Movies you've stumbled upon and ended up liking

[ShooterMcGavin]

You ever browse through channels or simply turn on the TV and happen to stumble on a movie that you've never seen or heard of before but you end up liking it?

I had HBO on the TV. I wasn't paying attention to it, really. The only reason it was on was because I was watching The Departed. After I got done watching that, I just kind of left the TV on in the background as I did some last minute laundry and made myself a sandwich.

Right when I was about to turn off the TV and go to bed, I glanced at the screen and found myself really interested in what the hell was going on. I opened up the channel guide and apparently I was watching a movie called 8mm with Nicholas Cage.

Next thing I knew I was on my couch with a bowl of popcorn.

It's about this private investigator who gets hired to investigate a snuff film that some rich lady found. Actually I'm bad at summarizing movies without giving spoilers so here's the IMDB summary:
A small, seemingly innocuous plastic reel of film leads surveillance specialist Tom Welles down an increasingly dark and frightening path. With the help of the streetwise Max, Welles relentlessly follows a bizarre trail of evidence to determine the fate of a complete stranger. As his work turns into obsession, he drifts farther and farther away from his wife, family and simple life as a small-town private eye


So what are some movies you've simply stumbled upon and ended up watching all of it?

[Budyzir]

For me, "Usual Suspects". In the mid 90's I was stationed on Guam and looking through the film offerings of the local video shop. I had picked what I thought would be the main movie of the night and was looking for the "B" movie. Little did I know. I don't remember what was my first choice but, to this day I joke; "I work for Keyser Söze".

"... and 'poof' he was gone."

Excellent movie.

[BravoSierra]

About 8-9 years ago, I was up late on a school night. I'll seriously never forget it. Just cruisin around the channels and "Dazed and Confused" was on USA. I had never heard of it at the time. But I fell in love with the fucking movie. I remember catching it at the baseball game scene. A movie I never heard of, ended up liking, and it ends up a classic. Kinda cool I guess.

As for sitcoms... Freaks and Geeks. Found my buddy's full dvd collection that had every episode. I spent 14 fucking hours watching that show. What a fucking GEM!

[seeinred]

Out at school one night when I couldn't sleep (which was most nights) I just turned on HBO and the Chumscrubber was on. I ended up watching it, and it's one of my favorite movies now. I saw a similar movies list or something somewhere too, and it recommended Brick and Green Street Hooligans, both of which I also love.

From IMDB:

The chumscrubber - he Chumscrubber is a dark comedy about the lives of people who live in upper-class suburbia. It all begins when Dean Stiffle finds the body of his friend, Troy. He doesn't bother telling any of the adults because he knows they won't care. Everyone in town is too self consumed to worry about anything else than themselves. And everybody is on some form of drug just to get themselves through the day. After Troy's death, local drug dealers at the school run out of their stash. They convince Dean to get Troy's stash or they are going to kill his brother that they kidnapped, but they grabbed the wrong kid.

Green Street Hooligans - After Harvard student Matt Buckner (wood) is wrongfully expelled he then decides to visit his sister in England Shannon (forlani) while in the process meets his sisters husband Steve Dunham (warren) and his little brother Pete Dunham (hunnam) and the two quickly become friends but only until the next day that after going to watch West Ham United v Birmingham City and being involved in a fight between the two teams firms that he finds out that his new cockney friend is in fact the violent top boy (leader) of West Ham's hooligan firm the GSE (green street elite) but despite this fact finds himself getting involved along with a reputation and what no university can teach him, he learns to fight, confidence, and most importantly he learns to stand by his friends no matter what the consequences in this gritty violent story of hooliganism, respect, and friendship
Brick - n a modern-day Southern California neighborhood and high school, student Brendan Frye's piercing intelligence spares no one. He's not afraid to back up his words with actions, and knows all the angles; yet he prefers to stay an outsider, and does - until the day that his ex-girlfriend, Emily, reaches out to him unexpectedly and then vanishes. His feelings for her still run deep; so much so, that he becomes consumed with finding his troubled inamorata. To find her, he enlists the aid of his only true peer, the Brain, while keeping the assistant vice principal only occasionally informed of what quickly becomes a dangerous investigation. Brendan's single-minded unearthing of students' secrets thrusts him headlong into the colliding social orbits of rich-girl sophisticate Laura, intimidating Tugger, substance-abusing Dode, seductive Kara, jock Brad and - most ominously - non-student the Pin. Only by gaining acceptance into the Pin's closely guarded inner circle of crime and punishment that Brendan will be able to uncover hard truths about himself, Emily and the suspects that he is getting closer to

[rustytrombone1]

Harold & Kumar go to White Castle....

[Hudson]

Legend of 1900

[The Sarge]

"Let's go to Prison", was a hoot.

[WhiskeyWhispers]

For me this usually happens with indie flicks.

I remember being sick one day and the remote was too far away (5 feet) to change the channel so I left it on IFC.

First on was The Tao Of Steve , with Donal Logue (best known for the sitcom Grounded For Life). He plays like a 30 something slacker/chauvinistic slob who meets a girl he used to date in college and falls for her. It's just a really good dialogue/character driven comedy/drama. Logue is great in it.

Next up they played Smoke Signals. It's about 2 American Indians, one whose estranged father has just died, who go on a road trip to pick up the father's remains. The only recognizable cast member is Adam Beach, who was recently in Flags Of Our Fathers. Again, it's a nice low key movie that is very well written and acted, both funny and sad.

If you like low key indie flicks, definitely check these two out.

[CM Mark]

The Ninth Gate

http://imdb.com/title/tt0142688/

[ruckstande]

Kung Pow. I thought this was going to be the dumbest hunk of shit ever and I laughed my ass off the whole way through.

[EvilMonkey71]

Out at school one night when I couldn't sleep (which was most nights) I just turned on HBO and the Chumscrubber was on. I ended up watching it, and it's one of my favorite movies now. I saw a similar movies list or something somewhere too, and it recommended Brick and Green Street Hooligans, both of which I also love.

From IMDB:

The chumscrubber - he Chumscrubber is a dark comedy about the lives of people who live in upper-class suburbia. It all begins when Dean Stiffle finds the body of his friend, Troy. He doesn't bother telling any of the adults because he knows they won't care. Everyone in town is too self consumed to worry about anything else than themselves. And everybody is on some form of drug just to get themselves through the day. After Troy's death, local drug dealers at the school run out of their stash. They convince Dean to get Troy's stash or they are going to kill his brother that they kidnapped, but they grabbed the wrong kid.

Green Street Hooligans - After Harvard student Matt Buckner (wood) is wrongfully expelled he then decides to visit his sister in England Shannon (forlani) while in the process meets his sisters husband Steve Dunham (warren) and his little brother Pete Dunham (hunnam) and the two quickly become friends but only until the next day that after going to watch West Ham United v Birmingham City and being involved in a fight between the two teams firms that he finds out that his new cockney friend is in fact the violent top boy (leader) of West Ham's hooligan firm the GSE (green street elite) but despite this fact finds himself getting involved along with a reputation and what no university can teach him, he learns to fight, confidence, and most importantly he learns to stand by his friends no matter what the consequences in this gritty violent story of hooliganism, respect, and friendship
Brick - n a modern-day Southern California neighborhood and high school, student Brendan Frye's piercing intelligence spares no one. He's not afraid to back up his words with actions, and knows all the angles; yet he prefers to stay an outsider, and does - until the day that his ex-girlfriend, Emily, reaches out to him unexpectedly and then vanishes. His feelings for her still run deep; so much so, that he becomes consumed with finding his troubled inamorata. To find her, he enlists the aid of his only true peer, the Brain, while keeping the assistant vice principal only occasionally informed of what quickly becomes a dangerous investigation. Brendan's single-minded unearthing of students' secrets thrusts him headlong into the colliding social orbits of rich-girl sophisticate Laura, intimidating Tugger, substance-abusing Dode, seductive Kara, jock Brad and - most ominously - non-student the Pin. Only by gaining acceptance into the Pin's closely guarded inner circle of crime and punishment that Brendan will be able to uncover hard truths about himself, Emily and the suspects that he is getting closer to

Woah...Green Street Hooligans was the first one that popped into my head when I saw the thread title! I found out about that one through a Netflix recomendation.

I also caught Chumscrubber one afternoon on HBO and ended up watching the entire thing. I was just thinking about that movie the other day and trying to remember what the hell the name of it was.

Brick is a good one also....Ronnie B recomended that one on the show when it first came out.

[Eagle.007]

Legend of 1900


When I still had Directv I liked watching IFC (Independent Film Channel). One night Legend of 1900 was on. It is now my favorite movie ever. Tim Roth is fantastic in it and the score is great. As we all know from EoG, Morricone is a master. I also found Ghost World on IFC, I love the Thora Birch character. The Henry Rollins Show is also great. Man I miss IFC.

[WhiteHonkyDevil]

Saw The Boondock Saints on sale at Blockbuster, I thought it sounded terrible, my friend thought it sounded great. He bought it.

I fucking love that movie.

[Zona992006]

Well, not Private Parts.

[Ant's_rapier]

Saw The Boondock Saints on sale at Blockbuster, I thought it sounded terrible, my friend thought it sounded great. He bought it.

I fucking love that movie.

I stumbled upon Boondock Saints as well.

[PunchYourself187]

"The Hudsucker Proxy"

[wes mantooth]

Slither. I got it from Netflix when I couldn't find anything else I wanted. I was pleasantly surprised.

[Vyce]

Oh God, Boondock Saints.

Not a bad film, but UNBELIEVABLY overrated. Again, it's decent, but really, it's just like a painfully weak attempt to make an Irish-themed indie film in the same vein as Pulp Fiction or Reservoir Dogs.

[generoso]

SLC Punks, Pan's Lyberith, so many others I love IFC and Sundance chanells as well....

[seeinred]

SLC Punks, Pan's Lyberith, so many others I love IFC and Sundance chanells as well....

x2 on SLC Punk. I forget how I stumbled upon it, but that's a nifty movie.

[Jerry1]

There were three movies I didn't really wanna see at first but ended up liking them alot.
Equilibrium, Jay & Silent Bob Strike Back and Office Space.
Equilibrium and Jay & Silent Bob my brother made me watch and luved them both. And Office Space one of my friends got to watch and glad I was wrong about.

[kidconnor]

The Stoned Age. Don't know how I happened upon it but funny as hell.

Peppermint schnapps... and some hot girl...

[SurlyTruckDrivr]

The Stoned Age. Don't know how I happened upon it but funny as hell.

Peppermint schnapps... and some hot girl...
and one big eyeball at the end....holy shit I was thinking of this same movie. Haven't seen it in years, but was good for a laugh at 4 in the morning after a bong hit or 2.

[SweetPotatoPune]

Never done the netflix thing, just get the movie channels and scroll two weeks forward. Came across a movie Harvey Keitel was in, Smoke. Fantastic

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0114478/

[Hudson]

Bad Lt
State of Grace
Things to do in Denver
Stalag 17

[MattyIceGfunk]

Click wasn't half as bad as I thought it would be and Kate Beckinsale is smoking.

[EvilMonkey71]

Never done the netflix thing, just get the movie channels and scroll two weeks forward. Came across a movie Harvey Keitel was in, Smoke. Fantastic

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0114478/

QFT....I watch that movie every time I stumble across it on tv.

I have to agree with Vyce about Boondock Saints....way overhyped. By the time I saw it, I thought "what's the big deal?".

[kloraferm]

This was several years ago, but one that comes to mind for me was Sleepers.

[flyerfan116]

haven't really had time for movies i wanna see let alone happening to catch one...but back in the day i was big on that would go to the local video place and either rent a bunch or buy them and just check them out even if they seemed the least bit entertaining...lots of bad ones but i also discovered Beautiful girls, She's the one, Brothers Mcmillian, and the grandaddy of them all Clerks. that way

[ruckstande]

I almost forgot about Sahara with Humphrey Bogart. I just happened to see it and couldn't stop watching it. I eventually bought it on DVD. Not many people remember it.

[Hudson]

I almost forgot about Sahara with Humphrey Bogart. I just happened to see it and couldn't stop watching it. I eventually bought it on DVD. Not many people remember it.
John Wayne: Donovan's Reef

[mills]

Fight Club!

I caught the last 15 minutes and was immediately hooked. I guess that was an easy one, and I guess this whole thread is easy when you have a hotbox descrambler that gets ppv.

Still though, Fight Club is a VERY unique experience when you first stumble on the last 15 minutes and then run to watch it from the beginning.

[ratedRsuperstar]

boondock saints
smokin' aces
the gift (keanu was a DICK)
the ninth gate
ong-bak
american history x
higher learning

and because of the bbbboys i've learned to appreciate other movies MORE now:
clockwork
shining
silence of the lambs
schindler's list
fargo
jaws

and a shit load of others that get referenced

[Hudson]

Seven,
Fallen,
Quiet(twisted and sick), Spank the Monkey, (I really think I need to stop watcing IFC),
Why We Fight,
The F word,
The Prime Gig (now I know I do)

[esswhy]

I stumbled upon "Zero Effect" a few years ago. I had never heard of it.....ended up loving it. Ben Stiller was in it.

I also loved "first time at cherry high." I stumbled across it when I was a kid. Fucking classic

[domelogic]

just recently stumbled across drug lord(i think that is the title) with nick cage. its about a gun runner based on an actual person. thought it was pretty good.

[mills]

The Stoned Age. Don't know how I happened upon it but funny as hell.

Peppermint schnapps... and some hot girl...
The schnappster *pinnnnnnnnnng*

Dunno how I stumbled upon that one either, but is was good times, in a Men At Work sort of way.

(golf clap?)

[Hudson]

just recently stumbled across drug lord(i think that is the title) with nick cage. its about a gun runner based on an actual person. thought it was pretty good.
Lord of War?

[25133WhooOoAH]

Fargo...Put it on one night...not thinking it would be that great and it turns out I fucking love that movie....


And yeah Boondocks saints is overrated

[Hudson]

Since we are on Nick Cage...The Boy in Blue...
and the best Kevin Costner movies: American Flyers, Fandango, Field of Dreams, The Untouchables, and The Big Chill (he was the corpse).

[Reichs]

Movies I've stumbled upon and are now a part of a huge collection of favorite flicks:

Freeway
S.F.W.
Salvage
Kontroll
Fellini-Satyricon
The Thing
Paranoia 1.0
Exotica

Originally posted by ShooterMcGavin:
Right when I was about to turn off the TV and go to bed, I glanced at the screen and found myself really interested in what the hell was going on. I opened up the channel guide and apparently I was watching a movie called 8mm with Nicholas Cage.

Isn't that movie in the same vein as "Hardcore", which O&A take the "Turn it off... turn it off... turn it aaawwwwff!" clip from? (I believe I am "lingering longer" here)

[Hudson]

l
Fellini-Satyricon
The Thing

Satyricon...The razorblade to the eyeball movie?
The remake of the Thing? both were cool!

[Reichs]

Hmm... I don't remember whether or not Satyricon had any eye-razoring... it was still pretty fucking weird, though.

And yeah, the one with Russell. :icon_bigg

[Hudson]

Hmm... I don't remember whether or not Satyricon had any eye-razoring... it was still pretty fucking weird, though.

And yeah, the one with Russell. :icon_bigg I think am thinking of Un Chien Andalou by Dali

[Squat Toilet]

Factotum. Caught it on Starz the other night, what a great fucking movie.
Matt Dillon is awesome as a drunk who can't hold a job. Must see.

[maz]

Saw The Boondock Saints on sale at Blockbuster, I thought it sounded terrible, my friend thought it sounded great. He bought it.

I fucking love that movie.

bought it last year
forget why
love it

[coolyellowbus]

For me this usually happens with indie flicks.

I remember being sick one day and the remote was too far away (5 feet) to change the channel so I left it on IFC.



IFC plays the best movies. I have like 10 movies from that channel DVRd still needing to be watched.

last movie I stumbled on that was just great was twin falls idaho (http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/twin_falls_idaho/). It's about Siamese twin brothers that become befriended by a prostitute.

It's just a great movie. Def. a new twist on the traditional love story.

[CrazyMrPoopSex]

I stumbled upon Boondock Saints as well.

I bought that movie out of the $7 bin at wal mart. I thought I had heard the name before and figured what the hell. Love that flick

[domelogic]

Lord of War?

yeah thats it i knew i fucked up the title.

this thread has given me movies to watch i never heard of. keep em coming

[25133WhooOoAH]

Susperia

[kloraferm]

Since we are on Nick Cage...The Boy in Blue...
and the best Kevin Costner movies: American Flyers, Fandango, Field of Dreams, The Untouchables, and The Big Chill (he was the corpse).
As far as Costner flicks, one I happened upon not too long ago that I kinda liked was Thirteen Days.

[ruckstande]

IFC plays the best movies. I have like 10 movies from that channel DVRd still needing to be watched.

last movie I stumbled on that was just great was twin falls idaho (http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/twin_falls_idaho/). It's about Siamese twin brothers that become befriended by a prostitute.

It's just a great movie. Def. a new twist on the traditional love story.
I thought that movie only would play on my tv because no one else has ever seen it. I really like this movie a lot.

[Hudson]

As far as Costner flicks, one I happened upon not too long ago that I kinda liked was Thirteen Days. I did see, It is a remake of 13 days in May.

[TallBaby]

I had never seen the movie "Dave" with Kevin Kline until I caught it on TV one day....now its among my favorites. That and Innerspace.

[kloraferm]

I did see, It is a remake of 13 days in May.
I didn't even realize that. Is it worth checking out?

[Hudson]

I didn't even realize that. Is it worth checking out?
If you like old movies...Much better
I just remembered...the Dambusters...they are doing a remake right now about how they made bombs skip to make two Key dams Blow up.

[WhiteHonkyDevil]

Nice to see love for The Stoned Age. I didn't mention it because I figured nobody else had ever heard of it.

Caught it one night on Showtime in 95 or so. Now I have to watch it at least once a month.

You gonna boogie with the foxes tonight?

[Stormrider666]

I did see, It is a remake of 13 days in May.

Wait a minute, I thought 13 Days in May, was about a military coup taking over the United States. While 13 Thirteen Days is about the Cuban Missile Crisis. Edit: Its Seven Days in May, about the plot to take over the United States. The 2000 13 days is pretty good though.

[Hudson]

Wait a minute, I thought 13 Days in May, was about a military coup taking over the United States. While 13 Thirteen Days is about the Cuban Missile Crisis. Edit: Its Seven Days in May, about the plot to take over the United States. The 2000 13 days is pretty good though.
Sorry, you are correct, Thirteen Days is baised on The Missles of October.....Seven Days in May I saw them back to back!