I don't know what to call them. They're not "B" movies, though they rarely have top-tier stars or are made by top-tier directors. Rather, they're perfectly serviceable films that are entertaining and really have no ambition to be anything more.
Nate and Hayes is the first of these films I really became aware of. It's not a great movie, but damn if it isn't entertaining. A good old-fashioned swashbuckling pirate movie.
The Saint was fantastically entertaining (if not a little silly in the premise), but didn't take itself too seriously.
Executive Decision absolutely blew me away when I saw it in the theater.
Any more of these ignored classics?
Perfectly good movies
Moderators: sgt.null, dANdeLION
Perfectly good movies
"There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." - PJ O'Rourke
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"Men and women range themselves into three classes or orders of intelligence; you can tell the lowest class by their habit of always talking about persons; the next by the fact that their habit is always to converse about things; the highest by their preference for the discussion of ideas." - Charles Stewart
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"I believe there are more instances of the abridgment of the freedom of the people by gradual and silent encroachments of those in power than by violent and sudden usurpations." - James Madison
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_____________
"Men and women range themselves into three classes or orders of intelligence; you can tell the lowest class by their habit of always talking about persons; the next by the fact that their habit is always to converse about things; the highest by their preference for the discussion of ideas." - Charles Stewart
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"I believe there are more instances of the abridgment of the freedom of the people by gradual and silent encroachments of those in power than by violent and sudden usurpations." - James Madison
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[Syl]
- Unfettered One
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American Psycho, The Frighteners, The Search for Bobby Fischer, Rounders, The Zero Effect, Dark City, Big Fish, Hugo Pool, My Blue Heaven, Suicide Kings, Kung Fu Hustle, City of Lost Children
"It is not the literal past that rules us, save, possibly, in a biological sense. It is images of the past. Each new historical era mirrors itself in the picture and active mythology of its past or of a past borrowed from other cultures. It tests its sense of identity, of regress or new achievement against that past.”
-George Steiner
-George Steiner
Good call on The Frighteners and Dark City. Big Fish was more of a top-tier film than what I'm talking about.
"There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." - PJ O'Rourke
_____________
"Men and women range themselves into three classes or orders of intelligence; you can tell the lowest class by their habit of always talking about persons; the next by the fact that their habit is always to converse about things; the highest by their preference for the discussion of ideas." - Charles Stewart
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"I believe there are more instances of the abridgment of the freedom of the people by gradual and silent encroachments of those in power than by violent and sudden usurpations." - James Madison
_____________
_____________
"Men and women range themselves into three classes or orders of intelligence; you can tell the lowest class by their habit of always talking about persons; the next by the fact that their habit is always to converse about things; the highest by their preference for the discussion of ideas." - Charles Stewart
_____________
"I believe there are more instances of the abridgment of the freedom of the people by gradual and silent encroachments of those in power than by violent and sudden usurpations." - James Madison
_____________
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CovenantJr
- Lord
- Posts: 12608
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- Location: North Wales
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[Syl]
- Unfettered One
- Posts: 13021
- Joined: Sat Oct 26, 2002 12:36 am
- Has thanked: 2 times
- Been thanked: 1 time
Well, Big Fish did have big stars and a big director, but I thought it got weak reception, much like The Saint. Val Kilmer just came off the latest Batman, even declining the role in favor of it, and Noyce coming straight off of the Clancy adaptations - ooh, he did Blind Fury? add one more to my list!
"It is not the literal past that rules us, save, possibly, in a biological sense. It is images of the past. Each new historical era mirrors itself in the picture and active mythology of its past or of a past borrowed from other cultures. It tests its sense of identity, of regress or new achievement against that past.”
-George Steiner
-George Steiner
Fair point, I forgot that was just after Kilmer did the Batman thing.
Speaking of Rutger Hauer, I'd add Wanted: Dead or Alive as well as Blind Fury.
Speaking of Rutger Hauer, I'd add Wanted: Dead or Alive as well as Blind Fury.
"There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." - PJ O'Rourke
_____________
"Men and women range themselves into three classes or orders of intelligence; you can tell the lowest class by their habit of always talking about persons; the next by the fact that their habit is always to converse about things; the highest by their preference for the discussion of ideas." - Charles Stewart
_____________
"I believe there are more instances of the abridgment of the freedom of the people by gradual and silent encroachments of those in power than by violent and sudden usurpations." - James Madison
_____________
_____________
"Men and women range themselves into three classes or orders of intelligence; you can tell the lowest class by their habit of always talking about persons; the next by the fact that their habit is always to converse about things; the highest by their preference for the discussion of ideas." - Charles Stewart
_____________
"I believe there are more instances of the abridgment of the freedom of the people by gradual and silent encroachments of those in power than by violent and sudden usurpations." - James Madison
_____________
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Cagliostro
- The Gap Into Spam
- Posts: 9360
- Joined: Tue Jun 28, 2005 10:39 pm
- Location: Colorado
Straight to Hell - Fantastic for English musicians of the 80's, bad for storyline, but damn fun. Basically, they made a movie while having a big party. The incoherence of plot is a testament to how much they drank. So much fun and a great soundtrack. But not a good movie in the critical sense. And Courtney Love is in it and screams too much.
Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead - based off the play, a brilliant movie that sags a bit at the end, but is still full of nuggets of wit. If you know Hamlet, and have studied it all kinds of way, there is even more joy to be found. I still want to see Gary Oldman play more roles like this.
Mystery Men - goofy funness. Might be a bit more big budget, but feels more like an indie. Tom Waits is in it, which is always a plus for me, but a good take on the superhero genre. Well worth it unless you really hate Ben Stiller, and maybe even then.
Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead - based off the play, a brilliant movie that sags a bit at the end, but is still full of nuggets of wit. If you know Hamlet, and have studied it all kinds of way, there is even more joy to be found. I still want to see Gary Oldman play more roles like this.
Mystery Men - goofy funness. Might be a bit more big budget, but feels more like an indie. Tom Waits is in it, which is always a plus for me, but a good take on the superhero genre. Well worth it unless you really hate Ben Stiller, and maybe even then.
Life is a waste of time
Time is a waste of life
So get wasted all of the time
And you'll have the time of your life
I think both of them take themselves a bit too seriously. Both decent films (Saints far more so than Slevin), but a bit "above" what I'm looking at here.danlo wrote:Do The Boondock Saints and Lucky Number Slevin qualify?--never nominated for an Oscar, but I love these two to death...
Straight to Hell is awesome, but I think falls farther down into the "B" movie category. Never seen R&GaD, and I have no idea how anyone could possibly enjoy Mystery Men (other than the sponsor's logos on Greg Kinnear's costume).
"There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." - PJ O'Rourke
_____________
"Men and women range themselves into three classes or orders of intelligence; you can tell the lowest class by their habit of always talking about persons; the next by the fact that their habit is always to converse about things; the highest by their preference for the discussion of ideas." - Charles Stewart
_____________
"I believe there are more instances of the abridgment of the freedom of the people by gradual and silent encroachments of those in power than by violent and sudden usurpations." - James Madison
_____________
_____________
"Men and women range themselves into three classes or orders of intelligence; you can tell the lowest class by their habit of always talking about persons; the next by the fact that their habit is always to converse about things; the highest by their preference for the discussion of ideas." - Charles Stewart
_____________
"I believe there are more instances of the abridgment of the freedom of the people by gradual and silent encroachments of those in power than by violent and sudden usurpations." - James Madison
_____________
holy frik, Syl, that's an amazing list.Syl wrote:American Psycho, The Frighteners, The Search for Bobby Fischer, Rounders, The Zero Effect, Dark City, Big Fish, Hugo Pool, My Blue Heaven, Suicide Kings, Kung Fu Hustle, City of Lost Children
totally agree!
~...with a floating smile and a light blue sponge...~
And two more great chices. I love R&GaD!!!!Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead - based off the play, a brilliant movie that sags a bit at the end, but is still full of nuggets of wit. If you know Hamlet, and have studied it all kinds of way, there is even more joy to be found. I still want to see Gary Oldman play more roles like this.
Mystery Men - goofy funness. Might be a bit more big budget, but feels more like an indie. Tom Waits is in it, which is always a plus for me, but a good take on the superhero genre. Well worth it unless you really hate Ben Stiller, and maybe even then.
~...with a floating smile and a light blue sponge...~
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danlo
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I don't understand why you don't like Selvin-the cast was great and the dialogue between Freeman and Kingsley was hilarious, Willis was cool as hell. Are you saying that the cast was too good? I guess you're looking for B movies then-I don't really consider Dark City a B movie...
fall far and well Pilots!
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aTOMiC
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Oh no! You are one of them! Well to each his own. Mystery Men is awesome. To hear the philosophy of the sphinx is worth the price of admission alone.Cail wrote:and I have no idea how anyone could possibly enjoy Mystery Men (other than the sponsor's logos on Greg Kinnear's costume).
IMHO of course. I admit (according to the box office take) that MM isn't universally appreciated.
"If you can't tell the difference, what difference does it make?"
"There is tic and toc in atomic" - Neil Peart
OH MY GOD!! someone's seen Zero Effect besides ME!!!Usivius wrote:holy frik, Syl, that's an amazing list.Syl wrote:American Psycho, The Frighteners, The Search for Bobby Fischer, Rounders, The Zero Effect, Dark City, Big Fish, Hugo Pool, My Blue Heaven, Suicide Kings, Kung Fu Hustle, City of Lost Children
totally agree!
i love that movie!! the search for bobby fischer was great too, as was rounders!!! great cast!!!
one of my "sleepers" or favorite movies that didn't get a lot of press or hoohah and one that i continually mention to pitt/redford fans is Spygame.
i LOVE that movie. i've seen it many times now (bought the dvd after the first time i saw it) and still enjoy it everytime i watch it. in fact, its the only thing i've liked redford acting in since butch cassidy and the sundance kid!!
edit:
oh my god again...did he really say that about Mystery Men!!!aTOMiC wrote:Oh no! You are one of them! Well to each his own. Mystery Men is awesome. To hear the philosophy of the sphinx is worth the price of admission alone.Cail wrote:and I have no idea how anyone could possibly enjoy Mystery Men (other than the sponsor's logos on Greg Kinnear's costume).
IMHO of course. I admit (according to the box office take) that MM isn't universally appreciated.
dAN turned me on to that movie!!! I LOVED IT!!!
i love stiller andgarafalo in it!!! wes studi!!!
paul rubens!!! oh dudes...i think i need to see it again...maybe i'll stop at virgin megastore on the way home and BUY it!!!
you're more advanced than a cockroach,
have you ever tried explaining yourself
to one of them?
~ alan bates, the mothman prophecies
i've had this with actors before, on the set,
where they get upset about the [size of my]
trailer, and i'm always like...take my trailer,
cause... i'm from Kentucky
and that's not what we brag about.
~ george clooney, inside the actor's studio
a straight edge for legends at
the fold - searching for our
lost cities of gold. burnt tar,
gravel pits. sixteen gears switch.
Haphazard Lucy strolls by.
~ dennis r wood ~
have you ever tried explaining yourself
to one of them?
~ alan bates, the mothman prophecies
i've had this with actors before, on the set,
where they get upset about the [size of my]
trailer, and i'm always like...take my trailer,
cause... i'm from Kentucky
and that's not what we brag about.
~ george clooney, inside the actor's studio
a straight edge for legends at
the fold - searching for our
lost cities of gold. burnt tar,
gravel pits. sixteen gears switch.
Haphazard Lucy strolls by.
~ dennis r wood ~
danlo i used to feel the same way...but...dude, i love his parents. and he's in both Zero Effect and Mystery Men and he's GREAT in both. he does NOT do his typical ben stiller schlock in Zero Effect. straigh role for him.
he's great in it. and in Mystery Men, he like totally makes FUN of the typical ben stiller schlock!! oh my god he and garafalo are SOOOO FUNNY!!!
he's great in it. and in Mystery Men, he like totally makes FUN of the typical ben stiller schlock!!
oh my god he and garafalo are SOOOO FUNNY!!! you're more advanced than a cockroach,
have you ever tried explaining yourself
to one of them?
~ alan bates, the mothman prophecies
i've had this with actors before, on the set,
where they get upset about the [size of my]
trailer, and i'm always like...take my trailer,
cause... i'm from Kentucky
and that's not what we brag about.
~ george clooney, inside the actor's studio
a straight edge for legends at
the fold - searching for our
lost cities of gold. burnt tar,
gravel pits. sixteen gears switch.
Haphazard Lucy strolls by.
~ dennis r wood ~
have you ever tried explaining yourself
to one of them?
~ alan bates, the mothman prophecies
i've had this with actors before, on the set,
where they get upset about the [size of my]
trailer, and i'm always like...take my trailer,
cause... i'm from Kentucky
and that's not what we brag about.
~ george clooney, inside the actor's studio
a straight edge for legends at
the fold - searching for our
lost cities of gold. burnt tar,
gravel pits. sixteen gears switch.
Haphazard Lucy strolls by.
~ dennis r wood ~
I enjoyed the Hell out of it.....But it's not what I'm talking about....Too big.danlo wrote:I don't understand why you don't like Selvin-the cast was great and the dialogue between Freeman and Kingsley was hilarious, Willis was cool as hell. Are you saying that the cast was too good? I guess you're looking for B movies then-I don't really consider Dark City a B movie...
And I'm not talking about "B" movies either, that's a whole 'nother story. What I'm looking for are the 'tweener movies; no "A" list actors or directors, and no overt pretentiousness.....
Spy Game or Fight Club don't really count because of their stars....By the same token, Sneakers would count, since everyone that was in it was either a pre-star or a post-star.
Zero Effect is about the only film that Stiller is bearable in, and a truly underrated film. Definitely deserves to be on this list.
"There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." - PJ O'Rourke
_____________
"Men and women range themselves into three classes or orders of intelligence; you can tell the lowest class by their habit of always talking about persons; the next by the fact that their habit is always to converse about things; the highest by their preference for the discussion of ideas." - Charles Stewart
_____________
"I believe there are more instances of the abridgment of the freedom of the people by gradual and silent encroachments of those in power than by violent and sudden usurpations." - James Madison
_____________
_____________
"Men and women range themselves into three classes or orders of intelligence; you can tell the lowest class by their habit of always talking about persons; the next by the fact that their habit is always to converse about things; the highest by their preference for the discussion of ideas." - Charles Stewart
_____________
"I believe there are more instances of the abridgment of the freedom of the people by gradual and silent encroachments of those in power than by violent and sudden usurpations." - James Madison
_____________
Zero Effect was cool.
This list could be massive. A film I saw recently which would fit would be the German resistance movie Sophie Scholl. Low-key, fairly solid, but just somehow lacked something to really elevate it.
For some weird reason the film Gridlock'd is coming to my mind. I thought that was good, though hardly anyone noticed it, I think.
This list could be massive. A film I saw recently which would fit would be the German resistance movie Sophie Scholl. Low-key, fairly solid, but just somehow lacked something to really elevate it.
For some weird reason the film Gridlock'd is coming to my mind. I thought that was good, though hardly anyone noticed it, I think.
"For the love of God, Montresor!"
"Yes," I said, "for the love of God!" - Edgar Allan Poe, The Cask of Amontillado.
"Yes," I said, "for the love of God!" - Edgar Allan Poe, The Cask of Amontillado.
oooh!!! i get it. sorry!Cail wrote:
Spy Game or Fight Club don't really count because of their stars....By the same token, Sneakers would count, since everyone that was in it was either a pre-star or a post-star.
oh i'm so glad more people than i thought have seen Zero Effect!!! YAY!!
you're more advanced than a cockroach,
have you ever tried explaining yourself
to one of them?
~ alan bates, the mothman prophecies
i've had this with actors before, on the set,
where they get upset about the [size of my]
trailer, and i'm always like...take my trailer,
cause... i'm from Kentucky
and that's not what we brag about.
~ george clooney, inside the actor's studio
a straight edge for legends at
the fold - searching for our
lost cities of gold. burnt tar,
gravel pits. sixteen gears switch.
Haphazard Lucy strolls by.
~ dennis r wood ~
have you ever tried explaining yourself
to one of them?
~ alan bates, the mothman prophecies
i've had this with actors before, on the set,
where they get upset about the [size of my]
trailer, and i'm always like...take my trailer,
cause... i'm from Kentucky
and that's not what we brag about.
~ george clooney, inside the actor's studio
a straight edge for legends at
the fold - searching for our
lost cities of gold. burnt tar,
gravel pits. sixteen gears switch.
Haphazard Lucy strolls by.
~ dennis r wood ~