The Beatles starring in their first full-length, hilarious action-packed film!

Starring: John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, Ringo Starr, Wilfrid Brambell, Norman Rossington, John Junkin, Victor Spinetti, Anna Quayle

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ - great

"Turned left at Greenland." – John, when asked how he found America.

Why watch this? At the risk of riling England's snooty demeanor, four lads decided to rock... and have fun.

Plot Summary: There's a plot?... Just kidding. This follows The Beatles as they navigate the chaotic demands of their newfound fame while preparing for a televised performance. Their attempts to evade screaming fans and fulfill their commitments are complicated by Paul's mischievous grandfather, who adds a layer of comical mayhem to their escapades. Despite the antics and challenges, the band ultimately makes it to their performance, showcasing their music and signature wit along the way.

Walter Shenson Films; Proscenium Films;
United Artists

It's supercalifragilisticexpialidocious!

Starring: Julie Andrews, Dick Van Dyke, David Tomlinson, Glynis Johns, Hermione Baddeley, Reta Shaw, Karen Dotrice, Matthew Garber, Elsa Lanchester

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ - great

"First of all I would like to make one thing perfectly clear... I never explain anything." - Mary Poppins

Why watch this? This timeless Disney classic will leave a big smile on your face.

Plot Summary: In Edwardian London, two mischievous children, Jane and Michael Banks, are in need of a new nanny. Their stern father and busy mother struggle to find someone who can manage them. Unexpectedly, the magical Mary Poppins arrives, bringing order and delight into their lives through songs and fantastical adventures. With her help, and alongside her good friend Bert, the children learn valuable lessons and the family begins to rediscover the importance of joy and connection.

Walt Disney Productions; Buena Vista
Dist. Company, Inc.

Sometimes, you have to lose your way to get back home

Starring: George Clooney, John Turturro, Tim Blake Nelson, Chris Thomas King, John Goodman, Holly Hunter, Charles Durning, Daniel von Bargen, Wayne Duvall, Frank Collison, Stephen Root

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ - great

"You seek a great fortune, you three who are now in chains. You will find a fortune, though it will not be the one you seek. But first... first you must travel a long and difficult road, a road fraught with peril. Mm-hmm. You shall see thangs, wonderful to tell." – Blind Seer

Why watch this? This is a fun, poetic American fable that feels very familiar.

Plot Summary: Loosely based on Homer's Odyssey, this comedy drama follows three escaped convicts – Ulysses Everett McGill, Pete, and Delmar – as they embark on a journey through Depression-era Mississippi. Their aim is to reach Everett’s home and recover a hidden treasure before the area is flooded to create a new lake. Along the way, they encounter a series of eccentric characters, evade a relentless lawman, and inadvertently become folk music sensations.

Touchstone Pics, Universal Pics, Studio Canal,
Working Title Films, Blind Bard Pictures;
Buena Vista Pictures Distribution

Prepare to crank those amps up to eleven

Starring: Christopher Guest, Michael McKean, Harry Shearer, Rob Reiner, June Chadwick, Tony Hendra, Bruno Kirby

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ - great

"Well, I'm sure I'd feel much worse if I weren't under such heavy sedation." - David St. Hubbins

Why watch this? It's entertaining to watch these faux rock stars, and their screwed-up values.

Plot Summary: British heavy metal band Spinal Tap is on their ill-fated 1982 United States tour. The film chronicles the band's struggles with declining popularity, botched performances, and internal squabbles, offering a satirical look at the music industry. Ultimately, it captures the band's relentless pursuit of success despite numerous setbacks and their exaggerated sense of self-importance.

Karen Murphy; Embassy Pictures

The greatest gift of entertainment the screen has ever brought you!

Starring: Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, Rosemary Clooney, Vera Ellen, Dean Jagger, Mary Wickes, Johnny Grant, John Brascia, Anne Whitfield

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ - great

"Oh, Vermont should be beautiful this time of year, with all that snow." - Judy Haynes

Why watch this? ... superb musical numbers, talented dancers, and holiday cheer!

Plot Summary: Bob Wallace and Phil Davis are two best friends who host a TV musical show. Years before, they served in WWII together under General Waverly. They learn the General owns an Inn in Vermont, but business is not very good because, well, they don't have any snow. The pair concoct a scheme to take their famous TV variety show to the Vermont Inn and help out their old commander. They partner with the sassy Haynes Sisters to pull it off.

Robert Emmett Dolan; Paramount Pictures

A diamond in the rough.

Starring (Voices): Scott Weinger, Robin Williams, Linda Larkin, Jonathan Freeman, Frank Welker, Gilbert Gottfried, Douglas Seale

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ - great

"All right, Sparky, here's the deal. If you wanna court the little lady, you gotta be a straight shooter. Do ya got it?" - Genie, as Jack Nicholson, about Jasmine

Why watch this? It's a Disney-adapted classic story set to great musical numbers.

Plot Summary: Aladdin, a kind street urchin in the city of Agrabah, discovers a magic lamp containing a powerful yet comical Genie. With the Genie's help, Aladdin tries to win the heart of the free-spirited Princess Jasmine. Meanwhile, the Sultan's power-hungry advisor, Jafar, seeks to steal the lamp and the Genie's power for himself.

Walt Disney Feature Animation;
Buena Vista Pictures Distributing

The celebration of a lifetime

Starring: (the voice talents of:) Anthony Gonzalez, Gael García Bernal, Benjamin Bratt, Alanna Ubach, Renée Victor, Ana Ofelia Murguía, Edward James Olmos, Alfonso Arau, Selene Luna, Jaime Camil, Natalia Cordova-Buckley 

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★☆ - near perfect

"Our memories, they have to be passed down by those who knew us in life - in the stories they tell about us. But there's no one left alive to pass down Cheech's stories... Hey, it happens to everyone eventually." - Héctor

Why watch this? A wonderful children's film about life, and death, and the important in-between.

Plot Summary: A young boy named Miguel dreams of becoming a musician, despite his family's long-standing ban on music. On Día de Muertos, a series of events leads him to the vibrant Land of the Dead. There, he embarks on a journey to find his deceased great-great-grandfather, a legendary singer, and uncover the truth about his family's past.

Pixar Animation Studios; Walt Disney
Studios Motion Pictures

They'll never get caught. They're on a mission from God.

Starring: John Belushi, Dan Aykroyd, James Brown, Cab Calloway, Ray Charles, Carrie Fisher, Aretha Franklin, Henry Gibson, James Brown, John Candy, John Lee Hooker, Twiggy, Charles Napier, Steve Lawrence, Frank Oz

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★☆ - near perfect

"Use of unnecessary violence in the apprehension of the Blues Brothers HAS been approved." - Police Dispatcher

Why watch this? Great blues music, edgy humor and the car crashes are off the charts!

Plot Summary: Newly released convict brothers, Jake and Elwood Blues, embark on a "mission from God" to save the Catholic orphanage where they were raised from foreclosure. To do this, they must reunite their old band and perform to raise the $5,000 needed to pay the property taxes. Their efforts lead them on a chaotic adventure across Illinois, encountering a series of zany characters and being pursued by various groups, including the police, a vengeful ex-girlfriend, and a neo-Nazi group.

Robert K. Weiss; Universal Pictures

A ghoulish tale with wicked humor & stunning animation.

Starring: Danny Elfman, Chris Sarandon, Catherine O'Hara, William Hickey, Glenn Shadix, Paul Reubens, Ken Page, Ed Ivory

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★☆ - near perfect

"Well, well, well. What have we here? Sandy Claws, huh? Ooo, I'm really scared! So you're the one everybody's talking about?" – Oogie Boogie Man

Why watch this? The animation is superb, and the songs are really catchy.

Plot Summary: Jack Skellington, the Pumpkin King of Halloween Town, feels a growing sense of ennui with the annual traditions of Halloween. Driven by a yearning for something new, he discovers Christmas Town and becomes enchanted by its unfamiliar festivities. Inspired, Jack decides to take over Christmas and attempts to bring the holiday to Halloween Town, leading to unexpected and spooky interpretations of Christmas traditions.
 

Dad's Preview: What a concept! Let's merge Halloween into Christmas, and have our hero be a terrifying, yet well-meaning, skeleton. What?! This unique film is magical and humorously wonderful. This is for the "warped of mind", which is probably why I fell head-over-bones in love with this holiday flick. I suits me just fine to embrace a creepy journey through the creative mind of Tim Burton, and the music of Oingo Boingo's Danny Elfman. Kids... watch out for Mr. Oogity-Boogity, he's a bit scary!

Touchstone Pictures, Skellington Prod.;
Buena Vista Pictures Distribution

Walt Disney's new characters in his first full-length production!

Starring: (the voices of) Adriana Caselotti, Lucille La Verne, Roy Atwell, Pinto Colvig, Otis Harlan, Scotty Mattraw, Billy Gilbert, Eddie Collins, Harry Stockwell

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★☆ - near perfect

"Famed is thy beauty, Majesty. But hold, a lovely maid I see. Rags cannot hide her gentle grace. Alas, she is more fair than thee." - Magic Mirror

Why watch this? This Disney classic was the first cartoon feature film. Yes, it started it all.

Plot Summary: The tale follows the orphaned princess Snow White whose wicked stepmother, the Queen, cannot contain her jealousy for the young girl's beauty. The queen orders her Huntsman to take Snow White into the forest and kill her. The burly hunter cannot do the deed and tells the princess to flee and never return. Along her way, Snow White is befriended by the forest's animals, and seven pint-sized miners.

Walt Disney Prod.; RKO Radio Pictures

It took God six days to create the earth, and Monty Python just 90 minutes to screw it up.

Starring: Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Eric Idle, Terry Gilliam, Terry Jones, Michael Palin, Carol Cleveland, Simon Jones

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★☆ - near perfect

"You always talk, you Americans. You talk and you talk and say 'let me tell you something' and 'I just wanna say this'. Well, you're dead now, so shut up!" - The Grim Reaper

Why watch this? If you don't mind a little fake blood, I recommend the segment called Live Organ Donors.

Plot Summary: This absurdist comedy explores the various stages of human existence from birth to death through a series of darkly humorous and often surreal sketches. The film delves into themes such as religion, sex, war, and the mundanity of everyday life, all with the unique and irreverent style of the Monty Python troupe. Ultimately, it offers a comedic and philosophical inquiry into the nature and purpose of life itself.

Celandine Films, Monty Python Partnership;
Universal Pictures

Almost Famous (2000), Director: Cameron Crowe, rated PG-13 for language, sexual situations

Stillwater Runs Deep!

Starring: Patrick Fugit, Kate Hudson, Billy Crudup, Jason Lee, Frances McDormand, Anna Paquin, Fairuza Balk, Philip S. Hoffman, Zooey Deschanel

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

DML Top 50 #31 - Dad's Full (Spoiler) Review and Deep Dive of Almost Famous

"Aw, man. You made friends with them. See, friendship is the booze they feed you. They want you to get drunk on feeling like you belong." - Lester Bangs

Why watch this? It's the swan song about rock and rock in my era, you know, the awesome 70's!

Plot Summary: William Miller, at 15-years-old, is an aspiring journalist who gets a dream assignment: to write a cover story for Rolling Stone magazine. He embarks on a tour leg with the up-and-coming rock band Stillwater, experiencing the highs and lows of life on the road. William navigates the world of rock and roll, forming relationships with the band members and a groupie named Penny Lane, all while trying to maintain his journalistic integrity.

DreamWorks Pics, Columbia Pics, Vinyl Films;
DreamWorks Dist. LLC

The most beautiful love story ever told.

Starring (voices): Paige O'Hara, Robby Benson, Richard White, Jerry Orbach, David Ogden Stiers, Angela Lansbury, Rex Everhart, Jesse Corti

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

"Oh, it's no use. She's so beautiful, and I'm... Well, look at me!" - Beast

Why watch this? This magical Disney effort just made the world seem right again.

Plot Summary: In this fairy tale, the beautiful Belle offers her freedom to a cursed prince who has been transformed into a Beast. The Beast, along with his castle and its enchanted staff, are under a spell that can only be broken if he learns to love and be loved in return. Belle gradually gets to know the Beast and sees beyond his outward appearance, while the Beast strives tame his impatient temper.

Walt Disney Feature Animation; Buena
Vista Pictures Distribution, Inc.

Sets the Cinema Back 900 Years!

Starring: Terry Gilliam, Terry Jones, Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Eric Idle, Connie Booth, Carol Cleveland, Neil Innes, Bee Duffell

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

DML Top 50 #22 - Dad's Full (Spoiler) Review and Rabbit Hole of Monty Python and the Holy Grail

"We better not risk another frontal assault. That rabbit's dynamite!" - King Arthur

Why watch this? This irreverent, Medieval comedy from Python is legendary.

Plot Summary: King Arthur gathers his Knights of the Round Table and is instructed by God to embark on a quest to find the Holy Grail. Their journey is filled with absurd and surreal encounters, including taunting French soldiers, the Black Knight, a killer rabbit, and the Knights Who Say Ni. The film follows their individual and collective misadventures as they brave various obstacles in pursuit of the mythical relic.

Python Pictures, Michael White Prod., National
Film Trustee Co; EMI Films

The Happiest Sound In All The World!

Starring: Julie Andrews, Christopher Plummer, Richard Haydn, Peggy Wood, Charmian Carr, Eleanor Parker, Angela Cartwright, Ben Wright

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

"I can't seem to stop singing wherever I am. And what's worse, I can't seem to stop saying things - anything and everything I think and feel." - Maria

Why watch this? It is deservedly the standard by which all family musicals are measured.

Plot Summary: Set in Austria on the cusp of World War II, a high-spirited young woman named Maria, considering a life as a nun, is sent to be a governess to the seven children of the widowed and strict Captain Georg von Trapp. Maria's love for music and kind nature gradually bring joy and warmth back into the children's lives, and eventually the Captain's as well.

Argyle Enterprises, Inc.; 20th Century Fox

The greatest adventure of all is finding our place in the circle of life.

Starring: Jonathan Taylor Thomas, Matthew Broderick, James Earl Jones, Jeremy Irons, Moira Kelly, Ernie Sabella, Nathan Lane, Robert Guillaume, Whoopi Goldberg, Cheech Marin

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

"When we die, our bodies become the grass, and the antelope eat the grass. And so we are all connected in the great Circle of Life." - Mufasa

Why watch this? ... It is one of the best of the 90's Disney classics.

Plot Summary: A young lion cub, Simba, is destined to rule the Pride Lands, but his bitter uncle, Scar, plots against him and his father, King Mufasa. Simba is led to believe he is responsible for his father's death and flees into exile, where he befriends Timon and Pumbaa. Years later, his past returns to haunt him, and he must decide whether to reclaim his rightful place and face his demons.

Walt Disney Feature Animation;
Buena Vista Pictures Dist.

An epic of epic epicness.

Starring: Michael Cera, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Alison Pill, Kieran Culkin, Ellen Wong, Chris Evans, Anna Kendrick

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

"Um, I guess... if we're gonna date, you may have to defeat my seven evil exes." – Ramona Flowers

Why watch this? There is not a second in this film that I don't love.

Plot Summary: Scott Pilgrim, a slacker musician living in Toronto, finds his comfortable life disrupted when he falls for the mysterious and enigmatic Ramona Flowers. To win her heart, however, he must defeat her seven evil exes, each with their own unique abilities and personalities. This journey forces Scott to confront his own flaws, past relationships, and insecurities, ultimately pushing him toward self-discovery.

Marc Platt Prod., Big Talk Films, Closed on
Mondays Ent., Dentsu; Universal Pictures

Somewhere under the sea and beyond your imagination is an adventure in fantasy.

Starring: Jodi Benson, Christopher Daniel Barnes, Pat Carroll, Kenneth Mars, Samuel E. Wright, Jason Marin, Buddy Hackett

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

"Hmm... Teenagers. They think they know everything. You give them an inch, they swim all over you." – Sebastian

Why watch this? This film revitalized Disney's animated film reputation.

Plot Summary: A curious young mermaid named Ariel dreams of experiencing life beyond the sea and falls in love with a human prince she rescues from a shipwreck. Desperate to join his world, Ariel makes a dangerous pact with the sea witch Ursula, trading her voice for human legs. With her new form, Ariel embarks on a quest to win the prince's love, but she faces challenges and a ticking clock as Ursula has hidden motives.

Walt Disney Feature Animation; Buena
Vista Pictures Dist.

What a Glorious Feeling!

Starring: Gene Kelly, Donald O'Connor, Debbie Reynolds, Jean Hagen, Millard Mitchell, Cyd Charisse, Douglas Fowley, Rita Moreno, Dawn Addams

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

"Gee, I'm glad you turned up, we've been looking inside every cake in town." - Cosmo

Why watch this? I had a wide smile from beginning-to-end during this acclaimed musical.

Plot Summary: This musical centers on Hollywood's tumultuous transition from silent films to talking pictures. Silent movie idol Don Lockwood, along with his onscreen partner Lina Lamont, face the challenge of adapting to the new technology, especially when Lina's voice proves unsuitable for sound films. An aspiring actress named Kathy Selden enters their lives, becoming integral to their career aspirations.

Metro-Goodwyn-Mayer; Loew's Inc.

It's Scrumdidilyumptious!

Starring: Gene Wilder, Jack Albertson, Peter Ostrum, Roy Kinnear, Julie Dawn Cole, Leonard Stone

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

DML Top 50 #48 - Dad's Full (Spoiler) Review and Deep Dive of Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory

"Invention, my dear friends, is 93% perspiration, 6% electricity, 4% evaporation, and 2% butterscotch ripple." - Willie Wonka

Why watch this? A tour through a mysterious chocolate factory. What could happen?

Plot Summary: Young Charlie Bucket, from an impoverished family, dreams of finding one of the five coveted Golden Tickets hidden in Willy Wonka's chocolate bars. Winning a ticket grants a tour of Wonka's mysterious and magical chocolate factory, along with a lifetime supply of candy. Charlie, joining four other children, embarks on a fantastical adventure within the whimsical factory.

Wolper Pictures, The Quaker Oats Co.;
Paramount Pictures

Mighty Miracle Show Of 1000 Delights!

Starring: Judy Garland, Frank Morgan, Ray Bolger, Bert Lahr, Jack Haley, Margaret Hamilton, Billie Burke, Clara Blandick, Terry (as Toto)

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

DML Top 50 #29 - Dad's Full (Spoiler) Review and Deep Dive of The Wizard of Oz

"Pay no attention to that man behind the curtain! The Great Oz has spoken!" - The Wizard

Why watch this? Because it has been a warm, wise, family classic - like forever.

Plot Summary: After a tornado sweeps her away from her Kansas farm to the magical Land of Oz, Dorothy Gale embarks on a quest to find the powerful Wizard of Oz who can help her return home. Along the Yellow Brick Road, she encounters a Scarecrow seeking a brain, a Tin Man desiring a heart, and a Cowardly Lion longing for courage, who all join her on this journey. Together, they face the Wicked Witch of the West, who seeks revenge on Dorothy for an accident upon her arrival.

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer; Loew's Inc.