Starring: Gregory Peck, David Niven, Anthony Quinn, Stanley Baker, Anthony Quayle, Irene Papas, Gia Scala, James Darren

"Everybody stay exactly where you are! The party's over. Somebody stepped on the cake!" - Cpl. Miller

Why watch this? It one of the better classic WWII action flicks based loosely on true events.

Dad's Review: Gregory Peck delivers another solid performance as a stern-jawed American soldier sent to a secret mission to blow up a German gun battery that is killing a lot of Allied forces. He teams up with a British explosives expert and a fiery Greek officer. Most of the film is getting to the cliffs where the massive guns are located, all while avoiding German patrols. There's lots of excitement, intrigue, an explosive play-off at the film's end.

Starring: Andrew Garfield, Sam Worthington, Luke Bracey, Teresa Palmer, Hugo Weaving, Rachel Griffiths, Vince Vaughn

"With the world so set on tearing itself apart, it doesn't seem like such a bad thing to me to wanna put a little bit of it back together." - Pvt. Desmond Doss

Why watch this? This is an amazing story about a conscientious objector in WWII who more than earned the respect of his fellow soldiers... and his country.

Dad's Review: Courage sometimes exists where you least expect it. I have watched a million war films, and rarely thought about the medics. They are not the ones traditionally praised in book and song. But by God, what they do, on the horrible battlefields of the world, is courageous as hell, and worthy of our recognition. This inspiring film will help you see what it really means to earn the title of 'hero'.

Starring: Elijah Wood, Robin Williams, Brittany Murphy, Hugh Jackman, Nicole Kidman, Hugo Weaving, Anthony LaPaglia, Steve Irwin

"It's just like... singing, with your body." – Mumble, talking about dancing

Why watch this? It is always a gift to see true joy manifested, even in cartoon form.

Dad's Review: George Miller (that's right, the same man who directed the four ultra-violent Mad Max films) brings us this wonderful animated feature about a little Emperor penguin who just wants to dance! Voiced by an all-star cast, this film will warm your heart, and trust me, tickle your toes! (On a personal note, I can't watch Mumble without being reminded of my very talented, and always dancing, son.)

Starring: Patrick Wilson, Elliot Page, Sandra Oh, Odessa Rae, G. J. Echternkamp, Cori Bright

"I am every little girl you ever watched, touched, hurt, screwed, killed." – Hayley Stark

Why watch this? It's a disturbing film about a young girl who takes justice into her own hands.

Dad's Review: It's not a far reach to believe this plot could be perpetrated by someone who has been the prey of a serial pedophile. Disconnect a few neural connections, like empathy and compassion, and viola... the vigilante Hayley is created. Her "victim" deserves everything he gets, right? Page is incredible, and Wilson is very convincing as a man trapped in a psychological  game he cannot escape.

Starring: John Wayne, Elsa Martinelli, Hardy Krüger, Red Buttons, Gerard Blain, Bruce Cabot, Michele Girardon, Valentin de Vargas

"... They've given you a name: Mother of Elephants. Mama Tembo! Well you're supposed to dance with them." - Sean Mercer

Why watch this? The sequences where the crew captures these magnificent animals are incredible.

Dad's Review: As long as we have zoos, there will be a job for those who capture wild creatures. I can see where this film might offend certain folks today, but it portrays this business as humane, akin to rounding up cattle. As an action film, it is chock full of dangerous, exciting chases, and lots of interactions with animals in captivity. This light comedy is a wonderful look at Africa's finest.

Starring: Greg Kinnear, Kelly Reilly, Connor Corum, Margo Martindale, Thomas Haden Church

"What if you have an experience so far beyond your own experience, it's irrational. What then?" - Todd Burpo

Why watch this? There is nothing more real than the words of an innocent child.

Dad's Review: This film crosses over the line, and makes us uncomfortable. The fact that a child is involved changes everything. This is not a greedy televangelist, or maneuvering politician, this is a boy who flat-lined and experienced something very real. As we travel our life journey, these little moments are grander than anything. They're too small to be false. This film features an all-star cast and it's a story worth seeing, whether you believe or not. 

Starring: Joaquin Phoenix, Amy Adams, Rooney Mara, Olivia Wilde, Scarlett Johansson, Chris Pratt, Bill Hader, Lisa Renee Pitts

"I think anybody who falls in love is a freak. It's a crazy thing to do. It's kind of like a form of socially acceptable insanity." - Amy

Why watch this? A.I.'s capabilities are growing exponentially. Here, it can form relationships.

Dad's Review: In the near future, a lonely, introverted man has lost what little ability he possessed to be intimate with loved ones. His new PC's operating system utilizes a virtual assistant that he customizes to be female. He and "Samantha" then begin a cyber-relationship, which is odd, yet he finds comforting. This creative, light-on-the-sci-fi romance has a lot to say about human relationships in an increasingly overwhelming digital word. 

Starring: Amy Adams, Glenn Close, Gabriel Basso, Haley Bennett, Freida Pinto, Bo Hopkins, Owen Asztalos, Jesse C. Boyd

"I don't care you hate me. I ain't in it for popularity. You gotta take care of business, go to school, get good grades to even have a chance." - Mamaw

Why watch this? Folks scrapping by on the edge of poverty always pay a heavy price in human damage.

Dad's Review: Where The Trip to Bountiful captured my mother's sweet side, this film encapsulates her tough side. Glenn Close portrays a feisty, hard-edged grandmother fighting to keep her family in line while mired in generational poverty. This lady does not mince words. After a hard life, she now has to deal with a broken drug-addicted daughter, and her teen, fatherless grandson, who is still trying to figure out his path in life. I relate to him.  

Starring: Shia LaBeouf, Khleo Thomas, Sigourney Weaver, Jon Voight, Patricia Arquette, Tim Blake Nelson,  Henry Winkler, Patricia Arquette

"If you forget to come back for Madame Zeroni, you and your family will be cursed for always and eternity!" - Madam Zeroni

Why watch this? A wonderful, creative Disney film that plays surprisingly poignant and mature.

Dad's Review: My children read the book Holes in school. When the film was released I expected, well, a kid's movie. What I found was an interesting, layered, mini-masterpiece! A family curse follows one unlucky lad, Stanley Yelnats, who lands himself in a teen work camp where inmates are required to dig holes in a sparse, dry lake bed. The telling of the story uses flashbacks to three connected legends. The film masterfully weaves them together. Trust me, you will love this modern day fairytale. 

Starring: Macaulay Culkin, Joe Pesci, Daniel Stern, John Heard, Roberts Blossom, Catherine O'Hara, Angela Goethals, Devin Ratray, John Candy

"Down here you big horse's ass, come and get me before I call the police." - Kevin McCallister

Why watch this? Culkin is adorable as a kid who outsmarts the dumbest crooks in NYC.

Dad's Review: For such an improbable premise, this holiday treasure manages to be funny, exciting and incredibly warm. When a stressed-out family heads out for vacation, they realize that they forgot their ten-year-old son, Kevin. The lad makes the most of being at home without parental supervision. Two burglars think the house is empty and attempt to break and enter. Pesci and Stern are wonderful as the bumbling thieves who cannot seem to figure out how to outsmart a crafty little kid.

Starring: Song Kang-ho, Byun Hee-bong, Park Hae-il, Bae Doona, Go Ah-sung, Oh Dal-su, Ko Asung, Jae-eung Lee

"How could you leave behind your only sister?" – Park Gang-Du

Why watch this? This Korean film was the best, most creative monster film in years.

Dad's Review: Years after repeatedly dumping formaldehyde in the Han River, a large, amphibious creature appears, terrorizing folks, and eating a few. A young is girl taken by the monster, after her inept father, Gang-du, fails to keep her safe. Gang-du's dysfunctional family is at the film's core, and it's their constant battle with a corrupt government, and the beast itself, that brings them closer together. The cost, however, will prove too much to bear. Hats off to Korean film-making - there's a deeper well there to explore. 

Starring: Basil Rathbone, Nigel Bruce, Richard Greene, Wendy Barrie, Lionel Atwill, John Carradine, Barlowe Borland, Beryl Mercer

"There's no doubt about it in my mind. Or perhaps I should say, in my imagination. For that's where crimes are conceived and where they're solved... in the imagination." - Sherlock Holmes

Why watch this? On film, Basil Rathbone is the best Sherlock Holmes - cool and smart.

Dad's Review: This was the first of fourteen Sherlock Holmes films featuring Rathbone and Bruce as sleuth and assistant. Sir Henry Baskerville, the last heir to his family estate, seems to have inherited a family curse that involves a blood-thirsty canine who prowls the moors intent upon ending the family bloodline. It's up to Holmes and Watson to figure out the truth and prevent Sir Henry's death. I loved these intelligent mysteries as a young lad.

The Hound of the Baskervilles (1959), Director: Terence Fisher, Rated G

Starring: Peter Cushing, Christopher Lee, André Morell, Marla Landi, David Oxley, Francis De Wolf, Miles Malleson, Ewen Solon

"I must insist upon one thing. Under no circumstances are you to go out onto the moors at night." - Sherlock Holmes to Sir Henry Baskerville

Why watch these? This is another telling of the great Sir Arthur Conan Doyle mystery!

Dad's Review: Hammer Films and hard-working director Terence Fisher remade this classic, and, of course, heightened the scares and sexuality. The dependable Peter Cushing is the perfect Holmes, and Mr. Lee is excellent as Sir Henry Baskerville. It mood is decidedly more gothic and creepy as our detectives explore graveyards, tombs and the foggy moors. The feature is also helped along by its haunting musical score.

Starring: Jennifer Connelly, Ben Kingsley, Shohreh Adhdashloo, Ron Eldard, Frances Fisher, Kin Dickens, Navi Rawat

"I lived here, and you stole this house from me." - Kathy

Why watch this? This compelling story centers on pain, loss and its destructive power.

Dad's Review: Once again Jennifer Connelly proves her acting skills as she portrays a serial loser who is evicted from her family home. The house is purchased at auction by a former Iranian colonel, living above his means, so as to not shame his family. She wants her house back, he won't budge. This psychological drama draws you in and won't let go, thanks to tight direction and several great actors delivering some unforgettable performances.

Starring: Jim Carrey, Taylor Momsen, Jeffrey Tambor, Christine Baranski, Bill Irwin, Molly Shannon, Anthony Hopkins, Clint Howard

"Now you listen to me, young lady! Even if we're horribly mangled... there'll be no sad faces on Christmas." - Grinch, to Cindy Lou Who

Why watch this? It's the perfect melding of Jim Carrey and the Grinch, and we love it!

Dad's Review: This is a fun, zany re-telling of the Grinch story. Including some of the most amazing make-up on film. It this covers the Grinch's origin story, and helps us see why he's so grumpy about the Who's jingly holiday. Taylor Momsen's performance, as adorable Cindy Lou, matches Carey's animated antics. This is an instant holiday classic.  

Starring: Anthony Hopkins, Vanessa Redgrave, Helena Bonham Carter, Emma Thompson, James Wilby, Samuel West, Jemma Regrave, Prunella Scales

"Will you forgive her as you yourself have been forgiven... you have had a mistress; I forgave you." - Margaret Schlegel

Why watch this? The self-control of the British always amazes me. It's within this film in spades.

Dad's Review: For years I avoided the whole slew of British Oscar-worthy films. Now I am rediscovering the errs of my youth. The beauty of these stories is that the humans involved have the same desires, ambitions and passions, yet being British, they have to veil it in decorum and reserve. It's quite maddening, I'm sure. This wonderful period romance is worth every second you spending watching it. Emma Thompson - what an actress!

Starring: Charles Laughton, Maureen O'Hara, Sir Cedric Hardwicke, Thomas Mitchell, Edmond O'Brien, Alan Marshal, Walter Hampden

"I never realized till now how ugly I am, because you're so beautiful... I'm not a man! I'm not a beast! I'm about as shapeless as the man in the moon!" - Quasimodo

Why watch this? The ageless cruelty within "humanity" never ceases to astonish me.

Dad's Review: By now, you have probably see one rendition or another of the tragic hunchbacked bell-ringer haunting the attic of the cathedral at Notre Dame. There's even a Disney musical. Of the film renditions, this is the best. Charles Laughton, the fine British actor, succeeds in bringing to life the tortured, deformed Quasimodo, who realizes that true love will never be within his grasp. All we can do is pity his poor disenchanted soul.

Starring: Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Helmsworth, Woody Harrelson, Elizabeth Banks, Donald Sutherland, Lenny Kravitz, Stanley Tucci, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Jeffrey Wright, Julianne Moore 

"Stop killing for him! Tonight, turn your weapons to the Capitol! Turn your weapons to Snow!" - Katniss Everdeen

Why watch this? It's an incredible film series featuring the amazing Jennifer Lawrence.

Dad's Review: After the apocalypse, the world's survivors live in "Panem". It's 12 districts are ruled by the Capital. One government controls everything, led by the ruthless President Snow. Annually each district much sacrifice a male and female teenage to fight in the Hunger Games to the death. Katniss takes her sister's place for District 12. This series is her story.

Starring: Emile Genest, John Drainie, Sandra Scott, Marion Finlayson, Ronald Cohoon, Tommy Tweed, Robert Christie, Beth Lockerbie, Beth Amos

"The cat was uneasy. He had a strange feeling he was being followed. There was nothing in sight, yet his sense told him there was something there, something evil." - Narrator

Why watch this? This family action film is, well, incredible! All set in American wilderness.

Dad's Review: Three pets: Tao, a Siamese cat; Luath, a Yellow Lab; and Bodger, an elderly English Bull Terrier, are separated from their owners, and they decide to venture West to home, not knowing how far the journey will be. They encounter several perils along the way including an angry mother bear, a raging river, a porcupine, and cold wintry conditions. Your heart-strings will be maxed out as our traveling trio encounters one obstacle after another. Will they survive the journey? Will it be too much for the old terrier, who can barely walk.

Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey (1993), Director: Dewayne Dunham, Rated G

Starring: Don Ameche, Michael J. Fox, Sally Field, Don Alder, Ed Bernard, Kevin Chevalia, Ann Christianson, Ted D'Arms, Woody Eney

"...he seemed so wise... and ancient, like the first dog who ever walked the earth. I just hope that one day, I can be like him." - Chance

Why watch these? Original vs. Remake. You decide!

Dad's Review: This superb Disney remake again features three pets on a long journey home. There's Chance, a spunky American Bulldog (Fox); Sassy, a spoiled Himalayan cat (Field); and Shadow, a wise old Golden Retriever (Ameche). This time our determined animals have voices. They face several adventures as they brave the Sierra Nevada wilderness, and all the wildlife there that bites, scratches and hunts unsuspecting city pets.  

Starring: Grant Williams, Randy Stuart, April Kent, Paul Langton, Raymond Bailey, William Schallert, Frank J. Scannell, Diana Darrin, Billy Curtis

"In my hunt for food I had become the hunted. This time I survived, but I was no longer alone in my universe. I had an enemy, the most terrifying ever beheld by human eyes." – Scott Carey

Why watch this? This classic sci-fi horror film is an incredible watch, still today.

Dad's Review: The concept is thought-provoking to say the least. A man is exposed to a mysterious fog and starts shrinking. First, his wedding band falls off. Next, he's shorter than his wife. He eventually becomes so small, people no longer notice him. The genius in this story is that it doesn't have the patented ending we'd expect. It makes a larger statement about the significance of man, and mankind, in the world around us.

The Island of Lost Souls (1932), Director: Erle C. Kenton, Rated Passed

Starring: Charles Laughton, Bela Lugosi, Richard Arlen, Leila Hyams, Kathleen Burke, Arthur Hohl, Stanley Fields, Paul Hurst

"You! You made us in the house of pain! You made us... things! Not men! Not beasts! Part man... part beast! Things!" – Sayer of the Law

Why watch this? When you create life, there's always a chance it will turn on you.

Dad's Review: On a remote island, the brilliant, and quite deranged, Dr. Moreau performs questionable experiments on animals, attempting to turn them into humans. When a stranded sailor washes up, he quickly encounters Moreau's creations, all in various stages of transformation. This film is thought-provoking and I found it very disturbing. It was even banned upon release in many countries. It asks "What does it mean to be human?"

Starring: Joaquin Phoenix, Robert De Niro, Zazie Beetz, Frances Conroy, Brett Cullen, Shea Whigham, Bill Camp, Glenn Fleshler

"For my whole life, I didn't know if I even really existed. But I do, and people are starting to notice." – Arthur Fleck

Why watch this? Could Joaquin Phoenix possibly top Heath Ledger? Well, it's pretty darn close. 

Dad's Review: Warner Brothers decided to green light this stand-alone origin story outside of its DC Extended Universe. Arthur Fleck, a failed clown and comedian, descends into mental illness, becoming more and more twisted and violent. In a final desperate act, he rallies the disenchanted of Gotham City to revolt against the wealthy class. The Crown Prince of Crime is born. Phoenix gives a master class on method acting as the damaged, insane Joker.

Starring: Humphrey Bogart, Edward G. Robinson, Lauren Bacall, Lionel Barrymore, Claire Trevor, Thomas Gomez, Harry Lewis, John Rodney

"It's better to be a live coward than a dead hero." - Gaye Dawn

Why watch this? You've heard of Bogey and Bacall, right? This is when they met.

Dad's Review: At a resort in Florida, several characters populate an inn during the off-season, just as a big storm hits. We soon learn that one group is associated with a notorious gangster, Johnny Rocco, who's scheming to escape the U.S. Rocco's thugs take everyone hostage, and their only chance is Frank, an ex-soldier down on his luck. Bogart had such a unique way of inhabiting his roles; always planning his next move. He's so darn believable in this noir classic.

Starring: Annette Bening, Julianne Moore, Mark Ruffalo, Mia Wasikowska, Josh Hutcherson, Yaya DaCosta, Kunal Sharma, Eddie Hassell

"Bottom line is, marriage is hard. It's really f-in' hard. Just... just two people slogging through the shit, year after year, getting older, changing. It's a f-ing marathon, okay?" - Jules

Why watch this? Bening and Moore, as lesbian parents, deliver powerfully real performances.

Dad's Review: A married lesbian couple each had one child using the same sperm donor, Paul. Years later, the two children reach out, and meet with Paul, who is a likeable slacker. Things get emotionally messy when the family invites him into their lives. The pure joy of this film is that it doesn't build to an action-filled climax. It slowly, carefully ambles along, taking the necessary time needed to get to where it's going. Life, however difficult, is about the journey.

Starring: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Penelope Ann Miller, Pamela Reed, Linda Hunt, Richard Tyson, Carroll Baker, Joseph Cousins

"Listen, Kimble, you've got to handle this like any other police situation. You walk into it showing fear, you're dead. And those kids will know you're scared." - Phoebe

Why watch this? Schwarzenegger struck gold as an undercover cop forced to teach grade K.

Dad's Review: Two detectives are hot on a criminal's trail. They know he has a son in kindergarten and will at some point show up there to take him. When O'Hara gets food poisoning, the 6-foot-4, muscle-bound Kimble has to fill in, and he has no idea how to handle kids. It's joke after joke as the children turn this tough-guy cop into a blithering idiot. It was great to see Arnold expose his comedic side. Pamela Reed is great as his wise-cracking partner. 

Starring: Jeff Bridges, Charles Grodin, Jessica Lange, John Randolph, Rene Auberjonois, Julius Harris, Jack O'Halloran, Ed Lauter, Dennis Fimple

"You know I had my horoscope done before I flew out to Hong Kong. And it said that I was going to cross over water and meet the biggest person in my life." - Dwan

Why watch this? I watched this film about 50 times. It was a modern re-telling of the Kong origin story.

Dad's Review: This big Dino De Laurentis production features an all-star cast, amazing musical score, and wonderful special effects for its time. Most of this film's Kong is an actor in a very well-done suit. It succeeds in creating suspense and that necessary ingredient: sympathy for the gigantic ape who falls in love with a human girl. Jessica Lange, in her first major motion picture, captivates as the eccentric Dwan. Jeff Bridges also puts forth a nice performance.

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