Patchy Pop Culture: What are Your Top 3 'Guilty Pleasure' Movies?

There are good movies because they are naturally good. But not every movie can be a Schindler’s List or a Casablanca. Some flicks resonate with us, even if, deep down, we know they really shouldn’t.

Indeed, while Platoon is an amazing cinematic achievement, I’ve only been able to sit through the tough subject matter twice. But give me some good old fashioned garbage, and I’ll sit through it for viewing upon viewing.

This week, Chris Dehnel and I will each name three movies that are our guilty pleasures.

Ted’s turn first:

1. Evil Dead II (a.k.a. Evil Dead 2: Dead by Dawn, 1987) - This little gem from director Sam Raimi (the guy who later brought you the Spiderman trilogy) also makes my list of Top 5 comedies of all-time. You just have to get past the gore to get to the good stuff. Oh, and there are so many quotes, and so little time. Who’s laughing now?! Give me back my hand! Groovy.

The special effects are markedly low-budget and, consequently, low-fi. And it all adds to the charm. Raimi is producing what appears to be a splatterfest remake. Heresy, I say. Pure heresy.

2. Hot Tub Time Machine (2010) - Unfortunately, I can’t share with you my favorite quote from this movie, as Patch is a family website. But the quote perfectly encapsulates how stupid and empty the calories are in consuming this flick. I watched this movie off Netflix on a day after I had one too many, uh, sodas. And it was the perfect “one too many sodas the night before” cure.

3. Reign of Fire (2002) - I won’t even begin to try and defend this movie as any good. But I like dragons. And I like the idea of killing dragons. So why not? Well, for one the movie - even one with dragons being responsible for the end of the world - doesn’t make any sense. But, again, I like dragons.

Chris’ turn:

1. Cheap Ski Movie (2010). It's basically two cardboard cutout figures traveling around the country to various resorts. So ridiculous, you have to keep watching. I am not in it, but I know a lot of folks who are. Yes, I have met the cutouts.

2. Ghidorah, the Three-Headed Monster (1964). It there anything cheesier than a 1960s Japanese monster movie? Mindless entertainment its best. And this one has an all-star cast - Godzilla, Rodan, Mothra, King Ghidorah.

3. Beavis and Butt-Head Do America (1996). Stop looking at this with furrowed brow, because about halfway through this thing, you come to the startling realization that you knew two kids in high school like this. And thus, we watch.