Posted by
ChrisR on Friday, April 25, 2008 3:12:40 PM
I have had a complaint or two or a thousand that my posts are a little too formulaic. TV, Mets, College hoops, and complaints. Well that's how I live my life. Whoo! Or somehting like that. But today, to buck the trend, I am going to discuss a new topic, which may excite some and bore others.
I like lists. I like to make to-do lists. I like to make grocery lists weeks in advance. I like to make lists of what dinners I can cook so that I can be prepared. During the course of the day, I like to list the topics that I want to discuss in this blog. I like to list my TV programming in this blog. I have all of my "to-read" items in a list in my favorites. I like lists, what can I say?
One of my classic lists is a little thing called the DC Hidden Highlights tour - a walk through the city, focusing on some of the lesser known yet equally awesome aspects of the city. The National Portrait Gallery, the Botanic Gardens, and the Old Post Office are some of the items. Certain exhibits should be seen, but in "quick hit" fashion - the Hope Diamond, the Shaw Memorial, the Ruby Slippers. Others need an extended stay, as is the case for Ben's Chili Bowl or the Nationals Park. I happen to quite enjoy this city, and I like to know a lot about it. Sue me.
I also have been known for my list of personal Hidden Highlights - the simple pleasures in life that just make your day that much better. For me? Freshley washed sheets, a new toothbrush, and cheese platters. Especially cheese platters. Some others have said having a beer to cool down after a hot day, a new pair of socks, or hearing their favorite song on the radio when they wake up. I know there are readers out there - what are your top 3 hidden highlights? What are the simple things in life that make your day better?
But today's list is not either of the above. Thanks to TH's Kevin Glass for giving me the idea for this list. I want to combine some of my favorite things - TV (sort of) and lists. Since TV is too easy and too unstable, making a list of movies is much easier. But favorite movies is too easy. Instead, how about our top underrated movies? This list is in no particular order and will seemingly be random. I wrote them down as they came to me. Feel free to leave comments with your thoughts or your additions to the list.
Kevin starts this list, since it was his idea: Jurassic Park. According to him, "every time this movie is on tv, I can't turn it off." He is right, and that is a major factor in a great underrated movies. All-time great films are not always on tv - but that "can't turn it off" level is always on.
The Rock. I've spoken about it before, and it has been my favorite movie for years. I've probably seen in 100 times, but it is still awesome. Another "can't turn it off when you flip through the stations" movies.
Three Amigos. I hadn't seen this movie in probably 10 years until about last summer, when I found it on Comedy Central one day. Absolutely hysterical that too few people of the younger generation are familiar with. Martin Short may be a top 5 underrated comedy actor.
Coming to America. Absolutely one of my favorites that was legendary for a particular generation, but unknown to others. A classic.
PCU. See America, Coming to. Think "Old School" minus 10 years. Or Animal House + 15.
The Faculty. A really underrated horror/action/thriller film from the late 90s. Also featuring a top 5 underrrated character actor: Robert Patrick. You may know him as t-1000.
Scream. Really excellent film that truly revolutionized the horror genre. Does not get the play it deserves for what it did for film. Watch it horror movies from before it, then after it, and you can see Scream's influence in all of the latter.
Rookie of the Year. Ok, it was a terrible movie. But it was on last night and there is just something so excellent about Henry Roengartner and Chet Stedman that gives it that "can't turn away" factor.
On that note, I hate kids movies. I really do. I want to reach into the scream and slap these little (expletive deleted) whenever they make some snide remark. If any kid acted like that, his mother would have (should have?) done just that.
All that talk about the T-1000 got me thinking. Terminator 2 really was an awesome movie. Yes, it is considered awesome by just about everyone, but it still doesn't get the credit it deserves. This movie is 16 years old. Turn it on today, and it's still fantastic and believable (in a movie sense). An absolute gem.
Blown Away was anothe really good action film from a lost generation (that 94-96 range). It's about an IRA terorrist bomb maker guy who wants to blow up the US. Tommy Lee jones was in his element here.
Half Baked was on tv the other day and I still laughed out loud.
The Warriors. Late 70s (1979 I think) action/chase movie about the gangs of NYC. It is a good movie, it's based loosely around the 300, and is so 70s its laughable. It really is epic, though, to see how different NY was before Giuliani cleaned it up.
Vision Quest. Do I even have to elaborate? Matthew Modine is a high school wrestler trying to be the best. This movie is the best.
American Pie. I know, I know. This is respected - how can it be underrated? Much the way Scream and T2 were, this movie does get a lot of play. But not enough. Think about it - this made the careers of Sean William Scott, Jason Biggs, and Tara Reid. It revived Henry Roengartner. It gave Eugene Levy something to do for the next 10 years. Oh yea, and it invented the term MILF.
Enemy of the State. Will Smith and Gene Hackman? Well, it proves the Cain-Hackman theory (see PCU), but it was also a good action / conspiracy film. Good chases, good twists and turns and a fun movie to watch, even if it was only part way through.
American History X. If you want one of the best movies ever, watch this. Too bad it wasn't as respected as it should be. Really powerful movie about race, etc, and made Edward Norton a superstar, which he deserved. Also had Edward Furlong in it, which you may remember as John Connor from T2.
Primal Fear. Creepy, awesome movie with Edward Norton. I am sensing a trend here with movies I really like and actors that appear in them...
What do you think?