A timeless story of strength, secrets, and two warriors who would never surrender.

Starring: Chow Yun-Fat, Michelle Yeoh, Ziyi Zhang, Chang Chen, Sihung Lung, Cheng Pei-pei, Wang Deming, Li Li, Hai Yan

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★☆ - near perfect

"The things we touch have no permanence. My master would say: there is nothing we can hold onto in this world. Only by letting go can we truly possess what is real." - Li Mu Bai

Why watch this? The fight scenes are legendary, flowing like Cantonese ballet.

Plot Summary: Two skilled warriors, Li Mu Bai and Yu Shu Lien, track a stolen legendary sword known as the Green Destiny. This quest leads them to a young woman, Jen Yu, who possesses incredible martial arts abilities and a mysterious past. Their pursuit of the sword becomes intertwined with Jen's journey of self-discovery and her pursuit of freedom, while also uncovering a connection to an old nemesis.

Columbia Pictures Film, Prod. Asia, Good
Machine Intl., Edko Films, Zoom Hunt Prod.;
Sony Pictures Classics

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.

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

The year is 1766... The hunt for a killer has begun

Starring: Samuel Le Bihan, Vincent Cassel, Émilie Dequenne, Monica Bellucci, Mark Dacascos, Jérémie Renier, Jean Yanne, Édith Scob

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★☆ - near perfect

"Lies appear true when dressed in Latin." - Gregoire De Fronsac

Why watch this? It's a wonderfully dark French take on the werewolf legend.

Plot Summary: In 18th-century France, a military officer and his Iroquois companion investigate a series of brutal killings attributed to a mysterious beast in the province of Gévaudan. As they investigate, they discover that the creature is no ordinary animal and a larger conspiracy may be at play.

StudioCanal, Davis Films, Eskwad;
Metropolitan Filmexport

When the end comes, not everyone is ready to go

Starring: Rudy Youngblood, Raoul Trujillo, Gerardo Taracena, Jonathan Brewer, Morris Birdyellowhead, Israel Contreras

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★☆ - near perfect

"My name is Jaguar Paw. I am a hunter. This is my forest. And my sons will hunt it with their sons after I am gone!" - Jaguar Paw

Why watch this? You will literally feel like you have been transported to the Mayan past.

Plot Summary: Set in the Mayan civilization, a young hunter named Jaguar Paw has his life violently disrupted when he is taken captive, for sacrifice, by hostile raiders. He is taken to a Mayan city, and narrowly escapes being beheaded. Jaguar Paw now must outrun his brutal pursuers through the jungle to save his family.

Touchtone Pictures, Icon Prod.;
Buena Vista Pictures Distributing

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.

Kopelson Entertainment; Warner Bros.

She's a girl from the big city. He's a reckless soldier of fortune. For a fabulous treasure,
they share an adventure no one could imagine... or survive.

Starring: Michael Douglas, Kathleen Turner, Danny DeVito, Alfonso Arau, Manuel Ojeda, Zack Norman

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★☆ - near perfect

"What did you do, wake up this morning and say, 'Today, I'm going to ruin a man's life?'" - Jack Colton

Why watch this? It's a fun film that plays like a trashy romance novel.

Plot Summary: Joan Wilder is a shy romance novelist who must travel to Colombia to ransom her kidnapped sister. The ransom involves a treasure map sent to Joan by her sister's murdered husband. Lost in the Colombian jungle, Joan encounters Jack T. Colton, a rugged American bird smuggler. Jack helps Joan navigate the perilous jungle as they are pursued by a corrupt Colombian police colonel and the criminals who kidnapped Joan's sister.

El Corazon Producciones S.A.;
20th Century Fox

Have the Adventure of Your Life Keeping Up With the Joneses.

Starring: Harrison Ford, Sean Connery, Denholm Elliott, Alison Doody, John Rhys-Davies, Julian Glover, River Phoenix, Michael Byrne

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★☆ - near perfect

"The quest for the Grail is not archaeology; it's a race against evil! If it is captured by the Nazis, the armies of darkness will march all over the face of the Earth! Do you understand me?" – Dr. Henry Jones

Why watch this? It really IS almost as good as Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)!

Plot Summary: Archaeologist Indiana Jones learns that his estranged father, Professor Henry Jones Sr., has vanished while searching for the Holy Grail. Indy follows clues in his father's Grail diary and teams up with Dr. Elsa Schneider, unaware of her true motives. They eventually face off against the Nazis (again), who are also determined to find the Grail for Hitler's own sinister purposes.
 

Dad's Preview: Spielberg and Lucas return to familiar territory to give us this wonderful third Indy film. Back are loyal sidekicks Sallah and Marcus Brody, and we're again battling those pesky Nazis. Our archeologists are searching for another biblical artifact, but first they must find Indy's father, portrayed wonderfully by Sir Sean Connery. He puts Indy in his place more than once. Once father and son are reunited, the film follows a tricky path towards the holy grail, filled with action and double-crosses. It's so nice to see these seasoned actors together on screen having such a good time.

Lucasfilm Ltd.; Paramount Pictures

Harrison Ford is the President of the United States, and he wants you off his plane.

Starring: Harrison Ford, Gary Oldman, Glenn Close, William H. Macy, Wendy Crewson, Liesel Matthews, Paul Guilfoyle, Dean Stockwell

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★☆ - near perfect

"Your national security advisor has just been executed. He's a very good negotiator. He bought you another half hour." - Ivan Korshunov

Why watch this? This superb film is at its best when Ford and Oldman go at it.

Plot Summary: A group of terrorists hijacks the presidential aircraft, Air Force One, demanding the release of their imprisoned leader. The President, initially believed to have escaped, secretly remains on board, fighting to protect his family and the other hostages. He races against time, battling the hijackers to regain control of the plane and thwart their plans.

Columbia Pics, Beacon Pics, Radiant Prod.;
Sony Pictures Releasing

Better if all these men were dead. Think about it!

Starring: Toshiro Mifune, Tatsuya Nakadai, Yoko Tsukasa, Isuzu Yamada, Daisuke Katō, Takashi Shimura, Kamatari Fujiwara, Atsushi Watanabe

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

"I get paid for killing. And this town is full of men who deserve to die." - Yojimbo

Why watch this? This Japanese samurai film is as good and any American Western.

Plot Summary: This tale features a wandering rōnin looking to sell his sword to the highest bidder. By chance, he lands in a small town locked in a vicious power struggle between two bickering bosses. At first he plays both sides against each other, but finally decides to rid the town of both. He is caught, however, and beaten almost to death.

Kurosawa Production; Toho

A Mighty Motion Picture Of Action And Adventure!

Starring: Peter O'Toole, Alec Guinness, Anthony Quinn, Jack Hawkins, Jose Ferrer, Claude Raines, Omar Sharif

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

"He was a poet, a scholar and a mighty warrior. He was also the most shameless exhibitionist since Barnum & Bailey." – Jackson Bentley

Why watch this? An epic movie about a man who's life was, in itself, an epic.

Plot Summary: T. E. Lawrence is a British officer, who navigates the complex politics of the Middle East during World War I. Tasked with liaising between the Arabs and the British against the Ottoman Turks, Lawrence becomes increasingly drawn into the Arab cause for independence. He unites disparate Arab tribes, leading them in daring raids and victories against the Turks, but struggles with his identity and the conflicting loyalties between his British origins and his adopted Arab allies.

Horizon Pictures; Columbia Pictures

Mightiest of All Romantic Adventures! ...Storming it's way to the screen with unbelievable excitement!

Starring: Gene Kelly, Van Heflin, June Allyson, Vincent Price, Lana Turner, Angela Lansbury, Frank Morgan, Keenan Wynn

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

"To die among friends. Can a man ask more? Can the world offer less? Who wants to live 'till the last bottle is empty? It's all-for one, d'Artagnan, and one for all." - Athos

Why watch this? Gene Kelly's skills are unmatched when it comes to choreographed spectacle.

Plot Summary: Young d'Artagnan travels to Paris seeking to join the King's Musketeers, but his impulsiveness quickly leads him into challenging three of the elite swordsmen to a duel. However, instead of fighting each other, they unite against Cardinal Richelieu's guards and become inseparable friends. D'Artagnan and his new companions become entangled in courtly intrigue and political maneuvers orchestrated by Richelieu, working to protect the honor of the Queen of France.

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer; Loew's Inc.

The African Queen (1951), Director: John Huston, rated PG for some war violence

Bogart the King is back with the 'Queen!'

Starring: Humphrey Bogart, Katharine Hepburn, Robert Morley, Peter Bull, Theodore Bikel, Walter Gotell, Peter Stanwick

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

"I never dreamed that any mere physical experience could be so stimulating!" – Rose Sayer

Why watch this? It's a wonderful adventure film from the 50's with two Hollywood icons.

Plot Summary: Set during World War I, in German East Africa, Charlie Allnut, a rough-and-tumble Canadian riverboat captain, finds himself thrown together with a strait-laced British missionary named Rose Sayer. Together, they embark on a dangerous journey down a treacherous river on Charlie's dilapidated boat, the African Queen, facing natural dangers and German forces. Despite their vastly different personalities and frequent arguments, an unlikely bond develops as they navigate their perilous mission.

Horizon Pictures, Romulus Pictures;
United Artists

Never stop fighting till the fight is done

Starring: Kevin Costner, Sean Connery, Charles Martin Smith, Andy Garcia, Robert De Niro, Richard Bradford, Jack Kehoe, Billy Drago, Patricia Clarkson

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

"You wanna know how to get Capone? They pull a knife, you pull a gun. He sends one of yours to the hospital, you send one of his to the morgue. That's the Chicago way!" – Jim Malone

Why watch this? A great, if romanticized, account of the Elliott Ness story.

Plot Summary: Federal Agent Eliot Ness arrives in Prohibition-era Chicago, determined to bring down the notoriously powerful and corrupt gangster Al Capone. Facing widespread corruption within the city's police force, Ness realizes that traditional methods are insufficient to tackle Capone's illegal empire. He assembles a small team of trustworthy lawmen who are unburdened by fear or bribes to confront the ruthless crime boss and his network of organized crime.

Art Linson; Paramount Pictures

The Mighty Warriors Who Became the Seven National Heroes of a Small Town

Starring: Toshiro Mifune, Takashi Shimura, Keiko Tsushima, Isao Kimura, Daisuke Katō, Seiji Miyaguchi, Yoshio Inaba, Minoru Chiaki

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

"This is the nature of war: By protecting others, you save yourselves. If you only think of yourself, you'll only destroy yourself." - Kambei Shimada

Why watch this? This is Kurosawa's great masterpiece about farmers at war with invading bandits.

Plot Summary: In feudal Japan, desperate villagers facing repeated bandit raids decide to hire samurai for protection. They find Kambei, an aging but skilled samurai, who reluctantly agrees and recruits six other masterless warriors to defend the village. The seven samurai train the villagers in defense tactics and prepare for the bandits' inevitable return.

Toho

The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938), Directors: Michael Curtiz, William Keighley, rated PG

The Best Loved Bandit Of All Time!

Starring: Errol Flynn, Olivia de Havilland, Basil Rathbone, Claude Rains, Una O'Connor, Patrick Knowles, Alan Hale, Ian Hunter

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

"I'll organize revolt, exact a death for a death, and I'll never rest until every Saxon in this shire can stand up free men, and strike a blow for Richard and England." - Robin Hood

Why watch this? Nobody draws a bow like Errol Flynn. Watch and be dazzled.

Plot Summary: In King Richard's absence, Prince John oppresses the Saxon people, so Robin Hood, a Saxon nobleman turned outlaw, leads a resistance movement from Sherwood Forest. He steals from the rich, gives to the poor, and defends the downtrodden against Prince John and his men, including Sir Guy of Gisbourne and the Sheriff of Nottingham. Robin also finds romance with the lovely Maid Marian, and together they work to foil the Prince's plans and ensure the return of the rightful king.

Hal B. Wallis, Henry Burke; Warner Bros. Pics

A Monster of Creation's Dawn Breaks Loose in Our World Today!

Starring: Fay Wray, Robert Armstrong, Bruce Cabot, Frank Reicher, Sam Hardy, Noble Johnson

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

"He was a king and a god in the world he knew, but now he comes to civilization merely a captive - a show to gratify your curiosity. Ladies and gentlemen, look at Kong, the Eighth Wonder of the World!" - Carl Denham

Why watch this? It is a classic. It's the first great giant monster film, and so fun to watch.

Plot Summary: Adventurous filmmaker Carl Denham embarks on an expedition to a remote, uncharted island with his film crew and actress Ann Darrow. Upon arrival, they discover the island is inhabited by prehistoric creatures and a colossal ape named Kong, worshipped by the local natives. The natives kidnap Ann and offer her as a sacrifice to Kong, who becomes infatuated with her. After pursuing Kong and Ann through the perilous island jungle, Denham manages to capture Kong and brings him back to New York City to exhibit him to the public.

Merian C. Cooper, Ernest B. Schoedsack;
RKO Radio Pictures

The 13th Warrior (1999), Director: John McTiernan, rated R for bloody battles and carnage

An Ordinary Man...An Extraordinary Journey!

Starring: Antonio Banderas, Diane Venora, Vladimir Kulich, Dennis Storhøi, Omar Sharif, Richard Bremmer, Mischa Hausserman

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

DML Top 50 #40 - Dad's Full (Spoiler) Review and Deep Dive of The 13th Warrior

"Your fate is fixed. Fear profits a man nothing." - Herger, the Joyous

Why watch this? It took McTiernan and Crichton to create superb Viking film.

Plot Summary: In 922 A.D., an Arab envoy named Ahmad Ibn Fadlan travels north and encounters a group of Viking warriors. When a nearby village is threatened by a mysterious and deadly foe, Ibn Fadlan is compelled to join the Vikings as the thirteenth warrior to face this unknown enemy. Together, they embark on a dangerous quest to protect the innocent and confront the formidable force terrorizing the land.

Touchstone Pics; Buena Vista Pictures Dist.

There can be only one.

Starring: Christopher Lambert, Sean Connery, Clancy Brown, Roxanne Hart, Alan North, Beatie Edney, Sheila Gish, Jon Polito, Hugh Quarshie

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

"The Kurgan. He is the strongest of all the immortals. He's the perfect warrior. If he wins the Prize mortal man would suffer an eternity of darkness." - Juan Sanchez Villa-Lobos Ramirez

Why watch this? ... the wonderful blend of history and sci-fi sets this action film apart.

Plot Summary: Connor MacLeod, a 16th-century Scottish Highlander, discovers that he is immortal after surviving a seemingly fatal battle wound. He is trained by another immortal named Ramirez, who explains that immortals can only be killed by decapitation and are destined to fight each other until only a few remain for The Gathering. In 1985 New York City, Connor must face his ancient nemesis, the evil Kurgan, in a final battle for the ultimate Prize.

Thorn EMI Screen Ent., Highlander Prod.,
Davis-Panzer Prod.; 20th Century Fox

The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001), Director: Peter Jackson, Rated PG-13 for sci-fi violence

ONE RING TO RULE THEM ALL.

Starring: Ian McKellen, Elijah Wood, Viggo Mortensen, Sean Astin, Orlando Bloom, John Rhys-Davies, Billy Boyd, Dominic Monaghan, Liv Tyler, Cate Blanchett, Hugo Weaving, Sean Bean, Ian Holm

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

DML Top 50 #5a - Dad's Full (Spoiler) Review and Deep Dive of LOTR: The Fellowship of the Ring

"It is a strange fate that we should suffer so much fear and doubt over so small a thing. Such a little thing." - Boromir, about the ring Frodo has found

Why watch this? The first of Jackson's Tolkien film adaptations will lock you in for more.

Plot Summary: The fate of Middle-earth hangs in the balance as the Dark Lord Sauron seeks to regain the One Ring, a powerful object containing a part of his might. The Ring has fallen into the hands of young hobbit Frodo Baggins, who learns from the wizard Gandalf that it must be destroyed. Frodo and eight companions, forming the Fellowship of the Ring, embark on a perilous journey to Mordor, the only place where the Ring can be unmade in the fires of Mount Doom.

WingNut Films; New Line Cinema

THE BATTLE FOR MIDDLE-EARTH BEGINS!

Starring: Ian McKellen, Elijah Wood, Viggo Mortensen, Sean Astin, Orlando Bloom, John Rhys-Davies, Billy Boyd, Dominic Monaghan, Andy Serkis, Liv Tyler, Cate Blanchett, Hugo Weaving, Karl Urban, Bernard Hill

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

DML Top 50 #5b - Dad's Full (Spoiler) Review and Deep Dive of LOTR: The Two Towers

"So much death. What can men do against such reckless hate?" – King Théoden before the Battle of Helm's Deep

Why watch this? The second film perfectly stands on its own with attention to story and amazing battle sequences.

Plot Summary: The Fellowship is now scattered as the fight against Sauron and his allies intensifies. Frodo and Sam continue their perilous journey to destroy the One Ring, while being trailed by the enigmatic creature Gollum. Meanwhile, Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli unite with a resurrected Gandalf to rally the forces of Rohan against Saruman's growing army and defend the stronghold of Helm's Deep. The hobbits Merry and Pippin find themselves in the ancient Fangorn Forest and encounter the tree-like Ents, whom they must convince to join the fight against the encroaching darkness.

WingNut Films; New Line Cinema

THE EYE OF THE ENEMY IS MOVING.

Starring: Ian McKellen, Elijah Wood, Viggo Mortensen, Sean Astin, Orlando Bloom, John Rhys-Davies, Billy Boyd, Dominic Monaghan, Andy Serkis, Liv Tyler, Cate Blanchett, Hugo Weaving, Karl Urban, Bernard Hill

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

DML Top 50 #5c - Dad's Full (Spoiler) Review and Deep Dive of LOTR: The Return of the King

"We come to it, at last. The great battle of our time." - Gandalf the White

Why watch this? After two massive films, this delivers on all open plot threads and every moment is a treasure.

Plot Summary: The forces of good launch a final, desperate struggle against Sauron's overwhelming armies as Frodo and Sam undertake the harrowing final stages of their quest to destroy the One Ring. Aragorn embraces his destiny as the rightful king of Gondor and leads the forces of men in battle, while Frodo and Sam, guided by the treacherous Gollum, navigate the perilous lands of Mordor towards Mount Doom. As the fate of Middle-earth hangs in the balance, each character faces their own trials of courage, loyalty, and sacrifice in the hope of defeating the Dark Lord and restoring peace to the land.

WingNut Films; New Line Cinema

Prepare to be blown out of the water.

Starring: Johnny Depp, Geoffrey Rush, Orlando Bloom, Keira Knightley, Jonathan Pryce, Jack Davenport, Kevin R. McNally, Zoe Saldana

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

DML Top 50 #49 - Dad's Full (Spoiler) Review and Deep Dive of Curse of the Black Pearl

"You best start believin' in ghost stories, Miss Turner. You're in one!" - Capt. Barbossa

Why watch this? It's piraty. It's spooky. It's Knightley. It's Deppy.

Plot Summary: Blacksmith Will Turner and eccentric pirate Captain Jack Sparrow team up to rescue Elizabeth Swann, the daughter of Governor Swann, after she is kidnapped by pirates of the Black Pearl. This perilous journey involves commandeering a ship, recruiting a motley crew, and confronting the treacherous Captain Barbossa, a former ally of Jack, who stole his ship.

Walt Disney Pics, Jerry Bruckheimer Films;
Buena Vista Pictures Dist.

Indiana Jones - the new hero from the creators of JAWS and STAR WARS.

Starring: Harrison Ford, Karen Allen, Paul Freeman, Ronald Lacey, John Rhys-Davies, Denholm Elliott

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

DML Top 50 #6 - Dad's Full (Spoiler) Review and Deep Dive of Raiders of the Lost Ark

"An army which carries the Ark before it... is invincible." - Marcus Brody

Why watch this? This ode to actions serials of the past combined the '80's hottest star and director.

Plot Summary: In 1936, archaeologist Indiana Jones is tasked by the U.S. government to find the Ark of the Covenant before the Nazis, who believe its power could make their army invincible. He embarks on a thrilling adventure, navigating treacherous locations like Nepal and Egypt while facing off against dangerous adversaries and overcoming perilous obstacles. Joined by his spirited ex-flame Marion Ravenwood, Indy races against time to secure the legendary relic and prevent its devastating power from falling into the wrong hands.

Lucasfilm Ltd.; Paramount Pictures