KTL’s Most Underrated Movies

So, the other day, I charged the KTL crew here to take some time and create a statement for the most underrated movies we can think of.  I must say that this list will def give the readers (all 5 of you, I think we may have 6 now) an inside perspective to the tastes and minds of the writers of Know The Ledge.  Feel free to leave your fav underrated moments in the comments.

AMART writes:

I got my list down to 4. Choose the top three? I just can’t bring myself to do it.

Here is my short list of underrated films.

Green Street Hooligans (2005)
Its kinda like: Dead Poets + Fight Club.

Due to the casting of Frodo, aka Elijah Wood, and a group of unknown actors, this great flick is usually passed over when we are looking to stock-up our netflix queues. Trust me, this movie is amazing.

Killing Zoe (1994)
Its kinda like: Heat+Trainspotting.

If you are a fan of Reservoir Dogs, Blue Velvet, Clock Work Orange or Trainspotting, you owe it to yourself to watch Killing Zoe.  I was 15 and dating Kirsten Macvoy, a chick who was way too punk for me, but I had to keep up the front for as long as possible. One day we ditched class and she played the new Minor Threat album for me, and then made be watch Killing Zoe. My whole world was turned upside down that day. It was like a gauntlet of hardcore. An indie initiation trail. Completely traumatizing. I couldn’t tell if she loved me, or just wanted to beat the poser out of me. Thanks Kirsten.

Equilibrium (2003)
Its kinda like: Matix+Christian Bale-200MILLION DOLLARS.

“You actually liked that movie?”
Yes and I think it’s FRINGGIN’ Awesome. Great fight scenes,  Orwelling story-line and totally unpredictable. This flick would have more credit if it had not been released between the first two Matrix movies. If nothing else, Netflix it to see the cool martial arts they created for the movie; ‘Gun-Fu”. Dope.

Tigerland (2000)
Its kinda like:  SLC Punk+Full Metal Jacket.

A true story about a draftee training for Vietnam.  A real life Hubris whose morality never breaks when everyone else tossed their identity and principles aside.
Starring a pre-douchebag Colin Farrell.

Okay, that’s my list. I wouldn’t say they are the most underrated movies, just very underrated movies. Making a list of movies for any conditions causes me to argue with myself for days, so I just though down the first few that came to mind. If you disagree with any of my choices, please feel free to email your brilliant opinions at weston@westondeboer.com.
Netflix Me.

Weston’s Picks

First… My definition of a movie that is underrated, I think that it is a movie that didn’t get very much critical acclaim. A movie that didn’t make too much money at the box office, and was panned by critics and people I know. I am going to take it to the next step and say Top Three Underrated movies from North America, because my list of underrated movies worldwide only include movies from elsewhere (Oldboy, The Host, Night Watch, Day Watch, etc.).

Boiler Room (2000) – When it came out Ben Affleck was at his hottest, He was everywhere and I was sad to see that he was in this movie. But his monologue in this movie was one of the best scenes in any movie (With his “Glengarry Glen Ross” reference being probably the best ever). With It’s hip hop soundtrack featuring notorious big, de la soul, A Tribe called Quest, etc.. The great one liner’s, “sorry big bird
mode.” With its terrible actors, being great actors, Vin Diesel, Giovanni Ribisi, Nicky Kat, Scott Caan, Jamie Kennedy to name a few. This movie knows that it is not an original and talks about the other movies during.

Speed Racer (2008) – Emile Hirsch is a great actor and this is one of the best acting that he has ever done. This movie was panned by critics only because they hate the Wachowski brothers. One of the brothers might be a woman now, but that isn’t no reason to hate this movie. This movie was exactly what I expected it to be, Crazy colors, Car Racing, A little drama, and a great finale. You couldn’t have made this movie any better with what it is. Why was Indiana Jones rated so well, when this movie was rated so bad? Nobody saw Speed Racer, but everyone saw Indiana Jones, the worst movie in at least 5 years.

Unbreakable (2000) – Because the ending or the secret was giving out so early in this movie, people hated it. Because there was no real ending, because it was a “comic book” ending, it was panned by critics. This movie was one of the best super hero movies of all time. He isn’t the super hero that you expect and that’s what makes him great. He is a hero that is just like you and me. That’s what makes this movie so
great, the first super hero movie of its kind. This is not an original idea for any super hero movies, but an original movie about a super hero. Totally great.

Netflix Page

Anthony’s Picks

Secret of NIMH (1982)
Barely known but definitely the best animated film ever. This cartoon hits on more themes than most modern day films. Like a greek mythology the story of Mrs. Brisby and the rats of NIMH is timeless plus like a hundred characters die in the like the first 15 minutes. Nicodemis, Jonathan Brisby, Justin, Mr. Ages, Jener, the Great Owl, all awesome.

Alien 3 (1992)
Cause its one of the most hated films ever and its actually good. If you watch it again, especially the “directors cut”, and accept the crappy CGI you’ll find its pretty badass. Like all great SCI-FI the story is deeper than it first appears. There’s a ton of symbolism and reference to God and sex and how they are connected (thank you film studies-David Fincher). In addition, Charles Dutton has one of the best death scenes ever, still gets me pumped up to this day… With that said the series should have ended here.

Empire of the Sun (1987)
Due to recent conversations this movie shoot moved to the front of the pack of underrated movies. True it has won multiple awards but it still seems to be forgotten and overlooked in many ways: as a top Spielberg film, as a Christian Bale performance, as one of the best war films and as a coming of age film. Pretty fucking great.

Honorable mention:
Batman (1st is still the best!)
Strange Brew
American Psycho
Vanilla Sky
Stranger than Fiction
Anchor Man
Big Trouble in Little China
Pootie Pang

DFLO’s Picks

Boom!

Big Trouble in Little China. (1986)

Boom!

The best writing I have ever experienced in a movie. Period.
- Jack Burton: Okay. You people sit tight, hold the fort and keep the
home fires burning. And if we’re not back by dawn… call the president.
- Jack Burton: Oh, okay, I won’t, Wang! Let’s just *chew* our way
outta here.
- Jack Burton: Son of a bitch must pay!
- Jack Burton: Just remember what ol’ Jack Burton does when the earth
quakes, and the poison arrows fall from the sky, and the pillars of
Heaven shake. Yeah, Jack Burton just looks that big ol’ storm right
square in the eye and he says, “Give me your best shot, pal. I can
take it.”

Things To Do In Denver When You’re Dead (1995) and True Romance (1993) = Tie.
Boom!
- Double dose of Christopher Walken, playing the same character in
both movies. Waaaaah?!
- Andy Garcia in his mob prime vs Tarantino’s Dreadlocked Gangsta
Speaking Gary Oldman. Enough Said.
- Jimmy, …Do it…. For Cynthia, Do it… For the Good Ol’ days, Do
it… your Fag Business, Just Do It!

Elf (2003)

Boom!

Will Ferrell in an Elf suit acting like a retard + Sonny Corleone +Big Worm + Xmas time = Comedy Delight.

Boom!

Franchise’s Picks

Things to do in Denver when you’re dead (1995)
This movie came out right after Pulp Fiction and was quickly written off as a Taritino wanna-be. I think with time passing, a smart person can go back and realize that it definitely is not. With some classic characters (which whom I adopted my DJ name) and amazing dialogue, this movie really stands alone. Andrew Garcia and Christopher Walken steal the film. It has everything you want in a movie: a cool guy to cheer for, mob references, a love story, an indie movie title taken from a song, creative ways for people to die, unique character names, quotes for days, and a pregnant prostitute. Too ofter we look to Taratino for artistic violence, the Godfather for a mob heroes, and Christopher Nolan for a good script. Why go there when its all in one?

Malcolm X (1992)
This is a movie that is known but I don’t think people actually have SEEN it. I reference it alot in my life and when I bring it up, I get “I have never seen it” or “I’ve seen parts but its too long.” This speaks volumes in my eyes for the ADD of our generation and inability to invest in anything beyond the first page of a google search. Malcolm X is a movie that truly changed my life. I saw a man of color portrayed not an unrelatable icon like MLK but a flawed man who strives for integrity and improvement daily. Denzel is perfect in his role and Spike Lee made sure that movie was not easily digestible. You are forced to reflect and learn. The classic scene of Malcolm’s assassination and its preceding playing of Sam Cooke’s “A Change Gonna Come” made for classic cinema. Much like the Wire, this movie is too deep, too black, and too relevant to be recognized by an award show.

City of God (2002)
Not necessarily one of my favorite movies of all time but definitely feel its underrated. Some hip-hop heads know about it but not every single one. And I feel that every single hip-hop head should know this movie. I truly believe that this is this generation’s Scarface. This story is well-told and beautifully shot. Each character receives the truthful arc that one would expect in a quality movie. Lil Z is a villain that is up there with Darth Vader. Rocket is the awkward teenager in us. Benny is basically the model for the current hipster. The Runts are the blueprint premise for the Corner Kids (I know, 2nd Wire reference). How could you not cheer for Knockout Ned? The lessons in City of God I think will influence the ethics of this generation muck like “The World is Yours” in Scarface did for so many of us currently. Unfortunately, City of God is in subtitles and reading is just enough to turn off some people.