Best "Surprisingly" Good film you saw?

[Juzminator]

Hello dudes,

Sorry if this is looking like another "list" type thread...but I was just looking at General Pasty's poor review of Planet of The Apes, and I got to thinking that, almost invariably, we are disappointed by films we look forward to for a long time.

So - taking the converse angle: what films (either @ the cinema or on DVD) have you guys seen lately with little or no preconceptions that have blown you away?

It would help if you name the sort of films you usually like as a rule, so that we can all see if our general tastes may be the same, and therefore see whetther or not we'd be inclined to enjoy the recommended film also. (I hope that makes sense <img src="wink.gif" border="0"> ).

[Ono]

Princess Monokoke was something I bought just coz it looked OK.

<br />Turned out really really good.

[Juzminator]

What kinda film was it, and what kinda films do you usually enjoy Ono?

[Dirk 2]

"3000 Miles To Gracelands" came as a surprise. I had a idea of the basic plot, but when I saw the movie, it had a very different approach and was a real surprise. (See my other posting for anorak details).

I like a broad mixture of mainstream, classic and cult tiltes. I favour european and independant horror mostly.

I also saw "Gone In 60 Seconds" recently, and watched it on my laptop whilst working. I had such low expectation of this movie as it was universally panned by anyone who could walk upright, and found it quite entertaining in a disposible way.

[Rambo John J]

I'll have to go against the flow and say I really liked Tomb Raider. I'm baffled as I normally watch horror/sci-fi/war films/spag westerns and various low budget/cult movies. Big budget plotless no-brainers aren't normally my bag, but this one hit the button for me and I couldn't tell you why as films don't come much more plotless or brainless than this one. And it wasn't Angelina's tight little shorts either <img src="eek.gif" border="0"> , which some might describe as its only plus-point. I've seen it 5 times so far.

Also Final Fantasy, I had no preconceived ideas on that one and was pretty impressed.

3000 Miles To Gracelands is a real barnstormer aswell, the American audiences and critics couldn't have been more wrong. Personally, I love flashy MTV-style sadistic violence when it's done well, like it is here. Costner makes a spot-on bad guy.

[Ono]

[quote]Originally posted by Juzminator:<br /><strong>What kinda film was it, and what kinda films do you usually enjoy Ono?</strong><hr></blockquote>

It is a Japanese Manga cartoon epic which had got some press in the States (Roger Ebert- "the Star Wars of animations").

I normally only have a passing interest in Jap Anime but this film had a wonderful story and kept me hooked from the off.

Even the English Dub was done very well - Minnie Driver, Gillian Anderson et al. The subtitles were re-written in a japanese literary manner so it tells the story beautifully.

It was just one of those films (due to its scarcity in Europe that I thought I would buy for the sake of it but ended up loving it.

[russraff]

Dark City. Bought it completely unknowing what it was about, and thought it was brilliant. Good extras on the DVD, too.

Russell

[Beek1]

I've got to agree with the views on Princess Mononoke. It didn't come as a surprise to me as I'm a big fan of Hayao Miyazaki's work, however, if you haven't seen it rush out and grab a copy now. If you have, do your best to track down some of his other work including My Neighbour Totoro, Porco Rosso and Kiki's Delivery Service, all of which are arguably superior films.

As for myself, I caught a free screening of the Thai western Tears of the Black tiger with no idea of what it was about. Suffice to say it was one of the most beautiful, involving, shockingly violent, moving and utterly joyous movies I've seen in recent memory. I didn't stop smiling once during the film and it's been a long time since any movie made me feel that damn happy to have witnessed it.

[Reiner]

I bought Princess Mononoke and Ghost in the Shell (both jap. Anime) on recommendations only and found them both pretty good.<br />Didn't really blow me away but well worth the money, something I couldn't say about Three Kings and Space Cowboys (the latter still somewhat acceptable) both of which I bought on a trial-and-error basis because they were on offer. Yeah, was an 'error' actually ...

Final Fantasy was damnd impressive in terms of the animation/CGI.

As well I was pleasently surprised by Swordfish (I guess you all know that by now <img src="wink.gif" border="0"> ) which I saw at the cinema, will surely buy it on DVD when it's out.

Normally I like intelligent action movies, as far as this is possible, or thrillers and Sci-Fi to some extend (like Dark City which was mentioned above).

Unfortunately there have not been many really good movies in the cinema lately.<br />My next DVD "risk" order will be Akira (movie only edition).

[ 21-08-2001: Message edited by: Reiner ]</p>

[Reiner]

Oh, I forgot to mention Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, that blew me away actually. Wonderfull movie!

[Dorian]

My Best Movie of the Summer - 2001 : A Space Odyssey

(on DVD release, couldn't see it at the cinema anywhere near here)

It may be a rather obvious choice, but last time I watched 2001 I was about 14 and didn't have the patience (or intelligence probably) to figure out what was going on.

Some years later (twelve actually) I got the collectors edition DVD on the day of release and watched it in 2.20:1 widescreen with 5.1 surround. A fantasic experience - it was amazing how many times I grinned just by being awestruck by the cinematography. And this time round I even found the story gripping too.

Worth a try if you're looking for a classic film for the collection, although beware that my copy of the 40 UKP Collectors Edition has fallen to bits. Better stick with the 12 UKP version...

<br />Cheers,

[slingshot]

Last film I watched that blew me away was the other night on Channel 4.

Chasing Amy, I was expecting a sensitive girly type film and was well impressed, should have expected it really from Kevin Smith but there you go.

Another film that blew me away was fight club, again I hadn't heard anything about it and have now watched it about 6 times.

Seems the best films are always the ones you don't have any pre-concieved ideas about.

[BadAss]

Went round to my niehbours the other day who shall we say isnt the biggest movie fan in the world. He said he had a few new DVD's and brought out all ten of his collection for me to see. In the collection I came across East is East which my girlfriend had been going on about for a while so I picked it out. Then I wanted something for my self and being an Action junkie I didn't hold out much hope. But then I came across a case with a picture of three young good looking people on the cover. I realised there was not going to be any action but the two chicks on the cover realy did it for me so I went home with the two.<br /> The day after we sat and watched East is East and while it was ok it wasn't anything to write home about, my girlfriend thought it wasn't as good as she'd hoped for either.<br /> The day after that, with my girlfriend in work and a couple of hours to kill I put the second DVD in the machine, sat down and pressed play. From the off the picture was good, sharp and colourfull so the thumbs up there. The sound was clear and the music was pleasing to the ears, another thumbs up. But then like a fish seeing the bait for the first time I was hooked. The story was clear yet not simple and the characters really made you care about what they were doing. A very well executed film from start to finish but very much orientated to a younger audience. <br /> The film was called Cruel Intentions, well worth a watch.

[dc007]

Few years ago now, but Gattaca surprised me. A vision of the future that you could almost believe. Worth a look-up.

Another I'd never heard of, but really loved was Go, a sort-of youth version of Pulp Fiction, with several different threads leading to one.

Both dived at the box office, but deserved greater success.

Yes Fight club was the last film that really amased me but I suspect it loses its punch after seeing it more than a few times.<br />Years ago I remember one wet saturday afternoon going into the UCI Ipswich the wrong ticket and sitting down to watch another seemingly run of the mill Rambo type war film.

What a surprise I'd never heard of Predator

I think one of the main problems is that we see so many films that it takes a lot to please.

[Family Guy]

One non publicised film that really made me sit up and take notice was "The straight story". Rented it last Sunday as there was little else on. Glued to it from beggining to end.<br />Another one that supprised me was "proof of Life".<br />Very good acting and a strong cast. I think David Morse will one day find the right script and collect his Oscar that he deserves.

[Matt]

[quote]Originally posted by dc007:<br /><strong>Few years ago now, but Gattaca surprised me. A vision of the future that you could almost believe. Worth a look-up.

Another I'd never heard of, but really loved was Go, a sort-of youth version of Pulp Fiction, with several different threads leading to one.

Both dived at the box office, but deserved greater success.</strong><hr></blockquote>

Have to agree with you about GO. The only thing i knew about it was that a bloke from Grange Hill was in it. Knew nothing of the plot and absolutly loved it, one of my fav films from that year.

[tryingtimes]

Croupier was a surprise. Fantastic character-led drama.

I went to see Final Fantasy with fairly low expectations - I really enjoyed it (although I am loosely involved in the games/animation industry).

What Women Want is not my sort of thing but my wife and I got swept into it by the charisma of the actors and we smiled and laughed from start to finish.

Going to see Rush Hour 2 tonight - my expectations aren't very high! I feel that there's few people in the film industry more deserving of my cash than Jackie Chan, though!

Traffic was a surprise. I wasn't expecting anything as intelligent as it was. <br />Same goes for Magnolia. I had no idea that it was going to be so abstract. Thoroughly enjoyable. (my wife didn't care for either!)

Hope this helps!<br />Alex

[Luc]

The most recent film i watched that i knew nothing about and enjoyed a lot would be Office Space. Missed it when it was first on Sky, but watched it last month and laughed all the way through. Very good.

oh, and GO, and Princess Mononoke (or Princess Monopoly as my friend calls it.) were both very good. GO was one where i saw it in the cinema, went home and ordered the R1 straight away.

[Beek1]

There have only really been two films which I've really enjoyed at the cinema during the past couple of months. The first was Tears of the Black Tiger, a magnificently kitch Thai western which takes old Hollywood western melodrama and cliches and paints them in the wildest pastel colours you're ever going to see. A stunning mixture of romance, high farce and gleeful blood-letting this is a film which deserves to break out of the usual 'subtitled movie' ghetto.<br />The second was Moulin Rouge, although I'm not sure how it will hold up in the long run (I'm off to catch it for a second time tonight to see if it really holds up to repeated viewings). While the story is mininal, the acting varied (at least among the supporting cast), the filmmaking self-indulgent and the film is a failure as a musical, it still manages to seduce you and carry you along with a tide of pop culture refrences and dazzling acting from the two leads. The direction and set design is better than anything else which has appeared out of Hollywood this year and you'll find yourself soon caught up in the laughter and singing the film inspires.

[I J S]

I have to say that Moulin Rouge completely 'blew-me-away' (i hate using that term) when I didn't expect to like it at all.<br />It's a long time since I left the cinema feeling uplifted and throroughly moved.<br />This is now top of my DVD Christmas list.

[Gordon @ Convergent AV]

Yip, Melanie wanted me to go see Moulin Rouge and the thought of Ewan McG and Nicole K singin was slightly/really putting me off. I now want to go see it again. In fact, on my return from the cinema I immediately tried to pre-order the DVD.

I really enjoyed Traffic too.

Gladiator surprised me as well. It was crap at the cinema. I was bored stiff. It's much better on DVD though.

I saw Croupier on Video while on holiday in Canada. Can't say I was that gripped. I guess Gladiator and Croupier prove that Cinema and Home Cinema are not the same..,,, I should point out that the home cinema for Croupier was my in-laws 25" 4:3 Zenith CRT.....not exactly state of the art.....

Gordon

[Juzminator]

Thanks guys,

A lovely long list is developing here...plenty of films for me to check out.

Keep 'em coming though. <img src="smile.gif" border="0">

try ginger snaps its just come out on australian dvd 11.99 at movietyme and was a pleasent surprise imagine buffy if it was giving an 18 cert and a more sexual tone.This has got to be one of the quirkiest goriest werewolf films I have ever seen worth watching for an amazingly gormless mime rodgers who has the great line of lets just go home blow the house up and start afresh.<br />In terms of older films track down freeway basically an updated tale of red riding hood starring reece witherspoon and keither (why cant I be my dad) sutherland be warned though unbelievable amount of swearing in it.

[Rambo John J]

The best version of Ginger Snaps is going to be out next month - Canadian version with a whole shedload of extras. Even the US version is basically a movie-only job, but the Canadian SE has features literally falling off the disc.

If you liked Freeway Darran, give Freeway 2 : Confesions Of A Trick Baby a go. It's a far wilder ride than the first movie, this time there was no Oliver Stone keeping Matthew Brights hands tied behind his back (and it shows). It's got the most hilarious projectile vomit I've ever seen.

thanks for the advice can you get freeway 2 on dvd yet?.

[Rambo John J]

Not in the UK, but it's available as an R0 disc from the US. Anamorphic 1.85 with a reasonable 2.0 surround soundtrack. No extras to speak of but the film's ace so I'm not bothered personally. It's modestly priced anyway, most places used to have it under $15 when I got mine.