Good DVDs?

D

Dr. Celtic™

New member
Hi, I was wondering if people could recommend some good DVRAB? Stuff like 13th Floor, Imposter, and Cube? I am getting Cube 2 and then Zero but I like films like these - Sci-Fi, Mystery, Thrillers. Stuff that keeps you gripped. I only came across the ones named above through looking for little known good films and read the reviews.

I like big films too but enjoy films like the above cos... well I'm not really sure, it's just it seems as if the focus is on the story as opposed to the actors involved. Okay, sometimes these films are appalingly bad but I've seen a few good ones through reading reviews. I've added quite a few to my list but want more of these types of films.

Thanks.:)
 
Well, of course what defines a movie as 'good' is purely subjective and so rather than try and provide you with a list of what I consider 'good' films, I've tried to match your request for similar films to Cube and The Thirteenth Floor with a sci-fi/thriller/mystery edge:

Cypher (2002) - It's a low budget sci-fi mystery, with Lucy Lui. I rented this a while back and was surprised by how 'above average' it was when I was expecting it to be a right stinker! Well worth a look...

Dark City (1998) - Fantastic Sci-Fi film with more than a passing similarity to 'The Matrix' at times. Sorely underlooked, but a great watch when you get into it. Highly recommended!

Strange Days (1995) - A poor-man's Bladerunner at times, but certainly worthy of your time considering you enjoyed 'The Thirteenth Floor'. Not my thing, but I'm pretty sure you'll be able to take something away with you.

Those should get you started... I'll list more as/if/when I think of them...

EDIT:

Johnny Mnemonic (1995) - Blockbuster failure for Keanu Reeves, but again, it falls into the sci-fi thriller category. It's not as bad as everyone made it out to be and has become a bit of a 'camp' classic of sorts.

Sphere (1998) - Hmm... above average Sci-Fi fare with a twist of thriller. Somewhere between James Cameron's The Abyss (1989) and Roger DonalRABon's Species (1995).

The Andromeda Strain (1970) - Another Highly recommended film. It's dated slightly, but the story is still strong and the effects are still surprisingly good considering.
 
Cypher and Dark City are on my list, I'll check out the reviews for Strange Days. Seen Sphere and Johnny Mneumonic. I usually avoid films from around before 1985, I find it hard to watch! Visuals are pretty important to me. I've looked into it but it put me off a little.

damndirtyape said:
Well, of course what defines a movie as 'good' is purely subjective and so rather than try and provide you with a list of what I consider 'good' films, I've tried to match your request for similar films to Cube and The Thirteenth Floor with a sci-fi/thriller/mystery edge
I know what constitutes a good movie is subjective, which is why I gave a short list of the films I liked, I also said I would like to watch these types of movies.

Thanks. Any other films like these?
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
I was looking for Kiefer Sutherland movies (very good in Flatliners, Phone Booth and of course, 24 - Haven't seen Season 3... yet) when I came accross Dark City. I had to add it to my list as soon as I read what it was about, as it the premise of it is really good. How the actual movie would turn out I wasn't sure about as I've seen a couple films with nice ideas that failed to deliver.

Thanks for avoiding spoilers guys. But the thing is now I'm expecting it to be really good.:) Hopefully I won't be dissapointed now that I'm expecting more from it after reading the comments here - by the sounRAB of it I won't be!:)

I found out about Cypher when searching for sci-fi, thrillers, mystery movies and wasn't sure about adding it cos the reviews were good but when I read the info on the back of the DVD case (what's this info called?) at my local Blockbuster it sounded a bit cliche. Having read the reviews again I put it on my list a few days ago.

I came accross Freeze Frame in my local Blockbuster and I liked the idea and the fact that Lee Evans was in a serious role. I watched it and I'm not sure if it's a good film or not. It started really well but took a turn that I didn't really like. It's definitely worth watching, a lot of people really enjoyed this movie and I defenitely enjoyed it til it took a turn that 'didn't agree with me'.:) This ISN'T one of the movies that ruined a good idea that I mentioned above, but simply I personally didn't like the turn it took. It's a great idea and Lee Evans makes the character pretty believable. You catch glimpes of his trademark humour though!:)

And DamnDirtyApe, I've added Strange Days to my list cos it seems a bit like Minority Report in terms of future technology going a little too far. Thanks for the suggestion.

Please, feel free to add more movies and short descriptions if you like (I could look the movie up so you don't have to add a description).:)
 
Ahhh! I knew there was another one you'd like - Without question, you must add Gattaca to your list. It's a real hidden gem in my opinion; yes, it gets slightly pretentious at times (and I'm not the greatest Jude Law fan ever) but it's a good watch!

Equilibrium - not so good... ;) :) That said, many have found it to be very enjoyable and I have a feeling that you might too!

I also think I have another great movie for you, but you'll have to ignore the critics who are absolutely right about its b-movie credentials.
It's called Millennium (1989) staring Kris Kristofferson.
Try not to read too much about it or it'll spoil the film. It's slightly flakey, filled with plot holes, but something that I think you'll enjoy. In fact, I think I might just add it to my rental list whilst I'm at it! :D :)

You might also want to check these out - they don't encompass quite the same narrow range as the others, but they may also be up your street - check the imdb and mrqe on each title for a little more info and then decide:

12 Monkeys, eXistenZ, Pitch Black, Total Recall, The Arrival, Virus (1999 film), Brazil, Spacehunter, They Live, The Omega Man.
 
Please don't include films that have been shown several times on (and therefore ruined by) Tv channels. 12 Monkeys, Total Recall and Virus are these.

I don't mean that in a disrespectful way but these films have been shown by ITV1,2 and BBC3 a lot and they were not the best to begin with.

Films I never get bored of are Lost In Space and Stargate but 12 Monkeys, Total Recall, Virus, etc have now become tedious although I sometimes find myself watching them when there's nothing else to watch on the telly!:)

Millenium is already on my list but near the bottom of it cos I'm unsure of it. I first thought it could be a prequel to the TV series that my brother loved but a reviewer said that although it may come across as if it is, it is not a prequel to the TV show but a different film altogether. You really like it then?
I'm unsure of pre-1990 films unless the story is really good, cos the visuals usually aren't upto much before that era compared to later on. What company are you with then?

Equilibrium doesn't seem like it'll 'keep it's promise' and isn't Gattaca the one about a future where people who have less than perfect genes being 'held back' or 'rejected'? It's not a bad film, just doesn't really appeal to me much. It's been on TV a couple of times too.

Saw The Arrival last year - interesting theory on global warming. It's an 'okay' film. I think I recorded it from late night TV and watched it a few months later (yes, months:)).

I've seen eXistenZ. I hated it - I rarely use that word because it's so strong but that film was a complete mess in my opinion. Liked Pitch Black a lot, saw it on Video (yes, video:)). Saw the sequel a little while back which wasn't as good (as usual).

I'll look into Brazil, Spacehunter, They Live and The Omega Man. I've heard of The Omega Man somewhere, probably on TV. Thanks.

What do you mean by 'narrow range' and are 'imdb' and 'mrqe' websites? I've seen a imbd website.
 
Okie Dokie:

Well, I know what you're saying about the endless repeats being a pain in the a** when it comes to choosing films, so I'm not in the slightest bit offended :) I tend not to watch movies on TV anymore, so I wouldn't know what's been shown a million times or more...

By narrow range I mean that previous suggestions were very close to your 'requirements', whereas the ones that followed were slightly 'hit & miss' suggestions that you may or may not like depending on how far off your original request you were willing to go :)

imdb and mrqe are the film buff's two greatest frienRAB: imdb is the 'Internet Movie Database' and has information on every film under the sun - cast, crew, goofs, in-jokes, soundtrack listings, etc. Everything you need to know about the most obscure of films!! the mrqe is the 'Movie Review Query Engine' - type in the name of a film and it'll search for all the reviews it can find. Just google them both and you should be able to find the URLs no problem ;)

As for Millenium: it's not like I love it beyond all reason, but it is certainly entertaining to watch. Yes, it looks slightly dated by today's standarRAB, but it fits your requirements quite nicely.
 
Thanks, I remember coming across imdb and since you mentioned it in the same sentence as mrqe I knew both must be some sort of preview/review, etc sites.

There are a LOT of sites as you will know that claim to give good reviews but they will not always 'supply' what info you need. I'll be bookmarking IMDB and MRQE if I like what I see. Thanks again.:)

If you remember any other nice DVRAB please post them.

Thanks Waxlion but Twelve Monkeys has been shown at least twelve times by ITV1/2 and BBC1/3.:)
I liked the film originally but when they keep repeating it constantly - even if I don't watch it again - it loses it's edge just like I've mentioned above. Thanks for the suggestion though and please feel free to post any other suggestions.
I think what it comes down to is I like films that absorb you into the film's fantasy world, and I like an imaginitive film that makes you think about the film after it's finished.
Recently saw Dark City, after finding it on the DVD rental website I'm with and then reading that people here enjoyed it (I then moved it near the top of my list:)). Very good film.:)
 
'Delicatessen' probably wouldn't be your kind of thing, although 'The City Of Lost Children' by the same directors might...

'Pi' is certainly worthy of a look - I must say that I enjoyed it the first time round, and wouldn't mind giving it another watch myself :)
 
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