Top 5

Re: Top 5 Movie To Suprise You In A Good Way

Risselada — Tue, 31 Jul 2007 21:42:28 GMT

joem18b:
Somehow, "chick flick" has escaped the opprobrium of political correctness, or maybe feminism as we knew it back in the 60s is just long gone.

How many femenists do you think watch "chick flicks?" Since they generally relegate sexes to traditional roles, probably not many.

Re: Top 5 Movie To Suprise You In A Good Way

AlienLazer — Mon, 30 Jul 2007 00:10:10 GMT

"Butterfly Effect - I automatically put anything with Ashton Kutcher into the date movie category. And I Hate Date Movies (scream,iknowwhatyoudid,10thingsIhate...etc.)" _AndySaBryn

Oh yeah, now I remember why I keep giving Ashton Kutcher a chance to prove that he could be in a good movie agian. That movie was so freaking sweet, but he totally sucks so hard now.

Here's my Top 5 surprises that made my happy...

1. Just Friends - Ryan Reynolds has always been superb, but I had just gotten so worn out of bad "romantic comedies" that this movie was really uplifting. It gave me hope once more for the future in the romance/funny department.

2. Saw III - The "Saw" movies got progressively better. Wow, nothing and I mean nothing could top the end to that movie. What an extravagantly twisted conclusion! I still can't believe they are gonna put a forth one out. (o.O)

3. AVP - I hated the "Predator" movies, and the only "Alien" movie I really loved was the forth one. My heart was all for the Aliens in that one, so I was suprised that I was rooting for the Predators in this movie.

4. Cursed - I'm usually not one of those werewolf freaks. It's all about the Vampires, but this movie got my attention. For once, it wasn't just crappy quality and bad breath. And, yeah... I love the Underworld movies as well, but "Cursed" was the first that was strictly only Werewolf involve movie that I actually really enjoyed.

5. Clerks II - I wasn't expecting much from this movie at all, but it was just SO freaking hilarious! I love Kevin Smith's work. At least, the stupid shiz-its he does without even thinking too hard is hella funny.

Re: Top 5 Movie To Suprise You In A Good Way

joem18b — Sat, 28 Jul 2007 00:03:31 GMT

Excellent thoughts, Tmoney. They make a lot of sense. I guess I always thought it was about movies that would appeal to women rather than men, regardless of quality or content. But either way, figuring out what is or isn't a chick flick is a real head-scratcher.

If i Google "Greatest Chick Flicks," I get 1.7 million hits. Here are a couple from the top-50 list in Oprah's magazine:

3. Notorious (1946)

4. The French Lieutenant's Woman (1981)

5. The English Patient (1996)

12. All About Eve (1950)

17. Girlfight (2000)

19. The Shop Around the Corner (1940)

24. Bull Durham (1988)

Re: Top 5 Movie To Suprise You In A Good Way

tmoney — Fri, 27 Jul 2007 23:15:21 GMT

joem18b:
indieabby88:
However, some movies pander more to girls than to guys. Most of these movies aren't very good (apparently "girls" don't read that much into the qualities of a movie), but some of them are passable. For my part, I enjoyed "Music and Lyrics" and so did my mom, who was watching with me at the time. I personally think "chicks" would enjoy it more than "dudes" on the whole, but I may be wrong.
"Some movies pander more to girls than to guys" seems to me functionally equivalent to "chick flick." That is, what does either phrase mean? Because my working theory here is that there is really no such thing as a chick flick - it's an empty concept. But prove me wrong.

I think of chick flick as a genre actually. It's got nothing to do with story or whatever. It's got more to do with the merit of the film. Let me try to make sense here because i'm not even sure I know what i am talking about here. There are films with blatant romance and comedy balances that one could deem a romantic comedy, but not a chick flick. And there are films with almost no romance that COULD be considered a chick flick.

For me, a chick flick is a film that contains certain components. For one, it warrants no significance in a cannon of what an experienced film viewer would call an important film. Second, it favors melodrama, and sentimental emotion, and blatant manipulation over theme and reason (nothing to do with women, just an observation of what I call chick flicks). There are others but I need to gather my thoughts on chick flicks before I write any more.

SO it really has less to do with gender (even though I would argue that the majority of chick flick fans are women),but more to do with content.

Re: Top 5 Movie To Suprise You In A Good Way

joem18b — Fri, 27 Jul 2007 18:59:07 GMT

indieabby88:
However, some movies pander more to girls than to guys. Most of these movies aren't very good (apparently "girls" don't read that much into the qualities of a movie), but some of them are passable. For my part, I enjoyed "Music and Lyrics" and so did my mom, who was watching with me at the time. I personally think "chicks" would enjoy it more than "dudes" on the whole, but I may be wrong.

"Some movies pander more to girls than to guys" seems to me functionally equivalent to "chick flick." That is, what does either phrase mean? Because my working theory here is that there is really no such thing as a chick flick - it's an empty concept. But prove me wrong.

On his podcast last week, Mich LaSalle (lead critic for the S.F. Chronicle) said that he'd never go to an action flick if he wasn't forced to, but that he has a warm place in his heart for romantic comedies and has to be careful not to rate them higher than they deserve, just because he's willing to cut them some slack. In the same way, I enjoyed "Must Love Dogs" and "Music and Lyrics" (see my review) in a way that my spousal unit never could. Apparently, I don't read that much into the qualities of a movie. Meanwhile, a quick check in MRQE or Rotten Tomatoes reveals that more men than women reviewers liked Music and Lyrics (I might have made that up, but still...).

Somehow, "chick flick" has escaped the opprobrium of political correctness, or maybe feminism as we knew it back in the 60s is just long gone.

Re: Top 5 Movie To Suprise You In A Good Way

tmoney — Wed, 25 Jul 2007 01:05:42 GMT

a dude would definitely be the opposite of chick. Nicely put, Abby.

Re: Top 5 Movie To Suprise You In A Good Way

indieabby88 — Tue, 24 Jul 2007 23:34:36 GMT

I'm not sure...dude?

Not all romantic comedies are chick flicks. The really good ones are funny in their own right, more comedic than romantic. Take "When Harry Met Sally" for example. Romantic comedy, not really a chick flick. It does a good job of addressing both points of view in a relationship, and is liked equally by guys and gals.

However, some movies pander more to girls than to guys. Most of these movies aren't very good (apparently "girls" don't read that much into the qualities of a movie), but some of them are passable. For my part, I enjoyed "Music and Lyrics" and so did my mom, who was watching with me at the time. I personally think "chicks" would enjoy it more than "dudes" on the whole, but I may be wrong.

Re: Top 5 Movie To Suprise You In A Good Way

joem18b — Tue, 24 Jul 2007 22:29:13 GMT

indieabby88:
Yeah, "Music and Lyrics" is a definite chick flick.

I've never been clear about what constitutes a chick flick, in spite of studying the definition in wikipedia and checking out Oprah's "greatest" chick flick list.. "Music and Lyrics," for example, is a prototypical romantic comedy; surely all romantic comedies aren't chick flicks? Plus, the chick in my household didn't like it and the non-chick did. (What's the opposite of chick, btw?)

Re: Top 5 Movie To Suprise You In A Good Way

indieabby88 — Tue, 24 Jul 2007 22:18:26 GMT

Yeah, "Music and Lyrics" is a definite chick flick.

Re: Top 5 Movie To Suprise You In A Good Way

Risselada — Tue, 24 Jul 2007 17:51:16 GMT

tmoney:
Okay, when Hellboy came out, the critics actually liked it yet I still could not bring myself to see it. But with two semi recommendations, I may have to rent it.

It's seriously a real good time!

Re: Top 5 Movie To Suprise You In A Good Way

Risselada — Tue, 24 Jul 2007 17:50:38 GMT

I LOVE Henry Fool and Delicatessen. Looks like I'm going to have to check out Birthday Girl since you have it in a list with them. Although honestly I just glimpsed at the entry for Music and Lyrics and am probably still going to avoid that one.

Re: Top 5 Movie To Suprise You In A Good Way

tmoney — Tue, 24 Jul 2007 16:23:46 GMT

Okay, when Hellboy came out, the critics actually liked it yet I still could not bring myself to see it. But with two semi recommendations, I may have to rent it.

Re: Top 5 Movie To Suprise You In A Good Way

indieabby88 — Tue, 24 Jul 2007 04:37:56 GMT

Risselada:
Just a couple to pop into my head. Hellboy and Underworld. They both looked like that kind of movie that was really uninspired, horror action type thing. But for some reason I ended up watching both of them and enjoyed them more than I expected. Especially Hellboy which I think think is a better comic book movie of recent years than X-Men, or Batman, or Spider-Man, or any of all that.
Come and argue me.

I'm actually coming to your defense on this one...sort of. I do think "Batman Begins" was leagues better than "Hellboy," but then, "Batman" was a different sort of movie. I was also pleasantly surprised by "Hellboy." I watched it before I knew anything about Mike Mignola, the comic book's creator, and now, after having read some of his stuff and re-watched the movie, I think it really stuck to Mignola's offbeat style. It works. I also know a comic book inker who cites the movie as one of his favorites, and a great example of comic-to-film adaptation. That, for me, gives it pretty good status.

My four other pleasantly surprising movies:

2. Henry Fool- I didn't know much about Hal Hartley before watching this, and I didn't really know what I was in for. I figured I was going to get bored, and set out with middling-to-low expectations. I ended up totally enamored.

3. Delicatessen- I like Jeunet, but although his style is consistently great, his films are not. I wasn't a big fan of "A Very Long Engagement," thought it dragged. The premise for this movie seemed pretty weird, too: a post-apocalyptic future in which normal folks justify resorting to cannibalism. But I ended up really loving this one, too! I thought it was sweet, harrowing and with just the right amount of humor.

4. Birthday Girl- The first time I encountered this movie, I read the back of the box at the video store and thought "Hmm, this looks morally questionable." About a year later, I stumbled accross it on IFC while channel surfing, and realized that this was not the movie I'd thought it would be. The film, about a socially inept young man who gets a mail-order bride only to find himself the victim of a scam, is a pretty good story and really, really funny. My instincts that the movie would be "morally questionable" were very wrong.

5. Music and Lyrics- I know, I know...But I liked it! Every once in a while I enjoy a good romantic comedy, and this one definitely delivered the goods, even if it was a bit silly.

Re: Top 5 Movie To Suprise You In A Good Way

JimBell — Wed, 16 May 2007 19:59:48 GMT

1. The Princess Bride--My expectation: The promo line was "The world's longest kiss" and I was ready for something hoaky. Result: A brilliant entertaining movie which embodies Northrop Frye's concept of "a romance." Fantastic characters, a worthy quest, and weighty issues all told with suitable whimsy.

2. Stricty Ballroom--My expectation: Total boredom because I have zero interest in ballroom dancing. Result: The director, Baz Luhrman (see a previous post by someone regarding his Moulin Rouge), presents a story so focused and so compelling, both realistic and theatrical at the same time, that I watched it again as soon as it ended.

3. Who Killed the Electric Car? (documentary)--My expectation: Nothing--I did not even know if there was an issue worth addressing. Result: An affecting story of the many, many factors that killed the electric car experiment in California--a superb example of death by a thousand tiny cuts.

4. Casino Royale (2006)--My expectation: Warmed over James Bond. Becasue I'd just seen the poorly made original Goldfinger, my expectations were low. Result: A gripping adventure that worked on almost all levels. The romance could have been more substantial, but the panoramic and glitzy setting, Daniel Craig's intensity, the plot twists that kept me guessing--this will be a hard act to follow.

5. The Narrow Margin (1952)--My expectation: Another obscure and probably second-rate film noir with a great potential for boredom because the entire thing takes place on a Chicago-to-LA train. Result: A movie full of small touches that grabbed me: The way the head cop brushes cigar ashes from his partner's lapel and relights his cigar for him, the way the mobsters wife is a nice middle-class housewife with a core of courage, and the way the cinematography is classic film noir without being stereotypical.

Re: Top 5 Movie To Suprise You In A Good Way

Risselada — Wed, 02 May 2007 21:32:38 GMT

mattypro:
Now, Rizzo, about Bad Boys II. I have to say, I probably agree with you more than the things I wrote suggest. However, I don't think it is appropriate to denegrate a movie just because it doesn't live up to your hopes or expectations for it. The movie or movie making style just may not be for you. Also, I find a bit of comfort in the repetitious expolsions. It is reliable...you dont have to wonder if that car will eventually disolve into a rumbling ball of fire...you KNOW it will. Haha. And as far as humanity goes....I believe that the two bad boys themselves are narcotics cops. And drug dealers and pimps (other than Terrence Howard) are NOT humans...so killing them without abandon is NOT a problem. DING! Humanity back. Also, weren't they going to kill the bad guys to SAVE the sister of one of the bad boys and the girlfriend of another (all convieniently wrapped up in the same person on screen)?? That seems to show a bit of humanity and love.

Ok, I know the thrill of watching things blow up. I'm not baffled by that at all. I must say that they put a lot of people in danger. They blew up an entire shanty villiage of apprently innocent poverty stricken natives of Cuba!

Re: Top 5 Movie To Suprise You In A Good Way

mattypro — Wed, 02 May 2007 15:37:57 GMT

Risselada:
Well Matt, I actually usually find superheros to be pretty silly. So I don't get into the traditional ones very much. Especially the same ones over and over that everyone is obsessed over, which I think is pretty much the ones in the movies I had named. This Batman Begins movie was very dark, but I still find it pretty goofy. For instance, my all time favorite Batman is still Adam West because the show was basically doing a parody of the goofy but overly serious super hero premises. To me Hellboy brought out that kind of fun that the Adam West Batman did.

Rizzo...of course you like sillier stuff better. Of course. But I LOVE superheroes. LOVE 'EM. Like that show, Heroes....I eat that show up! Yeah it is overly dramatic..but...they are SAVING THE WORLD! Awesome.

Now, I am going to admit something to you. Something kind of personal: I wish I could fly. Also, I wish I was highly trained in martial arts. And, I wish that if people were to shoot bullets at me, they would bounce off harmlessly. Finally, being able to breath under water would be sweet too.

Unfortunately (or perhaps fortunately) these things are never going to be the case about me. So, I can watch the magic on the big screen. And I can play characters in games that live on and on and know how to use swords and stuff effectively. And I can dream about it. And that just may be where our tastes differ...which is fine.

Risselada:

Boy Matt, I'm going to have to inquire about this one [Bad Boys II]. I've never seen the original Badboys, but unfortunately for some horrible strange reasons I've actually seen Badboys II twice. I guess I can't just buy into the, lets blow up everything in sight for no reason idea. There was absolutely no regard for any kind of humanity in this movie. And did a movie like this really have to be 147 minutes long??

Ok, let me know about that.

Now, Rizzo, about Bad Boys II. I have to say, I probably agree with you more than the things I wrote suggest. However, I don't think it is appropriate to denegrate a movie just because it doesn't live up to your hopes or expectations for it. The movie or movie making style just may not be for you. Also, I find a bit of comfort in the repetitious expolsions. It is reliable...you dont have to wonder if that car will eventually disolve into a rumbling ball of fire...you KNOW it will. Haha. And as far as humanity goes....I believe that the two bad boys themselves are narcotics cops. And drug dealers and pimps (other than Terrence Howard) are NOT humans...so killing them without abandon is NOT a problem. DING! Humanity back. Also, weren't they going to kill the bad guys to SAVE the sister of one of the bad boys and the girlfriend of another (all convieniently wrapped up in the same person on screen)?? That seems to show a bit of humanity and love.

Now, I am writing this with a bit of a grin on my face because I know it doesn't really equate to good movie making...but still, I WAS surprised that I enjoyed them as much as I did. And I kinda like blow-em-up rock-em-sock-em movies. I think another example of this type of movie that is fun and funny is Rush Hour which Porcupine mentioned as well. In fact, a third example of a well made Hollywood action movie is the new movie of Miami Vice...that was a fun ride to be on as well. Lotsa splosions and fire. NICE.

Finally, Iben...Waking Ned Divine is a great and quirky movie. Also I liked the "claw my eyes out line." You are funny!

Mattypooooo

Re: Top 5 Movie To Suprise You In A Good Way

lbenschwartz — Wed, 02 May 2007 01:52:57 GMT

Amen on your comments on Batman Begins Mattypro. Nolan handles the material perfectly, balancing some dark realism with comic book thrills. It's a Batman movie all us Batman fans hoped would be made. And what else can be said about Christian Bale as Batman - home run. Have you seen the much overpraise Tim Burton version recently. I thought it was it was a mess the first time I saw it, and it just gets sillier with every viewing. It's Batman, not Joker.

1. Clerks 2. Given that I hadn't liked a Kevin Smith movie since Mallrats, I was blown away by how funny and affecting this movie is. Recasting these two unknown actors, ten years later, shouldn't work - but it does.

2. Waking Ned Devine. The only movie in which the combination of a quaint Irish village and cute old people doesn't make me want to claw my eyes out.

3. The Rock. Three things that are 9 times out 10 horrible. Michael Bay movies, Nick Cage movies made after 1990, Sean Connery movies made after 1987. There's an exception for everything. This is a very entertaining movie.

4. Pursuit of Happyness. Why is this movie good? I have no idea.

5. Moulin Rouge - The first fifteen minutes are among the most thrilling in movies. And I don't even really like musicals

Re: Top 5 Movie To Suprise You In A Good Way

porcupine — Tue, 01 May 2007 20:17:52 GMT

MattyPro, I agree about Hitch, it shouldn't have been good, but it's surprising watchable and entertaining.

So here's my list (not including Hitch)

1. Big Trouble in Little China. Hilarious! i thought i would only laugh at it, which i did, but i also laughed with it.

2. Pan's Labrynth. I saw this one a few months before its wide release at the Denver Film Fest. they were doing a series of midnight showings, mostly horror. all i knew about it was an image i saw in the program of the demonic-looking pan. i was expecting a slasher, what i got was amazing.

3. Smiley Face. i'm not a stoner, nor am i an afficianado of the stoner film genre, but this was hilarious. go see it.

4. The Fog of War. i thought, ok, i might get bored, but i need to watch this film and be educated, it will make me a better person. wow was i wrong. educated, yes, but i was also on the edge of my seat.

5. Rush Hour. another that may be easy to pick apart, but you have to much fun watching it to dwell on its faults.

Re: Top 5 Movie To Suprise You In A Good Way

ben_ — Sun, 29 Apr 2007 18:56:14 GMT

Something About Mary - had no idea what it was about when i went to see it with a large group (mainly family) and we all laughed so hard we were sliding off our seats and definitely in tears - hadn't laughed like that in a long time.
Kung-Fu Hustle - went to see it with a movie partner to reciprocate his accompanying me to movies i like - ended up loving the movie and laughing just as heartily as i did when i saw #1.
Step-Up - went just because i had nothing better to do and was greatly entertained.
V for Vendetta
Apocalypto - the trailer made me think it was going to be a documentary sort of thing - but i went out of boredom and mel surprised me - in a good way. :)

All time greatest surprise was Gladiator though.... i wanted to see it because of the traliers and surprise surprise - it was everything i'd have hoped for and more.

Re: Top 5 Movie To Suprise You In A Good Way

Risselada — Fri, 27 Apr 2007 19:09:52 GMT

mattypro:
Seriously...Hellboy? Better than Batman?? You must be joking. Unfortunately, you are normally funny...so I cant say this was a very successful joke. Haha.
Dude, Hellboy was ok...but if you are talking about comic book movies of "recent years" then you are reffering to Batman Begins which is a fantastic movie. And most certainly superior to Hellboy. Even if you are refering to the original Batman movie with Michael Keaton, I can't really believe that you think Hellboy is better.
Sure sure...these are supposed to be movies that surprised you in a good way, so it is FINE that you have Hellboy on your list...but saying it is better than the most recent Batman movie is silly.

Well Matt, I actually usually find superheros to be pretty silly. So I don't get into the traditional ones very much. Especially the same ones over and over that everyone is obsessed over, which I think is pretty much the ones in the movies I had named. This Batman Begins movie was very dark, but I still find it pretty goofy. For instance, my all time favorite Batman is still Adam West because the show was basically doing a parody of the goofy but overly serious super hero premises. To me Hellboy brought out that kind of fun that the Adam West Batman did.

mattypro:
Badboys & Badboys II: these sorta go together cause they should both be terrible...and maybe these really belong in the Guilty Pleasure Top 5, but all in all, I guess it is important to remember that Will Smith can be a very good actor, and Martin Lawrence can be a very funny comedian. These movies were well made Holywood comedy-action flicks. .

Boy Matt, I'm going to have to inquire about this one. I've never seen the original Badboys, but unfortunately for some horrible strange reasons I've actually seen Badboys II twice. I guess I can't just buy into the, lets blow up everything in sight for no reason idea. There was absolutely no regard for any kind of humanity in this movie. And did a movie like this really have to be 147 minutes long??

Ok, let me know about that.

Re: Top 5 Movie To Suprise You In A Good Way

mattypro — Fri, 27 Apr 2007 16:17:15 GMT

Risselada:

Especially Hellboy which I think think is a better comic book movie of recent years than X-Men, or Batman, or Spider-Man, or any of all that.

Come and argue me.

Well...to quote some bad hair band (whose name escapes me right now) "Here I am! Rock me like a Hurricane..." Which is what I am about to do to you Rizzo....you wack head.

Seriously...Hellboy? Better than Batman?? You must be joking. Unfortunately, you are normally funny...so I cant say this was a very successful joke. Haha.

Dude, Hellboy was ok...but if you are talking about comic book movies of "recent years" then you are reffering to Batman Begins which is a fantastic movie. And most certainly superior to Hellboy. Even if you are refering to the original Batman movie with Michael Keaton, I can't really believe that you think Hellboy is better.

Sure sure...these are supposed to be movies that surprised you in a good way, so it is FINE that you have Hellboy on your list...but saying it is better than the most recent Batman movie is silly.

Here is my list:

Hitch: after I got done watching this movie, i decided I didnt like it....but after thinking about it, i realized that I was just responding to the movie how I thought I should...not how I actually felt. It was funny, charming, and yes, predictable. But that can be nice sometimes too. NOT groundbreaking by anymeans...but decent.

Lords of Dogtown: After seeing Stacy Peralta's documentary Dogtown and Z-boys (which I recomend sooooo highly) I was sure this movie would suck because it wasn't the real thing and would be holywoodized to crap. But, I got a free pass and went to see it anyway. This was the movie where I started to feel diferently about Heath Ledger. He was good and convincing, and I sorta liked him...He then decided to become one of the finest young actors in the biz with Brokeback Mt. Who knew??

The Butterfly Effect: yeah yeah...this one was mentioned already. But it really deserves a second mention. It was good. And there is the distinct possibility that I would have only thought it was mediocre if I hadn't been so sure it would suck to begin with...but who is to know. Ashton...you punk'd me...sorta.

Badboys & Badboys II: these sorta go together cause they should both be terrible...and maybe these really belong in the Guilty Pleasure Top 5, but all in all, I guess it is important to remember that Will Smith can be a very good actor, and Martin Lawrence can be a very funny comedian. These movies were well made Holywood comedy-action flicks.

That is all I have for now.

Re: Top 5 Movie To Suprise You In A Good Way

Risselada — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 19:10:23 GMT

Just a couple to pop into my head. Hellboy and Underworld. They both looked like that kind of movie that was really uninspired, horror action type thing. But for some reason I ended up watching both of them and enjoyed them more than I expected. Especially Hellboy which I think think is a better comic book movie of recent years than X-Men, or Batman, or Spider-Man, or any of all that.

Come and argue me.

Re: Top 5 Movie To Suprise You In A Good Way

AndyLaBryn — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 14:35:00 GMT

I did say why they suprised me.

I did not say that they had to be great movies or horrible movies, or so thought to be great or horrible by a majority of people.

Seeing as how I was misinformed or ignorant to these movies before I watched them, I was suprised in a good way afterward.

Re: Top 5 Movie To Suprise You In A Good Way

TheSchrizz — Sun, 11 Feb 2007 19:18:29 GMT

Aside from the Butterfly Effect, that list is not one that should be known as suprising. First off, Bill Murray was nominated for Best Actor. The only real suprise about that film is that it was directed by the horrible actress now turned great director, Ms. Coppola. This is one of my favorite movies of all time. It does have an effect on you at the end. One of the only movies that makes you truly feel empty inside.

As for the other films, you have a Kubrick Movie in there and you also have a Wes Anderson film in that top 5. These are two of the Greatest (past and present) directors in cinema. How is there any suprise in that???? If it was bad, then that would make the list...Top 5 movies that should have been good...but were not....? That would be interesting.

My Top 5 suprising Movies

The Descent.
Love Actually
Shaun of the Dead
The Rules of Attraction
Milo and Otis

Re: Top 5 Movie To Suprise You In A Good Way

tmoney — Sat, 10 Feb 2007 19:58:15 GMT

1. The New World - I was not expecting to enjoy a Pocahontas film with Collin Farel and Christian Bale but it is now one of my favorite films.

2. Panic Room - I though it was very Hitchcockian, in that it was a classic thriller. No more, no less. With an ultra simple concept, it was kind of a throwback to classic thrillers. I wouldn't say a great film, but I was pleasantly suprised.

3. Dogville - Turned it off after 20 minutes about a year and a half ago. Watched it again last week and really enjoyed it.

4. The Fountain - I'm not into sci-fi, but I did like this film.

5. Rocky Balboa - I used to love the films when I was a kid, but I'm not a kid anymore. Well I saw this film and you know what? I still love Rocky.

Top 5 Movie To Suprise You In A Good Way

AndyLaBryn — Thu, 28 Dec 2006 15:39:16 GMT

Life Aquatic - Much better than I really expected. I guess it was the advertising for the film that lead me to believe it would be something different.

Butterfly Effect - I automatically put anything with Ashton Kutcher into the date movie category. And I Hate Date Movies (scream,iknowwhatyoudid,10thingsIhate...etc.)

Dr.Strangelove - mainly because of my ignorance. I didn't witness the brilliance until this year unfortunately. Now I need to see ALL of Peter Sellers works.

Stranger Than Fiction - I got free tickets and was astounded by Dustin Hoffman. Farrel did a damn fine job himself, but he played a role that I could have filled. I don't necessarilly respect the newly popular, comedic to dramatic crossover.

Lost In Translation - The most memorable and well played comedic to dramatic crossover. Bill Murray did the best at this in my opinion. Plus it was my formal introduction to sultry Scarlet Johansson. I was actually pissed at Giovani Ribisi for being such a jerk to a girl like her. Talk about get wrapped up in a movie. Actually cried at the end of this the first time.

Exceeding the 5 list and saying

7 Years In Tibet - Something about this movie that I absolutely love. Maybe its that sexy Brad Pitt....probably just my fascination with travelling abroad. Can watch this over and over.