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Dad's top
20 Sweet Revenge Films - Ranked!
Countdown from #20 to #1.
This
includes Dad's spoiler-free Mini-Preview!
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Honorable
Mention |
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Taken
(2008)
They took his
daughter. He'll take their lives.
Director: Pierre Morel, rated
R
  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.
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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. OK, I need a nap. |
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EuropaCorp, M6 Films, Grive Prod., Canal+,
TPS Star, M6;
EuropaCorp Dist.
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#20 Top |
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John Wick
(2014)
Revenge is all
he has left.
Director: Chad Stahelski, rated R for language and
intense violence
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.
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Dad's Preview:
John Wick is a very skilled, stoic hitman. When he decided to "retire",
his former employer's came for him. In their failed attempt to
rub him out, they kill his dog. Big mistake. The rest of the movie
is a graphic tale of bloody revenge, as
John resurrects his role as an assassin extraodinaire. Reeves
is at his sullen best as a murderer-gone-straight, whose past
won't let him move on. I particularly enjoyed Adrianne Palicki's
performance as Ms. Perkins, a
ruthless hit-woman angling to get her share. Then there is Ian McShane,
as Mr. Winston - I love that crusty old dude in
everything. For this one, you're gonna need a
calculator for the body count. Such are things around John Wick. |
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Thunder Road Pics, 87Eleven Productions,
MJW Films,
DefyNite
Films;
Summit Ent.
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#19 Top |
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Man on Fire
(2004)
Revenge is a
Meal Best Served Cold
Director: Tony Scott, rated R for language, violence
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.
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Dad's Preview:
Denzel, one of this generation's great actors and leading men, easily transitioned into action flicks.
In this action crime film, 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 personal rescue mission. He is a one-man
destroyer, dishing out brutal interrogations and
bloody justice without prejudice. Which, by the way,
IS
AWESOME! |
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Fox 2000 Pictures,
New Regency Prod.,
Scott Free Prod,;
20th Century Fox
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#18 Top |
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The Fugitive
(1993)
A
murdered wife. A one-armed man. An obsessed detective.
The chase begins.
Director: Andrew Davis, rated PG-13 for language
Starring: Harrison
Ford, Tommy Lee Jones, Sela Ward, Joe Pantoliano, Andreas
Katsulas, Jeroen Krabbé, Daniel Roebuck, Tom Wood
DML Rating:
★★★★★★★★★☆
- near perfect
"What
I want from each and every one of you is a hard-target search of
every gas station, residence, warehouse, farmhouse, henhouse,
outhouse and doghouse in that area." - Dep. Marshall Sam
Gerard
Why watch this?
This is a well-done action thriller. Jones and Ford are
excellent!
Plot Summary:
Dr. Richard Kimble is a respected surgeon who finds his wife
murdered in their home and claims the killer was a one-armed
man. Despite his protests, he is convicted of the murder, but
escapes from custody after a bus crash. As U.S. Marshal Sam
Gerard leads a relentless manhunt, Kimble endeavors to prove his
innocence by tracking down the true killer.
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Dad's Preview:
Adapted from the popular 1960's TV show,
The Fugitive, director
Andrew Davis gives us a superb film with
a tidy script. It is a real treat to watch Tommy Lee and Harrison square
off,
engaged in a desperate game of pursuer and prey. A respected
surgeon is wrongly accused of killing his wife.
He escapes (what a scene that is!), lays low, and covertly
starts his search for the real murderer. Hot on his trail is a tenacious US Marshall and his
crackerjack team. This is one helluva suspenseful crime
thriller. |
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Kopelson
Entertainment; Warner Bros.
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#17 Top |
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The Running Man
(1987)
A game nobody
survives. But Schwarzenegger has yet to play.
Director: Paul Michael Glaser, rated R strong
language, language
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.
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Dad's Preview:
Arnold was quite the box-office terminator in the 1990's. This
futuristic film, adapted from a
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, narcissistic gameshow host.
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Braveworld
Productions, Taft Ent. Pics;
TriStar Pictures
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#16 Top |
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Gladiator
(2000)
A Hero Will Rise.
Director: Ridley Scott, rated R for graphic, combat
violence
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.
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Dad's Preview: Not
since the epic
Spartacus
(1960) has a film captured the life of a gladiator with such
brutal elegance. Russell Crowe, at the high point of his
career, is excellent as Maximus. The other gladiators also
render strong performances, namely Djimon Hounsou. That said, I must confess that I found Phoenix's portrayal of Commodus
very tiring. And because of his irritating performance, I enjoyed the film's
ending all the more! |
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Universal
Pics, Scott Free Productions,
Red Wagon Ent.;
DreamWorks
Dist.
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#15 Top |
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The
Princess Bride (1987)
The story of a
man and a woman who lived happily ever after. Even though the
courtship almost killed them.
Director: Rob Reiner, rated PG
Starring: Cary Elwes,
Mandy Patinkin, Chris Sarandon, Christopher Guest, Wallace
Shawn, André the Giant, Robin Wright, Peter Faulk, Fred Savage
DML Rating:
★★★★★★★★★★
- perfect
"Hello, my name is Inigo
Montoya. You killed my father.
Prepare to die.”– Indigo
Montoya
Why watch this?
... True 'tis a fairy tale, but it's laced with wisdom adults
will enjoy.
Plot Summary:
The story unfolds as a grandfather reads a fantastical tale to
his sick grandson about a beautiful woman named Buttercup and
her true love, Westley. After Westley is believed lost at sea,
Buttercup is unwillingly betrothed to the nefarious Prince
Humperdinck. However, Buttercup is kidnapped by a trio of
outlaws, but is relentlessly pursued by a mysterious man in
black and Humperdinck himself, leading to a series of unexpected
encounters and adventures.
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Dad's Preview:
This wonder found me late in life, and long after its theatrical
debut. I could not believe how much I loved what I thought would
be a children's fairytale. You'd think I would learn. It's directed by Rob Reiner, and has an
almost Monty-Python-esc feel to it. Kids will love the action
and comedy, but
there's a lot of intelligent wit, too. Each scene is memorable
including small cameos from Billy Crystal and Wallace Shawn.
And be sure to keep an eye out for the R.U.S.es! |
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Act III
Communications, Buttercup Films;
20th Century Fox
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Genres:
Action-Romance,
Adv-Swordplay,
Comedy-Fantasy,
Fantasy-Adv,
Fantasy-Comedy,
Fantasy-FairyTale,
Fantasy-Heroic,
Fantasy-Sword-&-Sorcery,
Romance-Comedy,
Romance-Fantasy
Dad's Genres:
SNL-Alumni,
Sweet-Revenge |
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#14 Top |
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RoboCop
(1987)
Part man. Part machine. All cop.
Director: Paul Verhoeven, rated R for language, gory
violence
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.
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Dad's Preview:
In this shockingly violent film, set in a dystopian future, 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 part-human 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 hyper-cool RoboCop. A huge strength is
this flick's villains, played delightfully by Ronny Cox, Kurtwood
Smith and Miguel Ferrer. These guys are nasty.
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Arne Schmidt; Orion Pictures
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Genres:
Action-Crime,
Action-Sci-fi,
Animation-StopM-ClayM,
Comedy-Satire,
Crime-Cops,
Horror-Body,
Horror-Mad-Science,
Sci-fi-Dystopian,
Sci-fi-Future-Noir,
Sci-fi-X-Punk,
Thriller-Techno
Dad's Genres:
Slime-Time,
Sweet-Revenge |
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#13 Top |
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The Godfather (1972)
An offer you
can't refuse.
Director: Francis Ford
Coppola,
rated R for violence, language
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.
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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 undeniably 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. |
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Alfran
Productions; Paramount Pictures
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#12 Top |
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The Outlaw Josey Wales
(1976)
... an army of
one.
Director: Clint Eastwood, rated PG
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.
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Dad's Preview:
In a performance chock full of memorable scenes and 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
substantial law enforcement, to murder, rape and
pillage in the South. The scene where Wales parlays with Chief Ten Bears is
one of my all-time favorites. This contains all elements that
define a classic Western, then Clint adds superb, subtle
interactions, some for humor, some for impact. It's a
perfect film. |
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The Malpaso
Company; Warner Bros.
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#11 Top |
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Once Upon a Time in the West (1968)
There were three men in her life. One to take her... one
to love her... and one to kill her.
Director: Sergio Leone, rated PG-13 for Western
violence
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.
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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 the story very interesting. The film is large and epic, and
Charles Bronson is wonderful as the "harmonica player".
Then there's the steel-eyed killer, portrayed by the
great Henry Fonda, an actor who rarely played the
villain. The Ennio Morricone soundtrack is
top notch, even by his standards. |
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Euro Int'l Films,
Rafran Cinematografica,
Finanzia San Marco;
Paramount Pic
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#10 Top |
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Dirty
Harry (1971)
Detective Harry Callahan. He doesn't break murder cases.
He smashes them.
Director: Don Siegel, rated R for violence, language
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.
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Dad's Preview:
Before Dirty Harry, Eastwood was mostly known for his
Spaghetti Westerns. This film broadened his appeal and boosted his journey to mega-stardom. Harry
Callahan is the
detective that gets the worse assignments. Why? Because he gets the
dirty jobs done - his way. His theme song should be Dirty
Deeds Done Dirt Cheap. Anyway... he's tasked with stopping a
killer called the "Scorpio Killer" (convincingly played by Andy Robinson).
I was surprised to find Eastwood so likeable - the man does exude an
irresistible charm. |
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The
Malpaso Company; Warner Bros.
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#9 Top |
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Mad Max: Fury Road (2015)
THE FUTURE BELONGS
TO THE MAD
Director: George Miller, rated R for
violence, language
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.
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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
creator/director George Miller hatches this tour de force.
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, a badass she-warrior and survivor. This epic is visually stunning.
Let's hope this is the first film in another trilogy for Max and
company. |
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Village Roadshow
Pictures, RapPac-Dune
Ent., Kennedy
Miller
Mitchell;
Warner Bros.
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#8 Top |
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The Shawshank Redemption
(1994)
Fear can hold
you prisoner. Hope can set you free.
Director: Frank
Darabont, Rated R for language, prison violence
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.
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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 incarceration. We
each become Andy Dufresne, and he battles, through
every trial, cell search and inch of pain, to finally gain his freedom,
baptized in a warm downpour.
Morgan Freeman's portrayal of "Red", and his steady narration, soothes your
soul like manna from heaven. |
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Castle Rock
Entertainment;
Columbia Pictures
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#7 Top |
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Unforgiven (1992)
It's a hell of
a thing, killing a man
Director: Clint Eastwood, rated R for language,
Western violence
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.
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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. |
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Malpaso
Productions; Warner Bros.
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#6a Top |
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Kill Bill: Volume 1 (2003)
Here comes the
bride
Director: Quentin Tarantino, rated R for
violence/language
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.
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Dad's Preview:
I was not a huge Tarantino fan until this blew me away. Yes, it romanticizes
murderous assassins. It is violent. Many of the main characters
are beautiful. Yet, it works and how. 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! Uma is a force. And I was impressed by
Chiaki Kuriyama, as
deadly femme fatale GoGo Yubari. |
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A Band Apart;
Miramax Films
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#6b Top |
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Kill Bill: Volume 2 (2004)
Revenge is a
dish best served cold.
Director: Quentin Tarantino, rated R for violence/language
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.
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Dad's Preview:
The conclusion to this tale of bloody revenge does keep pace
with
Kill Bill: Part I
(2003). We're shown the Bride enduring the tough training under the master, Pai Mai,
who previously trained that bastard, Bill.
It's this very training that helps her survive being buried alive.
She and Elle meet in glorious combat. Bill's motivations
are finally explained. The finale is perfect. Instead of
a big, elaborate showdown, it begins as an intimate, civil
discussion between two former lovers, guilty of simply looking out for their child...
but they're both be paid killers. It's
personal, and that makes it all the more engaging. |
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A Band Apart;
Miramax Films
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#5 Top |
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Die Hard
(1988) 40
Stories Of Sheer Adventure!
Director: John McTiernan,
rated R for language,
violence
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.
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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. An awesome villain makes a good movie
great. It's action film 101 - and Die Hard is
teaching the class. |
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Gordon
Company, Silver Pics;
20th Century Fox
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#4 Top |
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Braveheart
(1995)
Every
man dies, not every man really lives.
Director: Mel Gibson, rated R for graphic battles,
language, torture
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.
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Dad's Preview:
This historical epic is a great education. William Wallace leads
the Scots striving for independence against King Edward I of England. It
is an massivec, 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. |
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Icon
Productions, The Ladd Co.;
Paramount Pictures
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#3 Top |
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True Grit
(1969)
The strangest trio ever to track a killer.
Director: Henry Hathaway, rated PG for Western
violence
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.
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Dad's Preview:
Wayne was in the movie business all his life, mostly Westerns. He finally
won the Best Actor statuette for his role as the cantankerous,
one-eyed, bounty hunter Ruben J. "Rooster" Cogburn. In this film, young
Mattie Ross (portrayed by spunky Kim Darby) 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. |
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Hal B. Wallis;
Paramount Pictures
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#2 Top |
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Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan
(1982)
At the end of
the universe lies the beginning of vengeance.
Director: Nicholas Meyer, rated PG for sci-fi
battles, violence
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:
Admiral Kirk is drawn out of retirement when his former
adversary, the genetically engineered superhuman Khan Noonien
Singh, escapes exile and seeks revenge by seizing control of a
powerful terraforming device. Now with control of the Genesis
device, Khan lures Kirk and the crew of the USS Enterprise into
a deadly confrontation in a nebula. Ultimately, the film
culminates in a climactic starship battle, forcing the crew to
make significant sacrifices to stop Khan's destructive quest.
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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. |
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Robert Sallin; Paramount Pictures
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#1 Top |
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Ben-Hur (1959)
A
Tale of the Christ
Director: William Wyler, Rated G
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 in Roman-occupied Jerusalem, is falsely accused of
an assassination attempt by his childhood friend, the ambitious
Roman tribune Messala. After being sentenced to the galleys as a
slave, Ben-Hur vows to seek vengeance for his family's
destruction and his own unjust suffering. His quest for justice
eventually leads him to a dramatic confrontation with Messala in
a high-stakes chariot race.
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Dad's Preview:
This is one of the few films that still impacts me spiritually.
The epic religious tale centers on a Jewish man's quest to get
revenge on the Roman leader who devastated his life and
family. It is set in Judea at the time of Christ. Its
massive scope outdoes the early
1925 silent film by the great Cecile B. DeMille. Here, there were 15,000 extras employed during filming. The
chariot race segment is still breath-taking. It's one of
my very favorites and I highly recommend it. |
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Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer; Loew's Inc.
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