Spoiler-free movies

It's been a long time since I've seen a movie I've really, thoroughly enjoyed. This was most likely a movie I watched without (or minimal) prior knowledge of the storyline, without having read reviews or seen a trailer; the saturation of information on films takes too much of the surprise out of them, and can make potentially excellent films predictable.

With that in mind this topic is dedicated to finding good movies that are relatively unknown, which can provide a pleasant surprise because of knowing very little about them beforehand. Please post movies you enjoyed and that aren't too well-known, movies that surprised you, and say whatever you wish about them; try to keep as much a surprise as possible. One rule:

*No spoilers!*

To start it off, The Man Who Wasn't There starring Billy Bob Thornton. At this time I didn't know much about the makers of this movie, but have since enjoyed a number of films by the same people; this one still stands out due to great acting and a subdued style, and came as a complete surprise. Highly recommended!

So, which movies would you recommend?

Well, I saw Saw II last night, and as much as the premise of the story is still kind of wonky and the whole thing is really nu-metal, the plot of the second one is better than the first, but takes into account events from the the first film to expand the plot in the second. A few twists here and there and it was a solid improvement over the first. I'm only bringing it up, though, because you want a movie where you can't figure out what's going on until the end, right?

I was pleasently surprised by "Serenity" . A Sci-Fi that depics the end of the short-lived Firefly TV Series. I have not seen a single episode of the TV series, and knew nothing about it (other that it was supposed to be a mild blend between Sci Fi and Western).
If you like space operas and witty dialogue, go see it (or at least rent it, whenn it comes to DVD).

I consider Event Horizon to be an extremely scary movie, one that gave me more nightmares than the snoozer of a movie, The Ring (or Ringu). My favorite scary scene is the airducts. I believe the single scariest part, however, is listening to the radio transmittion of the Event Horizon's previous crew.
It's 8 years old now, but it can still scare folks with the best of them.

There you have it, a good movie without any of the spoilers.

As for the quotes in the movie, one really stands out as my favorite, mostly because I use it all the time.

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Miller: [interrupting] "Layman's terms"?
Cooper: Well, **** layman's terms! Do you speak English?

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Diggstown, it's kinda like a Usual Suspects type 'who's manipulating who' film disguised as a boxing movie.

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Originally Posted by kekvitirae

I believe the single scariest part, however, is listening to the radio transmittion of the Event Horizon's previous crew.
It's 8 years old now, but it can still scare folks with the best of them.

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I saw that film at one of the best cinema's in the UK, the Empire Leicester Square.
It has a fantastic sound system and an enormous screen. I went for a matinee where there were only about 10 people in this massive auditorium.

The radio transmission spooked the c**p out of me and still makes me think twice about watching that movie again; although a mate says you should watch it on DVD and slow that sequence down!
:hide:

It didn't help that there was a chap about 6 rows back sitting on his own; he was obviously petrified and kept making small gibbering noises to himself! :fainting:

Event Horizon = very scary.

I also liked the Others, more an old fashioned ghost story but a good movie neverthless.

Also the Idiots, though if you hate Dogme give it a miss.

Oh and typing Dogme reminded me that Dogma made me laugh like a drain, but maybe you have to be catholic.

The only scary thing about Event horizon is that it got made in the first place. It sent me to sleep and would rather sit down and watch love actually again, which as everyone knows is horrendous

Apt Pupil: a high school boy discovers a nazi war criminal is living near him and blackmails him to hear the truth about concentrating camps. Based on a Stephen King novella (which I've never read)

Pi: math is cool.

Man bites dog (C'est arrivé près de chez vous): pretty disturbing belgian movie, a camera crew follows a criminal (and serial killer) around. It was made before the whole reality tv hype, and was pretty prophetic about the moral decay of television.

L'auberge Espagnol: pretty entertaining French movie about exchange students in France. It helps if you've been an exchange student or know a couple of people who are/were.

House of Flying daggers: Like Hero or crouching tiger hidden dragon, but actually good

Festen: A Danish movie about a family with 'issues'.

Man bits dog is a great film, for sickness in that vein watch cannibal holocaust, a disturbing but brill movie

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Originally Posted by NeonGod

I'm only bringing it up, though, because you want a movie where you can't figure out what's going on until the end, right?

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Not necessarily just that. Basically movies there's a good chance I haven't heard anything or much about before, so I can sit down and watch with very little information on the content; preferably even without knowing the premise, just a recommended title.

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Originally Posted by Tricon

I was pleasently surprised by "Serenity" . A Sci-Fi that depics the end of the short-lived Firefly TV Series. I have not seen a single episode of the TV series, and knew nothing about it (other that it was supposed to be a mild blend between Sci Fi and Western).

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That movie's the main reason I brought up this subject. All I've heard about it is that it's very good and almost completely unexpectedly so, and after hearing that I'm trying to switch off completely to any information relating to the movie before I see it.

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Originally Posted by kekvitirae

I consider Event Horizon to be an extremely scary movie, one that gave me more nightmares than the snoozer of a movie, The Ring (or Ringu). My favorite scary scene is the airducts. I believe the single scariest part, however, is listening to the radio transmittion of the Event Horizon's previous crew.
It's 8 years old now, but it can still scare folks with the best of them.

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'tis a good un. I was quite a lot younger when I watched it, and it sure made an impression.

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Originally Posted by doc_bean

Apt Pupil: a high school boy discovers a nazi war criminal is living near him and blackmails him to hear the truth about concentrating camps. Based on a Stephen King novella (which I've never read)

Pi: math is cool.

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Apt Pupil sounds good, but even the information you posted is too much as far as I'm concerned; the whole point of this exercise is to find movies to watch knowing only the name, genre, and that it's supposed to be good. No plot whatsoever, not even the basic premise.

Pi is excellent. I'll see if I can find some of the others.

I don't have any good movies with a major twist, but I have a few good, straightforward entertaining movies for you:

Hard Times- Charlie Bronson is a drifter during the Depression, who has come into New Orleans looking for some easy work. He discovers a large ring of pugilists, who make their money essentially the same way as boxers (each party bids money, whoever wins takes the official pot as well as the many bets made during the fight.) As it turns out, Charlie is really good- so good, in fact, that many accuse him of being a Ringer. His manager, played by James Coburn , is a drunken sot and gambling addict who cannot hold onto any money, and his primary troubles stem from this. A rather rough movie, but a very good one; the fight scenes, in particular, are a real no-frills deal.

Death Hunt- a good movie with a terrible name. It is based on a true story, but the movie goes much further than the story did. Charles Bronson is a mountian man named Albert Johnson, who has ercently returned to the Yukon territory- what exactly he does is questionable, but it is likely he is a trapper. (The wierd problem is, he has an incredible amount of money for a trapper- and especially consicering the squirrely ****er he is.) He gets mixed up with a foul group of trappers living in a nearby town when he takes one of their dogs (the dog was being mistreated- badly), and the trappers proceed to assault his well-fortified cabin. In the process, one of the trappers is killed, and the other trappers place the responsibility on Johnson. A mounty named Edgar Millen, played by the ever-lovable Lee Marvin, gathers a posse of trappers, and attempts to resolve the situation peacefully; however, the trappers waste little time in starting a gunfight that results in four more of their number being killed (and one man being caught in a bear trap.) Though Johnson's shack is eventually destroyed, he escapes- and a massive manhunt follows. Great acting, especailly from Lee Marvin, and a suprisingly good acting job from Charles Bronson.

The Wild Bunch- One of my favorite movies ever. It has William Holden, Ernest Borgnine, and Warren Oates. There are no real good guys- just a bunch of hicks and criminals with guns. The movie follows a group of robbers in the era between the old west and the gang era; it opens, and closes, with two of the best shootout scenes I have ever seen. Overall a very good movie.

There are a few more, but I am tired of typing.

Some movies that surprised me with their quality or entertainment vallue.

Mean Guns: Action flick.(Now showing on Showtime sometimes.) 99 criminals are let loose in a new build prison before its opening day (there is a reason, don't worry). Anything goes, every weapon is provided. The price: 10 Million. but only two (or was it three) may leave the prison alive.
Loads of fun.

Desperate measures: Action flick. Michael Keaton in one of his better roles as a villain. Lots of action, but not unescessarily inflated. Nice twists and spins.

Cavemens Vallentine: Nice mystery thriller. Something for thinkers.

The Professional: Mmh. How to describe it? I won't. Look for it at you neighbourhood dvd store. Rent it. Love it.

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Originally Posted by Tricon

Desperate measures: Action flick. Michael Keaton in one of his better roles as a villain. Lots of action, but not unescessarily inflated. Nice twists and spins.

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This is what I'm looking for; a minimum of info, just enough to decide if it might be something interesting.

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Originally Posted by Zorba

Hard Times- Charlie Bronson is a drifter during the Depression, who has come into New Orleans looking for some easy work. He discovers a large ring of pugilists, who make their money essentially the same way as boxers (each party bids money, whoever wins takes the official pot as well as the many bets made during the fight.) As it turns out, Charlie is really good- so good, in fact, that many accuse him of being a Ringer. His manager, played by James Coburn , is a drunken sot and gambling addict who cannot hold onto any money, and his primary troubles stem from this. A rather rough movie, but a very good one; the fight scenes, in particular, are a real no-frills deal.

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Ack! Too much information! Although the film sounds interesting, the idea behind the topic is a minimum of information other than an indication of quality and genre, and possibly the names of the lead actors or director. Anything else is a spoiler. It's strict, admitted, but the idea is to watch potentially interesting films with as little prior knowledge as possible, and be surprised from start to finish; not necessarily plotwise (though it is most welcome), but basically starting to watch a movie only knowing practically nothing other than that it's meant to be good. But a definite thanks for providing some movies to keep an eye out for.

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Originally Posted by Geoffrey S

Apt Pupil sounds good, but even the information you posted is too much as far as I'm concerned; the whole point of this exercise is to find movies to watch knowing only the name, genre, and that it's supposed to be good. No plot whatsoever, not even the basic premise.

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What I told all takes place within the first ten minutes of the movie :bow:

I saw Kung Fu Hustle today, a martial arts comedy, highly recommended :duel:

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Originally Posted by Geoffrey S

Ack! Too much information! Although the film sounds interesting, the idea behind the topic is a minimum of information other than an indication of quality and genre, and possibly the names of the lead actors or director. Anything else is a spoiler. It's strict, admitted, but the idea is to watch potentially interesting films with as little prior knowledge as possible, and be surprised from start to finish; not necessarily plotwise (though it is most welcome), but basically starting to watch a movie only knowing practically nothing other than that it's meant to be good. But a definite thanks for providing some movies to keep an eye out for.

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There is a lot more to it than just that. That is barely even the bones of this movie. The same goes for the other two movies I mentioned; I did little more than set up the beginning of the movies. See them anyway; it will do you good.

Anyway, in that case, a few more suggestions:

Bullitt- one of the older crime dramas (it came out in the mid-70's), it has Steve McQueen in one of his best roles. A very good movie.

Once Upon a Time in the West- the best western ever made, period. It was the best of the westerns made by Sergio Leone, and it features Henry Fonda, Charles Bronson, and Claudia Cardinale (even if you don't know who she is beforehand, you will as soon as you see her. ~;) She is also a very good actress.)

Zorba the Greek- need I say more?

Death Wish 2- a very straightforward, shoot-em-up vigilante movie. Another terrible title (although admittedly this one is a little more aptly named.) Once again, it stars Charlie Bronson.

So there you go- some of my old, all-time favorites.

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Originally Posted by Zorba

Bullitt- one of the older crime dramas (it came out in the mid-70's), it has Steve McQueen in one of his best roles. A very good movie.

Once Upon a Time in the West- the best western ever made, period. It was the best of the westerns made by Sergio Leone, and it features Henry Fonda, Charles Bronson, and Claudia Cardinale (even if you don't know who she is beforehand, you will as soon as you see her. ~;) She is also a very good actress.)

Zorba the Greek- need I say more?

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Seen these; I particularly liked Once Upon a Time in the West.

Some more good movies:
The Motorcycle Diaries - based on the early life of a certain revolutionary. Beautifuly scenery and a generally light-hearted, pleasant film. Drama.

Funny Bones - Darkish comedy set in Blackpool. Fairly slow, but some fantastic moments, particularly the end. Comedy

El Mariachi - Where Robert Rodriguez started. Made on a shoestring budget, yet still got numerous great moments. Action.

Impostor - A surprisingly good sci-fi film I hadn't heard about before I watched it. Recommended by a friend, it's a lot better than you'd expect. Sci-fi.

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Originally Posted by Zorba

Bullitt- one of the older crime dramas (it came out in the mid-70's), it has Steve McQueen in one of his best roles. A very good movie.

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"You drive like Steve McQueen, man!"

"Primer" indie film about power, ethics, and consequences.

"as god is my witness" bollywood buddy movie which has one of the coolest names of a street level thug 'khaliyah danger.' he plays no important role in the movie at all, but i love that name.

Angel Heart
Blood Simple

Bound (1996) "It's not where you've been...it's where you're bound." The title has a triple meaning. Very well done crime thriller.

The Descent (2005) 90 minutes of unrelenting claustrophobic tension. Very well done horror/thriller.

Jian Gui (The Eye, 2002) "Some things are better left unseen." Effective psychological/supernatural thriller. The Eye 2 was a dissapointment.

Janghwa, Hongryeon (A Tale of Two Sisters, 2003) "Every family has its dark secrets." Very scary and well done psychological thriller.

Mulholland Drive (2001) "It's strange calling yourself." Very interesting and complex psychological thriller.

Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer (1986) "Yeah, I killed my Mama." Garnered an X rating simply because it's so grim and disturbing.

Agree with Angelheart and the descent. Great films. Other films i would suggest watching are:


Brother: Great yakuza/mafia film

Braindead: Classic sicko stuff

The 13th warrior: Some love or some hate it. I love it, i just can't help it

Mississpi Burning: Great film and well acted

The Birdcage: One of the funniest films i have ever seen

The Big lebowski: It is impossible not to love this film, whoever hasn't seen it, watch and enjoy cinema perfection

Dobermann: Insane shoot em fest set in France, amazingly depraved