Some fall into the category of underrated. Other films are totally overrated. And some are just so bad they are not even worth writing about (okay, but I will anyway). Let us look at a few movies.

Underrated Movies

“The King of Comedy”: Martin Scorsese’s forgotten dark comedy / drama about an aspiring comic, played by Robert DeNiro, who will go to great lengths to become successful in showbiz. DeNiro is hysterical in this film, in a creepy, dark and weird sort-of-way. This film, which came out in 1983, is masterfully directed by Scorsese, and also features some great performances by Jerry Lewis (as himself) and Sandra Bernhard.

“In Good Company”: Very good movie about a 51-year-old advertising executive played by Dennis Quaid, who has to work for a boss (played by Topher Grace) that is half his age. This 2004 film also features a very good performance by Scarlett Johansson.

Overrated Movies

“The Usual Suspects” : I have really never understood the appeal of this 1995 thriller. This whole movie relies on a twist, (I won’t spoil it for those who have not seen it) but when you really think about it, how shocking is the twist? I mean, really, don’t you see it coming? Kevin Spacey does turn in a memorable performance, though.

“Pulp Fiction” : This 1994 film is one of those flicks I seriously think some people say they like for fear of backlash. It’s almost like you are supposed to like this film. Why? I am not really sure. Quentin Tarantino writes a film that features rape, murder, drug use and 3, 232 uses of the F-word and it’s considered genius, yet if I did the same it would be considered total crap.

Terrible Movies

“Boat Trip”: Starring Cuba Gooding Jr., this 2002 flick is one of the most pathetic films I have ever seen. It’s about two straight men, Gooding Jr. and Horatio Sanz, who mistakenly end up on a gay cruise. Billed as a comedy, it’s just about the most unfunny, offensive, clichéd and stereotypical movie you have ever seen. Normally, I would tell you to avoid a film like this at all costs. But it’s so bad that you almost have to see it to believe it.

“Cold Creek Manor”: This one is really bad, another film I recommend seeing just because you can’t even believe someone actually decided this script was good enough to be a movie. Starring Dennis Quaid and Sharon Stone, this 2003 drama/thriller takes just about every cliché out of the “101 Movie Clichés Handbook” and puts them into this film.

Let me know what movies you think are underrated or overrated by adding your comments below.

1.) What is the name of the actress who plays Barbara Fitts in the 1999 film “American Beauty?”

2.) Which actor was named the new James Bond in October of 2005?

3.) Morgan Freeman’s character in “The Shawshank Redemption” is nicknamed Red. What is Red’s full name?

4.) How old was Jodie Foster during the making of the Martin Scorsese classic “Taxi Driver”?

5.) Which male actor played the role of Jesse in the 2004 drama / romance “Before Sunset”?

6.) What year was “The Wizard of Oz” released?

7.) Who directed the 1997 film “Good Will Hunting”?

8.) Which actress played Norma Desmond in the 1950 classic Sunset Blvd.?

9.) Which couple starred in the 2005 release “Mr. & Mrs. Smith”?

10.) True or false: Cuba Gooding Jr. has won an Oscar.

11.) Which movie is ranked No. 1 on the American Film Institute’s Top 100 list?

12.) What is the highest grossing movie of all-time?

13.) True or false: Another “Jurassic Park” movie will be released.

14.) Who wrote the screenplay for the 2004 film “Million Dollar Baby”?

15.) Which movie did film critic Roger Ebert hail as the best film of 2005?

Answers will be given in a few days, but if you know the answers, please add your comments below.

Not every women portrayed on the screen is looking for love. The following films are great depictions of strong women — good and bad girls alike. The following films show heroines with guts — some inspiring, some just plain fun to watch.

Maybe Demi Moore shaving her head in that memorable scene from G.I. Jane isn’t the toughest scene in the world, but the movie itself certainly shed light on an important segment in our culture today — women in the military. The storyline may have Hollywood’s stamp on it, but the training scenes are riveting and the subject matter is only becoming more popular as females continue to serve today. Also check her out in A Few Good Men starring Tom Cruise and Jack Nicholson.

Lena Olin is no lady to trifle with as Gary Oldman can attest in Romeo is Bleeding. Olin plays the femme fatale with relish and she gets my vote as the toughest gal in a film. This film features Oldman as a crooked cop on the take who gets mixed up with some very questionable ladies all under his wife’s nose. Check her out in The Unbearable Lightness of Being that also stars Daniel Day-Lewis and Juliet Binoche.

Angelina Jolie brings Lara Croft: Tomb Raider to life — one of the first feature films to bring a video game to life. Jolie plays the archaeologist / female Bond tomb raiding girl — the female Indiana Jones, if you will. Again, the plot may not be classic, but Jolie’s fight scenes are ninja-eske and she proves that tough equals sexy any day of the week. Also, check out Jolie in Original Sin and Mr. and Mrs. Smith playing more tough-girl roles.

Patricia Arquette showed she could dish out as much as she could take in True Romance starring Christian Slater, Gary Oldman, Brad Pitt, Dennis Hopper and an unforgettable Christopher Walken to name just a few. Arquette plays Alabama — a bad girl gone good in this, albeit violent, black humor-filled film. Also, check out Arquette in Beyond Rangoon.

Glenn Close (equally a tough mama in Fatal Attraction) plays the wickedly brilliant Marquise de Merteuil in Dangerous Liasons that also stars John Malkovich and introduced a young Uma Thurman to the screen. Close is at her best playing the deceitful Marquise, a blackhearted woman who manoevers and plots to fulfill her immoral desires.

Elizabeth, showcasing the talents of Cate Blanchett, portrays all the underhanded and treacherous dealings of life in Shakespeare’s time. Blanchett plays the role of possibly England’s strongest monarch with believability and depth. A masterpiece depicting the early life of one of history’s strongest women. Check out Blanchett in Oscar and Lucinda, Heaven and Veronica Guerin for more strong female portrayals.

Kill Bill starring Uma Thurman is scene after scene of fighting women. Lucy Liu and Darryl Hannah also mix it up with this star who learned some very fancy moves and trained hard for this film directed by Quentin Tarantino.

Finally, Juliette Lewis is always a safe bet for toughness. See her in Natural Born Killers, Cape Fear and if you can bear it — Kalifornia which also stars Brad Pitt.

Any other films you can think of with tough girls? Please let me know by adding your comment below.

Yes, of course — the book is almost always better than the movie! But sometimes the movie is excellent in its own right. The following films are for literature lovers who like to see the classics brought to the screen — and portrayed in a way to do justice by their original counterparts.

Both Tolstoy and Dostoevsky paid homage to Russian literature giant Alexander Puskin, but few read him today. For an introduction to his work in film, see the film Onegin starring Ralph Fiennes and Liv Tyler. This dramatic offering brimming with stunning scenes and captivating performances is a must for any fan of nineteenth century Russian literature.

Middlemarch by George Eliot may well be the quintessential Victorian British novel. The film of the same name does not stint on Eliot’s novel and is careful not to abridge too much. It captures the essence of the original by portraying English rural country life in that era by depicting love, marriage, jealousy, deceit, poverty and wealth—all the characters brought expertly to life.

Amanda Root and Ciaran Hinds star in this wonderful adaptation of Jane’s Austen’s Persuasion. The film, of the same name, is a second-chance love story. After his first proposal was refused, Captain Wentworth returns many years later to Anne Eliot — only they do not exactly pick up where they left off. Not as popular a novel as Austen’s Pride and Prejudice (A&E’s adaptation is a must for Austen fans), the novel is excellent nonetheless and the film is a charming depiction of a memorable tale.

Who knew that Al Pacino would make such a fine Shylock — but he gives a fine performance in Shakespeare’s Merchant of Venice which also features Jeremy Irons.

Another Shakespearian must-see is Much Ado About Nothing starring Kenneth Branagh and Emma Thompson which brings all Shakespeare’s wit and humor to life on the screen.

Wives and Daughters is based on the Elizabeth Gaskell film of the same name. It is lengthy—but never dull. It simply adheres faithfully to the text by detailing young Molly as she grows up under her father’s care, struggles with her selfish stepmother, befriends her step-sister, falls in love and so forth. If you liked A&E’s Pride and Prejudice, you’ll like this one too!

Because it’s a classic film in itself, Wuthering Heights, based on Emily Bronte’s novel of the same name, deserves special attention. Lawrence Olivier stars as Heathcliff and Merle Oberon plays Cathy. Their doomed love out on the English moors is brought to life in this 1939 adaptation.

The Thomas Hardy novel, The Woodlanders, stars Rufus Sewell who stars in many classic English novel adaptations including the above-mentioned Middlemarch. This novel, one of Hardy’s lesser-known works, is quite enhanced by the film that captures the nuances of its rural setting and life. The characterization might be considered demanding as the novel is rather subtle, but the leads pull it off brilliantly.

Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein is a mainstream adaptation of the classic horror novel, but worthy of viewing. Although Frankenstein is clearly portrayed with his monstrous qualities, his humanity is also revealed—his flaws which mirror the flaws of his creator, played by Kenneth Branagh. Especially riveting is the science threaded through many of the scenes that shows just how ahead of her time Shelley was.

The year of its release A Passage to India was nominated for eleven Academy Awards. Based on the E.M. Forster novel of the same name it brings to life the struggle between British and Indian in India while it was under British rule. Hypocrisy and prejudice are showcased in the dramatic courtroom scenes as an English woman accuses an Indian man of rape. Always in the background is the gorgeous and lush scenery of India, the desperation and sweat of the crowded streets.

There are certainly many fine film adaptations for fans of literature. These are a few standouts you’ll be pleased to see. Please let me know what you think of these films, or whether you have suggestions about other films from classic literature, by adding your comment below.

Nothing dippy, sappy or overly sentimental here; nothing cliché or uninspired. The following films and their short descriptions have intellectual backbone while capturing the romance women like to see on the screen. These are each perfect films for smart women to enjoy — and smart men won’t mind them either!

The A&E adaptation of Jane Austen’s masterpiece Pride and Prejudice stars Jennifer Ehle (of Sunshine fame) as the witty Elizabeth Bennet and Colin Firth (Love Actually) as the serious Mr. Darcy. Few film adaptations carefully mirror their novels as this one does. It portrays life and love in Regency England. Due to its length, it is a safe choice for a long weekend when there is time for an intermission. The support cast is equally as wonderful and features some of the finest British actors and actresses working today. This film is a must for any fan of classic literature.

Dangerous Beauty starring Catherine McCormick (of Braveheart fame) and Rufus Sewell (Middlemarch) portrays the life and love affairs of the historical Venetian courtesan, Veronica Franco. This beautiful cinematic offering is a breathtaking bit of history that sheds light on a real personage from the Reformation and plague era when Venice was the jewel of the sea and the gateway to the east.

Far From the Madding Crowd, based on the classic Thomas Hardy novel of the same name, stars the ever-lovely Julie Christie (Dr. Zhivago) as Bathsheba Everdine — a woman ahead of her time. Our heroine rejects a marriage proposal as the film opens only to forge her way into the world of men by running her own large farm. Love and obsession take their toll on her and the characters around her making for an in-depth portrayal of life in the rural Victorian world.

The Lover, quite possibly one of the most romantic films ever, is based on the novel of the same title by French author Marguerite Duras. Although it is often said that the movie is seldom better than the book, this film does what adaptations are meant to do—it enhances the original by bringing it to life visually. This haunting love story takes place along the Mekong River in French Indochina. It is the forbidden love between a young French girl and a wealthy Chinese man. Nothing could be lovelier on film than this stunner.

The Scent of Green Papaya is a foreign film that takes place in Vietnam during the war; however, this is not a war story. The only reference to war is discussion of the blackouts and helicopters in the distance. Otherwise, this quiet film simply depicts the life of a poor peasant girl who comes to work for a family in the city. As with the other listed films, the cinematography is lush, but the story is brilliant as it is subtle. Pair this one with the Lover for an unforgettable double-feature set in the far east.

As long as we are in eastern lands, try the Joy Luck Club based on the Amy Tan novel of the same name. This is a film containing multiple stories that weave through scenes. Each story captures the essence of either mother or daughter’s lives—the pivotal moments of love and loss that make them into the adults they are. It blends the worlds of China and San Francisco—but also depicts womanhood, sometimes a country in itself meant to be explored and understood.

Finally, for the young intelligent woman (although an older audience will appreciate this one too) there is Ten Things I Hate About You. Even though this film was marketed for the teen crowd, it does some very interesting things. The film is marvelously based on Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew and characters throughout the film quote actual lines from the original play which blend rather nicely with the otherwise teenage banter. The movie features Julia Stiles (Save the Last Dance) and Heath Ledger (Four Feathers) before they made it big. A love story that is both witty and romantic, in its way, at the same time.

Of course there is always The English Patient or Dr. Zhivago, but these films are not quite as known, but certainly deserve to be sought out by an audience who will not be disappointed. Forget the popcorn though — better spring for a nice bottle of wine and friend to share it with.

Are there any other chick flicks for smart girls you would recommend?