Great movies you might not have seen - Part 1

I can't stand the thought of missing good movies and love posts from other people who list some decent movie that may not be so well known.   Normally we've seen most of them but from time to time a new one comes along and if you're lucky it gets added to the collection.

Here's a few of mine that you might not have seen.   Please also add your own in the comments and we might need to arrange a little prize for anyone who can give me a new one worthy of adding to the re-watch list!  As it deserves it's own post I'll do horror movies at a later date.


The Name of The Rose - 1986

This is one of the darkest and creepiest movies I've seen and has actually given me nightmares before.  Sean Connery and Christian Slater give good performances and Ron Perlman plays the role he was born for with that face (a hunch back).

It's quite an interesting story told very well.   That's one thing about 80's movie scripts, they were less about trying to be clever but more about telling a good tale.

Watch if you dare...

Fun fact:  Watch this with a really decent bottle of red and afterwards go look at your tongue in the mirror.  (it will make sense after watching the movie)

IMDB Info


Tremors - 1990

Possibly the greatest horror comedy of all time?   Big call I know but everything in this movie, for me, is well.... perfect :)    Kevin Bacon and Fred Ward play some quirky cowboys - Val and Earl and pretty much steal the show.  But on top of that you have a great supporting cast, a great location, a brilliant script and a bit of corny rubbery monster action.  What more could you ask for?   This could go in the horror post but it's more comedy and action really.

"FUUUCK... YOU!!!... HA HA HA"

Fun Fact:  In an early scene watch Val try to hammer in a nail to a fence post.  Watch that nail carefully.

IMDB Info


The Mosquito Coast - 1986

Another 80's classic.  Possibly Harrison Fords best performance as well as River Phoenix (R.I.P).   It's a great adventure filled with a lot of messages still very relevant today.

"Ice is civilization!"

Fun Fact:  Harrison Ford himself rates this as his best and most satisfying role.

IMDB Info


The Omega Man - 1971

There's been a few film attempts of Richard Matheson's novel "I am Legend".. obviously the most recent is the movie of the same name with Will Smith.

The Omega man might not be as pretty as the new one but for me it's a timeless classic.   Charlton Heston gives a convincing role (for 70's acting standards anyway) as the 'last man on earth'.  This film would have had huge influences over the modern zombie and post apocalyptic genre's we love so much today.

Watch this bad boy, and while you're at it watch Soylent Green as well :)

Fun Fact:  The 'Abandoned City' shots were actually filmed on location in downtown L.A on the weekend.

IMDB Info


Solaris - 2002

The atmosphere of this movie is incredible.  It captures the peace and quiet of space yet delivers an intriguing thriller at the same time, beautifully shot and perfectly paced.   This is a must for Sci-Fi fans, and while you're at it if you haven't seen Sunshine, grab that too.

IMDB Info


K-Pax - 2001

Kevin Spacey is great as our visiting alien - Prot.  This is a very interesting watch with some very relevant social commentary.   Although it doesn't leave the planet Earth it feels to me like a Sci-Fi anyway.  Very clever script.

I'm running out of Fun facts.

IMDB Info


Eastern Promises - 2007

130k + votes on IMDB probably indicates most have seen this, but if not you're missing out.  A massively powerful film about the European sex trade.  This is my favourite performance from Viggo Mortensen, he is truly bad-ass.

IMDB Info


Existenz - 1999

One of Jude Law's earlier films and an overall brilliant Sci Fi.   Inception 'borrowed' a lot of concepts from this film which is a credit really.  Set in the future where you can plug yourself directly into a biological game console (borrowing from Strange Days maybe?) , the story and acting is cleverly done so we never quite know what's real.  "Are we still in the game?"

IMDB Info


The Basketball Diaries - 1995

Another incredible powerful film and is part of what I call the "Leo Trifecta" - Whats eating Gilbert Grape, The Basketball Diaries and Romeo & Juliet.  His performances in these 3 films secured his position as a Hollywood great.

His portrayal of a young talented basketball player turned heroin addict is chilling.

Fun Fact:  I think this movie caught my attention when it received a lot of bad publicity over a scene where Leo wanders into the class room and blows away his class mates with a shotgun.  This was after Columbine of course.

IMDB Info


The Lookout - 2007  +  Brick - 2005

Mentioned in a previous post, these are a must see for Gordon Levitt fans.

IMDB Info - Lookout
IMDB Info - Brick


Green Street Hooligans - 2005

Based on the violent world of football 'firms' this movie is great fun watching a regular academic Joe become a lean mean fighting machine and the way this affects his perspective on life.

Elijah Wood is great but even better is Charlie Hunnam who you will know from Son's of Anarchy (Jax).

IMDB Info


Grandma's Boy - 2006

What do you get if all the extras from Adam Sandlers films come together and make a film?  Possibly the most underrated and most quotable comedy of all time.

This is a great laugh and we've watched this so many times with the boys playing it as a drinking game.  The rules are as follows:

1) Every time the word game or Eternal Death Slayer 3 is mentioned, drink.
2) Every time the robot voice is used, drink.
3) Every time theres boob on screen, drink.

Christ, I think theres more rules but I forget.   If you survive the movie even with the above you're doing well.

IMDB Info


Waiting... - 2005

This is a really stupid, typical Ryan Reynolds style comedy but I love it.  "The Goat", haha.

IMDB Info



More coming in part 2....