Starring: Ben Affleck, Joey Lauren Adams, Ethan Suplee, Scott Mosier, Jason Lee, Casey Affleck, Matt Damon, Dwight Ewell, Guinevere Turner

"...even if we never talk again after tonight, please know that I am forever changed because of who you are and what you've meant to me." - Holden

Why watch this? Holden loves Alyssa. One problem: She's a lesbian.

Dad's Review: In a weird sort of relationship thing, a guy befriends a girl, who he falls for, but is forced to the friends zone because she like girls. In one of the most raw and heartfelt love confessions on screen, he opens his heart and tells her that he loves her. Can this kind of love override inherent sexual orientation? Let's ask Jay and Silent Bob.

Starring: Phil Daniels, Lynn Ferguson, Mel Gibson, Tony Haygarth, Jane Horrocks, Miranda Richardson, Julia Sawalha, Timothy Spall

"Now, the most important thing is, we have to work as a team, which means: you do everything I tell you." - Rocky

Why watch this? It's a delightful full-length Nick Parks... and they're chickens.

Dad's Review: The word of the day is "anthropomorphic" which means animals displaying human qualities and emotions. This film is full of anthropomorphic British chickens who are in dire circumstances they discover plans to put them into meat pies. When Rocky, an American rooster, shows up with bold promises, they are sure he can save them. This film is full of laughs, creative inventions and daring chase sequences for which creator Nick Park and Ardman Animations are renown.

The Company of Wolves (1984), Director: Neil Jordan, Rated R for horror violence, nudity

Starring: Sarah Patterson, Angela Lansbury, David Warner, Graham Crowden, Brian Glover, Kathryn Pogson, Stephen Rea, Tusse Silberg, Micha Bergese

"Never stray from the path, never eat a windfall apple and never trust a man whose eyebrows meet in the middle." - Granny

Why watch this? Get ready for this graphic, scary re-envisioning of Little Red Riding Hood.

Dad's Review: Young Rosaleen dreams that she lives in a fairytale forest during the 18th century. On her way to grandmother's house she meets a handsome, uni-browed huntsman who isn't what he seems. This film has a very nightmarish feel during the dream sequences where this fairy tale gets a little hairy.

Starring: Dan Aykroyd, Jane Curtin, Michelle Burke, Michael McKean, David Spade. Chris Farley, Michael Richards, Sinbad, Phil Hartman, Eddie Griffin

"Ah, pigs. An omnivorous domesticated cloven-hooved vertebrate that defecates in the same place it consumes." - Prymatt Conehead

Why watch this? It's outrageous, but this well-done movie is still old-school funny!

Dad's Review: The Coneheads made their debut on SNL way back in Season 2. I must say that it really pleasantly surprised me! Beldar and Prymaat always cracked me up with their consuming of mass quantities of fried chicken embryos and beer... and naughty time with their buzzing senso-rings. The film covers it all, and more, and I loved it. It's nice to also see other SNL'ers: Farley, Spade and Hartman, lending their comedic talents.

Starring: Jodie Foster, Matthew McConaughey, Tom Skerritt, John Hurt, Jena Malone, David Morse, Geoffrey Blake, William Fichtner, Timothy McNeil

"The universe is a pretty big place. It's bigger than anything anyone has ever dreamed of before. So if it's just us... seems like an awful waste of space. Right?" - Ellie Arrowway

Why watch this? This is a very creative envisioning of how first contact might occur.

Dad's Review: After years of listening to space noise, Dr. Ellie Arroway finally intercepts a signal. After it's deciphered, therein lies the technical plans for a complex machine. It appears to be a single occupant transport mechanism. This film is completely successful and answering many questions, without overly exposing the answers. It's thought-provoking.

Starring: Gene Hackman, Denzel Washington, Matt Craven, George Dzundza, Viggo Mortensen, James Gandolfini, Rocky Carroll, Jaime Gomez

"We're here to preserve democracy—not to practice it." - Capt. Frank Ramsey

Why watch this? It's a nail-bitter about a submarine armed with nuclear warheads, and a commander ready to launch.

Dad's Review: Hackman takes on the role of a commander who does things by the book, and refuses to listen to his first officer, the calm  Washington. We're talking World War III here, and launching nuclear missiles needs to be an absolute last resort. A mutiny of power occurs on ship. It is followed by a military tribunal to determine fault. The battle between these two heavyweight stars is a thing of beauty.

Starring: Matthew McConaughey, Jennifer Garner, Jared Leto, Steve Zahn, Denis O'Hare, Michael O'Neill, Dallas Roberts, Griffin Dunne

"Sometimes I feel like I'm fighting for a life I ain't got time to live." – Ron Woodruff

Why watch this? The performances by McConaughey and Leto both won Oscars.

Dad's Review: This is the film you simply cannot take your eyes off. It pulls you in and holds your attention until you see where it is going. A rough, homophobic cowboy, Ron, finds out he has AIDS and only 30 days to live. This starts a mad scramble as Ron searches for ways to stay alive. It takes him to Mexico, and a doctor that can treat him with unapproved medications. Ron comes back to America and sets up a "Club" to sell these treatments to other with the disease. You will cheer, scream with rage, and feel your heart break.

Starring: Christian Bale, Michael Caine, Gary Oldman, Anne Hathaway, Tom Hardy, Marion Cotillard, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Morgan Freeman, Matthew Modine

"Peace has cost you your strength! Victory has defeated you!" – Bane, to Batman

Why watch this? It is a fitting end to the Nolan Batman Trilogy. Batman vs. Bane.

Dad's Review: This explosive conclusion to the best film Batman series was worth the wait. Gotham is besieged by a new villain, Bane, a hulking man who breaths a analgesic gas to increase his power. Batman, now older and on the verge of breakdown, lives mostly as an exile. The film is sometimes a little hard to follow, but it builds nicely to a satisfying climax and end to the series. Hardy is wonderful as Bane, but Hathaway steals the film with her slinky, sexy portrayal of Catwoman. 

Starring: Michael Rennie, Patricia Neal, Hugh Marlowe, Sam Jaffe, Billy Gray, Frances Bavier, Lock Martin,

"I'm afraid there is no alternative. In such a case, the planet Earth would have to be... eliminated." - Klaatu, when Earth's scientists reject his proposals

Why watch this? This chilling sci-fi classic holds a message for humanity about how we treat our planet and each other.

Dad's Review: With the Cold War ever present, an alien craft lands in Washington D.C. A human emerges and says he "comes in peace." A nervous soldier, wounds him and a towering robot emerges and lasers all their weaponry. The human, Klaatu, tell the robot, Gort, to stand down. With humanities newfound destructive powers, fear gripped the common person. This film asks "What would aliens think of this new power?" "Are we now a threat to be eliminated?" "What will humanity do to stop warring on each other?"

Daylight (1996), Director: Rob Cohen, Rated PG-13

Starring: Sylvester Stallone, Amy Brenneman, Viggo Mortensen, Dan Hedaya, Jay O. Sanders, Karen Young, Claire Bloom, Renoly Santiago, Colin Fox

"You know what, I don't know anything. But, the one thing I know is that we're not going to make it another hour unless I shut this thing down." – Kit Latura

Why watch this? This mini-disaster film is large on action as Stallone works to save people trapped in a collapsed tunnel.

Dad's Review: This is straight-forward vintage Stallone, as the lone specialist, willing to to risk his life on a long-shot to save the trapped survivors. Time is running out as water is now flooding the tunnel. I simply love Rocky saving people, and he certainly does that here. Look for a young Viggo Mortenson as the cocky thrill-seeker.

Starring: Jason Mamoa, Amber Heard, Willem Dafoe, Patrick Wilson, Dolph Lundgren, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Ludi Lin, Temuera Morrison

"You think you're unworthy to lead because you're of two different worlds? But that is exactly why you are worthy! You are the bridge between land and sea!" - Mera

Why watch this? Director Wan delivers big-time on Arthur Curry's ascension to become King of Atlantis.

Dad's Review: Similar to Wonder Woman, Warner Bros. delivered a this film about the superhero Aquaman. After the events in Justice League, Curry returns to Atlantis and confront his half-brother, Orm, who has no intention of surrendering the kingdom's crown. Director Wan's creation of the undersea kingdom is visually stunning.

Starring: Ben Affleck, Henry Cavill, Amy Adams, Jesse Eisenberg, Diane Lane, Laurence Fishburne, Jeremy Irons, Holly Hunter, Gal Gadot, Scoot McNairy

"Everything's changed. Men fall from the sky, the gods hurl thunderbolts, innocents die. That's how it starts, sir. The fever, the rage, the feeling of powerlessness that turns good men cruel." - Alfred

Why watch this? The Ultimate edition makes this film a lot more complete. 

Dad's Review: I so wanted this film to be good film. The theatrical release had serious issues: Too dark, Luther was miscast, trying to do too much. A lot was corrected with this Ultimate Edition. It flows much better. Much of it does work. Batman is awesome. Cavill is the perfect Superman. Gadot's Wonder Woman's is casting perfection.  

Starring: Christopher Walken, Brooke Adams, Tom Skerritt, Herbert Lom, Anthony Zerbe, Colleen Dewhurst, Martin Sheen

"I have had a vision that I am going to be President of the United States someday. And nobody, and I mean nobody is going to stop me!" - Greg Stillson

Why watch this? You'll like this faithful film version of the eerie Stephen King novel.

Dad's Review: Christopher Walken, at his creepy best, early in his career, portrays of a man who acquires the ability to see people's futures by simply touching them. He sees a mother's child trapped in a fire, a car going over a railing into a river, a man shot with a gun. All this is quite unnerving, and he's not sure what to do with this new "gift". He know that he's experiencing the future... can he change the outcome? This is a great film adaptation.

Starring: Lee Marvin, Ernest Borgnine, Charles Bronson, Jim Brown, John Cassavetes, Richard Jaeckel, George Kennedy, Trini Lopez, Ralph Meeker, Robert Ryan, Telly Savalas, Clint Walker

"You've seen a general inspecting troops before haven't you? Just walk slow, act dumb and look stupid!" – Maj. John Reisman

Why watch this? This film is for guys, sure, but it makes a sarcastic statement that is very anti-war and anti-government.

Dad's Review: A top secret team of Army's nastiest convicts is pulled together, trained, and sent on what amounts to a suicide mission to take out Germany's top officers. This is the original Suicide Squad. It features an all-star cast, lots of bad language and war violence. Just what a growing boy needs!

Starring: Danny Aiello, Ossie Davis, Ruby Dee, Richards Edson, Spike Lee, Giancarlo Esposito, Bill Nunn, John Tuturro, John Savage

"They're - They're not really black. I mean, they're black, but they're not really black. They're more than black. It's different." – Pino, trying to explain why Magic Johnson, Eddie Murphy and Price are "different" black people.

Why watch this? Race relations get to a boiling point in Spike Lee's NYC masterpiece.

Dad's Review: As typical for a white man, my first viewing of this film kinda upset me. I just was incapable of getting it. Now I think I am starting to. The film is centered around Sal's Pizzeria, located in Brooklyn, which is mostly a black neighborhood. Racial tensions increase in the hot summer weather, as an argument over the Sal's all-white picture Wall of Fame in his restaurant.

Starring: Dan Aykroyd, Howard Hesseman, George Furth, James Brown, T. K. Carter, Donna Dixon, Fran Drescher, Lydia Lei, Lynn Whitfield

"Mom, I am going to rip off your head and sh!t down your neck." – Clifford, as Doctor Detroit

Why watch this? This is hands-down Aykroyd's funniest solo film. 

Dad's Review: This little-known film is a real gem in Dan Aykroyd's filmography. He plays a nerdy college professor who unwittingly becomes involved with a group of gorgeous prostitutes in need of a pimp for protection. He takes on a fictitious persona called "Doctor Detroit" in order to stand up against the notorious mob boss, Mom. You will be surprised at how funny the comedy bits are here. Incidentally, Dan met his future wife, Donna Dixon, while filming.

Starring: Al Pacino, John Cazale, Penelope Allen, Sully Boyar, Carol Kane, Beulah Garrick, Sandra Kazan, Marcia Jean Kurtz

"The guy who kills me... I hope he does it because he hates my guts, not because it's his job." - Sonny

Why watch this? It's basically a bank robbery that goes awry. This may be Pacino's finest role.

Dad's Review: Out of desperation, Sonny and Sal, attempt to rob a bank. They arrive after the daily cash pick-up, so there very little cash. They end up taking everyone in the bank hostage. However, they don't intend to hurt anyone. The police arrive and there's a memorable stand-off. Critics have praised both the film realistic feel, and the actor's performances, notably Pacino and John Cazale as the shy, troubled Sal.

Starring: Julie Christie, Donald Sutherland, Hilary Mason, Clelia Matania, Massimo Serato, Renato Scarpa, Leopoldo Trieste

"She says it's like a city in aspic, wrapped over from a dinner party, where all the guests are dead or gone." - Heather, speaking about Venice

Why watch this? This is a fine psychological horror film that will stick with you.

Dad's Review: When a couple's daughter accidentally drowns, John and Laura Baxter travel to Venice, Italy to get away, and allow John to take a job restoring old churches. Laura however starts to believe her daughter is trying to contact her from beyond the grave. This film deals with grief and its effect on a marriage. It also has one hell of an ending that you will never see coming.

Starring: Nick Nolte, Bette Midler, Richard Dreyfuss, Elizabeth Peña, Little Richard, Tracy Nelson, Evan Richards, Mike the Dog

"I ate garbage last night, Barbara... and loved it!" - Dave Whiteman

Why watch this? Nick Nolte was the man, and this choice roll helped show his acting range.

Dad's Review: The Whiteman's are a ritzy, rich couple living in Beverly Hills with their cross-dressing son, Max, and head-case daughter, Jenny. Then the homeless Jerry comes into their life. He tries kill himself all in their pool. Mr. Whiteman saves him, and they agree to "help him out". They are all intrigued by Jerry's free-spirited way of living. This comedy's big lesson deals with understanding the important things in life.

Starring: Peter Sellers, George C. Scott, Sterling Hayden, Keenan Wynn, Slim Pickens, Peter Bull, James Earl Jones, Tracy Reed

"Gentlemen, you can't fight in here! This is the War Room!" - President Merkin Muffley

Why watch this? This is THE great black comedy about the Cold War.

Dad's Review: This film is often in the discussion for greatest comedy ever made. I do like it, but it's just too satirical for me. I guess I just don't think nuclear annihilation is that funny. From the film's standpoint, launching the bomb IS the point. This Kubrick project has an all-star cast, and features the brilliant Peter Sellers in several roles. The final scene, where Slim Pickens rides the missile, is a scene for the ages.

Starring: Kevin Costner, Susanna Thompson, Joe Morton, Ron Rifkin, Kathy Bates, Robert Bailey Jr., Jacob Smith, Matt Craven

"Take down the vacancy that says "Emily's ghost is welcome here". You got to do the hard stuff. Got to clean out closets and get on with your life without her." - Miriam

Why watch this? The death of a spouse is unbearable. Is it possible to reach them afterwards?

Dad's Review: Joe Darrow's physician wife heads to Venezuela to help a tribe in the jungles of the Amazon. There she tragically is killed when their bus crashed into the river. Grief-stricken, Darrow, also a doctor, begins to sense that she is trying to reach out to him. His friends are concerned that this rational man is losing his mind. The film's haunting conclusion will blow you way.

Starring: Morgan Freeman, Jessica Tandy, Dan Aykroyd, Patti LuPone, Esther Rolle, Jo Ann Havrilla, William Hall Jr., Jo Ann Havrilla

"Lord, I tell you one thing... she sho' do know how to throw a fit!" - Hoke Colburn

Why watch this? The strain between rich and poor, black and white, are featured here.  

Dad's Review: This poignant film, which centers on a bitchy rich white woman and her tolerant black driver, captured the hearts of film-goers and Academy voters alike. Today, it's almost hard to watch as Miss Daisy orders poor Hoke to do her bidding. But back then, in the South, Hoke did what he had to do to keep from getting beaten or killed. People loose sight of that. The film is about Hoke's courage to remain patient, calm, and stay employed. In the end, he wins her over and earns her respect.

Starring: Groucho, Harpo, Chico and Zeppo Marx, Margaret Dumont, Louis Calhern, Edgar Kennedy, Raquel Torres

"I could dance with you until the cows come home. On second thought, I'd rather dance with the cows till you come home." - Rufus T. Firefly

Why watch this? This is one of the Marx Brothers' best films. It puts the "Z" in Zany!  

Dad's Review: Groucho portrays the President of the mythical country of Freedonia. Zeppo is his secretary, while Chico and Harpo are spies for the neighboring country of Sylvania. As with most Marx Bros. films, the plot is secondary to the madcap action and funny pratfalls that occupy the screen entirely. Critics today consider this film to be their masterpiece.

Starring: Jim Carrey, Jeff Daniels, Lauren Holly, Karen Duffy, Mike Starr, Charles Rocket, Teri Garr, Victoria Rowell, Joe Baker

"You know, Lloyd, just when I think you couldn't possibly be any dumber, you go and do something like this... and totally redeem yourself!" - Harry

Why watch this? I expected this from the zany Carrey, but it was Jeff Daniels who surprised me.

Dad's Review: When I first watched this film, it was painful. These two dumb-butts and their antics are THAT dumb. On my second viewing, I relaxed and could appreciate the first rate performances by all involved. This is no Ben-Hur for sure, but here are some really funny lines that you'll quote and re-quote for quite a while. What I can't explain is why I love this flick, yet cannot stand Steve Martin's The Jerk (1979).

Starring: Emma Stone, Penn Badgley, Amanda Bynes, Thomas Haden Church, Patricia Clarkson, Cam Gigandet, Lisa Kudrow

"I used to be anonymous, invisible to the opposite sex. If Google Earth were a guy, he couldn't find me if I was dressed up as a 10-story building." - Olive Penderghast

Why watch this? A great high school film about gossip and the harm it causes. 

Dad's Review: High school student Olive Pendergras tells a couple of white lies, then the school gossip queen decides to spread rumors that Olive is the school slut. Olive decides to just go with it by wearing provocative clothes, even stitching on a red "A" (from the classic novel, The Scarlet Letter). As the film goes on, things get out of control. It's the very talented, mistress of sarcasm, Emma Stone, who carries the film. She's awesome. 

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