Movies you knew nothing about...and were surprised?
#1
Inane Thread Master, 2018 TOTY
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Are any of us really anywhere?
Posts: 49,398
Received 904 Likes
on
765 Posts
Movies you knew nothing about...and were surprised?
So you could take this a couple different ways, but I am wondering about movies (blind buys without the buys) if you will that you knew absolutely knew nothing about going in, but rented or saw in the theater based on a passing review or something like that, saw it and was pleasantly surprised, shockingly horrified, etc...
I just saw "The Visitor" which i rented. i heard about it and how good it was when it was reviewed on "At the Movies" whenever it was on. didn't really pay attention which is why i didn't know anything about it except that they said Richard Jenkins performance was basically awesome.
i didn't even read the back when i rented it, just took it and went. honestly thought it was about a guy who takes in an orphan or something like that. the cover art certainly doesn't elude to what it could be about.
i have to say that i was enthralled from the beginning and had no idea where it would go, but gleefully went along for the ride.
Jenkins was so awkward and believable that just seeing his facial gestures but me at unease. all the actors were so real and great in the roles and i will leave it at that as saying too much might spoil someone else's enjoyment and not knowing what it is all about.
this was just such a great movie that i fear it will get swallowed up during awards season, at least it is getting nominated for some awards but his performance is Oscar worthy and think it deserved a Golden Globe nom. then i saw it was written and directed by the guy who did "The Station Agent" which was another i was floored with after first and subsequent viewings.
this is a really good movie that i had no idea about and loved it!
I just saw "The Visitor" which i rented. i heard about it and how good it was when it was reviewed on "At the Movies" whenever it was on. didn't really pay attention which is why i didn't know anything about it except that they said Richard Jenkins performance was basically awesome.
i didn't even read the back when i rented it, just took it and went. honestly thought it was about a guy who takes in an orphan or something like that. the cover art certainly doesn't elude to what it could be about.
i have to say that i was enthralled from the beginning and had no idea where it would go, but gleefully went along for the ride.
Jenkins was so awkward and believable that just seeing his facial gestures but me at unease. all the actors were so real and great in the roles and i will leave it at that as saying too much might spoil someone else's enjoyment and not knowing what it is all about.
this was just such a great movie that i fear it will get swallowed up during awards season, at least it is getting nominated for some awards but his performance is Oscar worthy and think it deserved a Golden Globe nom. then i saw it was written and directed by the guy who did "The Station Agent" which was another i was floored with after first and subsequent viewings.
this is a really good movie that i had no idea about and loved it!
#2
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Pomona, CA
Posts: 801
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I just saw "Let the Right One In" at my local indie theater, and fell in love. I knew nothing about it, but saw that it was the favorite movie of Edgar Wright for the year, and I really respect his taste in movies. A fantastic movie.
#3
DVD Talk Hero
La Vie en Rose. Saw it at the arthouse theater downtown, knew nothing about it besides it being about some singer ive never heard of and the lead performance was getting buzz. Wow, that movie was amazing. It even got an applause after the movie was over.
#4
DVD Talk Hero
I just saw "The Visitor" which i rented. i heard about it and how good it was when it was reviewed on "At the Movies" whenever it was on. didn't really pay attention which is why i didn't know anything about it except that they said Richard Jenkins performance was basically awesome.
But, to answer your question.... no, I will always know something about a movie before I see it.
#5
The Grapes of Death
I went in expecting a very slow and moody "Arthouse" type of horror film. Had no idea that it would end up as a fast-paced, brutal action extravaganza!
I went in expecting a very slow and moody "Arthouse" type of horror film. Had no idea that it would end up as a fast-paced, brutal action extravaganza!
#6
See Lips of Blood (Lèvres de Sang) IMO it is Jean Rollins best film.
The only thing is that it perfectly fits your description
(very slow and moody "Arthouse" type of horror film).
#8
DVD Talk Legend
Went to the Drive-in years ago specifically to see Air Force One. Paid no attention to what movie it was paired with that night (Men in Black) and literally knew nothing about it except for who was in it.
#10
DVD Talk Gold Edition
I had seen one preview for "The Matrix" during the Super Bowl which I really didn't pay much attention to. Anyhow, a few months later my friend wanted to go see it, so I went with him. Whoa...
#15
Inane Thread Master, 2018 TOTY
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Are any of us really anywhere?
Posts: 49,398
Received 904 Likes
on
765 Posts
How can you know absolutely nothing about a movie, yet have read a review? I thought this was about either walking into a theater or renting a movie only based on a title... and nothing else. To me... that is knowing nothing about a movie.
So, where was the surprise? Sounds like your experience confirmed what you have read about.
But, to answer your question.... no, I will always know something about a movie before I see it.
So, where was the surprise? Sounds like your experience confirmed what you have read about.
But, to answer your question.... no, I will always know something about a movie before I see it.
where in there do you see READ a review? i HEARD that Jenkins was good and that is all i based my pick on. maybe i should have simply clarified and said i knew nothing about story or plot.
Last edited by OldBoy; 12-24-08 at 11:57 AM.
#18
DVD Talk Legend
The same also applies to this year's The Signal. I remember seeing the teaser to it when The Host came out over a year prior to it's release; but besides that, I knew nothing about it. Luckily, it was playing in a movie theater in Santa Monica when I was in Santa Monica, so I was able to see it.
#19
DVD Talk Hero
Sergio Leone movies. Particularly the first two I watched, Once Upon a Time in the West and The Good, The Bad, The Ugly. I never expected them to be so hip and cool.
The Seventh Seal is the same way. The modern sensibilities are fascinating to watch.
I watched two Billy Jack movies recently. My dad always liked them. But I didn't have any idea what to expect there. It's a little hokey now. But Billy Jack himself and the simple story and situations play out really well. And it was back when they were just trying to make the best possible movie - not trying to be all tongue in cheek and stuff.
The Mexican. The Brad Pitt movie. Lots of fun. Relatively original.
Boogie Nights and Magnolia. I bought them both, at one time, on DVD. Didn't know to expect such awesomeness.
I used to always check out movies at the local arthouse theater. I'd just kind of look at the poster and decide what I want to see. Amelie, In the Bedroom, Mulholland Drive ... oooo The Fast Runner was a great one. I am kind of suprised that it never caught on. It just kind of came, got some critical praise and left.
When I was 15-20, I just picked up every movie I could find and watched it. Heck, I didn't know about Apocalypse Now before just buying it on DVD and watching it. Farting around on the internet nowadays, I prepare myself a lot more about what I'm going to see.
The Seventh Seal is the same way. The modern sensibilities are fascinating to watch.
I watched two Billy Jack movies recently. My dad always liked them. But I didn't have any idea what to expect there. It's a little hokey now. But Billy Jack himself and the simple story and situations play out really well. And it was back when they were just trying to make the best possible movie - not trying to be all tongue in cheek and stuff.
The Mexican. The Brad Pitt movie. Lots of fun. Relatively original.
Boogie Nights and Magnolia. I bought them both, at one time, on DVD. Didn't know to expect such awesomeness.
I used to always check out movies at the local arthouse theater. I'd just kind of look at the poster and decide what I want to see. Amelie, In the Bedroom, Mulholland Drive ... oooo The Fast Runner was a great one. I am kind of suprised that it never caught on. It just kind of came, got some critical praise and left.
When I was 15-20, I just picked up every movie I could find and watched it. Heck, I didn't know about Apocalypse Now before just buying it on DVD and watching it. Farting around on the internet nowadays, I prepare myself a lot more about what I'm going to see.
#20
DVD Talk Legend
Abre Los Ojos... I saw it on cable one night about 8 or 9 years ago, about 20 minutes into the movie, and only stayed watching because Penelope Cruz looked positively luminous (as always). Plus I love Spanish-language cinema. I continued watching and found myself getting more and more intrigued by the story, and then of course by the time the FULL WHAMMY hit I was completely hooked and utterly mesmerized.
Such a fantastic film.
Plus, ya know, Penelope's boobies... que rico...
Such a fantastic film.
Plus, ya know, Penelope's boobies... que rico...
#21
DVD Talk Gold Edition
Funny that this question comes along right after I discovered a nasty little piece of cinema called Edmond. I haven't shut up about it since I saw it last weekend. I just grabbed it off the shelf at the local library randomly as filler with some reserved library titles. I'd never heard of it or read anything about it. It completely blew me away.