MovieChat Forums > Hudson Hawk (1991) Discussion > Top 10 Most-Underated Films Of All Time

Top 10 Most-Underated Films Of All Time

posted 19 years ago by chrisengelking
58 replies | jump to latest

Okay, I admit, I haven't spent much time giving much thought to what movies belong on this list but I definitely think that this film has been criticised more so than most for the simple fact that this film is, by and large, flawless!

Flawless in the sense that I can watch this film year after year and still get the same entertainment value out of it I did following the first viewing (if not more). Granted, taste in film is subjective, so I'm sure other people would disagree about its repetitive viewability - but seriously, this is one damn good movie!

I was glad that it was released on DVD. I was a bit worried as it took them (studios/distributors) some time to release it onto LaserDisc (which I was one of the first to own a copy of!).

Okay, I'm rambling...this movie rocks...so if you haven't seen it...shame on you! Go to your local dvd-store (when are they going to finally call them that?!) and rent a copy...or better yet...BUY IT! :)

~Your long-winded ...something.

[–] thisjustin804 19 years ago

Id like to know what your other 9 are, because I
can definitely think 10 others more deserving of this title.

Great movie though, I found it fun to watch, as convoluted as it was at times.

[–] o-t-t-o 14 years ago

There's some pretty subtle stuff in there, such as the big doofus criminal (can't remember his moniker) complaining to a waiter "What do you mean you don't have French Fries? This is France, right?".

Apart from the obvious - that French Fries aren't French - they're in fact in Italy.

[–] film_ho 19 years ago

I've never really understood why this movie always rates as a BOMB in video guides. It probably has something to do with the obscene amount of money that it cost, combined with some Bruce Willis backlash that was in progress at the time. The singing scenes are embarassing to watch.

I wonder if reviewers who hated it appreciated that the film is a comedy, albeit with a very goofy sense of humor, not an "adventure," as it was marketed. The Mayflowers are the funniest screen villians since the Joan Crawford character in Momie Dearest. Bruce Willis satirizes the straight hero roles he has played in so many films. It's great work from a very good actor who has neverthless managed to turn in a lot of terrible, if extremely popular, performances (Die Hard, Moonlighting, etc.)

[–] shakingcliches 19 years ago

I would argue that Moonlighting is good as is Die Hard, both contain that sense of knowing that is over the top in Hudson Hawk.

You are right the Bomb rating probably come from the lame calculus used to label movies costs versus recoup and critical response.

[–] PanteraRosado 15 years ago

I've never really understood why this movie always rates as a BOMB in video guides. It probably has something to do with the obscene amount of money that it cost, combined with some Bruce Willis backlash that was in progress at the time.

Why was there a Willis backlash? What were people doing?

Dalton and Craig! Accept NO substitutes!

[–] Drooch 8 years ago

Yeah, his career only took off 3 years earlier with Die Hard and he only made a few films in between. Hudson Hawk may have caused a backlash but I doubt there was one at the time.

[–] prognathous 19 years ago

Here are my three top underrated films:

Last Action Hero (1993) - IMDB avarage rating: 5.4
The Bonfire of the Vanities (1990) - IMDB avarage rating: 5.0
Sphere (1998) - IMDB avarage rating: 5.3

Hudson Hawk is an entertaining film that's certainly underrated as well, but probably not as much as those three.

Prog.

[–] 19 years ago

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[–] o-t-t-o 14 years ago

It's interesting that you bring up 'Last Action Hero', which is actually next to 'Hudson Hawk' on my top-two list in this category, and I think they've missed the same trick. It's really nothing to do with the quality of the films themselves, they've simply failed to position themselves properly. They're really Action Spoofs, and should be judged next to films like 'Naked Gun', but this wasn't clear to most people, and so the films both bombed.

[–] Smoku 14 years ago

For me it was cool movie. I mean nothing was serious in it and that was the quality of it. You needed to lighten up a bit to watch it. And the same story went with last action hero. It also was a good comedy, and a somewhat a distanced to the whole movie industry popcorn flick. May sound confusing but that kind of movie is a really small tiny niche, so dont expect that it will please everyone.

[–] cifra2 13 years ago

Last Action Hero and The Bonfire of the Vanities are on Hudson Hawk league, for sure, terribly underrated.

However Sphere is rightdown terrible: boring, pretentious...

[–] juke_armale 18 years ago

I have never seen anything like it! It is DEFINITELY underated...
Since the first time I saw it untill the n-th, it keeps entertaining me with it's funny and unexpected twists...

... when HH is riding on an ambulance trolley down the street and he catches a cigarette, tries it, 'menthol?!' and throws away...

My god, that stuff is hillarious...

Does anyone knows any similar films?

[–] safetyboy 18 years ago

The 'Flint' series where a big inspiration in the film. I don't know how to provide a link but type "James Coburn" into IMDB and look for "Our Man Flint" and "In Like Flint".

There are a few references to it in the film and, obviously, they both feature James Coburn. The films are mid to late 60's but have dated OK, I guess because they are comedies too.

Hudson Hawk was a little ahead of mainstream tastes IMO. It would have been better recieved today in my opinion.

[–] Bat-Man_reborn 18 years ago

Midnight Run

They say, "Evil prevails when good men fail to act." What they ought to say is, "Evil prevails."

[–] chrisengelking 17 years ago

I would second that, but I'm pretty sure it actually did fair at the box office and reviews have always been positive. But yes, outstanding film. Always enjoyable to see Robert DeNiro in comedy.

This outrage I have suffered today will not be soon forgotten.

[–] ransax 15 years ago

I think you may be confusing Danny Aiello with Robert DeNiro?

[–] 15 years ago

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[–] [email protected] 16 years ago

something the same is not out there, but defently some are worth a watch.

"The Adventures of Ford Fairlane" (also under rated)

"loaded weapon" spoof on the lethal weapon series, great actors (no story realy)

"The last boyscout" also with bruce willis a decent fun packed action/comedy

"The Big Lebowski" in any way a perfect comedy.

all good paced movies like hudson hawk, adventure and a laugh in every scene.

[–] gabisu 13 years ago

Conan the barbarian
Hudson Hawk
Last Action Hero
Dude where's my car
...

====================
Omae wa mo shinde iru

[–] sloba_leo 15 years ago

No. Hudson Hawk is definitely one of a kind as far as I'm concerned.

[–] safetyboy 18 years ago

That's very interesting, I'll look up 'The President's Analyst' and give it watch.

I've seen/read some of the cast interviews for Hudson Hawk and cannot remember 'Analyst' being mentioned. I found the Flint movies very like Hudson Hawk myself but since I haven't checked out Analyst I'll have to wait and see.

Some great films mentioned on the list below too.

[–] 18 years ago

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[–] MarloweSyn 18 years ago

I would agree with you on HH being a very underrated movie. I have never seen a movie quite like this before, and haven't seen one like it since. I thought it was a lighthearted breezy film that made me laugh throughout. Is it a comedy? An action movie? A caper flick? A musical? Yep on all four. I haven't seen so many genres mashed into one movie since another underappreciated movie, Big Trouble in Little China. Now I'm not saying that it is The Sting, but it's still good fun.

[–] soldaten116 18 years ago

I thought the remake of "I Spy" was very underrated. I would have never seen it on my own due to the reviews. It was on an airplane and with very little else to do on an international flight, I watched it. too funny. I woulnd up watching it about 3 times and thought it was funnier each time.

Others include:

Harley Davidson and the Marlboro Man
Big Trouble in Little China.

[–] 18 years ago

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[–] 18 years ago

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[–] chuckmoran 16 years ago

I think you missed the point. Under-rated movies means movies that people as a whole have (key word) "rated" as sub par. Then again I am not a film student, as you mentioned.

I mean seriously, you have Terrence Malick, Alfred Hitchcock, and Terry Gilliam on that list.

[–] TorontoJediMaster 16 years ago

Hudson Hawk was dumb, juvenile and cartoonish.....It was also one of the funniest movies I have ever seen.

It's certainly no classic...But if you want a movie you can turn off your brain and just enjoy a good laugh, it's right up your alley.

[–] 16 years ago

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[–] CookieGuggelman 16 years ago

This movie is AWESOME!!!!! Totally underrated. Just love every single minute of it. People who rip this movie take themselves too seriously.

Others on the list have to include:

Bonfire of the Vanities
Midnight Run (just an amazing film)
Ronin (kind of just forgotten when it came out)
Cop Land (didn't get nearly enough lip service for how amazing it is)
The Money Pit (classic Hanks comedy)
Big Trouble in Little China
The Toy (Richard Pryor classic)