View Full Version : Films that exceeded your expectations
dirtyred619
20-09-12, 03:32 PM
As per my other thread but for films you wasn't expecting much from, watched by chance, was a film you didn't fancy, was an unknown or lesser marketed film or a type of film you wouldn't normally watch that then turned out to be ace.
There's loads for me but a film thats near the top of my list is Saw (and to a lesser extent all the sequels). I borrowed it in a big bundle of copied DVD's ages ago and thought it would be a typical overhyped horror film but thought it was very well done, quite different but with a pleasing amount of gore!
widepants
20-09-12, 03:35 PM
shawshank, can alwys watch it again
Luckypants
20-09-12, 03:36 PM
We Were Soldiers. Great film about Vietnam war. Wasn't expecting much when it rocked up on Sky, especially as Mel Gibson was in the lead role. Great movie.
Worlds fastest Indian
Shawshank Redemption
Monsters Inc
Paul the 6th
20-09-12, 03:57 PM
TT Closer to the edge....
All I knew about the TT was that it was some big race on the isle of man in summer each year and a lot of people seemed to like it. Watched it on boxing day just gone - since then I've watched it about 25 times, and this is coming from me who has such a short attention span for films I usually last about 30 mins before deciding I've got more important stuff to be getting on with.
The one word which sums it up: Unbelievable..
+1 to the Shawshank Redemption, and one I was pleasantly surprised to enjoy so much was The Kings Speech, didn't do anything for me when I read about it.
SENNA. I thought it would be a good idea but a feature length docu might get a tad boring, it didn't. Really good watch.
Mr Speirs
20-09-12, 05:04 PM
Momento
Pirates of the Carribean (1st one)
Taken
Geodude
20-09-12, 05:05 PM
Starship Troopers :) love it xGx
Specialone
20-09-12, 05:10 PM
Starship troopers is ace.
As mr Speirs said, taken, another ace film.
Knowing, nick cage film (who I don't like but it's a good film)
Green mile
The departed, de caprio
Hangover part 2
Traders
20-09-12, 05:16 PM
Slumdog millionaire... Danny Boyle at his best.
dirtyred619
20-09-12, 05:21 PM
Yeah +1 for Taken and Slumdog. Wasn't Taken a straight to DVD Blockbuster special aswell? Just hope the second one is as good.
Starship Troopers :) love it xGx
"I need a corporal. You're it, until you're dead or I find someone better!"
Only problem with Taken now is that I suspect the sequel will end up on the overhyped letdowns list...
Quiff Wichard
20-09-12, 05:50 PM
The condemned
Was 99p on google play so gave it a chance ..
Brilliant .... truly . Not cos was 99p. .. was a good film . Mandy enjoyed it too .
dirtyred619
20-09-12, 05:50 PM
Only problem with Taken now is that I suspect the sequel will end up on the overhyped letdowns list...
Yeah that's my fear too, but I'll take the risk and watch it though.
Amadeus
20-09-12, 06:17 PM
In Bruges
Princess bride
Face/off
the secret window.
the others.
shutter island
hugo
daveyrach
20-09-12, 06:55 PM
+1 for Hugo
I really liked John Carter and Battleship.
Sent from my Samsung Galaxy S2 using Tapatalk 2
Another one for Taken. Loved it.
Dusk 'til Dawn; remember watching it at the cinema and not knowing anything about the plot.
Severance; Was up late one night and it came on. A little known film, small budget, Danny Dyer, not a great recipe but it was good. Enough gore and laughs balance, and Laura Harris is lovely :smt060
Paul the 6th
20-09-12, 09:42 PM
http://pumabydesign001.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/lmao-data-star-trek-generations.jpg
Dave-the-rave
21-09-12, 08:21 AM
The Sweeney. A must see for Ray Winston fans.
Great British crime caper.
...
Dusk 'til Dawn; remember watching it at the cinema and not knowing anything about the plot.
...
Another one for Dusk til Dawn. It came on TV & nothing else was on. Thought it was just gonna be another dull 'road-trip' type film. Brilliant.
Amadeus
21-09-12, 09:28 AM
Ooh, just remembered, Reservoir dogs. Was amazed. Still incredibly cool.
ClunkintheUK
21-09-12, 10:52 AM
Limitless. Really wasn't taken with the idea, but went to go see it in the cinima as a mate wanted to go see it. Really enjoyed it.
Paul Blart: Mall Cop. Was on a flight, I usually see the films I wouldn't pay to see. But this honestly made me laugh out loud a couple of times. It is utterly purile though.
daveyrach
21-09-12, 10:56 AM
Limitless. Really wasn't taken with the idea, but went to go see it in the cinima as a mate wanted to go see it. Really enjoyed it.
Paul Blart: Mall Cop. Was on a flight, I usually see the films I wouldn't pay to see. But this honestly made me laugh out loud a couple of times. It is utterly purile though.
+1 for Limitless
keith_d
21-09-12, 11:17 AM
The girl with the dragon tattoo.
I went to see it with friends and after all the hype I was expecting the usual holywood rubbish. But it was actually pretty good.
Wideboy
21-09-12, 12:34 PM
Lawless, probably one of the best films I've seen in a very long time, I'm not a tom hardy fan but I thought he acted really well in it.
Yes I know its highly padded out and not 100% a true story but it was still good none the less
Amadeus
21-09-12, 12:45 PM
I'm not a tom hardy fan
have you seen Bronson? If not, give that a go - it might convert you
tigersaw
21-09-12, 12:48 PM
leaving las vegas
Cymraeg_Atodeg
21-09-12, 12:59 PM
Funny there is a thread like this going on. I am a massive Nightmare Before Christmas fan. The film Coraline, in my opinion, was advertised to be something of the same ilk, so, never really watched it as every film I have watched that is like NMBC has been a huge let down, but, watched it last night on Film 4 and thought it was a really good film, even thinking about buying it on DVD to watch again at my leisure.
Wideboy
21-09-12, 01:13 PM
have you seen Bronson? If not, give that a go - it might convert you
I have not and I shall, herd good things about it
Cymraeg_Atodeg
21-09-12, 01:32 PM
I have not and I shall, herd good things about it
The farmer in Gav coming out there
daveyrach
21-09-12, 01:37 PM
Funny there is a thread like this going on. I am a massive Nightmare Before Christmas fan. The film Coraline, in my opinion, was advertised to be something of the same ilk, so, never really watched it as every film I have watched that is like NMBC has been a huge let down, but, watched it last night on Film 4 and thought it was a really good film, even thinking about buying it on DVD to watch again at my leisure.
My 2 daughters love Coraline they must watch it 1-2 times every weekend, it pretty cool film I have to admit.
Cymraeg_Atodeg
21-09-12, 02:01 PM
My 2 daughters love Coraline they must watch it 1-2 times every weekend, it pretty cool film I have to admit.
It was more dark than I was expecting it to be for a kid's film
Wideboy
21-09-12, 02:11 PM
The farmer in Gav coming out there
I'm no slave to literacy, I say it how it sounds
daveyrach
21-09-12, 02:13 PM
It was more dark than I was expecting it to be for a kid's film
I know what you mean with the 'other mother' and all, my daughters are 9 and 2 and they love it. I think it helps that they know its all pretend.
Cymraeg_Atodeg
21-09-12, 02:19 PM
I know what you mean with the 'other mother' and all, my daughters are 9 and 2 and they love it. I think it helps that they know its all pretend.
It might be more to do with the nice music and the pretty colours, the dark undertones won't hit them for a few years
Torque
Biker Boyz
Days of thunder
:lol:
Seriously
Breakfast at Tiffanys
Pirates of the Carabean the curse of the black pearl
Speed - Just when you thought it was going to end, it carried on
Stardust - Dustin Hoffmans charachter. Nuff said.
Finding Nemo
Many films that have been a let down and some of them mentioned above as suprising. One of the most over hyped films imho was Independance day, closely followed by Avatar.
daveyrach
21-09-12, 02:44 PM
Torque
Biker Boyz
Days of thunder
:lol:
Seriously
Breakfast at Tiffanys
Pirates of the Carabean the curse of the black pearl
Speed - Just when you thought it was going to end, it carried on
Stardust - Dustin Hoffmans charachter. Nuff said.
Finding Nemo
Many films that have been a let down and some of them mentioned above as suprising. One of the most over hyped films imho was Independance day, closely followed by Avatar.
Stardust was amazing, thought it would be a girly fairy type story but watched it with my wife and daughters, it was pretty cool.
I have got Torque on DVD lol.
widepants
21-09-12, 02:50 PM
Leon , starring at the time some random frenchie I'd never heard(gav) of.Amazing
Ronin , same guy same brilliance
missjhb
21-09-12, 06:30 PM
Battleship
missjhb
21-09-12, 06:34 PM
I'm not a tom hardy fan
what?! :smt071
suzukigt380paul
21-09-12, 07:16 PM
blackhawk down
peranent record
timestalkers
ghost
and anything with wallace and gromit,
hands up anyone who's heard let alone seen all of the above
Cymraeg_Atodeg
21-09-12, 07:21 PM
*hands up*
suzukigt380paul
21-09-12, 07:24 PM
*hands up*well i never,that does surprise me
maviczap
21-09-12, 07:26 PM
Leon , starring at the time some random frenchie I'd never heard(gav) of.Amazing
Ronin , same guy same brilliance
If you like these two then see 21 Bullets, same guy, similar type action. French language, but easy to follow. Twas on Sky Anytime not so long ago
maviczap
21-09-12, 07:29 PM
So my choices
Shawshank, didn't know anything about it before I saw it. Now? enough said?
Schindlers List
Home Alone: Still enjoy watching it
Willy Wonka: The original one
The Matrix
muzikill
21-09-12, 07:31 PM
Magnolia
Cymraeg_Atodeg
21-09-12, 07:49 PM
well i never,that does surprise me
Why do you say that?
Wideboy
21-09-12, 07:53 PM
what?! :smt071
well he does have that "nobbish" presence about him. Like trying to be marlon brando... and failing
suzukigt380paul
21-09-12, 07:54 PM
Why do you say that?didn't think many people would have seen peranent record or timestalkers,or a least remembered watching them
Outlander - Aliens & Vikings!!!! (What Aliens and cowboys tried to be)
Spirited Away - Got me into all the Studio Ghibli films.
Lars & the real girl - strange but brilliant.
missjhb
21-09-12, 08:37 PM
well he does have that "nobbish" presence about him. Like trying to be marlon brando... and failing
Lol he's best acting moment would have to be.... This means war (for me anyways) great in the dark night rises
dirtydog
22-09-12, 08:36 AM
Leon , starring at the time some random frenchie I'd never heard(gav) of.Amazing
Ronin , same guy same brilliance
Both brilliant films
Lars & the real girl - strange but brilliant.
+1 I didn't expect much from a film about a guy who falls in love with a sex doll but it's a great film.
Just remembered another fantastic film - The Lives of Others.
Jayneflakes
22-09-12, 12:09 PM
I recently saw a film called God Bless America (http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/god_bless_america_2011/). All I can say is that I identified with the main character, probably more than could be considered normal! Horrifically violent at times, brutally honest and a shocking comment on the state of modern society. Beautiful ending though.
While very poorly about five years ago, I found a cheap movie in a bargain bucket. I had not heard of it, but it had Henry Rollins in it, who I quite like. The Movie was not what I expected, but it was one of the best movies I bought. Go and check out Morgan's Ferry (http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/morgans_ferry/), it is a quiet beautiful film, with some dark edges.
Balky001
22-09-12, 12:27 PM
Exceeded expections..., nothing with Morgan Freeman then as always expect that to be great :D
Senna
Pride & Prejudice with Miss Knightley (only watched it as daughter is doing P&P in English)
Last of the Samurai
Of Mice and Men
Shutter Island
Loads of Disney films!!
dirtyred619
22-09-12, 12:53 PM
Just remembered another I thought was brill but had never heard of before I accidentally ended up watching, Boon Dock Saints, Billy Connelly had a small part in it. Watched the second one recently though and wasn't as keen of that.
Paul the 6th
24-09-12, 10:03 AM
adjustment bureau..
Thank you for smoking.
I randomly caught this a couple of years ago, and thought it was pretty slick :)
widepants
24-09-12, 10:11 AM
Hitman , everytime its on I click the channel to fill time and end up watching it all
Went into the cinema one night a few years back and just picked a film that looked interesting. I'm a sci fi guy so this film about a dangerous prisoner being transported on a spaceship by a bounty hunter, when the space ship then crash lands on a mystery planet, seemed pretty good.
So Pitch Black exceeded all my expectations.
More recently, the New Judge Dredd was near on almost a perfect adaptation of the Comic, made even better by the contrast by that godawful first film with Stallone (which is definitely on the "Films that Disappointed" list).
Cymraeg_Atodeg
24-09-12, 01:13 PM
Went into the cinema one night a few years back and just picked a film that looked interesting. I'm a sci fi guy so this film about a dangerous prisoner being transported on a spaceship by a bounty hunter, when the space ship then crash lands on a mystery planet, seemed pretty good.
So Pitch Black exceeded all my expectations.
More recently, the New Judge Dredd was near on almost a perfect adaptation of the Comic, made even better by the contrast by that godawful first film with Stallone (which is definitely on the "Films that Disappointed" list).
Funny you should say that about the "old" Judge Dredd movie, was on channel 5 last night and I quite like that film, so, the new one is better?
There is no comparison. Its how it should have been in the first place. Its an 18 (so no flippin kids in the cinema for a change) and, normally I'm not a big fan of movies that clearly lead into sequels but in this case, I cannot wait for the next one!
Owenski
24-09-12, 01:18 PM
Kings speach.
Put it off for ages as I assumed it to be some crappy bridget jones style POS but it was properly entertaining, loved it.
Cymraeg_Atodeg
24-09-12, 02:14 PM
There is no comparison. Its how it should have been in the first place. Its an 18 (so no flippin kids in the cinema for a change) and, normally I'm not a big fan of movies that clearly lead into sequels but in this case, I cannot wait for the next one!
I'll have to see that next weekend now then, cheers :thumright:
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