Honor made him a man. Courage made him a hero. History made him a Legend

Starring: Liam Neeson, Jessica Lange, John Hurt, Tim Roth, Eric Stoltz, Andrew Keir, Brian Cox, Brian McCardie, Gilbert Martin, Jason Flemyng, Ewan Stewart

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★☆☆☆ - good

"Honor is... what no man can give you and none can take away. Honor is a man's gift to himself." - Roy MacGregor to his sons

Why watch this? It's sometimes nice to watch the bad guy get what's coming.

Plot Summary: In 1713 Scotland, Robert Roy MacGregor leads his village as a man of honor and fairness. He borrows money from the local Marguess of Montrose to buy cattle. Montrose is a vile man accustomed to exploiting his people and profiting from the skills of his relative, Archibald Cunningham. Cunningham lures in competitors with his dainty, effeminate mannerisms, then cuts them down with deadly swordplay. When Rob Roy refuses to falsely testify against one of Montrose's enemies, the cattle money is stolen, Roy's farm is attacked.

Dad's Preview: The best part of this medieval adventure is Roy's journey for revenge. We cheer for him, and fully enjoy how he metes out justice upon those who certainly deserve it. Think of this fine film as a poor man's Braveheart (1995), long on Scottish lore and lessons, but a little short on epic pageantry.

United Artists; MGM/UA Dist. Company

Two cops on the take just made the biggest mistake of their lives. They framed An Innocent Man

Starring: Tom Selleck, F. Murray Abraham, Laila Robins, David Rasche, Richard Young, Elizabeth MacRae, Paul Frees

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★☆☆☆ - good

"Rainwood... you know who you are? You are an ex-convict on parole, and you are owned by the state! The state believes the police! Not the ex-convict! Always!" - Det. Mike Parnell

Why watch this? When the crooked cops get what's coming, it's sooo satisfying!

Plot Summary: Jimmie Rainwood, a law-abiding airplane mechanic, has his life irrevocably altered when he is framed for a crime he didn't commit by two corrupt police officers. He is wrongly convicted and sent to prison, where he must adapt to the brutal prison environment to survive. After being paroled, Rainwood seeks to clear his name and expose the corrupt officers who orchestrated his incarceration.

Dad's Preview: My buddy Kev needs one thing in a movie: bloody revenge. This is one of his favorites. Jimmy Rainwood, who is wrongfully imprisoned by two dirty police officers wants his revenge. Being a good man, he does not want to kill anyone, but in the slammer, you have to kill to earn respect. When Jimmy is released, he's a different person... and it's time for some payback. Selleck and F. Murray Abraham deliver superb performances.

Touchstone Pictures; Silver Screen Partners IV, Interscope Comm.; Buena Vista Dist.

A game nobody survives. But Schwarzenegger has yet to play.

Starring: Arnold Schwarzenegger, María Conchita Alonso, Yaphet Kotto, Richard Dawson, Jim Brown, Jesse Ventura

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★☆ - near perfect

"Americans love television... They love game shows, they love wrestling, they love sports and violence. So what do we do? We give 'em what they want! We're number one, Ben, that's all that counts, believe me." - Killian

Why watch this? This is a thrilling, dystopian film you will not forget.

Plot Summary: In a dystopian future, a wrongfully accused police officer named Ben Richards is forced to participate in a deadly reality television game show called The Running Man. On the show, convicts, known as Runners, must evade professional killers called Stalkers in a battle for their freedom and survival.

Dad's Preview: Arnold was quite the box-office terminator in the 90's. This futuristic film, adapted from the Stephen King novel, is one of his best. The titular game show pits political captives against brutal gladiators. As each captive dies, the bets, and ratings, get higher. This is the textbook definition of a futuristic thriller. Arnold is great, and I was really impressed with Richard Dawson's performance as the corrupt game show host. 

Braveworld Productions, Taft Ent. Pictures; TriStar Pictures

They took his daughter. He'll take their lives.

Starring: Liam Neeson, Maggie Grace, Famke Janssen, Katie Cassidy, Leland Orser, Jon Gries, David Warshofsky, Holly Valance, Xander Berkeley, Oliver Rabourdin, Arben Bajraktaraj

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ - great

"... what I do have are a very particular set of skills, skills I have acquired over a very long career. Skills that make me a nightmare for people like you. If you let my daughter go now, that'll be the end of it. I will not look for you, I will not pursue you. But if you don't, I will look for you, I will find you, and I will kill you." - Bryan Mills

Why watch this? I mean, c'mon. You don't kidnap Liam Neeson's anything, and expect to live for long!

Plot Summary: Bryan Mills is a retired CIA operative who attempts to reconnect with his daughter, Kim. His worst fears become a reality when Kim and her friend are abducted by human traffickers during a vacation in Paris. With time running out, Bryan utilizes his specialized skills and experience to track down the kidnappers and rescue his daughter.

Dad's Preview: Without giving too much away... There's these bad guys, and they kidnap a teenage girl, whose father just happens to be a guy with special skills. Yeah, skills that enable him to find them, torture them, cause them pain, and eventually kill them, like the dogs they are. And he's got the entire theater cheering at every painful, bone-cracking, bloody moment. I feel these flicks are a form of needed catharsis. So much of our world, and how it metes out punishment for crimes, is unfair and favors the corrupt rich and powerful. We commoners love someone who operates out of the simple principal of right and wrong. AND - possesses the lack of hesitation, the brutal quickness, and the absence of remorse required to give these scumbags the death they deserve. No courts. No money. No politicians. Just simple JUSTICE. Bang, Bang, you have been found unworthy to live.

EuropaCorp, M6 Films, Grive Prod., Canal+, TPS Star, M6; EuropaCorp Dist.

Revenge is all he has left.

Starring: Keanu Reeves, Michael Nyqvist, Alfie Allen, Adrianne Palicki, Bridget Moynahan, Dean Winters, Lance Reddick, Toby Leonard Moore, Ian McShane, John Leguizamo, Willem Dafoe

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ - great

"Well... John wasn't exactly the Boogeyman. He was the one you sent to kill the fucking Boogeyman." – Viggo Tarasov

Why watch this? Reeves finally found the project that would resurrect his career... with a bang.

Plot Summary: John Wick, a retired hitman, is grieving the loss of his wife. A final gift from her, a puppy, helps him find a new purpose. However, his past catches up to him when a group of Russian gangsters break into his home, stealing his car and killing the puppy, forcing him back into the criminal underworld he left behind. Seeking vengeance, John embarks on a brutal rampage against those who wronged him.

Dad's Preview: John Wick is a very skilled hitman. When he decided to "retire", his former employer's came for him. They almost kill him, then, holy crap, they killed his dog. The rest of the movie, which make no mistake is a graphic tale of bloody revenge, is John's resurrection as an assassin. Reeves is at his sullen best as the murderer-gone-straight whose past won't let him move on. I particularly enjoyed Ms. Perkins, a ruthless hit-woman angling to get her share, and Mr. Winston, aptly portrayed by the crusty Ian McShane. You're gonna need a calculator for the body count on this one.

Thunder Road Pictures, 87Eleven Productions, MJW Films,
DefyNite Films; Summit Ent.

Revenge is a Meal Best Served Cold

Starring: Denzel Washington, Dakota Fanning, Christopher Walken, Giancarlo Giannini, Radha Mitchell, Marc Anthony, Rachel Ticotin

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ - great

"A man can be an artist ... in anything, food, whatever. It depends on how good he is at it. Creasey's art is death. He's about to paint his masterpiece." – Rayburn

Why watch this?  Mr. Washington excels as a man, with special skills, that drug dealers should not have messed with.

Plot Summary: John Creasy, a burnt-out former CIA operative, reluctantly takes a job as a bodyguard for a young girl named Pita in Mexico City. He initially struggles with his past and alcoholism, but a bond slowly develops between him and Pita, bringing a sense of purpose back into his life. However, their connection is brutally severed when Pita is kidnapped in a violent incident that leaves Creasy gravely wounded, prompting him to seek vengeance against those responsible.

Dad's Preview: Denzel, one of this generation's great actors and leading men, easily transitioned into action flicks. He portrays John Creasy, a specialist with "security" skills who is hired as a bodyguard for a young girl, Lupita, living in Mexico City. He's just warming up to her, when she is kidnapped. The remainder of the film is Creasy's rescue mission. He is a one-man destroyer, dishing out brutal interrogations and bloody justice without prejudice. Which, by the way, IS AWESOME!

Fox 2000 Pictures, New Regency Prod., Scott Free Prod,; 20th Century Fox

Part man. Part machine. All cop.

Starring: Peter Weller, Karen Allen, Daniel O'Herlihy, Ronny Cox, Kurtwood Smith, Miguel Ferrer, Robert DoQui, Ray Wise, Paul McCrane, Lee de Broux

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

"Let me make something clear to you. He doesn't have a name. He has a program. He's product." - Bob Morton

Why watch this? It's an excellent sci-fi film about a possible future of law enforcement.

Plot Summary: In a crime-ridden future Detroit, the Omni Consumer Products (OCP) corporation privatizes the police force, seeking to implement their advanced robotic officers to control the city's rampant criminal activity. When police officer Alex Murphy is brutally murdered by a gang, OCP uses his body to create RoboCop, a cyborg law enforcer programmed to serve the public trust. As RoboCop patrols the city and fights crime, memory fragments of his past life as Alex Murphy begin to resurface, leading him on a path to investigate his own death and the corruption within OCP.

Dad's Preview: In this shockingly violent film there are two competing companies striving to secure financial backing to create a "robotic policeman". One company creates a full robot. The other creates a cyborg - part machine, part man. When the Robocop experiences lingering memories, it causes a conflict between his company's implanted directives and a desire to protect humanity. Peter Weller is compelling as the RoboCop. Another strength of the film is its villains, played delightfully by Ronny Cox, Kurtwood Smith and Miguel Ferrer.  

Orion Pictures

A Hero Will Rise.

Starring: Russell Crowe, Joaquin Phoenix, Connie Nielsen, Oliver Reed, Richard Harris, Derek Jacobi, Djimon Hounsou, David Schofield, Tomas Arana

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★☆ - near perfect

"Father to a murdered son, husband to a murdered wife. And I will have my vengeance, in this life or the next." - Maximus

Why watch this? It's an award-winning film featuring Russell Crowe at his manly best.

Plot Summary: Maximus is a respected Roman general who is betrayed and cast into slavery when the power-hungry Commodus seizes the throne. Maximus is forced to become a gladiator and fight for his life, but his determination to avenge his family and the former emperor fuels his rise through the ranks of the arena. His journey becomes intertwined with a quest for justice against the corrupt Commodus and the hope of restoring honor and freedom to Rome.

Dad's Preview: Not since the epic Spartacus (1960) has a film captured the life of a gladiator with such brutal elegance. Russell Crowe is excellent as Maximus, as are the other gladiators. That said, I must confess that I found Phoenix's portrayal of Commodus very tiring. And because of that, I enjoyed the film's ending immensely!

Universal Pictures, Scott Free Productions, Red Wagon Ent.; DreamWorks Dist.

An offer you can't refuse.

Starring: Marlon Brando, Al Pacino, James Caan, Richard Castellano, Robert Duvall, Sterling Hayden, John Marley, Richard Conte, Diane Keaton

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

"I'm gonna make him an offer he can't refuse. Okay? I want you to leave it all to me." - Don Corleone

Why watch this? This is ground-zero for the films about the Italian mobsters.

Plot Summary: The story follows the powerful Corleone crime family in the post-WWII era, led by the aging patriarch, Don Vito Corleone. His youngest son, Michael, initially seeks to avoid the family business and live a legitimate life after serving in the war. However, a series of challenging events and shifting alliances force Michael to confront his family's legacy and his own destiny within the criminal underworld.

Dad's Preview: The first two Godfather films are at the top of all most movie lists. I resisted for quite a while. I mean, the mob is being glamorized - the Corleone family are portrayed as the "good guys". But, it is a fact that this kind of mob conduct was a real thing, and I am all about historical films. It's a great, award-winning effort. Brando and Pacino are excellent; the supporting cast is outstanding (Duvall, Caan, Keaton). It deserves its place at the top. I do love it, too - bloody violence and horse heads included.

Alfran Productions; Paramount Pictures

... an army of one.

Starring: Clint Eastwood, Chief Dan George, Sondra Locke, Bill McKinney, John Vernon, Sam Bottoms

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

"You gonna pull them pistols or just whistle Dixie?" -  Josey Wales

Why watch this? Star/Director Eastwood hits his stride with this memorable Western.

Plot Summary: A Missouri farmer's family is murdered by pro-Union militants during the Civil War. Driven by a desire for vengeance, he joins a Confederate guerrilla band, becoming a feared gunfighter. After the war, he refuses to surrender and becomes an outlaw pursued by bounty hunters and soldiers. He must navigate the treacherous landscape of the post-Civil War West, encountering allies and enemies as he seeks to survive and find a new path for his life.

Dad's Preview: In a performance chock full of iconic quotes, Clint Eastwood created one of the great Westerns, and characters, of all time. Wales is a man driven by revenge, but also justice, as he hunts the men responsible for murdering his wife and son. It is set immediately after the Civil war when gangs of ex-Union soldiers roamed the West using their power, and the lack of valid law enforcement, to murder and pillage. The scene where Wales parlays with Chief Ten Bears is one of my all-time favorites.

The Malpaso Company; Warner Bros.

There were three men in her life. One to take her... one to love her... and one to kill her.

Starring: Claudia Cardinale, Henry Fonda, Jason Robarbs, Charles Bronson, Woody Strode, Cabriele Ferzetti, Jack Elam

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

"He's whittlin' on a piece of wood. I've got a feeling when he stops whittlin'... Somethin's gonna happen." - Cheyenne

Why watch this? This Leone Western is as good as they get.

Plot Summary: Jill McBain, a former prostitute turned landowner, arrives in the frontier town of Flagstone only to find her new husband and his children murdered. A ruthless assassin, Frank, working for railroad baron Morton, is responsible for the murders and has framed the bandit Cheyenne. A mysterious man, known only as Harmonica, also arrives seeking revenge against Frank. Jill, Cheyenne, and Harmonica form an uneasy alliance as they attempt to hold onto the valuable land that Morton wants for his railroad.

Dad's Preview: Sergio Leone directed many spaghetti Westerns, but this is by far his magnum opus. There are many Western themes present, but the line between good guys and bad guys is blurred enough to really make it interesting. The film is large and epic, and Charles Bronson is wonderful as the "harmonica player". The Morricone soundtrack is top notch, even by his standards.

Euro Int'l Films, Rafran Cinematografica, Finanzia San Marco; Paramount Pictures

Detective Harry Callahan. He doesn't break murder cases. He smashes them.

Starring: Clint Eastwood, Andy Robinson, Harry Guardino, Reni Santoni, John Vernon, John Larch, Woodrow Parfrey

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

"You've got to ask yourself one question: Do I feel lucky? Well, do ya... punk?" – Harry Callahan

Why watch this? ... for Eastwood's performance - a stoic man-of-action with an engaging charisma.

Plot Summary: Inspector "Dirty" Harry Callahan is a no-nonsense San Francisco cop with unorthodox methods. He's assigned to track down a deranged serial killer nicknamed "Scorpio" who is holding the city ransom with a series of murders. Callahan must navigate bureaucratic obstacles and legal limitations to bring the psychopathic killer to justice, even if it means bending the rules.

Dad's Preview: Before Dirty Harry, Eastwood was mostly known for his Spaghetti Westerns. This film boosted his journey to mega-stardom. Harry is the detective that gets the worse assignments. Why? Because he gets the dirty jobs done - his way. Here, he's tasked with stopping a killer called "Scorpio" (convincingly played by Andy Robinson). I was surprised to find him so likeable - the man does exude an irresistible charm.

The Malpaso Company; Warner Bros.

THE FUTURE BELONGS TO THE MAD

Starring: Tom Hardy, Charlize Theron, Nicholas Hoult, Hugh Keays-Byrne, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, Riley Keough

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

"If I'm gonna die, I'm gonna die historic on the Fury Road!" - Nux

Why watch this? I never saw this greatness coming, but there's no question - it's great!

Plot Summary: In a post-apocalyptic world where resources are scarce, Max is captured and enslaved by the tyrannical Immortan Joe. Simultaneously, Imperator Furiosa, one of Joe's lieutenants, defies him by absconding with five women, leading to a relentless pursuit across the desert. Max eventually becomes involved with Furiosa's escape, forging an uneasy alliance as they battle Joe and his forces in a desperate struggle for freedom and a better life.

Dad's Preview: Instant classic. As a huge fan of the 80's Mel Gibson Mad Max films, I really thought the franchise was over, and I was OK with that. Then comes this tour de force, again from the talents of director George Miller. It blows you away with each action sequence. Tom Hardy amply fills Mr. Gibson's steady shoes. That said, it is Charlize Theron who steals the film as Furiosa. She is one bad-ass survivor. This epic is visually stunning. Let's hope this is the first film in another trilogy for Max and company.

Village Roadshow Pictures, RapPac-Dune Ent., Kennedy Miller Mitchell; Warner Bros.

Fear can hold you prisoner. Hope can set you free.

Starring: Tim Robbins, Morgan Freeman, Bob Gunton, William Sadler, Clancy Brown, Gil Bellows, James Whitmore

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

"Yeah, right. That's the way it is. It's down there and I'm in here. I guess it comes down to a simple choice, really. Get busy livin' or get busy dyin'." - Andy Dufresne

Why watch this? It's simply a modern classic - one of the best prison films, hell films, ever made.

Plot Summary: Andy Dufresne is banker wrongly convicted of murdering his wife and her lover. Sentenced to life in the harsh Shawshank State Penitentiary, Andy must navigate the brutality of prison life, including violence from guards and inmates alike. Despite the grim realities of his confinement, Andy finds friendship with a fellow prisoner, Red, and maintains hope through sheer resilience and determination.

Dad's Preview: There's a reason Shawshank is so over-played on TV. Based on a Stephen King novella, this is the ultimate film about wrongful imprisonment, the brutalities of prison, and one man's determination to escape. We each become Andy Dufresne, and he battles, through every trial and inch of pain, to finally gain his freedom. Morgan Freeman's steady narration soothes you like manna from heaven.

Castle Rock Entertainment; Columbia Pictures

It's a hell of a thing, killing a man

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

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

"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? This is Eastwood's masterpiece, a testament to a lifetime in the film business.

Plot Summary: Set in the late 1800s, this Western follows William Munny, a retired, once-feared gunslinger turned struggling hog farmer. When news of a bounty for the killing of two cowboys who disfigured a prostitute reaches him, Munny, needing money for his children, reluctantly takes on the job. He teams up with his old partner Ned Logan and a young, aspiring gunfighter known as the Schofield Kid to confront the harsh realities of violence and the changing West, blurring the lines between hero and villain.

Dad's Preview: This gem is the culmination two key factors: Eastwood's vast experience and clout in directing, and a tonal shift in Westerns to be more realistic. An aging widower (and ex-gunman) has no choice but to perform one last dirty job to get badly needed money to support his kids. However, when pushed too hard, his old ways resurface. Eastwood and Freeman are superb, but Gene Hackman's performance, as the notorious sheriff Little Bill, steals every scene. It's brutal and real and worth your time.

Malpaso Productions; Warner Bros.

Here comes the bride

Starring: Uma Thurman, Lucy Liu, Daryl Hannah, David Carradine, Julie Dreyfus, Chiaki Kuriyama, Michael Parks,  Vivica A. Fox, Michael Madsen, Gordon Liu, Michael Bowen

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

"I can tell you, with no ego, this is my finest sword. If, on your journey, should you encounter God, God will be cut." – Hattori Hanzo

Why watch this? Uma Thurman is a tour de force!

Plot Summary: A former assassin, left for dead on her wedding day, awakens from a coma and embarks on a global quest for revenge. Seeking to eliminate those who betrayed her, she confronts members of the Deadly Viper Assassination Squad one by one. The first volume culminates in a brutal showdown in Tokyo, where she faces a prominent former colleague turned criminal underworld leader.

Dad's Preview: I was not a huge Tarantino fan until this. Yes, it romanticizes murderous assassins. It is violent. Too many of the characters are beautiful. Yet, it works. This is definitely a woman's story filled with strong ladies, all just as deadly as their male counterparts. The fight scenes are choreographed so perfectly. The final battle at the House of Blue Leaves restaurant alone is worth the price of admission!  I was impressed by Chiaki Kuriyama as femme fatale GoGo Yubari.

A Band Apart; Miramax Films

The bride is back for the final cut

Starring: Uma Thurman, David Carradine, Michael Madsen, Daryl Hannah, Gordon Liu, Michael Parks, Bo Svenson, Larry Bishop, Clark Middleton

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

"That woman deserves her revenge, and we deserve to die… But then again, so does she. So I guess we'll just see... won't we?" – Budd

Why watch this? ... the bride's showdown with Elle in Budd's double-wide. Keep an eye out.

Plot Summary: Following her murderous spree in the first film, The Bride continues her quest for revenge against the remaining members of the Deadly Viper Assassination Squad and their enigmatic leader, Bill. Her journey involves confronting former colleagues, recalling her intensive martial arts training under a strict master, and facing unexpected twists related to her past with Bill. Ultimately, The Bride seeks to complete her mission and find a new beginning away from her violent past.

Dad's Preview: The conclusion to this tale of bloody revenge does keep pace with Part I. We're shown the Bride enduring the tough training under the master, Pai Mai. It's this very training that helps her survive being buried alive. Bill's motivations are explained. I really love the finale. Instead of a big, elaborate showdown, it begins as an intimate, civil discussion between two former lovers looking out for their child. They just happen to both be paid killers. It's personal, and that makes it all the more engaging.

A Band Apart; Miramax Films

40 Stories Of Sheer Adventure!

Starring: Bruce Willis, Alan Rickman, Alexander Gudunov, Bonnie Bedelia, Reginald VelJohnson, De'voreaux White, Paul Gleason, William Atherton

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

DML Top 50 #47 - Dad's Full (Spoiler) Review and Deep Dive of Die Hard

"Do you really think you have a chance against us, Mister Cowboy?" - Hans Gruber

Why watch this? It's the action film by which all action films are compared.

Plot Summary: This crime story centers on New York City cop John McClane, who travels to Los Angeles to spend Christmas with his estranged wife and their children. While attending his wife's company Christmas party at the Nakatomi high-rise, criminals take over the building and hold everyone hostage, except for McClane who escapes detection. He then must single-handedly fight the criminals to save the hostages, including his wife.

Dad's Preview: The real genius (beside loveable, compelling lead actors; interesting supporting characters; a creative, fresh plot; perfect pacing; breath-taking special effects) is the relationship between the hero, NYC cop John McClane, and the criminal mastermind, Hans Gruber. It drives everything and both are equally charismatic and complex. It's action film 101 - and Die Hard is teaching the class.

Gordon Company, Silver Pictures; 20th Century Fox

Every man dies, not every man really lives.

Starring: Mel Gibson, Sophie Marceau, Patrick MaGoohan, Angus Macfadyen, Catherine McCormack, Brendan Gleeson, Peter Hanly, Ian Bannen, James Cosmo, David O'Hara

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

"Those men who bled the ground red at Falkirk fought for William Wallace. He fights for something that I never had. And I took it from him, when I betrayed him." - Robert the Bruce

Why watch this? This is a powerful film about historical Scotland and its hero, William Wallace.

Plot Summary: This story features William Wallace, a Scottish warrior who leads a rebellion against the tyrannical King Edward I of England. Wallace unites his people and fights for Scotland's independence, driven by personal tragedy and a desire for freedom. His bravery inspires a nation and leaves a lasting legacy in their struggle for freedom.

Dad's Preview: This is a great education. William Wallace leads the Scots striving for independence against King Edward I of England. It is an epic, bloody story full of battles, betrayals and death, yet you'll walk away inspired! The scenery and cinematography are beautiful, set in scenic Ireland. This was Gibson's second film to direct, and he garnered several Oscars including Best Director and Best Picture - well done, Mel.

Icon Productions, The Ladd Company; Paramount Pictures

The strangest trio ever to track a killer.

Starring: John Wayne, Kim Darby, Glenn Campbell, Robert Duvall, Jeremy Slate, Dennis Hopper, Strother Martin, Jeff Corey, John Fieldler

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

DML Top 50 #41 - Dad's Full (Spoiler) Review and Deep Dive of True Grit

"They say he has grit. I wanted a man with grit." - Mattie Ross

Why watch this? For his role as Rooster Cogburn, the Academy finally delivered Best Actor to John Wayne.

Plot Summary: A determined teenager, Mattie Ross, hires a gruff, one-eyed U.S. Marshal named Rooster Cogburn to track down Tom Chaney, the outlaw responsible for her father's murder. They are joined by a Texas Ranger, La Boeuf, also pursuing Chaney for a separate crime. Despite the Marshal's initial reluctance to allow Mattie on their dangerous journey into Indian Territory, her tenacity and courage earn her a place alongside the two lawmen

Dad's Preview: Wayne was in movies all his life, mostly Westerns. He finally won the Best Actor statuette for his role as the cantankerous, one-eyed, bounty hunter Rooster Cogburn. In the film, young Mattie Ross sets to avenging the death of her father. She hires Cogburn because he "has grit". A Texas Ranger joins in and they head into Indian Territory to find the wanted man. This wonderful film, at Wayne's high point, is engrossing, fun, and at times more violent than Wayne's previous oaters. There are many iconic film moments.

Hal B. Wallis; Paramount Pictures

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 Tale of the Christ

Starring: Charlton Heston, Haya Harareet, Jack Hawkins, Stephen Boyd, Hugh Griffith, Martha Scott, Cathy O'Donnell, Sam Jaffe

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

DML Top 50 #15 - Dad's Full (Spoiler) Review and Deep Dive of Ben-Hur

"We keep you alive to serve this ship. Row well, and live." - Quintus Arrius

Why watch this? It's epic scale is hard to comprehend in this CGI digital age.

Plot Summary: Judah Ben-Hur, a wealthy Jewish prince, is living a peaceful life in 1st-century Jerusalem. When his boyhood friend, Messala, now a Roman tribune, returns to the city, their reunion is marred by escalating tensions arising from their differing views on Roman rule. A misunderstanding leads to Ben-Hur's betrayal by Messala, resulting in his enslavement and a long journey towards finding justice and redemption.

Dad's Preview: This is one of the few films that still impacts me spiritually. The tale centers on a Jewish man's quest to destroy the Roman who devastated his life and family. It is set in Judea at the time of Christ. Its massive scope rivals even tops the early silent film by the great Cecile B. DeMille in 1925. There were 15,000 extras employed during filming. The chariot race segment is still breath-taking.

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer; Loew's Inc.

The Biggest, Roughest, Toughest ...and Most Beautiful Picture Ever Made!

Starring: John Wayne, Jeffrey Hunter, Vera Miles, Ward Bond, Natalie Wood, John Qualen, Olive Carey, Henry Brandon, Ken Curtis, Harry Carey Jr.

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

DML Top 50 #8 - Dad's Full (Spoiler) Review and Deep Dive of The Searchers

"Seems like he never learns there's such a thing as a critter that'll just keep comin' on. So we'll find 'em in the end, I promise you. We'll find 'em. Just as sure as the turnin' of the earth." – Ethan Edwards, referring to the Indians who kidnapped Debbie

Why watch this? Basically to watch the greatest Western ever made.

Plot Summary: Confederate veteran Ethan Edwards has returned to his brother's Texas homestead only to find it raided by Comanches, his family massacred, and his niece Debbie abducted. Fueled by a complex mix of hatred and a desire for vengeance, Ethan embarks on a years-long search with Debbie's adopted brother, and half-breed, Martin.

Dad's Preview: This is by far the most complex character in John Wayne's long, storied career. Set in the stark, beautiful desert landscape of Monument Valley, famous director John Ford masterfully delivers this Western odyssey filled with danger, tragedy, and two lost men - determined to rescue a kidnapped family relative, young Debbie. After years of making movies together, Ford knew Wayne could create a compelling, conflicted character, and not just play himself. Throw in our history's racism towards Native Americans, and you've got a powerful film. The final scene forever belongs to cinematic history. Wayne deserved the Oscar for Best Actor, in my opinion.

C.V. Whitney Pictures; Warner Bros.