What are the most underrated movies of all time?

[Riverwolf]

This is in response to atotalstranger's "What are the most overrated movies of all time?" thread, and the same thing applies, except in this case movies that are not looked at enough. Maybe they are known but under appreciated, or completely unknown to pretty much everybody and you feel it shouldn't be. Or, heck, the movie can be terrible, but have the potential to be great. (i.e., any of Edward D. Wood's movies before his turn to making porn)

Mine are:

-Contact (don't know why people didn't like this movie; I loved it!)
-Phantom Menace (I know a lot of people hated this movie, but the only real problems are the mediocre acting[particularly on Jake Lloyd's part], overuse of politics, Jar Jar's lack of a real journey, and the inclusion of the midiclorians; otherwise it's not that bad)
-Nosf... heck, ANYTHING from the Silent Movie era (they've been pushed aside and forgotten, these masterpieces like Nosferatu and Phantom of the Opera)
-Robin Hood - Prince of Theives(greatest Sherrif of Nottingham EVER!! And I find Kevin Costner's lack of an English accent and Christian Slater's pathetic attempt at one amusing)
-The Wizard (yeah, I know it's a two-hour Nintendo commercial, but I thought it was a pretty entertaining movie)
-Mortal Kombat (I LOVE THIS MOVIE! sequal really, really sucked, though)
-The Prestige (I don't hear much about this one, and I don't know why. It's awesome!)
-Plan 9 From Outer Space (this movie is hilarious; in the words of James Rolfe, "The essential so bad it's good movie.")
-TMNT (new one. Great drama and dark setting; I'd say it's as good as the original Turtles movie)
Batman - Mask of the Phantasm (animated movie, as good as the original Tim Burton movie and Dark Knight)

All I can think of right now. I may be back with more!

 

[Kilgore Trout]

Lady in the Water - awesome, massively underrated movie. Albeit, probably too far out for most people.

Legend - arguably the best fantasy movie of all time, despite starring Tom Cruise.

The Adventures of Baron Munchaussen - incredible story and movie-making by Terry Gilliam. Most people haven't even heard of it.

The Illusionist - another 'magician' movie out at the same time as The Prestige - less known, but far superior to the other.

 

[Trey of Diamonds]

The Sword and the Sorcerer

I loved this movie, it was by far better than any of the Conan movies. This is pulp action adventure at it's best.

 

[3.14]

sky captain and the world of tomorrow

 

[Nepenthe]

The Sword and the Sorcerer

I loved this movie, it was by far better than any of the Conan movies. This is pulp action adventure at it's best.

No! Hawk the Slayer is!!!!! And I have to admit that the first Conan film is one of my top 50 films of all time.

Dark City fits the OP for me hands down. Great film, great cast, amazing effects, and a far more clever use of the "simulated reality" trope than the silly Matrix films (ironically, the Matrix reused some of Dark City's sets). Proyas taps into German Expressionism with far more skill than Tim Burton could manage in a hundred films. It flopped on its initial release, but has since gained a cult following.

 

[Magic Man]

-The Prestige (I don't hear much about this one, and I don't know why. It's awesome!)

That's funny. All I've heard is good stuff about this. I actually think this one's overrated.

Legend - arguably the best fantasy movie of all time, despite starring Tom Cruise.

I wouldn't quite go that far, but it is very enjoyable. I do find myself watching it, if I catch it on. It's a little too short, and not much to it to be considered one of the true fantasy greats, IMO. I do agree that it's underrated, though.

The Illusionist - another 'magician' movie out at the same time as The Prestige - less known, but far superior to the other.

Here you took my top pick! I absolutely love this movie. I recently selected it as one of my top 5 favorites. It was far superior to The Prestige, IMO. It was much more subtle, and it was actually a lot like a good magic trick. I think this one's hugely underrated.

I will add "Brotherhood of the Wolf". I think it doesn't get as much attention here because it's French (and in French). But it's just plain bada**. The few people I know who've seen it love it, but I pretty much never hear anyone else ever talk about it.

 

[Apex]

I will add "Brotherhood of the Wolf". I think it doesn't get as much attention here because it's French (and in French). But it's just plain bada**. The few people I know who've seen it love it, but I pretty much never hear anyone else ever talk about it.

I loved that movie. I didn't even know it was in French till I watched it, and I still loved it.

 

[eugenius]

The new King Arthur, that movie rocked and hot horrible reviews.

Great flick.

 

[frg001]

Pi - Fantastic film and at the top of my all time favourites. Not sure if it counts as underrated, but it wasn't massive. Great soundtrack too. Oh and it has a religious storyline!

 

[Nepenthe]

I will add "Brotherhood of the Wolf". I think it doesn't get as much attention here because it's French (and in French). But it's just plain bada**. The few people I know who've seen it love it, but I pretty much never hear anyone else ever talk about it.

Alright, I enjoyed Le Pacte des Loups on a very different level. I thought it was a silly blending of every genre I loved since I was 10: martial arts, anime', horror, action, period piece. My wife and I saw it in West Hollywood on opening night so the theater was filled with pretentious film types, the majority on dates with their b'fs. So this predominately gay audience is initially grumbling and rolling their eyes at the film ("What?!?! An edit dissolve over a woman's breasts to mountains- who made this, a 14 year old!"), to a gradual embracing of the film with hoots and catcalls at all the scenes where Dacascos takes his shirt off. It was a fun night!

And not to argue the whole "underrated" aspect, but isn't it the second highest grossing French film in the U.S. and a smash hit worldwide?

But coincidentally, I'd say that Gans' other film, Silent Hill, was underrated. Critics hated it! But I defend it to this day as a faithful adaptation of one of the best video games ever made as well as an homage to Argento with a tip of the hat to Fulci as well.
My only complaint though is not using the dead nurses enough!

 

[rojse]

Primer (2004) - best time travel movie ever.

 

[dawny0826]

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind

I thought it was brilliant, personally.

 

[J Bryson]

Death To Smoochy. Certainly dark, certainly not for kids despite it taking place in the world of children's programming. And yet it's one of the funniest, most twisted films out there, and deserved better from both critics and audiences.

 

[The Voice of Reason]

Death To Smoochy. Certainly dark, certainly not for kids despite it taking place in the world of children's programming. And yet it's one of the funniest, most twisted films out there, and deserved better from both critics and audiences.

I have to frubal this post. Death to Smoochy was a very solid movie.

 

[Father Heathen]

Equilibrium. It just resonated with me.

 

[Zephyr]

I loved that movie. I didn't even know it was in French till I watched it, and I still loved it.

My friends and I watched it for the first time after a few beers. We didn't realize it was French until we saw the credits and noticed everybody had funny names.

Also, the next morning my friend Nathan kept asking questions about "That movie with the Indian and the fish."

I just don't know...

 

[Father Heathen]

The Sword and the Sorcerer

I loved this movie, it was by far better than any of the Conan movies. This is pulp action adventure at it's best.

YouTube - The Sword & The Sorcerer

 

[BucephalusBB]

Primer (2004) - best time travel movie ever.

I just have to second this one!