HBO Max Has Better Movies Than NETFLIX and This List Proves It! | Flick Connection

[@DarrenVanDam]

Overlooked Gems on HBO Max: 20. The East 19. Blindness 18. Epic 17. Hobo with a Shotgun 16. Eraser 15. 28 Weeks Later 14. Bad Words 13. Kajillionare 12. Take Me Home Tonight 11. Early Man 10. Killerman 9. Trance 8. Hacksaw Ridge 7. Nausicaa from the Valley of the Wind 6. Unleashed 5. Watership Down 4. The Last Duel 3. Let Him Go 2. Argo 1. Blood Simple Visit www.AthleticGreens.com/flickconnection & get a 1 year supply of Vitamin D + 5 individual travel packs FREE with your first purchase! _______________________________________

[@justaguy6100]

My favorite reviews you do is of those under-the-radar, obscure, or otherwise underrated movies. You've helped me find some gems that I wouldn't have known existed. Kudos, for real.

[@davidpesci6605]

Where can I get the shirt you were wearing in the video? Awesome!

[@justaguy6100]

I also agree that Affleck was egregiously overlooked for his direction in "Argo."

[@MrBeerszerker]

didn't sam raimi help out on blood simple?

[@caman1]

Background music source

[@lbwlawyer]

While TRANCE has its issues, what stands out to me is that it REALLY sticks the landing in my opinion. Very satisfying and kind of charming.

[@squirlmy]

I feel exactly the opposite. It's the ending that ruined it for me. Maybe partly because for several years I was actually a therapist. You can't get people to do what they don't want to do under hypnosis. You can let them fantasize, but... while I was willing to put that aside, I mean it's just a movie, the ending was so contrived, and so much story was compressed at the end, it ruined the tone. It broke the pacing of everything else. I don't know, I guess you might have been hypnotized into thinking it was good? lol

[@lbwlawyer]

@@squirlmy I can respect that, if not share it. There are a million lawyer movies I can’t watch without cringing having been a criminal defense lawyer for over 20 years.

[@mybraineatseverything7404]

Many moons ago, I worked at a video store. When Watership Down came out on VHS, lots of people with kids would rent that movie, thinking since it was a cartoon, it was for kids. WRONG! We employees took it upon ourselves to ask anyone with kids renting the movie if they knew what it was about. If they said no, our response was, "It's NOT for kids. The bunnies die." If the children were present, we'd whisper that last part. I think we saved many children from being traumatized!

[@eascott9294]

Made that mistake.

[@mybraineatseverything7404]

@@eascott9294 Oh no!

[@elleemann]

I saw Watership Down in the theater as a child with my parents. I was absolutely horrified 🙀🙀🙀🙀😖

[@eascott9294]

@@mybraineatseverything7404 oh yeah. He's 30 years old and still remembers.

[@michaellacy8510]

Completely agree. Watership Down is an adult fantasy. Both book and movie. Good, but not for kids.

[@baddassbeccaonig8188]

HBO has ALWAYS been the GOAT for movies 🔥🔥

[@reeldeal3227]

Trance is such an underrated and underseen (and under-analyzed) gem. It takes at least two sittings to really sort out, but I suggest that for the first watch just sit back and enjoy the ride. Visuals, score and performances are all great.

[@squirlmy]

It's the ending that ruined it for me. Maybe partly because for several years I was actually a therapist. while I was willing to put the hypnotism b.s. aside, I mean it's just a movie after all, the ending was so contrived, and so much story was compressed at the end, It broke the pacing of everything else, ruined the tone. We also get a guy doused in diesel who miraculously doesn't catch fire... I don't know, I guess you might have been hypnotized into thinking it was good? lol

[@yesitislikethat]

Oh, I *definitely* remember Jeremy Renner being in 28 Weeks Later. I was so unhappy with the fact that his ‘eye wink’ shot from the trailer was cut from the film. 😩

[@coryjones915]

Watership Down was my first introduction to childhood trauma

[@wellnesspathforme6236]

And it was all about the trauma that awaited you from people in power abusing their power. I read the book and it was excellent and put me in the right frame of mind to reject the political false dichotomy and discern the Money Power Families that finance these talking heads as their fronts, as per the advice of Machiavelli in his book The Prince.

[@TheBottlenose33]

Can confirm Watership Down is "scarring" for kids as I watched it in the 80s and haven't slept a full night since.

[@wellnesspathforme6236]

I read the book around 1980. No book has been more influential in developing my theory of human nature as it relates to people's pathological money seeking, and their ultimate Money Power Masters. That book is really about humans in animal form... and its basic premise is spot on...

[@georginatoland]

I make it a point never to watch movies with sexual assault themes, which is why I avoided going to see The Last Duel in the theaters. But me and the husband watched it last night on HBOMax and it is really too good of a film to miss. As for the actual assault scenes, it is clear that Adam Driver is very gently carrying and whirling around the female lead. Looked like dancing. I imagine such scenes are very carefully choreographed. Driver is a big, tall ex-Marine-he could do a lot of damage accidentally. Jodie Comer is electric in her role in the last hour of the film. As I said, Driver looks like he’s being very careful…but she sells it as The Worst Thing Ever. I hope to see her in many more films.

[@Mark-oo2nh]

Long Good Friday is on HBO Max. 1980 Bob Hoskins. Fantastic Neo Noir.

[@calmjungle7860]

Blue Ruin is also a great movie found on HBO Max ....great list

[@osareafallire]

This is one of the few lists DVD has put out that DOESN'T have Blue Ruin on it. Dude loves that flick and so do I.

[@stuffnuns]

“The Last Duel” is Kurosawa’s “Rashomon” in Mediaeval Europe.

[@Pammellam]

And Rashomon is better!

[@bennygerow]

I need me some more Bateman. Yup! Take Me Home Tonight was really awesome! Nobody talks about it and I think it flew under the radar, but it's just a really perfectly made movie for what it's trying to do. Ok Hacksaw Ridge was way better than I thought it was going to be. I didn't really think it looked great from the trailer, but I was pleasantly surprised when I was dragged to see it.

[@EtonieE25]

Hey Benny as another Batemen fan have you seen ‘The Ex’? It was panned by the critics back in 2006 but pmsl at Batemans roll as his usual grumpy self 😆 I luv him in ‘Identity Theft’ too 😆

[@S1L3NTG4M3R]

THANKS - - all these save me so much time looking for something to watch...

[@S1L3NTG4M3R]

I was even more ready this time :)

[@Handstanddaddy]

Dude! Keep going with the training!! Looks like ur doing fantastic already!

[@tammywinter6608]

Great list. A few I'd seen and enjoyed but had forgotten about plus some new ones. Off to HBOMax. Thanks again Darren. As always, you are spot on for my tastes. Thanks for awesome reviews

[@GTTemperd]

Nice1 especially the Nausica nod I'd absolutely recommend it too and if u like make sure to watch Princess Mononoke by same studio Ghibli you'll love it I think anyone would it's such a great tale. Poignant with the subject matter too. Cheers

[@zorro8410]

Loved the OA. Almost cried when they canceled 😢

[@benwith1n528]

Just as general guidance, HBOMax has a decent amount of Criterion releases, and they're all generally good. Speaking of Bob Hoskins, I watched The Long Good Friday recently, and it was fantastic. Also, definitely check out Withnail & I.

[@Plantlady70]

If you liked The Long Good Friday you should check out Mona Lisa.

[@RWalters81]

This is a great great list. I've seen most of these, but look forward to seeing a few I haven't even heard of like Killerman

[@ericrawlins8444]

Watership Down is NOT a "children's book" (for god's sake, it's almost 500 pages long in paperback form!). Richard Adams himself said he did not intend the novel for children (the allegory and social commentary are too subtle for pre-adolescent minds), even though it grew out of stories he would make up to tell his own children on long drives. Is Animal Farm a children's book? It has talking animals in not, just like WD. Is Lord of the Flies a children's book? 99% of the story involves only children. Sheesh!

[@dandyx12]

I loved the 78 version of Watership Down. freaked me out a bit as I was only 6-7 at the time but how it got a U (suitable for all) certificate in the UK is a mystery to this day

[@jodirook71]

I had nightmares for years, I will never watch it again

[@wellnesspathforme6236]

It is even scarier when you realize the message is about power and greed corrupting humans, and is 100% spot on... I have not read a more influential book, and it probably set the foundation for my distrust of Big Brother, as another author put it. When one looks for corruption, it is all over the place!

[@squirlmy]

There were undertones of WWII through it, as a remember. The opposition bunny clan were basically Nazi bunnies! I wonder if this inspired the graphic novel, Maus? Anyways, I'm guessing the potential "censors" probably remembered WWII and thought, the younger generations need some awareness of this. In contrast to America, where Baby Boomers and Gen X were raised to be Cold War warriors (at least that's how I feel looking back, on the inconsistent censorship ).

[@j.n.jacksonjr.170]

Just watched The last duel last night, enjoyed it very much!

[@MMAGamblingTips]

Darn, you are the first person I’ve seen recommend Let Him Go and I have no idea how it didn’t/isn’t getting more acclaim. It’s absolutely a fantastic film. It almost have the feel of a Wind River to it with its pacing and narrative. Very underrated.

[@martinjeeves444]

I agree. 'LET HIM GO' (and Diane Lane) was criminally underrated. Great great film.

[@andreashaynes3346]

That was great, Darren. Some real quality hidden gems. Hobo With A Shotgun, 28 Weeks Later, Hacksaw Ridge, Unleashed, Watership Down and Argo certainly stand out as must-sees. Many thanks for sharing with us. Your critiques are invaluable. Catch you on your next Flick Connection 🌟🌟🌟

[@brockgangell5759]

Hobo with a shotgun was great

[@fredroc9247]

I was about to cancel my HBO Max sub. But you just sold me. 💯 Thanks for the recommendations.

[@rustyshackleford6035]

I don't have HBO MAX but I do have HBO channel so I'm going to look up title's later today and see how many are on cable thanks for the movie list just in time for the weekend too 😁

[@DarrenVanDam]

Many of these should be on basic HBO, but not all

[@rustyshackleford6035]

Thank you for the like DVD I have been a fan of your channel for years 1st time I got a like from you 😁!!!

[@MaxHarden]

I watched "Nobody" today. It was awesome.

[@BOOGiNS]

The last duel was a masterpiece. Very overlooked.

[@MrLando0]

I love everything Brit Marlene does, including The East.

[@DarrenVanDam]

If you know her back story you'd lover her even more. Apparently she got tired of auditioning for bogus roles and getting nowhere so she started writing her own scripts which became Sound of My Voice, Another Earth, The East, and The OA.

[@rustyshackleford6035]

I loved the movie Sound of my voice I got a copy at my local Library so don't know if it's on any streaming services but worth looking up I thought when I watched it was just going to be a movie about a cult turns into something way different highly recommend it ! 😁

[@justaguy6100]

I liked this far better than "The OA" to be frank.

[@Idellphany]

I am also a big Brit Fan and shocked that I missed one of her movies :D

[@xtcplays3540]

Funny story: Here in Canada the movie Epic was on Netflix for years BUT they mistakenly had it rated TV-MA so the parental controls would hide it on the kids side. I reported this to Netflix several times but they ignored it and so it largely went unwatched for the duration of its time on the service up here. Good lesson for Netflix but one they didn't learn as the same thing is happening again with other titles.

[@bobjolly7795]

Darren... thanks again you always come through... it saves me hours of wasted time

[@rustyshackleford6035]

Cool cat 🐈 picture !

[@DarrenVanDam]

Glad to help

[@doublet147]

Hacksaw Ridge is a great movie. This is an ABSOLUTE must own on 4k blu-ray if you have a home theater. So many demo worthy scenes. A perfect digital transfer for an amazing picture. The Dolby Atmos audio is mixed to perfection.

[@patrickchong6579]

Let Him Go and Blood Simple, on my next to watch list.

[@willj6470]

The music in Trance is amazing one of my favorite movies

[@scottd99]

Really liked last duel, Wearing all that heavy armor and trying to swing a sword or axe must have made fighting extremely cumbersome and difficult.

[@natural20crit]

I'll stick with my athletic kratom.

[@increase9896]

Thats my answer when someone asks me what im drinking at work... just easier than trying to explain the real answer. Oh, thats athletic greens... a vitamin supplement

[@kamikazekunze]

Bad Words is AWESOME. 😎😎😎

[@MrMisuma]

A lot of great titles you mentioned, but quite a few is not on HBOMAX…maybe because I’m in Denmark though.

[@timsmith1043]

I am rewatching Discovery of Witches on Amazon Prime and Netflix Ozark, these shows are golden.

[@michaellacy8510]

"Epic" looks a lot like a children's book I read to my kids. I think called "The Leaf Men." Any connection?

[@Weemdog]

Yes, it is based on that William Joyce book. The name got changed by the president at the movie studio for some reason to Joyce's chagrin. Then the pres of the studio left shortly after and it was too late to change the name back. Kinda sad.

[@Chunkhead]

Holy shit... "Let Him Go" Diane Lane and Kevin Costner - the Kents? As in Superman's parents? Awesome. I had no idea.

[@aavv1818]

BLOOD SIMPLE- GREAT MOVIE!

[@timkochar1313]

Eraser was great and definitely overlooked. Cool list bro

[@tylerjolley9792]

love the content. I'm sure you hate when people suggest what to do on the channel. But I'd love to see a list of which movies you watch multiple times and why.

[@jayp6553]

Just watched The East thanks for the recommendation! Awesome movie!

[@beanguy]

I would also recommend "Man Bites Dog" and "Breaking the Waves" on the HBO Max.

[@jaydoubleu3419]

add fruit to your greens it will give it flavor

[@jenkins80526]

Brian Downey from Lexx fame plays such a great over the top villain in this movie. Lexx is an obscure Canadian - German Sci Fi TV show that ran from 1996 to 2002 and not a lot of people have heard of it. If you ever get a chance, watch it! I found it playing on the Sci Fi channel back in the day and I can't recommend it enough! And Xenia Seeberg is a real hottie!

[@CantankerousDave]

19:40 - Nausicaa takes place on Earth. It *is* post-apocalyptic. It's right there in the opening.

[@WarTheory]

Loved the last duel....the three different ways people see and view themselves is really good

[@dianes.3718]

Darren, nice list although I don’t have HBOMax. I saw Blood Simple a long time ago and I liked it quite a bit hacksaw Ridge I actually gave that movie to my dad as a Father’s Day gift and I sat down and watched it with him and I enjoyed it thoroughly I just bought the last duel but have yet to watch it but I haven’t known how unappreciated it was I decided to buy it since I didn’t feel real comfortable going to cinema to see it.

[@meltz911]

Watership Down scared the hell out of me as an 11yr old in 1980 when it was on HBO. Jebus a bunch of rabbits get suffocated to death in the first 2 minutes! And that's just a warm-up to all the other disturbing things that happen! It was a good movie though lol

[@josephkatz1982]

I love Jose Saramago , I read blindness yearrrs ago... I hope they make his other books into movies like The Stone Raft, where the Iberian Peninsula detatches from the continent and starts drifting away...

[@klimtkahlo]

I did like “Let him go.” Also Hecksaw Ridge. Both brilliant!

[@wesschubert6477]

100% agree on Eraser. Good call van

[@Plantlady70]

Blood Simple was my introduction to the genius of the Cohen Brothers. Frankly anything they do is worth a watch.

[@omarhaleem74]

love the music score in your intro, care to share the source? its awesome.

[@zippypinheadolo7731]

seen most of what you previewed and agree with your assessments most of the time capper for me was blood simple believe i saw it on cable and own the tape besides it has one of my favorite supporting actors in it Mr m emmit walsh

[@devonbrian2184]

Drop Dead Gorgeous and Easy A are both very funny smart teen flicks with plenty of quality actors.

[@Smashmilk]

Take me home was odd because that song isn't in the movie if I remember.. all ways thought that was odd probably copyright issues

[@dhanib]

20 best forgotten "Best Picture Acadamey Award Winners" sounds like an amazing list with the likes of "The Deer Hunter"

[@SrSpookfest]

Watched the whole movie great job sword fight an the way the movie progresses the best fight I've seen since braveheart .

[@xtcplays3540]

Which one??

[@wellnesspathforme6236]

@@xtcplays3540 Last Duel... has to be...

[@dougm1971]

superb darren....my go to guy for recommendations...never pass your videos when they pop up........btw...in all your videos have you ever mentioned "judgement night" (1993) a personal favourite of mine that i think is very overlooked and forgotten about.

[@edjackson4389]

The Last Duel is literally about the fight at the end. The whole movie is a pretty slow build up to a truly badass, gritty, gut wrenching clash of swords between Damon and Driver.

[@xxtraonions]

some say that "Nausicca - Valley of the Wind" is anime's answer to DUNE. Nausicaa has many crossovers with Herbert’s novel - ecology and the environment, the fall of empires, eco-warrior messiahs.

[@tonykari5124]

Perfect Timing once again Darren. I'll be definitely watching few of these this weekend

[@mobb49]

Okay so hobo with a shotgun is probably the most effed up movie I've ever watched. But it's great grind house that's got a great cameo from Ricky from the trailer Park boys. Definitely listen to all his warnings on this one. Yeah that's really all I got to say about that.....

[@Bacon420]

Watership Down. Had this on VHS in 85-88 and watched it with my little sister like a million times. We were 10 and 8. We had no idea what was going on, but it had bunnies! SCARY ASS BUNNIES. I loved it.

[@michaelsigismondi5603]

Bad Words is definitely an underrated comedy!

[@HylianEvil]

Curious about your workout plan! Great video

[@lucidrogue1734]

Your recommendations help my SO and I find movies we can both enjoy. Just wanted to say thank you.

[@MrManAmong]

ERASER!!! I was dating 3 girls when that movie came out. I saw that movie 3 days in a row on 3 separate dates 🤣🤣🤣

[@LinNoOne]

saw Watership Down in the theater when I was about 8yo it freaking terrified me

[@kanpitcha54]

Just saw Bad Words. It was so good. Great recommendation!

[@davidcruze3736]

Criminal is currently being streamed on Tubi which IMHO is a huge hidden gem and shocked how overlooked this film has been. Thx

[@mistrdevine]

Oh wow, I’d forgotten all about Unleashed. I loved that movie.

[@saafewolf69]

You mention Nausicaa, and I just had a thought that I don't think I've seen you talk about the '80s animated movie, Heavy Metal.

[@floydffrogfloydffrog7453]

The Cohen's re-used the opening of Blood Simple for the inferior No Country For Old Men.

[@annapanna2010]

if the movie of nausicaa is underrated, the manga (comic) really is. Don't watch the movie, read the manga. It will open your eyes and is really, REALLY relevant today!

[@vapingfastbreak5629]

Surprised you don’t have at least a million subs yet. I’m sure you’ll get there

[@cynthiastrawbridge6376]

Wow. I like your taste in movies. (Not the zombies) I also like the length of your videos. They last longer. Your opinions about actors and stories are a welcomed change of favor. See you next time. Good morning 🌞 Thank you 🙏

[@tommydowd7718]

Great stuff once again! Shared this w some friends

[@michaelaldan4354]

yea...Let Him Go shocked me...made me angry so much i actually had to step outside, and Watership Down..well....to this day i cannot listen to Bright Eyes.....see, it gave me chills as I typed this..

[@charrinho]

If you guys like 19. Blindness, You should also see Denis Villeneuve's 2013 Enemy, its also adapted from a book of Portuguese nobel prize winner, writer José Saramago.

[@jodirook71]

I am 50 and I still remember how horrifying Watership down was, still creeps me out to this day. The world has changed a lot, I thought it was a war, seeing their throats ripped out, buried alive, following the dead floating bunny SCARED

[@bimmerella]

Omg riiiight? There's a DEFINITE empathy triggering field of vision this movie requires of people to "get" it. Great pick tho...Darren is so damn good at this...

[@elleemann]

This movie traumatized me as a child 😅😅

[@bimmerella]

@@elleemann its like your earliest memory of true sadness...a more emotionally mature human's Old Yeller & Bambi

[@onifled1301]

Not sure how you didn’t mention that hobo with a shotgun was originally a fake movie trailer from planet terror. Just one of the movies that was created from those fake movie trailers. Machete was another.

[@warmlettuce9317]

Hobo With a Shotgun was on Netflix for a bit back in the day. I was twelve. It was a lot. edit: just now remembering the crotch shotgun.

[@DerykRonk]

I loved The Hunt! It's on there for a few more days.

[@thomasconnell1556]

Bad words is one of my favorite movies. Highly recommend.

[@fazzfoodjoint5380]

Bad Words is super underrated

[@Parlor..]

Absolutely loves “The OA” hated to see it come to an end.

[@deoge3278]

What a great accidental memory jog...ill b revisiting Bad Religions very very early stuff. The second u said "Early Man" (which I have seen. And I agree its not 1 of Aardmans best, but still good.) Its been awhile since I jammed out to Bad Religions 1st 3 or 4 albums. Today is gonna b a good day

[@Tartersauce101]

Ah, The Last Duel. I was hesitant to watch it because I hadn't heard anything about it but I'll give it a go 👍

[@barbara832001]

It's honestly a very good movie, I went to see it in theatres. The subject matter is too much for some people though.

[@bradhend]

Darren's videos are therapeutic. Just watching these makes me happy.

[@joydawn214]

Argo is great ! much like Apollo 13, you know the ending, but they manage to keep the story engaging all the way through ! 👍✌️🖖

[@pablolaureano3286]

Where can we get the shirt homie!!???

[@Toaster-v1z]

Thanks for what you do. I've seen so many fantastic movies I never would have if I'd never found your channel.

[@Safetyman99]

Watership Down reminded me of "Rikki-Tikki-Tavi" I saw as a kid (animated movie about a mongoose and 2 cobras). Another, more recent, and great animated film (3D) is "9"; post-apocalyptic and very well done.

[@davidpesci6605]

Where can I buy that shirt, Darren!?