View Full Version : Movies that should've stunk... but didn't
Goodsport
09 Jul 2003, 03:02 PM
      While I have yet to see Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines, I've been hearing good things about it from people who thought that they would hate (or at least seriously dislike) the movie but ended up pleasantly surprised by it.
      What movies have you seen where you walked into the theater expecting the worst, only to end up liking it?
      For me, two movies come to mind:
Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure (1989)
      I'm usually pretty good at judging from previews and commercials whether or not a movie will be good or if it will stink. This is the first, and still one of the rare, movie in recent memory (well, 1989 seems recent... to me, at least ;) ) to prove me wrong. When I saw the preview and the commercials for this movie, for some reason I thought that it was going to be among the worst dreck in cinematic history. Eventually, though, a friend of mine convinced me to see it with him and... lo and behold... it was actually pretty funny (in a good way). Looking back, I can't really see why I was that loathe to see it.
Spider-Man (2002)
      When I first heard the announcement back in 1992 or 1993 that James Cameron (yup, this was to be his movie) was planning to direct a Spider-Man movie, I shook with excitement! As the years passed and the legal battles among rival studios ensued, however, that excitement turned to a combination of worry and apathy... and when James Cameron officially dropped out of the project, my hopes for the film were dashed. When Sam Raimi was later named to be the director, that worry and apathy turned to fear and disgust. In typical fashion, though, I went to see the film anyway when it hit theaters - and I was very pleasantly surprised! It still would've been interesting to see James Cameron's take on Spider-Man, but Sam Raimi did a surprisingly (to me, at least) good job.
-G
amerifolklegend
09 Jul 2003, 03:07 PM
Galaxy Quest.
JMU Soccer!
09 Jul 2003, 03:10 PM
Originally posted by Goodsport
Spider-Man (2002)
      When I first heard the announcement back in 1992 or 1993 that James Cameron (yup, this was to be his movie) was planning to direct a Spider-Man movie, I shook with excitement! As the years passed and the legal battles among rival studios ensued, however, that excitement turned to a combination of worry and apathy... and when James Cameron officially dropped out of the project, my hopes for the film were dashed. When Sam Raimi was later named to be the director, that worry and apathy turned to fear and disgust. In typical fashion, though, I went to see the film anyway when it hit theaters - and I was very pleasantly surprised! It still would've been interesting to see James Cameron's take on Spider-Man, but Sam Raimi did a surprisingly (to me, at least) good job.
[/B]
I enjoyed Spiderman the first time I saw it, but subsequent viewings haven't been near as enjoyable for me. And I'm a Raimi/Campbell fan.
Regarding the thread title, I'll have to think a bit more and get back to you.
Ombak
09 Jul 2003, 04:59 PM
Originally posted by amerifolklegend
Galaxy Quest.
Seconded. I've seen it 3 times now and it surprises me how fun that movie can be. Didn't expect much from it.
TheWakeUpBomb
09 Jul 2003, 05:30 PM
Originally posted by amerifolklegend
Galaxy Quest. Great call. I remember seeing the trailer for that and thinking what a total piece of *************** it was. But I finally caught it, and I have to say it was pretty damn funny. Especially the then-unknown Sam Rockwell.
whirlwind
09 Jul 2003, 05:31 PM
Originally posted by amerifolklegend
Galaxy Quest.
Agreed.
Also, Buffy the Vampire Slayer
CHICO13
09 Jul 2003, 07:15 PM
Pee-Wee's Big Adventure....
Back in the old days when I indulged, I fired up a fatty and watched this flick. Some funny subliminal shit.
otterulz
09 Jul 2003, 10:26 PM
Minority Report. I just wasn't thrilled at all about it and I thought Spielberg's vision of the future looked too fake. Ended up being an amazing movie. Although, maybe Minority Report doesn't fit into the format.
sonicdream
09 Jul 2003, 11:16 PM
Big Trouble in Little China.
- It's got its share of dumb jokes but in general the stapstick nature of the movie was entertaining, IMO.
Most James Bond flicks, especially with Roger Moore.
- Millions of middle-aged, fat-bellied suburban married man will disagree with me here (ala' Kevin Spacy, in American Beauty) and will claim the films were well-crafted. Heck, I even watch them when they're on TBS ! "Cheesyness but entertaining" - is the reason I watch these Bond flicks.
amerifolklegend
10 Jul 2003, 12:50 AM
Originally posted by TheWakeUpBomb
Great call. I remember seeing the trailer for that and thinking what a total piece of *************** it was. But I finally caught it, and I have to say it was pretty damn funny. Especially the then-unknown Sam Rockwell.
It had Tim Allen in it. How on earth could it have been any good? That director deserves a lifetime achievement award for managing to make such a good movie that starred Tim Allen.
I actually only saw the movie because it had Sam Rockwell in it. Ever since I saw him in Box of Moonlight (okay movie, but he is just amazing in it. Rent it just for his performance alone) and was looking for him in future movies. Once I saw he was in Galaxy Quest, I figured it couldn't have been too bad.
I am glad I rented it.
DoctorJones24
10 Jul 2003, 01:37 AM
Galaxy Quest is a great call. There's no WAY that should have been good, but it's damn fine.
As for the question, I'd have to say that I'm most often pleasantly surprised by chick flicks. I try not to see too many, and the expetations are always so low, that when a Legally Blonde or Notting Hill comes around, they stand out pretty starkly.
For the reverse of this thread, (Movies that should have been great, but sucked) I'll nominate All the Pretty Horses, which was a beautiful and eminently filmable book.
odg78
10 Jul 2003, 02:40 AM
Supertroopers
TheWakeUpBomb
10 Jul 2003, 02:45 AM
Originally posted by DoctorJones24
For the reverse of this thread, (Movies that should have been great, but sucked) I'll nominate All the Pretty Horses, which was a beautiful and eminently filmable book. Is there a director's cut of this? I remember hearing that Thornton wasn't happy with the studio-mandated cuts (I've not seen the movie), and wondered if a separate cut was released on DVD or what?
Khansingh
10 Jul 2003, 04:28 AM
Originally posted by odg78
Supertroopers
A few questions for you:
Who are you?
Where have you been all my life?
Why did you steel my choice before I could come up with it?
I thought it was going to be the dumbest, most hackeyed drivel ever put on celluloid. Which it was. Stupid, unredeemingly stupid. I think I stopped laughing after the closing credits. I can't be sure because I blacked out from all of the laughter.
Dr. Wankler
10 Jul 2003, 11:32 AM
Lagaan.
It has three strikes against it from the start: 1) it's nearly 4 hours long. 2) it's a Bollywood movie (i.e. a musical) and 3) it's about cricket. Yet it's quite good.
Three Kings.
If anyone told me 10 years ago that a movie with Marky Mark, Ice T., George Clooney, and Nora Dunn was going to be any good, I would've gotten friends together for an intervention on his behalf.
Bowfinger.
What can I say, I had low expectations for this one.
To follow up w/ Doctor Jones' "They should've done better with that one" idea, I'd nominate Johnny Mnemonic. If it had been done well, the Matrix would be considered derivative. Alas, in spite of a decent cast and excellent screen play, it's one of the worst movies I've ever sat through.
skipshady
10 Jul 2003, 11:40 AM
I have to second (third?) SuperTroopers. The trailer looked horrible but my roommate kept telling me I had to see it. I was pleasantly surprised. The syrup chugging sold it. It did lose a little steam towards the end, but the ending was worth it.
Ombak
10 Jul 2003, 12:23 PM
How about Starship Troopers? Surprisingly enjoyable? Or does it just count as a guilty pleasure and I have to admit it still sucks?
amerifolklegend
10 Jul 2003, 12:31 PM
Originally posted by Dr. Wankler
Three Kings.
If anyone told me 10 years ago that a movie with Marky Mark, Ice T., George Clooney, and Nora Dunn was going to be any good, I would've gotten friends together for an intervention on his behalf.
Cube. It's Ice Cube.
Ice T was the "star" of Breakin' and Breakin' II: Electric Boogaloo.
whirlwind
10 Jul 2003, 03:08 PM
Originally posted by Ombak
How about Starship Troopers? Surprisingly enjoyable? Or does it just count as a guilty pleasure and I have to admit it still sucks?
I grudgingly admit that Starship Troopers sucks, and that I watch it every time it's on HBO or Starz.
Over-the-top gore, ridiculous concepts (aliens that belch fireballs capable of leaving planetary gravity? Aiming an asteroid from across the galaxy that hits Buenos Aires?) and Doogie Howser in a black leather Gestapo outfit, and it's still fun to watch.
whirlwind
10 Jul 2003, 03:09 PM
Originally posted by amerifolklegend
Cube. It's Ice Cube.
Ice T was the "star" of Breakin' and Breakin' II: Electric Boogaloo.
Now, Ice T was in some decent movies. New Jack City, for one.