Underrated Movies

Although it sports a dashing 100% critical score on Rotten Tomatoes, Bye Bye Birdie's acclaim ends quickly thereafter. The critics say that the film is "dated, but lovable," which is true, but despite its dated tone, Birdie is an underrated classic with the kind of charm that one just doesn't see anymore in modern filmmaking.

Head's up, there's going to be a good bit of animation on this list. Anyway, Don Bluth left Disney at age 41, took 18 other animators with him, and went on to make several animated films and even the successful and revolutionary video game, Dragon's Lair. However, The Secret of NIMH is his masterpiece, and although it's filtered with a rather creepy undertone, it is still a great feature with beautiful animation.

If you like this movie and haven't read the novel, you ought to read it because it is absolutely fantastic. Something Wicked actually spawned from a situation not unlike the composition of 2001: A Space Odyssey, where the novel was actually written after the screenplay. As a matter of fact, Bradbury pitched the film to Gene Kelley, who was working on Singin' in the Rain at the time, and he turned it down due to his overbearing schedule and urge to stay out of the horror genre. Nonetheless, thirty-one years later, Disney released the film, and to this day, it remains, in my opinion, one of the studio's best live-action films that is adequately acted, interestingly directed, and sports a stellar production design above all else.

Ironically, critics actually preferred the sequel to this film (Addams Family Values) over the original. The reason for that is the fact that the sequel succeeds more in being a straight-up comedy, but the original is a more adequate Addams Family movie, and if you're a dedicated Addams fan like me, you'll enjoy the original over Values too. Plus, if you aren't familiar with the completely original Broadway show of the same name, you're missing out, as it is possibly the best re-imagining of the original cartoon.

Ah, good old Harold Ramis. This film is tied 8.1 with Perks of Being a Wallflower for the highest IMDb rating. Nonetheless, it is still highly under appreciated by critics and viewers alike. Ramis's other works like Ghostbusters and Caddyshack are what mainly give him his claim to fame, but I think, out of all of them, Groundhog Day is the best, and is what I would call one of the best films ever. It took the number 1 spot on my list of the Top 50 Fantastical Movies of All Time, and has a certain kind of wit and humor that's just inexplicable through text. On that note, go watch it yourself and see what I mean!

Dreamworks' 2-D animation library is often forgotten, along with this film. This endearing musical wonder is a very unique movie, and it is right up there with The Ten Commandments as one of the best Biblical movies of all time.

Unbeknownst to most viewers who don't watch the credits, this film was written and directed by none other than legendary animation mogul Brad Bird, who went on to work among the other luminaries at Pixar. Not unlike his other films, Iron Giant is among the more mature animated films, without being a straight-up "adult" film like The Simpsons Movie. It achieves this by using subtle language, a well-stocked cast, and a no-holds-barred story. With a rather blatant gun-control theme, Iron Giant proves to be an endearing oddity, which some say will go on to be appreciated in retrospect like It's a Wonderful Life.

The Road to El Dorado was called "The Most Underrated Kids Movie of All Time" by internet raters WatchMojo.com. I disagree because I don't personally see it as a kids movie. Therefore, its formula adds up to the perfect storm: mature filmmaking, non-Disney animation, and marketing towards children when it possibly shouldn't have been. Nonetheless El Dorado makes do with a quirky story, funny script, and the rare quality of knowing when to be animated and when not to be.

This film was actually produced in-part by none other than Steven Spielberg, and was directed by the great Robert Zemeckis! However, it wasn't produced by Disney, so no one cared. But despite all that, this is a very unique fantastical tale told through the eyes of the middle-school-aged DJ. What makes the film unique is its nods to the past through a B Horror Movie production design and a capitalization on growing up through the early teen years--both of which (20th Century filmmaking and adolescence) are often ignored by animators. Therefore, it is a good-nature Halloween cult classic enjoyed by hipsters and animation gurus alike.