The Top Ten most underrated films

This list is designed to give you examples of some truly remarkable films that were pretty much ignored when they were first released to the public.

10. James and the Giant Peach
Director: Henry Selick
Cast: Pete Postlethwaite, Miriam Margoyles, Richard Dreyfuss, Simon Callow, David Thewlis.

This adaptation of the Roald Dahl book of the same name brillantly combines almost every form of animation including stop-motion, cell animationb, CGI and even
paper-cut outs. The cast is also superb with Postlethwaite a stand-out as the Old Man who gives
James, the protagonist, the means to change the miserable life that he is forced to intially endure. Last but not least is the movie's incredible production design which gives the proceedings a surreal but appealing look. All in all, a most enjoyable film.

9. Ed Wood
Dircetor: Tim Burton
Cast: Johnny Depp, Martin Landau, Bill Murray, Mike Starr, Sara Jessica Parker, Jeffrey Jones.

This biographical film about the life of Ed Wood, the worst director of all time, is told in a magnificent fashion with Depp in the title role. He, along with rest of the rather unusual cast, are simply perfect with Landau both magnificent and appealing as the tragic figure of Bela Lugosi. Although a failure when first released, this is perhaps Burton's greatest film.

8. The Dark Crystal
Directors: Jim Henson and Frank Oz
Cast: Stephen Garlick, Michael Killgariff, Barry Dennen, Billie Whitelaw, Steve Whitmire.

This classic tale of good vs. evil features an all-puppet cast combined with eye-popping prodcution design and a very atmospheric score. The voice cast
is o.k. but only Killgariff and Dennen stand-out as the the two main villians. For those who want
a movie that gives you something to ponder, this is the one for you as it will leaves you speechless.

7. Howard the Duck
Director: Willard Huyck
Cast: Leas Thompson, Tim Robbins, Paul Guilfoyle, David Paymer, Jeffrey Jones, Chip Zien.

This entertaining film comed from the brilliant but off-kilter man known as George Lucas. Based on a Marvel comic created by Steve Gerber, it emerges as a nice
and somewhat appelaing film although it does tend to lag at certain points.

6. Batman and Robin
Director: Joel Schumacher
Cast: George Clooney, Chris O'Donnell, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Pat Hingle, Michael Gough.

This fourth installment in the Batman series polarized people back in 1997 with its campy acting, production design and costuming. But for me, it was a nice change of pace from the doom and gloom mentality of the first three installments, particularly with the second.

5. Return of the Jedi
Director: Richard Marquand
Cast: Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Anthony Daniels, Billy Dee Williams, Frank Oz.

The third chapter in the series is generally considered the weakest but I beg to differ. Although I am in the anti-Ewok camp, they don't harm the film
enough to kill it. The special effects are slicker than in the first two movies, the cast is both
engaging and unqiue and Sebastian Shaw gives one of the greatest performances ever as the
face of Darth Vader.

4. Labyrinth
Director: Jim Henson
Cast: David Bowie, Jennifer Connolly, Toby Froud, Brian Henson, Christopher Williams.

Despite the teaming of Henson, Bowie and producer George Lucas, this visually stunning film didn't earn a profit when it was first released. I
urge you to take a look at it for it will dazzle and entertain with its combination of highly
advanced animatronics and CGI. It features an amazing performance by Bowie as the
chamring but ruthless Goblin King.


3. Comic Book: The Movie
Director: Mark Hamill
Cast: Mark Hamill, Billy West, Tom Kenny, Daran Norris, Paul Dini, Jim Cummings, Roger Rose.


This mockumentary features a cast made up entirely of cartoon voice-over actors and that is grea asset. The film is set at the San Diego Comic-Con convention and features not oonly some striking visual ideas but some very funny perfomances, most especially Tom Kenny as Derek Sprang who drags his wife and son along to the convention with him.

2. The Hunchback of Notre Dame
Directors: Gary Trousdale and Kirk Wise
Cast: Tom Hulce, Tony Jay, Mary Wickes, Demi Moore, Kevin Kline, Jason Alexander.

This Disney adaptation of the Victor Hugo classic has everything: great animation, stunning visuals, mature themes, magnificent performances (with Jay a stand-out) and the richest score of any Disney film. A must-see.

1. Batman Returns
Director: Tim Burton
Cast: Michael Keaton, Danny DeVito, Michelle Pfeiffer, Christopher Walken, Michael Murphy.

This is, without question, Burton's greatest film as it gives us a character study of Batman and the chatoic world he lives in and how in a twisted way, the very villians he fights are their own worst enemy. The performances are both brillaint and heart-wrenching.