(DML Top 20 Lists - Sweet Revenge)

Honorable Mention

Taken (2008), Director: Pierre Morel, rated R

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. OK, I need a nap.

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

#20 Top

John Wick (2014), Director: Chad Stahelski, rated R for language and intense violence

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 Pics, 87Eleven Productions,
MJW Films, DefyNite Films; Summit Ent.

#19 Top

Man on Fire (2004), Director: Tony Scott, rated R for language, violence

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. 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!

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

#18 Top

The Fugitive (1993), Director: Andrew Davis, rated PG-13 for language

A murdered wife. A one-armed man. An obsessed detective. The chase begins.

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.

Dad's Preview: Adapted from the popular 1960's TV show, The Fugitive, director Davis gives us a superb film with a tidy script. It is a real treat to watch Tommy Lee and Harrison square 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.

Kopelson Entertainment; Warner Bros.

#17 Top

The Running Man (1987), Director: Paul Michael Glaser, rated R strong language, language

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. Pics;
TriStar Pictures

#16 Top

Gladiator (2000), Director: Ridley Scott, rated R for graphic, combat violence

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, 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!

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

#15 Top

The Princess Bride (1987), Director: Rob Reiner, rated PG

The story of a man and a woman who lived happily ever after. Even though the courtship almost killed them.

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.

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 somehow childish. It's directed by Rob Reiner, and has an almost Monty-Python-esc feel to it. Kids will love it, 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!

Act III Communications, Buttercup Films;
20th Century Fox

#14 Top

RoboCop (1987), Director: Paul Verhoeven, rated R for language, gory violence

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.

Arne Schmidt; Orion Pictures

#13 Top

The Godfather (1972), Director: Francis Ford Coppola, rated R for violence, language

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

#12 Top

The Outlaw Josey Wales (1976), Director: Clint Eastwood, rated PG

... 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.

#11 Top

Once Upon a Time in the West (1966), Director: Sergio Leone, rated PG-13 for Western violence

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

#10 Top

Dirty Harry (1971), Director: Don Siegel, rated R for violence, language

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.

#9 Top

Mad Max: Fury Road (2015), Director: George Miller, rated R for violence, language

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 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. 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.

#8 Top

The Shawshank Redemption (1994), Director: Frank Darabont, Rated R for language, prison violence

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

#7 Top

Unforgiven (1992), Director: Clint Eastwood, rated R for language, Western violence

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.

#6a Top

Kill Bill: Volume 1 (2003), Director: Quentin Tarantino, rated R for violence/language

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

#6b Top

Kill Bill: Volume 2 (2004), Director: Quentin Tarantino, rated R for violence/language

Revenge is a dish best served cold.

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

#5 Top

Die Hard (1988), Director: John McTiernan, rated R for language, violence

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

#4 Top

Braveheart (1995), Director: Mel Gibson, rated R for graphic battles, language, torture

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

#3 Top

True Grit (1969), Director: Henry Hathaway, rated PG for Western violence

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

#2 Top

Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (1982), Director: Nicholas Meyer, rated PG for sci-fi battles, violence

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: 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.

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.

Robert Sallin; Paramount Pictures

#1 Top

Ben-Hur (1959), Director: William Wyler, Rated G

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 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.

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 silent film by the great Cecile B. DeMille in 1925. Here, there were 15,000 extras employed during filming. The chariot race segment is still breath-taking.

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer; Loew's Inc.