Starring: Matt Damon, Julia Stiles, Joan Allen, Franka Potente, Chris Cooper, Clive Owen, Brian Cox, Tom Gallop, Albert Finney, Carl Urban

"It's not a mistake. They don't make mistakes. They don't do random. There's always an objective. Always a target." - Nicky Parsons

Why watch these? A great set of face-paced, well-done, tight, action films.

Dad's Review: This trilogy should be viewed together since one film feeds the next. It follows the story of ultimate weapon Jason Bourne, who has no memory of his past. It is so much fun as he unravels the mystery. The closer he gets, the more the heat is amped up. The clandestine organization that created Jason Bourne has no intention letting their dark secrets out. However, this young man is super smart, lethal, tough, very keen at finding the right allies.

Starring: Kristen Wiig, Maya Rudolph, Melissa McCarthy, Rose Byrne, Chris O'Dowd, Ellie Kemper, Jill Clayburgh, Wendy McLendon

"This is such a stone-cold pack of weirdos, and I am so proud!" - Lillian

Why watch this? The bridal shop scene after spicy Mexican food. McCarthy kills me!

Dad's Review: Every time I watch this, I realize how damn good it really is. It’s so enjoyable to watch these ladies act opposite one another. Scene after scene plays out all the classic tropes pertaining to weddings, from the female perspective. Wiig is such a comedic force, and McCarthy devours every scene she's in. These two may be the funniest two humans on the planet.  

Starring: William Holden, Alec Guinness, Jack Hawkins, Sessue Hayakawa, James Donald, Andre Morell, Geoffrey Horne

"Must we work so well? Must we build them a better bridge than they could have built for themselves?" - Major Clipton

Why watch this? This epic WWII film shows the madness war can infect men in prison.

Dad's Review: During World War II, British POWs are charged with building a bridge over the Kwai River in Thailand. The British prisoners are led by Col. Nicholson, and he feels building the best bridge possible will keep the men's spirits up. Others feel this is treason. The viewer must bounce back and forth with where loyalties lie. This film won seven Oscars including Best Picture. Alec Guinness' performance is unforgettable.

Starring: Heath Ledger, Jake Gyllenhaal, Linda Cardellini, Anna Faris, Anne Hathaway, Michelle Williams, Randy Quaid, Linda Cardellini

"Tell you what... the truth is... sometimes I miss you so much I can hardly stand it." - Jack Twist

Why watch this? This is a love story, set in a world where people don't tolerate anybody "different" .

Dad's Review: "Forbidden" love. Oh, how our world is filled those who want to dictate what is "allowed" and "right". Nobody should be dictated to regarding who they love. Jack and Ennis are two cowboys, working the range in Wyoming. Guess what - they're gay. But the world won't let them be who they are. They even deny it themselves. This is a tragically painful film with great performances by Ledger and Gyllenhaal. It won three Oscars including Best Director. Folks, read the Bible where it says to love people. Leave the LGBTQ+ community alone. Trust me, they are really nice folks. 

Starring: Samuel Le Bihan, Vincent Cassel, Émilie Dequenne, Monica Bellucci, Mark Dacascos, Jérémie Renier, Jean Yanne, Édith Scob

"Lies appear true when dressed in Latin." - Gregoire De Fronsac

Why watch this? This is a wonderfully dark French take on the werewolf legend.

Dad's Review: This French film exudes "atmosphere". It's creepy and surreal. A mysterious, vicious creature is terrorizing 18th century France. This is loosely based on the true story of the Beast of Gévaudan. The plot is historically inaccurate, but, just let that go. In this case, I am perfectly fine with a Hawaiian actor (who plays "The Chairman" on Food Network's Iron Chef America) portraying a native American scout, who possesses incredible martial arts stills. It's something special to watch. Trust me.

Starring: Kevin Costner, Susan Sarandon, Tim Robbins, Trey Wilson, Robert Wuhl, William O'Leary, David Neidorf, Jenny Robertson

"I believe in the sweet spot, soft-core pornography, opening your presents Christmas morning rather than Christmas Eve and I believe in long, slow, deep, soft, wet kisses that last three days." - Crash Davis

Why watch this? It's a great romance, plus it's Sarandon and Costner at their best.

Dad's Review: True, this is a baseball movie, but it's really about two baseball veterans. One is a past-his-prime catcher, who is tasked with mentoring a new, hot-shot pitcher. The other is the team's mistress, who takes on the same new pitcher to keep him romantically happy. The fun is watching these two veterans wise up and find each other. Costner and Sarandon are amazing. "We go for the Durham Bulls!"

Starring: Paul Newman, Robert Redford, Katharine Ross, Strother Martin, Jeff Corey, Henry Jones, George Furth, Cloris Leachman, Richard Kiel

"It's your great ideas that got us into this mess. I never want to hear another one of your great ideas. Ever!" - Sundance Kid

Why watch this? It's really fun to watch Newman and Redford having such a good time.

Dad's Review: This film certainly stands out as different among Westerns of its time. Newman and Redford portray the famous real-life bank robbers. The film's dialog almost doesn't fit the era. Regardless, it works and helps the film flow. During the film, we root for our anti-heroes to escape the law and get across the border and make it to Bolivia. But even there, they still become wanted men. The film won four Oscars.

Starring: Robert De Niro, Sharon Stone, Joe Pesci, James Woods, Don Rickles, Alan King, Kevin Pollak, L. Q. Jones, Dick Smothers

"Listen to me very carefully. There are three ways of doing things around here: the right way, the wrong way, and the way that I do it. You understand?" - Ace Rothstein

Why watch this? The mob ran Vegas. Scorsese, De Niro and Pesci show us how

Dad's Review: This is Sharon Stone’s great performance and one of Scorsese’s best films. It’s the story of Las Vegas when it was run by the Chicago mobsters. The performances are vintage by De Niro (cool; in control) and Pesci (unpredictable, easily angered). I like this film better than Goodfellas, but they are very close by comparison.

Starring: Nastassja Kinski, John Heard, Malcolm McDowell, Annette O'Toole, Ruby Dee, Ed Begley Jr., Scott Paulin, Frankie Faison

"We are a incestuous race. We can only make love with our own, otherwise we transform. And before we can become human again, we must kill." - Irena Gallier

Why watch this? This film really is as beautiful as it is scary.

Dad's Review: I read that David Bowie did the soundtrack, so I gave this film a chance. So very glad I did. This remake of Cat People (1942) centers on individuals who are linked to felines and can transform into black panthers. They are doomed to kill mortals, because they can only inter-breed. Natassja Kinski captivates in this role that perfectly fits her. There are some really terrifying scenes in this flick.

Starring: John Favreau, Sofía Vergara, John Leguizamo, Scarlett Johansson, Dustin Hoffman, Oliver Platt, Bobby Cannavale, Emjay Anthony, Robert Downey Jr.

"I may not do everything great in my life, but I'm good at this. I manage to touch people's lives with what I do and I want to share this with you." - Carl Casper

Why watch this? It's a wonderful father/son film, and most is onboard a food truck!

Dad's Review: You can literally taste the love director Favreau has put into this little cinematic gem. He portrays Carl, a perfectionist chef who blows up at a restaurant critic and loses his job. With some urging from his ex-wife, he decides to start a food truck, and take his son along, too. The film is fun and heart-warming to watch, and afterwards you will be craving a Cubano sandwich!

Starring: Emilia Jones, Eugenio Derbez, Troy Kotsur, Ferdia Walsh-Peelo, Daniel Durant, Marlee Matlin

"You know why God made farts smell? So deaf people could enjoy them too." - Frank Rossi

Why watch this? It's so unique, and necessary to watch, such a wonderful film!

Dad's Review: CODA grabbed me from the first minute. This movie pulls you in. You cannot take your eyes off the screen. It requires your dedicated focus and concentration. That's the point. We are exposed here to the stark reality that the deaf community lives with every second of every day. This soulful film is funny, painful, inspirational, light, heavy - everything. Troy Kotsur really captured my heart; man, I felt every pang of anguish emanating from his eyes... and his soul.

Starring: Whoopi Goldberg, Danny Glover, Oprah Winfrey, Adolph Caesar, Margaret Avery, Rae Dawn Chong

"A girl child ain't safe in a family of mens, but I ain't never thought I'd have to fight in my own house! I loves Harpo, God knows I do. But I'll kill him dead 'fo I let him beat me." - Sofia

Why watch this? This shows us all that courage can sometimes be silent. Strength is enduring.

Dad's Review: This film is a journey wrought with pain, cruelty and oppression. We follow timid little Celie, a meek black woman in the South, basically sold to a tyrannical husband. She endures a horrible life. She sees black women around her, and how they cope. Some find happiness, but most are beaten into submission. This inspiring film gave us the amazing Whoopi Goldberg, Danny Glover and the indomitable Oprah Winfrey. Spielberg, again, hits one out of the park.

Starring: Sylvester Stallone, Harvey Keitel, Ray Liotta, Robert De Niro, Peter Berg, Janeane Garofalo, Robert Patrick, Michael Rapaport

"Being right is not a bullet-proof vest, Freddy!" - Figgs

Why watch this? This is Stallone's best performance since the original Rocky.

Dad's Review: Once the Rocky and Rambo films had run their course, Stallone settled into a series of predictable heroic films, where he'd always swoop in, flex his biceps and saves the day. This gritty police drama, however, stands above those. It’s complex and painful, full of lies and betrayals. Stallone’s performance shines, and that is saying something against supporting actors Robert DeNiro, Harvey Keitel and Ray Liotta. You'll root Stallone's brow-beaten character, as he takes on the police department's corruption.

Starring: Don Cheadle, Sandra Bullock, Matt Dillon, Jennifer Esposito, Brendan Fraser, Terrence Howard, Ludacris, Thandiwe Newton, Michael Peña

"I am angry all the time... and I don't know why." - Jean

Why watch this? I love it when a film says "Let's confront this issue!"

Dad's Review: This Oscar winning picture is a raw look at the anxieties of people living in crowded Los Angeles. It confronts racial tensions. It shows that people are becoming disconnected, and don't form relationships with those outside their social class. The characters are not painted as good or bad, but rather a combination of both, and that is very much how real life works.

Starring: Richard Carlson, Julia Adams, Richard Denning, Antonio Moreno, Nestor Paiva, Whit Bissell, Bernie Gozier

"I can tell you something about this place. The boys around here call it "The Black Lagoon" - a paradise. Only they say nobody has ever come back to prove it." - Lucas

Why watch this? Can undiscovered humanoid creatures exist? Bigfoot? Yeti? Creature? (My wife thinks so.)

Dad's Review: A research expedition heads to South America to a fabled Amazonian location called the Black Lagoon. There they encounter a strange gilled man. They don't even try to communicate, but rather set to capture it, and bring its body back for science. The Creature has other ideas, namely to capture the group beautiful female scientist. 

Starring: Dee Wallace, M. Emmet Walsh, Scott Grimes, Billy Green Bush, Don Keith Opper, Nadine van der Velde, Lin Shaye

"We're here for the Crites." - Ug

Why watch this? Just sit back, suspend belief, and have a blast with these nasty little guys.

Dad's Review: Any way you slice this movie concept, it should not work - its premise is absurd, and screams "B-Movie" or "Sharknado". But I am here to tell you, it works! A bunch of tiny, fang-mouthed creatures from space land on earth and terrorize a small farm. They roll along the ground and shoot you with poison darts! Then eat you. Space bounty hunters, who just happen to be shape-shifters, are hot on their trail. Please stay with me here. This is the rare film, where campy sci-fi hits just the right blend of comedy and horror!

Starring: Paul Hogan, Linda Kozlowski, John Meillon, David Gulpilil, Mark Blum, Michael Lombard, Reginald VelJohnson, Steve Rackman

"I'm always all right when I'm with you, Dundee. God, that sounds corny. Why do always make me feel like Jane in a Tarzan comic?" - Crocodile Dundee

Why watch this? The lovable Aussie really sweeps you off your feet.

Dad's Review: On rare occasions, a person emerges who is so unique, so charismatic, that it makes sense to give them a movie deal. In this film, an attractive news reporter travels Down Under to bring the world the true story of Nick "Crocodile" Dundee. He agrees to return with her to New York City. That's when the fun really begins. The film is witty, romantic and a whole lot of fun. G'day, Mate.

Starring: Chow Yun-Fat, Michelle Yeoh, Ziyi Zhang, Chang Chen, Sihung Lung, Cheng Pei-pei, Wang Deming, Li Li, Hai Yan

"The things we touch have no permanence. My master would say: there is nothing we can hold onto in this world. Only by letting go can we truly possess what is real." - Li Mu Bai

Why watch this? The fight scenes are legendary.

Dad's Review: This epic film can be appreciated solely for its graceful choreography. Each sword fight is a work of art. This beautifully shot masterpiece also happens to be a great fantasy tale about family, honor, betrayal and redemption. How did Michelle Yoeh not become an international star? Here she is practically a super-heroine.

Starring: Stephen Garlick, Lisa Maxwell, Billie Whitelaw, Percy Edwards, Barry Dennen, Michael Kilgarriff, Sean Barrett, Joseph O'Conor

"When single shines the triple sun/What was sundered and undone/Shall be whole, the two made one/By gelfling hand or else by none." - Jen

Why watch this? This wonderful world has a lot to offer us humans.

Dad's Review: This epic fantasy film is Jim Henson’s (Sesame Street and Muppets) great magnum opus. Totally done without CGI, all the scenes, and little details, are just amazing to take in. The story follows a boy trying to find the missing shard which broke free form the magical dark crystal. The kingdom has been taken over by the cruel Skeksis. If you like fantasy films, this is a MUST see.

Starring: Liam Neeson, Frances McDormand, Colin Frieis, Larry Drake, Nelson Mashita, Nicholas Worth, Dan Hicks, Jessie Lawrence Ferguson

"I'm everyone - and no one. Everywhere - nowhere. Call me... Darkman." - Darkman

Why watch this? Because not all super-heroes can be completely honorable.

Dad's Review: This unlikely anti-hero film centers on a horribly disfigured, and mentally unhinged, scientist who feverously works to create prosthetic skin, which will enable him to live a normal life. However those responsible want him dead. To combat them he becomes Darkman! Neeson solicits a lot of sympathy for his damaged character. He wants to be the hero, but his madness just won't allow it. To battle these brutal men, he has to turn the monster loose within him.

Starring: Gal Gadot, Chris Pine, Robin Wright, Danny Huston, David Thewlis, Connie Nielsen, Elena Anaya, Ewen Bremner, Eugene Brave Rock, Saïd Taghmaoui

"I'm going, Mother. I cannot stand by while innocent lives are lost. If no one else will defend the world from Ares, then I must. I have to go." - Diana Prince

Why watch this? It's more than a great super-hero film. Diana is a role model.

Dad's Review: It embarrassingly took Hollywood this long to get one of their key female super-heroes right. Thank god it was Wonder Woman! This origin story of Diana Prince is a wonderful epic. The scenes in Themyscira are beautiful and poignant. The footage from World War I is powerful. Gal Gadot became an international superstar. Watching this transports me back to my childhood, where my heroes came alive.  

Starring: Sam Neill, Nicole Kidman, Billy Zane

"Please don't shout. That's always been one of my problems. I can never tell people's real motives until it's too late." - Hughie Warriner

Why watch this? A tense sea tale about the danger in picking up a sole survivor.

Dad's Review: This taut thriller is about a couple, John and Rae, on their yacht. They encounter a drifting schooner and its sole survivor, Hughie, rowing away on a skiff. John, a Navy officer, decides to check it out and rows to the sinking ship. He is stranded there when Hughie steals the yacht and kidnaps Rae. The suspense is well done. Sam Neill is excellent, and we're introduced to Nicole Kidman. However, it is Billy Zane, as the psychotic kidnapper, who captivates.

Starring: Robert Shaw, Nick Nolte, Jacqueline Bisset, Louis Gossett Jr., Eli Wallach, Dick Anthony Williams, Robert Tessier, Bob Minor

"You know what they say about these waters: if the Jamaican pirates don't get you, it'll be the cold embrace of the sea. And that's no lover's kiss." - Romer Treece

Why watch this? Audiences craved more Peter Benchley films. This was a great follow-up.

Dad's Review: This was Benchley’s second novel adapted for film after Jaws. It is a very good thriller about sunken treasure, Bermudan drug lords, and the perils of diving near old wrecks. Nolte and Bisset are great, however Robert Shaw shines as Romer Treece, the one person who can help the young treasure hunters. What they find near a sunken WWII munitions ship may cost them their lives. True to Benchley, one of the deep sea threats is an over-sized moray eel!

Starring: Robert Duvall, Téa Leoni, Elijah Wood, Venessa Redgrave, Morgan Freeman, Maximillian Schell, Rya Kihlstedt, James Cromwell, Jon Favreau

"Well, look on the bright side. We'll all have high schools named after us." - Astronaut Andrea Baker

Why watch this? This rich film has heart, even in the midst of an epic disaster.

Dad's Review: 1998 welcomed two flicks about a comet heading for Earth. First was Armageddon, however I prefer this one more. This film centers more on how humanity would be impacted, if God forbid, an event like this ever occurs. Both films send shuttle teams into space to blow up the oncoming comet. Here, the shuttle crew, led by the dependable Robert Duvall, aren't as flashy, but they are more realistic, and I find that more heroic.

Starring: Humphrey Bogart, Fredric March, Arthur Kennedy, Martha Scott, Robert Middleton, Dewey Martin, Gig Young, Mary Murphy

"I've got it in me, all right. YOU put it there!" - Daniel Hilliard as he holds a gun on Griffin

Why watch this? Bogey could play the good guy, but he's superb here as a ruthless killer.

Dad's Review: This intense thriller involves three thugs who take a family hostage for money. March plays the average father who is suddenly forced to deal with the unstable kidnappers. It is a real treat to watch the cat and mouse game between the tough Bogart and desperate March. These two professional actors carry the film. The tension is very real as the police get closer and we sense things are coming to head. It's a real nail-biter right to the end. 

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