Guide to Top Six Good Bad Movies to Watch on DVD

We all have studied the cable guide looking for that one perfect movie to watch when you want it. Sometimes you get lucky and find it quickly, and other times you don't. Some days there are too many great critically acclaimed movies to watch, and other times it is slim pickings. This list is of the movies on the cable guide or your neighborhood movie rental store you may have passed while searching for that elusive perfect movie.

FROM JUSTIN TO KELLY: The Tale Of Two AMERICAN IDOLS (2003)
I honestly love this movie. I know I am in the minority with this opinion, but I do. I guess I took it for what it was supposed to be. A corny beach blanket bingo/Grease clone. I didn't take it seriously. If you don't know already the movie revolves around the contestants of the first season of American Idol Kelly Clarkson and Justin Guarini who do not play themselves but characters similar to them. Justin Guarini is a event planner for MTV in LA and Kelly Clarkson is a waitress in Texas. They head to Miami for Spring Break and meet among people singing and dancing around them. It is love at first sight expect for the "Party Girl" who wants to keep them apart because she wants Justin for herself. I loved these two spotless clean characters, which don't curse or drink heavily in the film. (They drink a lot of fruit drinks). Sex is implied and not shown. The Bad girl/Party Girl is shown drinking and flirting and apologies to the heroine (Kelly) for playing her dirty. And you have to admit that the actors in this movie were good actors. Not the stiff cardboard beautiful- to- look- at- no-acts, which the producer or director owes a favor to, that usually walk through these kinds of movies. I cared about everyone, not just the leads, (Maybe two much in fact) Sometimes, I wanted to learn more about the main characters friends then about kelly and Justin. Please don't misunderstand me. I am not getting on a high horse that movies should all be like this. I am an avid horror fan. I watched all eleven + days of Monsterfest on AMC. (American Movie Classics) What I am saying is this movie is a lot of fun with decent singing and dancing despite its squeaky clean image. I highly recommend you watch this movie with your friends on a dull rainy Saturday afternoon with lots of popcorn.

THE QUEEN OF THE DAMNED (2002)
Being an avid fan of Anne Rice's Vampire Chronicles, I was ready to hate this movie. I read all three books and thought how dare another person play my beloved Lestat besides Tom Cruise, who I thought had captured only the beauty of Lestat so wonderfully. Especially a foreigner who I had never heard; I was wrong. I think this Lestat is much better. Stuart Townsend's Lestat captures more of the sexuality as well as the sensuality of Lestat. The script adapts the books "The Queen of the Damned" and "The Vampire Lestat." In which Lestat is the leader of a famous Rock and Roll band named the "The Vampire Lestat." Lestat reawakens Akasha (The Queen of Damned) played by the late R&B Aaliyah from an eternal sleep. She wants Lestat to help her rule over a new world ruled only by vampires. The special effects are scary and fun camera tricks. My only complaint is the movie is too short. I wanted it to go on a little longer. The movie also captures the magic and poetry of the books. The music is wonderful, hard driving and powerful. I bought the CD, the day after I saw the movie. I know that devotees of Anne Rice's Vampires Chronicles are going to argue with me about this movie, but I highly recommend it anyone.

KNOCKAROUND GUYS (2002)
I rented this movie one night when I couldn't find anything else. New films where still yet to be released and I had felt as if I had seen everything else. I wanted to at least rent something so I rented this film. I thought this film was going to be another no brain, bad acting, bad script, beat up everyone flick. To my great surprise it wasn't. Instead I found the film played out almost like a Shakespearean play in its characters and plot. The three sons of major mobster boss are forced to team up to retrieve a bag of cash in Montana town lead by a corrupt sheriff. It all starts when Matt Demaret ( Barry Pepper) is told to retrieve the bag of money by his uncle (John Malkovich) The need for the main character to achieve his duty to what he felt be someone in his father's eyes and make him proud of him is what touches the viewer. The stumbling fool best friend played by Seth Green who messes up the mission, which the main character knows, has to die but tries to protect him throughout the movie. The wisdom of the older world-weary best friend played by Diesel as well as the betrayal of the uncle all plays out as if Shakespeare himself had written the script himself. It shows how writing about the human condition is timeless. Don't be fooled. Very well acted by all actors even Vin Diesel. My only complaint is they don't show this movie very often on cable or basic cable. I've only seen it once listed on the guide. You would probably have to rent this one. Very highly recommended.

CONSTANTINE (2005)
I know most people avoided this movie when it was release in theaters however, despite the bad reviews this film isn't that bad. It follows the comic in that it is dark and somber. It is an interesting film. Keanu Reeves plays John Constantine a private detective who is cursed for all eternity to Hell because of his dark past and his supernatural power to see and fight demons. Constantine exorcises the demons and does battle with spiritual weapons. This film was made to be a video game. The plot is about Constantine finding he is about to die and finding out Satan's son has a plan to take over Earth. The camera shots of Satan's beasts and Gods angels are beautiful and ethereal. The camera shots of Hell are dark, red and smoky giving you a feeling of being there. There are fun battle scenes where the scene changes when there is about to be a battle. Rachel Weisz is wonderful as LA cop Angela who wants to know if her dead twin sister, who leapt from the roof of the insane asylum she was living in was truly a suicide. Keanu Reeves is great in this film as the self centered, tough, lost soul who is not noble in the beginning of the film however becomes more even as he loses hope. He rides to each gruesome scene in a cab driven by his apprentice Chazz, played by Shia Lebeouf. Also look for gorgeous Gavin Rossdale of the ROCKING!! Rock group "Bush" fame. (Am I dating myself?) I really liked this film and have watched it more than once. It is one of those Saturday night drive-in movies, which are on at 3:00am when you can't sleep. Give it a look.

KUNG POW: ENTER THE FIST (2002)
Don't be fooled this movie is great… if you like sophomoric humor which I love!! This movie is very funny. I couldn't stop laughing. You really have to be in the mood to watch this. However, if you aren't you'll still laugh. I promise. It is one of those movies where it is so cheesy it's funny. The movie is about a skilled martial artist known as the "The chosen one" goes out to avenge his family's death. He faces great challenges such as a cow with deadly udders and a scary dangerous warlord who insists on everyone calling him "Betty." Writer director Steve Oderkirk inserts himself into a Chinese film footage and redubs the movie into a parody of those old 70's Hong Kong movie classics. Although not original (Woody Allen did it first with "What's up tiger lily?" Back in 1966). I watch this movie every time it is on. I also recommend you rent the special edition where they are DVD extras. There you learn how they inserted the actors in the movie and they have a great and very funny gag reel. Watch it.

Joe Dirt (2001)
This movie at first sight looks nonsensical and unwatchable, but it isn't. It is a great movie that found its audience on DVD and cable. It is an entertaining movie that stars that SNL Alumni David Spade. He plays a PWT (Poor White Trash) redneck radio stations janitor tells an unusual tale to shock jock (Dennis Miller) about his parents who abandoned him at the Grand Canyon when he was 8 years old. He is traveling through America still trying to find them. He encounters Christopher Walken and MTV's Carson Daly. It is as my father says one of those stupid movies that actually works. Filled with great scenes and lines you and your friends will not stop quoting from it.