Ten Underrated Films

I love doing these types of lists because there’s always someone somewhere who hasn’t scene at least one of these films.  And a list of this nature can vary greatly from one person to the next and it really depends on your definition of underrated.  I’d previously created a top ten underrated films list for *coughs* another podcast...If you want to read the original it’s still there...(10 thru 6 and 5 thru 1).  I suggest you do because it’s a pretty damn fine list if I do say so myself.  And I won’t be repeating any...that defeats the purpose.  
Although I seem to be the most “movie oriented” geek on Beaucoup Pop, I find a hard time calling myself a guru.  There’s still a ton that I haven’t seen that I really need to.  I LOVE movies, they’re a part of my world, and I just enjoy being able to give you good people a list of ones that you might have missed.  It’s my way of spreading the good word.  “COME, gather round children as I teach you the gospel according to Tressa!”

10.) Equilibrium

Serious face time.

Okay...so this is one film that I know is not everyone's cup of tea.  So don’t get angry with me if you watch it and think, “Tressa must be hitting the booze pretty hard.”  It’s a futurist world were people take calm the f**k down medicine that removes all feelings....all of them.  Items that produce feeling are also taken away.  What, we don’t get puppies!!!???? This way there’s no war...yaayyy!!!!...Wut?  Equilibrium is directed by Kurt Wimmer (Ultraviolet) and stars Christian (I’m Batman) Bale, Sean (I die in EVERYTHING) Bean, Emily Watson, and Taye Diggs...one of these things is not like the other.  The choreography with the gun fights are inventive and stand out from previous films of this nature and the concept is pretty interesting.  And you get an emotionless Bale...so there’s really no, “WHAT don’t you F**KING UNDERSTAND!!???” moments. :)  Overall, it’s a great popcorn movie that shouldn’t be overlooked.

Drop it like it’s haaaawwwt.

9.) Van Helsing

*In my best singing voice* Seeeeexy people!!!!

Stephen Sommers, the director that brought you The Mummy, The Mummy Returns and G.I. Joe: Rise of the Cobra....or as I like to call it G.I. Joe: Rise of my Lunch.  So the guy doesn’t have much of a track record, Van Helsing really is his best in my eyes.  Most people bitched and moaned that it was too campy, but I’m pretty sure it was supposed to be like that guys.  If it wasn’t, oops...worked for me!  I don’t really have to go into the plot much, Van Helsing vs. vampires, Dracula, The Wolfman, Jekyll and Hyde,  yada yada.  All I’m saying is that if you give me a movie with Hugh Jackman, Kate Beckinsale and a slew of good ‘ol monsters...I’m gonna love it.

My...what a big gun...crossbow? you have?...

8.) Death at a Funeral (Original)

Yea, that’s a butt.

One of my biggest pet peeves is when Hollywood takes perfectly good foreign films and tries to reinvent them.  This is a prime example of why that doesn’t need to happen.  Death at a Funeral, originally a British comedy, was released in 2007 and directed by Frank Oz...yep, that Frank Oz.  If you’ve seen the remake *sigh* it’s pretty much the same exact plot...but the original is with a bunch of Brits, and a hell of a lot better.  It’s pretty light-hearted but an overall winner in my book with actors like Alan Tudyk (Firefly) and Peter Dinklage (Game of Thrones) in the mix.

Now that looks like a party.

7.) District B13

Guh...one of the worst movie posters I’ve ever seen...but don’t let that fool you!

French film time!!!  This is not the type of film that pops into your mind when you think French foreign film, and that’s what makes it awesome.  Taken director Pierre Morel brings you into a future where France has sectioned off the ghetto and they try desperately to ignore that it’s even there anymore.  They will go to great lengths to get rid of it too.  The film focuses mainly on actors David Belle and Cyril Raffaelli, two of the greatest at Parkour...and when you think, “Hardcore Parkour!!!” these are the guys who should come to mind.  Did I mention that Luc Besson is one of the writers?  If you don’t know who he is, he’s brought us; The Fifth Element, Leon: The Professional, and Taken just to name a few.  Seriously, if you love action films, this is one you cannot go without.

Dude, do you have to show off during fire drills?

6.) Drop Dead Gorgeous

Wow...this has some of the worst quotes on it’s DVD cover....”Drop dead funny!”...really?

Drop Dead Gorgeous is directed by Michael Patrick Jann (best known from The State) and it is best described as a mockumentary/dark comedy from the late 90’s.  It stars Kirsten Dunst, Kirstie Alley, Brittney Murphy, and Denise Richards.  If you look close enough, you’ll also see Amy Adams in one of her earlier roles.  It follows all these girls on their journey through a beauty pageant, the Sarah Rose Cosmetics Mount Rose American Teen Princess Pageant...yep.  You soon find out that the girls are dropping like flies and the chaos just keeps building as the film progresses.  Denise Richards’ talent portion of the show is truly one of the best reasons to see this film.

This isn’t even it...I’m not gonna spoil it for you!

5.) Pitch Black

Wow, I mean really...they’ve gotten so much better with poster designs these days.

Ahhhh...those were the days when no one knew who the hell Vin Diesel was.  Here’s yet another future based film with a very different take to it.  It’s a pretty basic plot: fugitive is being transported when space ship crashes, he escapes only to find they’ve crashed on a planet with crazy flying alien creatures....well now he has to protect everyone???  Sounds dumb, but it’s not...it’s really quite entertaining, plus Vin Diesel has bad-ass, only can see super well at night, eyes.  It did well enough to spawn sequels,an animated movie, and a couple video games.  It’s the one film on my list that’s done well for itself, but I still think as a whole the original from 2000 goes overlooked when it comes to good sci-fi films.

 

Shhhhhhh....quite guys, I think Paul Walker’s over there...he’ll ask me to be in more Fast and Furious junk.

4.) Munich

Now that’s how you do a excellent movie poster!!!  Simple yet eye-catching.

This is, I feel, an very overlooked Steven Spielberg film.  You’ve got Eric Bana, who plays a former Mossad agent contracted to hunt and kill a list of Black September members thought to be responsible for the eleven Israeli athletes' murders.  Couple that with screenplay by Tony Kushner (Angels in America) and Eric Roth (Forest Gump, Curious Case of Benjamin Button) you’ve a pretty good cocktail of amazing going on.  I’m not really sure why this film has become kinda forgotten about.  Maybe because it has kind of a older film feel to it, or it’s not the fastest moving plot.  All in all it’s great...period.  Eric Bana is always a winner in my book...too bad he did that crap Hulk film.

This isn’t from Munich...I just thought it needed to be shown.


3.) I Love You to Death

Yay pajamas!!!!!.....wut?

I Love You to Death is a real classic and it’s one of those films that when I bring it up on occasion no one seems to know about it...this is a travesty.  Directed by Lawrence Kasdan who is also known for...prepare thy self...receiving four Academy Awards nominations for The Big Chill (screenplay), Grand Canyon (screenplay), best film nom. on The Accidental Tourist, writer on The Empire Strikes Back, Raiders of the Lost Ark, AND director for Silverado, Wyatt Earp, Dreamcatcher, French Kiss.....I’m worn out.  So, back to the movie on the list.  It’s another dark comedy that’s loosely based on an actual attempted murder that took place in 1984 were this cray cray tried repeatedly to kill her husband, and was a massive failure at it.  Makes for a wonderful comedy staring Kevin Kline, Tracey Ullman, Joan Plowright, River Phoenix, William Hurt, and Keanu Reeves.  Holy crap that’s a lot of very talented people for one film.

Damn it Keanu always brings the mood down!!!


2.) A Perfect World

That is one massive Eastwood noggin.    

In this 1993 film, directed by the incredible Cling Eastwood, and escaped convict (Kevin Costner) befriends a young boy on his road trip with the Texas Ranger (Eastwood) constantly on their tail.  I know what you’re thinking...that sounds...ummmm...like our good friend and guest Billy Boyd would say, “Ookie”.  It’s not though, or at least from my memories as a child watching this movie, I never thought it was.  The chemistry between Costner and T.J. Lowther (the kid) is pretty amazing and well...heartbreaking.  I won’t spoil anything for you but I cry every time I watch this film, and I’m not really one to cry during movies.  I get teary just thinking about it. :’(  It’s a Clint Eastwood film that’s been buried under so many of his other fantastic films.  On my list of his, it would be at the top.

Sigh....I want the old Kevin Costner to come back...I miss him.

1.) Stardust

I was destined to be in love with this movie from the get go.

I had already read and loved the book before hand.  I mean come on, Neil Gaiman is my numero uno author...need it, love it, want some more of it.  And if I’m not mistaken, this was the first full length feature film adaptation of his work.  Stardust had a budget of 70 mil. and unfortunately only made 38.6 million in domestic.  I won’t go into the plot, because frankly it will take too long.  I will say there’s a fallen star (Clare “where have you been?” Danes), lighting pirates that sail the high winds in the clouds (Robert De Nero), three super old-ass witches (Michelle Pfeiffer at the helm) and handful of princes hell bent to find the kingdom’s ruby...

One of which is non-other than Mark “I freakin’ love you” Strong.

There’s also unicorns, magic transporting candles, ghosts, man-goats, and...I mean, really do I need to go on after man-goat???  Let just me break it down for you....based off of a Neil Gaiman book, directed by Matthew Vaughn (Kick Ass, X-Men First Class), Claire Danes, Michelle Pfeiffer, Robert De Nero, and oh....MARK STRONG!!!  Seriously what more do you people need???  That’s all I need...forever.

Well, that's it for now Poppers!  I really hope you enjoyed my list, it's not a top ten but just some that I think deserve attention.  Till next time!

This nerdtastic post was brought to you by

Tressa!