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Reader comments
jenniferMar 25, 2004 at 4:12PM
I love that that site's URL is www.chud.com. I wonder whether it's an allusion to this movie?
gwintMar 25, 2004 at 4:30PM
He's definitely got some underrated films in there but he's also picked some truly terrible films. I'll mention just one: "Night Falls on Manahttan" is just a pure stinker. It has a bunch of great actors forced to recite terribly clichéd dialog, move around a nonsensical plot, and Andy Garcia at his most dull and charisma-less.
dowingbaMar 25, 2004 at 6:21PM
A Simple Plan was crappy. The book was awesome though; I read it in one sitting.
Chester PhillipsMar 25, 2004 at 7:50PM
OH MY GOD POST MORE ABOUT YOUR DOORMAT! I AM SO EXCITED TO READ ABOUT DOORMATS AND DOORMAT RELATED ISSUES!
Robert Josiah BingamanMar 25, 2004 at 9:35PM
gwint - you're right, movies like the peacemaker and she's the one belong elsewhere, but i love the idea of such a list. these are basically the type of movies we all have a long list of - movies we wouldn't be caught in most conversations defending, but we love to watch when we're flipping channels, and will always hold a special place for. chester, you make me laugh abruptly.
barnesMar 25, 2004 at 10:24PM
There are quite a few films listed in there that are simply terrible, but the thing I find really interesting is how many of those films were mass-market targeted but turned into flops because they were actually bad in a really meaningful way. I read through the list thinking "I remember how that movie was pitched, I remember how different it was from the marketing, and I remember how bad it was in reality." It feels like historical revisionism.
Also, with regard to the doormat: you could actually buy a new doormat, or clean the one you have. The super may actually have something better to do.
jkottkeMar 25, 2004 at 11:18PM
We've veered off course here, but we can't disappoint all the doormat fans out there.
You could actually buy a new doormat, or clean the one you have. The super may actually have something better to do.
It's not my doormat, it's the building's. And something better to do? He's the super....it's part of his fucking job to keep the building clean.
omitMar 26, 2004 at 12:17AM
What about cheese sandwiches?
donthMar 26, 2004 at 2:24AM
Of the ones I've seen:
very good: gremlins 2, hudsucker proxy (2nd best coen bros. movie), Jesus' Son, 25th Hour, Ed Wood, Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey (v. good choice), Top Secret, Contact, Gattaca.
ok: antz, atlantis, james and the giant peach, Equilibrium, Stir of Echoes, Iron Giant, l.a. story, rounders, casino, gods & monsters, winslow boy, A Simple Plan.
bad: cable guy, temple of doom, money pit.
"Society" looks interesting, I might rent it.
userMar 26, 2004 at 3:37AM
MT is my doormat.
I sympathise.
AdrianRMar 26, 2004 at 8:17AM
Yes, there are some very very good choices in this list:
I'd have to say my favourite calls were:
1) 25th Hour
2) Contact
3) And The Band Played On
4) Southern Comfort
5) Mosquito Coast
Personally, the most underated movies that aren't on this list are:
1) The Last Temptation of Christ
2) The Thing
3) You Can Count On Me
4) Donnie Darko
5) Dazed and Confused
6) Moving
Steve S.Mar 26, 2004 at 8:57AM
The Iron Giant was amazing and Warner Brother's didn't promote it all. It's no wonder Brad Bird got fed up and decided to make his next movie for Pixar: The Incredibles.
HomerMar 26, 2004 at 9:07AM
Don't you hate pants?
Larry DavidMar 26, 2004 at 9:09AM
I love the doormat thing. I'm going to use it.
PierceMar 26, 2004 at 9:25AM
Adrian, Donnie Darko isn't underrated. No one will shut up about it, good as it was. Neither is the Thing really. Underrated I mean.
AdrianRMar 26, 2004 at 9:36AM
Pierce, actually I do stand corrected on your points re: Donnie Darko, even though few people have heard of the movie when I mention it, but I understand it's cult following. I still feel the The Thing generally is underrated compared to other movie's in it's genre.
Another movie out there that I forgot to mention is Cube.
PierceMar 26, 2004 at 9:45AM
I'd agree with you on Cube.
I'd also add Mallrats, Igby Goes Down and Twelve Monkeys to the list. I'm sure there's many that would disagree with me there.
Of course the whole underrated/overrated thing is subjective though. It differs from country to country and from group to group. I mean, most of my friends have seen Donnie Darko. It's certainly not underrated among people I know. But of course it could be in other circles.
AdrianRMar 26, 2004 at 9:49AM
Twelve Monkeys - great choice! Forgot about that one.
TomasMar 26, 2004 at 9:54AM
I'm of the opinion that Equilibrium deserves a lot less love.
PierceMar 26, 2004 at 10:15AM
Much like White Ninja's dog.
nkwMar 26, 2004 at 10:39AM
I've seen 44 of the 100- what does this say about me? I am impressed at how many screencaps this guy took. A lot of work went into this. My fave from the list (in no order): Contact, The Ref, Top Secret!, Hudsucker Proxy, Miami Blues, The Money Pit.
nkwMar 26, 2004 at 10:39AM
I've seen 44 of the 100- what does this say about me? I am impressed at how many screencaps this guy took. A lot of work went into this. My fave from the list (in no order): Contact, The Ref, Top Secret!, Hudsucker Proxy, Miami Blues, The Money Pit.
Taylor GarriesMar 26, 2004 at 11:24AM
I was disappointed that I didn't see "The Royal Tenenbaums" on the list.
SnatchMar 26, 2004 at 11:34AM
Have to agree on The Last Temptation of Christ - definitely needs love.
davidMar 26, 2004 at 1:02PM
Regarding the doormat, all I have to say is that Rebecky would have included a picture. But maybe Jason doesn't have a camera...
Chester PhillipsMar 26, 2004 at 1:17PM
He could have used his awesome T610 camera phone that he blogged about just a few weeks ago. DUH! Keep up on your Kottke gadget knowledge!
drewMar 26, 2004 at 3:27PM
Dude, I want to know more about your doormat. Please, give me the good stuff!
Chuck D.Mar 26, 2004 at 5:09PM
You should start a hunger strike until the doormat is replaced. You should not be forced to live in a place that stands for dirty doormats!!!
FIGHT THE POWER!
barnesMar 26, 2004 at 6:45PM
I suspect that all of this doormat talk is being frowned upon by the higher-ups.
jjgMar 26, 2004 at 7:41PM
Seems to me there are two sets of criteria that could be applied here:
1. Movies that are better than most people think they are, such as Gremlins 2. The term I'd use for these is "underrated".
2. Good movies that most people have not heard of, such as Rounders. The term I'd use for these is "overlooked".
But then there are a bunch of movies that don't fit in either category. Any movie that gets the level of attention that Casino or Contact got upon release can't possibly be considered "overlooked". And any movie that has the kind of cult following that The Hudsucker Proxy or The Iron Giant have can't possibly be considered "underrated".
Maybe the piece should have been called "Good Movies I Felt Like Writing About".
Robert J. BingamanMar 29, 2004 at 12:54AM
jig -
Actually I believe the central criterea to the list was "movies that deserve more love". This is only the title of the list though, I could be completely wrong. So, that said, although there are plenty of the movies on the list that I don't like, or may believe have enough attention - its pretty silly for me to sit around articulating exactly why this list is not correct - since it isn't my list, and afterall, its just a list...about movies that those two guys think 'deserve more love'. With that in mind - I think all the movies mentioned probably fit into that category.
JeremiahMar 29, 2004 at 12:42PM
I agree with many of the selections on the list (I actually looked for Gattaca and The Edge--heh), but I'm sorry--I think The Cable Guy was utterly horrible. That was, for me, the worst selection on here. If anything, far from being more loved, The Cable Guy should be kicked out on the streets, get addicted to crack, and end up in a dumpster in some forgotten alley.
Oh, and speak of the devil, I got a new doormat the other day! Heh.
StephenApr 04, 2004 at 7:37PM
73. Beautiful Girls - "... a nice little cult film that most of the guys we know hold very dearly."
So true.
This thread is closed to new comments. Thanks to everyone who responded.