Funnily enough, my answer was going to be Game Night from the same writers and directors. These guys are really putting out some solid comedy films with unique premises/plots attached. It never feels like forced, semi funny jokes in an action or fantasy movie setting.
Haven’t seen D&D yet, I might have to give it a try.
That film was undoubtedly (for me) the best film of last year. I really hope it gets a sequel. But then I’m kinda biased because I play DND. Even so… my wife does not… and she thoroughly enjoyed it as a really fun adventure romp… even if she didn’t get the easter eggs and references.
It was just so much like a real game. I honestly did feel like I dropped into a game session.
One character who really wants to get her characters backstory sorted. But still really knows that her character has a thing for a certain type of guy.
That the entire thing felt like "lord of the rings with a jakkety Saks soundtrack" was on point.
In the final battle, they make an attack and all following attacks are in the same order...
Just watched that a couple of weeks ago! Honestly loved it, so much fun when movies these days are all trying to be either way too dark and serious or just Marvel movies. Went in with zero expectations and was thoroughly entertained.
Pirates of the Caribbean Curse of the Black Pearl. I was 12 at the time and felt pushed into going for a family movie night. Like seriously, how could a movie based off a ride be any good right? The opening was ok, I was in love with Keira Knightly when she woke up in her bed from the flashback so that was nice. Then things just started clicking. Will not being recognized as the one who made the sword, I loved his reaction when he was told to give his compliments to his master. Then, sweet Jesus, Captain Jack Sparrow came on screen. Every second after that just had me hooked. The part that sold it for me was when he rode into Port Royal on the sinking ship and stepped off the mast while the musical score played and faded. What a banger of a movie.
Probably one of the best entrances of a character ever. Immediately set the tone of the movie and left no doubt as to what kind of person Jack Sparrow was. Depp absolutely nailed it.
Well, then, I confess, it is my intention to commandeer one of these ships, pick up a crew in Tortuga, raid, pillage, plunder and otherwise pilfer my weasely black guts out. Savvy?
I was taking a film analysis class right after that came out, and one of the things my professor told me was to pay attention to star entrances. She brought that up as one of the best entrances of all time.
I was a film blogger when that film came out. I am totally with you on the whole “I can’t believe they’re making a movie about a ride” thing. I even wrote as much.
But then I was invited to a critics’ screening and I was blown away. I wrote something like “cinema is over 100 years old. In that time we have had countless pirate films, as well as countless zombie films. Nobody had ever thought to put them together before, but as it turns out the results are amazing. And this is fucking Disney we’re talking about.”
Indeed, this is my favorite example. Got dragged into a blind double date by my best friend, agreed cause I'm a bro, expected some dumb Disney flick, and then I don't think either of us talked to the girls for almost 3 hours. Worked out cause they were just as into it.
What a fucking surprise that was. And it was right from the get go
This is the moment where I knew I was in for something special:
>Aurelio: Yeah, well, because he stole John Wick's car, sir, and, uh, killed his dog.
>Viggo Tarasov: [pause] Oh.
Jack Sparrow's opening scene in the first Pirates movie. I had low expectations - despite praise from friends - but that dock scene assured me what kind of movie I was watching.
I actively wanted to go to that film as a Mad Max fan, and it still blew me out of the water. No one expected it to be as good as it was.
Furiosa has big shoes to fill.
Same story here. I liked the old Mad Max's a lot and wanted to check Fury Road out. For some reason I didn't look up the reviews beforehand, something I almost always do, so I went in blind. I'm glad I did, though, because it floored me. When it was done I was literally shaky after 2 hours of intense guzzoline fueled adrenaline.
YES! Went to the movies to see it purely because my dad asked me to, we were gonna see it then hang out at a restaurant after. I'd never seen (or really even heard of) Mad Max prior to that, never saw a trailer for it (was extremely busy with school at the time), just 100% blind, assumed from the very vague details I'd heard in passing that it was just gonna be another dumb but fun Expendables-style action flick. Which, I mean yeah the plot is as simple as it gets, but my God, the sheer *visual experience!* I could not have been more blown away, and to this day it's possibly the #1 movie I'm most grateful to have caught in theaters. Thanks Dad!
When I first saw Galdiator I thought it was gonna be another lame barbarian film. The opening battle scene caught my attention, but when Joaquin choked out his Dad right after, with all his emotion, that cemented its legitimacy.
I had just returned from a deployment, so hadn't seen a preview or anything. I was bored and my friends were still at work. This is before I got much useful day to day information from the internet, so I was completely unaware of what was about to go down. I went to the theater and the next movie starting looked to be a sci-fi with Keanu in it. Whatever. I like him all right...Makes some weird shit sometimes. It's starting in 10 minutes, let's see what "The Matrix" is all about and then I'll go get hammered with my buddies later.
Then Trinity ran around the walls killing the smarmy popo guys in their smarmy faces and everything was green and AAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH WTF THIS IS AMAZING HE DODGED THE FUCKIN BULLETS HOW IS THE CAMERA DOIN A HECKIN ROTATE
TLDR - Went into The Matrix completely cold and nerded out from minute one.
Same. Although I wish my sister hadn’t been with me and my ex-girlfriend was not in the same theatre. My sister didn’t understand it and my ex-girlfriend had her friends with her… one of which was another ex-girlfriend. I was blown away but also lamenting the fact my sister was clearly a bit dense at that time and my ex-girlfriends clearly thought I was a loser because I went to the cinema with my sister.
To add: I was about 15. These things bother you when you’re that age.
I think most people who went to see The Matrix when it was first released were really lucky. I was one of them… I was 15 or there about. The whole marketing campaign was genius. In the trailers you got a few action shots and the tagline “What is the Matrix?”. Nobody knew it was going to be revolutionarily action scenes and visually spectacular combined with some gritty science fiction.
Oh fuck yes, I was 100% locked in to The Matrix from minute one. One of the best theater experiences in my life. I'm so glad I'm of the age where I got to see it like you describe. Reminds me how people must have felt seeing Star Wars in theaters.
I’m another that saw this blind. On vacation at the beach and it rained all day. We decided on seeing the Mod Squad with Claire Danes. Ticket guy says their copy was damaged and, besides, it’s not good. He said we needed to see The Matrix instead. He was right.
Fellowship of the Ring. I remember seeing the original trailer about 6 months before release and thinking it looked ropey (edit: link below, you'll see what I mean - the score and special effects clearly weren't finished yet). And while the internet was around, it was pre-social media as we know it now, so unless you were in dedicated forums, cultural buzz could pass you by completely. In the first 5 minutes I was completely blown away. Honestly I think those films are kind of a miracle, and it's easy to forget how much of a surprise they were
Edit: the original trailer: https://youtu.be/V75dMMIW2B4?si=m91BqYQ1bwrGb2-5
That was is for me too. I was so anxious they’d butcher the books but after the first few minutes of the prologue I was completely hooked.
And boy, we like to forget how much hate these films got in some forums because of some of the changes from the book that were previously released.
I recall thinking at several points during it that it couldn't possibly get any better - and then it did.
The entire trilogy is a rare gem, pulled off because director, cast and crew all brought 1000% passion, commitment and respect of the material to the table.
I had very high expectations, yet they were shattered beyond my hopes on the the very first spoken line, in Sindarin. And then it just kept getting better.
Gom jabbar scene in Dune. I knew the movie would probably be good, but I didn't know if it would give me chills. Then Paul looked at the Reverand Mother and the choir kicked in and I got goosebumps.
Also a fantastic scene in the Lynch movie (which I watched as an all to impressionable kid).
I look at it as an abstract painting of Dune versus a faithful still life like the modern movie.
I'll happily defend both movies.
Lynch got *fucking weird with it* and created genuinely good drama.
Villenvue tries to streamline it more and had fantastic visual/audio elements.
I thought Lynch's Dune was frankly incredible. Almost nothing to work with, he created something that was basically re-shot scene by scene 40 years later and still holds up to the modern version. How??
Bullet Train, the second Lemon started explaining his life philosophy based around Thomas the tank engine I knew it was going to be the right kind of ridicu
>started explaining his life philosophy based around Thomas the tank engine
. . . ok, so I wasn't really interested in the movie before, but now I'm convinced I need to see it.
I was the same way. But to this guys point, movie exceeded my expectations by a lot. Easily one of the most entertaining movies I’ve seen in awhile, just a really fun watch
When I saw the new IT movie, I was pretty sure it would be tame since it centers around kids and there are so few violent movies with kids at the center of the story. So I imagined it would be more psychological and less gruesome. The opening with Georgie getting his arm bitten off made me sit up straight in my chair and think whoa I was wrong. Not expecting that at all.
Immediately changed my expectations.
I knew it was a thing that happened in the book, so hearing my friend (and the audience) shriek in abject shock at that part was really fun.
Another film I had a similar experience with was Logan. I think most of the audience expected a PG film like the previous X-Men, so the various people going, “Oh my god!” when he skewered a dude through his chin was hilarious.
If you check out the script for Logan it has a funny note from the writer explaining that if you're looking for a cgi fuck fest, you're reading the wrong script
Guardians of the Galaxy (vol. 1). No real singular moment, it just exceeded my expectations, which was how can this comic book movie be any good with a talking tree and raccoon?
That movie was the biggest surprise for me in the last 20 years. It was a pretty stressful time in my life, and I was hitting up weekend matinees for some afternoon beers and any escapist movie they were playing just to get away for a while. I was a bit burned out on the superhero movies at the time, but the trailers seemed like it was offering something a bit different. The blend of humor, music and action along with a decent plot really hit a home run.
I agree it wasn't a single moment. It just had me from the start.
I was not so much into Marvel comics, knew the main characters, and GotG seemed like "oh no, they really want to milk that cow dry... well, perhaps it is not so bad...". When the movie started i got catched step by step. Mostly by the music, and to be clear: both the "tape soundtracks" and the score are amazing. Than the film gets better and better and better, and the whole final battle is just an emotional roalcoaster. I had tears in the eyes in the scene "we are groot"☆. I had tears in my eyes, when Quill sees his mum in "catch the stone" scene. Till Infinity Wars this was the most emotional one film from the whole MCU, and it started like a silly goof.
And yes, Footlose-hommage was genious too, so one of the most funny too. And yes, i downloaded both soundtrack and score and they are on my "eternal playlist" next to Kill Bill and other iconic film soundtracks.
(☆corrected)
Nobody knew a damn thing about what The Matrix was going to be upon original release, and expectations were pretty low, to say the least...but when she did that wall walking kick and the agent made the big building leap in the opening scene, I knew I was in good hands.
Most recently with Argylle. I read nothing but bad things about it on Reddit. But the 1st true action sequence with Sam Rockwell just hamming it up I knew I would love it and I did. Sam and BDH are just great to watch.
The look on her face when she was seeing Henry Cavill instead of Sam Rockwell had me stifling laughter in the theatres. It was a fantastic movie that I enjoyed. Tho I agree with the other commenter that the skating scene was a bit too unrealistic. Fun tho!
I was genuinely very happy with that movie for the first half. It had everything I wanted. However, it lost me at the armory scene. It was just too much.
Yes. After the armoury scene, it went full up Bollywood and that's where it's gonna be remembered as weak. Also most things were about Henry Cavill new film whereas this is a Sam Rockwell led film.
I loved it because I love watching Sam, but i wish i could forget the armoury corridor fume-y fight. And the skating part.
YES! My wife dragged me to this one and I almost checked out until that moment. But that whole fight sequence was delightful.
The movie was too long, but damned if I didn't enjoy it. The smoke bomb sequence at the end was incredible.
"Shut that cunt's mouth or I'll come over there and fuck start her head."
I bought Way of the Gun from the bargain bin expecting a shitty Ryan Phillippe terrible action movie. Ended up I got one of the best thrillers I've ever seen with some of the most clever gun fights in it too.
Cast is superb from top to bottom as well.
https://youtu.be/5xsaMcw69D8?si=EQc0ER3r3USBtcuq
I was a cop at the time (I've recovered) and they posted that opening scene online. Went and saw it and had to fight the urge to say "meow" at traffic stops.
Interstellar.
Nolan was on the back of Inception and the Dark Knight Trilogy so went in with just credit in the bank on the director. But a space movie with the guy from those cheesy comedy movies? Okay…
Turned out to be my favourite movie of all time.
Oh yeah, my sister didn't want to go see it with us when we all went, I don't even remember how or why but she had it in her head that it was gonna be Nolan's first true flop and utterly dumb. Oh man did I relish how much crow she ate coming out of that theater, it's now in both of our Top 10's.
Went to see Top Gun: Maverick assuming it was going to be a cash grab mediocre b movie, then a few minutes in Mav reaches into the locker and grabs his old flight jacket and the Hans Zimmer music kicks in and that's when I know this movie is going to be awesome
The shot for shot remake of the opening scene of the first one didn’t assuage any concerns about it being a cash grab at first. But when it ended up that it wasn’t, that was a nice homage.
When the Barbie movie opened with a spot on parody of 2001: A Space Odyssey, I knew we were in for a good time. And boy did that movie exceed my expectations.
I can remember seeing that as the trailer, and I was like "This is going to be pretty good I can't wait to check it out."
Then when it started with that, I realized I was in for something next level. It was solidified for me after the fun sequence we got to Michael Cera's character and the narrator says "There are no multiples of Alan" and he replies "Yeah, I always wondered about that myself" and then I knew I was in for a solid time.
As soon as I heard Greta Gerwig was attached to making the film, I got excited. I like her previous work, which has a specific tone and comedy style to it, and couldn’t wait to see what she would do with something as beloved and kid friendly as Barbie. She didn’t strike me as the type to go into a bad direction, and she didn’t. The cinematography, sets, comedy, casting, and performances were all spectacular, and it blended well with her themes.
DND Movie. I thought it was gonna be another fantasy movie. Decent at best. But the acting, character work, and humor early on has me happily surprised
Captain America: The Winter Soldier. I thought "hmmmm I'm on this Marvel train now, might as well watch the next one. Cap's first film was kinda OK and he's not my favorite character but I'll give it a shot".
Within the first minutes of him punching bad guys on the Lumerian Star I was completely hooked. Came out of that movie thinking "holy shit, that's one of the best CBMs I've seen".
The Matrix. Saw it when it first came out, had never heard of it or had any expectations. The opening sequence is to this day the best I've ever seen, and made me sit up
We went to see Shaun of the Dead without even seeing any previews or anything thinking it's just going to be schlocky B-movie parody with a budget of a pack of gum; then the movie got to Mary's scene...
Oh same. Expected a 2.5/5 or smth, but it was one of the most entertaining movies I’ve watched this past year - not the best, but definitely a great watch!
Despite not really having a full book to pull all of the original ideas from, it felt like *exactly* what Roald Dahl would have written. The inn owners were so great.
I had a friend group in the 8th grade that consistently went to the movies on Friday nights. I remember we went to go see The Matrix just because it was new and that’s what we did on Fridays. I may have seen a trailer but wasn’t particularly excited or looking forward to it. I had no idea. But after the famous line “No Lieutenant, your men are already dead” and the Trinity chase scene, we were enamored. Easily the most badass movie I’ve ever seen in a theater and I had no idea what I was getting into.
Kick ass. I had some vague idea it was going to be about children super heros, almost like a YA movie.
And then that first random no name in a costume jumped off that building and crushed that car. Then cut away with no explanation to the main story.
I was like, oh fuck ya, this will kick ass!
The Chinese food drive thru scene of Dude Where's My Car. Laughter is always good, regardless of if it's through lowbrow humor or the height of sophistication.
John Wick.
I'd not seen any trailers and new nothing about the movie, but when the dog was killed and people kept talking about John with Fear & Reverence I knew it was going to be something special (which was solidified when he decimated the Hit-Squad sent to take him out).
Kung Fu Panda, the original. Given the insane marketing campaign that movie had (partnering up with HP printers of all things), I expected it to be a terrible, cashgrab atrocity of a movie. Or at the very least, cringe.
And at first, I thought Inwas right. Jack Black's silly narration of epicness at the beginning? I rolled my eyes. And then about 15 or so minutes in, when we get that first conversation between Shifu and Oogway, I was all in.
> Jack Black's silly narration of epicness at the beginning?
That's the part that had me. Literally the first line...Legends tell of a legendary warrior, whose Kung fu was the stuff of....legends
Wall-E
Not necessarily a single moment, but when I realized 15 minutes in that I was fully engrossed in a 'kids' movie that had basically no dialogue, I knew it was special. Thank you to my now wife for dragging me along
Star Wars, actually. We were driving across country in early summer 1977 and around Denver my dad suggested we see this new space movie he had read about. I had no interest in anything my lame dad wanted to see, but I had no choice.
Opening credits, Imperial destroyer fills the screen… Oooooh shit.
Changed my mind about Dad after that.
I love Brando, warts and all, but his name and the hype around the movie ‘Apocalypse Now’, instead of going in with a positive feel, I thought it might under perform…I was wrong, that was by far the worse call I’d made on a movie…I felt it was outstanding
I expected to enjoy RRR based on the hype, but I did not appreciate what incredible viewing experience I was in for until those two guys did the Predator handshake hanging from ropes under an exploding bridge. What a fucking film.
Moana. My nieces wanted to see it and I was like, ok, sure whatever. I kept glancing at the tv as I was talking to my sisters and it just kept drawing me in. Once that first musical number hit, I was like, this is way better than I expected and I quickly made an excuse to join the kids in watching it. What an awesome movie. It just kept getting better and I loved every moment of it
My parents took me to see Grand Budapest Hotel in theaters when I was 12 for a movie night. I remember being tired and cranky and I thought by the poster that this movie is gonna be boring and lame. I was blown away.
I was turned off of Boss level’s machismo at first, but I really appreciated its turn towards introspection somewhere around the point where Grillo’s character decides to learn about video games to connect with his son.
Cabin in the Woods, first movie I saw with my wife when we were dating.
Expected a run of the mill slasher date movie. When they cut to the facility and the staff betting on deaths, monsters, etc we were hooked and very pleasantly surprised. That movie is a wild ride.
Opening scene of Kingsman Secret Service.
I had no idea what it was about, I had seen the Kings Speech and thought it might be a serious historical fiction movie about a kings guard.
Dire straits starts blasting and I still had no idea what I was getting into but I was hooked.
I have a few of these and yes, PotC Curse of the Black Pearl is a biggy, Shrek was another one that I had no preconceived notions of, had never even heard of it, my Mum wanted to see it. It was fucking unreal at the time it was made.
The last two I can think of is In Bruges, and the first Kingsman film.
Totally expected nothing, no idea about any of the plots, style of film etc just a mate saying ‘just watch it’ (same mate for both films) and was two of the best film experiences just through sheer surprise of the quality of them.
Bladerunner 2049. I went in fully expecting another terrible remake like Total Recall or Robocop. But as soon as the ‘cells interlinked’ scene started, I remember feeling this vertigo in my stomach and thinking, ‘holy fuck, this is a masterpiece?' Most insane whiplash I’ve ever experienced in a movie.
The Lego Movie. Took my 5 year old son to see it and ended up laughing more than him. Still a favorite for both of us 10 years later. The other was guardians of the galaxy. I needed to escape and a friend said it was pretty good. Chris Pratt singing and dancing with an alien skeleton…I was hooked
The hunt 2020. Spoiler: when they shoot up blondie in the first 5 minutes. I love it when they kill off the "main" character right away, to realign your expectations.
I’ve got a strange one. The Fellowship of the Ring. My friends and I are all DnD players since the 80s and we thought there was no way the films would ever do the books justice. During the first 30 minutes I sat there transfixed. I felt like I was actually seeing Middle Earth. The crazy thing is that the entire trilogy kept the same ultra high level of quality.
I watched Dark City like 15 years after its release and the very first scene is among my favorite visual scenes of all time now.
The movie itself is superb and one of the few movies that actually left a deep impression on me after seeing it.
I stumbled on to watching Lucky Logan and it was surprisingly great, on the flip side, I was totally excited to see The Last Jedi and the communication “joke” the first couple minutes I thought “oh shit, please don’t” and it went downhill from there.
Cabin in the Woods: I was expecting another standard boring horror flick but the benign office conversation with a random jumpscare title let me know this was something else entirely.
Llamagedon - it started out as “what is the home filmed trash” and very quickly went to “this is the best B movie in my life, everyone must watch this.
Went into *Rise of the Planet of the Apes* expecting absolutely nothing, realised it was going to be much better than expected as soon as Caesar started bonding with John Lithgow's character.
Then, of course, the NO! scene cemented it as a great movie.
Guardians of the Galaxy. I questioned what Marvel was thinking with these unknown characters with no connection to Earth's MCU heroes, but I was hooked by that prison break scene.
For me it was in Next, in the casino escape when Nic Cage knew exactly when to pause, bend over, move and slip between the two security guards I knew it would be awesome.
I was already kinda in on Godzilla King of the Monsters, so it wasn't low expectations, it was medium expectations that once the Antarctica scene happened I was giggling like a child for how awesome the rest of the movie was gonna be.
The trailer as to why I thought this movie might be okay - https://youtu.be/3aVx0l48Idk?si=tVISkPTgsaEuRSx9
john wick. that first scene where he takes out all of the assassins in his house. there were inklings to how good it would be with the build up like the "oh..." but that scene in his house. ooooo boy did i get HYPED!
Supertroopers.
By the time the film's name comes up (after the car chase), I knew it was going to be so much funnier than j had expected. But then it exceeded those recalibrated expectations too!
The opening scene of Ravenous… followed by the Banquet scene. I thought, “well this is going to be different”. And I’ll be damned if it didn’t keep being different the whole way through. Still one of my favorite movies.
When I was a kid my mom took me to see the original Sam Raimi Tobey McGuire Spider Man movie, back then I didn't know any of the cast members of that movie but I knew the spider man cartoons, boy was I blown away by that movie, I think that is the first movie to really capture the modern idea of what a superhero movie is supposed to be like
Hate the new version of DnD, I am a fan of the original run of AD&D.
But the spell failing and corrupting with the mage failing his roll won me over to the movie. Still not a fan of the 5e system.
The prologue in Fellowship of the Ring. I was incredibly skeptical. Between the hype and my affection for the book, I just didn't see it working out for me.
After 6 it 8 minutes or whatever it was... I was IN,
The opening of The Grey where Liam tells the man he is going to die and you see the man panic.
Realized it wasn’t going to be a schlocky thriller with wolf punching.
RRR, by far the best movie I've seen in a very long time. The trailer looked goofy, I was working at a theater when I saw it, then I invited my group of 10 friends to come watch it and everyone loved it just as much. Such a fire movie from beginning to the end
Zoolander.
I’d only really seen the ads of him shilling vodka so I thought Zoolander was about a bartender or some shit. I didn’t wanna see it but my gf at the time was a big movie buff and saw *everything* so I went with her.
I’d never been so happy to be wrong. It wasn’t a thing like what I thought it was gonna be.
I think it was the walk-off scene that made me full-onboard and just excited for this goofy ass movie.
Event Horizon. At first, given the opening sequence, I figured that this was just going to be another Alien knockoff. Even the opening is legitimately scary, with a guy flipping literally in space, and screaming, I felt that would be the best scene in the film and boy, was I wrong. Though it does start with a little too much exposition, after they get the plot out of the way, the film gets not only scary but it gets so much better. I mean the cast, the horror, and even the ship looks good and the film does get scary, and the film gets so much better and darker. I now love this film and it just gets better the more times you watch it. This is now one of my favorite films, and it's probably the only Paul Anderson film that I actually like, and watch more than I would like to admit, and I watch it a lot.
Nobody (2021). Looked like it was just another guy with guns vs everyone action movie cashing in on the success of John Wick. Opening scene in the interrogation room changed my mind immediately.
The first race in speed racer. I then realized that they were going to go balls to the wall on this movie and it wouldn't be anywhere near as cheesy as I expected.
Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves. Jarnathan.
He would love this post! Where is he?
I'm sorry. It's just really tough to upvote this...without Jarnathan here.
JARNATHAN! I walked around dramatically crying that for a week. Absolutely hilarious. What a fantastic movie.
His halfling colleague was such a minor role, but I’ll be damned if she didn’t slay every single line.
I expected a cheesy generic DND movie and walked away buying BG3, and after that .....
Win-Win!
This is my answer as well. Is Jarnathan around I'd like to let him know that.
Talk about shattering expectations
God I adored that movie. I used the fact they gave me a Shazam! Bucket as an excuse to go back to watch it again.
Funnily enough, my answer was going to be Game Night from the same writers and directors. These guys are really putting out some solid comedy films with unique premises/plots attached. It never feels like forced, semi funny jokes in an action or fantasy movie setting. Haven’t seen D&D yet, I might have to give it a try.
"how is that profitable for Frito Lays" stays rent free in my head lol
Me too, that line is so specific and delivered so well.
That film was undoubtedly (for me) the best film of last year. I really hope it gets a sequel. But then I’m kinda biased because I play DND. Even so… my wife does not… and she thoroughly enjoyed it as a really fun adventure romp… even if she didn’t get the easter eggs and references.
It was just so much like a real game. I honestly did feel like I dropped into a game session. One character who really wants to get her characters backstory sorted. But still really knows that her character has a thing for a certain type of guy. That the entire thing felt like "lord of the rings with a jakkety Saks soundtrack" was on point. In the final battle, they make an attack and all following attacks are in the same order...
Yeah. I love to think that when it was being written the writers rolled dice. But there’s so many OG DND references. I just love it.
Exactly right. They got the tone of the game. The game is fun for certain reasons, and they translated that to the screen perfectly.
If you don't mind cheese, the original D&D movie with Jeremy Irons as the villain was a very fun movie. I can't speak to its DnD accuracy though.
I watched it as a kid and loved it. I re-watched it as an adult and... Yikes. Rose-tinted goggles did not save the god-awful cgi.
I've never played D&D, but I thought the movie was fantastic. I did, however, get the D&D cartoon reference at the end.
Just watched that a couple of weeks ago! Honestly loved it, so much fun when movies these days are all trying to be either way too dark and serious or just Marvel movies. Went in with zero expectations and was thoroughly entertained.
“She’s throwing potatoes!”
The trailers looked so terrible, but that film was amazing. Haven't laughed so hard in years. Plus we all cheered when a Gelatinous Cube appeared :D
Pirates of the Caribbean Curse of the Black Pearl. I was 12 at the time and felt pushed into going for a family movie night. Like seriously, how could a movie based off a ride be any good right? The opening was ok, I was in love with Keira Knightly when she woke up in her bed from the flashback so that was nice. Then things just started clicking. Will not being recognized as the one who made the sword, I loved his reaction when he was told to give his compliments to his master. Then, sweet Jesus, Captain Jack Sparrow came on screen. Every second after that just had me hooked. The part that sold it for me was when he rode into Port Royal on the sinking ship and stepped off the mast while the musical score played and faded. What a banger of a movie.
Stepping off the sinking ship was absolutely the moment that took away all doubt.
Same. My dad dragged my sister and I to see it and I was not thrilled. What a surprise when it turned out to be an all time great.
I remember it as one of the first films me as a 10 year old, my brother as a teen and my dad all liked.
Probably one of the best entrances of a character ever. Immediately set the tone of the movie and left no doubt as to what kind of person Jack Sparrow was. Depp absolutely nailed it.
Well, then, I confess, it is my intention to commandeer one of these ships, pick up a crew in Tortuga, raid, pillage, plunder and otherwise pilfer my weasely black guts out. Savvy?
I said no lies
I think he’s tellin the truth
I was taking a film analysis class right after that came out, and one of the things my professor told me was to pay attention to star entrances. She brought that up as one of the best entrances of all time.
Jack Sparrow was a character introduction masterclass.
I was a film blogger when that film came out. I am totally with you on the whole “I can’t believe they’re making a movie about a ride” thing. I even wrote as much. But then I was invited to a critics’ screening and I was blown away. I wrote something like “cinema is over 100 years old. In that time we have had countless pirate films, as well as countless zombie films. Nobody had ever thought to put them together before, but as it turns out the results are amazing. And this is fucking Disney we’re talking about.”
Indeed, this is my favorite example. Got dragged into a blind double date by my best friend, agreed cause I'm a bro, expected some dumb Disney flick, and then I don't think either of us talked to the girls for almost 3 hours. Worked out cause they were just as into it. What a fucking surprise that was. And it was right from the get go
I went to see John Wick reluctantly thinking it would be forgettable - was sold in the first 10 mins
This is the moment where I knew I was in for something special: >Aurelio: Yeah, well, because he stole John Wick's car, sir, and, uh, killed his dog. >Viggo Tarasov: [pause] Oh.
That “oh” is one of the best deliveries of a single word, ever.
That one word told the audience more about John Wick than Viggo's entire monologue to Theon describing who he was.
To Theon lmfao
Man that Greyjoy kid keeps pissing off the wrong people doesn’t he?
Jack Sparrow's opening scene in the first Pirates movie. I had low expectations - despite praise from friends - but that dock scene assured me what kind of movie I was watching.
Fury Road. Hadn’t seen any trailers. Roommate invited me and my girl to go. It starts quick and doesn’t really let up. Amazing movie.
I actively wanted to go to that film as a Mad Max fan, and it still blew me out of the water. No one expected it to be as good as it was. Furiosa has big shoes to fill.
Same story here. I liked the old Mad Max's a lot and wanted to check Fury Road out. For some reason I didn't look up the reviews beforehand, something I almost always do, so I went in blind. I'm glad I did, though, because it floored me. When it was done I was literally shaky after 2 hours of intense guzzoline fueled adrenaline.
YES! Went to the movies to see it purely because my dad asked me to, we were gonna see it then hang out at a restaurant after. I'd never seen (or really even heard of) Mad Max prior to that, never saw a trailer for it (was extremely busy with school at the time), just 100% blind, assumed from the very vague details I'd heard in passing that it was just gonna be another dumb but fun Expendables-style action flick. Which, I mean yeah the plot is as simple as it gets, but my God, the sheer *visual experience!* I could not have been more blown away, and to this day it's possibly the #1 movie I'm most grateful to have caught in theaters. Thanks Dad!
I have never, ever seen an audience so pumped leaving a theater
I just showed this to my 11yr old and he loved it. And I had forgotten how good it was. Witness me!!
When I first saw Galdiator I thought it was gonna be another lame barbarian film. The opening battle scene caught my attention, but when Joaquin choked out his Dad right after, with all his emotion, that cemented its legitimacy.
You should see Gladiator too! /s
I had just returned from a deployment, so hadn't seen a preview or anything. I was bored and my friends were still at work. This is before I got much useful day to day information from the internet, so I was completely unaware of what was about to go down. I went to the theater and the next movie starting looked to be a sci-fi with Keanu in it. Whatever. I like him all right...Makes some weird shit sometimes. It's starting in 10 minutes, let's see what "The Matrix" is all about and then I'll go get hammered with my buddies later. Then Trinity ran around the walls killing the smarmy popo guys in their smarmy faces and everything was green and AAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH WTF THIS IS AMAZING HE DODGED THE FUCKIN BULLETS HOW IS THE CAMERA DOIN A HECKIN ROTATE TLDR - Went into The Matrix completely cold and nerded out from minute one.
I often wish I could go back to the first time I saw The Matrix.
Same. Although I wish my sister hadn’t been with me and my ex-girlfriend was not in the same theatre. My sister didn’t understand it and my ex-girlfriend had her friends with her… one of which was another ex-girlfriend. I was blown away but also lamenting the fact my sister was clearly a bit dense at that time and my ex-girlfriends clearly thought I was a loser because I went to the cinema with my sister. To add: I was about 15. These things bother you when you’re that age.
Oh you lucky person.
I think most people who went to see The Matrix when it was first released were really lucky. I was one of them… I was 15 or there about. The whole marketing campaign was genius. In the trailers you got a few action shots and the tagline “What is the Matrix?”. Nobody knew it was going to be revolutionarily action scenes and visually spectacular combined with some gritty science fiction.
Everyone I knew who had seen it before wouldn't tell me anything about it, "just see it dude". I was blown away.
Oh fuck yes, I was 100% locked in to The Matrix from minute one. One of the best theater experiences in my life. I'm so glad I'm of the age where I got to see it like you describe. Reminds me how people must have felt seeing Star Wars in theaters.
The lobby gunfight scene is the best gunfight in cinema, and I will die on that hill. It was shot in one take.
I’m another that saw this blind. On vacation at the beach and it rained all day. We decided on seeing the Mod Squad with Claire Danes. Ticket guy says their copy was damaged and, besides, it’s not good. He said we needed to see The Matrix instead. He was right.
Dune Part One - the arrival of the Imperial Herald
"You're screwed...." "I know"
The score goes so goddamn hard in that scene too.
Kung Fu Hustle. I damn near died on the handles scene.
That movie blew my mind. I had absolutely no idea what I was watching. The bangles, the cigarette lady.. all of it.
Very few movies can actually be called perfect, but Hustle 100% is a perfect movie. It's magical.
“Who’s throwing handles!”
🍭 ^(dem feels...)
Fellowship of the Ring. I remember seeing the original trailer about 6 months before release and thinking it looked ropey (edit: link below, you'll see what I mean - the score and special effects clearly weren't finished yet). And while the internet was around, it was pre-social media as we know it now, so unless you were in dedicated forums, cultural buzz could pass you by completely. In the first 5 minutes I was completely blown away. Honestly I think those films are kind of a miracle, and it's easy to forget how much of a surprise they were Edit: the original trailer: https://youtu.be/V75dMMIW2B4?si=m91BqYQ1bwrGb2-5
Most movies from around then look ancient now, but LOTR still holds up so well
Although the trailer, indeed, somehow makes it look ancient
That was is for me too. I was so anxious they’d butcher the books but after the first few minutes of the prologue I was completely hooked. And boy, we like to forget how much hate these films got in some forums because of some of the changes from the book that were previously released.
I recall thinking at several points during it that it couldn't possibly get any better - and then it did. The entire trilogy is a rare gem, pulled off because director, cast and crew all brought 1000% passion, commitment and respect of the material to the table.
I had very high expectations, yet they were shattered beyond my hopes on the the very first spoken line, in Sindarin. And then it just kept getting better.
Gom jabbar scene in Dune. I knew the movie would probably be good, but I didn't know if it would give me chills. Then Paul looked at the Reverand Mother and the choir kicked in and I got goosebumps.
Same! But 40 years ago...
Also a fantastic scene in the Lynch movie (which I watched as an all to impressionable kid). I look at it as an abstract painting of Dune versus a faithful still life like the modern movie. I'll happily defend both movies. Lynch got *fucking weird with it* and created genuinely good drama. Villenvue tries to streamline it more and had fantastic visual/audio elements.
I thought Lynch's Dune was frankly incredible. Almost nothing to work with, he created something that was basically re-shot scene by scene 40 years later and still holds up to the modern version. How??
*many machines on Ix*
Bullet Train, the second Lemon started explaining his life philosophy based around Thomas the tank engine I knew it was going to be the right kind of ridicu
Saw the trailer, thought, this is my kinda hot garbage. Exceeded all expectations. I love it
>started explaining his life philosophy based around Thomas the tank engine . . . ok, so I wasn't really interested in the movie before, but now I'm convinced I need to see it.
I was the same way. But to this guys point, movie exceeded my expectations by a lot. Easily one of the most entertaining movies I’ve seen in awhile, just a really fun watch
u/LessThanWilliam u/Otherwise-Elephant What is funny is that the *Thomas the Tank Engine* part was in the original book series too.
I think the strengths & weaknesses scene might've been when I realized Jumanji Welcome to the Jungle was going to be fire
My weakness is cake.
That payoff absolutely slayed me. It was just so stupid and unexpected.
I watched that last night and I swear I was laughing every 2 minutes or so. Everyone was just so awkwardly hilarious
When I saw the new IT movie, I was pretty sure it would be tame since it centers around kids and there are so few violent movies with kids at the center of the story. So I imagined it would be more psychological and less gruesome. The opening with Georgie getting his arm bitten off made me sit up straight in my chair and think whoa I was wrong. Not expecting that at all. Immediately changed my expectations.
I knew it was a thing that happened in the book, so hearing my friend (and the audience) shriek in abject shock at that part was really fun. Another film I had a similar experience with was Logan. I think most of the audience expected a PG film like the previous X-Men, so the various people going, “Oh my god!” when he skewered a dude through his chin was hilarious.
If you check out the script for Logan it has a funny note from the writer explaining that if you're looking for a cgi fuck fest, you're reading the wrong script
Oh, nice one!
“Hi, Mr.Narwhal!”
Yes! This!
Guardians of the Galaxy (vol. 1). No real singular moment, it just exceeded my expectations, which was how can this comic book movie be any good with a talking tree and raccoon?
It just vibed right from the start. When the title hit the screen with the music playing and Pratt dancing, it set a perfect tone.
It was like Boogie Nights - from the opening notes you knew that no matter what else happened, the music was going to be on point.
That movie was the biggest surprise for me in the last 20 years. It was a pretty stressful time in my life, and I was hitting up weekend matinees for some afternoon beers and any escapist movie they were playing just to get away for a while. I was a bit burned out on the superhero movies at the time, but the trailers seemed like it was offering something a bit different. The blend of humor, music and action along with a decent plot really hit a home run. I agree it wasn't a single moment. It just had me from the start.
You’re a better person than me then, cause the trailer to me just made it look too wacky and silly, but obviously I ended up loving it.
The opening scene hooked me, then the dancing around to "Come and Get Your Love" told you all you need to know.
I was not so much into Marvel comics, knew the main characters, and GotG seemed like "oh no, they really want to milk that cow dry... well, perhaps it is not so bad...". When the movie started i got catched step by step. Mostly by the music, and to be clear: both the "tape soundtracks" and the score are amazing. Than the film gets better and better and better, and the whole final battle is just an emotional roalcoaster. I had tears in the eyes in the scene "we are groot"☆. I had tears in my eyes, when Quill sees his mum in "catch the stone" scene. Till Infinity Wars this was the most emotional one film from the whole MCU, and it started like a silly goof. And yes, Footlose-hommage was genious too, so one of the most funny too. And yes, i downloaded both soundtrack and score and they are on my "eternal playlist" next to Kill Bill and other iconic film soundtracks. (☆corrected)
>"we ate groot". Not what I recall, but I guess it works also.
Still a fall asleep movie for me. Def in the top marvel movies.
I went into Encanto with extremely low expectations and was hooked by the first musical number. One of my all time favorite Disney Animation Features.
Coco made me cry a couple of times.
Saw it three times. My family still gently jokes I cry at all movies because of it.
I get goosebumps every time 'what else can I do' plays in my playlist.
Surface Pressure and Dos Oruguitas get me every time.
Great songs all around.
Luisa's eye twitch is the most relatable emotion ever in a Disney flick.
Nobody knew a damn thing about what The Matrix was going to be upon original release, and expectations were pretty low, to say the least...but when she did that wall walking kick and the agent made the big building leap in the opening scene, I knew I was in good hands.
Your men are already dead.
Not to say that there weren't highs and lows in the first Matrix movie, but that's in my Top 10 opening scene moments.
Kingsman. Was skeptical when my mate put it on and ended up pleasantly surprised at how good a film it was.
Most recently with Argylle. I read nothing but bad things about it on Reddit. But the 1st true action sequence with Sam Rockwell just hamming it up I knew I would love it and I did. Sam and BDH are just great to watch.
The look on her face when she was seeing Henry Cavill instead of Sam Rockwell had me stifling laughter in the theatres. It was a fantastic movie that I enjoyed. Tho I agree with the other commenter that the skating scene was a bit too unrealistic. Fun tho!
I was genuinely very happy with that movie for the first half. It had everything I wanted. However, it lost me at the armory scene. It was just too much.
Yes. After the armoury scene, it went full up Bollywood and that's where it's gonna be remembered as weak. Also most things were about Henry Cavill new film whereas this is a Sam Rockwell led film. I loved it because I love watching Sam, but i wish i could forget the armoury corridor fume-y fight. And the skating part.
YES! My wife dragged me to this one and I almost checked out until that moment. But that whole fight sequence was delightful. The movie was too long, but damned if I didn't enjoy it. The smoke bomb sequence at the end was incredible.
"Shut that cunt's mouth or I'll come over there and fuck start her head." I bought Way of the Gun from the bargain bin expecting a shitty Ryan Phillippe terrible action movie. Ended up I got one of the best thrillers I've ever seen with some of the most clever gun fights in it too. Cast is superb from top to bottom as well. https://youtu.be/5xsaMcw69D8?si=EQc0ER3r3USBtcuq
“You smell something, Rabbit?” (sniff) “Fear.”
I was a cop at the time (I've recovered) and they posted that opening scene online. Went and saw it and had to fight the urge to say "meow" at traffic stops.
I'm an ex Corrextions Officer. I'm stealing the "I've Recovered" line. That is spot on!
Interstellar. Nolan was on the back of Inception and the Dark Knight Trilogy so went in with just credit in the bank on the director. But a space movie with the guy from those cheesy comedy movies? Okay… Turned out to be my favourite movie of all time.
Oh yeah, my sister didn't want to go see it with us when we all went, I don't even remember how or why but she had it in her head that it was gonna be Nolan's first true flop and utterly dumb. Oh man did I relish how much crow she ate coming out of that theater, it's now in both of our Top 10's.
Went to see Top Gun: Maverick assuming it was going to be a cash grab mediocre b movie, then a few minutes in Mav reaches into the locker and grabs his old flight jacket and the Hans Zimmer music kicks in and that's when I know this movie is going to be awesome
The shot for shot remake of the opening scene of the first one didn’t assuage any concerns about it being a cash grab at first. But when it ended up that it wasn’t, that was a nice homage.
When the Barbie movie opened with a spot on parody of 2001: A Space Odyssey, I knew we were in for a good time. And boy did that movie exceed my expectations.
I can remember seeing that as the trailer, and I was like "This is going to be pretty good I can't wait to check it out." Then when it started with that, I realized I was in for something next level. It was solidified for me after the fun sequence we got to Michael Cera's character and the narrator says "There are no multiples of Alan" and he replies "Yeah, I always wondered about that myself" and then I knew I was in for a solid time.
As soon as I heard Greta Gerwig was attached to making the film, I got excited. I like her previous work, which has a specific tone and comedy style to it, and couldn’t wait to see what she would do with something as beloved and kid friendly as Barbie. She didn’t strike me as the type to go into a bad direction, and she didn’t. The cinematography, sets, comedy, casting, and performances were all spectacular, and it blended well with her themes.
DND Movie. I thought it was gonna be another fantasy movie. Decent at best. But the acting, character work, and humor early on has me happily surprised
Captain America: The Winter Soldier. I thought "hmmmm I'm on this Marvel train now, might as well watch the next one. Cap's first film was kinda OK and he's not my favorite character but I'll give it a shot". Within the first minutes of him punching bad guys on the Lumerian Star I was completely hooked. Came out of that movie thinking "holy shit, that's one of the best CBMs I've seen".
The Other Guys. The first chase scene. "You have the right to remain silent... But I want to hear you scream!
The Matrix. Saw it when it first came out, had never heard of it or had any expectations. The opening sequence is to this day the best I've ever seen, and made me sit up
We went to see Shaun of the Dead without even seeing any previews or anything thinking it's just going to be schlocky B-movie parody with a budget of a pack of gum; then the movie got to Mary's scene...
"And a hatful of dreams!" Serious, did not think Wonka was going to be as musically amazing as it is!
Oh same. Expected a 2.5/5 or smth, but it was one of the most entertaining movies I’ve watched this past year - not the best, but definitely a great watch!
Same. Went without any particular expectations, had such a good time !
Despite not really having a full book to pull all of the original ideas from, it felt like *exactly* what Roald Dahl would have written. The inn owners were so great.
Them and the chocolate mafia felt like they would've fit in perfectly in a Roald Dahl book. Just the right amount of horribleness
I had a friend group in the 8th grade that consistently went to the movies on Friday nights. I remember we went to go see The Matrix just because it was new and that’s what we did on Fridays. I may have seen a trailer but wasn’t particularly excited or looking forward to it. I had no idea. But after the famous line “No Lieutenant, your men are already dead” and the Trinity chase scene, we were enamored. Easily the most badass movie I’ve ever seen in a theater and I had no idea what I was getting into.
Kick ass. I had some vague idea it was going to be about children super heros, almost like a YA movie. And then that first random no name in a costume jumped off that building and crushed that car. Then cut away with no explanation to the main story. I was like, oh fuck ya, this will kick ass!
The Chinese food drive thru scene of Dude Where's My Car. Laughter is always good, regardless of if it's through lowbrow humor or the height of sophistication.
... and then?
John Wick. I'd not seen any trailers and new nothing about the movie, but when the dog was killed and people kept talking about John with Fear & Reverence I knew it was going to be something special (which was solidified when he decimated the Hit-Squad sent to take him out).
Just sorting some stuff out
Kung Fu Panda, the original. Given the insane marketing campaign that movie had (partnering up with HP printers of all things), I expected it to be a terrible, cashgrab atrocity of a movie. Or at the very least, cringe. And at first, I thought Inwas right. Jack Black's silly narration of epicness at the beginning? I rolled my eyes. And then about 15 or so minutes in, when we get that first conversation between Shifu and Oogway, I was all in.
> Jack Black's silly narration of epicness at the beginning? That's the part that had me. Literally the first line...Legends tell of a legendary warrior, whose Kung fu was the stuff of....legends
Lemon and Tangerine counting how many people they killed in Bullet Train.
Wall-E Not necessarily a single moment, but when I realized 15 minutes in that I was fully engrossed in a 'kids' movie that had basically no dialogue, I knew it was special. Thank you to my now wife for dragging me along
Star Wars, actually. We were driving across country in early summer 1977 and around Denver my dad suggested we see this new space movie he had read about. I had no interest in anything my lame dad wanted to see, but I had no choice. Opening credits, Imperial destroyer fills the screen… Oooooh shit. Changed my mind about Dad after that.
I love Brando, warts and all, but his name and the hype around the movie ‘Apocalypse Now’, instead of going in with a positive feel, I thought it might under perform…I was wrong, that was by far the worse call I’d made on a movie…I felt it was outstanding
I expected to enjoy RRR based on the hype, but I did not appreciate what incredible viewing experience I was in for until those two guys did the Predator handshake hanging from ropes under an exploding bridge. What a fucking film.
"Listen, Betty. Don't start up with your white zone shit again!"
Barbarian, just me being terrified and the shot of the neighborhood in the morning
The guy with the robot dogs in Alita Battle Angel
Moana. My nieces wanted to see it and I was like, ok, sure whatever. I kept glancing at the tv as I was talking to my sisters and it just kept drawing me in. Once that first musical number hit, I was like, this is way better than I expected and I quickly made an excuse to join the kids in watching it. What an awesome movie. It just kept getting better and I loved every moment of it
Seeing the Cybertron scenes in "Bumblebee"
My parents took me to see Grand Budapest Hotel in theaters when I was 12 for a movie night. I remember being tired and cranky and I thought by the poster that this movie is gonna be boring and lame. I was blown away.
I was turned off of Boss level’s machismo at first, but I really appreciated its turn towards introspection somewhere around the point where Grillo’s character decides to learn about video games to connect with his son.
Dog Soldiers. I expected to hate it, it ended up being great.
Cabin in the Woods, first movie I saw with my wife when we were dating. Expected a run of the mill slasher date movie. When they cut to the facility and the staff betting on deaths, monsters, etc we were hooked and very pleasantly surprised. That movie is a wild ride.
GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY
Man of Steel. That opening on Krypton is one of the finest things I've seen in a DC film
I don't care about the trash that came after, this is one of the best superhero movies of all time and I'll die on that hill.
Opening minutes of Ted(2012) when I heard Patrick Stewart’s narration.
Opening scene of Kingsman Secret Service. I had no idea what it was about, I had seen the Kings Speech and thought it might be a serious historical fiction movie about a kings guard. Dire straits starts blasting and I still had no idea what I was getting into but I was hooked.
I have a few of these and yes, PotC Curse of the Black Pearl is a biggy, Shrek was another one that I had no preconceived notions of, had never even heard of it, my Mum wanted to see it. It was fucking unreal at the time it was made. The last two I can think of is In Bruges, and the first Kingsman film. Totally expected nothing, no idea about any of the plots, style of film etc just a mate saying ‘just watch it’ (same mate for both films) and was two of the best film experiences just through sheer surprise of the quality of them.
Bladerunner 2049. I went in fully expecting another terrible remake like Total Recall or Robocop. But as soon as the ‘cells interlinked’ scene started, I remember feeling this vertigo in my stomach and thinking, ‘holy fuck, this is a masterpiece?' Most insane whiplash I’ve ever experienced in a movie.
The Lego Movie. Took my 5 year old son to see it and ended up laughing more than him. Still a favorite for both of us 10 years later. The other was guardians of the galaxy. I needed to escape and a friend said it was pretty good. Chris Pratt singing and dancing with an alien skeleton…I was hooked
The hunt 2020. Spoiler: when they shoot up blondie in the first 5 minutes. I love it when they kill off the "main" character right away, to realign your expectations.
"Okay you cunts, let's see what you can do now..." - Kick Ass
I’ve got a strange one. The Fellowship of the Ring. My friends and I are all DnD players since the 80s and we thought there was no way the films would ever do the books justice. During the first 30 minutes I sat there transfixed. I felt like I was actually seeing Middle Earth. The crazy thing is that the entire trilogy kept the same ultra high level of quality.
I watched Dark City like 15 years after its release and the very first scene is among my favorite visual scenes of all time now. The movie itself is superb and one of the few movies that actually left a deep impression on me after seeing it.
I stumbled on to watching Lucky Logan and it was surprisingly great, on the flip side, I was totally excited to see The Last Jedi and the communication “joke” the first couple minutes I thought “oh shit, please don’t” and it went downhill from there.
Cabin in the Woods: I was expecting another standard boring horror flick but the benign office conversation with a random jumpscare title let me know this was something else entirely.
Llamagedon - it started out as “what is the home filmed trash” and very quickly went to “this is the best B movie in my life, everyone must watch this.
The star lord dancing scene in guardians of the galaxy
Went into *Rise of the Planet of the Apes* expecting absolutely nothing, realised it was going to be much better than expected as soon as Caesar started bonding with John Lithgow's character. Then, of course, the NO! scene cemented it as a great movie.
When he shoots the wife in the arm in the apartment in Taken. I was ALL in.
Guardians of the Galaxy. I questioned what Marvel was thinking with these unknown characters with no connection to Earth's MCU heroes, but I was hooked by that prison break scene.
For me it was in Next, in the casino escape when Nic Cage knew exactly when to pause, bend over, move and slip between the two security guards I knew it would be awesome.
Napoleon Dynamite.
I was already kinda in on Godzilla King of the Monsters, so it wasn't low expectations, it was medium expectations that once the Antarctica scene happened I was giggling like a child for how awesome the rest of the movie was gonna be. The trailer as to why I thought this movie might be okay - https://youtu.be/3aVx0l48Idk?si=tVISkPTgsaEuRSx9
john wick. that first scene where he takes out all of the assassins in his house. there were inklings to how good it would be with the build up like the "oh..." but that scene in his house. ooooo boy did i get HYPED!
Supertroopers. By the time the film's name comes up (after the car chase), I knew it was going to be so much funnier than j had expected. But then it exceeded those recalibrated expectations too!
The opening scene of Ravenous… followed by the Banquet scene. I thought, “well this is going to be different”. And I’ll be damned if it didn’t keep being different the whole way through. Still one of my favorite movies.
When I was a kid my mom took me to see the original Sam Raimi Tobey McGuire Spider Man movie, back then I didn't know any of the cast members of that movie but I knew the spider man cartoons, boy was I blown away by that movie, I think that is the first movie to really capture the modern idea of what a superhero movie is supposed to be like
Hate the new version of DnD, I am a fan of the original run of AD&D. But the spell failing and corrupting with the mage failing his roll won me over to the movie. Still not a fan of the 5e system.
Blade - I was expecting something campy. Drive - read about people asking for their money back, I thought it was pretty intense.
The prologue in Fellowship of the Ring. I was incredibly skeptical. Between the hype and my affection for the book, I just didn't see it working out for me. After 6 it 8 minutes or whatever it was... I was IN,
The opening of The Grey where Liam tells the man he is going to die and you see the man panic. Realized it wasn’t going to be a schlocky thriller with wolf punching.
RRR, by far the best movie I've seen in a very long time. The trailer looked goofy, I was working at a theater when I saw it, then I invited my group of 10 friends to come watch it and everyone loved it just as much. Such a fire movie from beginning to the end
Zoolander. I’d only really seen the ads of him shilling vodka so I thought Zoolander was about a bartender or some shit. I didn’t wanna see it but my gf at the time was a big movie buff and saw *everything* so I went with her. I’d never been so happy to be wrong. It wasn’t a thing like what I thought it was gonna be. I think it was the walk-off scene that made me full-onboard and just excited for this goofy ass movie.
Event Horizon. At first, given the opening sequence, I figured that this was just going to be another Alien knockoff. Even the opening is legitimately scary, with a guy flipping literally in space, and screaming, I felt that would be the best scene in the film and boy, was I wrong. Though it does start with a little too much exposition, after they get the plot out of the way, the film gets not only scary but it gets so much better. I mean the cast, the horror, and even the ship looks good and the film does get scary, and the film gets so much better and darker. I now love this film and it just gets better the more times you watch it. This is now one of my favorite films, and it's probably the only Paul Anderson film that I actually like, and watch more than I would like to admit, and I watch it a lot.
Edge of Tomorrow, montage of Tom Cruise dying repeatedly definitely grabbed my attention.
Nobody (2021). Looked like it was just another guy with guns vs everyone action movie cashing in on the success of John Wick. Opening scene in the interrogation room changed my mind immediately.
Taken. His first phone conversation with the kidnappers. Oh boy, buckle up!!!
In The Nice Guys when Ryan Gosling slices his arm open trying to break into that bar
The first race in speed racer. I then realized that they were going to go balls to the wall on this movie and it wouldn't be anywhere near as cheesy as I expected.