There Has Never Been A Motion Picture Like... The Red Shoes

Starring: Moira Shearer, Anton Walbrook, Marius Goring, Robert Helpmann, Léonide Massine, Albert Bassermann, Ludmilla Tchérina, Esmond Knight, Austin Trevor, Irene Browne, Hay Petrie

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★☆ - near perfect

"You cannot have it both ways. A dancer who relies upon the doubtful comforts of human love can never be a great dancer. Never." – Boris Lermontov

Why watch this? It really is a work of dance art that overwhelms the senses.

Plot Summary: In South France, a driven young ballerina must choose between her intense ambition to become a great dancer and the love of a composer who wants her to lead a more balanced life. Her demanding instructor, obsessed with the belief that a dancer can have no other life than art, pushes her to an emotional breaking point. This psychological conflict unfolds as she dances the lead in a new ballet production called "The Red Shoes."

Powell and Pressburger, The Archers;
General Film Distributors

The Fate Of The World Rests On The Courage Of One Warrior.

Starring: (English voice cast:) Billy Crudup, Claire Danes, Minnie Driver, Billy Bob Thornton, John DeMita, John DiMaggio, Jada Pinkett Smith, Gillian Anderson, Debi Derryberry, Keith David, Tara Strong

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★☆ - near perfect

"Now watch closely, everyone. I'm going to show you how to kill a god. A god of life and death. The trick is not to fear him." - Lady Eboshi

Why watch this? It is yet another wonderful animated treasure from the mind of Hayao Miyazaki.

Plot Summary: Set in the Muromachi period of Japanese history, young Prince Ashitaka is cursed by a demonized boar god and must journey to the west to find a cure. There, he becomes embroiled in a conflict between Iron Town, a community encroaching upon the forest and its inhabitants, and the forest spirits, led by the enigmatic Princess Mononoke. Ashitaka attempts to mediate between the opposing forces, seeking a path to coexistence before the escalating violence consumes both humans and nature.

Studio Ghibli; Toho

You're only young once!

Starring: Tom Hanks, Elizabeth Perkins, Robert Loggia, John Heard, Jared Rushton, Jon Lovitz, David Moscow, Mercedes Ruehl

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★☆ - near perfect

"I'm your best friend. What's more important than that, huh?" - Billy

Why watch this? It's a modern day fairy tale about a wish that actually comes true.

Plot Summary: This tale centers on a young boy named Josh Baskin who, frustrated with his young age, makes a wish to be "big". He wakes up the next day to find himself transformed into an adult. He now must navigate the challenges and wonders of adulthood while trying to find a way to reverse the magical transformation. With the help of Billy, his best friend, he must find the mystical machine that granted his wish.

Gracie Films; 20th Century-Fox

A Film from Daniels

Starring: Michelle Yeoh, Stephanie Hsu, Jamie Lee Curtis, Ke Huy Quan, James Hong, Tallie Medel, Jenny Slate, Harry Shum Jr., Biff Wiff, Sunita Mani, Brian Le

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★☆ - near perfect

"Every rejection, every disappointment has led you here to this moment." - Waymond Wang

Why watch this? There are mind-trip films - then there is this chaotic eye-candy.

Plot Summary: This mind-bending story centers on Evelyn Wang, a laundromat owner who feels her life has been filled with missed opportunities and regrets. During a stressful IRS audit, she discovers, with help from her husband, the existence of the multi-verse. To her amazement, she can access the memories, skills, and experiences of her alternative selves across countless universes. Evelyn is tasked with using these newfound abilities to fight against a powerful being threatening to destroy the multiverse, while also navigating complex family relationships, particularly with her daughter, Joy.

IAC Films, Gozie AGBO, Year of the Rat,
Ley Line Ent.; A24

7 Faces of Dr. Lao (1964), Director: George Pal, rated Approved

Bolt the doors! Lock the windows! Dr. Lao's coming to town!

Starring: Tony Randall, Arthur O’Connell, Barbara Eden, John Ericson, Noah Berry Jr., Kevin Tate, Royal Dano

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★☆ - near perfect

"This is the circus of Dr. Lao. We show you things that you don't know. We've spared no pains and spared no dough, but we wanted to give you one helluva show!" - Dr. Lao

Why watch this? For its time, this was a strange, wonderful film to behold.

Plot Summary: In the dusty town of Abalone, Arizona, the arrival of a mysterious circus led by the enigmatic Dr. Lao disrupts the lives of its inhabitants. Through his fantastical acts and mythical creatures, Dr. Lao's circus challenges the townspeople to confront their flaws, desires, and personal truths. Most people walk away spooked, but a little wiser. For others, the lesson can be more terrifying.

George Pal; Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer

Warner Bros. proudly offers America a second chance to discover a one-of-a-kind masterpiece.

Starring: Eleanor Bron, Liam Cunningham, Liesel Matthews, Rusty Schwimmer, Vanessa Chester

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★☆ - near perfect

"Even if they live in tiny old attics, even if they dress in rags, even if they aren't pretty, or smart, or young, they're still princesses - all of us! Didn't your father ever tell you that?" - Sara Crewe

Why watch this? Many films are called "magical". This one really is!

Plot Summary: A young girl named Sara is sent to a New York City boarding school after her father enlists in World War I. When news arrives that her father is presumed dead, the headmistress, Miss Minchin, forces Sara into servitude. Despite her hardships, Sara maintains her kindness and imagination, inspiring those around her to persevere and believe in themselves.

Baltimore Pictures; Warner Bros.

In darkness, there can be light. In misery, there can be beauty. In death, there can be life...

Starring: Sergi López, Maribel Verdú, Ivana Baquero, Doug Jones, Ariadna Gil, Álex Angulo, Manolo Solor

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★☆ - near perfect

"I've had so many names. Old names that only the wind and the trees can pronounce. I am the mountain, the forest and the earth. I am... I am a faun. Your most humble servant, Your Highness." - Pan to Ofelia

Why watch this? As wise critic Roger Ebert penned, "It is a fairy tale for grown-ups".

Plot Summary: Set in Spain during WWII, a young girl, Ofelia, and her pregnant mother move into the compound where her ruthless father-in-law, Captain Vidal, resides. Vidal, a sadistic leader, is responsible for suppressing a band of rebels who resist the Francoist regime. He is cruel, especially to Ofelia. To cope, the girl escapes to an imaginary world of fairies and creatures. Within a nearby stone maze, she encounters the bizarre, horned Pan, a faun who gives her three tasks to prove her worthiness to become a princess.

Estudios Picasso, Tequila Gang, Esperanto
 Filmoj, Sententia Ent.; Warner Bros. Pictures

A film of visual scope, of imaginative concept, of powerful content, written and directed by Ingmar Bergman

Starring: Max von Sydow, Gunnar Björnstrand, Bengt Ekerot, Nils Poppe, Bibi Andersson, Inga Gill, Maud Hansson, Inga Landgré, Gunnel Lindblom, Bertil Anderberg

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★☆ - near perfect

"I want to confess as best I can, but my heart is void. The void is a mirror. I see my face and feel loathing and horror. My indifference to men has shut me out. I live now in a world of ghosts, a prisoner in my dreams." - Antonius Block

Why watch this? It's a classic for incredible visuals and thought-provoking themes of death and God.

Plot Summary: A weary medieval knight returns home from the Crusades only to find his homeland ravaged by the Black Death. When Death appears to claim him, the knight challenges the entity to a game of chess, hoping to find answers and perform one meaningful act before he inevitably dies. The film then follows the knight's profound journey across the desolate landscape as he engages with various people and wrestles with existential questions of faith, suffering, and the meaning of life.

Allan Ekelund; AB Svensk Filmindustri

A Fairy Tale for Troubled Times

Starring: Sally Hawkins, Octavia Spencer, Michael Shannon, Richard Jenkins, Doug Jones, Michael Stuhlbarg, Nick Searcy, Nigel Bennett

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★☆ - near perfect

"When he looks at me, the way he looks at me... He does not know, what I lack... Or - how - I am incomplete. He sees me, for what I - am, as I am. He's happy - to see me. Every time. Every day. Now, I can either save him... or let him die" - Giles, interpreting Elisa

Why watch this? It's strange, haunting and a work of extraordinary beauty.

Plot Summary: In 1962 Baltimore, Elisa, a mute cleaning lady working at a high-security government laboratory, leads a lonely, isolated life. Her existence changes forever when she discovers a mysterious, captured humanoid amphibian creature and forms a deep, unique bond with him. To save him from a sadistic colonel, Elisa teams up with her friends to plan a daring escape and set him free.

Double Dare You Prod.; Fox Searchlight Pics

After Life There Is More.

Starring: Robin Williams, Cuba Gooding Jr., Annabella Sciorra, Max von Sydow, Jessica Brooks Grant, Matt Salinger

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★☆ - near perfect

"Bring Mom back. You can do it. I believe in you. Did you ever stop to think why I became Albert? He was the only man you ever listened to. Listen to me now. Think of Mom." - Albert

Why watch this? This is about love and pain and saving your spouse, even after death.

Plot Summary: Chris dies in an accident. He enters a vibrant afterlife shaped by his colorful memories and imagination. He discovers his beloved wife, Annie, distraught by her losses, has committed suicide and is trapped in a dark, twisted version of the afterlife. Driven by love, Chris embarks on a perilous journey through these realms to rescue her.

Interscope Communications; PolyGram
Filmed Entertainment

Another World, Another Time... In the Age of Wonder.

Starring: Stephen Garlick, Lisa Maxwell, Billie Whitelaw, Percy Edwards, Barry Dennen, Michael Kilgarriff, Sean Barrett, Joseph O'Conor

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★☆ - near perfect

"When single shines the triple sun / What was sundered and undone / Shall be whole, the two made one / By gelfling hand or else by none." - Jen

Why watch this? This wonderful fantasy movie is visually stunning.

Plot Summary: This fantasy film, directed by Jim Henson and Frank Oz, is set on the fantastic alien world of Thra. It tells the story of Jen, a young Gelfling, who is tasked with a quest to find a missing shard splintered from a powerful crystal and heal his world. This endeavor is crucial to ending the tyrannical reign of villainous, bird-like creatures known as the Skeksis.

ITC Ent., Henson Associates;
Universal Pictures Assoc. Film Dist.

Paul Edgecomb didn't believe in miracles. Until the day he met one.

Starring: Tom Hanks, David Morse, Bonnie Hunt, Michael Clarke Duncan, James Cromwell, Michael Jeter, Graham Greene, Doug Hutchison, Sam Rockwell, Barry Pepper, Jeffrey DeMunn, Patricia Clarkson, Harry Dean Stanton, Eve Brent

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★☆ - near perfect

"I want it over and done. I do. I'm tired, boss. Tired of bein' on the road, lonely as a sparrow in the rain. Tired of not ever having me a buddy to be with, or tell me where we's coming from or going to, or why. Mostly I'm tired of people being ugly to each other. I'm tired of all the pain I feel and hear in the world everyday. There's too much of it. It's like pieces of glass in my head all the time." - John Coffey

Why watch this? Death row. A perfect place for the unusual to occur.

Plot Summary: In Depression-era Louisiana, a death row prison guard encounters a seemingly gentle giant inmate accused of a horrific crime. This inmate, John Coffey, possesses a mysterious and powerful gift, leading the guard and his colleagues to question his guilt and the nature of justice. The story unfolds through their interactions, revealing supernatural events and exploring themes of compassion and redemption.

Castle Rock Entertainment, Darkwoods Prod.;
Warner Bros.

She's finally met the man of her dreams. He's not real but you can't have everything.

Starring: Mia Farrow, Jeff Daniels, Danny Aiello, Edward Herrmann, John Wood, Deborah Rush, Zoe Caldwell, Dianne Wiest, Paul Herman, Van Johnson, Karen Akers, Milo O'Shea

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★☆ - near perfect

"Last week I was unloved. Now, two people love me - and it's the same two people." - Cecilia

Why watch this? This unique film is speaks of love, longing and old Hollywood.

Plot Summary: Cecilia is a woman struggling to make ends meet during the Great Depression. The passionate young woman is tied down by a deadbeat, abusive husband and a diner job she is not very good at. Her true love is attending movies at the local theater. The settings are usually exotic, the stars dashing and handsome. When a new feature begins its run, The Purple Rose of Cairo, she becomes enamored with an adventurous character, Tom Baxter. As her life gets harder, she retreats to the theater, again and again. Then something truly unbelievable occurs: In a critical scene, Tom Baxter looks into the audience, addresses Cecilia directly, and does the impossible - he walks off the screen and into her life, eagerly escaping the fictitious film universe.

Robert Greenhut; Orion Pictures

All his life, Ray Kinsella was searching for his dreams. Then one day, his dreams came looking for him.

Starring: Kevin Costner, Amy Madigan, James Earl Jones, Ray Liotta, Burt Lancaster, Gaby Hoffman, Timothy Busfield

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

"Ray, people will come, Ray. They'll come to Iowa for reasons they can't even fathom." - Terence Mann

Why watch this? It's both so American... and so magical.

Plot Summary: Iowa farmer Ray Kinsella is inspired by a voice he hears in his cornfield to build a baseball diamond. Despite skepticism and financial hardship, he pursues this vision with the support of his wife. His journey leads him to encounter figures from the past and present, all linked by their dreams and the game of baseball.

 Gordon Company; Universal Pictures

The Director Of "Batman" & "Beetlejuice" Invites You To Meet His Newest Creation

Starring: Johnny Depp, Winona Ryder, Dianne Wiest, Kathy Baker, Vincent Price, Alan Arkin, Conchata Ferrell

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

"I don't think it would be snowing now if he weren't still up there. Sometimes you can still catch me dancing in it." - Kim

Why watch this? This odd and sweet film is a lovely journey through Tim Burton's unique brain.

Plot Summary: Edward, an artificial humanoid, is created by an inventor who died before completing him, leaving him with scissors instead of hands. Edward lives in solitude in a Gothic castle until a kind Avon lady brings him to her suburban family's home. While trying to adapt to his new surroundings, Edward uses his unique hands to create beautiful topiaries and hairstyles, becoming a local celebrity. However, his gentle nature and burgeoning love for the family's daughter are eventually challenged by suspicion and misunderstanding from the townspeople.

Denise Di Novi, Tim Burton; 20th Century Fox

Forged by a god. Foretold by a wizard. Found by a King.

Starring:  Nigel Terry, Helen Mirren, Nicholas Clay, Nicol Williamson, Liam Neeson, Patrick Stewart, Cherie Lunghi

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

DML Top 50 #38 - Dad's Full (Spoiler) Review and Deep Dive of Excalibur

"You will be the land, and the land will be you. If you fail, the land will perish; as you thrive, the land will blossom." - Merlin

Why watch this? ... because it is the Arthurian legend in vivid, wonderful detail.

Plot Summary: Told here is the epic tale of King Arthur, tracing his journey from humble beginnings to the throne of a unified Britain. Guided by the enigmatic wizard Merlin, Arthur establishes the legendary Round Table and builds the realm of Camelot, ushering in an era of peace and prosperity. However, the kingdom's glory is threatened by internal strife, including betrayal, forbidden love, and the insidious plots of Arthur's treacherous half-sister, the sorceress Morgana.

Orion Pictures, Cinema '84; Warner Bros.

He's having the worst day of his life... over, and over...

Starring: Bill Murray, Andie MacDowell, Chris Elliott, Stephen Tobolowsky, Brian Doyle-Murray, Marita Geraghty, Angela Paton, Rick Overton

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

"I was in the Virgin Islands once. I met a girl. We ate lobster and drank pina coladas. At sunset we made love like sea otters. That was a pretty good day. Why couldn't I get that day over and over and over?" – Phil Connors

Why watch this? Put Bill Murray in any situation and he'll make it funny.

Plot Summary: Phil Connors, a cynical TV weatherman, travels to Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania to cover the annual Groundhog Day festivities. After a blizzard strands him in the small town, he wakes up the next morning to discover that it is February 2nd all over again. Phil is caught in a mysterious time loop, forcing him to relive the same day repeatedly, and he's the only one aware of the phenomenon. He attempts various methods to escape his predicament, eventually leading him to explore the possibilities and consequences within this looping reality.
 

Dad's Preview: A modern fairy tale of sorts about a self-centered man who is forced to re-live one day, Groundhog day, over and over. It is a great premise for a comedy, especially in the hands of veteran actor-director Harold Ramis and his buddy, comedian Bill Murray. The film delivers great performances, and plenty of really funny moments as Murray approaches each repeated day a little different than the day before. At first, it's kinda fun, but eventually it starts to drive him nuts. This experience might also help him learn what is really important in life.

Trevor Albert, Harold Ramis; Columbia Pics

... they didn't make history, they stole it!

Starring: John Cleese, Sean Connery, Shelley Duvall, Ian Holm, Katherine Helmond, Michael Palin, David Warner

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

"God is not interested in technology... He's obsessed with making the grass grow and getting rainbows right. Look at what he spends his time on: Forty-three species of parrot! Nipples for men!" - Evil

Why watch this? It's a fantasy comedy. Plus most of the Monty Python players have roles!

Plot Summary: Kevin, a young boy fascinated by history, is unexpectedly drawn into a fantastical adventure through time when a group of thieving dwarfs escape into his bedroom through a time portal. The dwarfs, former employees of the Supreme Being, have stolen a map detailing all of the time holes, which they use to jump through different eras to steal treasures. Pursued by both the Supreme Being and the powerful Evil Genius, Kevin joins the dwarfs on their journey, encountering various historical figures along the way.

HandMade Films; HandMade Films Dist. Ltd.

From the imagination of director Tim Burton. An adventure as big as life itself.

Starring: Ewan McGregor, Albert Finney, Billy Crudup, Jessica Lange, Helena Bonham Carter, Alison Lohman, Robert Guillaume, Danny DeVito

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

DML Top 50 #37 - Dad's Full (Spoiler) Review and Deep Dive of Big Fish

"A man tells so many stories, that he becomes the stories. They live on after him, and in that way he becomes immortal." Will Bloom

Why watch this? It is a visually stunning, creative tale about a wounded son and his eccentric father.

Plot Summary: Will returns home to visit his dying father, Edward Bloom, a man known for his incredible, larger-than-life stories. Frustrated by his father's constant tall tales, Will attempts to uncover the truth behind them, seeking to reconcile the imaginative narratives with the real life his father lived. Through flashbacks and Will's investigation, much is gleaned about the relationship between fact and fiction, the nature of legacy, and a son's journey to understanding his father.

Columbia Pics, Jinks-Cohen Co., The Zanuck Co.;
Sony Pictures Releasing

The most loved Christmas film of all time!

Starring: James Stewart, Donna Reed, Lionel Barrymore, Thomas Mitchell, Henry Travers, Beulah Bondi, Ward Bond, Frank Faylen, Gloria Grahame

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

DML Top 50 #11 - Dad's Full (Spoiler) Review and Deep Dive of It's a Wonderful Life

"Strange isn't it? Each man's life touches so many other lives. When he isn't around he leaves an awful hole, doesn't he?" - Clarence the angel

Why watch this? ... You're kidding, right? This holiday classic is so much more than that.

Plot Summary: This holiday classic follows George Bailey, a man who has always put the needs of his small town and its residents before his own ambitions. Through a series of selfless acts, he inadvertently creates a life that, despite its challenges, has a profound impact on those around him. When faced with a crisis that pushes him to his breaking point, an unexpected intervention shows him the true value of his existence and the indelible mark he has made on his community.

Liberty Films; RKO Radio Pictures

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