This movie sounds hilarious. I'm going to pick it up in my next batch of DVDs.

I loved the book...the trilogy was one of the biggest movie disappointments for me.

schizopolis (steven soderbergh's 2nd film starring himself)...it's crazy stuff...wish this would come out on dvd as well.

Click here ... your wish is Criterion's command.

I remember my parents bringing me to see this at a drive in. Might be the first movie I ever saw. Either that or The Little Girl That Lives Down The Lane, which I remember being brought to at that same drive in.

I'm grabbing it this Friday...great movie.

See, you had the same problem I did, you read the book

Here's what saved it for me, the acting of the two people playing Musashi and kojiro (espically Kojiro, not only did he look very much like I pictured him, but he played the evil character down to a tee. On a side note, it makes me wonder if anime and games like Final Fantasy don't draw from his characterization, as a few characters from FF and some anime's look an awful lot like him).

Otherwise, it was a horrible adaptation of the book. It didn't even follow the storyline, they chopped and cut out crucial parts of the story, they rewrote some of the characters (Did Akemi die in the book? I thought her and Matachai (spelling) ended up together..)

Anyhow, if I had not read the book, I mgiht have liked it better. I do recomend it however as how many people have actually read the 1200 page Musahsi?

Gas Pump Girls (filmed near me, I have on laserdisc)

The Cheerleaders (just released on DVD by Anchor Bay!)

American Gothic (have on rotted LD from Technidisc)

Wham, Bam, Thank You, Spaceman (available on DVD)

Pick-Up Summer (available on DVD, mediocre quality)

The Stewardesses (1969 exploitation flick in 3-D, featuring one of the most memorable scenes in film history- have on VHS in field-sequential 3-D!)

Tunnelvision (available on DVD, but I love this so much I have a 35mm print of it!)

Another movie that occured to me was Jack the Bear with Danny DeVito. It was directed my Marshall Herskowitz and it was put out in the early 90's. A very sad and touching movie that almost nobody I know has even heard of. I always tear up near the end of the movie. Definitely check it out if you get a chance.

Apologies for shamelessly 'ripping' the idea for this thread or rather 'being inspired' lol by the DVD Talk main headline page.

What DVD's do you have that you would consider 'Hidden Gems' or in other words those DVD's that may be slightly less well known but for both subject matter and overall presentation you wouldn't hesitate to recommend to others? (I exclude Criterion titles as a fair majority would fall into this category)

Off the top of my head:

Brother's Keeper
Baraka
The Kid Stays In The Picture
Die Nibelungen
Wings Of Desire

I've thought about buying Baraka sight unseen. I'm leaning more toward it based on your recommendation.

The only ones I can think of from my collection are Ultraviolet, the British vampire miniseries, and Grand Tour: A Disaster In Time, a decent time travel flick.

well...looks like my choice has been talked about in the OOP thread thats currently posted. no doubt in my mind my #1 choice would be.....Rabid Dogs from Mario Bava. as I just stated over in the other thread...it's OOP and will never exist in the same form again. a fantastic film that now...many will never see.

your Wings Of Desire choice is right on. great film!! I'd also add some personal favs like:

The Swimmer
Beyond the Darkness(Buio Omega)
Battle Royale...well known but more people should see it
Blue Sunshine

It's pretty much unlike anything else i have in my collection and that's one of the reasons, it won't appeal to everyone but i personally like the whole visual imagery and when it is coupled the way it is with the music i find it to be quite relaxing and at the same time awe inspiring.

BTW your choice of Ultraviolet is a good one...don't have the DVD myself but remember it being a very good drama series which didn't take the conventional 'vampire' approach when it aired some time back here in the UK

Here's last month's discussion on unknown favorites:

http://www.dvdtalk.com/forum/showthr...hreadid=309879

*Panic in Needle Park (Al Pacino and Kitty Winn - R0 PAL)
*Last Exit to Brooklyn (Jennifer Jason Leigh, from the Hubert Selby Jr. novel - R0 NTSC)
*Henry Fool (Hal Ashby - R4 NTSC Brazil)
*Across 110th Street (A Quinn and Y. Kotto)
*Assault on Precinct 13 (John Carpenter)
*Badlands (M. Sheen and S. Spacek)
*Born to Win (George Segal, R. DeNiro)
*The Beguiled (Clint Eastwood)
*Billy Jack
*Chimes At Midnight (Orson Welles - R2 Spain)
*The Candidate (Robert Redford and Peter Boyle)
*Carnal Knowledge (Jack Nicholson, Art Garfunkle, Candice Bergen)
*Day of the Dolphin (George C. Scott)
*Days of Heaven (Richard Gere)
*The Wanderers (Ken Wahl, Karren Allen)
*Europa (Lars Von Trier)
*Fearless Vampire Killers (Polanski - R0 NTSC Brazil)
*Fingers (Harvey Keitel)
*Fat City (Stacey Keach, Jeff Bridges)
*Fort Apache: The Bronx (Paul Newman, Ken Wahl, Pam Grier)
*Freeway (Reese Witherspoon, Kiefer Sutherland)
*Funny Games
*The Gambler (James Caan, Paul Sorvino)
*Gloria (John Cassavetes
*Honky Tonk Freeway
*Joe (Peter Boyle, Susan Sarandon)
*Kes (Ken Loach R2 PAL UK)
*Killing Zoe (Eric Stoltz)
*Lantana (Anthony LaPaglia)
*The Last Detail (Jack Nicholson, Randy Quaid)
*Lone Star (John Sayles)
*Return of the Secaucus 7 (John Sayles)
*The Long Goodbye (Elliot Gould)
*McCabe and Mrs Miller (Warren Beatty, Julie Christie)
*The Man Who Would Be King (Sean Connery and Michael Caine)
*Medium Cool
*Mysterious Object at Noon
*The Paper Chase (Timothy Bottoms, John Houseman)
*Paris, Texas (N. Kinski, Harry Dean Stanton)
*The Quiller Memorandum (A. Guinness, G. Segal, Max Von Sydow)
*Three Days of the Condor (Robert Redford, Faye Dunaway)
*Rancho Deluxe (Jeff Bridges, Sam Waterston)
*Roger Dodger (Campbell Scott)
*Slacker (Richard Linklater R2 UK)
*Sorcerer (Roy Scheider)
*Star 80 (Mariel Hemmingway, Eric Roberts)
*The Swimmer (Burt Lancaster)
*Two Hands (Heath Ledger, Bryan Brown R4 Australia)
*Vampire's Kiss (Nicolas Cage)
*Vision Quest (Matthew Modine, Linda Fiorentino)
*Z
*Winter Kills (Jeff Bridges, John Huston)

Yes....didn't notice that..but apparently did get moved over into the Movie Talk forum of which i don't often frequent.
As the title is more specific to films/documentaries etc.. released to DVD i thought it was best placed here.

Celluloidwisdom how do you manage to keep all those 'gems' 'hidden' - great list!

Some of my favorite (non-Criterion) hidden gems:

The Singing Detective (Amiel/1986/BBC)--tremendous British miniseries written by the inimitable Dennis Potter.

La Promesse (Dardenne/1996/New Yorker)--the Belgian Dardenne brothers made this wonderful film about the relationship of an amoral father and his more sensitive son, and their treatment of a group of illegal immigrants.

Christ in Concrete (Dmytryk/1949/Allday/Image) A nearly forgotten film suppressed due to the Hollywood Blacklist about an Italian-American bricklayer trying to make a better life for himself.

Safe (Haynes/1995/Columbia TriStar) One of Todd Haynes' (Far From Heaven) earlier films starring Julianne Moore as a woman convinced that her environment is making her ill.

Prizzi's Honor (Huston/1985/MGM/UA) John Huston's penultimate film stars Jack Nicholson, Kathleen Turner, and Anjelica Huston. It's a pitch black comedy about a mafia hitman who falls in love with a femme fatale. Recently re-released by MGM at a low price.

Tampopo (Itami/1986/Fox Lorber) An entertaining Japanese comedy (a peculiar mix of an American Western and a Japanese Samurai film) about a truck driver who helps a widowed cafe owner create the perfect bowl of ramen noodles.

The Night of the Hunter (Laughton/1955/MGM/UA) A moody, unforgettable noirish thriller about an ex-con (Robert Mitchum) who tries to swindle two orphaned children. Brilliant.

The Shop Around the Corner (Lubitsch/1940/Warner) The inspiration for the grossly inferior You've Got Mail, this charming romantic comedy stars Jimmy Stewart and Margaret Sullavan as two bickering co-workers who fall in love by mail.

Beautiful Thing (Macdonald/1996/Columbia TriStar) One of the best gay-themed films of the last ten years, about two schoolmates--next-door neighbors in a London housing project--who fall in love.

Hedwig and the Angry Inch (Mitchell/2001/New Line) Brilliant rock musical about a failed German transsexual rock singer. Riotously funny, with outstanding music.

The Last Laugh (Murnau/1924/Kino) The very height of German Expressionism, this silent classic by F.W. Murnau (Sunrise) tells the story of a proud hotel doorman in Berlin who gets demoted to washroom attendant. Simply brilliant.

The Southerner (Renoir/1945/VCI) The great Jean Renoir made a handful of Hollywood films in the forties, and this story about poor tenant farmers in the rural South is the best of those. Excellent, little-known film (better than The Grapes of Wrath IMHO).

The Collected Shorts of Jan Svankmajer, Vol. 1 & 2 (Image) These shorts from the great Czech animator and surrealist alternate between the absurd and the sublime. Very atmospheric, twisted, and fun.

The Night of the Shooting Stars (Taviani/1982/MGM/UA) A great film by the Taviani Brothers about the waning days of the German Occupation of a small Italian town during World War II, and a group of villagers who risk their lives.

Woman in the Dunes (Teshigahara/1964/Image) A visually stunning, allegorical B&W Japanese film about an entymologist held captive by a group of sand dune dwellers. An unforgettable suspense film.

Man with the Movie Camera (Vertov/1929/Image) Dziga Vertov's highly influential and inventive film documents a typical day in the life of the Leninist Soviet Union. Propaganda never looked so beautiful!

Baraka & Let It Ride

Bill Murray in The Man Who Knew Too Little

How To Kill Your Neighbor's Dog starring Kenneth Branagh as a playwright with writer's block and Robin Wright Penn as his wife who wants them to start a family.

Happy, Texas - starring Jeremy Northam and Steve Zahn as escaped convicts disguised as beauty pageant consultants and the fabulous William H. Macy as the town sheriff.

Stormy Monday - a film noir-ish flick from Mike Figgis, starring Sean Bean, Tommy Lee Jones, Melanie Griffith and Sting

The Man In the Moon - beautifully poignant coming-of-age film starring Reese Witherspoon in her film debut and directed by Robert Mulligan (To Kill a Mockingbird)

And another vote for the animated Twice Upon a Time (unfortunately not available on DVD).

Foreign films:
Delamorte Dellamore (aka. The Cemetery Man)
Serial Lover - a French comedy about a woman who mistakingly kills her suitors.
a film with `Montreal' in the title, it was French-Canadian and looked poetic, about life, death...
The Censor (Spanish? - title uknown) - A very powerful film about a film censor who develops an obsession for an actress.

Others (freakish):
Pandemonium - an Australian film from the 80s, it's so over the top in craptivity I love it!
Meet the Feebles - was one of my favourite films of all-time, and this was long before LOTR.
Kiss of the Spider Woman - I don't know if this is non-mainstream, but I would say so!

Australian:
Storm Boy - An Australian film from 1976 about an isolated boy who's living with his father on a strip of beach, and he befriends an aborigine and a pelican; majorly influenced Fly Away Home, is available on budget DVD here in Oz but a wide screen version would be nice.
Walkabout - A Nicolas Roeg film from 1970 about two kids who get stranded in the Australian desert after their father kills himself; they befriend an aborigine, but they can't speak the same language. Very moody, and you won't soon forget it!

Two films about wolves:
The Company of Wolves - Early Neil Jordan, may not be `underground' but is certainly a cult film, and probably one of the most symbolic UK films ever.
Ginger Snaps - So cult that it's become famous, but still a cult, underground sort of film.

Excellent movie, I love it, Reminds me of another favorite:
Electro-Glide in Blue

Others:
Cane Toads: an Unnatural Documentary
Kind Hearts and Coronets (actually a pretty famous Ealing comedy starring Alec Guiness, but I'll bet most people reading this haven't seen it)
Sex and Zen (the carnal prayer mat)
Cyclo (by the director of Scent of a Green Papaya)
Diva (actually pretty famous as well, but you should see it if you haven't)
Monument Ave. (excellent city drama starring Dennis Leary and Martin Sheen)

I'll second Little Girl Who Lives Down the Lane. I really liked that movie but I haven't seen it in like 15 years.

My favorite "bad" film is Pyschos In Love. The romantic story of two serial killers that fall in love. It is very tongue in cheek but I found it to be hilarious. I don't think it is on DVD, though.

Promised Land (w/Keifer Sutherland) - An unusual film, of uncertain intention, but haunting.
After Hours (w/Griffin Dunne) - A really strange film, with no point but to be bizarre.
Bigger than Tina - A rock-mockumentary, not brilliant but quite deceptive.
Spring Fever - Actually, a very pleasant tourny film of a couple of girls competing at a Junior Tennis Competion; casual stuff.
The Voice of the Moon (w/Roberto Benigni) - Federico Fellini's last film; it doesn't seem to be that popular judging by the number of votes it's received across imdb. It's truly one of the most bizarre movies ever! Plot spoiler: Very philosophical!
Hangin' With the Homeboys (w/John Leguizamo) - A very casual, classic underground film... if you haven't seen it yet, don't hesitate!
The Long Way Home (w/Jack Lemmon) - About an old man who resents having to retire.
Ruby Ring (w/Emily Hamilton) - Saw this on TV, didn't know what to think about it with reservations, though it seems I'm not the only one to note it.
The Rapture (w/Mimi Rogers) - This movie is awesome! It's got one of the best endings ever!
Somewhere in Time (w/Christopher Reeve and Jane Seymour) - A classic time-travelling romance, with a haunting soundtrack... beautiful!
The Lair of the White Worm - Goofy horror! Hilarious!
Metropolitan - Bought this yesterday, looks cheap but it actually received a nomination for Best Screenplay at the Academy Awards and seems to be considered a classic.
Summer School - Bought this as well, I have fond memories of seeing this on television.

Wow,over 100 posts & no mentions of two of the kings of cult cinema?!!

The almighty Repo Man & stomach churning Cannibal Holocaust!

So I will try my best to list films that have not been mentioned before(lots of great ones listed so far,btw!).

Repo Man(1984) delirious over the top wicked satire. Impossible to describe. Just see it,if you have an outlandish sense of humor & love the bizzare. ****

Cannibal Holocaust(1979),one of the most grueling stomach churning,depressing,graphic & intense films ever made. A classic of the genre. Though warning,you will be sick for at least a week if you make it through the film in it's entirity & uncensored form. While the real animal killings,even some real humans murdered footage,mixed in with realistic portrayals of cannibalism & savagery get people upset big time. Their is actually a message underneath it all,which can be interpreted many ways. Also the score is beautiful & some scenes are hauntingly beautitful,while others sickening & extremely disgusting. An interesting & disturbing contrast to be sure. ****


The Devils(1971),one of the most emotionally devastating films I've ever seen. All about religious fanatism & corruption of power,which destroys innocent lives based on lies & superstitions. This made for one depressing double feature when I viewed it along side Cannibal Holocaust

Be sure to get the old OOP UK release of the film from Warner Bros Maverick Series. It's the most complete version ever released. Avoid the R rated U.S. release like the plague! In deserate need of a fully restored uncut,proper aspect ratio release. yet Warner does'nt seem to have the guts to tackle this film based on the subject matter(despite not being that shocking today in terms of nudity & such). ****


Rules of Attraction(2002) the best Bret Easton Ellis adaption to date. A kickass misunderstood stylish,depressing,darkly funny & just plain incredible film that will get into your head! ****

House of 1000 Corpses(2003) another wicked over the top misunderstood destined to become a cult classic mixture of insane over the top funhouse nightmarish horrors,humor & charecters. Not for the weak minded & squeemish. Though am patiently waiting for the uncensored version. It's heavily censored in R rated form sadly,but still pretty twisted to at least give you a tease of whats to come,whenever the uncut version is unleashed. ***(for now)


The Burning(1981) a truely frighening forgotten slasher film from the 80's. Has some nice shocks,unrelenting tension,sympathy for the charecters as they are slaughtered. One great setpiece,which is the infamous raft massacre where 5 people are slaughtered at once! A classic of the genre. Be sure to get the uncut MGM release(available at amazon.com) which has all the gory footage intact for the first time ever. Should be released on dvd eventually. ****


Cruising(1980) one highly controversial extreme mind**** of a film. So many questions,& no answers. Ahh,this has just enough to get people riled up,since you can interpret many ways. A hatefilled piece of shit,or a mind boggling mystery with no answer about the affect of sexual repression? You decide.Still it's facinating nontheless,now if only the original uncut version were released(maybe it would be a better film?). Support a good cause with the link below ***


Now onto some lighter fare


Better Than Chocolate(1999) sweet little lesbian romance film. Funny,charming,sexy & very entertaining. Be sure to see the unrated version for all the sex/nudity intact. Screw the MPAA ****

Stonewall(1995) entertaining fictional account of the Stonewall riots leading the begining of the gay rights movment. Nice musical montages,cool charecters & La-Miranda is one sexy gorgeous drag queen. ****

Pump Up The Volume(1990) great honest teen alienation film. This is what most teen message movies fail to be like. They should learn from this film & Over the Edge(1979). ****

Over The Edge (1979) the best teenage rebelion/alienation film ever made. Real,up front & honest. No suger coating the subject matter. Just as relevent today as it was in '79. Too bad,no one takes the time to actually listen & look at whats wrong with the world. Instead,adding more to the problem than solving. ****

Heathers(1989) the most wicked dead on hilarious & so true satire ever made on high school/teen life. ****

The Last American Virgin(1982) nice little hybrid mix of genres teen film. Seems like your standard sex comedy at first,then soon turns deadly serious with one downer of an ending. A real gem,that sadly no one would have the guts to make,nor end a film like this today(the *******!). ****


1941(1979) ahh the most underrated Speilberg film ever made. It's really not that bad. Actually alot of wild zanny over the top big budget destructive fun. Only idiots who take things too seriouslly or love joining the anti-1941 crowd to sound 'superior' will hate this film. Yet c'mon,the kid in all of us will love it,if only you'd loosen up! ****


Well this is just a small list of many great cult films of all types that are out there,enjoy