Starring: George MacKay, Dean-Charles Chapman, Mark Strong, Andrew Scott, Richard Madden, Claire Duburcq, Colin Firth, Benedict Cumberbatch

"I'm not going to wait until dusk or for fog. I'm not calling back my men only to send them out there again tomorrow, not when we've got the bastards on the run! This is their last stand." - Col. Mackenzie

Why watch this? To be transported there, to endure it, and gain an appreciation.

Dad's Review: This is one hell of a WWI flick. Filmed sequentially in "one take", the audience is allowed to experience this harrowing conflict in real-time. Two young soldiers are asked the impossible: to cross the trenches of no-man's land and deliver a message that will save the lives of 1,600 men. We are shown everything horrible about that war. Yet, our two diligent soldiers keep going, against incredible odds. I can't imagine surviving that.

20,000 Leagues Under the Sea (1954), Director: Richard Fleischer, rated G

Starring: Kirk Douglas, James Mason, Paul Lukas, Peter Lorre, Robert J. Wilke, Ted de Corsia, Carleton Young, J. M. Kerrigan

"I am not what is called a civilized man", Professor. I have done with society for reasons that seem good to me. Therefore I do not obey its laws." - Captain Nemo

Why watch this? A rip-roaring sailor story with Captain Nemo, and a slimy, giant squid.

Dad's Review: A wonderful Disney film made from the classic Jules Verne novel. It was such a joy to watch this on The Wonderful World of Disney on Sunday nights as a kid. James Mason as the mysterious Captain Nemo and a young Kirk Douglas provide the meat of the acting here. However, the giant squid is the real star of the show. The special effects were something to behold, and at that time, unequaled.

Starring: Sean Penn, Naomi Watts, Benicio del Toro, Melissa Leo, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Danny Huston, John Rubinstein

"They say we all lose 21 grams at the exact moment of our death... everyone. The weight of a stack of nickels. The weight of a hummingbird... a chocolate bar." – Paul Rivers

Why watch this? Penn, Watts and del Toro - a trifecta of awesomeness!

Dad's Review: There is a weight to this film, which is apropos based on its title. Its plot's weight bears down on the characters, who are living through tragedy. There are no glee-filled situations. Actions have outcomes and they are not pleasant. The three lead actors also the add weight with their wonderful performances. This is an emotional marathon run.

Starring: Gerard Butler, Lena Headey, David Wenham, Dominic West, Vincent Regan, Tom Wisdom, Michael Fassbender

"No retreat, no surrender. That is Spartan law. And by Spartan law, we will stand and fight... and die." – Leonidas

Why watch this? Snyder's film-making style is on full display in this testosterone adventure.

Dad's Review: This retelling of a great Spartan battle is intense and highly stylized. It is a hero's epic showcasing the fighting skills and bravery of a small group of soldiers who are betrayed by their own country. Like most Zach Snyder films, it is visually unique. Everyone in the film is gorgeous, and they have the CGI-enhanced abs to prove it. Though unrealistic, it's still a stunning film to behold. This is Gerard Butler's break-out film.

Starring: Kerwin Mathews, Torin Thatcher, Kathryn Grant, Richard Eyer, Alec Mango, Danny Green, Alfred Brown

"From the land beyond beyond. From the world past hope and fear. I bid you, genie, now appear." - Sokurah the Magician

Why watch this? The mythical creatures are a treat, especially the hungry Cyclops!

Dad's Review: This is Harryhausen's first Sinbad film. I was never a fan of casting a caucasian in the role of Sinbad, who would certainly have been Middle Eastern, but I can let that go. The special effects and creatures include a two-headed roc, a man-eating Cyclops, and an awesome fire-breathing dragon. Remember, these fantastical films were my childhood's Harry Potter.

Starring: Jane Fonda, Lily Tomlin, Dolly Parton, Dabney Coleman, Elizabeth Wilson, Sterling Hayden, Henry Jones, Marian Mercer

"Well, I say we hire a couple of wranglers to go upstairs and beat the sh*t out of him." - Doralee Rhodes

Why watch this? This great comedy targets prevalent corporate misogyny.

Dad's Review: It's a pleasure to watch three classy female stars putting the screws to their over-confident, snobby and perverted boss. This is a very well-done comedy with a strong supporting cast. Dabney Coleman plays the perfect male chauvinist. Tomlin and Fonda are wonderful, but I really love Dolly Parton - we all knew she could sing, but here she really proves she is a fine actress as well.

Starring: Ed Harris, Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio, Michael Biehn, Leo Burmester, Todd Graff, Kimberly Scott, Chris Elliott

"We all see what we want to see. Coffey looks and he sees Russians. He sees hate and fear. You have to look with better eyes than that." - Lindsey Brigman

Why watch this? The scene where Lindsey drowns is UNFORGETTABLE!

Dad's Review: Oh, The Abyss. How good you are until the damned ending. For 9/10ths of the film, we are graced with an engaging plot, top-notch action, incredible special effects, and wonderful acting. These reasons keeps it on my list. But the ending... damn, what the hell?... I guess nobody had the guts to tell James Cameron that it ruins the film. I would have! My ending: Return the drilling crew to the surface, without any clues to the creatures below - leave the "why" shrouded in mystery, ala Raiders of the Lost Ark. But who asked me?

Starring: Jodie Foster, Kelly McGillis, Bernie Coulson, Leo Rossi, Ann Hearn, Carmen Argenziano, Steve Antin, Tom O'Brien, Woody Brown

"What the hell are you talking about? You saw me at the hospital, what you think I asked for that? Is that what you think? If that's what you think then you get the f*** out of my house!" - Sarah Tobias

Why watch this? Jodie Foster delivers quite a performance in this superb film

Dad's Review: This intense courtroom drama takes on the subject of rape. A young girl is hanging out at a bar having a good time, drinking a lot, and suggestively dancing. In a back pool room, four guys rape her. Nobody steps in to stop it. The trial focuses on her reputation and whether or not she was "asking for it". It raises thought-provoking questions in a male-dominated legal system.

Starring: Robert Hayes, Julie Hagerty, Leslie Nielsen, Peter Graves, Lloyd Bridges, Robert Stack, Stephen Stucker, Barbara Billingsley

"There's no reason to become alarmed, and we hope you'll enjoy the rest of your flight. By the way, is there anyone on board who knows how to fly a plane?" - Head Flight Attendant Elaine Dickinson

Why watch this? A superb comedy if you just want to laugh and not have to think.

Dad's Review: "Surely, you must love this film?"... "I do... and please don't call me Shirley". This is the spoof of all film spoofs, taking aim at the Airport films. It's a series of absurd situations, snappy one-liners, and it is ALL hilarious! You'll find something amid all the segments, be it a sex-craved inflatable autopilot, the dingy stewardess, or the airport control tower loaded with morons and coke-addicts.

Starring: Charlton Heston, Karen Black, George Kennedy, Gloria Swanson, Efrem Zimbalist Jr., Susan Clark, Sid Caesar, Linda Blair, Dana Andrews, Myrna Loy, Helen Reddy

"No, not much...there's just a hole where the pilots usually sit." - Joe Patroni, when asked to assess the airplane's damage

Why watch this? Chuck Heston simply adds legitimacy that makes the movie believable.

Dad's Review: This is the best of the "Airport" films. Why? They put Charlton Heston and George Kennedy in charge! When a small passenger plane collides with jet liner, the flight crew is killed or injured. The plane is still flying on auto-pilot. That leaves the frightened head stewardess to adjust for the looming mountains and land the plane. As fuel runs low, it is decided to lower a pilot into the jet through the gaping hole in the cockpit. Trust me, this sequence is thrilling to witness.

Starring: Matt Damon, Henry Thomas, Lucas Black, Penélope Cruz, Ruben Blades, Robert Patrick, Bruce Dern, Sam Shepard

"I guess the country lasts forever, people ain't but for a little while." - John Grady Cole

Why watch this? A beautiful Western with a tragic, forbidden romance.

Dad's Review: One thing that I always heard growing up in Texas: under no circumstance do you want to end up in a Mexican jail. Set in 1949, this film follows two Texas cowboys, John and Lacey, who head to Mexico "because it's there". They eventually find work at a huge ranch and show their value working with horses. One of them falls for the ranch owner's beautiful daughter. Her father does not approve, so one night they are hauled away to a brutal Mexican prison. The cinematography stands out, showing the beauty of Mexico, as the two young cowboys struggle to survive the ordeal. 

Starring: Kevin Spacey, Annette Bening, Thora Birch, Mena Suvari, Wes Bentley, Allison Janney, Peter Gallagher, Chris Cooper

"I feel like I've been in a coma for the past twenty years. And I'm just now waking up." – Lester Burnham

Why watch this? This is such a uniquely American tragedy, both beautiful and brutally painful.

Dad's Review: This film takes a critical look at the American way of life, and how the insatiable quest for material happiness can screw people up. We have a man in the midst of his mid-life crisis. His tightly wound wife is losing her mind. Their daughter just wants to be seen. Their neighbor is ex-military, and his sole quest is to toughen up his sensitive son. Mix this all together, and the result is a cinematic climax you won't soon forget. 

Starring: Edward Norton, Edward Furlong, Fairuza Balk, Stacy Keach, Elliott Gould, Avery Brooks, Beverly D'Angelo

"I killed two guys, Danny, I killed them. And it didn't make me feel any different. It just got me more lost and I'm tired of being pissed off, Danny. I'm just tired of it." - Derek Vinyard

Why watch this? This brutal film takes on the rancid underbelly of hate and white supremacy.

Dad's Review: There are two brothers sucked into the world that is the neo-Nazi movement. The older, Derek, has quite the tough reputation. He is idolized by his younger brother, Danny. After an incident, and some prison time, Derek gains clarity, and decides to change his path. When he returns home, he finds Danny is fully indoctrinated, and it may be too late. Norton's performance is chilling and powerful, but Furlong is the personification of lost.

Starring: Mickey Rourke, Robert De Niro, Lisa Bonet, Charlotte Rampling, Michael Higgins, Stocker Fontelieu, Brownie McGhee

"They say there's just enough religion in the world to make men hate one another, but not enough to make them love." – Louis Cyphre

Why watch this? A surreal, atmospheric crime film that winds darkly to a memorable ending.

Dad's Review: A private investigator travels to New Orleans to find a missing man. His employer is Mr. Louis Cyphre. The trail leads to betrayal, murder, and an eerie connection to the occult. This film's black noir vibe gives it an almost dream-like quality. In every scene, it feels like an evil intelligence is controlling every twist and turn. Rourke is surly enough, but De Niro captivates as his dark employer.

Starring: Danny Glover, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Tony Danza, Brenda Fricker, Ben Johnson, Christopher Lloyd, Milton Davis, Neal McDonough, Matthew McConaughey

"Seems like you're saying it's okay to believe in God, but it's not okay to believe in angels. Now I thought they were on the same team." - Maggie

Why watch this? A heart-warming baseball film, with a dash of the miraculous.

Dad's Review: I gave this film a try because of Danny Glover. What I didn't expect was the great performance by TV Star Tony Danza. This sweet movie is funny and inspirational. My kids loved it! The Angels are a struggling baseball team. Real angels are only visible to a local boy, whom the team befriends. This film is really easy to watch and enjoy. Look for future stars Neal McDonough, Adrien Brody and Matthew McConaughey. And it's even a little magical!

Starring: Ben Affleck, Bryan Cranston, Alan Arkin, John Goodman, Tate Donovan, Victor Garber, Kyle Chandler

"Shoot him. He's an American spy ... Look, they're going to try to break you, OK, by trying to get you agitated. You have to know your resume back to front." – Tony Mendez

Why watch this? A great movie about an interesting, and very tense, true story.

Dad's Review: This is a great flick about the creative way that several US government employees were smuggled out of Iran after the fall of the Shah, back in 1979. How on earth they concocted the idea of filming a science fiction movie in Iran is beyond me. The courage it took to pull off such a rescue! Affleck proves once again that he's a very good director. It's a well-paced thriller. Goodman and Arkin are great in supporting roles.

Starring: Cary Grant, Raymond Massey, Peter Lorre, Priscilla Lane, Jack Carson, Josephine Hull, Jean Adair

"Insanity runs in my family... It practically gallops." – Mortimer Brewster

Why watch this? An eerie comedy (today we'd say "black comedy") from the great Frank Capra.

Dad's Review: Cary Grant again shines in this odd comedy. He portrays a normal man who lives with his two sweet old aunts. Except for one small detail: they are two murdering black widows! The whole movie revolves around this revelation. So, how do you go about hiding the bodies? It's macabre, but strangely hilarious, as the aunts continually court suitors, then murder them. The plot is unique and crazy enough to help it stand out above all the screwball comedies of that period.

Starring: Milo Ventimiglia, Amanda Seyfried, Kathy Baker, Martin Donovan, Gary Cole, Kevin Costner (voice only)

"He picked me out of a pile of pups, a tangled mass of paws and tails. He'd stopped at the farm on his way home from the speedway at Yakima. Even back then, I knew I was different than other dogs. My soul just felt more human." – Enzo

Why watch this? Dog movies always get to me, just no way around it. 

Dad's Review: It is a well-known fact that our family loves dogs (we call them "Woogs"). This sweet canine tale follows the life of Enzo, a delightful Golden Retriever, who loves this master with all his heart (show me a dog who doesn't). Enzo accepts his master's new bride, but more than anything, he loves to ride in his master's speedy race cars. Bring some tissue.

Starring: James Cromwell, Magda Szubanski, Christine Cavanaugh, Dann Mann, Miriam Margolyes, Hugo Weaving, Roscoe Lee Brown

"The Boss's husband is just playing a little game with you. Believe me, sooner or later, every pig gets eaten. That's the way the world works. Oh, I haven't upset you, have I?" - Dutchess (the cat)

Why watch this? It's so sweet and endearing. You will love this pink little piglet.

Dad's Review: This is another film my kids loved. It's about a delightful little orphaned pig who is trained to herd sheep. The film-makers deployed CGI technology to enable the barnyard animals to talk. It's done well and not over-the-top. It's so funny to hear the thoughts and feelings of common farm animals. James Cromwell's performance as Farmer Hogget is really special. Babe, voiced by Christine Cavanaugh, steals the show. "Baa Ram Ewe!"

Starring: Sean Penn, Reni Santoni, Jim Moody, Esai Morales, Ally Sheedy, Clancy Brown, Jim Moody, Reni Santoni

"Do you know what goes on in here? Time stands still. On the outside everyone is getting on with their lives; working, making money, getting laid, all that good sh!t." - Ramon Herrera

Why watch this? Every tough kid needs to watch this film. It might keep them out of jail.

Dad's Review: This film introduced me to Sean Penn as a serious actor. I liked him in Fast Times as the stoned surfer dude, but here - damn! He portrays a tough Chicago kid who is sent to prison. There he does what he has to do to survive, and it's not pretty. This painful film is not for the faint at heart. It's brutal at times. Look for a young Clancy Brown as Penn's nemesis in the slammer.

Starring: Jack Nicholson, Michael Keaton, Kim Basinger, Robert Wuhl, Pat Hingle, Billy Dee Williams, Michael Gough, Jack Palance

"Batman... Batman... Can somebody tell me what kind of a world we live in, where a man dressed up as a bat gets all of my press? This town needs an enema!" - The Joker

Why watch this? This is the OG Batman. Keaton. Nicholson. "I'm Batman". It's all here.

Dad's Review: After the success of the Superman films, we had high expectations for Batman. I was leery they cast comedian Michael Keaton in the lead. Regardless, I took a half day off work and saw the film on opening day. I must say I enjoyed it! It is dark, brooding and heroic. Keaton was fine as Bruce Wayne, and Nicholson steals every scene as the Joker. This same cast would return for one sequel.

Starring: Henry Fonda, Robert Shaw, Robert Ryan, Dana Andrews, George Montgomery, Charles Bronson, Telly Savalas

"There are many kinds of victory. For the German Army to survive, for us to remain in uniform - that is our victory. Conrad, the world is not going to get rid of us after all." - Col. Hessler

Why watch this? Tank battles during war have intrigued me. This is the best tank film ever!

Dad's Review: This huge World War II epic has long been one of my favorites. There is an all-star cast that covers the late war in Europe as the Allied forces move across the Ardennes. This film is not strictly accurate, but captures the atmosphere of some of WWII's critical tank battles. I especially enjoy the steel-jawed Robert Shaw as the stern German tank commander Col. Hessler.

Starring (voices): Paige O'Hara, Robby Benson, Richard White, Jerry Orbach, David Ogden Stiers, Angela Lansbury, Rex Everhart, Jesse Corti

"Oh, it's no use. She's so beautiful, and I'm... Well, look at me!" - Beast

Why watch this? This magical Disney cartoon film just made the world seem right again.

Dad's Review: Disney animation had a quality problem in the 1980's. This film changed all that immediately. It's exciting, funny and a beauty to behold. There are many memorable characters and incredible musical numbers. I enjoyed the French Lumiere, the British Mrs. Potts and the unforgettable conceited Gaston. This film is big and bold, yet tender and intimate. It restored Disney's reputation as the creators of animated wonder.  

Starring: Alec Baldwin, Geena Davis, Winona Ryder, Michael Keaton, Jeffrey Jones, Catherine O'Hara, Maurice Page, Hugo Stanger

"I'm not scared of sheets. Are you gross under there? Are you Night of the Living Dead under there? Like all bloody veins and pus?" - Lydia

Why watch this? Tim Burton is a master of creating a world of the strange, and I like that. 

Dad's Review: This was a great collaboration between Tim Burton and Michael Keaton. The bold move here was to basically turn Keaton loose, capitalizing on his unique style of comedic genius. His character is so freaking bizzare. However, there's brilliance there, too. I particularly enjoy the family dinner séance and demonic Conga dance. I also cannot forget the Maitland's visit to the chain-smoking death counselor. 

Starring: Jennifer Coolidge, Christopher Guest, John Michael Higgins, Michael Hitchcock, Eugene Levy, Jane Lynch, Michael McKean, Catherine O'Hara, Parker Posey, Fred Willard

"I don't think I could ever get used to being poked and prodded like that. I told my proctologist one time, 'Why don't you take me out to dinner and a movie sometime?'." - Buck Laughlin

Why watch this? An oddball comedy about oddballs, and it's so rewardingly humorous.

Dad's Review: This is such a wonderful effort from the warped minds of Christopher Guest and Eugene Levy. It follows the strange world of the Dog Show circuit and the quirks of canine owners. There are over-obsessive yuppies, the gay power couple, the old country boy and his bloodhound - just to name a few. As they enthusiastically compete for the grand prize, we feast on laughs galore.

Another 200 - 25 thru 50