As hard it as it may be to fathom, today represents the official two-year anniversary of The Back Row. Even harder for me to fathom is that during that time, I have written a whopping 132 editions of “Robin s Underrated Gems”, along with 3 special editions of “Robin’s Underrated Crap”! So how does one celebrate a milestone of two years and 135 columns? By doing what all your favourite TV series have done at one point or another: a lame clip show!
Unfortunately, this is the one week I m very busy and don’t have time to watch an underrated movie and write another column, but to celebrate the milestone, I’ve decided to do a “greatest hits” column. I have selected a series of random clips showcasing some of my favourite scenes from the movies I’ve written about. I promise to be back churning out new columns next week, but a special thanks to all of you who have read my previous columns and actually gone so far as to watch some of the underrated movies I’ve recommended. Enjoy my “Underrated Gems” clip show below…
The Ninth Configuration (1980):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=3VDYaS6Lpvk
The bar sequence in this bizarre film is a study in how to masterfully build tension, as a group of bikers push a psychotic ex-soldier so far past his breaking point that he just explodes with violence.
Quick Change (1990):
Quick Change is such an underrated Bill Murray film that many of my fellow Murray fans hadn’t even heard of it until I wrote this column. One of the comedic highlights is the insane, anal retentive New York City bus driver who gives Murray a strict time limit to get him exact change.
Near Dark (1987):
Twilight fans really need to watch Kathryn Bigelow’s Near Dark to see how a proper teen romance vampire story is done. The standout scene features Lance Henriksen and Bill Paxton sadistically preying on victims inside a bar.
The Blob (1988):
I still consider the 1988 version of The Blob to be more of the most underrated remakes of all time, and I particularly love this scene where the blob literally manages to suck a guy down the drain!
The Last Boy Scout (1991):
The Last Boy Scout is such an underrated action classic, and you’d be hard pressed to find a cooler moment than Bruce Willis actually following through on his casual threat to a dickhead bad guy.
Gremlins 2: The New Batch (1990):
I still consider Gremlins 2 to be the most underrated sequel of all time and one of the highlights has to be the “breaking the fourth wall” gag where the gremlins take over the film projector and Hulk Hogan comes to the rescue.
The Boys From Brazil (1978):
Where else are you going to find Gregory Peck playing Nazi fugitive Dr. Josef Mengele, who plans to take over the world by making 94 clones of Hitler?! You will never find a more campy or hilarious Gregory Peck scene than this one! “Shut up, you ugly bitch!”
The Limey (1999):
This is one of the most badass scenes you’ll ever see as Terence Stamp wipes out an entire warehouse of goons to deliver this message: “TELL I’M FUCKING COMING!!!”
Bill and Ted’s Bogus Journey (1991):
I don’t care what anybody says: the scene where Bill and Ted challenge the Grim Reaper to a game of Battleship for their soul is comedic genius! “Best of seven?” “DAMN RIGHT!”
Wake Up, Ron Burgundy (2004):
Yes, an entire movie was assembled out of outtakes from Anchorman, and this moment involving Brick and a “falafel hot dog” is just as funny as anything in the original movie.
City on Fire (1987):
This is the Hong Kong movie that inspired Quentin Tarantino when he made Reservoir Dogs, and this clip shows some striking similarities between the two films.
Red Heat (1988):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=jGyeg6aSsng
One of Arnold Schwarzenegger’s most underrated films begins with him fighting bad guys in the snow outside a Russian bathhouse wearing nothing but a towel. Quite a way to grab the viewer’s attention!
To Live and Die in L.A (1985):
Before he was on C.S.I., William L. Peterson starred in To Live and Die in L.A. and participated in one of the best car chases of all time.
Street Trash (1987):
A group of bums play a game of “keep away” with a guy’s severed penis! Need I say more?
Fist of Fear, Touch of Death (1980):
And finally, a “Robin’s Underrated Crap” clip from the atrocity known as Fist of Fear, Touch of Death. Watch a guy conduct an “interview” with stock footage of Bruce Lee.