Underrated Movies (2 Viewers)

[Legend5555]

Tonight I was watching the Christopher Reeve biopic on MAX. It got me thinking about the Superman movies as a whole. Which in turn reminded me about a movie I think is very underrated.

About 2 months ago, I rewatched Superman Returns. I think that movie is actually very good as a follow up the original films (personally imagining that 3 and 4 didn't happen if not explicit stated or implied by the movie). I thought that Brandon Routh did a great job, although a bit stuff at times when Superman. But his Clark Kent was spot on. And the journey for Superman wrestling with his alienness and trying to reconnect with humanity and specially Lois was well done. And the ending with his realization that he has a son, and his final scene which he gives advice to his sleeping child still gets me (especially after having my own kids). Plus Superman lifts and entire island made of a large amount of kryptonite and throws it into space. If that isn't one of the most Superman things that has happened in a movie, I didn't know what is. Plus it retained the wonderfull tradition of a rather silly ending for Lex.

This movie was my no means a bomb when it came out. And it reviewed well. But Bryan Singer thought it didn't do well enough and disliked parts of the store. And the studio felt it wasn't up to what the wanted, though they still almost made a sequel. Many critics thought it was good but not great. But I disagree, as I think it's better than the original. And that movie when taken in context of the time it was made is very good too.

What movies do you think are underrated?

 

[dajebriza]

I liked Superman Returns. I thought it was one of the better Superman films of the more recent age. The Christopher Reeve films were great when I was a kid because they appealed to my maturity at that age and seemed like the comic books I was reading at the time come to life, but they would not appeal to me as much now.

As I matured, I lost interest in DC and gravitated to Marvel. I think the more "grounded in reality" Marvel universe began to appeal to me more and I prefer it in the more recent movies as well.

 

[Taghkanic]

OK, not to antagonize the posters so far, but… Movies often come up in the various poker games I play. I am constantly dismayed how players younger than me seem to only watch relatively recent superhero / sci-fi / action / fantasy / horror movies.

If I ask what someone’s favorite movie is, it’s going to be a Marvel film.

The oldest movie anyone seems to have seen is Gladiator. Or maybe Braveheart. Or Fight Club.

Jesus, people. 90% of movies used to be about the world we actually live in. They used to involve real acting, subtle scripts, brilliant cinematography. Not just a collection of effects, costumes and quips, with seven ridiculous plot twists in the last 30 minutes. Whooaaa oh my god I didn’t see that coming, except you’d have to be braindead not to.

If you haven’t seen the top 100 classics of the 1940s-1970s, you’re really missing out.

The most frustrating thing is that you can’t get younger people to be even a little curious. I was playing cards with a guy in his late 20s who had never seen classic 80s comedies like Spinal Tap… or Caddyshack… or Trading Places. I say, I guarantee you won’t be disappointed. But I can see their eyes glaze over. They’re never going to take up those suggestions. They don’t believe anything good can have been made before they were born.

I was trying to convince a 30something friend who only likes action movies to watch The French Connection with Gene Hackman. He nodded but I know he won’t.

Their idea of an “art movie” is Inception. So I’m not going to even dare suggest something by Cassavetes or Godard or early Jarmusch. Their films might as well be 16th Century British poetry.

I know I’m the old man yelling at clouds here. But when I talk to people who have never seen a single movie by Hitchcock, or Preminger, or Welles, or Altman, or Ashby, etc. … and then they tell me their favorite film is Iron Man or something, I just want to give up on humanity.

The bonkers part is that seeing all of the greatest movies of all time is easy now. You could stream all them in a matter of months. This used to be impossible, or would involve a ton of legwork, patience and expense. It’s never been easier or cheaper to give oneself an education, but fewer and fewer people have any real film background.

But they’ll argue who was the best Batman for a solid hour at the poker table. /rant

 

[KHarp1]

@Taghkanic Well said!

 

[philhut]

One of my favorite under-rated classic cult dystopian movies is "They Live" from the 1980's

It stars former wrestling star Rowdy Rowdy Piper as he discovers an alien race disguised amongst the population in positions of authority that uses subliminal messaging through media as a form of thought control.......all revealed by "putting on the glasses"

It also features one of the best and longest on screen fight scenes of all time.

*heck there is even a alien version of Donald Trump as president, and it was filmed in the 80's.

 

[Sparkynutz]

I've shared a lot of my favorites growing up with my kids. Once in a while I hear them talking about watching them again with friends.
Wifes favorites like Babysitters club, Home alone, to some of mine.
Butterfly effect, ET, Ferris Bueler, Gremlins, Willow, Bio dome, Son in law, Encino man, Groundhog day.
Some not so old like Hit and run, Employees of the month, Napoleon Dynamite, Hot Rod, Taledaga nights.
Wedding crashers, I taught my daughter to scream Mom Meatloaf! when she was potty training and needed help. Really caught my dad and step mom off guard when she stayed the weekend at their house. So many good movies!

 

[FDLmold]

Underrated comedy, Eurotrip
Underrated movie in general, Inside Man

 

[krafticus]

I'm 51, and I haven't seem many of the "classic" movies. I'm also not much of a TV person either. (name a popular series ... yup, I've not seen it).
I watch sports and a few other stupid things like Food Network (not as much any more) and other things.

When I had Covid back in 2020, I quarantined in a room and watched TV all day, every day ..and it was hell.

All that being said, one of my favorite movies that nobody remembers is "Higher Learning" Its pretty deep and still applies today. It also has an amazing cast.

 

[Taghkanic]

Another 80s movie I’ve tried to get younger friends to watch is Raising Arizona, which was not even underrated. Runaway success, fantastic cast, hilarious acting and script, fast-paced, lighthearted fun with some social commentary to boot. Made the Cohen Brothers mainstream.

Zero success getting anyone under the age of 45 to watch it.

Many of the movies I would post here I don’t consider underrated, just under-watched, for example these (mostly dark comedies):

Naked
Brazil
Local Hero
Grosse Pointe Blank
The Long Goodbye
Down By Law

 

[mike32]

Before there was Pulp Fiction there was a 1956 movie called The Killing. It was directed by Kubrick and it is in a non-linear fashion similar to Pulp Fiction. It is a story of a heist at a horse racing venue. Sure it is dated but I would call it underrated for sure!

 

[demonnic]

One of my favorite underrated and lesser known movies is The Legend of 1900. A baby is born as new year 1900 is rung in on a transatlantic vessel. He never leaves the ship and becomes the ship's pianist. Musical and dramatic hijinks ensue.

 

[TonyZur]

Walk Hard

 

[Legend5555]

OK, not to antagonize the posters so far, but… Movies often come up in the various poker games I play. I am constantly dismayed how players younger than me seem to only watch relatively recent superhero / sci-fi / action / fantasy / horror movies.

If I ask what someone’s favorite movie is, it’s going to be a Marvel film.

The oldest movie anyone seems to have seen is Gladiator. Or maybe Braveheart. Or Fight Club.

Jesus, people. 90% of movies used to be about the world we actually live in. They used to involve real acting, subtle scripts, brilliant cinematography. Not just a collection of effects, costumes and quips, with seven ridiculous plot twists in the last 30 minutes. Whooaaa oh my god I didn’t see that coming, except you’d have to be braindead not to.

If you haven’t seen the top 100 classics of the 1940s-1970s, you’re really missing out.

The most frustrating thing is that you can’t get younger people to be even a little curious. I was playing cards with a guy in his late 20s who had never seen classic 80s comedies like Spinal Tap… or Caddyshack… or Trading Places. I say, I guarantee you won’t be disappointed. But I can see their eyes glaze over. They’re never going to take up those suggestions. They don’t believe anything good can have been made before they were born.

I was trying to convince a 30something friend who only likes action movies to watch The French Connection with Gene Hackman. He nodded but I know he won’t.

Their idea of an “art movie” is Inception. So I’m not going to even dare suggest something by Cassavetes or Godard or early Jarmusch. Their films might as well be 16th Century British poetry.

I know I’m the old man yelling at clouds here. But when I talk to people who have never seen a single movie by Hitchcock, or Preminger, or Welles, or Altman, or Ashby, etc. … and then they tell me their favorite film is Iron Man or something, I just want to give up on humanity.

The bonkers part is that seeing all of the greatest movies of all time is easy now. You could stream all them in a matter of months. This used to be impossible, or would involve a ton of legwork, patience and expense. It’s never been easier or cheaper to give oneself an education, but fewer and fewer people have any real film background.

But they’ll argue who was the best Batman for a solid hour at the poker table. /rant

Whoa. Don't assume just because I brought up a single 2006 movie that I don't have an appreciation for older movies. I'm 43, and have seen the majority of the classics. I think most modem action movies are entertaining trash. I watch them once, have some fun, and move on.

I also think there are plenty of great movies from the 80s forward too.

The whole point of this was just to generate some discussion on movies we think are underrated for whatever reason. I'd hate to see this turn into an argument over old vs new movies.

 

[Legend5555]

Another 80s movie I’ve tried to get younger friends to watch is Raising Arizona, which was not even underrated. Runaway success, fantastic cast, hilarious acting and script, fast-paced, lighthearted fun with some social commentary to boot. Made the Cohen Brothers mainstream.

Zero success getting anyone under the age of 45 to watch it.

Many of the movies I would post here I don’t consider underrated, just under-watched, for example these (mostly dark comedies):

Naked
Brazil
Local Hero
Grosse Pointe Blank
The Long Goodbye
Down By Law

Grosse Point Blank is one of my favs.

 

[drdr]

Before there was Pulp Fiction there was a 1956 movie called The Killing. It was directed by Kubrick and it is in a non-linear fashion similar to Pulp Fiction. It is a story of a heist at a horse racing venue. Sure it is dated but I would call it underrated for sure!

Damn. One of my (older) regs recommended this to me at yesterday's game. Cements it, will watch.

 

[Chanceman]

Ishtar (1987) - Terrible reputation in the press for cost overruns, but actually funny when you take it on its own terms. Great duo in Hoffman and Beatty.

Used Cars (1980) - Robert Zemeckis directed movie before he made it big with Back to the Future. Kurt Russell is winning as usual as a used car salesman trying to run for political office.

Hard Times (1975) - Charles Bronson as depression era bare knuckle fighter doing what he can to make a living is one of Walter Hill's best.

Honkytonk Man (1981) - The Clint Eastwood change of pace movie has him playing country singer dying of consumption trying to get to Nashville to audition for the Grand Old Opry. It's funny at times and sad at others. His son Kyle co-stars as nephew and sidekick.

PCU (1994) - Animal House type fraternity loves to razz the PC protesters. Some decent satire layered within the obvious jokes. Jon Favreau right before he made Swingers. Jeremy Piven is the headliner. David Spade as obnoxious elitist.

Night Moves (1975) - Gene Hackman as LA private eye that travels to Florida for a case. Impossible to guess the mechanizations. Young Jimmy Woods plays a hood. Young Melanie Griffith plays the devil's candy.

Quick Change (1990) - Bill Murray is a bank robber dressed as a clown. Plays with the conventions of bank heist movies like Dog Day Afternoon.

Thin Red Line (1998) - World War II movie that suffers from too many star cameos but a compelling story and beautifully shot which is a great contrast to the carnage of war.

Wyatt Earp (1994) - Longer and more somber than Kurt Russell's Tombstone released the previous year. Serious in that way Lawrence Kasdan would get when he wasn't writing Star Wars movies. Kevin Costner is Earp. Dennis Quaid is Doc but not for longer than a cameo. Worth it once if you like westerns.

Fired Up (2009) Teen sex comedy that was trashed by critics that wrote their reviews before seeing it was actually witty and clever. Some great lines and characters. Concerns two star high school football players that quit and join the cheerleader squad when they learn it means being the only two boys at summer cheerleading camp.

 

[Chanceman]

OK, not to antagonize the posters so far, but… Movies often come up in the various poker games I play. I am constantly dismayed how players younger than me seem to only watch relatively recent superhero / sci-fi / action / fantasy / horror movies.

If I ask what someone’s favorite movie is, it’s going to be a Marvel film.

The oldest movie anyone seems to have seen is Gladiator. Or maybe Braveheart. Or Fight Club.

Jesus, people. 90% of movies used to be about the world we actually live in. They used to involve real acting, subtle scripts, brilliant cinematography. Not just a collection of effects, costumes and quips, with seven ridiculous plot twists in the last 30 minutes. Whooaaa oh my god I didn’t see that coming, except you’d have to be braindead not to.

If you haven’t seen the top 100 classics of the 1940s-1970s, you’re really missing out.

The most frustrating thing is that you can’t get younger people to be even a little curious. I was playing cards with a guy in his late 20s who had never seen classic 80s comedies like Spinal Tap… or Caddyshack… or Trading Places. I say, I guarantee you won’t be disappointed. But I can see their eyes glaze over. They’re never going to take up those suggestions. They don’t believe anything good can have been made before they were born.

I was trying to convince a 30something friend who only likes action movies to watch The French Connection with Gene Hackman. He nodded but I know he won’t.

Their idea of an “art movie” is Inception. So I’m not going to even dare suggest something by Cassavetes or Godard or early Jarmusch. Their films might as well be 16th Century British poetry.

I know I’m the old man yelling at clouds here. But when I talk to people who have never seen a single movie by Hitchcock, or Preminger, or Welles, or Altman, or Ashby, etc. … and then they tell me their favorite film is Iron Man or something, I just want to give up on humanity.

The bonkers part is that seeing all of the greatest movies of all time is easy now. You could stream all them in a matter of months. This used to be impossible, or would involve a ton of legwork, patience and expense. It’s never been easier or cheaper to give oneself an education, but fewer and fewer people have any real film background.

But they’ll argue who was the best Batman for a solid hour at the poker table. /rant

The kids seem to gravitate to the movies that seem like video games and the video games that seem like movies.

Before there was Pulp Fiction there was a 1956 movie called The Killing. It was directed by Kubrick and it is in a non-linear fashion similar to Pulp Fiction. It is a story of a heist at a horse racing venue. Sure it is dated but I would call it underrated for sure!

I love The Killing. It reminds me too of Asphalt Jungle, also with Sterling Hayden.

 

[buzzmonkey]

I don't know if it's underrated or lesser known, but Suicide Kings is a fantastic indie/small picture with a great cast. Also the first Prophecy movie.

 

[pltrgyst]

Naked
Brazil
Local Hero
Grosse Pointe Blank
The Long Goodbye
Down By Law

Grosse Pointe Blank is one of my top-tenners, but lord, did I hate Brazil, despite the Python connection.

Dunno about underrated, maybe because I'm not much of a movie guy, but I never hear much serious regard for:

Dogma,
Being There,
The Party,
Platoon (probably more of a personal thing)
Big Lebowski,
Sliding Doors,
The Hairdresser's Husband,
The Cook, The Thief, His Wife and Her Lover,
Being John Malkovich.

 

[Kam]

If anyone is open to subtitles, can recommend ‘La Haine’ for a mid-90s French gritty/ suburb unrest movie. Seen it randomly on TV years ago and stuck in my head for the story telling. Not a Marvel or Disney movie…

Also a fan of Leon - although not sure if that’s underrated. Gary Oldman is epic in this.

The 2002 Hero (chinese dynasty / martial arts story) was awesome. Remember picking it at random and watching it with 2 friends in an empty theater with zero expectations.

 

[Colquhoun]

I have really gotten more discerning with films as I’ve aged. I can’t watch a Marvel movie anymore, but give me something well acted, directed or an interesting story, and I’m hooked. It used to be that I would look to Oscar nominations to find the very best acting, directing, cinematography etc.
However, the fact that one of the nominees for Best Picture of 2024 was Barbie…should tell you everything you need to know about the state of modern filmmaking and viewership.

 

[krafticus]

I have really gotten more discerning with films as I’ve aged. I can’t watch a Marvel movie anymore, but give me something well acted, directed or an interesting story, and I’m hooked. It used to be that I would look to Oscar nominations to find the very best acting, directing, cinematography etc.
However, the fact that one of the nominees for Best Picture of 2024 was Barbie…should tell you everything you need to know about the state of modern filmmaking and viewership.

did you watch it?

 

[Senzrock]

My personal favorite film of all time is Spike Lee’s Do the Right Thing. Not sure if that can qualify as underrated, since it’s generally considered his best work and came out to a lot of critical acclaim back in 1989, but I bet a lot of people on PCF haven’t seen it, so do yourself a favor -

 

[Senzrock]

I have really gotten more discerning with films as I’ve aged. I can’t watch a Marvel movie anymore, but give me something well acted, directed or an interesting story, and I’m hooked. It used to be that I would look to Oscar nominations to find the very best acting, directing, cinematography etc.
However, the fact that one of the nominees for Best Picture of 2024 was Barbie…should tell you everything you need to know about the state of modern filmmaking and viewership.

I was surprised myself… but Barbie turned out to be an excellent film. Believe me, I wasn’t expecting it either.

 

[calfdemon]

A lot of really great movies listed in here so far that I really love.

But for as many great Tom Hanks movies that there are, my all time favorite Tom Hanks movie is The Burbs. Filmed entirely on the one "residential" street at Universal Studios (Munsters, Desperate Housewives, etc..). That movie is a Stay-cation classic!

 

[Colquhoun]

did you watch it?

Does it morph into a different film after 20 minutes? That's all I could stand.

 

[mike32]

Does it morph into a different film after 20 minutes? That's all I could stand.

I thought I would hate Barbie. I really enjoyed it and there was more to it than I ever imagined there would be.

 

[wickedwonka121]

I can go deeper on this topic but there are three that come to mind, Shrimp on the Barbie with Cheech Marin. Apparently it flopped when it released. It's a fun one. Mexican American goes to Australia to find prosperity and ends up becoming a hired actor. Play the bad boyfriend to piss of the rich dad so the dad accepts the other guy. Good times.

A couple that mess with your head if you like Macaulay Culkin and Robbin Williams (and how they usually play in fun light hearted roles) are The Good Son and One Hour Photo. They don't play those fun roles in these movies. I want say anything more. Just watch these two movies.

 

[chopper]

(Many years ago a roommate explained to me the difference a film and a movie; thank you for that)

As for a seasonally appropriate “under rated” suggestion:

“The Man Who Invented Christmas”

 

[Taghkanic]

Sterling Hayden

I’ve rarely seen a movie with Hayden which disappointed. He was chewing scenery long before Pacino.

Hayden’s a key supporting actor in one of the movies I recommended above (The Long Goodbye, which also features Schwarzeneggar’s first brief film appearance, uncredited.) And of course Dr. Strangelove.