable and entertaining with great performances by Signorney Weaver and Jon Voight.

[Elphaba]

Posted: 6/6/08 at 12:00am

just watched Goodbye, Lenin last night, AMAZING!

[RetroBoy]

Posted: 6/6/08 at 2:46am

for me it was meet me in st. louis. for some reason period costume films turn me off. this film struck me as a bit on the saccharine side but i decided to put my reservations aside and give it a chance.

i'm so glad i did! it is now one of my all time favorite movies EVER.

[~FloweryFriend~]

Posted: 6/6/08 at 7:52am

I agree with "The Holiday" (although Cameron Diaz was crap in it... but the rest of the movie was great. I especially enjoyed the Kate Winslet/Eli Wallach plot).

Also agree with "Dan in Real Life". The people I knew who had seen it said it was "lame" and "wasn't funny". But I LOVED it. LOVED, LOVED, LOVED. As in, I will probably buy it at some point. Bought the soundtrack on iTunes already.

"Win a Date with Tad Hamilton!" -- I can't remember why I even watched this movie. I remember thinking it sounded like the dumbest thing ever. But I LOVE it. I own it. I watch it. It's hilarious. Ginnifer Goodwin and Kathryn Hahn are both terrific in it. Add in the hotness of Josh Duhammel... And small roles played by Gary Cole, Nathan Lane, Sean Hayes, Sam Pancake... I think it's just wonderful.

[robbiej]

Posted: 6/6/08 at 10:02am

I was expecting to only mildly chuckle at ANCHORMAN. I think it's one of the best, most absurd comedies I've ever seen.

But the one that really caught me off guard was MYSTERIOUS SKIN. I'd seen a couple of Gregg Araki films before, none of I really loved (or even liked). But MYSTERIOUS SKIN was astonishing. Disturbing, exhilarating and deeply moving. My favorite film of that year.

[Borstalboy]

Posted: 6/6/08 at 10:35am

13 GOING ON 30--I was expecting cloying and cutsie, which it kind of was. But I wasn't prepared for how well cast and well directed it was. I actually liked it better than BIG.

CLERKS 2--After being sort of "eh" about just about everything Kevin Smith has done, I was surprised how smart and how incredibly funny this movie was. It was one of my favorite movies of its year.

[Roscoe]

Posted: 6/6/08 at 10:53am

I'll second ANCHORMAN, a really silly movie that really makes me laugh.

I was very surprised with SCHOOL OF ROCK, too. I chanced upon it while it was in heavy heavy rotation on cable. Surprisingly good movie, very funny and engaging.

[SonofMammaMiaSam]

Posted: 6/6/08 at 11:22am

I was really surprised how much I enjoyed White Chicks. It's on some channel tonight.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 6/6/08 at 11:42am

Chariots of Fire
Gandhi
Dances With Wolves

I expected to be bored to tears by these, but ended up loving them.

[lildogs]

Posted: 6/6/08 at 11:49am

I liked GANDHI too...not exactly THRILLING cutting-edge filmmaking, but solid and entertaining.

SCHOOL OF ROCK is a very good film...really moving and inspirational.

BARBERSHOP is also like that--advertised as a comedy, but with a lot of heart underneath.

[DMsquared2]

Posted: 6/6/08 at 1:18pm

The Spiderwick Chronicles. I went in not expecting much but fell in love with it halfway through. Hello! Mary-Louise Parker!

[justagirl2]

Posted: 6/6/08 at 2:58pm

I'll have to...third? School of Rock. I could watch that movie every day. Not only is it funny and touching, but it has a badass soundtrack.

Zoolander. I knew it would be ridiculous and probably terrible, which it was, but I wasn't prepared for how quotable it is!

[SNAFU]

Posted: 6/6/08 at 4:56pm

The first movie that jumped to my mind is The Iron Giant. Avoided it like the plague when it was in theatres and then on a whim watched the DVD. It has become one of my favorite animated films!

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 6/6/08 at 6:05pm

I'll add School of Rock as well. I truly expected it to be the type of humor I absolutely HATE, but for some reason, I watched it and was completely charmed.

Oh, and Cachorro (aka Bear Cub). What a delightful film.