My favorite unconventional films.
Greetings and welcome to my humble little list. I've watched a lot of movies in my life and these are some of my favorites. These are specifically the somewhat unconventional, out of the ordinary, wonderful ones that have at least one fantastical element to them (or a lot). You won't find real-life dramas, gritty war stories or biopics in this list. You will find my personal favorites in adventure, comedy, drama, fantasy, romance, sci-fi, horror and super-hero from the eighties up to today. Be forewarned that you will find movies that were box office successes. It's not because a movie was very popular that it won't be included here. Keep also in mind that the movies here might have been "not so conventional" at the time of their release but imitated a lot later.
They are in no particular order. Some have links to reviews written by me. Useful votes are always welcome and very much appreciated. It would also be interesting to see any film suggestions you might have based on my preferences. I might have already seen them but who knows? Thank you.
They are in no particular order. Some have links to reviews written by me. Useful votes are always welcome and very much appreciated. It would also be interesting to see any film suggestions you might have based on my preferences. I might have already seen them but who knows? Thank you.
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- DirectorMichel GondryStarsJim CarreyKate WinsletTom WilkinsonWhen their relationship turns sour, a couple undergoes a medical procedure to have each other erased from their memories forever.I love everything about it even Jim Carrey who surprised me by his restraint. It's everything I look for in a movie.
- DirectorTerry GilliamStarsJonathan PryceKim GreistRobert De NiroA bureaucrat in a dystopic society becomes an enemy of the state as he pursues the woman of his dreams.
- DirectorJaco Van DormaelStarsJared LetoSarah PolleyDiane KrugerA boy stands on a station platform as a train is about to leave. Should he go with his mother or stay with his father? Infinite possibilities arise from this decision. As long as he doesn't choose, anything is possible.
- DirectorTim BurtonStarsJohnny DeppWinona RyderDianne WiestThe solitary life of an artificial man - who was incompletely constructed and has scissors for hands - is upended when he is taken in by a suburban family.I just totally love and relate to that character. Probably the movie that made me fall in love with Tim Burton's universe.
- DirectorJean-Pierre JeunetStarsAudrey TautouMathieu KassovitzRufusDespite being caught in her imaginative world, Amelie, a young waitress, decides to help people find happiness. Her quest to spread joy leads her on a journey where she finds true love.This is just one of these feel-good quirky romantic comedies. Incredibly charming and one of the movies I watched the most. If you like "Pushing Daisies", you absolutely have to watch this. It came before.
Just Amelie if you're looking for it in English. - DirectorJean-Paul RappeneauStarsGérard DepardieuAnne BrochetVincent PerezFamed swordsman and poet Cyrano de Bergerac is in love with his cousin Roxane. He has never expressed his love for her as he his large nose undermines his self-confidence. Then he finds a way to express his love to her, indirectly.I'm stretching the definition of "fantastical element" here but it's just one my favorite movies ever and it's certainly not conventional. Besides, a guy who can beat a hundred sworsdmen by himself while also being a great writer is pretty fantastical to me. This is another movie that makes me cry whenever I see it and not necessarily for the obvious reasons...
- DirectorCameron CroweStarsTom CruisePenélope CruzCameron DiazA self-indulgent and vain publishing magnate finds his privileged life upended after a vehicular accident with a resentful lover.I didn't have the chance to watch the original.
- DirectorChris ColumbusStarsRobin WilliamsEmbeth DavidtzSam NeillAn android endeavors to become human as he gradually acquires emotions.Weirdly, it's one of the movies where I weeped the most and I don't usually weep in movies. It was unfortunately marketed as a children's comedy but despite funny moments, it's definitely not in that genre. This is a movie that deserved a better fate.
My review. - DirectorEdgar WrightStarsMichael CeraMary Elizabeth WinsteadKieran CulkinIn a magically realistic version of Toronto, a young man must defeat his new girlfriend's seven evil exes one by one in order to win her heart.Crazily imaginative and clever. So much fun provided you don't expect everything to make sense.
My review. - DirectorTerry GilliamStarsBruce WillisMadeleine StoweBrad PittIn a future world devastated by disease, a convict is sent back in time to gather information about the man-made virus that wiped out most of the human population on the planet.Director Terry Gilliam in great form. Loved how smart it was.
- DirectorFrank MillerQuentin TarantinoRobert RodriguezStarsMickey RourkeClive OwenBruce WillisAn exploration of the dark and miserable Basin City and three of its residents, all of whom are caught up in violent corruption.Never saw a movie like this one before. A stupendous adaptation of the Frank Miller graphic novels.
- DirectorZack SnyderStarsJackie Earle HaleyPatrick WilsonCarla GuginoIn a version of 1985 where superheroes exist, the murder of a colleague sends active vigilante Rorschach on the trail of a conspiracy that will change the course of history.I expected to be disappointed because of the difficulty of the adaptation. I was blown away. It was a very unconventional series of comic books back in the eighties. It made for a very unconventional, but great, super-hero movie.
My review. - DirectorM. Night ShyamalanStarsBruce WillisSamuel L. JacksonRobin WrightA man learns something extraordinary about himself after a devastating accident.Better if you know as little as possible about it. One of the first movies of M. Night Shimalayan and to my mind, his greatest.
- DirectorTerry GilliamStarsJohn NevilleEric IdleSarah PolleyAn account of Baron Munchausen's supposed travels and fantastical experiences across late 18th-century Europe with his band of misfits.Wonderfully imaginative. Like a mix of fairy tale/swashbuckling and super heroics with unlikely protagonists.
- DirectorRidley ScottStarsHarrison FordRutger HauerSean YoungA blade runner must pursue and terminate four replicants who stole a ship in space and have returned to Earth to find their creator.So very atmospheric and melancholy. Memorable Vangelis music.
- DirectorEdgar WrightStarsSimon PeggNick FrostKate AshfieldThe uneventful, aimless lives of a London electronics salesman and his layabout roommate are disrupted by the zombie apocalypse.The horror comedy (or comic horror film) that every other film in the same sub-genre is compared to and with good reason.
- DirectorBryan SingerStarsBrandon RouthKevin SpaceyKate BosworthSuperman returns to Earth after spending five years in space examining his homeworld Krypton. But he finds things have changed while he was gone, and he must once again prove himself important to the world.It gave me (good) chills a few times and it involved me emotionally, managing to make me fear for Superman. It's illogical but after the big first surprise (which some purists will hate but that I loved), I thought anything could happen. For me, it was not only the perfect unofficial continuation of Superman 1 & 2, but also wonderful and awe-inspiring.
- DirectorRob ReinerStarsCary ElwesMandy PatinkinRobin WrightA bedridden boy's grandfather reads him the story of a farmboy-turned-pirate who encounters numerous obstacles, enemies and allies in his quest to be reunited with his true love.You want a smart, charming, funny romantic fairy tale for all ages? This is one of your best bests.
- DirectorM. Night ShyamalanStarsBruce WillisHaley Joel OsmentToni ColletteMalcolm Crowe, a child psychologist, starts treating a young boy, Cole, who encounters dead people and convinces him to help them. In turn, Cole helps Malcolm reconcile with his estranged wife.The ending plot twist puts everything in perspective after a movie that was very interesting beforehand anyway. Another good role for Bruce Willis.
- DirectorMarc ForsterStarsWill FerrellEmma ThompsonDustin HoffmanI.R.S. auditor Harold Crick suddenly finds his mundane Chicago life to be the subject of narration only he can hear: narration that begins to affect his entire existence, from his work to his love life to his death.Such a simple fantastical element but brilliantly exploited.
- DirectorZack SnyderStarsGerard ButlerLena HeadeyDavid WenhamIn the ancient battle of Thermopylae, King Leonidas and 300 Spartans fight against Xerxes and his massive Persian army.Nothing quite like it at the time. The action scenes are gripping and so dynamic.
- DirectorYimou ZhangStarsZiyi ZhangTakeshi KaneshiroAndy LauA romantic police captain breaks a beautiful member of a rebel group out of prison to help her rejoin her fellows, but things are not what they seem.House of Flying Daggers
- DirectorYimou ZhangStarsJet LiTony Leung Chiu-waiMaggie CheungA defense officer, Nameless, was summoned by the King of Qin regarding his success of terminating three warriors.
- DirectorYimou ZhangStarsChow Yun-FatGong LiJay ChouDuring China's Tang dynasty the emperor has taken the princess of a neighboring province as wife. She has borne him two sons and raised his eldest. Now his control over his dominion is complete, including the royal family itself.
- DirectorAng LeeStarsChow Yun-FatMichelle YeohZiyi ZhangA young Chinese warrior steals a sword from a famed swordsman and then escapes into a world of romantic adventure with a mysterious man in the frontier of the nation.Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon.
Probably because of the success of this one in North America, that we got the translations of the great asian movies above.