So Many DVDs, So Little Time…
Over the last year, I undertook the task of cataloging my film collection and have reached the point where my existing collection is completely cataloged and I can simply add any new DVDs and Blu-Rays that come into the house. However, I have also come to the stunning realization that I have amassed enough DVDs (and Blu-Rays, along with a handful of VHS tapes), in my film and TV collection, that I could watch a different movie every day, for the next three years, and not repeat a single title! (“Oh, the shock and utter horror!” –said probably no film buff, ever…) Plus, some of the entries in my film collection contains multi-movie packs, and some complete television series, so, in all fairness, I would probably be fine for a full four years, without any overlap… Self-isolation is not really a problem in my household…
This realization started in an attempt to keep track of all the titles that I own, as I stumbled upon one of the best phone apps (and websites) that has helped me keep a digital record of my ever-growing film collection. “LibraryThing” allows its users to catalog their media collections, even though it was originally designed for books, I discovered that you can also create your own ‘film library’ and use the app’s capability of turning your phone’s camera into a barcodes scanner to automatically record item titles and corresponding information. The app can pull cover art, release dates, etc., from various websites like amazon.com or abebooks.com, but if something is not to your liking (or perhaps contains an error) you can edit your entries to your exacting specifications. Let’s just say that the bibliophile in me loves the “LibraryThing” app way too much, and I highly suggest you give it a try if you are looking for a way of creating a digital catalog for your own book or film collection!
In creating my catalog, it was interesting to re-discover some of the film gems that are part of my movie collection. Listed below are just seven of those films (which would constitute a typical week of film viewing for me), and which are surprisingly good, but are often overlooked or dismissed by critics (they are all rated less than a 6.0/10 on IMDB…). If you haven’t heard of these films before, I suggest that you track down copies, because they are all pretty funny, entertaining (in their own way), and well worth a watch! Enjoy!
Casino Royale (1967, dirs. Val Guest, Ken Hughes, John Hurston, et al.)
I am pretty sure this was the first ‘James Bond’ film that I ever saw, but it also happens to be a comedic spoof of ‘Bond films’ and one of two ‘unofficial’ titles in the “Bond” series (the other unofficial or non-Eon Production was the 1983 film Never Say Never Again). This film features an ensemble cast including David Niven, Peter Sellers, Deborah Kerr, Orson Welles, and many others, and has a very loose plot, which many have stated is incoherent, but aren’t most Bond films? The music for me is the real star of Casino Royale, featuring “The Look of Love” by Burt Bacharach (which was nominated for an Academy Award) and a great theme by Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass. I find this Bond film far more entertaining than any of the recent entries into the series…
Elvis Has Left the Building (2004, dir. Joel Zwick)
This is a delightful black comedy film about a down-on-her-luck traveling cosmetics saleswoman, Harmony (Kim Basinger), who keeps accidentally killing Elvis impersonators whilst traveling to a convention in Las Vegas. Between the Elvis-centric soundtrack and the creative ways in which the impersonators keep dying, one cannot help but laugh while watching this film (at one point, Tom Hanks even pops up in a cameo as a deceased Elvis impersonator). Part road movie, part romantic comedy, and an homage to all things Elvis, this film has a little something for everyone.
Home on the Range (2004, dirs. Will Finn and John Sanford)
What can I say? I am a huge fan of this Disney film. Home on the Range is one of the more unpopular animated endeavors to grace the silver screen in recent years, but the film is surprisingly entertaining and a throwback to classic Disney, think of the “Pecos Bill” segment in Melody Time (1948). The score was even composed by Alan Menken, who is best known for his many stage and theatrical contributions, including titles such as The Little Mermaid (1989), Beauty and the Beast (1991), Little Shop of Horrors (1986), and Tangled (2010), among others. If Home on the Range’s satirical take on the Western, some hypnotized cows, and cheerful animation does not make you smile, I do not know what will.
Jumpin’ Jack Flash (1986, dir. Penny Marshall)
Starring Whoopi Goldberg, Jumpin’ Jack Flash is a quirky espionage comedy film. Looking back at this film, it feels very dated (and very ‘80s, but that is part of the film’s charm) particularly when it comes to the computer and technology Terry (Goldberg) uses to communicate with Jack (Jonathan Pryce), a British Intelligence agent stationed in Eastern Europe and has run into some trouble with the KGB. It is an odd little film, but entertaining, and notable for being Penny Marshall’s directorial debut.
King Solomon’s Mines (1985, dir. J. Lee Thompson)
Following the “Indiana Jones” craze, after the release of Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981) and its ‘prequel’ follow-up, Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984), King Solomon’s Mines is a more satirical and lighthearted take or parody of the archeological adventure film. This film centers on Jessie Huston (Sharon Stone) who hires Allan Quartermain (Richard Chamberlain) to track down her father after he went missing in search for ‘King Solomon’s Mines.’ The film is ridiculous from beginning to end, and even features John Rhys-Davies as Dogati, Quartermain’s nemesis, which is hilarious in its own way, in that Rhys-Davies plays “Sallah” in two of the “Indiana Jones” films. If you manage to chuckle your way through King Solomon’s Mines, feel free to try the sequel, Allan Quartermain and the Lost City of Gold (1986), although it is not nearly as good as the first film (the sequels rarely are…).
The Man with One Red Shoe (1985, dir. Stan Dragoti)
Okay, so clearly, I have a thing for ‘bad’ films from the 1980s, but this is another gem… The Man with One Red Shoe is a madcap espionage farce that is based upon a French film with a similarly convoluted title (Le Grand Blond avec un Chaussure Noire, aka. The Tall Blond Man with One Black Shoe, which was directed by Yves Robert and released in 1972). Essentially the weirdly specific, but nondescript title, is a reference to the complete stranger who is selected by CIA goons at the airport as a potential “spy” or “informant,” who supposedly possesses information that would clear CIA Director Ross (Charles Durning) of all involvement with some drug-smuggling charges after a job went south in Morocco. Things are quickly complicated, as CIA Deputy Director Burton Cooper (Dabney Coleman) did have a hand in the Moroccan job, hoping that Ross will resign and that he will be promoted to replace Ross as Director. The standout performance in this film, however, is that of Tom Hanks as Richard Drew, the unsuspecting man with one red shoe, who is merely a violinist and has no clue that he is about to be swept up into a bunch of spy games. As convoluted as this storyline sounds, the film has some very funny moments, a great supporting cast (including Carrie Fisher and Jim Belushi), and some pretty memorable scenes (you will probably never want to go to the dentist again…).
Super Mario Bros. (1993, dirs. Rocky Morton and Annabel Jankel)
This is one of my guilty-pleasure films; I loved this film growing up and appreciate its campiness as an adult. Very loosely based upon the Nintendo “Mario” franchise and video game series, Super Mario Bros. is a live-action adventure-comedy film that takes some of the basic elements of the video game and turns them into a grungy and bizarre parallel universe. I particularly love the performances of Bob Hoskins and John Leguizamo, as brothers Mario and Luigi, and their bumbling efforts to ‘save’ Princess Daisy, portrayed by Samantha Mathis. Super Mario Bros. is certainly weird, and perhaps not everyone’s cup of tea, but, for me, it has all the qualities that should give this movie a ‘cult film’ status.
How many DVDs or Blu-Rays do you have floating around your house? What do you think of my ‘hidden gem’ film picks? What are some of your favorite ‘underappreciated’ movies? Share your thoughts in the comments below, stay tuned for more film suggestions, and do not forget to hunt down a copy of Independence Day (1996) our July Film Club Pick!
Copyright © 2020 Sarah Crane
