Top 5 "I didn't want to watch that, but I'm glad I did" films.

[Cali Panthers Fan]

Ok, most of us know what we like and often just go and watch it, but once in a while we get dragged to something, or reluctantly watch something that someone else really wants to (usually a significant other). 75% of the time we are right and honestly don't care for the film, but sometimes it's surprising and refreshing. This may require some thought, but list your top 5 films that you wouldn't have watched if someone hadn't asked you to. Explain why if you want.

1. Before Sunrise
Way back when I was a young lad you couldn't pay me to watch a romance movie, let alone one where it was 99% dialogue sitting around various places in Vienna. I was forced to watch Before Sunrise and I instantly became a fan of the genre. Still one of my favorite romantic movies ever.

2. The Notebook
See above re: romance movies. I was a little more apt to watch romantic movies at this point, but this one floored me. Just an amazing character driven story with some timeless moments. However, it was the scenes in the old folks home that drove me to tears. I bawled like a little girl at the end of that movie.

3. Tim's Vermeer
This one is pretty recent. It's a documentary about a man's obsession with painting in the style of Vermeer, the dutch master. What follows is a stunning revelation about technology, art, perseverance, human ingenuity etc. Really a remarkable film that I was not expecting to like so much. I was literally on the edge of my seat watching a man slowly paint. How many times have you said that in your life?

4. The Rape of Europa
A documentary about the nazi campaign to collect nearly all the master artworks of Europe and destroy any culture they despised. Engaging and heartbreaking, this is a film that is so much better than I thought it would be and is endlessly fascinating. The Monument's Men is a poor man's version of this amazing film.

5. Hairspray-2007 musical version
I actually like musicals, so it's not hard to get me to watch one, but this one I had reservations about. I've never been a John Waters fan, and I really didn't care for the original film he made. Plus, you're telling me that you put John Travolta in a fat suit AND drag? Also, Christopher Walken as a song and dance man? I just couldn't see this being good in any way and avoided it for a long time. I was genuinely surprised how much I enjoyed it. Great message, great performances, good songs, well crafted. Honestly a very good movie that I almost never gave the time of day to.

HM: Girl With The Dragon Tattoo-Original Swedish
This is kind of a funny one because I probably would have watched it eventually, but when my wife asked me to watch it back when it was a relatively unknown story in North America, I was very hesitant. Needless to say she couldn't say much about the story for spoilers, so she couldn't sell it effectively to me. I'm glad she forced me to watch it, and I'm glad I saw the original well before that mediocre American remake was made.

[Hack&Lube]

Originally Posted by Cali Flames Fan

1. Before Sunrise
Way back when I was a young lad you couldn't pay me to watch a romance movie, let alone one where it was 99% dialogue sitting around various places in Vienna. I was forced to watch Before Sunrise and I instantly became a fan of the genre. Still one of my favorite romantic movies ever.

Before Sunset (the sequel filmed 10 years after) is even better in my opinion.

I haven't watched Before Midnight yet. It's rare to get a trilogy that spans 20 real years where you just see the characters age and change together in a realistic way.

[GreenLantern]

Side Effects was a movie I really didn't think would be good and I ended up enjoying it.

[nik-]

I'm surprised you didn't want to watch Rape of Europa, I was all over that bad boy when I saw it on Netflix. Do you just not like the WW2 stuff?

My list ... incomplete.

Silver Linings Playbook - was put off by it because it seemed so depressing
21 Jump Street - went in with super low expecations and it turned out a lot better than I thought it would

[Cali Panthers Fan]

Originally Posted by nik-

I'm surprised you didn't want to watch Rape of Europa, I was all over that bad boy when I saw it on Netflix. Do you just not like the WW2 stuff?

No, actually I really do, but I didn't even know about this film. When I heard about it I wasn't thrilled to watch it only because it's a documentary about art. At the time I had no education on classic art, nor did I understand the obsession with it. I'm extremely glad I watched it because it spurred me to become an art fan and I now regularly seek out museums and galleries to further my understanding. It helped to turn me into a more well rounded human being. For that I'm grateful.

[Displaced Flames fan]

In no particular order:

Date Night- Begrudgingly agreed to see this with my wife. Laughed my ass off for two hours. Great comedy. The scene where Carrell's character

Spoiler!

begs Wahlberg, "For the love of God would you please put on a shirt!"

is tear inducing.

Dawn of the Planet of the Apes- Not a huge Sci-Fi guy. Not a huge fan of CGI dominated films (I can't stand Transformers for example), but this was so well done, with such a good story and beautifully shot.

Knight and Day- Tom Cruise and Cameron Diaz...two of my least favorite A-List stars. Turned out to be pretty entertaining.

Hanna- Not a great movie, but loads better than I was anticipating.

O' Brother Where Art Thou - Yes, I didn't want to see this when it first came out. Don't even remember why. Obviously a fantastic film at every level. Didn't see it til like 2012 and have probably seen it 10 times since.

[octothorp]

#1 for me is definitely the 2005 Pride and Prejudice. I've never liked Jane Austin novels or adaptations, but this movie is so beautifully filmed and well acted, and I can contentedly sit through repeat viewings when my wife decides she's in the mood for it. I'm a sucker for long shots, and the long shot at the gala in this movie is, IMO, one of the most expertly constructed ever; not as flashy as the Dunkirk long shot Wright has in Atonement, but more effective.

[troutman]

Kevin Nealon reviews 4 movies:

https://screen.yahoo.com/x-rated-mov...000000395.html

[Bill Bumface]

It's not a film, but along the lines of someone who hated reading Jane Austin novels, Downton Abbey. Something I thought I'd absolutely hate, but I'm addicted.

[djsFlames]

Lost in Translation.

[Locke]

Best Exotic Marigold Hotel - I thought it would be incredibly boring but it was fantastic.

[Dion]

August Osage County

[AcGold]

Originally Posted by fotze

Ya you would not expect whashername to take it in the pooper to preserve her virginity.

uhhhh.... what?

[Bill Bumface]

Originally Posted by fotze

Ya you would not expect whashername to take it in the pooper to preserve her virginity.

I never picked up on that during that scene. I'll never look at her the same.

[Flash Walken]

Originally Posted by Locke

Best Exotic Marigold Hotel - I thought it would be incredibly boring but it was fantastic.

Same here.

I liked life aquatic and tanenbaums, but darjeeling left me reeling (!).

Marigold turned out to be a great flick.

[Jiggy_12]

Burn After Reading
Pitch Perfect (Anna Kendrick didn't hurt the cause)
Cedar Rapids
Seven Psychopaths
Cube


I'm sure there are plenty more. But those stick out off the top of my head.

[PsYcNeT]

Notebook is right at the top for me. I too admit to crying a fair bit at the end. #### with old people always gets me.

[Dion]

Cider House Rules
Bridges Of Madison County
500 Days of Summer
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
American Beauty

[BlackEleven]

I thought all these would be lame, but ended up liking them quite a bit:
Love, Actually
House of Sand and Fog
Stardust
500 Days of Summer
Never Let Me Go

[Dion]

Originally Posted by BlackEleven

I thought all these would be lame, but ended up liking them quite a bit:
Love, Actually
House of Sand and Fog
Stardust
500 Days of Summer
Never Let Me Go

Can't believe I forgot that one..