Underrated movies...

[Vincenzo_Beretta]

A movie I really liked is "The Messenger: the Story of Joan of Arc", by Luc Besson. While the movie had ***nothing*** to do with the real Joan (but many movies about La Pucelle have the same problem) I found it a fascinating character study. I was on the verge of writing a paper about it, comparing Milla Jovovich character with (I kid thee not) Roy Neary in "Close Encounters of the Third Kind". Lot of similar symbolism between the two movies (lights in a black, cloudy sky as a manifestation of "something beyond" whose appearance drives someone to a "quest" beyond what is sane or understandable), and both could be interpreted, among other things, as a metaphor of the artistic drive.

Another movie widely panned but loved by me is "Meet Joe Black". Actually, by talking about it over the years I met a lot of people that either love it or find it terminally boring and silly. But personally, as a fan of "The Sandman" comics by Neil Gaiman, I found it a very good cinematic version of their unique atmospheres, and the slow pace, to me, is just right. Beside, the soundtrack is fantastic.

And of course there is "The Thin Red Line". I think that many felt disappointed because they expected "Saving Private Ryan" in the Pacific, or something akin - and not a movie about the nature of human existence that starts as a reflection of the nature of war and then goes (a lot) beyond. Maybe I was lucky because I knew what I was going to see. In all fairness, however, some people who "got" the spiritual nature of the movie find it banal and shallow anyway. Hans Zimmer score is another terrific one, and "Journey to the Line" is one of my favourite musical pieces ever.

"Big Trouble in Little China" is a cult hit over here, too [:)] However, it *was* an hit in Italy when it come out back in 1986, and one of the most often quoted movies when I was in high-school along with "Young Frankenstein" and "Ghostbusters". I was very susprised to discover, some years later, that in the USA it was considered by many a disappointment.

Lastly, dunno if it counts, but I liked "Kill Bill Vol. 2" better than the first part, while most people does seem to like the first part more. True, there was more action in part one, but, to me, action without a context is meaningless, and Vol.2 gave all the context.

[SuluSea]

ORIGINAL: Vincenzo Beretta

And of course there is "The Thin Red Line". I think that many felt disappointed because they expected "Saving Private Ryan" in the Pacific, or something akin - and not a movie about the nature of human existence that starts as a reflection of the nature of war and then goes (a lot) beyond. Maybe I was lucky because I knew what I was going to see.

Excellent movie if you ask me.

I watched The Hill with Sean Connery last month on demand and thought it was a quality flick.

The Hill

It's coming on TCM at the end of the month fwiw

29 Monday

1:15 PM Hill, The (1965)
Prisoners fight to survive the grueling conditions in a North African military stockade. Cast: Sean Connery, Harry Andrews, Michael Redgrave. Dir: Sidney Lumet. BW-123 mins, TV-14, CC, Letterbox Format

[JWW]

Hamburger Hill

[Jevhaddah_Slitherine]

By Dawn's Early Light

Cheers

Jev

[gunny]

Screamers: cool sci fi move with evolving robots vs NEB soldiers. Considering it was made on a 6 mil dollar budget pretty good. 
 
The Beast: soviet tank crew movie mentioned in other threads
 
Silent Hill: never heard of the video game so I wasn't tainted when I saw it and found it freaky.
 
Bravo Two Zero: another sean bean movie, other than special order dvd faded to obscurity

[decaro]

"Attack," based on the play "Fragile Fox," starring the familiar faces of Jack Palance, Eddie Albert, Lee Marvin, Robert Strauss, Richard Jaeckel, and Buddy Ebsen.

As Lt Costa, Palance overacts when he threatens CO Eddie Albert when he leads a squad to set-up an OP:

"Listen to me, Cooney! If you put me and my men in a wringer - -if you send us out there and let us hang - -I swear, I swear by all that's holy, I'll come back. I'll come back and take this grenade and shove it down your throat and pull the pin!"

And Palance came back!

It was a hard-hitting film w/an anti-war theme, not surprisngly directed by Robert Aldrich (M.A.S.H.)

[Titanwarrior89]

How could I forget that one. That was a good movie. Infact I bought that one.[X(]

ORIGINAL: Jevhaddah

By Dawn's Early Light

Cheers

Jev

[E]

ORIGINAL: Joe D.

"Attack," based on the play "Fragile Fox," starring the familiar faces of Jack Palance, Eddie Albert, Lee Marvin, Robert Strauss, Richard Jaeckel, and Buddy Ebsen.

That was a good movie. I Didn't know it was underrated. It fit in perfectly for my withdrawal symptoms when I finished re-watching all 5 seasons of "Combat!"

"That's it! This is absolutely my last war!" - Kirby

[JRodda]

Anyone seen the six-hour Russian version of War and Peace?  OMG, it is fantastic!  Not only is the 1805 Danube Campaign covered, but most of Part Three is devoted to the great battle of Borodino.  In fact, it is my understanding that nearly 100,000 Russian troops were used to stage it.  Also, I don't think I've ever seen a movie that followed a great work of literature quite as closely as this movie did.  As epic films go, few movies can touch it.  You military history buffs out there who've not yet seen this great film owe it to yourselves to do so at the earliest opportunity.     

[SS Hauptsturmfuhrer]

ORIGINAL: JRodda

Anyone seen the six-hour Russian version of War and Peace?  OMG, it is fantastic!  Not only is the 1805 Danube Campaign covered, but most of Part Three is devoted to the great battle of Borodino.  In fact, it is my understanding that nearly 100,000 Russian troops were used to stage it.  Also, I don't think I've ever seen a movie that followed a great work of literature quite as closely as this movie did.  As epic films go, few movies can touch it.  You military history buffs out there who've not yet seen this great film owe it to yourselves to do so at the earliest opportunity.     

Is it in English? Is it a TV program?

[JRodda]

I've seen two versions.  One that was dubbed in English, and another in the original Russian with English subtitles.  I know many people tend to be critical of movie dubbing, but I didn't mind it at all.  Here's the Wikipedia write up on it:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_and_Pe ... ilm).  Anyway, I do not think you will be disappointed in this remarkable film.  [&o]

Cheers!    

[decaro]

ORIGINAL: E

That was a good movie. I Didn't know it was underrated. It fit in perfectly for my withdrawal symptoms when I finished re-watching all 5 seasons of "Combat!"

"That's it! This is absolutely my last war!" - Kirby

When the US Army realized "Attack" had a strong anti-war theme, it pulled-out of any further support for the film; I haven't seen this flic on TV, or anywhere else for years.

Re Combat: Kirby, Cage, Little John, Doc and Sgt. Saunders all bring back memories, but not all of them good.
Combat had the same problems early Westerns did; a GI shoots one shot, and 2 or more Germans would drop!

It was ironic that Viv Morrow lived thru 5 seasons of WW II, only to die in "Vietnam".

[Arsan]

ORIGINAL: JRodda

Anyone seen the six-hour Russian version of War and Peace?  OMG, it is fantastic!  Not only is the 1805 Danube Campaign covered, but most of Part Three is devoted to the great battle of Borodino.  In fact, it is my understanding that nearly 100,000 Russian troops were used to stage it.  Also, I don't think I've ever seen a movie that followed a great work of literature quite as closely as this movie did.  As epic films go, few movies can touch it.  You military history buffs out there who've not yet seen this great film owe it to yourselves to do so at the earliest opportunity.     

Yes i got it. Great, biiiig and loooong battles scenes!! [&o]
Its form the guy who made the excellent Waterloo movie. 2 hours of Napoleonic grand scale battle! [X(][&o]

[JRodda]

Concerning 'Attack', I'd always heard about this film and finally got to see it from Netflix last year.  I'm sorry to say though that although it was a good movie, I didn't think it was a great one.  I gave it three stars of five in the Netflix rating system.  I agree that the confrontations between Jack Palance and his commander Eddie Albert were good and more than a little controversial.  However, Stanley Kubrick took some of the same ideas from 'Attack' and used them in his 'Paths of Glory' (released about a year after 'Attack'), and I think the Kubrick film was much better in every way (screenplay, acting, and production values).  Still in all, for those of you who've not seen 'Attack', it is work a look.  My two cents.   

[pasternakski]

ORIGINAL: JRodda

Concerning 'Attack', I'd always heard about this film and finally got to see it from Netflix last year.  I'm sorry to say though that although it was a good movie, I didn't think it was a great one.  I gave it three stars of five in the Netflix rating system.  I agree that the confrontations between Jack Palance and his commander Eddie Albert were good and more than a little controversial.  However, Stanley Kubrick took some of the same ideas from 'Attack' and used them in his 'Paths of Glory' (released about a year after 'Attack'), and I think the Kubrick film was much better in every way (screenplay, acting, and production values).  Still in all, for those of you who've not seen 'Attack', it is work a look.  My two cents.   

Yes, sir. I completely agree, except that Palance was lousy in this film (and I am a Palance fan), Albert was lousy in this film (and I am not an Albert fan), and my admiration for what Kubrick did with "Paths of Glory" stands in the way of my giving an objective evaluation to anything even remotely resembling it in its own time.

Besides - Jack Palance overact? He was at his best when he overacted., and he knew it. I don't think ole Jack knew anything other than overacting. Loved him in "Shane," of course.

[JRodda]

Yes, I agree totally Pasternakski.  Paths of Glory was a totally riveting film. I remember it left me speechless the first time I saw it.  Possibly one of the most important films ever made.  FYI, I'm a huge Kubrick fan, and consider him the greatest film director of all time. 

General Mireau:  "That's the trouble with these desk-bound officers.  The only thing they have to fight is cockroaches crawling up their pants legs."

Major Dax:  "Well general, given the choice between cockroaches and Mausers, I'll take the roach every time." 

[&o]  

[pasternakski]

ORIGINAL: JRodda
I'm a huge Kubrick fan, and consider him the greatest film director of all time. 

Right up there, bro. One of the things I admire about Kubrick is that he could take such diverse material and do such great things with it while keeping it within its own context. Could another director have made movies so diverse in their subject and period as "Barry Lyndon," "A Clockwork Orange," and "Full Metal Jacket" (just as three examples) so brilliantly?

Spielberg? Lucas? Sorry, you got some kinda fun stuff, but not the likes of Stanley's stuff. Stone? Please. Coppola? You got a nice little niche, not more. Scorsese? de Palma? Okay. I like yez where ya iz, but not out here in "greatness" territory.

I do have a fondness for Peckinpah that is not often shared...

[Arsan]

I do have a fondness for Peckinpah that is not often shared...

Count me in! [&o] Sam is my favorite director.
Maybe he's not the best but he's number one for me![:)]

[pasternakski]

ORIGINAL: Arsan

I do have a fondness for Peckinpah that is not often shared...

Count me in! [&o] Sam is my favorite director.
Maybe he's not the best but he's number one for me![:)]

Ah! Linda Mexico!

I don't see anything so linda about it.

...

Keep the change, Bob...

...

What's your name?

Alias.

Alias what?

Alias ... whatever you want.

[JRodda]

I love Peckinpah's 'Cross of Iron'.  Definitely one of the best, most underrated WW2 films.  I felt like I was really watching the Eastern front; the battle scenes were astounding!  Can you say steel breeze??  Also one of James Coburn's greatest performances.  In fact the film had a great cast all the way around, including Maximillian Schell, David Warner, and James Mason, and Austrian actress Senta Berger was so hot she'd set the next galaxy on fire!!!  [;)]

I also have 'The Wild Bunch' in my Netflix queue.  Didn't really care for this one when I saw it as a kid, so I'm giving it another try.