Their innocence. Their heritage. Their lives. Nothing would be spared in the fight for their freedom.

Starring: Matthew Broderick, Denzel Washington, Cary Elwes, Morgan Freeman, Andre Braugher, Jihmi Kennedy, Mark Margolis, Cliff DeYoung

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★☆ - near perfect

"Dying's been what these white boys have been doing for going on three years now! Dying by the thousands! Dying for you, fool! I know, 'cause I dug the graves. And all this time I keep askin' myself, when, O Lord, when it's gonna be our time? Gonna come a time when we all gonna hafta ante up. Ante up and kick in like men. LIKE MEN!" – Rawlins

Why watch this?  Broderick and Washington - they are the power that propels the film forward.

Plot Summary: This tells the true story of the 54th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment, the first all-black volunteer company in the US Civil War. A young, white army officer is assigned to lead this regiment and fights against the prejudice of his own Union army and the Confederate enemy. The film depicts the regiment's formation, training, and the challenges they faced as they fought for their freedom and the Union cause, culminating in their heroic actions at a pivotal battle.
 

Dad's Preview: The Civil War has a lot of stories, and this one deserves our special attention. It details the Massachusetts 54th Infantry regiment, one of the first all-black regiments in the Union Army. Not only were they fighting against the South, but they had to overcome the wounds of slavery, especially when an ex-slave joins their ranks. This excellent film is well-done, with strong performances and a memorable soundtrack. We are graced with one of Denzel's best early career performances - he smolders with anger toward those in authority, and eventually he turns his pain into leadership (and an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor).

Freddie Fields Productions; TriStar Pictures

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

Stripped of everything - they lived and loved and fought as if there were no tomorrow...

Starring: John Wayne, Kirk Douglas, Henry Fonda, Burgess Meredith, Patricia Neal, Brandon DeWilde, Dana Andrews, Tom Tyron, Paula Prentiss, Jill Haworth, Stanley Holloway, Franchot Tone, Patrick O'Neal, Carroll O'Connor, Henry Fonda

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

DML Top 100 #96 - Dad's Full (Spoiler) Review and Deep Dive of In Harm's Way

"Old Rock of Ages, we've got ourselves another war. A gut bustin', mother-lovin' Navy war." - Cmdr. Paul Eddington, after the attack on Pearl Harbor

Why watch this? One of the best films ever about the US Navy.

Plot Summary: During the immediate aftermath of the attack on Pearl Harbor, U.S. Navy Captain Rockwell "Rock" Torrey finds himself reassigned to a desk job following a controversial decision in battle. While adjusting to this new role, he begins a romance with nurse Maggie Haynes and attempts to reconnect with his estranged son, Jere, who is also serving in the Navy. As the war intensifies in the Pacific, Rock is given a chance at redemption when he is tasked with leading a crucial and dangerous mission against the Japanese forces.
 

Dad's Preview: This film is not a typical Wayne war movie. It focuses on the effect war has on the men and women embroiled within it. It paints a realistic picture of the lives of Navy personnel. Wayne's Rock Torrey can command a ship, but his marriage failed and his own son hates him. Kirk Douglas' Paul Eddington knows how to get things done, but he is hiding a violent temper beneath his easy-going persona. We also see the savagery of Naval sea battles, where ships fire huge shells at one another, causing incredible damage and mutilate the sailors on board.

Otto Preminger; Paramount Pictures

Leave No Man Behind.

Starring: Josh Hartnett, Eric Bana, Ewan McGregor, Tom Sizemore, Sam Shepard, William Fichtner

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

"Don't really matter what I think. Once that first bullet goes past your head, politics and all that shit just goes right out the window." – SFC "Hoot" Gibson

Why watch this? This is a historically accurate account of the 1993 Mogadishu Raid.

Plot Summary: In 1993, a group of elite U.S. Army Rangers and Delta Force operators are sent into Mogadishu, Somalia, on a mission to capture key lieutenants of a powerful warlord. However, the operation quickly escalates into a brutal and prolonged firefight when two Black Hawk helicopters are shot down. The stranded American soldiers must fight their way through hostile territory in a desperate struggle to survive and rescue their comrades.

Columbia Pics, Revolution Studios, J. Bruckheimer
Films; Sony Pictures Releasing

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.

Icon Productions, The Ladd Company;
Paramount Pictures

An epic adventure and passionate romance unfold against the panorama of a frontier wilderness ravaged by war.

Starring: Daniel Day-Lewis, Madeleine Stowe, Russell Means, Eric Schweig, Jodhi May, Steven Waddington, Wes Studi, Maurice Roëves

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

DML Top 50 #21 - Dad's Full (Spoiler) Review and Deep Dive of The Last of the Mohicans

"When the Grey Hair is dead, Magua will eat his heart. Before he dies, Magua will put his children under the knife, so the Grey Hair will know his seed is wiped out forever." - Magua

Why watch this? This classic American frontier story is a flawless work of art.

Plot Summary: During the French and Indian War in 1757, three trappers must escort a British colonel's daughters through the dangerous American wilderness to the safety of Fort William Henry. Their journey is complicated by the betrayal of a treacherous Huron guide, leading to an intense struggle for survival against hostile enemy forces. As the group battles through the rugged frontier landscape, the eldest daughter, Cora, and the Mohican scout, Hawkeye, form a profound connection amidst the escalating conflict.

Michael Mann, Hunt Lowry; 20th Century Fox

Ordinary men. Extraordinary times.

Starring: Damien Lewis, Ron Livingston, Dale Dye, Scott Grimes, Neal McDonough, Donnie Wahlberg, David Schwimmer, Kirk Acevedo, Michael Cudlitz, Rick Gomez, Frank John Hughes, Matthew Settle, Rick Warren

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

"The only hope you have is to accept the fact that you're already dead. The sooner you accept that, the sooner you'll be able to function as a soldier is supposed to function: without mercy, without compassion, without remorse. All war depends upon it." – Lt. Speers to a very nervous Pvt. Blithe

Why watch this? This encapsulates WWII in an enthralling, intense, realistic package.

Plot Summary: The story follows Easy Company, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment of the 101st Airborne Division, from their training in the United States to the end of World War II in Europe. The series chronicles their experiences through significant battles like D-Day, Operation Market Garden, and the Battle of the Bulge, highlighting their courage, sacrifice, and the bonds of brotherhood forged in combat.

Playtone, Dreamworks Television;
HBO Entertainment

The finest cast ever assembled re-lives history's most powerful story of love and rebellion.

Starring: Kirk Douglas, Laurence Olivier, Jean Simmons, Charles Laughton, Peter Ustinov, John Gavin, Tony Curtis

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

"And maybe there's no peace in this world, for us or for anyone else, I don't know. But I do know that, as long as we live, we must remain true to ourselves." - Spartacus

Why watch this? It's the first great gladiator masterpiece.

Plot Summary: This is the story of a Thracian slave, Spartacus, sold into brutal gladiatorial training in the Roman Republic. Witnessing the cruelty and oppression of his masters, Spartacus inspires and leads a burgeoning slave rebellion against the might of Rome. This revolt sparks a major conflict that challenges the Roman establishment and its ambitious figures vying for power.

Bryna Prod.; Universal International

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 spectacular story of America's first astronauts.

Starring: Scott Glenn, Ed Harris, Fred Ward, Sam Shepard, Lance Henriksen, Kim Stanley, Barbara Hershey, Veronica Cartwright, Pamela Reed

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

"It takes a special kind of man to volunteer for a suicide mission, especially when it's on national TV." – Chuck Yeager

Why watch this? It's an educational, and thoroughly engaging, film about the U.S. space program.

Plot Summary: Based on Tom Wolfe's book, the film chronicles the early days of the American space program, focusing on the lives of the first astronauts. It follows their selection and rigorous training as they strive to be the first Americans in space, juxtaposed with the exploits of legendary test pilot Chuck Yeager.

The Ladd Company; Warner Bros.

All Quiet on the Western Front (1930), Director: Lewis Milestone, rated Passed

The Human Side of the War as Seen Through the Eyes of Youth!

Starring: Lew Ayres, Louis Wolheim, John Wray, William Bakewell, Arnold Lucy, Ben Alexander, Scott Kolk, Owen Davis Jr.

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

"He tells you, 'Go out and die! But if you'll pardon me, it's easier to say 'go out and die' than it is to do it." - Paul Bäumer

Why watch this? WWI was a brutal, horrible war. This shows that nobody wins.

Plot Summary: Inspired by patriotic fervor, a group of young German schoolboys enlists in the army at the outbreak of World War I. They soon find their romantic notions of war shattered by the harsh realities of trench warfare, witnessing death and disillusionment firsthand. The film follows their experiences on the Western Front, emphasizing the dehumanizing effects and futility of the conflict.

Carl Laemmle Jr.; Universal Studios

The first casualty of war is innocence.

Starring: Tom Berenger, Willem Dafoe, Charlie Sheen, Keith David, Forest Whitaker, Francesco Quinn, Kevin Dillon, John C. McGinley, Reggie Johnson

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

"Somebody once wrote: "Hell is the impossibility of reason." That's what this place feels like Hell." - Chris Taylor

Why watch this? This is the apogee of Vietnam films. It's gut-wrenching.

Plot Summary: Vietnam in 1967 sees a young American, Chris Taylor, leave a privileged life to volunteer for infantry combat. Thrust into the heart of the jungle, he quickly confronts the brutal reality of warfare and the disillusionment that follows. As the conflict intensifies, Taylor finds himself caught between two conflicting ideologies represented by his sergeants, one embodying ruthlessness and the other compassion.

Hemdale Film Corporation; Orion Pictures

She was heralded as unsinkable...

Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Kate Winslet, Billy Zane, Kathy Bates, Frances Fisher, David Warner

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

"The press knows the size of Titanic, now I want them to marvel at her speed, too. We must give them something new to print. And the maiden voyage of Titanic must make headlines!" – I. Bruce Ismay

Why watch this? A truly epic telling of the greatest maritime disaster.

Plot Summary: A young, upper-class lady, Rose DeWitt Bukater, feels trapped by her engagement to a wealthy but controlling man, Cal. Aboard the luxurious RMS Titanic, she meets Jack Dawson, a free-spirited artist traveling in third class. Despite their stark class differences and Rose's engagement, they fall deeply in love. However, their romance unfolds against the backdrop of the ship's fateful maiden voyage and the impending disaster that will forever change their lives.

20th Century Fox, Lightstorm Ent.;
Paramount Pictures

A Salute to a Rebel

Starring: George C. Scott, Karl Malden, David Bauer, Edward Binns, John Doucette, Michael Strong

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

"Now I want you to remember that no bastard ever won a war by dying for his country. He won it by making the other poor dumb bastard die for his country." - General Patton

Why watch this? This is the role George C. Scott was destined to play.

Plot Summary: This war film chronicles the World War II career of the controversial American General George S. Patton, beginning with his command in North Africa after a devastating defeat. The film follows his leadership across key campaigns, including the Allied invasion of Sicily and the Battle of the Bulge. Throughout, it explores his complex personality, highlighting both his brilliant military strategy and his outspoken nature and difficult relationships with superiors and subordinates.

Frank McCarthy; 20th Century Fox

Same Land. Same God. Different Dreams.

Starring: Jeff Daniels, Tom Berenger, Martin Sheen, Maxwell Caulfield, C. Thomas Howell, Kevin Conway, Stephen Lang, Sam Elliott

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

"We are adrift here in a sea of blood and I want it to end. I want this to be the final battle." - General Robert E. Lee

Why watch this? It was a turning point in the U. S. Civil War - YOU NEED TO SEE THIS FILM!

Plot Summary: This historical epic depicts the pivotal three-day battle of the American Civil War, following the actions and decisions of key figures from both the Union and Confederate armies. It showcases the strategic movements, fierce fighting at crucial locations like Little Round Top, and the climactic Confederate charge known as Pickett's Charge.
 

Dad's Preview: This is a very detailed historical epic that recreates one of the most pivotal moments in American history. The viewer is asked to take in all the pieces that had to come together for this battle to occur. It is all there: Devil's Den, Little Roundtop, Pickett's charge. I understand that this was years ago, but historically, it is important to understand what occurred there in June of 1863. Jeff Daniels' performance shines as Col. Chamberlain, who led the 20th Maine on Little Roundtop.

Turner Pictures, TriStar Television, Esparza/Katz
Productions; New Line Cinema

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.

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer; Loew's Inc.

The list is life. The man was real. The story is true.

Starring: Liam Neeson, Ben Kingsley, Ralph Fiennes, Caroline Goodall, Jonathan Sagallie, Embeth Davidtz, Mark Ivanir, Beatrice Macola

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

DML Top 50 #25 - Dad's Full (Spoiler) Review and Deep Dive of Schindler's List

"They came with nothing. Nothing. And they flourished. For six centuries there has been a Jewish Krakow. Think about that. By this evening those six centuries are a rumor. They never happened. Today is history." – SS 2nd LT Amon Göth

Why watch this? ... to remember, and not let it happen again - EVER on this Earth.

Plot Summary: During World War II in German-occupied Poland, a German industrialist named Oskar Schindler arrives in Kraków seeking to make his fortune amidst the war's chaos. Initially driven by profit, he establishes a factory employing Jewish workers, seeing them as a source of cheap labor. As the Nazi regime intensifies its persecution of Jews, Schindler is confronted with the atrocities of the Holocaust and undergoes a profound moral transformation.

Amblin Entertainment; Universal Pictures

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

An Epic Film as Big as The West

Starring: Robert Duvall, Tommy Lee Jones, Danny Glover, Diane Lane, Robert Urich, Frederic Forrest, D. B. Sweeney, Ricky Schroder, Anjelica Huston, Chris Cooper, Barry Corbin, William Sanderson, Steve Buscemi

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

DML Top 50 #4 - Dad's Full (Spoiler) Review and Deep Dive of Lonesome Dove

"By god, it ain't dyin' I'm talkin' about, it's livin!" - Gus McCrae to Captain Woodrow Call

Why watch this? An American masterpiece that perfectly balances Western myth and Western realism.

Plot Summary: This epic Western is about two retired Texas Rangers, Augustus "Gus" McCrae and Woodrow Call, who decide to leave their quiet life in Texas for one last great adventure. They gather a crew and embark on a massive, perilous cattle drive spanning 3,000 miles to the unsettled lands of Montana Territory. Along the journey, the men face numerous challenges, including dangerous terrain, outlaws, and personal struggles that test their enduring friendship and character in the unforgiving American West.

Dyson Lovell, Suzanne de Passe,
Motown Productions; CBS

the mission is a man.

Starring: Tom Hanks, Edward Burns, Tom Sizemore, Giovanni Ribisi, Matt Damon, Vin Diesel, Adam Goldberg, Barry Pepper, Dennis Farina

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

DML Top 50 #3 - Dad's Full (Spoiler) Review and Deep Dive of Saving Private Ryan

"The boy's alive, and we are going to send somebody to find him, and we are going to get him the hell out of there." - Gen. George C. Marshall

Why watch this? This film honestly illustrates what many infantry soldiers went through during WWII.

Plot Summary: A squad of US soldiers during World War II, led by Captain John Miller, survive the D-Day invation. They get a new assignment to venture behind enemy lines in German-occupied France to locate Private James Ryan and bring him home safely. This extraordinary assignment is sparked by the tragic news that Ryan's three brothers have already been killed in action, and the government hopes to spare his family from further loss. As the soldiers confront the brutal realities of war, the film explores the moral dilemmas of risking many lives to save one man.

Amblin Ent., Mutual Film Co.; DreamWorks
Pictures, Paramount Pictures

The most magnificent picture ever!

Starring: Clark Gable, Vivien Leigh, Leslie Howard, Olivia de Havilland, Thomas Mitchell, Hattie McDaniel, Ona Munson

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

"I'm going to live through this and when it's all over, I'll never be hungry again. No, nor any of my folk. If I have to lie, steal, cheat or kill, as God is my witness, I'll never be hungry again." - Scarlett O'Hara

Why watch this? ... the burning of Atlanta, which is a spectacle on screen to behold.

Plot Summary: It follows the life of Scarlett O'Hara, a spoiled, rich plantation debutante. Then the Civil War begins... As the South's eventual loss becomes evident, Atlanta is burned. In the aftermath, Scarlett finally returns to her devastated plantation home. With her father dead, she has a fight on her hands to keep it. Luckily, the noble scoundrel, Rhett Butler, gives her aid.
 

Dad's Preview: This is the great American story of the Old South.  As I have watched this film through the years, my affection for Scarlett has evolved. The film is about her and the many conflicts she endures. My Mom, though, only saw the handsome Clark Gable and all his confident charm. Many have called this a "racist" film - I disagree. Sure, it portrays a racist South, yet also gave us an admirable black character in Hattie McDaniel as the strong-willed servant Mammy. She was the first African American to win and Academy Award (for Best Supporting Actress).

Selznick International Pictures,
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer; Loew's Inc.