“Idiocracy” (2006)

For a funny look at the evolution of NASCAR culture, “Idiocracy,” is the way to go. This futuristic tale of a dumbed down world comes from none other than Mike Judge, the creator of the cult classic “Office Space,” as well as Generation X favorite “Beavis and Butt-head.” Unfortunately, “Idiocracy,” was not well promoted by Fox. Still, Luke Wilson and Dax Shepard are a great comedy duo and the movie has a high replay value. It would be a welcome addition to anyone’s movie collection.

“Reefer Madness: The Movie Musical” (2005)

Most people do not watch 1950s propaganda films for entertainment, so this musical remake of the level-headed, unbiased “Reefer Madness” is a hilarious replacement. The higher (no pun intended) quality of the film makes this version almost as funny as the original and definitely more watchable. Then, there are songs, which are probably enough to make anyone giggle to themselves for hours.

“I Heart Huckabees” (2004)

Those that have not seen this David O. Russell film owe it to themselves to give it a shot. Despite bad reviews (it was torn to shreds by “Family Guy”), “I Heart Huckabees” is a vastly underrated movie. The existential theme might be disliked by some people, but a basic understanding of philosophy would aid the watching of this movie a lot. However, the real reason this movie is so good is Mark Wahlberg, who owns this movie as a one-liner-spewing skeptical firefighter. Along with great performances by the ensemble cast, this movie is a classic.

“Kiss Kiss Bang Bang” (2005)

Robert Downey Jr. is nuts, and Val Kilmer is a gay detective. That should be all you need, but for everyone else, here is why you should see this film: the humor flies almost as fast as the bullets, and Downey’s slick narrations are spot-on. Even if you aren’t a fan of action movies or even the actors themselves, this is still a movie that deserves a shot. The blending of the action with comedy is taken one step further than the dry humor that pops up occasionally in “Lethal Weapon” or “Die Hard.”

“The Blind Swordsman: Zatôichi” (2003)

So, you have this guy who is blind, who also knows how to pretty much slay everyone in his path. What could go wrong? The dialogue gets a bit dry sometimes, but the action scenes in this movie are mind blowing. The sword work alone makes this an epic movie, but the fact that the main character is blind makes it even better. The blood flows like wine; the kill shots are awesomely gory. The central theme of the movie? Don’t mess with the blind guy.