Starring: Rod Taylor, Alan Young, Yvette Mimieux, Sebastian Cabot, Whit Bissell, Tom Helmore, Doris Lloyd, Paul Frees

"George... I speak to you as a friend – more as a brother... if that machine can do what you say it can, destroy it. Destroy it, George, before it destroys you!" – David Filby

Why watch this? It's a thought-provoking rendition of H. G. Wells' classic novel.

Dad's Quick Review: The concept of traveling through time is a fantasy of which most of us have dreamt. It’s also ideal fodder for science fiction. What makes this story so compelling is the glance at our future. We all expect that mankind will reach a peaceful nirvana, but there is an equal likelihood of something far darker. This film, though made in 1960, showcases from ground-breaking special effects and make-up.  Its influence can be seen in subsequent films such as Planet of the Apes and Logan’s Run. The goal of these cautionary tales is to show us possible futures we need to prevent.

Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Kate Winslet, Billy Zane, Kathy Bates, Frances Fisher, David Warner

"The press knows the size of Titanic, now I want them to marvel at her speed, too. We must give them something new to print. And the maiden voyage of Titanic must make headlines!" – I. Bruce Ismay

Why watch this? A truly epic telling of the greatest maritime disaster.

Dad's Review: I've always found sea disasters interesting to research. What went wrong? Could it have been prevented? The story of R.M.S. Titanic is an exercise in man's hubris. For god's sake they called her "Unsinkable", before she had sailed a single league. The film, its cinematography and effects are very well done. Even the fictional love story is engaging. As horrible as it is, the actual sinking, which take quite a while, is remarkable to witness on the big screen. 

Starring: Gregory Peck, Mary Badham, Phillip Alford, Brock Peters, Paul Fix, Robert Duvall, Frank Overton, John Megna, Rosemary Murphy, Ruth White

"If you just learn a single trick, Scout, you'll get along a lot better with all kinds of folks. You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view...Until you climb inside of his skin and walk around in it." – Atticus Finch

Why watch this? It's a superb adaptation of the Pulitzer-winning classic novel.

Dad's Review: A wonderful, yet somber message film about a racially motivated trial in the deep Southern state of Alabama. The most amazing moment in the film is the night an angry mob is hell-bent on lynching the black man on trial. Only Atticus stands in their way and he seems no match for their anger and guns. Suddenly Scout, his daughter, appears and what she does next will have you in tears.

Starring: Kurt Russell, Val Kilmer, Michael Biehn, Powers Boothe, Dana Delany, Sam Elliott, Charlton Heston, Stephen Lang, Thomas Haden Church

"Make no mistake, it’s not revenge he’s after…it’s the reckoning." - Doc Holliday

Why watch this? Val Kilmer as Doc Holliday. One of the great performances ever, with memorable quotes galore.

Dad's Review: Of the two Wyatt Earp films in 1993-94, this is by far the best. Here the focus is less on historical accuracy, and more on making a good Western film. The story hinges on the relationship between Earp and Doc Holliday. Their friendship is a rock. The OK Corral gunfight is not the film's climax, but rather the start of a mission to rid the country of a murderous group of thugs called the "Cowboys". This film takes the time to build its characters, both main and secondary. "I'll be your huckleberry."

Starring: Chris Farley, David Spade, Bo Derek, Brian Dennehy, Dan Akyroyd, Rob Lowe, Julie Warner, Sean McCann, Zach Grenier

"I can practically hear you getting fatter." – Richard

Why watch this? So you'll learn to never load an injured deer in your car's back seat.

Dad's Review: This lovable film is simply great fun. The two leads are having a gosh-darn great time. It really captures the chemistry between the unpredictable Farley and deadpan Spade. It’s almost like watching Abbott and Costello in their heyday. Or Laurel and Hardy. For a low budget flick, there is a lot going on, plot-wise. It is part comedy, part romance, and part road film. We love to cheer for the under-achieving goofball and his snooty little pal! Put this film on and be prepared to laugh 'til it hurts.

Starring the voices: Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Joan Cusack, Don Rickles, Annie Potts, Kelsey Grammer, Don Rickles, Jim Varney, Wallace Shawn, John Ratzenberger, Wayne Knight

"You never forget kids like Emily, or Andy, but they forget you." – Jessie

Why watch this? I really like do this better than the original; there more and it's deeper.

Dad's Review: Everyone loves the OG Toy Story. So do I. This has all that, plus it's more poignant. Perhaps I feel this way because my kids grew up, and left home. Of course we're happy for them, but I'd be lying if I did not cast occasional thoughts back to when they were young and we were a contained family, taking on the world. Here, Andy is growing up, and maybe he has outgrown Buzz and Woody. Nothing could be more painful for a toy. Then comes along the energetic Jessie. She's been there and knows that toys need each other, too. Get out your box of hankies, cause you're gonna need them.

Starring: Dan Aykroyd, Eddie Murphy, Jamie Lee Curtis, Ralph Bellamy, Don Ameche, Denholm Elliott, Paul Gleason

"Yeah. You know, it occurs to me that the best way to hurt rich people is by turning them into poor people." – Billy Ray Valentine

Why watch this? I love the premise. I love the cast. There are a lot of great comedic moments.

Dad's Review: Initially I was not an Eddie Murphy fan. After this film, I fell in love with him. In this well-written, smart, John Landis comedy, we are blessed to witness SNL'ers Eddie Murphy and Dan Aykroyd, and the stunning force-of-nature Jamie Lee Curtis. The scene where Aykroyd disguises himself as Santa is one of my all-time favorites. I'll pass on the salmon, please.

Starring: Don Cheadle, Michael Douglas, Benicio Del Toro, Luis Guzman, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Erika Chistensen

"If there is a war on drugs, then many of our family members are the enemy. And I don't know how you wage war on your own family." – Robert Wakefield, U.S. Drug Tsar

Why watch this? It drives home that drugs are everywhere, and the war is in our homes.

Dad's Review: This powerful film is a harsh blast of ice water into the average suburban citizen's life, as it tells the story of drug use in the United States. It covers all the related topics and gets down and dirty. There are unforgettable scenes that will make you flinch. It portrays its characters realistically - nobody is truly good or bad. Del Toro’s performance really stands out as the Mexican cop working against the drug trade from the other side of the border.

Starring: Humphrey Bogart, Walter Huston, Tim Holt, Bruce Bennett, Barton MacLane, Alfonso Bedoya, Arturo Soto Rangel, Robert Blake

"Of course I'll go. Any time, any day. I was only waiting for one or two guys to ask me. Out for gold? Always at your service." - Howard

Why watch this? It shows us what gold fever can do to men - as it exposes their bare souls.

Dad's Review: Another examples of Bogart’s incredible acting range, as he bounces back and forth between holding it together and letting his own greed consume him. By the end, he has transformed into a hideous, murderous monster. Also of note is the wonderful performance by Walter Huston (the director's father) as the old, trail-wise prospector Howard.  

Starring: Kevin Bacon, Fred Ward, Finn Carter, Michael Gross, Reba McEntire, Bobby Jacoby, Tony Genaro, Ariana Richards, Richard Marcus

"Run for it? Running is not a plan. Running is what you do when a plan fails!" - Earl

Why watch this? Underground, giant, man-eating worms! That's a hard YES for me.

Dad's Review: I cannot say enough about Kevin Bacon. I saw Animal House, and hated him, but his role was to be disliked. He has since earned by admiration and more. He certainly is a hard-working actor. This film hits the right blend of horror, action and comedy from start to finish. Scientifically it’s preposterous, so don’t waste your time trying to make it make sense. Just go with it. Fred Ward also shines as Bacon's hillbilly sidekick, Earl.  

Starring: Jim Carrey, Laura Linney, Noah Emmerich, Natascha McElhone, Holland Taylor, Ed Harris

"We accept the reality of the world with which we are presented, it's as simple as that." - Christof

Why watch this? This is a masterpiece for Peter Weir and Jim Carrey.

Dad's Review: This is just the kind of reality-bending film that attracts me. Truman is the unknowing star of a TV show about his fabricated life. He lives in a bubble, all his interactions are with actors. This "project" is the vision of the mysterious Christof. There is so much wrong with this concept, but hey, the ratings are through the roof. Truman starts to wonder about his life, and want more. It's creative, brilliant and deeply thought-provoking.  

Starring: Gene Hackman, Fred Ward, Reb Brown, Randall “Tex” Cobb, Harold Sylvester, Robert Stack, Patrick Swayze

"Boy, you usin' that oriental martial bullshit on me's gonna get real expensive." - Johnson

Why watch this? A superb film where American POW's in Vietnam are rescued.

Dad's Review: In the 80’s there were many films about Vietnam, Vietnam vets, and going back "in country" years later to bring home Prisoners of War (POWs). This is my favorite, thanks to the always powerful Gene Hackman, and a surprise performance by heavyweight boxer Randall “Tex” Cobb. I prefer this film to similar cinematic testosterone-overloaded attempts, such as Rambo II and the many Chuck Norris Missing In Action films.

Starring: Clint Eastwood, Gene Hackman, Morgan Freeman, Richard Harris, Jaimz Woolvett, Saul Rubinek, Frances Fisher

"It’s a hell of a thing, killin’ a man. You take away all he’s got, and all he’s ever gonna have." - William Munny

Why watch this? After all the film in his career, this is Eastwood's masterpiece.

Dad's Review: This is the culmination two key factors: Eastwood’s vast experience and clout in directing, and a tonal shift in Westerns to be more realistic. This centers on an aged gunfighter who has no choice but to perform a dirty job to get badly needed money. However, when pushed too hard, his old ways resurface. That when we see now truly brutal this man has to be just to survive.

Starring: Kevin Costner, Sean Connery, Charles Martin Smith, Andy Garcia, Robert De Niro, Richard Bradford, Jack Kehoe, Brad Sullivan, Billy Drago, Patricia Clarkson

"You wanna know how to get Capone? They pull a knife, you pull a gun. He sends one of yours to the hospital, you send one of his to the morgue. That's the Chicago way!" – Jim Malone

Why watch this? A great, if romanticized, account of the Elliott Ness story.

Dad's Review: Elliott Ness and his Untouchables went after notorious ganster Al Capone in Chicago during the 1920’s. This film by Brian De Palma is simply superb - Connery finally won an Oscar for his portrayal of beat cop, Sam Malone. Costner is great as Ness, but De Niro steals the show as the notorious mob boss Al Capone.

Starring: Paul Newman, Charlotte Rampling, Jack Warden, James Mason, Milo O'Shea, Lindsay Crouse, Edward Binns, Julie Bovasso

"All I wanted in this case is an even shake. You rushed me into court in five days... my star witness disappears, I can't get a continuance, and I don't give a damn. I'm going up there and I'm going to try it. Let the jury decide." – Frank Galvin

Why watch this? Paul Newman is spectacular in this tense, courtroom drama.

Dad's Review: Newman portrays a worn-down, broken, alcoholic lawyer who takes on a medical malpractice case, just to make a quick buck. All is going fine until he starts really diving into the facts of the case. He uncovers a lot more than he, or the judge, ever expected to find. It all culminates in a wonderful courtroom battle. I really believe that this is Newman's greatest performance, and that is saying something for an actor with an amazing career.

Starring: Ben Burtt, Elissa Knight, Jeff Garlin, Fred Willard, John Ratzenberger, Kathy Najimy, Sigourney Weaver

"I can't just sit here and... and do nothing. That's all I've ever done! That's all anyone on this blasted ship has ever done - nothing!" - Captain

Why watch this? Wall-E will work his electronic way into your heart.

Dad's Review: How can a film set after the end of the Earth be warm, poignant, and even inspiring? Pixar pulls it off, as we follow the adventure of a lone, trash-gathering robot. His one simple job is to pick up trash and compact it into cubes. When a probe, named EVE, comes to earth and finds the first sign of plant life, things get crazy. It's visibly stunning and a pleasure to watch.  It is even romance story. You will love this movie!

Starring: Gene Barry, Ann Robinson, Les Tremayne, Bob Cornthwaite, Lewis Martin, Paul Frees, Housley Stevenson Jr. William Phipps

"The jets went in, but not one of them came out. I watched high-level bombers drop everything they carried. They were knocked out of the sky and their bombs did nothing. Nothing was effective against them" - Dr. Clayton Forrester

Why watch this? This is the best of the early sci-fi films about an alien invasion.

Dad's Review: Though I prefer the more terrifying remake below, the original movie is a class above its 1950's sci-fi counterparts. I am sure back then, this film shocked a more innocent audience. Released during the Cold War, it was influenced by the paranoia regarding the Russians and their atomic weaponry. The film won the Oscar for Special Effects.

Starring: Tom Cruise, Dakota Fanning, Miranda Otto, Tim Robbins, Justin Chatwin, Rick Gonzalez, Lenny Venito, Gene Barry, Yul Vazquez

"This isn’t a war any more than there is a war between men and maggots. This is an extermination." – Harlan Ogilvy

Why watch this? This remake is action-packed, terrifying... and visually jarring.

Dad's Review: The War of the Worlds first saw the light of day in H. G. Wells’ novel in 1898. In 1938, filmmaker Orsen Wells would read the story live on radio, and cause a panic in many listeners of that day. The original classic film had its impact. However, this version, by master filmmaker Steven Spielberg, is truly disturbing. It is unnerving. Here the invading aliens are brutal harvesters, reaping earth’s vast resources and its plentiful supply of human meat.

Starring: Michael Beck, James Remar, Deborah Van Valkenburgh, David Harris, David P. Kelly, Brian Tyler, Tom McKitterick, Marcelino Sanchez, Terry Michos

"One gang could run this city! One gang. Nothing would move without us allowing it to happen. We could tax the crime syndicates, the police, because WE got the streets, suckers! Can you dig it?" - Cyrus

Why watch this? This is one bad-ass film.

Dad's Review: As toxically masculine high school males, we loved this intense movie. It combines non-stop action and a great rock soundtrack (which I played non-stop in my 1979 blue Camaro Z28's 8-track player). At a gang pow-wow uptown, the Warriors, a New York City street gang, are framed for murder. They have to literally fight their way back home to Coney Island. There are great fight scenes in this film. I personally love the finale, back on the beach at Coney, as dawn breaks.

Starring: Yul Brynner, Richard Benjamin, James Brolin, Alan Oppenheimer, Dick Van Patten, Alan Oppenheimer, Victoria Shaw, Steven Franken

"There's no way to get hurt in here, just enjoy yourself." – John Blane

Why watch this? One of the best sci-fi films from the 70's.

Dad's Review: When you are an 11-year-old boy, who loves weird movies, this is your kind of film. I begged Mom to take me to the theater and she agreed. It blew me away. It is a wonderful Sci-fi mind-bender. Its theme is classic: humans invent artificial intelligence, it goes horribly wrong, and humanity pays the price. It was pure genius to cast Yul Brynner as "the gun-slinger". The character is essentially Chris from The Magnificent Seven. The real horror comes when we realize that he is a ruthless machine, one that knows no pity and will not stop coming for you.  

Starring: Bob Hoskins, Christopher Lloyd, Charles Fleischer (voice), Joanna Cassidy, Kathleen Turner (voice)

"I'm not bad. I'm just drawn that way." – Jessica Rabbit

Why watch this? It's genius to combine humans and cartoons on film.

Dad's Review: I am always a fan of something new and inventive, even if the effort sometimes falls short. Roger Rabbit is an example where expectations were exceeded!  Director Zemeckis creates a 1950s-ish world where humans and cartoons co-exist. The "Wow" is over and it’s business as usual. This is an easy film to love. It has all our favorite cartoon characters, zany slapstick, devious villains, a wonderful ending. 

Starring: Reese Witherspoon, Laura Dern, Gaby Hoffman, Michiel Huisman, Thomas Sadoski, Keen McRae, W. Earl Brown, Kevin Rankin

"My mother used to say something that drove me nuts, 'There's a sunrise and a sunset every day, and you can choose to be there for it. You can put yourself in the way of beauty." - Cheryl Strayed

Why watch this? The hike is about the journey to find yourself.

Dad's Review: Breath-taking scenery is the backdrop for Cheryl’s journey. She is herself wild, self-destructive, used up, tired. So, to shake her demons, or die trying, she sets off on her quest, woefully unprepared, yet, determined. Witherspoon’s portrays Cheryl is angry, raw and vulnerable. We sense this is her last chance to fix things. Laura Dern gives an awesome performance as Cheryl’s free-spirited, late mom, Bobbie.  Cheryl’s physical journey parallels her mental one. I must admit, perhaps this is a journey I need to take.

Starring: Harrison Ford, Kelly McGillis, Lukas Haas, Jan Rubeš, Danny Glover, Josef Sommer, Alexander Godunov, Brent Jennings, Patti LuPone, Viggo Mortensen

"No, no hospital... gunshot wound, they have to file a report. And if they file a report, they find me. And if they find me, they find the boy." – John Book

Why watch this? It is a brilliant film juxtaposing urban violence against peaceful Amish culture.

Dad's Review: Using the Pennsylvania Amish community as the backdrop for a crime thriller was an incredible idea. This is Harrison Ford’s best acting effort as a Philly detective who has to hide a young boy from corruption in his own police department. The film is both warm and pleasant, yet extremely intense in its climax. An incredible musical score enhances both. This received 8 Oscar nominations (winning Best Screenplay and Best Editing).

Starring: Claude Rains, Lon Chaney Jr., Warren William, Ralph Bellamy, Maria Ouspenskaya, Patric Knowles, Bela Lugosi

"Even a man who is pure in heart, and says his prayers by night, May become a wolf when the wolf's bane blooms, and the autumn moon is bright." - Maleva, the gypsy

Why watch this? This is my favorite werewolf movie.

Dad's Review: Set in the Universal Studio monster universe, this big screen tale introduced the world to Lon Chaney Jr., the son of film legend Lon Chaney (known as the "Man of a Thousand Faces"). Lon Jr. would go on to play the Wolf Man four more times. Chaney has portrayed all four Universal monsters: Wolf Man, Dracula, Mummy, and Frankenstein's monster. This is by far his best. We feel a sense of pity for his character, a man who cannot control his wolf transformations. Only a silver bullet can end his suffering.

Starring: Benicio del Toro, Anthony Hopkins, Emily Blunt, Hugo Weaving, Geraldine Chaplin, Art Malik, Antony Sher

"As I don't know where the lunatic will strike, it seems the practical thing to do is to stay as near as possible to the potential victims." - Dr. Aberline

Why watch this? This lycanthrope is true to Lon Chaney Jr., and a lot more lethal.

Dad's Review: After several lackluster monster films that attempted to recreate, and re-franchise, Universal Studio monsters, my hopes were in the dumpster for this one. I could not have been more wrong. This is a very good remake of the original Wolf Man (above), and the superb CGI mightily enhances it. An all-star cast certainly helps including del Toro, Hopkins and Blunt. The transformation scene in the asylum is absolutely thrilling!

Starring: Patrick Stewart, Hugh Jackman, Ian McKellen, Halle Berry, Famke Janssen, James Marsden, Rebecca Romjin-Stamos, Brian Cox, Allan Cumming, Bruce Davison, Anna Panquin

"You are a god among insects. Never let anyone tell you different." – Magneto

Why watch this? It outdoes the original film with a better story and stronger performances.

Dad's Review: The original X-Men was pretty darn good, but this film is better and more fun. X2 finds the two opposing teams (The X-Men and Magneto’s band of baddies) heading for a climactic final battle. The cast are more comfortable in their roles. The concept regarding mutant acceptance into the world continues to be explored, and we are introduced to the new "mutant cure". How this plays out will change the X-Men forever.

Starring: Gene Wilder, Peter Boyle, Marty Feldman, Cloris Leachman, Teri Garr, Kenneth Mars, Madeline Kahn

"Are you saying that I put an abnormal brain into a seven and a half foot long, fifty-four inch wide GORILLA? IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE TELLING ME?" - Dr. Frederick Frankenstein

Why watch this? It's perhaps now more of a classic than the films it spoofs!

Dad's Review: This comedy, along with Blazing Saddles, was made at the height of director Mel Brooks’ popularity. It goofs on the classic Universal Studios’ horror movies.  Filmed aptly in black and white, Brooks really captured the mood of those old horrors. Much of the film’s success is attributed to its leading cast. There is a chemistry between them, and you can tell they were having a good time.