May The Farce Be With You.

Starring: Mel Brooks, John Candy, Rock Moranis, Bill Pullman, Daphne Zuniga, Dick Van Patten, George Wyner, Michael Winslow, Joan Rivers

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★☆☆☆ - good

"Yes, we're gonna have to go right to ludicrous speed." - Dark Helmet

Why watch this? Too many space films deserved a spoof - Mr. Brooks delivered.

Plot Summary: On the planet Spaceball, the air supply is running low, forcing the evil President Skroob to send his henchman Dark Helmet to steal the air from the peaceful planet Druidia. To accomplish this, Dark Helmet kidnaps Princess Vespa, hoping to ransom her for the code to Druidia's atmospheric shield. However, a renegade space pilot named Lone Starr and his loyal half-man, half-dog sidekick Barf are hired by Druidia's King Roland to rescue the princess.

Brooksfilms; Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer

A Jedi Shall Not Know Anger. Nor Hatred. Nor Love.

Starring: Ewan McGregor, Natalie Portman, Hayden Christensen, Ian McDiarmid, Samuel L. Jackson, Christopher Lee, Anthony Daniels, Kenny Baker, Frank Oz, Temuera Morrison

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★☆☆☆ - good

"What if I told you that the Republic was now under the control of a dark lord of the Sith?" – Count Dooku, to his captive Obi-Wan

Why watch this? Prequel Part 2 IS better than part 1, and Yoda finally gets his moment.

Plot Summary: As thousands of planetary systems threaten to secede from the Galactic Republic, Senator Padmé Amidala's life is put at risk by an assassination attempt. Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi investigates the attack while his apprentice, Anakin Skywalker, is assigned to protect Padmé and falls in love with her. Kenobi's investigation uncovers a secret clone army and leads the Jedi to confront the growing Separatist threat, led by former Jedi Master Count Dooku.

Lucasfilm Ltd.; 20th Century Fox

The force is calling to you. Just let it in.

Starring: Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac, Domhnall Gleeson, Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Adam Driver, Jupita Nyong'o, Anthony Daniels

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ - great

"I used to wonder about that myself. Thought it was a bunch of mumbo jumbo. A magical power holding together good and evil, the dark side and the light. Crazy thing is... it's true. The Force, the Jedi. All of it. It's all true." - Han Solo

Why watch this? The big moment, by a mile, was the return of Han and Chewy. So... Damn... Awesome!

Plot Summary: Three decades after the Galactic Empire's collapse, a new tyrannical force known as the First Order seeks to dominate the galaxy and eliminate the last remaining Jedi Master, Luke Skywalker. A young scavenger named Rey, a rogue stormtrooper named Finn, and a Resistance pilot named Poe Dameron find themselves drawn into the conflict when they encounter a droid carrying a vital piece of a map to Skywalker's whereabouts.

Lucasfilm Ltd., Bad Robot; Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

The future begins.

Starring: Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, Simon Pegg, Leonard Nimoy, Eric Bana, Bruce Greenwood, Karl Urban, Zoe Saldana, John CHo, Anton Yelchin

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ - great

"I would cite regulation, but I know you will simply ignore it." - Spock

Why watch this? Kudos to J. J. Abram on this reboot - he gets it right.

Plot Summary: James T. Kirk, a rebellious young man, joins Starfleet Academy and quickly clashes with the logical Vulcan Spock, but their shared potential is evident. An unexpected alien attack forces them and other promising cadets onto the newly commissioned USS Enterprise on its maiden voyage. Together, they face a vengeful Romulan from the future whose actions threaten to destroy the Federation, requiring them to overcome their differences and become a team to save the future.

Spyglass Ent., Bad Robot; Paramount Pics

A rebellion built on hope.

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

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ - great

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

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

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

Lucasfilm Ltd.; Walt Disney Studios
Motion Pictures

All heroes start somewhere.

Starring: Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldaña, Dave Bautista, Vin Diesel (voice), Bradley Cooper (voice), Lee Pace, Michael Rooker, Karen Gillan, Djimon Hounsou, John C. Reilly, Glenn Close, Benicio del Toro

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ - great

"I look around at us and you know what I see? Losers. I mean, like, folks who have lost stuff. And we have, man, we have, all of us. Our homes. Our families. Normal lives. Today it's giving us something. It is giving us a chance." - Quill

Why watch this? This intergalactic MCU film has a much lighter tone, and it works.

Plot Summary: Peter Quill, a space adventurer known as Star-Lord, steals a powerful and mysterious orb, drawing the attention of the villainous Ronan the Accuser. To evade Ronan, Quill forms an uneasy alliance with a group of outlaws including Gamora, Drax the Destroyer, Rocket, and Groot. When they discover the orb's true, dangerous nature, this ragtag group must learn to work together and prevent Ronan from using it to destroy the galaxy.

Marvel Studios; Walt Disney
Studios Motion Pictures

The saga is complete.

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

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ - great

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

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

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

Lucasfilm Ltd.; 20th Century Fox

They're armed. She's dangerous.

Starring: Nathan Fillion, Alan Tudyk, Adam Baldwin, Gina Torres, Morena Baccarin, Summer Glau, Jewel Staite, Sean Maher, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Ron Glass

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ - great

"Malcolm... I'm a monster. What I do is evil. I have no illusions about it, but it must be done." – The Operative

Why watch this? It's a great space Western, and Nathan Fillion is a great captain.

Plot Summary: In the distant future, the crew of the transport spaceship Serenity, led by Capt. Malcolm Reynolds, navigates a universe scarred by civil war and inhabited by dangerous, cannibalistic Reavers. Among their passengers are Dr. Simon Tam and his sister River, a young woman with psychic abilities rescued from a terrifying Alliance facility. As a ruthless Alliance operative pursues them relentlessly, the crew finds themselves embroiled in a desperate fight to uncover a dark truth tied to River's past and to expose it to the galaxy.

Barry Mendel Prod.; Universal Pictures

It Mu5t Be Found.

Starring: Bruce Willis, Milla Jocovich, Gary Oldman, Ian Holm, Chris Tucker, Luke Perry, Brion James, Tom Lister Jr., Lee Evans, Charlie Creed-Miles, Tricky, John Neville, John Bluthal, Mathieu Kassovitz

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ - great

"Whoa, lady, I only speak two languages, English and bad English... Now, don't get me wrong, I'm all for conversation, but maybe you could just shut up for a moment?" - Korben Dallas

Why watch this? It's over-the-top, visually-stunning Sci-Fi creativity on full display.

Plot Summary: In the 23rd century, a washed-up cab driver finds himself plunged into a mission to save the world when a mysterious woman, who is the universe's ultimate weapon, crashes into his cab. The two must race against time to collect four elemental stones and assemble the ancient weapon to defeat a cosmic evil that appears every five thousand years. Their quest forces them to contend with mercenaries and a scheming industrialist who want the stones for their own nefarious purposes.

Patrice Ledoux, Gaumont; Gaumont Buena Vista Int'l

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

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

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ - great

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

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

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

Touchstone Pictures; TriStar Pictures

The Empire Falls...

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

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★☆ - near perfect

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

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

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

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

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

Lucasfilm Ltd.; 20th Century Fox

A place beyond your dreams. A movie beyond your imagination.

Starring: Kyle MacLachlan, Virginia Madsen, José Ferrer, Linda Hunt, Sting, Richard Jordan, Francesca Annis, Leonardo Cimino, Brad Dourif, Freddie Jones, Jack Nance

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★☆☆ - great

"Don't try your powers on me. Try looking into that place where you dare not look. You'll find me there, staring back at you." - Paul Atreides

Why watch this? It's wonderful world-building along with a smart script. Try to keep up!

Plot Summary: In the distant future, warring noble families clash over control of Arrakis, a harsh desert planet and the only source of the universe's most valuable substance: the spice melange. When control of Arrakis is transferred to House Atreides, young Paul Atreides is thrust into a dangerous political landscape where he must confront betrayal and fight for survival in a treacherous environment. As Paul navigates the planet's deadly secrets and its mysterious native inhabitants, the Fremen, he comes to terms with his destiny.

Dino De Laurantiis Corp.; Universal Studios

M-G-M Takes You On An Amazing Adventure Into Outer Space...

Starring: Walter Pidgeon, Anne Francis, Leslie Nielsen, Warren Stevens, Jack Kelly, Richard Anderson, Earl Holliman, Marvin Miller

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★☆ - near perfect

"Guilty! Guilty! My evil self is at that door, and I have no power to stop it!" – Dr. Morbius

Why watch this? It really is a great all-around sci-fi film; certainly for 1956.

Plot Summary: A 23rd-century starship crew travels to a distant planet, Altair IV, to investigate a colony that has gone silent. They discover two survivors, Dr. Morbius and his daughter Altaira, along with a powerful robot named Robbie. The crew soon encounters a mysterious and deadly invisible force threatening everyone on the planet, prompting Commander Adams to investigate Morbius and the secrets surrounding a lost civilization that once inhabited Altair IV.

Nicholas Nayfak; Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer

Thunder Will Reign.

Starring: Chris Hemsworth, Tom Hiddleston, Cate Blanchett, Idris Elba, Jeff Goldblum, Tessa Thompson, Karl Urban, Mark Ruffalo, Anthony Hopkins

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★☆ - near perfect

"I don't hang with the Avengers anymore. It all got too corporate." - Thor

Why watch this? This takes the Thor story in a fresh, and funnier, direction. I instantly loved it.

Plot Summary: Imprisoned on a distant planet, Thor must escape a gladiatorial contest against the Hulk to return to Asgard. Upon his return, he faces his powerful and ruthless sister, Hela, who seeks to destroy his home world and its civilization. To save his people, Thor must confront Hela and prevent the cataclysmic event known as Ragnarök.

Marvel Studios; Walt Disney Studios
Motion Pictures

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

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

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★☆ - near perfect

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

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

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

Gran Via Productions; DreamWorks Pictures

Long Live The Fighters.

Starring: Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya, Rebecca Ferguson, Josh Brolin, Austin Butler, Florence Pugh, Stellan Skarsgård, Dave Bautista, Christopher Walken, Léa Seydoux, Souheila Yocoub, Charlotte Rampling, Javier Bardem, Alison Halsted

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★☆ - near perfect

"Look how your Bene Gesserit propaganda has taken root. Some of them already think I'm their messiah. Others... false prophet. I must sway the non-believers. If we get enough of them to support us, we can halt spice production. It's the only way I can get to the Emperor." – Paul Atreides, to his mother

Why watch this? Part 2 ends in explosive fashion, and harkens a third film.

Plot Summary: Paul Atreides unites with Chani and the Fremen to seek revenge against the conspirators who destroyed his family, rising as a powerful leader on the desert planet Arrakis. As he embraces the ways of the desert warriors and navigates a manufactured prophecy, he struggles to prevent a terrible future holy war that he foresees. Ultimately, Paul faces a difficult choice between the love of his life and the fate of the universe.

Legendary Pictures; Warner Bros. Pictures

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

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

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

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

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

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

Harve Bennett; Paramount Pictures

Pathetic Earthlings... Who Can Save You Now?

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

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★☆ - near perfect

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

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

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

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

Starling Prod. Famous Films; Universal Pictures

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

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

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

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

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

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

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

Lucasfilm Ltd.; 20th Century Fox

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

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

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

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

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

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

Plot Summary: 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.

Robert Sallin; Paramount Pictures

The Star Wars Saga Continues

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

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

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

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

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

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

Lucasfilm Ltd.; 20th Century Fox