The saga is complete.

Starring: Ewan McGregor, Natalie Portman, Hayden Christensen, Samuel L. Jackson, Ian McDiarmid, Jimmy Smits, Frank Oz, Anthony Daniels, Christopher Lee

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ - great

"If you're not with me, then you're my enemy." – Anakin Skywalker

Why watch this? We meh'ed the prequels: Episodes I and II. This dark, disturbing film gave us what we needed.

Plot Summary: Jedi Knight Anakin Skywalker struggles with a difficult choice after growing weary of the Jedi Council and being tempted by Supreme Chancellor Palpatine's promises of power. The Clone Wars wage on, but a dark plot threatens the Galactic Republic and the Jedi Order itself. As Obi-Wan Kenobi hunts a dangerous foe, Anakin's fate hangs in the balance, with the potential to dramatically reshape the galaxy forever.

Dad's Preview: The impossible idea George Lucas had for the Star Wars "prequels" was to make them for kids. Original fans, now in their 30's, wanted the origin of the most incredible villain in movie history! This trilogy IS the telling of Darth Vader's story - it can't be light and funny. This film finally delivered, and is by far the best of the three. The scene where Anakin finally becomes Vader rips at your emotions. The decision to cast Ewan McGregor as Obi-Wan Kenobi was genius, and his presence really anchors each film. This third film in this trilogy finally made me feel something!

Lucasfilm Ltd.; 20th Century Fox

A rebellion built on hope.

Starring: Felicity Jones, Diego Luna, Alan Tudyk, Donnie Yen, Wen Jiang, Ben Mendelsohn, Guy Henry, Forest Whitaker, Mads Mikkelsen, Jimmy Smits

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ - great

"We have hope. Rebellions are built on hope!" - Jyn Erso

Why watch this? Disney has since over-saturated the Star Wars brand, but this early film shines as interesting and even necessary.

Plot Summary: Jyn Erso is a young woman with a troubled past, who is recruited by the Rebel Alliance. Alongside Rebel officer Cassian Andor and a diverse team of fighters, Jyn undertakes a daring mission to steal the plans of the Death Star, the Galactic Empire's devastating super-weapon. Their perilous journey takes them across the galaxy, encountering both allies and adversaries, as they race against time to deliver hope to the galaxy.

Dad's Preview: This tale is chronologically set one week before Star Wars: A New Hope (1977). It follows a group of rebels who will steal the design plans of the Empire's Death Star, the greatest weapon in the galaxy. It's packed with young and very capable stars, and the film really works. There is so much within for rabid Star Wars fans, and Felicity Jones stands out - can't wait to watch her career blossom.

Lucasfilm Ltd.; Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

The end of Earth will not be the end of us.

Starring: Matthew McConaughey, Anne Hathaway, Jessica Chastain, Mackenkzie Foy, Ellen Burstyn, John Liethgow

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★☆ - near perfect

"We used to look up at the sky and wonder at our place in the stars. Now we just look down, and worry about our place in the dirt." - Cooper

Why watch this? What will we do when our planet can no longer sustain humanity?

Plot Summary: In a dystopian future where Earth faces extinction due to environmental disaster and widespread crop blights, former pilot Cooper must leave his family behind to embark on a perilous space mission. Along with a team of researchers, he travels through a wormhole near Saturn in search of a new home for humanity. The crew faces difficult choices and the extreme effects of time dilation as they explore potentially habitable planets in a distant galaxy.

Dad's Preview: This story follows NASA pilot Cooper who must travel through space (and time) to find a new world for Earth's population. This worm-hole spanning epic is packed with action and danger, but it is also grounded, thanks to some personal moments. The lead actors are real professionals, namely McConaughey, Hathaway and Chastain. The end will warm your heart and perhaps give you a little more hope about the future of the human race.

Warner Bros. Pictures, Legendary Pictures, Syncopy Inc., Lynda Obst Prod.;
Paramount Pictures

For Love. For Honor. For Mankind.

Starring: Bruce Willis, Billy Bob Thornton, Ben Affleck, Liv Tyler, Will Patton, Steve Buscemi, Owen Wilson, Michael Duncan Clark, Peter Stomare

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★☆☆☆ - good

"Damage? Total, sir. It's what we call a global killer. The end of mankind. Doesn't matter where it hits. Nothing would survive, not even bacteria." - Dan Truman, to the President

Why watch this? This testosterone-fest is fun and exciting. Willis is perfect as the tough wildcatter who bucks up and saves the freakin' day.

Plot Summary: When a giant asteroid is discovered on a collision course with Earth, NASA enlists the help of a deep-core drilling team. These blue-collar workers must undergo rigorous training to become astronauts. The plan is to plant a nuclear bomb deep inside the asteroid and destroy it. Their mission faces harrowing challenges, including landing on the asteroid, deadly rock storms, as a limited amount of time to save humanity.

Dad's Preview: I have several friends who protest mightily that this action flick is not more prominently valued on Dad's lists. Well, I can only trust my heart. This flick is fine, heroic, good in many ways, but lacks the uniqueness I require to elevate it. It was a bit too predictable. The same year's Deep Impact was more believable. But, hey, don't let that stop you. Please see it, it IS fun... and bring lots of popcorn.

Touchstone Pictures, Jerry Bruckheimer Films, Valhalla Motion Pictures;
Buena Vista Pictures Dist.

250,000 miles from home, the hardest thing to face... is yourself.

Starring: Sam Rockwell, Kevin Spacey, Dominique McElligott, Kaya Scodelario, Benedict Wong, Adrienne Shaw, Matt Berry

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ - great

"I'm here to keep you safe, Sam. I want to help you." – GERTY

Why watch this? This film starts out one way, then twists around into something totally new.

Plot Summary: Sam Bell is a lonely astronaut who is nearing the end of his three-year contract working on a lunar mining base. He longs to return to Earth to see his wife and daughter, but as the time for his departure approaches, he begins experiencing strange hallucinations. After a lunar rover accident, Sam awakens to find unsettling truths about his mission and his own identity.

Dad's Preview: What does it mean to be human? This film takes place on the moon, where a single astronaut, Sam, works for a mining operation, sending helium-3 back to Earth. His only company is a robot named GERTY. Eventually, the solitude starts to get to him and begins messing with his head. Sam Rockwell's amazing solo performance should have received an Oscar nomination.

Liberty Films, Xingu Films, Limelight; Sony Pictures Classics, Stage 6 Films

Fight Evil With Evil

Starring: Vin Diesel, Radha Mitchell, Cole Hauser, Keith David, Lewis Fitz-Gerald, Claudia Black, Rhiana Griffith

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ - great

"All you people are so scared of me. Most days I'd take that as a compliment. But it ain't me you gotta worry about now." - Riddick

Why watch this? This is one hell of a sci-fi film. Strong female characters, flying creatures and introducing the smoldering Vin Deisel.

Plot Summary: A space transport ship carrying crew and passengers, including a dangerous criminal, crashes on a desolate planet where it is perpetually day due to three orbiting suns. The crash kills most of the passengers, leaving a small group of survivors, including the pilot, the criminal, a bounty hunter, a holy man, and a young girl. They discover that the planet's seemingly lifeless exterior hides a terrifying secret: a deadly species of creatures that emerge to hunt in the darkness of the infrequent total eclipse.

Dad's Preview: A very thematically dark thriller, where a space junket becomes stranded on a remote desert planet. Their cargo includes a violent criminal named Riddick. As the danger grows, so does the need for anti-heroic Riddick's unique set of skills. This film is fast-paced, with well-realized characters. I do particularly admire that the threat, though quite vicious, appears to be an organic species, akin to 500 lb. locusts.

Gramercy Pictures, Interscope Communications; USA Films

From the director of Terminator 2 and Titanic

Starring: Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldana, Sigourney Weaver, Stephen Lang, Michelle Rodriguez, Giovanni Ribisi, Joel David Moore, Dileep Rao

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★☆ - near perfect

"Everything is backwards now, like out there is the true world, and in here is the dream." – Jake Sully

Why watch this? Visually, it's breath-taking, and so organically beautiful. It's a solid story, too.

Plot Summary: Set in the future on the moon Pandora, a paraplegic former Marine named Jake Sully joins a program where humans can inhabit genetically-engineered Na'vi bodies. These human/hybrid bodies, called Avatars, are used to explore the hazardous moon's environment. While living among the indigenous Na'vi people, Jake becomes deeply connected to their culture and, in particular, princess Neytiri. This connection leads him to question his mission and eventually side with the Na'vi in their struggle against military exploitation

Dad's Preview: So, what film project does James Cameron take on as a follow-up to Titanic (1997)? It's this futuristic CGI-fest set on a gorgeous moon-planet inhabited by native blue beings. Was he nuts? Nope. This film, many years in the making, is incredible. The story stings of European expansionism only on a grander and more devastating scale. The visual effects are ground-breaking.

Dune Ent., Ingenious Film Partners, Lightstorm Ent., 20th Century Fox

Pathetic Earthlings... Who Can Save You Now?

Starring: Sam J. Jones, Melody Anderson, Ornelia Muti, Max Von Sydow, Topol, Timothy Dalton, Brian Blessed, Peter Wyngarde

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★☆ - near perfect

"Pathetic earthlings. Hurling your bodies out into the void, without the slightest inkling of who or what is out here." – Emperor Ming

Why watch this? ... to enjoy some swashbuckling action, and jam with Queen!

Plot Summary: To escape Earth, which is being tormented by alien attacks, Flash Gordon, Dale Arden, and Dr. Hans Zarkov unwillingly embark on a space journey and land on the planet Mongo. There, they are immediately confronted by the tyrannical Emperor Ming the Merciless, whose desire is to destroy Earth. Ming's actions force the trio to join forces with the various inhabitants of Mongo to thwart the emperor's plan and save Earth from annihilation.

Dad's Preview: This is a colorful, campy fantasy film, offering a fitting homage to the old Flash Gordon serials of the 1930's. It's a welcome return to innocence. Von Sydow is perfectly cast as the ultra-evil Ming The Merciless. It may seem hokey at times, but never stops being fun. The movie's soundtrack was performed by Queen, and they do a stellar job of blending eerie, other-worldly sounds with good old hard rock!

Starling Productions, Famous Films; Universal Pictures

Giant Excitement! Giant Terror!

Starring: Akira Takarada, Nick Adams, Kumi Mizuno, Jun Tazaki, Akira Kubo, Yoshio Tsuchiya

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ - great

DML Top 50 #50 - Dad's Full (Spoiler) Review and Deep Dive of Monster Zero

"We need an exterminator, one that would drive away King Ghidorah. We need from you Monster Zero 1 and Monster Zero 2, Godzilla and Rodan." - The Controller from Planet X

Why watch this? ... 'cause it's one of my favorite Shōwa-era Godzilla flicks.

Plot Summary: Astronauts from Earth journey to a newly discovered "Planet X" where they encounter an advanced alien civilization, the Xiliens. The Xiliens reveal they are plagued by the three-headed space monster King Ghidorah, whom they call "Monster Zero". They request to borrow Earth's monsters, Godzilla and Rodan, to defeat King Ghidorah in exchange for a cure for cancer. After Earth agrees, the true intentions of the Xiliens begin to unfold as a series of suspicious events lead the astronauts to question the aliens' motives.

Dad's Preview: For some reason, a 400-foot radioactive Japanese dragon has occupied much of my thoughts and energies from age ten to, umm, present day. My top films list would feel incomplete without ONE Big G entry. This late-nite drive-in treasure features the nasty alien three-headed dragon, King Ghidorah. The movie takes us to space, to Japan and back again. To save the Earth, man and Earth's monsters will have to work together to figure out the alien's weakness. This hidden gem has every element a young boy needs to feed his beastly soul!

Toho Co., LTD

The question of whether or not we are alone in the universe has been answered.

Starring: Will Smith, Bill Pullman, Jeff Goldblum, Mary McDonnell, Randy Quaid, Robert Loggia, Margaret Colin, James Rebhorn, Harvey Fierstein

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★☆ - near perfect

"Perhaps it's fate that today is the Fourth of July, and you will once again be fighting for our freedom. Not from tyranny, oppression, or persecution, but from annihilation." - President Whitmore

Why watch this? The best alien invasion/action thriller ever!

Plot Summary: Large, mysterious alien spacecraft arrive on Earth and position themselves over major cities, initially causing wonder which swiftly turns to terror as they unleash destructive attacks. Humanity's attempts to counter the invaders' superior technology initially fail, forcing a desperate fight for survival and unity among a diverse group of individuals, including the President, a scientist, and a fighter pilot. This unlikely group must devise a plan to overcome the seemingly unstoppable alien threat.

Dad's Preview: All reservations I had about Will Smith quickly evaporated watching this exciting action flick. He's the perfect fighter pilot with lots of sass and determination. One by one we are introduced to the characters as the invasion tension ramps up. When it finally occurs, it's a cinema spectacle right up there with War of the Worlds (1953). Earth scrambles a desperate team to find a way to defeat the alien attacking force. Can they find a way to stop ships and weapons that out-match humanities best?

Centropolis Entertainment; 20th Century Fox

Oceans rise. Cities fall. Hope survives.

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

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ - great

"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.

Plot Summary: This science fiction disaster film centers on humanity's response to the discovery of a massive comet on a collision course with Earth. A team of astronauts embarks on a desperate mission to attempt to destroy the comet, while on Earth, individuals and governments grapple with the implications of a potential extinction-level event.

Dad's Preview: 1998 welcomed two flicks about a comet heading for Earth. Mere months before came Armageddon (1998), however, I prefer this film. This story focuses 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, is more realistic, less flashy, and I find that to be more heroic.

DreamWorks Pictures, Amblin Ent., The Manhattan Project, Zanuck/Brown Prod.;
Paramount Pictures

Houston, we have a problem.

Starring: Tom Hanks, Ed Harris, Bill Paxton, Kevin Bacon, Gary Sinise, Kathleen Quinlan, Chris Ellis, Joe Spano, Marc McClure, Xander Berkeley

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★☆ - near perfect

"We've never lost an American in space, we're sure as hell not gonna lose one on my watch! Failure is not an option." - Gene Kranz

Why watch this? It's important history, and so well done. I love that combo.

Plot Summary: Astronauts Jim Lovell, Fred Haise, and Jack Swigert facing a severe crisis when their spacecraft is crippled by an explosion en route to the moon. This incident forces NASA's mission control to abort the scheduled moon landing and work tirelessly to bring the crew back home. Faced with dwindling resources and technical challenges, the astronauts and the ground crew must rely on their ingenuity and teamwork to overcome the perilous situation and ensure their survival.

Dad's Preview: This is an extraordinary telling of a true event that narrowly escaped a horrible catastrophe. As astronauts and ground technicians face the missions issues, it becomes a case study in ingenuity where necessity becomes the "mother of invention". The all-star cast shines, and Ed Harris, as Flight Director Gene Kranz, is memorable as the man in charge on Earth.

Imagine Entertainment; Universal Pictures

The paratroopers of the future are here... and their enemies aren't HUMAN

Starring: Casper Van Dien, Dina Meyer, Denise Richards, Jake Busey, Neil Patrick Harris, Patrick Muldoon, Michael Ironside, Seth Gilliam

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ - great

"This is for all you new people. I have only one rule. Everybody fights, no one quits. If you don't do your job, I'll kill you myself! Welcome to the Roughnecks!" - Lt. Rasczak

Why watch this? Space marines vs. giant alien bugs - Count... Me... In!

Plot Summary: Set in Earth's distant future, Earth is attacked by an alien race, hell bent on annihilating our species. Everything is in flames. Earth's Federation sends our best space marines to destroy the invaders on their home turf. The aliens, called "bugs", prove to be more than a serious threat.

Dad's Preview: CGI technology was just ramping up, and I imagine that the filmmakers met and said, "Let's turn it loose and make something uniquely bad-ass!" This film is right up my alley. There are some very gross moments, bloody dismemberments, heads rolling, etc. So, yea, loved every second. For what it lacks in acting expertise, it more than makes up for in thrilling action.    

Touchstone Pictures; TriStar Pictures

In Space, No One Can Hear You Clean

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

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

"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.

Plot Summary: Earth is a trash-filled wasteland, centuries after humanity evacuated due to an uninhabitable environment on the ship Axiom. WALL-E, the last remaining trash-compacting robot, discovers a tiny living plant, initiating a chain of events that could potentially allow humanity to return to Earth. He follows a probe named EVE to the Axiom, where they must overcome challenges posed by the ship's autopilot.

Dad's Preview: 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 adventures of a lone, trash-gathering robot. His (we assume it is a "he") one simple job is to pick up trash and compact it into cubes. When a probe, named EVE, comes to earth, "she" encounters Wall-E. When Wall-E presents her with the first sign of plant life, things get crazy. It's ingenious, visibly stunning and so darn cute.  

Pixar Animatoin Studios; Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

Star Date 1986. How on Earth can they save the future?

Starring: William Shatner, Leonard Nimoy, Catherine Hicks, DeForest Kelley, and the rest of the Enterprise crew.

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

"They like you very much, but they are not the hell your whales." - Spock

Why watch this? This is the second best of the original crew's films... and there's whales.

Plot Summary: An alien probe threatens Earth by emitting destructive signals, leading Admiral Kirk and his crew to discover its communication is tied to extinct humpback whales. To save their future, they must travel back in time to 1986 San Francisco to retrieve a pair of these whales.

Dad's Preview: After Wrath of Kahn, expectations were very high. Star Trek III (1984) was good, not great. Thankfully, Lenoard Nimoy kept the directorial reins and gave us this wonderful film. Mostly set in 1985 Earth, there are many great moments where the futuristic crew has to acclimate to Earth of their past. The heart of the film is their quest to find two humpback whales and bring them forward in time to save the earth's future from its destructive nature. This film is beloved by Trekkies and regular folk alike. It's perfect.

Paramount Pictures

An entire universe. Once and for all.

Starring: Robert Downey Jr., Chris Hemsworth, Mark Ruffalo, Scarlett Johansson, Chris Evans, Benedict Cumberbatch, Don Cheadle, Tom Holland, Chadwick Boseman, Josh Brolin, Paul Bettany, Chris Pratt, Elizabeth Olsen, Zoe Saldana

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

"I offered a solution... With all six stones, I could simply snap my fingers; they would all cease to exist. I call that... mercy." – Thanos

Why watch this? Its span and scope are huge, yet it still has a lot of intimate moments.

Plot Summary: A powerful being known as Thanos seeks to collect six ancient and incredibly powerful artifacts called the Infinity Stones. He believes that by using the stones to eliminate half of all life in the universe, he can save it from inevitable destruction. The Avengers and their allies across the galaxy must band together to stop him, leading to the ultimate confrontation for the fate of existence.

Dad's Preview: Marvel teased Thanos, a very powerful intergalactic entity, for awhile. This film is the awesome pay off. Josh Brolin is excellent as the massive, purple tyrant, who is certainly evil, yet actor Josh Brolin gives him enough intelligence so that we can almost sympathize with his cause. I must point out Captain America, in black, sporting a full beard - made fans scream in the theaters. As the film builds, all the Marvel heroes and teams are assembled on Earth for a huge final battle to save the planet. The ending, which is perfectly setup, is a brutal gut-punch that leaves you wanting the sequel all the more.

Marvel Studios; Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

Avenge the fallen.

Starring: Robert Downey Jr., Chris Hemsworth, Mark Ruffalo, Scarlett Johansson, Chris Evans, Benedict Cumberbatch, Don Cheadle, Tom Holland, Chadwick Boseman, Josh Brolin, Chris Pratt

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

"I think you look great, Cap. As far as I'm concerned, that's America's ass." - Scott Lang

Why watch this? The perfect ending for the MCU's Phase Three.

Plot Summary: After the devastating events of Avengers: Infinity War (2018), the remaining Avengers must find a way to reverse Thanos' actions and restore balance to the universe. With the help of allies and a potential new method, they embark on a crucial mission to undo the chaos caused by the Mad Titan. This final stand will determine the fate of the universe and conclude a long-running story arc.

Dad's Preview: I can't say enough about this film, and those that preceded it. This amazing conclusion may be remembered as the last great Marvel Studio film. Our defeated heroes discover a way to reverse the damage done by Thanos. However, it only requires a little time travel. No problem! Back in time they venture to find the Infinity stones and restart our universe. But can humanity and their allies stop the legions of Thanos a second time? The ending will blow you away! Frankly, I am not sure where how another super-hero film top this one - it will appear as wasted effort compared to this.

Marvel Studios; Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

The show has been cancelled... But the adventure has only begun.

Starring: Tim Allen, Sigourney Weaver, Alan Rickman, Tony Shalhoub, Sam Rockwell, Daryl Mitchell, Enrico Colantoni, Missi Pyle, Jed Rees, Justin Long

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★☆ - near perfect

"Never give up. Never surrender!" - Commander Taggart

Why watch this? ... it's a parody of Star Trek's campiness, but has a heart of its own.

Plot Summary: The alumni cast of a canceled space opera television series, known for their roles on the spaceship NSEA Protector, find themselves stuck attending conventions and making other trivial appearances. However, their mundane lives are disrupted when they are approached by an alien race, the Thermians, who, having watched the old show, believe it to be real historical documents. The Thermians enlist the cast's help in battling a formidable reptilian warlord, forcing the actors to navigate a genuine interstellar conflict while pretending to be the heroes they once played.

Dad's Preview: An all-star cast makes this Trek parody a laugh-a-minute. I was pleasantly surprised by the comedic chops displayed by Allen and Weaver. Alan Rickman also slays it as the Spock-like character. However, a big surprise is Sam Rockwell, as red-shirted Crew Member #6 who is convinced he's going to die, because all red-shirts get killed in the TV episodes. He steals every scene!

Gran Via Productions; DreamWorks Pictures

Alien (1979), Director: Ridley Scott, rated R for sci-fi gore, violence, language

In space no one can hear you scream.

Starring: Tom Skerritt, Sigourney Weaver, Veronica Cartwright, Harry Dean Stanton, John Hurt, Ian Holm, Yaphet Kotto

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

DML Top 50 #24a - Dad's Full (Spoiler) Review and Deep Dive of Alien

"Wait a minute. If we let it in, the ship could be infected." - WO Ellen Ripley

Why watch this? It introduced cinema sci-fi to a xenomorph and Sigourney Weaver.

Plot Summary: The crew of a commercial space tug, Nostromo, is awakened from cryosleep to investigate a distress signal from a nearby planetoid. They discover a derelict spaceship and a lower chamber filled with strange eggs. When one of the eggs is disturbed, a deadly extraterrestrial creature comes aboard the Nostromo and proves to be quite lethal.

Dad's Preview: In the wake of Star Wars (1977), this film gave audiences a very different sort of alien encounter. Director Ridley Scott went to great lengths to create a futuristic space setting anchored in realism. The creature they encounter is what you might call a "worse case scenario" - deadly, unmerciful and all but indestructible. Sigourney Weaver, in her first starring role, steals every scene as a strong, confident, capable leader in a crisis. There are lots of scary moments as the crew tries to find the alien, only to realize that it is hunting them.

Brandywine Productions; 20th Century Fox

Aliens (1986), Director: James Cameron, rated R for sci-fi gore, violence, language

THIS TIME ITS WAR

Starring: Sigourney Weaver, Michael Biehn, Paul Reiser, Carrie Henn, Lance Henricksen, Bill Baxton, Jenette Goldstein

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

DML Top 50 #24b - Dad's Full (Spoiler) Review and Deep Dive of Aliens

"We better get back 'cause it will be night soon and they mostly come at night... mostly." - Newt

Why watch this? The Alien sequel brings the action and a lot more aliens to deal with.

Plot Summary: After surviving the alien attack, Ellen Ripley is rescued from deep space after 57 years in stasis. She reluctantly agrees to return to the planet where the creatures were first encountered when contact is lost with a terra-forming colony established there. Ripley and a group of Colonial Marines face an overwhelming threat as they attempt to rescue the colonists and battle, not one, but many aliens.

Dad's Preview: James Cameron took over as director and blew the lid off the franchise with this thrill-packed sci-fi mega-hit. Again, at its center is the very capable Ellen Ripley (Sigourney Weaver), but this time she's an observer on a mission accompanied by a unit of bad-ass space Marines. Their objective - find some missing colonists on the planet where Ripley and her crew first encountered the original xenomorph - Ripley and the marines have no idea what they are walking into. Fortunately, it's wonderful chaos for film audiences!

Brandywine Productions; 20th Century Fox

At the end of the universe lies the beginning of vengeance.

Starring: William Shatner, Ricardo Montalban, Leonard Nimoy, DeForest Kelley, James Doohan, George Takei, Walter Koenig, Nichelle Nichols, Bibi Besch, Merritt Butrick, Paul Winfield, Kirstie Alley

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

DML Top 50 #17 - Dad's Full (Spoiler) Review and Deep Dive of Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan

"I haven't faced death. I've cheated death. I've tricked my way out of death and patted myself on the back for my ingenuity. I know nothing..." - James T. Kirk

Why watch this? This film recaptures the magic of the original series... and more.

Plot Summary: Set many years after the original series episode "Space Seed", Admiral James T. Kirk is feeling the effects of his age while overseeing a training cruise aboard the USS Enterprise. This routine mission becomes deadly when Kirk's old adversary, Khan Noonien Singh, escapes his exile and takes control of a Federation starship. Driven by a desire for revenge against Kirk, Khan sets a dangerous trap and seeks to acquire a powerful terraforming device known as Project Genesis.

Dad's Preview: The first film, Star Trek: The Motion Picture (1979), had its moments, but it dragged a little in its ode to nostalgia. This thriller was a pleasant surprise. It finally tapped into the true essence of the three main Enterprise officers: Kirk, Spock and McCoy - their familiar banter carries much of the film. The grandest of surprises was Ricardo Montalban, reprising his role as Khan, a super intelligent being, whom Kirk sent into exile years ago. Khan will have his revenge on Admiral Kirk, spouting Melville all the way. It's hard to find a fault with this superb, exciting flick. I can still hear the echoes of Trekkies rejoicing.

Paramount Pictures

A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away...

Starring: Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Alec Guinness, Peter Cushing, Anthony Daniels, Kenny Baker, Peter Mayhew, David Prowse, James Earl Jones

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

DML Top 50 #10a - Dad's Full (Spoiler) Review and Deep Dive of Star Wars

"Hokey religions and ancient weapons are no match for a good blaster at your side, kid." – Han Solo

Why watch this? This is the film that started everything: Jedis. Wookies. Skywalkers. Lucas. Ford. Industrial Light & Magic.

Plot Summary: A young farm boy, Luke Skywalker, gets swept up in a galactic rebellion after discovering a message from a captured princess. With the help of a wise mentor, a roguish pilot, his furry co-pilot, and two droids, Luke embarks on a mission to rescue the princess and join the fight against the oppressive Galactic Empire. This unlikely band of heroes must confront the Empire's powerful new weapon, the Death Star.

Dad's Preview: The premise seemed childish to me, and at age 15, I was focused on raunchy teen films, not kid movies. That all melted away when I begrudgingly sat through Star Wars with my niece and nephew. The film's heart is young Luke Skywalker, a boy from a farm who longs to escape his "boring" existence. He wants to get out there and join the fight against the galaxy's evil Empire. That young farm boy, literally, was me. Sure the aliens and space battles are great sci-fi, but it's the characters, and how relatable they are to everyday folks, that makes it such a great film. It would blow up the box office, sell zillions of toys and such, and bring in the needed cash for Lucas to make an even better Part 2.

Lucasfilm Ltd.; 20th Century Fox

The Star Wars Saga Continues

Starring: Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Billy Dee Williams, Frank Oz, Anthony Daniels, Kenny Baker, Peter Mayhew, David Prowse, James Earl Jones

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

DML Top 50 #10b - Dad's Full (Spoiler) Review and Deep Dive of The Empire Strikes Back

"Size matters not. Look at me. Judge me by my size, do you? Hmm?" - Master Yoda

Why watch this? It's bigger, better, and more emotionally impactful than its predecessor.

Plot Summary: Three years after the destruction of the Death Star, the Rebel Alliance is forced to flee their base on the ice planet Hoth when it's discovered and attacked by the Galactic Empire. As Darth Vader relentlessly pursues the Rebellion across the galaxy, Luke Skywalker trains with Jedi Master Yoda, while Han Solo, Princess Leia, and Chewbacca seek refuge and repairs for the Millennium Falcon.

Dad's Preview: After the surprising (and record-breaking) success of Star Wars (1977), George Lucas had a much bigger budget for the sequel, and the result is a better film. It was wise to continue to focus on the characters, even with more advanced special-effects. The stakes are higher in this darker and more mature film. Luke is mentally called to leave the rebellion to become a Jedi under Master Yoda. Han and Leia seek refuge in Cloud City with Han's old pirate pal, Lando Calrissian. Our space-hopping heroes face real dangers and betrayals. They suffer dearly, as the evil Empire tightens its grip on the rebel's efforts. As the credits rolled, we could hardly wait for this saga's final chapter. 

Lucasfilm Ltd.; 20th Century Fox

The Empire Falls...

Starring: Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Billy Dee Williams, Frank Oz, Anthony Daniels, Kenny Baker, Peter Mayhew, David Prowse, James Earl Jones, Ian McDiarmid

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★☆ - near perfect

DML Top 50 #10c - Dad's Full (Spoiler) Review and Deep Dive of Return of the Jedi

"I've accepted the truth that you were once Anakin Skywalker, my father." - Luke, after he surrenders to Darth Vader

Why watch this? It successfully rounds out the Star Wars trilogy!

Plot Summary: Following the rescue of Han Solo from Jabba the Hutt, the Rebel Alliance learns of a new, more powerful Death Star under construction. To strike a crucial blow against the Galactic Empire, the Rebellion plans a daring attack on the incomplete station and its shield generator on the Forest Moon of Endor. While the Rebel fleet engages the Imperial forces in a fierce space battle, Luke Skywalker confronts Darth Vader and the Emperor, hoping to redeem his father.

Dad's Preview: This trilogy finale delivers a tour de force of science fiction action. We finally get to meet Darth Vader's superior, the powerful and demented Emperor. He's more than a match for Luke and his novice Jedi powers. Can the rag-tag band of rebels defeat the massive space army of the Empire? There are a lot of great moments in the final film (the opening sequence with Jaba The Hutt; Luke's final confrontation with the Emperor). However, the space battles are too busy, and I really wanted less Ewoks and more Wookies. This film is one thing though - a must see for all Star Wars fans.  

Lucasfilm Ltd.; 20th Century Fox