Underrated Movies: The List - Part Two
Photo from Universal Pictures
From Larissa Benfey
Let’s keep the intro short and dive right in. Here’s part two of the list of underrated movies I watched this week and whether I think they deserve the title or not!
1. Scott Pilgrim vs. the World (2010)
Looking up the box office stats for this movie made me sad. It released the same day as The Expendables—I remember as much, since my friend and I were some of the only people in our theater watching this masterpiece, as everyone else clambered to see the first wild outing of Stallone and all his pals. This was an omen of things to come, as its entire theater run earned it just shy of $50 million, with a budget of somewhere between $60-85 million. But has Edgar Wright ever steered you wrong? The answer is no. And, in my opinion, this is one of his best. It’s a little more stylized than most of his other work, but has his trademark humor, a cast of excellent characters, and it actually makes Toronto look cool (don’t worry, I can say that—I’m Canadian). In the years since, it’s earned cult-classic status, but I still think more people need to discover this one. Underrated, through and through.
2. Children of Men (2006)
Oh boy, this movie was not set up for success. Another box office bomb, Children of Men released in the same month as Night at the Museum, The Pursuit of Happyness, Eragon, Charlotte’s Web, Rocky Balboa, Dream Girls, and The Good Shepherd. There was already something for every type of movie-goer. Plus, I’m not sure Christmas Day is the day people swarm to the theater to watch a dystopian action thriller. I’ll be honest, in December 2006, I chose to give my money to Matt Damon in The Good Shepherd, and Children of Men (though I’ve loved Clive Owen since Bourne) wasn’t really on my radar. While it didn’t do well in the box office, it was praised by critics like Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun-Times, who gave it four stars out of four. It’s also “certified fresh” on Rotten Tomatoes.
I watched it for the first time this week. I love a film that elicits discussions, conversations, and reflection. Children of Men absolutely falls into this category, as it presents a social commentary on a variety of issues—though I’m not sure all of them are completely intentional. Regardless, I think it’s worth a watch. I think it’s a movie with issues that are still worth talking about today. And because it was missed by the masses back in 2006, I think it absolutely qualifies as underrated. If you’ve never seen this one, I’d encourage you to change that.
3. Prisoners (2013)
As this film is directed by Denis Villeneuve and stars big box office draws like Hugh Jackman and Jake Gyllenhaal, it did very well for itself upon its release in September 2016 and continues to garner attention as people look back on the Dune director’s filmography. Still, many a movie-goer let it slip past them (myself included, even though I’m usually front-and-center at a Hugh Jackman release).
This was another I watched for the first time this week. As heart pounding as Children of Men—maybe don’t watch both movies on the same day, like I did—it lives up to its categorization of ‘thriller.’ So many actors give knock-out performances, and the story keeps your pounding heart in your throat for its entire two-and-a-half-hour runtime. I don’t think it’s possible to overstate how good this one is. While I’m tempted to give it a mere ‘appropriately rated’ seal, since it did have initial success and the performances earned even more attention, I’d still have to call this one underrated. Maybe it’s my bias for both Jackman and Gyllenhaal… but those two rarely miss.
4. Speed Racer (2008)
Like the fourth installment in part one of this article, this listing probably needs to start with a confession. Since I first saw Speed Racer in theaters in 2008, it’s held a pretty secure spot on my top ten list of favorite movies. I’m not a fan of all of the Wachowskis’ movies (don’t get me started on the confusion that is Jupiter Ascending), but when people refer to this one as their most underrated, I tend to agree. Yes, it’s campy. And sometimes silly. And so full of heart, it almost makes mine ache a bit. But please remember the source material it’s based on: a cartoon kids’ show from the 60s about a race car driving teenager who solves zany problems with help from his family and race car every week. Once you accept that, let it wash over you, absorb it into your very being—this movie is an absolute blast. And the visuals? Oh my! Seriously, if you haven’t watched this one, you’re missing out, big time!
5. True Romance (1993)
I left this one for last (of the general audience movies) because I’m afraid I might lose some of you here. I didn’t see this one when it first released (cut me some slack, I was five at the time), and even after years of noticing it on all kinds of cult-classic and underrated lists, I never felt the need to watch it—until this week. And I’m sorry to say it, but it did not live up to the hype. Maybe it just didn’t age well, with its (what seemed to me to be) blatantly racist and sexist undertones and no regard for things like ‘character arcs.’ I love many a Quentin Tarantino film (True Romance was one of his first, though Tony Scott directed), but I can also take a step back and acknowledge the guy, especially in the 90s, had (still has?) a bit of a one-sided worldview.
Here's a first for my list: I think this one actually qualifies as overrated. If you love shutting your brain off and watching anything with the name Tarantino attached, by all means, give this one a go. But it definitely didn’t feel worth the two hours I poured into it.
Kids’ Movie 1. Peter Pan (2003)
Let’s get a few things out of the way before I jump into this one. Nothing can top Hook. Robin Williams’ Peter and Dustin Hoffman’s Captain Hook are both top-tier. If you go into this movie comparing it to the ultimate classic, you’re setting yourself up for disappointment. And yes, I consider Hook to be the classic over Disney’s Peter Pan. But when it comes to the original story of Peter Pan—as a boy, meeting Wendy, bringing her back to Neverland—this movie is the one that gets it right. Having said that, what I enjoyed most about this version, both back when I first watched it as a young teen and still now, is how it is just as much Wendy’s story, as it is Peter’s. For that reason alone, I’d qualify this Peter Pan as underrated, but there’s even more going for it than that. For one thing, it has Jason Isaacs in what I believe to be the best role of his career, as he plays both Mr. Darling and Captain Hook, which is incredibly fun to watch. The movie also has such a beautiful, child-like view of magic and imagination and wonder, it’s impossible not to smile throughout. If you’ve never seen it, and want to feel like a kid again, this one’s for you.
Kids’ Movie 2. Treasure Planet (2002)
I don’t know if I’ll ever understand what Disney was thinking when they released this film just two weeks after Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. Sure, a fair amount of people still watched it, as it earned just under $110 million at the box office over its theater run, but it seems somehow stuck in the realm of Disney’s forgotten films, and boy, is that a damn shame. Its premise is simple: it’s Robert Louis Stevenson’s Treasure Island, but in space. It’s classic adventure meets coming-of-age, with space battles and alien pirates to boot. It’s fun from start to finish. It’s one of my favorite Disney films. And until blasts off, out of the shadows and into the limelight, I wholeheartedly believe this one to be underrated. With Disney+, it’s finally more accessible than ever before, so please give this one a watch. It’s so, so good.
So, there it is: the last of the fourteen movies random people claimed to be underrated and my opinion of each. But what do you think? Which ones do you agree with? Which of my verdicts have you absolutely fuming? I’d honestly love to know either way. Most importantly, which underrated movies didn’t make my list? I’m always game to watch more.
