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She's the Man. Amanda Bynes doing a Shakespeare adaptation sounds awful, but lord above is that move awesome. I could watch it every day.

Phineas & Ferb. Fuck all 'o y'all, that show is AWESOME. It has a secret agent Platypus and EVERYTHING. How many shows out there have platypuses? Exactly.

i was 11 years old when it come out and i was convinced that The Princess Bride was a total girlie film and that i was gonna hate it.

of course i pretended not to like it for many years after seeing it to save face.

now it's one of 6 films that has a permanent home on my hard drive.

I avoided Buffy the Vampire Slayer, because c'mon, the name?
I watched 2/3 of one episode and was pretty hooked.

I avoided Firefly, because as much as I loved Joss for Buffy, a space western sounded pretty stupid.
I watched about 33 minutes of the movie Serenity and raced out the next day to buy Firefly.

I also avoided Friday Night Lights, because high school football? Who cares?
But then ... you guys got me to watch it and I'm so glad.

I've been avoiding The Wire and Doctor Who - So, I give up. I'll start Doctor Who this weekend...

I was sure Stardust was gonna blow. I saw it cuz literally nothing else was at the theatre that I could stomach and thank God because I FUCKING LOVE that movie now!

I did that with every Pixar movie pre-Wall-E, which was the first one that actually excited the hell out of me with the trailer. (Exceptions: Finding Nemo[meh] and Cars [didn't see it])

I also did that with Stardust, Kung Fu Panda, and Hot Rod, which is now one of my favorite comedies.

The Mummy,

The core of my being said no. But in the end, I thought it was a wonderful bubble gum movie.
Plus c'mon Rachel is in it for cris sakes

For me, this is easily Wet Hot American Summer. I watched parts of it and hated it, even watched it all the way through and hated it the first time(the advantage/disadvantage of the common room space in college, there are always movies on). Damned if the thing didn't grow on me.

Now if you'll excuse me, I'm gonna go fondle my sweaters.

For TV shows there's two that come to mind: Supernatural and Battlestar Galactica. Both of them were recommended to me by family members and I didn't get around to watching them until late in the game.

For Movies, Boondock Saints is the first one that comes to mind. I thought it was a cheap crime story, now it's one of my all-time favorite movies.

Grandma's Boy. Soon as I heard that it was associated with Happy Madison, I wrote it off. But was forced to watch it with some of my dumb-ass drinkin' buddies, and I have to admit to some serious belly laughs. Low-brow? Sure. Did I LOVE it? No, but it was still funny - especially after a couple brews - and I enjoyed it a lot more than I thought I would.

I wouldn't watch "The O.C." for the longest time...because I thought I would be disgracing the memory of "Dawson's Creek," which is a whole 'nother set of issues for me. Anyways, I got Season 1 from the library, watched it over a long New Year's weekend and I love that show so much. I know I have no taste.

Trek Babie--er, I mean Star Trek IX. I had a blast. You could've knocked me over with a feather. If they make another one ("if"! Ha!) I'll watch it.

I'd have to say Inglourious Basterds. And I use the term "love" loosely. I really went because I knew my husband would want to see it, and I was filled with trepidation over the violence I anticipated. Also, I definitely have issues with QT. But I was really surprised to truly enjoy most of the movie, and to find that the violence wasn't the whole film. Faults aside, I really enjoyed it.

Pirates of The Caribbean. I totally expected the lamest crappiest movie ever, and instead I got a great soundtrack (I'm a french horn player, so I get a semi from stuff like that), pretty decent sword play, and the surprise that was Johnny Depp.

Cait, I second your OC notion. Damned if that show didn't pull me in hook, line and sinker, the drama was intense, it was so deliciously addictive, I could not resist myself.
As for films I expected to hate, I was expecting an Emperor's New Clothes treatment for Slumdog Millionaire. It would be okay, but not worth the hype. It turned out, it was totally not overhyped and was simply fantastic. Absolutely loved it.
I was not expecting to enjoy the film, Bolt, it looked like every other bad Disney cartoon out there. I ended up weeping my little eyes out towards the end, dogs who care to much for their owners always get to me. Case in Point: Jurassic Bark. Seymour, why are you so adorable?!

Dodgeball.

My brother was visiting and made my husband and I watch it. I thought I would despise it with every cell in my body.

I loved it. We bought it a week later and have probably watched it over a hundred times.

Remember - "If you can dodge a wrench, you can dodge a ball."

mandasarah

As I have season 6 on at the moment I could not be any happier to read your post.

Yep I was really resistent to the GG too. Then I caved and oh what a beautiful thing it is....:)

"Oy with the poodles already"

I must second the addition of Gilmore Girls. My ex-wife was so thrilled with the mother as the daughter's best friend scenario because that is her life's goal and I resisted for a season and a half, but damned if it didn't turn out to be a wonderfully written show. I also fell in lust with Lauren Graham as mentioned above.

I would also add the original Austin Powers. The trailer looked sooooo stupid. I was wrong...until the sequels.

at the time, everyone in the world was heading off to see titanic for the seventh time and i totally stayed away and got drunk or something.
i missed it in the theaters i am now sad to say.
why i was being such a fucktard about it i'll just mark up to being a dick in general.
but i *like* titanic now. even with the inevitable, you know, sinkiness.

For TV, Doctor Who (what am I, a nerd?), Supernatural (again, what am I, a nerd?), and Friday Night Lights (what am I, an ex-football cheerleader? oh, right.).

When it comes to movies, I generally don't watch what I think I will hate. If I do, I end up hating it. The closest I came to having my expectations upended was with Star Trek (seriously, am I a nerd?)-my parents are big enough Trekkies to spend one Halloween in matching redshirt costumes, which they then stored in my closet for years, engendering my eternal disgust for Star Trek: The TV Show. But I went into the theater having read the good review on here, so I was expecting to enjoy it.

Bring It On

At first, the idea just disgusted me, and I hated Kirsten Dunst to a disturbing degree. And then I watched...and just...fuck I couldn't stop laughing and I loved it so very, very much. And now it's one of my favorite movies.

And the new Star Trek. I've never liked a Star Trek movie, and had convinced myself that I'd hate it. But I heard so much positive feedback, and someone paid for my ticket so I said what the hell...and loved the hell out of it. And not just for the beefcake. It was a genuinely fun movie.

Harry Potter, more the books then the movies. I swore in highschool when they were comming out that I'd never read em cause they're shit.

Then earlier this year a guy I work with as well as my girlfriend both were telling me how awesome they are so I picked up one of the books and ended up finshing all 7 within two months and loved every god damm minute of it.

The Shawshank Redemption

and

Buffy The Vampire Slayer (The series, not the movie)

Amanda Marie: DISORDERLIES! I could not be more on the same page with you about the unexpected hilarious awesomeness of that film. I am so glad you brought it back into my orbit.

For me: BSG - set in space? with wierd tank top outfits? paper that doesn't have corners? I did not think that show was for me. I was very wrong.

Since I hate Seth Rogan and Jonah Hill, I vehemently refused to watch "Superbad" ... until I watched and liked it.

And since I hate Kevin Smith even more than I hate Rogen and Hill combined, I likewise refused to watch "Zack and Miri" ... until I watched it and liked that as well.

But I still hate all three of them and hope they all die horrible, prolonged deaths.

The advertising for Constantine made it look like a bad Matrix rip off. The actual movie turned out to be a pretty awesome action/sci fi/fantast piece. I was glad my friends dragged me to it.

Twilight...I know, I know, put a gun to my head...but it's like crack. Pure, terrible and sparkly... Love. It. There are NO redeeming qualities to this film or any part of the franchise. Don't watch it. You don't want to do it man, it's no good...unless you know, you just want to try a little...

Talladega Nights. I was so sure I'd hate it. Stuck in the south and hating nascar as I do. Then a friend at work insisted I needed to see it and...I laughed my ass off! It was just so off the wall. I think my favorite part was the kids names. Walker and Texas Ranger. Just too fuckin funny!

The live-action Sailor Moon series. You can laugh all you want, but that series was really well written and acted (the costumes, however, were ridiculously cheesy).

Definitely Buffy for me, as well. I remember seeing a random episode in high school--actually, I'm fairly certain it was Angel, which I still don't like--and thinking it was the cheesiest, worst acted, most shallow television program I'd ever watched (despite my love of Charmed) and swore never to watch another episode. Then after college I got on the Whedon band wagon with Firefly and Serenity, so I just had to try Buffy again.

Surprise, surprise. I adore that show now.

I'll throw my hat in for Buffy (the tv show) as well. I avoided it for the first three seasons (too 'girly,' said I) until a friend's GF lent me some eps on tape (the awesome Angel/Buffy arc from season 2) and I was hooked. Caught up w/ all the old episodes on FX and followed along faithfully until the end of its run. Buffy now sits in the holy pantheon of my favorite shows evah!

I take exception to George's comment about the supposed bad acting. I thought everyone was great, esp James Marsters and Alyson Hannigan. Whedon was even able to make Eliza Dukshu seem a competent actress.

I mocked "House" for awhile ... So, is this the one where somebody comes to the hospital with a strange disease, and House and the Mod Squad take a lot of guesses and turn down a lot of blind allies and then House just intuits the cause ... oh, wait.

I did a lot of that.

And now I know exactly what I'll be doing from 8-9 every Monday night for the rest of my natural life.

I don't think mine has been mentioned yet, which I find a bit surprising. I thought I would hate Six Feet Under, and initially did hate it. Boy was I wrong.

A lot of the things mentioned here (both shows and movies) I still haven't seen, and don't really intend to. Too much hype can really kill something, I know a bunch of my friends won't watch The Wire just because I rave about it too often (I'm managed to get a lot of them to watch Veronica Mars at least).

whoa whoa WHOA!!! hold on a sec! They had a live action Sailor Moon series? When did this happen and where can I view this deliciousness?

On topic, "Star Wars" would have to be it for me. I was an avid Trekkie for several years and I'd seen bits and pieces of the trilogy here and there, I mean, it was impossible to avoid seeing as I don't live in a cave on Mars with my fingers in my ears. But they were playing "A New Hope" one Sunday afternoon and with nothing better to do, I tuned in. I was instantly hooked and went out to rent the entire Trilogy the next day. Epic!

I also remember watching "Wedding Crashers" when it first came out and being severely disappointed considering the amount of hype surrounding it at the time. I only recently was forced to rewatch it by my roommates and dammit if it isn't one of th funnest 2 hours I've ever spent in front of a tv screen.

That being said, I still refuse to watch "True Blood". Every time I feel like giving in to the hype, I remember Anna Paquin's stupid face and how I just want to punch her in her stupid mouth.

17 Again. I had every reason to loathe this movie, however upon watching it with a younger sibling, I was hooked after the unexpected Star Wars references. Damn you Zac Efron.

Sorority Boys. It's stupid, it's crass, it's sexist, but I always, ALWAYS watch it when it's on and I FUCKING LOVE IT. Who knew Michael Rosenbaum was a champ? Everytime he's on screen I lose it. And then all the frat boys get their comeuppance and they're all friends at the end?? Shit, I nearly cry

Definitely Battlestar Galactica. When friends would mention it, I would interrupt and say, "Oh, you mean that show with Killer Robots from Outer Space? They should just call it Killer Robots from Outer Space. It's more honest."

After watching one episode, I watched every available second of that show. I was hooked until the end, whereupon my passionate love was turned into an unholy and all-consuming hate. Fuck you, God and Starbuck and Mitochondrial Eve and all the rest of that mess. Fuck. You.

Well, thought right out the gate: Major League. I hate sports movies in general (or did then, anyway; I think this movie actually shifted my opinion on the whole category) and I went cause friends were going. I was almost determined to have a bad time. But it's a light fluffy comedy with heart (yeah, I know how that sounds) with a lot of excellent actors before there was much ego involved, and I loved it. To this day I love it.

I had to be dragged kicking and screaming to "George of the Jungle" and I liked it.

I also came very late to "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" because the name sounded stupid.

why can't people just accept the fact that some people think "500 Days of Summer" looks like an advertisement for Regina Spektor and the Smiths instead of an actual film? or the fact that the idea was great when the movie was called "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind", but now it seems like a studio is just cashing in on the concept? Why must it be because of the "hype" that we must dislike a product? Why can't we hate starbucks for being starbucks, even if we have to drink their coffee every now and then?

I liked The Dark Knight and The Departed, and they were pretty much hyped and, on second viewing, not as good as I remembered them to be ... I still love The Wire in spite of the fact that people that I can't stand like it too and I still think Lost is retarded in spite of the fact that most of my friends like it ...

anyway, to answer the question, I still refuse to see Slumdog Millionaire because the story sounds stupid and it won an oscar ... but eventually I'll get around to it.

GI Joe! The whole story was bull but the end result was pretty fun!Then Slumdog and No country for old men

Can't think of any movies. I initially watched "Friday Night Lights" just because so many critics couldn't shut up about it, I'm not into football, and I wanted to hate it. Now I live and die by the news about new seasons.

Also "Firefly." I was a heavy anime fan, and when it was on TV I refused to watch it because I thought they were totally ripping off "Outlaw Star." Then I watched it on DVD, and now consider its cancellation to be probably the worst event in TV history.

Back to the Future sounded retarded when it was announced and I had no faith that MJ Fox could be anyone other than AP Keaton.

Die Hard starred the guy from Moonlighting who was witty and fun but an action hero?? No way. Plus he got one of the biggest salaries in Hollywood history (at the time) for it. In today's terms it would be like giving Zachary Levy ("Chuck") 25 million dollars plus a piece of the gate to star in "Aquaman". WTF?

Hairspray the Musical had the HSM douche, Vincent Vega in drag, and the enormous potential to shit all over the original. I don't love it really, but it wasn't bad.

This is embarrassing: The Apprentice. I don't usually like reality TV at all, but for some reason the winning mix of greed, stupidity and desperation makes this absolutely compulsive viewing for me - plus Alan Sugar, who plays the Donald Trump role over here - is completely, hysterically excellent as the boss.

In terms of films, maybe School of Rock.

I was certain Finding Nemo was going to blow, and refused to take my daughter to see it when it came out. Now it's one of my favorites from Disney.

I also thought, based on the theater previews, that Shaolin Soccer was going to be utterly dumb, just a stupid twist on old Kung Fu movies. Then I watched Kung Fu Hustle and saw the light.

Sadly, its Disaster Movie. I avoid all "Movie" movies, but ended up watching it on a snowy Sunday with Mr. Dammit cause nothing else was on....and you know what? I laughed. I actually laughed. Nicole Parker made the whole movie, especially as the Giselle-a-like. And, ya gotta admit...watching Miley Cyrus/Hannah banana get crushed by a meteor is pretty satisfying.

Lots and lots of mind-altering drugs...

Step Up 2....yeah I know, but its...I just love it.

"Bring It On" - I don't, and have never, hated cheerleaders, but I wasn't much interested in them, either. I figured a movie about cheerleading had to suck so hard, it would be in danger of folding the universe in on itself. But I watch this movie every time it's on cable and I'm home to watch it. I can't help it. Kirsten Dunst is cute as a button, the bitchy cheerleaders are bitchy as hell, Eliza Dushku is the tough girl, the cheerleaders from the ghetto are bad-ass. I even enjoy the ultimate cheer-off at the end. Love may be a strong word, but I do like the movie and I'm not ashamed to admit it.

I have never watched any of the sequels, however. Just viewing a few moments of those is enough to convince me that they do indeed suck balls.

Animals Are Beautiful People

My fairly old-fashioned father was sent to the video store solo one night in the late '80s- always a dangerous undertaking - and we begged him not to get something terrible. He returned with the above mentioned documentary and there was much sorrow and gnashing of teeth. But we watched it anyway and it was goddamned hilarious. I ought to try to find that again.

Also, The Mexican, 'cause it's just great.

"Moulin Rouge". I had refused to like it--REFUSED. But, alas, the power of Kidman (pre freaky-facelift) and Broadbent were too much for me. And Richard Roxburgh was pretty great, too

Eureka 7. And Full Metal Alchemist. I am seriously anti-anime, and my boyfriend somehow convinced me to watch these shows - I don't remember any of the character's names, but with Eureka 7, the badass captain of the ship and his badass pregnant wife and their relationship that alternated between tenderness and exasperation, and everybody's BELIEF in the whole mission, it killed me (I could honestly care less about the two main characters, to be fair). And in FMA, the whole thing, the tragedy of the boys' disrupted lives and all that they went through just to get some of it back...
OK, I'm officially a big, emo dork. Let's never speak of this again.

Night at the Museum. I hate Ben Stiller, I think Robin Williams stopped being good years ago, and I actually thought Dick van Dyke and Mickey Rooney were dead already. But I got dragged along to see it by my niece, and I thought it was hilarious, especially Steve Coogan and Owen Wilson.

Movies I thought I'd hate and actually did: Napoleon Dynamite. Like watching paint dry - and not even an interesting colour of paint, but industrial-standard magnolia. Ugh.
And Naked. I just couldn't like, or care about, any of those people.

I'm so glad I'm not the only one who felt that way about Twilight (and also glad not to be the 1st to say it). I hadn't wanted to read the book because after hearing/reading so much about it, I thought the feminist in me should be offended. Then a friend made me watch the movie, and I tried not to like it, but I enjoyed it anyway. So I thought I'd just try reading the first book. And in less than 2 weeks I'd read all 4. Are they great books? No. And the feminist in me does have some issues with them. But they're also kind of like crack - I couldn't stop.

Battlestar Gallactica for me, too. Just the title was enough for me to go pshhh, whatEVER nerd patrol. (You might say that most of the time, sci-fi ain't my thing)

And, of course, I caved, and it was amazing. But I join in the chorus of the above commentators who abhor the ending. SERIOUSLY guys?! You resorted to BS unexplained magical godly nonsense? THAT'S HOW YOU EXPLAINED STARBUCK? BY NOT EXPLAINING IT. AWESOME. THANKS, GUYS.

friday. night. lights. riggins.

FOUR WORDS that have changed my life and panties in the past month.

Orange County. The previews made it look like the whole movie was Jack Black runnning around in his underwear. Pass.

I was so wrong. The Catherine O'Hara scenes alone make the movie great. But then you have Harold Ramis, Chevy Chase, John Lithgow, Lily Tomlin, and Kevin Kline.

Its insanely quotable, but also really clever and well-paced. Awesome all around.

"Hey Sean...Sean. You and I are the same heighth. That is neat."