Adventure
The African Queen
1951
Directed by John Huston; Novel Written by C.S. Forester; Adapted by James Agee
Starring Humphrey Bogart (as Charlie Allnut) and Katherine Hepburn (as Rose Sayer)
A moralistic goody-two-shoes missionary convinces a rough talking, hard drinking riverboat captain to attack a warship off the coast of Africa during World War 1.
Famous Lines:
Charlie: "We can't do that!"
Rose: "How do you know? You never tried it."
Charlie: "Well, yeah, but I never tried shooting myself in the head neither."
Back to the Future
1985
Directed by Robert Zemeckis; Written by Robert Zemeckis and Bob Gale
Starring Michael J. Fox (as Marty McFly), Christopher Lloyd (as Dr. Emmett Brown), Crispin Glover (as George McFly), and Lea Thompson (as Lorraine Baines McFly)
A young man and an eccentric professor in 1985 take a time machine back to 1955 to make sure his mom hooks up with his dorky dad.
Famous Lines:
Lou: "You gonna order something, kid?"
Marty: "Ah, yeah, give me a Tab."
Lou: "Tab? I can't give you a tab unless you order something."
Marty: "Alright, give me a Pepsi Free."
Lou: "You want a Pepsi, pal, you're gonna pay for it."
The Bridge on the River Kwai
1957
Directed by David Lean; Written by Pierre Boulle
Starring William Holden (as Shears), Jack Hawkins (as Major Warden), and Alec Guinness (as Colonel Nicholson)
Set in World War II, captured British soldiers are forced to build a bridge for the Japanese.
Famous Lines:
Shears to nurse: "You give me powders, pills, baths, injections, enemas; when all I need is love."
Lawrence of Arabia
1962
Directed by David Lean; Written by T.E. Lawrence; Screenplay by Robert Bolt
Starring Peter O'Toole (as T.E. Lawrence), Alec Guinness (as Prince Feisal), and Anthony Quinn (as Auda Abu Tayi)
This classic movie follows the life of T.E. Lawrence, a military officer who assists Prince Feisal of the Arab Tribal Army. The journalist Jackson Bentley expertly chronicles Lawrence's escapades and manages to capture the true essence of this remarkable man.
Famous Lines:
General Murray: " I can't make out whether you're a bloody madman or just half-witted."
T.E. Lawrence: "I have the same problem, sir."
Stand By Me
1986
Directed by Rob Reiner; Novel Written by Stephen King; Screenplay by Raynold Gideon
Starring River Phoenix (as Chris Chambers), Jerry O'Connell (as Vern Tessio), Corey Feldman (as Teddy Duchamp), Keifer Sutherland (as Ace Merrill), and Wil Wheaton (as Gordie Lachance)
Four pre-teens embark on a journey after hearing a rumor that a dead man's body was lying in the woods next to a railroad track. A great coming-of age film.
Famous Lines:
Teddy: "I am acting my age. I am in the prime of my youth and I'll only be young once."
Chris: "Yeah, but you're gonna be stupid for the rest of your life."
Animation
Fantasia
1940
Directed by James Algar and Samuel Armstrong
Written by Joe Grant and Dick Huemer
Conducted by Leopold Stokowski; Narrated by Deems Taylor
Classical music is the backdrop to some of the most incredible animation of all time.
Finding Nemo
2003
Directed by Andrew Stanton and Lee Unkrich; Story by Andrew Stanton.
Starring Albert Brooks (as Marlin), Ellen DeGeneres (as Dory), Alexander Gould (as Nemo), and Willem Dafoe (as Gill)
An endearing, yet weak father must search the ocean for his son, a little bewildered clownfish named Nemo.
Famous Lines:
Marlin to Dory: " It's because I like you I don't want to be with you. It's a complicated emotion."
The Incredibles
2004
Directed and Written by Brad Bird
Starring Craig T. Nelson (as Bob Parr/Mr. Incredible), Holly Hunter (as Helen Parr/Elastigirl) and Samuel L. Jackson (as Lucius Best/Frozone), and Sarah Vowell (as Violet Parr)
For years, Mr. Incredible and his wife Helen were famous superheroes until the government forced them into retirement. They moved into suburbia and were blessed with superhero children, but something was missing. The egotistical patriarch of the family was going through a sort of mid-life crisis while his poor overworked wife was struggling to keep the family and house together. That was until they were called out of retirement.
The animation rocks. The dialogue and plot development rocks. The direction rocks. An all around great film.
Famous Lines:
Bob Parr: " It's not a graduation. He's moving from the 4th grade to the 5th grade."
Helen Parr: " It's a ceremony."
Bob Parr: " It's psychotic! They keep creating new ways to celebrate mediocrity."
Monsters Inc.
2001
Animated
Directed by Peter Doctor and David Silverman
Starring John Goodman (as James P. 'Sulley" Sullivan), Billy Crystal (as Mike Wazowski), and Jennifer Tilly (as Celia)
Rated PG *****
In Monstropolis, the monster world, the only way to get electricity is from the screams of scared children. Screams are all it takes to produce power and Sulley scores Monsters Inc. the best scares. Of course, human kids have the power to contaminate Monstropolis, so paranoia runs rampant through the monster community. The monsters become hysterical at the very mention of the word "child." One night an adorable kid (the cutest animated child one may ever see) accidentally infiltrates their world and threatens to contaminate the entire city. Sulley takes it upon himself to hide the child from the authorities and from his archenemy an in the process falls completely in love with her.
Famous Lines:
Mike: " Can I borrow your odorant?"
Sulley: "Yeah, I got, uh, smelly garbage or old dumpster."
Mike: "You got, uh, low tide?"
Sulley: "No."
Mike: "How about wet dog?"
Sulley: "Yep. Stink it up."
The Nightmare Before Christmas
1993
Directed by Henry Selick; Written by Tim Burton
Starring Voiceovers Chris Sarandon (as Jack Skellington) and Catherine O'Hara (as Sally)
Rated PG ****
In the surreal city of Halloween Town, the pumpkin king Jack Skellington becomes bored with doing the same thing day after day. When he accidentally happens upon Christmas Town and sees how happy and bouncy everyone is, the envious Jack decides that Halloween Town should host the Holiday instead of Christmas Town. He elicits the help of every hobgoblin and ghoul in Halloween Town to help him prepare, decorate, build creepy little toys for tots, and kidnap Santa, but his dreams of grandeur simply don't work out. In 1993, this flick was a real groundbreaker, and its lure still exists today.
Famous Lines:
Jack (upon seeing Christmas Town): "There's children throwing snowballs / instead of throwing heads / they're busy building toys / and absolutely no one's dead!"
Shrek
2001
Directed by Andrew Adamson and Vicky Jenson
Starring Mike Myers (as Shrek), Eddie Murphy (as Donkey), Cameron Diaz (as Princess Fiona), and John Lithgow (as Lord Farquaad)
Rated PG *****
Lord Farquaad, the short, irksome, and grating ruler of the fairy tale land of Duloc, decides the fairy tale creatures living in his kingdom are a nuisance, so he banishes them to a swamp inhabited by an ogre named Shrek. Of course, Shrek is not pleased and confronts the weasel king who dumped the aggravating little people at his front door. Farquaad agrees to take the critters back if he rescues the object of his desire, the beautiful Princess Fiona from a castle tower guarded by a fire-breathing dragon. From there, Shrek, his trusty and unwanted sidekick Donkey embark on the journey to liberate the princess and bring her back to wed the insipid Farquaad.
Famous Lines:
1. Donkey to Shrek: "Okay, let me get this straight: you gonna go fight a dragon and rescue a princess just so Farquaad'll give you back your swamp, which you only don't have 'cos he filled it full of freaks in the first place, is that about right?"
2. Lord Farquaad: "Some of you may die, but it's a sacrifice I'm willing to make."
3. Donkey to Shrek: "And then one time I ate some rotten berries. Man there were some strong gases eeking outta my butt that day."
Toy Story
1995
Directed by John Lasseter; Written by John Lasseter and Peter Docter
Starring Tom Hanks (as Woody), Don Rickles (as Mr. Potato Head), and Tim Allen (as Buzz Lightyear)
A super space man toy replaces the "top dog" cowboy toy in a young boy's bedroom, starting a toy war.
Famous Lines:
1. Buzz: "I've set my laser from stun to kill."
Woody: "Oh, great, if anyone attacks we can blink em' to death."
2. Woody: "Buzz, you're flying!"
Buzz: "This isn't flying, this is falling with style."
Action
Ben Hur
1959
Directed by William Wyler; Novel Written by Lew Wallace; Screenplay Written by Karl Tunberg
Starring Charlton Heston (as Judah Ben-Hur), Haya Harareet (as Esther), and Jack Hawkins (as Quintus Arrius0
A Jewish prince exacts the revenge on a Roman "friend" who betrayed him by forcing him into slavery. This film is a sweeping epic that should not be missed.
Famous Lines:
Drusus: "Are they still alive?"
Jailer One: "The jailer in that wing will know."
Jailer Two: "Oh, they're alive. The food keeps disappearing."
Die Hard
1988
Directed by John McTiernan; Novel by Roderick Thorp; Screenplay Written by Jeb Stuart
Starring Bruce Willis (as John McClane) and Bonnie Bedelia (as Holly Gennero McClane)
New York Police officer John McClane battles terrorists attempting to take over a corporate office building in Los Angeles.
Famous Lines:
John: "A hundred million terrorists in the world and I gotta kill one with feet smaller than my sister."
Dirty Harry
1971
Directed by Don Siegel; Written by Harry Julian Fink and Rita M. Fink
Starring Clint Eastwood (as Inspector Dirty Harry Callahan) and Harry Guardino (Lt. Al Bressler)
A cool-talking, fast shooting cop hunts down a serial killer sniper. Of course, through his journey he blows things up, shoots people, and angers his boss. Good clean fun.
Famous Lines:
Dirty Harry: "I know what you're thinking. "Did he fire six shots or only five?" Well, to tell you the truth, in all this excitement I kind of lost track myself. But being as this is a .44 Magnum, the most powerful handgun in the world, and would blow your head clean off, you've got to ask yourself a question: Do I feel lucky? Well, do ya punk?"
Get Carter
2000 (Remake of the 1971 film)
Directed by Stephen T. Kay; Novel Written by Ted Lewis; Screenplay by David McKenna
Starring Sylvester Stallone (as Jack Carter), Rachael Leigh Cook (as Doreen), Alan Cumming (as Jeremy Kinnear), Michael Caine (as Cliff Brumby), and Mickey Rourke (as Cyrus Paice)
Stallone plays Jack Carter, a hit man who avenges the murder of his brother. This movie may be dark, violent, and slightly depressing, but it contains a lesson about forgiveness and family bonds.
Famous Lines:
Jack: "You're goin' down like an one-legged man in an ass-kicking contest."
Gladiator
2000
Directed by Ridley Scott; Written by David Franzoni
Starring Russell Crowe (as Maximus), Joaquin Phoenix (as Commodus), Richard Harris (as Marcus Aurelius) and Connie Nielsen (as Lucilla)
An insane, sister-loving Roman prince betrays a successful Roman general by murdering the man's family and booting him out of power. In order to exact revenge, the ousted general comes back to Rome as a gladiator to regain his honor. This film may be super bloody, but it is well acted, superbly written, and carries an honorable message about courage, friendship and integrity.
Famous Lines:
Maximus: "Do you find it difficult to do your duty?"
Cicero: "Sometimes I do what I want to do. The rest of the time, I do what I have to."
Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark
1981
Directed by Steven Spielberg; Written by George Lucas and Philip Kaufman
Starring Harrison Ford (as Indiana Jones), John Rhys-Davies (as Sallah) and Karen Allen (as Marion Ravenwood)
Armed with a whip and guts, American archeologist Indiana Jones tries to rescue the Biblical Ark of the Covenant from the Nazis before Hitler is able to unleash its power. The lure of Indiana Jones is the fact that he is tough, highly educated, sexy, and funny and is the perfect hero.
Famous Lines:
Indiana to pilot, Jock: "There's a big snake in the plane, Jock."
Jock: "Oh, that's just my pet snake Reggie."
Indiana: "I hate snakes, Jock. I hate 'em."
Jock: "C'mon, show a little backbone, will ya?"
The Mummy
1999
Directed by Stephan Sommers
Starring Brendon Frasier (as Richard O'Connell), Rachel Weisz (as Evelyn Carnahan), John Hannah (as Jonathon Carnahan), and Arnold Vosloo (as High Priest Imhotep)
Rated PG-13 ***
In the ancient city of Hamunaptra, a French Foreign Legion soldier, a sarcastic librarian, and her bumbling brother unintentionally conjure up the spirit of a High Priest murders thousands of years before.
Famous Lines:
Evelyn: "I've dreamt about this since I was a little girl."
Rick: "You dream about dead guys?"
Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl
2003
Directed by Gore Verbinski; Written by Ted Elliot and Terry Rossio
Starring Johnny Depp (as Jack Sparrow), Orlando Bloom (as Will Turner), Keira Knightly (as Elizabeth Swann), and Geoffrey Rush (as Barbossa)
After his ship is stolen, a drunken pirate named Jack Sparrow agrees to rescue a governor's spunky daughter from the pirates who stole his ship and treasure. This flick is far more frightening than the trailers suggested, yet it is an old fashioned tale of swashbucklers, treasure, and romance.
Famous Lines:
Jack: "Put it away [the gun], son. It's not worth you getting beat again."
Will: "You didn't beat me. You ignored the rules of engagement. In a fair fight, I'd kill you."
Jack: "That's not much incentive for me to fight fair, then, is it?"
Pulp Fiction
1994
Directed by Quentin Tarantino
Written by Quentin Tarantino and Roger Avery.
Starring John Travolta (as Vincent Vega), Uma Thurman (as Mia Wallace), Samuel L. Jackson (as Jules Winnfield), Tim Roth (as Pumpkin), Amanda Plummer (as Honey Bunny), Bruce Willis (as Bruce Coolidge), Ving Rhames (as Marcellus Wallace), Eric Stoltz (as Lance), and Rosanna Arquette (as Jody).
A disjointed, yet coherent set of connected stories follows two hit men, a boxer, and diner robbers. Already considered a cult classic.
Famous Lines:
Vincent: "And you know what they call a... a... a Quarter Pounder with Cheese in Paris?"
Jules: "They don't call it a Quarter Pounder with cheese?"
Vincent: "No man, they got the metric system. They wouldn't know what the [expletive] a Quarter Pounder is."
Jules: "Then what do they call it?"
Vincent: "They call it a "Royale" with cheese."
Jules: "A "Royale" with cheese. What do they call a Big Mac?"
Vincent: "Well, a Big Mac's a Big Mac, but they call it "le Big-Mac"."
Jules: "Le Big-Mac". Ha ha ha ha. What do they call a Whopper?"
Vincent: "I dunno, I didn't go into Burger King."
Swordfish
2001
Directed by Dominic Sena; Written by Skip Woods
Starring John Travolta (as Gabriel Shear), Halle Berry (as Ginger), Hugh Jackman (as Stanley Jobson), and Don Cheadle (as Agent Roberts)
A computer hacker is coerced into helping a renegade CIA agent steal a wad of money from the government.
Famous Lines:
Stanley: "War? Who are we at war with?"
Gabriel: "Anyone who impinges on America's freedom. Terrorist states, Stanley. Someone must bring their war to them. They bomb a church, we bomb 10. They hijack a plane, we take out an airport. They execute American tourist, we tactically nuke an entire city. Our job is to make terrorism so horrific that is becomes unthinkable to attack Americans."
Top Gun
1986
Directed by Tony Scott
Starring Tom Cruise (as Lt. Pete "Maverick" Mitchell), Val Klimer (as Lt. Tom "Iceman" Kazanski), Anthony Edwards (Lt. Nick "Goose" Bradshaw), and Kelly McGillis (as Charlotte "Charlie" Blackwood)
Two hot dog military fighter pilots test the mettle and stir up the Top Gun program.
Famous Lines:
Goose: "The defense department regrets to inform you that your sons are dead because they were stupid."
Comedy
Abbott and Costello Meet the Mummy
1955
Directed by Charles Lamont; Written by Lee Loeb and John Grant
Starring Bud Abbott and Lou Costello
An Egyptian sect wants to retrieve an ancient medallion from Abbott and Costello.
Addams Family
1995
Starring Raoul Julia (as Gomez Addams), Angelica Huston (as Morticia Addams), Christopher Lloyd (as Uncle Fester), Jimmy Workman (as Pugsley Addams) and Christina Ricci (as Wednesday Addams)
Rated PG ***
The wacky, gothic family reinvents the "Joneses" in this campy classic. Uncle Fester, after being lost at sea for more than two decades returns…or has he?
Famous Lines:
1. Gomez: "They say that a man who represents himself in court has a fool for a client. And with God as my witness, I am that fool!"
2. Girl Scout [at the Addams' Lemonade Stand]: "Is this made from real lemons?"
Wednesday: "Yes"
Girl Scout: "I only like all-natural foods and beverages, organically grown, with no preservatives. Are you sure they're real lemons?"
Pugsley: "Yes"
Girl Scout: "I'll tell you what. I'll buy a cup if you buy a box of my delicious Girl Scout cookies. Do we have a deal?"
Wednesday: "Are they made from real Girl Scouts?"
American Pie
1999
Directed by Paul Weitz
Starring Jason Biggs (as Jim Levinstein), Chris Klein (as Chris 'Oz' Ostreicher), Thomas Ian Nichols (as Kevin Myers), Alyson Hannigan (as Michelle Flaherty), Shannon Elizabeth (as Nadia), Eddie Kaye Thomas (as Paul Finch), and Tara Reid (as Victoria 'Vicky' Lathum)
Rated R ****
Four teenage friends make a pack to lose their virginity by graduation and a wager on who will lose it first. This plot line is not original, but the film is one of the first of its kind. Character development is done well and the acting is perfectly fine, but it is the potty humor mixed with minor slapstick that makes this flick worth watching. One glaring problem does exist, however; in this day and age, the mere proposition that these four attractive, halfway intelligent, upper middle class guys were still virgins at the ages of 17 or 18 is preposterous.
Famous Lines:
Jim: "You realize we're all going to go to college as virgins. They probably have special dorms for people like us."
Arsenic and Old Lace
1944
Directed by Frank Capra; Play Written by Joseph Kesselring; Screenplay by Julius J. Epstein
Starring Cary Grant (as Mortimer Brewster), Raymond Massey (as Jonathon Brewster), Jean Adair (as Aunt Martha Brewster), and Josephine Hull (as Aunt Abby Brewster)
A man must figure out why and how his aunts and brother are killing people before he can leave for his honeymoon.
Famous Lines:
Dr. Einstein: "At least people in plays act like they've got sense."
Mortimer Brewster: "Oh, you think so? Did you ever see anybody in a play act like they got any intelligence?"
Dr. Einstein: "How can anybody be so stupid!"
Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me
1999
Directed by Jay Roach
Starring Mike Myers (as Austin Powers and Dr. Evil), Heather Graham (as Felicity Shagwell), Rob Lowe (as Young Number Two), Seth Green (as Scott Evil), Robert Wagner (as Number Two), Verne Troyer (as Mini-Me), and Elizabeth Hurley (as Vanessa Kensington)
Rated R ***
Austin must go back to 1969 to regain his "mojo" that Dr. Evil stole from him. There he meets the insatiable Agent Shagwell and together they battle the forces of EVIL. In Dr. Evil's life, he ignores Scott, dotes over his little cloned Mini-Me, falls in love, and attempts to extort money from the world governments by putting a cannon on the moon and threatening to use it.
Famous Lines:
Dr. Evil: "As you know, every diabolical scheme I've hatched has been thwarted by Austin Powers. And why is that, ladies and gentlemen?"
Scott Evil: "Because you never kill him when you get the chance, and you're a dope?"
Bedknobs and Broomsticks
1971
Directed by Robert Stevenson
Starring Angela Lansbury (as Eglantine Price), David Tomlinson (as Mr. Emelius Browne) and Roddy MacDowall (as Mr. Jelk)
Rated G ****
Eglantine Price, an apprentice witch, becomes caretaker of three children in World War II England. With the help of a professor at witchcraft school, she finds the words to the "Substitutiary Locomotion" and thereby assists the Allied Forces in the war against the Axis of Evil. In typical British manner, this film is slightly dark and grim, but a lot of fun for kids and adults alike. Anyone who enjoys the wildly popular Harry Potter films will like this one.
Famous Lines:
Eglantine: "I don't believe in giving animals ridiculous names. I call him Cosmic Creepers."
Beetlejuice
Directed by Tim Burton; Written by Michael McDowell and Warren Skaaren
Starring Geena Davis (as Barbara), Alec Baldwin (as Adam), Sylvia Sidney (as Juno) and Michael Keaton (as Beetlejuice)
Rated PG ****
A newly dead couple encounters a mischievous con-artist ghost who needs to marry a live person to escape from the "other side."
Famous Lines:
Juno: "I heard. Tore your faces right off. It obviously doesn't do any good to pull your heads off in front of people if they can't see you."
Better Off Dead
1985
Directed by Savage Steve Holland
Starring John Cusack (as Lane Meyer), Curtis Armstrong (as Charles De Mar), Diane Franklin (as Monique Junot) and Kim Darby (as Jenny Meyer)
Rated PG ****
Jilted by his high school sweetheart, a loser attempts suicide, gets beat up and stalked by a newspaper boy, finds love with a foreign exchange student, and races a super-jerk down the dreaded K-12 ski slope.
Famous Lines:
1. Charles: "I've been going to this high school for seven and a half years. I'm no dummy. I know high school girls."
2. Monique: He keeps putting his testicles all over me."
Lane: "Excuse Me?"
Monique: "You know, like octopus. Testicles."
Lane: "Ohhhhh, Tentacles. N-T."
Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure
1989
Directed by Stephan Herek; Written by Richard Christian Matheson and Ed Solomon
Starring Keanu Reeves (as Ted Logan) , Alex Winter (as Bill S. Preston, Esq.) , and George Carlin (as Rufus)
Rated PG ***
Two total morons travel through time collecting famous people in history in order to complete a final exam.
Famous Lines:
1. Mr. Ryan (a teacher): "It seems to me the only thing you've learned is that Caesar is a 'salad dressing dude.'"
2. Mr. Ryan: "Who was Joan of Arc?"
Ted: "Noah's Wife?"
The Birdcage
1996
Directed by Mike Nichols: Written by Jean Poiret and Francis Veber
Starring Robin Williams (as Armand Goldman), Gene Hackman (as Senator Kevin Keeley), and Nathan Lane (as Albert Goldman)
Rated PG-13 ***
A gay cabaret owner and his transvestite companion agree to put up a false straight front so that their son can introduce them to his fiancee's right-wing moralistic parents. One of the funniest films ever made.
Famous Lines:
1. Celsius (a dancer): "Chewing gun helps me think."
Albert: "Sweetie, you're wasting your gum"
2. Albert: "Whatever I am, he made me! I was adorable once, young and full of hope. And now look at me! I'm this short, fat, insecure, middle-aged THING!"
Armand: "I made you short?"
3. Albert (discussing abortion with Sen. Keeley): "Oh, I know what you're going to say. 'If you kill the mother, the fetus dies too.' But the fetus is going to be aborted anyway, so why not let it go down with the ship?"
Bruce Almighty
2003
Directed by Tom Shadyac; Written Steve Koren and Mark O'Keefe
Starring Jim Carrey (as Bruce Nolan), Morgan Freeman (as God), and Jennifer Anniston (as Grace Connelly)
A man, disgruntled with his life and God, complains too loud and winds up temporarily inheriting all of God's Power.
Famous Lines:
Bruce: "Behind every great man... is a woman rolling her eyes"
Clue
1985
Directed by Jonathan Lynn; Written by John Landis and Jonathon Lynn
Starring Martin Mull (as Colonel Mustard), Eileen Brennan (as Mrs. Peacock), Tim Curry (as Wadsworth), Michael McKean (as Mr. Green), Leslie Ann Warren (as Miss Scarlet), Madeline Kahn (as Mrs. White), and Christopher Lloyd (as Professor Plum)
Rated PG ****
Based on the classic board game, the participants gather at Mr. Body's home for a game of cat and mouse.
Famous Lines:
1. Mrs. White (speaking about her dead husband): "It's a matter of life after death, now that he's dead I have a life."
2. Wadsworth: "But he was your second husband. Your first husband also disappeared."
Mrs. White: "But that was his job. He was an illusionist."
Wadsworth: "But he never reappeared."
Mrs. White: "He wasn't a very good illusionist."
3. Wadsworth: "Professor Plum, you were once a professor of psychiatry specializing in helping paranoid and homicidal lunatics suffering from delusions of grandeur."
Prof. Plum: "Yes, but now I work for the United Nations."
Wadsworth: "Then your work has not changed."
Fast Times at Ridgemont High
1982
Directed by Amy Heckerling; Written by Cameron Crowe
Starring Sean Penn (as Jeff Spicoli), Phoebe Cates (as Linda Barrett), Robert Romanus (as Mike Damone), Jennifer Jason Lee (as Stacy Hamilton), Judge Reinhold (as Brad Hamilton), and Forest Whittaker (as Charles Jefferson)
Rated R ****
Based on a true story, this flick focuses on the lives of high school students in southern California. It has its comedic moments, but the thrust of its charm comes from exposing the dramatic and sometimes painful lessons that we all learn while growing up.
Famous Lines:
1. Businessman (complaining about his fast food breakfast): "It says one hundred percent guaranteed, you moron!"
Brad Hamilton: "Mister, if you don't shut up I'm gonna kick one hundred percent of your ass!"
2. Mr. Hand: "What are you people? On dope?"
Fear & Loathing in Las Vegas
1998
Directed by Terry Gilliam; Book Written by Hunter S. Thompson; Screenplay by Terry Gilliam
Starring Benicio Del Toro (as Dr. Gonzo), Johnny Depp (as Raoul Duke/Hunter S. Thompson). Christina Ricci (as Lucy)
Rated R ****
An oddball journalist and his psychopathic lawyer travel to Las Vegas for a series of drug-induced psychedelic escapades. This flick stays very true to the original book.
Famous Lines:
1. Raoul (talking about Dr. Gonzo): There he goes. "One of God's own prototypes. Some kind of high-powered mutant never even considered for mass production. Too weird to live, and too rare to die."
2. Raoul: "Few people understand the psychology of dealing with a highway traffic cop. Your normal speeder will panic and immediately pull over to the side. This is wrong. It arouses contempt in the cop-heart. Make the bastard chase you. He will follow."
Ferris Bueller's Day Off
1986
Directed by John Hughes; Written by John Hughes
Starring Matthew Broderick (as Ferris Bueller), Alan Ruck (as Cameron Frye), Mia Sara (Sloane Peterson), and Jeffrey Jones (as Ed Rooney)
Rated PG ****
A clever high school student and his two friends play hooky from school and take a trip into the city to have fun. This is a classic teenage film about goofing off and getting into (or staying out of) trouble.
Famous Lines:
Cameron: "Why did you kick me?"
Ferris: "Where is your brain?"
Cameron: "Why did you kick me?"
Ferris: "Where is your brain?"
Cameron: "Why did you kick me?"
Ferris: "Where is your brain?"
Cameron: "I asked you first."
The Goonies
1985
Directed by Richard Donner; Written by Steven Spielberg and Chris Columbus
Starring Sean Astin (as Mikey Walsh), Jeff Cohen (as "Chunk" Cohen), Martha Plimpton (as Stefanie 'Stef' Steinbrenner), Corey Feldman (as Clark 'Mouth' Devereaux), and Josh Brolin (as Brandon Walsh)
Rated PG ****
A group of adolescents follow a pirate's treasure map in the hopes they will have one last adventure before the bank forecloses on their family homes and their friendships are severed. Well acted and directed, this movie is a sweet movie that most of us can relate to.
Famous Lines:
Mikey: "Don't you realize? The next time you see sky, it'll be over another town. The next time you take a test, it'll be in some other school. Our parents, they want the best of stuff for us. But right now, they got to do what's right for them. Because it's their time. Their time! Up there! Down here, it's our time. It's our time down here. That's all over the second we ride up Troy's bucket."
Mars Attacks
1996
Directed by Tim Burton; Written by Tim Brown and Woody Gelman
Starring Jack Nicholson (as President James Dale and Art Land), Glenn Close (as 1st Lady Marsha Dale), Lukas Haas (as Richie Norris), Pierce Brosnan (Prof. Donald Kessler), Sarah Jessica Parker (as Nathalie Lake), and Martin Short (as Jerry Ross)
Rated PG-13 ****
Evil Martians invade Earth.
Famous Lines:
1. General Decker: "Intellectuals! Liberals! Peacemongers! Idiots!"
2. Barbara Land: "Know anyone who can fly a plane?"
Byron Williams: "Yeah, your husband Art."
Barbara Land: "No, he's dead. I told him this was gonna happen."
Meet the Parents
2000
Directed by Jay Roach; Written by Greg Glienna and Mary Ruth Clarke
Starring Robert DeNiro (as Jack Brynes), Ben Stiller (as Gaylord "Greg" Focker), Blythe Danner (as Dina Brynes), and Teri Polo (as Pam Brynes)
Rated R ****
Hilarious faux pas occur when a man meets his girlfriend's conservative parents for the first time.
Famous Lines:
1. Greg: "You can milk just about anything with nipples."
Jack: "I have nipples, Greg, could you milk me?"
2. Jack (when his beloved cat went missing): "You tried to milk him, didn't you sick son of a bitch?"
Men in Black
1997
Directed by Barry Sonnenfeld; Comic Written by Lowell Cunningham; Screenplay by Ed Solomon
Starring Tommy Lee Jones (as Agent Kay), Rip Torn (as Chief Zed), and Will Smith (as Agent Jay)
Rated PG-13 ***
Special agents of a secret organization try to save the world from aliens who want to destroy the Earth.
Famous Lines:
1. James Edwards (Jay): "NYPD means I will Nock Yo Punkass Down."
2. Jay: "You do know Elvis is dead, right?"
Kay: "No, Elvis is not dead. He just went home."
Monty Python and the Holy Grail
1975
Directed by Terry Gilliam and Terry Jones; Written by Graham Chapman and John Cleese
Starring Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Eric Idle and Terry Gilliam
Probably the strangest and silliest film ever made, Monty Python and the Holy Grail follows a group of knights led by King Arthur in search of the Holy Grail. Campy and weird, this film tickles the funny bone with old-fashioned comedy.
Famous Lines:
1. King of Swamp Castle: "Please! This is supposed to be a happy occasion. Let's not bicker and argue about who killed who."
2. King of Swamp Castle: "When I first came here, this was all swamp. Everyone said I was daft to build a castle on a swamp, but I built in all the same, just to show them. It sank into the swamp. So I built a second one. That sank into the swamp. So I built a third. That burned down, fell over, then sank into the swamp. But the fourth one stayed up. And that's what you're going to get, Lad, the strongest castle in all of England."
9 to 5
1980
Directed by Colin Higgins; Story Written by Patricia Resnick; Screenplay by Colin Higgins
Starring Lily Tomlin (as Violet Newstead), Dolly Parton (as Doralee Rhodes), Jane Fonda (as Judy Bernly), and Dabney Coleman (as Franklin M. Hart. Jr.)
Rated PG ***
A sexist boss annoys three female employees until they snap.
Famous Lines:
Judy: "What are we going to do? If we let him go, he'll call the police."
Doralee: "And why not? He's got me for roping him, Violet for poisoning him and Judy for acting like he was first prize at a turkey shoot."
National Lampoon's Vacation
1983
Directed by Harold Ramis; Written by John Hughes
Starring Chevy Chase (as Clark "Sparky" Griswold), Beverly D'Angelo (as Ellen Griswold), Randy Quaid (as Cousin Eddie), Dana Barron (as Audrey Griswold), and Anthony Michael Hall (as Russell "Rusty" Griswold)
Rated R ****
The Griswold's set off for Wally World in California, a trip filled with misadventure and silliness.
Famous Lines:
Lasky: "Has your father ever killed anyone?"
Rusty: "Just a dog. Oh and my Aunt Edna."
Clark: "Hey you can't prove that Russ."
Oh God!
1977
Directed by Carl Reiner; Novel Written by Avery Corman; Screenplay by Larry Gelbart
Starring George Burns (as God) and John Denver (as Jerry Landers)
Rated G ***
God, appearing like a little old man, asks a mortal man to go on mission for good.
Overboard
1987
Directed by Garry Marshall; Written by Leslie Dixon
Starring Goldie Hawn (as Joanna Stayton and Annie Profitt) and Kurt Russell (as Dean Profitt)
Rated PG ***
A mean-spirited socialite with amnesia is told by a backwoods carpenter that she is his wife and mother of three misbehaving boys so he can re-coop money that she owes him.
Famous Lines:
Annie: "I don't belong here, I feel it, don't you think I feel it. I can't do any of these vile things and I wouldn't want to. Oh, my life is like death. My children are the spawn of hell, and you're the devil. Oh God."
Dean: But baby, we like you."
Raising Arizona
1987
Directed by Joel Coen; Written by Joel and Ethan Coen
Starring Nicolas Cage (as H.I. McDunnough), Holly Hunter (as Edwina 'Ed' McDunnough), Trey Wilson (as Nathan Arizona, Sr.), John Goodman (as Gale Snoats), William Forsythe (as Evelle Snoats), and Sam McMurray (as Glen)
Rated R ****
An ex-con and former cop want a child so badly that they kidnap one of the quintuplets of a predominant family in Arizona.
Famous Lines:
1. H.I.: "Edwina's insides were a rocky place where my seed could find no purchase."
2. Evelle (at a convenience store): "Do these blow into funny shapes and all?"
Clerk: "Well no, unless round is funny."
3. Cellmate: "And when there was no meat, we ate fowl and when there was no fowl, we ate crawdad and when there was no crawdad to be found, we ate sand."
H.I.: "You ate what?"
Cellmate: "We ate sand."
H.I.: You ate SAND?"
Cellmate: "That's right."
4. Glen: "Okay, so this Pollack walks into a bar, carrying a pile of dog [crap] in his hand, and he says 'Look what I almost stepped in.'"
The Hangover
2009
Bachelor party in Vegas goes awry. *****
Wanted
2008
Bending Bullets is just part of the job for this group of assasinins. *****
Robin Hood: Men in Tights
1993
Directed by Mel Brooks; Written by J.D. Shapiro and Evan Chandler
Starring Cary Elwes (as Robin Hood), Roger Rees (as Sheriff of Rottingham), Amy Yasbeck (as Maid Marion), and Richard Lewis (as Prince John)
Rated R ***
A twist on the traditional tale of Robin Hood with hilarious results. Slapstick humor, parody, and farce aid in making this one of the more memorable Brooks projects.
Famous Lines:
Blinkin: "This never would have happened if your father was alive."
Robin: "He's dead?"
Blinkin: "Yes."
Robin: "And my mother?"
Blinkin: "She died of pneumonia while - oh, you were away!"
Robin: "My three brothers?"
Blinkin: "Died of the plague"
Robin: "My dog pogo?"
Blinkin: "Run over by a carriage."
Robin: "My goldfish Goldie?"
Blinkin: "Eaten by the cat."
Robin: "My cat?"
Blinkin: "Choked on the goldfish. Oh, it's good to be home, ain't it, Master Robin?"
Secondhand Lions
2003
Directed and Written by Tim McCanlies
Starring Michael Caine (as Garth), Robert Duvall (as Hub), Kyra Sedgwick (as Mae), and Haley Joel Osment (as Walter)
A fabulous family-friendly film that proves Hollywood still has the capacity to make great movies. A young boy (Osment) spends a summer in Texas with his eccentric great uncles after his flighty mother decides she wants to temporarily abandon her son to chase her dreams.
Famous Lines:
1. Walter (as an adult, reading his uncle's will): "The kid gets it all. Just plant us in the damn garden, next to the stupid lion."
2. Hub: "Sometimes the things that may or may not be true are the things a man needs to believe in the most. That people are basically good; that honor, courage, and virtue mean everything; that power and money, money and power mean nothing; that good always triumphs over evil; and I want you to remember this, that love... true love never dies. You remember that, boy. You remember that. Doesn't matter if it's true or not. You see, a man should believe in those things, because those are the things worth believing in."
Scary Movie
2000
Directed by Keenan Ivory Wayans; Written by Shawn and Marlon Wayans
Starring Anna Faris (as Cindy Campbell), Jon Abrahams (as Bobby Prinze), Shannon Elizabeth (as Buffy Gilmore), Shawn Wayans (as Ray Wilkins) and Marlon Wayans (as Shorty Meeks), Dave Sheridan (Deputy Doofy Gilmore), and Regina Hall (as Brenda Meeks).
This film is a fabulously made spoof of horror movies. A group of moronic teenagers try to stay alive after a killer fingers them for a man's murder.
Famous Lines:
Ray: "Damn girl, I sure like to get in your pants."
Brenda: "Really?"
Ray: "Yeah, what size are these?"
Sixteen Candles
1984
Directed and Written by John Hughes
Starring Molly Ringwald (as Samantha Baker), Michael Schoeffling (as Jake Ryan) and Anthony Michael Hall (as Farmer Ted)
Rated PG-13 ****
A family forgets a girl's sixteenth birthday as her snobbish older sister prepares to be married to an oily bo-hunk.
Famous Lines:
1. Samantha: "Donger's here for five hours, and he's got somebody. I live here my whole life, and I'm like a disease."
2. Samantha's grandfather (talking to the cops about the missing Donger): "What was he wearing? Well, uh, let's see, he was wearing a red argyle sweater, and tan trousers, and red shoes... No, he's not retarded."
Some Like it Hot
1959
Directed by Billy Wilder; Written by Robert Thoeren and Michael Logan
Starring Marilyn Monroe (as Sugar Kane Kowalczyk), Tony Curtis (as Joe/Josephine/Junior), and Jack Lemmon (as Jerry/Daphne)
Musicians must pose as women to escape the mob after they witness a mafia murder.
Famous Lines:
1. Josephine: "You've gotta keep telling yourself: you're a boy."
Daphne: "I'm a boy?"
Josephine: "You're a boy."
Daphne: "I'm a boy."
Josephine: "Thata boy."
Daphne: "Oh boy, I am a boy."
2. Sugar: "Real diamonds! They must be worth their weight in gold!"
3. Junior: "Look, miss, are you interested in knowing if I am married or not?"
Sugar: "No, I'm not interested at all."
Junior: "No, I'm not."
Sugar: "Oh! That's interesting."
This is Spinal Tap
1984
Directed by Rob Reiner; Written by Christopher Guest and Michael McKean
Starring Rob Reiner (as Marty DiBergi), Harry Shearer (as Derek Smalls), David Kaff (as Viv Savage), Tony Hendra (as Ian Faith), and Michael McKean (as David St. Hubbins)
A film maker follows a band chocked full of idiots on a major tour. Stupid, witty, and strange.
Famous Lines:
1. David St. Hubbins: "Dozens of people spontaneously combust each year. It's just not really widely reported."
2. Marty DiBergi: "Do you feel that playing rock 'n' roll music keeps you a child? That is, keeps you in a state of arrested development?"
Derek Smalls: "No. No. No. I feel it's like, it's more like going, going to a, a national park or something. And there's, you know, they preserve the moose. And that's, that's my childhood up there on stage. That moose, you know."
Marty DiBergi: "So when you're playing you feel like a preserved moose on stage?"
Derek Smalls: "Yeah."
Valley Girl
1983
Directed by Martha Coolidge: Written by Wayne Crawford and Andrew Lane
Starring Nicholas Cage (as Randy), Cameron Dye (as Fred Bailey), Heidi Holicker (as Stacey) and Deborah Foreman (as Julie Richman)
Rated R ****
Julie is a valley girl with a jerk ex-boyfriend and snobby friends and Randy is a punk from the city who hangs out in seedy clubs and weird people. Although they fall in love, her friends press her to end the relationship while Randy refuses to give up easily.
Famous Lines:
1. Fred: "So, you want to dance?"
Girl at Party: "In another life."
Fred: "Yeah, I didn't either. I was just taking a poll."
2. Julie: "He was like tripendicular, you know?"
Heidi: "Die, Richmond."
The Waterboy
1998
Directed by Frank Coraci; Written by Tim Herlihy and Adam Sandler
Starring Adam Sandler (as Bobby Boucher), Henry Winkler (as Coach Klein), Fairuza Balk (as Vicki Vallencourt), and Kathy Bates (as Helen "Mama" Boucher)
A grown man with an obsession with water lives with his over-bearing mother and must hide the fact he plays football on a losing college team and has a "witchy" ex-con girlfriend.
Famous Lines:
Bobby: "My Mama says that alligators are ornery because they got all them teeth and no toothbrush."
Crime
A Clockwork Orange
1971
Directed by Stanley Kubrick; Novel Written by Anthony Burgess; Screenplay by Stanley Kubrick
Starring Malcolm McDowell (as Alexander 'Alex' de Large), Patrick Magee (as Mr. Alexander), and Warren Clark (as Dim)
Set in Britain in the near future, a band of young thugs run roughshod over the inhabitants of their city and destroy any and everything that stands in their way.
Famous Lines:
Alex: "So now it was to be Georgie the General, saying what we should do and what not to do, with Dim as his mindless grinning bulldog. But then I viddied that thinking is for the gloopy ones and the oomny ones use, like, inspiration and what Bog sends. For now it was lovely music that came to my aid, there was a window open with the stereo on and I viddied right at once what to do."
Dog Day Afternoon
1975
Directed by Sidney Lumet; Written by P.F. Kluge and Thomas Moore
Starring Al Pacino (as Sonny Wortzik), John Cazale (as Salvatore), Charles Durning (as Det. Sgt. Eugene Moretti), and Beulah Garrick (as Margaret)
A man, desperate to pay for his lovers sex change, elicits the help of others to rob a bank in New York. Based on a true story.
Famous Lines:
Sonny: "You'd like to kill me. Betcha would."
Sheldon: "I wouldn't like to kill you. I will if I have to."
Sonny: "It's your job, right? You know, the guy who kills me, I hope he does it 'cause he hates my guts. Not 'cause it's his job."
Fargo
1996
Directed by Joel Cohen; Written by Joel and Ethan Cohen
Starring William H. Macy (as Jerry Lundegaard), Frances McDormand (as Marge Gunderson), and Steve Buscemi (as Carl Showalter)
A broke man contracts to have his wife kidnapped for ransom, but things go horribly wrong. The men he hires turn out to be insano morons who kill innocent people and wreak havoc throughout his town.
Famous Lines:
Carl Showalter "I'm not gonna debate you, Jerry."
Jerry Lundegaard: "Okay."
Carl Showalter: "I'm not gonna sit here and debate."
Burn After Reading ***
Killing Zoe
1994
Directed and Written by Roger Avery
Starring Julie Delpy (as Zoe), Eric Stoltz (as Zed), and Jean-Hugues Anglade (as Eric)
An American man gets involved with a hooker and bank robbers in this dark film.
Famous Lines:
Zoe: "I am not a prostitute!"
Zed: "That's great. Can I have my 1000 francs back, then?"
Reservoir Dogs
1992
Directed and Written by Quentin Tarantino
Starring Harvey Keitel (as Mr. White/Larry Dimmick), Tim Roth (as Mr. Orange/Freddy Newandyke), Steve Buscemi (as Mr. Pink), and Michael Madsen (as Mr. Blonde/Vic Vega)
A mystery with gallons of blood, this flick is already something of a cult classic. Replete with flashbacks and flash-forwards, this flick grabs the viewer and drags him through a tale of paranoia, misplaced loyalty and betrayal. A group of men rob a warehouse, but when the crime is over, the crew realizes one of them is a fink and traitor to their cause.
Famous Lines:
Mr. Pink: "How about if I'm Mr. Purple? That sounds good to me, I'll be Mr. Purple."
Joe: "You're not Mr. Purple. Some guy on some other job is Mr. Purple. You're Mr. Pink!"
Mr. White: "Who cares what your name is?"
Mr. Pink: "Yeah that's easy for you to say, you're Mr. White, you have a cool sounding name. All right, look if it's no big deal to be Mr. Pink, do you wanna trade?"
Scarface
1983
Directed by Brian De Palma; Screenplay Written by Oliver Stone
Starring Al Pacino (as Tony Montana), Michelle Pfeiffer (as Elvira), Steven Bauer (as Manny Ray), and Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio (as Gina)
A Cuban immigrant rises to the top of the Miami drug trade and becomes paranoid and gluttonous.
Famous Lines:
Tony: "I always tell the truth, even when I lie."
The Thin Man
1934
Directed by W.S. Van Dyke; Novel Written by Dashiell Hammett
Starring William Powell (as Nick Charles), Myrna Loy (as Nora Charles), Maureen O'Sullivan (as Dorothy Wynant), and Minna Gombell (as Mimi Jorgenson, the former Mrs. Wynant)
This movie is a mix of different genres; crime, romance, comedy. Still, this is a classic flick about the good guys against the bad guys. Good clean fun.
Famous Lines:
1. Marion: "I don't like crooks. And if I did like 'em, I wouldn't like crooks that are stool pigeons. And if I did like crooks that are stool pigeons, I still wouldn't like you."
2. "Nick: I'm a hero. I was shot 2 times in the Tribune."
Nora: "I read where you were shot 5 times in the tabloids."
Nick: "It's not true. He didn't come anywhere near my tabloids."
Fantasy
The Crow
1994
Directed by Alex Proyas; Comic Written by James O'Barr; Screenplay by David J. Schow
Starring Brandon Lee (as Eric Draven), Rochelle Davis (as Sara), Ernie Hudson (as Sergeant Albrecht), Michael Wincott (as Top Dollar), Sofia Shinas (as Shelly Webster) and Anna Levine (as Darla)
Rated R *****
A murdered musician out for revenge returns from the dead a year after a gang of Satanic freaks brutally killed he and his girlfriend a day before they were to be wed.
Famous Lines:
1. Sarah: "People once believed that when someone dies, a crow carries their soul to the land of the dead. But sometimes, something so bad happens that a terrible sadness is carried with it and the soul can't rest. Then sometimes, just sometimes, the crow can bring that soul back to put the wrong things right."
2. Albrecht: "You killed Tin-Tin?"
Eric: "He was already dead. He died one year ago the moment he touched her. They're all dead. They just don't know it yet."
3. Eric: "Little things use to mean so much to Shelley - I thought they were kind of trivial. Believe me, nothing is trivial."
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
2002
Directed by Chris Columbus; Novel Written by J.K. Rowling; Screenplay by Steven Kloves
Starring Rupert Grint (as Ron Weasley), Robbie Coltrane (as Hagrid), Emma Watson (as Hermione Granger), Daniel Radcliffe (as Harry Potter), Christian Coulson (as Tom Marvolo Riddle)
An evil lives within the halls of Hogwarts and it is up to Harry solve the mystery before more students are "frozen" in fear. While this film is not as dark and quite frankly scary as The Prisoner of Ezkaban, it is must more "grown-up" than the first Harry Potter film.
Famous Lines:
Tom Marvolo Riddle: "How is it that a baby with no extraordinary magical talent was able to defeat the greatest wizard of all time? How did you escape with nothing but a scar, while Lord Voldemort's powers were destroyed?"
Harry: "What do you care about Voldemort? Voldemort was after your time!"
Tom Marvolo Riddle: "Voldemort is my past, present, and future."
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
2001
Directed by Chris Columbus; Novel Written by J.K. Rowling; Screenplay by Steven Kloves
Starring Richard Harris (as Albus Dumbledore), Maggie Smith (as Professor Minerva McGonagall), and Daniel Radcliffe (as Harry Potter)
Rated PG *****
After living with the verbal and emotional abuse of his maternal aunt and uncle, Harry Potter is liberated from his hell by Hagrid, a trusted employee of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft. At his new school, Harry eases into his studies and realizes that he was destined for great things.
Famous Lines:
Hermione: "Now, if you two don't mind, I'm going to bed before either of you come up with another clever idea to get us killed. Or worse, expelled."
Ron: "She needs to sort out her priorities."
Ghost Story
1981
Directed by John Irvin; Written by Peter Straub and Lawrence D. Cohen
Starring Fred Astaire (as Ricky Hawthorne), Melvyn Douglas (as Dr. John Jaffrey), Douglas Fairbanks, Jr. (as Edward Charles Wanderley), Patricia Neal (as Stella Hawthrone), and John Houseman (as Sears James)
Four elderly friends have kept a dark secret for a lifetime. The editing leaves much to be desired; the screenplay is not half as fascinating as the novel; and there may be holes one could drive a truck through. Nevertheless, this flick sucks you in. The acting is good; the ambiance and general feel of the film is creepy; and the story is interesting. On a cool rainy night, turn off the lights, make some hot chocolate, and curl up on the couch for a painless evening of mindless splendor.
Famous Lines:
Eva: "Dance with me, you little toad."
The Green Mile
1999
Directed by Frank Darabont; Novel Written by Stephen King; Screenplay by Frank Darabont
Starring Tom Hanks (as Paul Edgecomb) and Michael Clarke Duncan (as John Coffey)
A falsely accused death row inmate has the power to heal. This movie is not typical Stephen King fair. It is not scary, but it is quite dark, depressing, and sad. Brilliantly acted and extremely well written, this film speaks volumes to those of us who believe in the power of God and good and the belief that life is never fair, but well worth the trip.
Famous Lines:
Paul Edgecomb: "What do you want me to do John? I'll do it. You want me to let you walk out of here and see how far you get?"
John Coffey: "Now why would you want to do a foolish thing like that?"
Paul Edgecomb: "When I die and I stand before God awaiting judgment and he asks me why I let one of HIS miracles die, what am I gonna say, that it was my job?"
Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring
2001
Directed by Peter Jackson; Novel Written by J.R.R. Tolkien; Screenplay by Fran Walsh
Starring Orlando Bloom (as Legolas Greenleaf), Sean Astin (as Sam Gamgee), Ian McKellen (as Gandalf), and Elijah Wood (as Frodo Baggins)
A little hobbit named Frodo Baggins must travel across Middle Earth to destroy an ancient golden ring.
Famous Lines:
Aragorn: "If by my life or death I can protect you, I will. You have my sword."
Legolas: "And you have my bow."
Gimli: "And my axe."
Boromir: "You carry the fate of us all, little one. If this is indeed the will of the Council, then Gondor will see it done."
The Princess Bride
1987
Directed by Rob Reiner; Written by William Goldman
Starring Cary Elwes (as Westley), Mandy Patinkin (as Inigo Montoya), Chris Sarandon (as Prince Humperdinck), and Robin Wright (as Buttercup/The Princess Bride)
Rated PG ****
A classic story of love and adventure.
Famous Lines:
1. Inigo Montoya: "Hello, my name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father: prepare to die."
2. Grandpa (reading the Princess Bride to his grandkid): "Nothing gave Buttercup as much pleasure as ordering Westley around."
Buttercup: "Farm boy, polish my horse's saddle. I want to see my face shining in it by morning."
Westley: "As you wish."
Grandpa: "As you wish" was all he ever said to her."
Buttercup: "Farm boy, fill these with water - please."
Westley: "As you wish."
Grandpa: "That day, she was amazed to discover that when he was saying 'As you wish', what he meant was, 'I love you.' And even more amazing was the day she realized she truly loved him back."
Willie Wonka & the Chocolate Factory
1971
Directed by Mel Stuart; Book Written by Roald Dahl; Screenplay by David Seltzer
Starring Gene Wilder (as Willie Wonka), Jack Albertson (as Grandpa Joe), Peter Ostrum (as Charlie Bucket)
Rated G ****
A poor boy wins the opportunity to tour the most eccentric and wonderful candy factory of all.
Famous Lines:
1. Willie Wonka: "Invention, my dear friends, is 93% perspiration, 6% electricity, 4% evaporation, and 2% butterscotch ripple."
2. Willie Wonka: "Candy is dandy, but liquor is quicker"
3. Willie Wonka: "A little nonsense now and then is relished by the wisest men."
Horror
American Psycho
2000
Directed by Mary Harron; Novel Written by Bret Easton Ellis; Screenplay by Mary Harron
Starring Christian Bale (as Patrick Bateman) and Reese Witherspoon (as Evelyn Williams)
Rated R ****
On the outside, Patrick Bateman, a high powered V.P. on Wall Street, is polished, handsome, intelligent, and witty, but on the inside he is a maniac hell bent on killing as many people as he can. It really does not matter who he kills; women, men, friends, lovers, business associates, and destitute people. This flick is beyond sick. You will never look at your stockbroker the same way again.
Famous Lines:
Patrick: "There is an idea of a Patrick Bateman; some kind of abstraction. But there is no real me: only an entity, something illusory. And though I can hide my cold gaze, and you can shake my hand and feel flesh gripping yours and maybe you can even sense our lifestyles are probably comparable... I simply am not there."
Altered States
1980
Directed by Ken Russell; Written by Paddy Chayefsky
Starring William Hurt (as Professor Eddie Jessup) and Blair Brown (as Emily Jessup)
A complete idiot uses drugs to experiment on himself and ends up destroying whatever intelligence he had before. As he de-evolves, the audience understands the gravity of his stupidity. This movie will make anyone feel like a rocket scientist.
American Gothic
1988
Directed by John Hough; Written by John Hough and Terry Lens
Starring Rod Steiger (as Pa) and Yvonne de Carlo (as Ma)
A group of young adults find themselves knee deep in fear when they happen upon a family of super weird backwoods freaks. Campy fun.
American Werewolf in London
1981
Directed and Written by by John Landis
Starring David Naughton (as David Kessler) and Jenny Agutter (as Alex Price)
Rated R ***
Two American buddies are attacked by a werewolf while on vacation in England. One dies and the other survives, only to realize he is turning into a bloodthirsty monster.
Famous Lines:
Small Child: "A naked American man stole my balloons."
The Bad Seed
1985
Directed by Paul Wendkas; Play Written by Maxwell Anderson
Starring Blair Brown (as Christine Penmark), Carrie Wells (as Rachel Penmark), and Lynn Redgrave (as Monica Breedlove)
Rated PG ***
A nine-year-old sociopath kills classmates, neighbors, janitors, and others.
The Beyond
(E tu vivrai nel terrore - L'aldilà )
Italian Import
1981
Directed by Lucio Fulci; Written by Dardano Sacchetti
Starring Catrionia MacColl (as Liza Merril) and David Warbeck (as Dr. John McCabe)
Rated R ****
A young woman embarks on the renovation of a dilapidated hotel unbeknownst of the hideous zombies lurking on the property.
Famous Lines:
Dr. McCabe: "Trust me, I'm a doctor."
The Birds
1963
Directed by Alfred Hitchcock; Written by Daphne Du Maurier; Screenplay by Evan Hunter
Starring Tippi Hedren (as Melanie Daniels) and Jessica Tandy (as Lydia Brenner)
Rated R ****
Manic birds kill people in a small town.
Famous Lines:
Cathy Brenner: "He's got a client who shot his wife in the head six times. Six times, can you imagine it? I mean, even twice would be overdoing it, don't you think?"
Blade
1998
Directed by Stephen Norrington; Written by David S. Goyer
Starring Wesley Snipes (as Blade), Kris Kristofferson (as Abraham Whistler), and Stephen Dorff (as Deacon Frost)
A half-man, half-vampire "daywalker" named Blade hunts a coven of vampires.
Famous Lines:
Blade: "How do you think we fund this little operation? We're not exactly the March of Dimes."
Bless the Child
2000
Directed by Chuck Russell; Novel Written by Cathy Cash Spellman; Screenplay by Thomas Rickman
Starring Kim Basinger (as Maggie O'Connor), Jimmy Smits (as Agent John Travis), Holliston Coleman (as Cody) and Rufus Sewell (as Eric Stark)
Rated R *****
A woman protects her niece from a Satanist who wants to use the child's power to open the gates of hell.
Famous Lines:
Eric Stark: "Jump, Cody, jump. If you believe in God, jump. And if not, you come to me. What do you believe in, Cody? My hand - it's here, you can see it. Satan rules it and it will protect you always... Or his hand? Is it there? Or isn't it? Will he catch you or not? If you believe, Cody, jump. JUMP!"
Cody: "After you."
Book of Shadows: The Blair Witch Project II
2000
Directed by Joe Berlinger; Written by Daniel Myrick and Eduardo Sanchez
Starring Jeffrey Donovan (as Jeffery Patterson), Kim Director (as Kim Diamond), Erica Leerhsen (as Erica Geerson), Tristine Skyler (as Tristen Ryder), and Stephen Barker Turner (as Stephen Ryan Parker)
It is safe to say that this movie is frightening. Nothing like its predecessor, this flick actually has a soundtrack and a script. I am positive I will receive e-mails questioning my intelligence, but this movie uses demonic possession in an interesting way.
Famous Lines:
Jeff: "The gene pool is a little shallow here. Dive in and you'll crack your skull open."
Brainscan
1994
Directed by John Flynn; Story Written by Brian Owens
Starring Edward Furlong (as Michael Bower) and T. Ryder Smith (as The Trickster)
Rated R *****
A teenager plays a video game that simulates murder, only to realize the game is real, not fantasy.
Famous Lines:
Teacher: " What was the you were watching, Mr. Brower?"
Michael: "Death, Death, Death…"
Teacher: "I see."
Michael: "…Part 2."
Teacher: "Oh my God."
Bram Stoker's Dracula
1992
Directed by Francis Ford Coppola; Novel Written by Bram Stoker; Screenplay by James V. Hart
Starring Gary Oldman (as Dracula), Winona Ryder (as Mina Murray), Keanu Reeves (as Jonathon Harker), Anthony Hopkins (as Van Helsing), Cary Elwes (as Lord Arthur Holmwood), and Sadie Frost (as Lucy Westenra)
Anthony Hopkins, Sadie Frost and Keanu Reeves
Rated R *****
Young Jonathon Harker is held captive at Dracula's castle while the bloodsucker stalks Harker's fiancé Mina, a woman believed to be the reincarnation of the vampire's beloved wife.
Famous Lines:
Talking over a roast beef dinner:
Mina Harker: "How did Lucy die? Was she in great pain?"
Van Helsing: "Yeah, she was in great pain! Then we cut off her head, and drove a stake through her heart, and burned it, and then she found peace."
Carrie
1976
Directed by Brian De Palma; Novel by Stephen King; Screenplay Written by Lawrence D. Cohen
Starring Sissy Spacek (as Carrie White), Piper Laurie (as Margaret White), and Amy Irving (as Sue Snell)
Rated R **
Teenage outcast Carrie White uses telepathy to massacre her cruel classmates at the senior prom.
Famous Lines:
Margaret: "These are godless times, Mrs. Snell."
Sue: "I'll drink to that."
Christine
1983
Directed by John Carpenter; Novel Written by Steven King; Screenplay by Bill Phillips
Starring Keith Gordon (as Arnie Cunningham), John Stockwell (as Dennis Guilder), and Alexandra Paul (as Leigh Cabot)
Rated R ****
A young man becomes obsessed with a demonic 1958 Plymouth Fury named Christine.
Famous Lines:
Arnie: "Whoa, whoa. You better watch what you say about my car. She's real sensitive."
Dawn of the Dead
1978
Directed and Written by George A. Romero
Starring David Emge (as Stephen), Ken Foree (as Peter), and Scott H. Reiniger (as Roger)
One of the creepiest and most disturbing zombie flicks ever created. A major cult classic. You may be asking yourself, "what about the new Dawn of the Dead?" Yes, that movie was very good, but in this case (unlike the Texas Chainsaw Massacre) the original had an edge on it that the new one does not.
Famous Lines:
Scientist: "This isn't the Republicans versus the Democrats, where we're in a hole economically or... or we're in another war. This is more crucial than that. This is down to the line, folks, this is down to the line. There can be no more divisions among the living!"
Deep Red
(aka Profondo rosso)
1975
Directed by Dario Argento; Written by Bernardino Zapponi and Dario Argento
Starring David Hemmings (as Marcus Daly)
A string of gruesome murders has plagued a small town, prompting a pianist and a psychic to investigate.
The Devil's Advocate
1997
Directed by Taylor Hackford; Novel Written by Andrew Neiderman; Screenplay by Jonathon Lemkin
Starring Keanu Reeves (as Kevin Lomax), Cherlize Theron (as Mary Ann Lomax), and Al Pacino (as John Milton)
Rated R ****
A cutthroat defense attorney moves to New York after getting a great job in a powerful law firm, only to find out that he is the son of Satan and Satan happens to be his boss.
Famous Lines:
Kevin: "What about love?"
John: "Overrated. Biochemically, its no different than eating large quantities of chocolate."
Dracula
1931 - Black & White
Directed by Tod Browning; Novel Written by Bram Stoker; Play by Hamilton Deane
Starring Bela Lugosi (as Dracula), Helen Chandler (as Mina Seward), David Manners (as Jonathon Harker), and Dwight Frye (as Reinfield)
Rated PG *****
Bram Stoker's story comes alive in this cult classic. The ambiance alone is worth checking it out, not to mention the fact that Lugosi is one of the masters of the macabre.
End of Days
1999
Directed by Peter Hyams; Written by Andrew W. Marlowe
Starring Arnold Schwarzenegger (as Jericho Cane), Robin Tunney (as Christine York), Kevin Pollak (as Chicago) and Gabriel Byrne (as Satan)
Rated R *****
On New Year's Eve 1999, Satan comes up to Earth to claim his bride and impregnate her with the anti-Christ; unfortunately for him, he never counted on the "govenator" getting in his way.
Famous Lines:
Chicago: "You'd be amazed what you'll agree to when you're on fire."
The Evil Dead II
1987
Directed by Sam Raimi; Written by Sam Raimi and Scott Spiegel
Starring Bruce Campbell (as Ash Williams), Dan Hicks (as Jake), and Sarah Berry (as Annie Knowby)
Rated R *****
This film is not half as frightening as its predecessor, but it makes up for it with comedy. Ash and friends rent a small cabin in the woods and one by one become possessed by demons after the nimrods play a creepy tape recording left by the former inhabitants.
Famous Lines:
Ash: "I'm fine, I'm fine."
Ash's evil demon twin: "I don't think so. We just cut up our girlfriend with a chainsaw. Does that sound "fine"?"
The Exorcist
1973
Directed by William Friedkin; Written by William Peter Blatty
Starring Ellen Burstyn (as Chris MacNeil), Max von Sydow (as Father Lankester Merrin), Jason Miller (as Father Damien Karras), and Linda Blair (as Regan MacNeil)
Roman Catholic priests are called to exorcise a demon from a young girl who spits green vomit, shakes the bed, turns her head around 360 degrees and is in bad need of a facial.
Famous Lines:
Burke Dennings: "Tell me, was it public relations you did for the Gestapo or community relations?"
Karl: "I'm Swiss!"
Burke Dennings: "Oh, of course. And you never went bowling with Goebels before either, I suppose? Nazi bastard."
The Fog
1980
Directed by John Carpenter; Written by John Carpenter and Debra Hill
Starring Adrienne Barbeau (as Stevie Wayne), Jamie Lee Cutis (as Elizabeth Solley), Janet Leigh (as Kathy Williams) and John Houseman (as Mr. Machen)
Rated R **
Long dead and really ticked off sailors use the fog to attack and kill the inhabitants of a small New England town.
Famous Lines:
Tommy Wallace: "There's no fog bank out there…Hey, there is a fog bank out there."
Al Williams: "All right, I'm drunk enough. Let's go back."
From Dusk Till Dawn
1996
Directed by Robert Rodriguez; Story Written by Robert Kurtzman; Screenplay by Quentin Tarantino
Starring George Clooney (as Seth Gecko), Quentin Tarantino (as Richard Gecko), Harvey Keitel (as Jacob Fuller), Fred Williamson (as Frost), Salma Hayek (as Santanico Pandemonium) and Juilette Lewis (as Kate Fuller)
Rated R ****
A pair of desperate bank robbers kidnap a family and cross the Mexican border to freedom, only to find themselves knee deep in a den of bloodthirsty stripper vampires.
Famous Lines:
Kate: "Are you okay?"
Seth: "Peachy! Why shouldn't I be? The world's my oyster, except for the fact that I just rammed a wooden stake in my brother's heart because he turned into a vampire, even though I don't believe in vampires. Aside from that unfortunate business, everything's hunky-dory."
Fright Night
1985
Directed and Written by Tom Holland
Starring Chris Sarandon (as Jerry Dandrige), William Ragsdale (as Charley Brewster), Amanda Bearse (as Amy Peterson), and Roddy McDowell (as Peter Vincent)
Rated R ****
A paranoid teenager who watches too many horror movies is convinced a vampire has moved in to the house next door.
Famous Lines:
Charley: "No vampire's gonna want him anyway. Probably give him blood poisoning."
The Frighteners
1996
Directed by Peter Jackson; Written by Peter Jackson and Fran Walsh
Starring Michael J. Fox (as Frank Bannister), Trini Alvarado (as Dr. Lucy Lynskey), and Jake Busey (as Johnny Charles Bartlett)
Rated PG-13 ***
A man who communicates with ghosts runs a scam "ghostbusting" company but finds himself in a heap of supernatural trouble when the ghost of a serial killer begins murdering people from beyond the grave.
Famous Lines:
The Judge: "When a man's jawbone drops off it's time to reassess the situation."
Halloween
1978
Directed by John Carpenter; Written by John Carpenter and Debra Hill
Starring Jamie Lee Curtis (as Laurie Strode), Donald Pleasence (as Dr. Sam Loomis), and Tony Moran (as Michael Myers)
Rated R ****
A sick psychopath who began killing at the young age of six years old returns to his hometown on Halloween to kill teenagers.
Famous Lines:
Dr. Loomis: "I met him, fifteen years ago. I was told there was nothing left. No reason, no conscience, no understanding; even the most rudimentary sense of life or death, good or evil, right or wrong. I met this six-year-old child, with this blind, pale, emotionless face and, the blackest eyes... the DEVIL'S eyes! I spent eight years trying to reach him, and then another seven trying to keep him locked up for I realized what was living behind that boy's eyes was purely and simply... EVIL!"
Hideaway
1995
Directed by Brett Leonard; Novel Written by Dean R. Koontz; Screenplay by Andrew Kevin Walker
Starring Jeff Goldblum (as Hatch Harrison), Christine Lahti (as Lindsey Harrison), Alicia Silverstone (as Regina Harrison), and Jeremy Sisto (as Vassago)
Rated R ****
After a car accident, a man learns he is psychically connected to a devil worshipper who killed his mother and sister.
Identity
2003
Directed by James Mangold; Written by Michael Cooney
Starring Amanda Peet (as Paris), John Cusack (as Ed), Ray Lolita (as Rhodes), and Jake Busey (as Robert Maine)
Rated R ****
A killer is stalking a group of strangers at a fleabag hotel in the middle of nowhere.
Famous Lines:
Ed: "When I was going up the stairs, I met a man who wasn't there. He wasn't there again today, I wish, I wish he'd go away."
Interview with A Vampire
1994
Directed by Neil Jordon; Novel and Screenplay Written by Anne Rice
Starring Tom Cruise (as the Vampire Lestat / Lestat de Lioncourt), Brad Pitt (as Louis de Pointe du Lac), and Kristin Dunst (as Claudia)
Rated R *****
The vampire Lestat and his newly made vamp friend Louis cruise around New Orleans, sucking the blood of innocents (and not so innocents).
Famous Lines:
Lestat: "Your body's dying. Pay no attention."
Jaws
1975
Directed by Steven Spielberg; Novel and Screenplay Written by Peter Benchley
Starring Roy Scheider (as Martin Brody), Richard Dreyfuss (as Matt Hooper), and Robert Shaw (as Quint)
A monster shark eats anyone who dares to get in the water.
Famous Lines:
Brody: "You're gonna need a bigger boat."
Jeepers Creepers II
2003
Directed and Written by Victor Salva
Starring Jay Wise (as Jack Taggart, Sr.) and Jonathon Beck (as The Creeper)
Rated R ****
A creepy winged demon eats an entire bus full of teenage basketball players and cheerleaders.
Famous Lines:
Darry Jenner: "Every 23rd spring, for 23 days it gets to eat."
Minxie Hayes: "Eat what?"
Darry Jenner: "Eat us."
King Kong
1933
Directed by Merian C. Cooper and Ernest B. Schoedsack; Written by Merian C. Cooper and Edgar Wallace
Starring Fay Wray (as Ann Darrow), Robert Armstrong (as Carl Denham), Bruce Cabot (as John Driscoll), and Sam Hardy (as Charles Weston)
An overgrown gorilla is discovered on a remote island, is taken to New York, then proceeds to crush, crunch, and eat anything that gets in his way.
Famous Lines:
Carl Denham: "And now, ladies and gentlemen, before I tell you any more, I'm going to show you the greatest thing your eyes have ever beheld. 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."
Pulse *****
2007
Drag Me to Hell ****2010
Lost Boys
1987
Directed by Joel Schumacher; Written by Jeffrey Boam and Janice Fischer
Starring Jason Patric (as Michael Emerson), Jamie Gertz (as Star), Corey Haim (as Sam Emerson), and Keifer Sutherland (as David)
Rated R *****
A divorcee and her two teenage sons move into her father's home and find their new town is overrun with bloodsucking vampires.
Famous Lines:
Grandpa: "One thing about living in Santa Carla I never could stomach, all the damn vampires."
Night of the Living Dead
1968
Directed by George Romero; Written by George Romero and John A. Russo
Starring Duane Jones (as Ben) and Judith O'Dea (as Barbara)
Rated R ****
Gross, sluggish zombies trap a group of strangers in a farmhouse.
Famous Lines:
Journalist: "Are they slow moving, chief?"
Police Chief: "Yeah, they're dead. They're all messed up."
A Nightmare on Elm Street
1984
Directed and Written by Wes Craven
Starring Robert Englund (as Freddy Kruger), Heather Langenkamp (as Nancy Thompson), and Johnny Depp (as Glen Lantz)
Rated R ****
A murdered child killer slaughters teenagers in their dreams.
Famous Lines:
Chorus: "One, two, Freddy's coming for you. / Three, four, better lock your door. / Five, six, grab your crucifix. / Seven, eight, gonna stay up late. / Nine, ten, never sleep again."
The Omen
1976
Directed by Richard Donner; Written by David Seltzer.
Starring Gregory Peck (as Robert Thorn), Lee Remick (as Katherine Thorn), and Harvey Stephens (as Damien).
A childless couple unwittingly adopts the son of Satan.
Pet Sematery
1989
Directed by Mary Lambert; Written by Stephan King
Starring Fred Gwynne (as Jud Crandall), Dale Midkiff (as Louis Creed), Brad Greenquist (as Victor Pascow), and Denise Crosby (as Rachel Creed)
Rated R ****
Evil lurks in an ancient burying ground behind a pet cemetery.
Famous Lines:
Louis: "Today is Thanksgiving Day for cats, but only if they came back from the dead."
Phantasm
1979
Directed and Written by Don Coscarelli
Starring Reggie Banister (as Reggie), Bill Thornbury (as Jody Pearson), A. Michael Baldwin (as Mike Pearson) and Angus Scrimm (as the Tall Man).
Rated R ***
The Tall Man, a suspiciously eerie undertaker, uses flying silver spheres to trap the souls of the dead and kill townsfolk.
Poltergeist
1982
Directed by Tobe Hooper; Story and Screenplay Written by Steven Spielberg
Starring Heather O'Rourke (as Carol Anne Freeling), JoBeth Williams (as Diane Freeling), Craig T. Nelson (as Steve Freeling), and Zelda Rubinstein (as Tangina Barrons)
Rated R ****
A normal family is unwittingly living in a house built over a mass grave and is suddenly plagued by violent ghosts. The otherworldly spirits seem especially interested in the family's youngest daughter who seems to have some psychic abilities. Solid, entertaining ghost story has amazing special effects, memorable set pieces, and plenty of scares. The truth behind the film: Dominique Dunn (who plays the teen daughter Dana) was shot and killed by her estranged boyfriend shortly after wrapping the film and Heather O'Rourke (who plays the young daughter Carol Anne) died in 1988 at the age of thirteen of a heart attack, and Julian Beck, the man who played the ghostly Reverend died in 1985. In addition, some of the actors in the Poltergeist sequels also met strange ends.
Famous Lines:
Steve: "Tomorrow I am going to call someone."
Diane: "Like who? I looked in the Yellow Pages. 'Furniture Movers' we've got; 'Strange Phenomenon', there's no listing."
The Prophecy
1995
Directed and Written by Gregory Widen
Starring Christopher Walken (as the Angel Gabriel), Viggo Mortensen (as Lucifer), (Virginia Madsen (as Katherine Henley), Eric Stoltz (as the Angel Simon), Adam Goldberg (as Jerry), and Amanda Plummer (as Rachel)
Rated R ***
A war is being waged in heaven between the angels loyal to God and those angels who are envious of human beings. Because of this war, no soul may pass through the gates into the afterlife. Of course, the bad guy in this flick is not Lucifer as one may assume, but rather Gabriel. He needs the soul of the most wicked "monkey" ever put on Earth to once and for all win the war for the bad angels, but the good angel Simon hides the soul inside a young girl for safe keeping.
Famous Lines:
Lucifer: "Some of them [the souls of the dead] still come to me, because since the war began heaven has been closed, while I on the other hand am always open, even on Christmas."
Resident Evil
2002
Directed by Paul W.S. Anderson and Chris Howes; Written by Paul W.S. Anderson
Starring Milla Jovovich (as Alice), Michelle Rodriguez (as Rain Ocampo), and Eric Mabius (as Matt Addison)
A corporate security team battles zombies in the "hive" after a money-grubbing psychopath unleashes an experimental drug on the company's employees.
Famous Lines:
Rain: "When I get outta here... think I'm gonna get laid."
Matt: "Yeah, you might want to clean up a little bit first."
Return of the Living Dead III
1993
Directed by Brian Yuzna; Written by John Penney
Starring Melinda Clarke (as Julie Walker) and J. Trevor Edmond (as Curt Reynolds)
Believe it or not, this movie is well-written and directed. It has the obvious gore factor, but it is also a love story about two adolescents in love, regardless of the fact that one of them has turned into a zombie.
The Ring
2002
Directed by Gore Verbinski; Written by Koji Suzuki; Screenplay by Ehren Kruger
Starring Naomi Watts (as Rachel Keller), Martin Henderson (as Noah Clay), David Dorfman (as Aiden Keller), and Daveigh Chase (as Samara Morgan)
Anyone who watches a creepy videotape dies in seven days, thanks to a little murdered demon girl who lives in a well.
Famous Lines:
Psychologist: "You don't want to hurt anyone."
Samara: "But I do, and I'm sorry. It won't stop."
Rosemary's Baby
1968
Directed by Roman Polanski; Novel Written by Ira Levin; Screenplay by Roman Polanski
Starring Mia Farrow (as Rosemary Woodhouse) and John Cassavetes (as Guy Woodhouse)
A young woman realizes there is something really wrong with her pregnancy. Of course, it does not help that her neighbors are complete weirdoes, her husband is a control freak, and the child growing inside her belly is Satan's spawn.
Famous Lines:
Rosemary: "I dreamed someone was raping me. I think it was someone inhuman."
Guy: "Thanks a lot."
Scream
1996
Directed by Wes Craven; Written by Kevin Williamson
Starring Neve Campbell (as Sidney Prescott), Rose McGowen (as Tatum Riley), David Arquette (as Dewey Riley), Courtney Cox (as Gale Weathers), Skeet Ulrich (as Billy Loomis), Matthew Lillard (as Stuart Macher), Jamie Kennedy (as Randy Meeks), and Drew Barrymore (as Casey Becker)
The horror movie that broke the mold. A small California town grapples with the realization a serial killer is in their mist and suddenly, everyone is a suspect.
Famous Lines:
Journalist: "Sidney, how does it feel to be almost brutally butchered? How does it feel? People have a right to know!"
The Shining
1980
Directed by Stanley Kubrick; Novel Written by Stephen King; Screenplay by Stanley Kubrick
Starring Jack Nicholson (as Jack Torrance), Shelley Duvall (as Wendy Torrance), Danny Lloyd (as Danny Torrance), and Scatman Crothers (as Dick Hallorann)
A temperamental writer gets a job as a caretaker in an isolated mountain resort that is closed down for the winter. He moves his wife and small psychic son in with him and slowly but surely goes completely insane. Note: Stephen King wrote a portion of the book holed up in a room of the Overlook Hotel (yes, the building really exists).
Famous Lines:
Jack: "Mr. Grady. You were the caretaker here. I recognize ya. I saw your picture in the newspapers. You, uh, chopped your wife and daughters up into little bits. And then you blew your brains out."
Grady: "That's strange, sir. I don't have any recollection of that at all."
Sleepy Hollow
1999
Directed by Tim Burton; Story Written by Washington Irving; Screenplay by Kevin Yagher
Starring Johnny Depp (as Constable Ichabod Crane) and Christina Ricci (as Katrina Anne Van Tassel)
A fabulous rendition of the classic story. Dark, gothic, and bloody, this film is well acted and the cinematography is extraordinary.
Famous Lines:
Masbath: "Is he dead?"
Ichabod: "That's the problem. He was dead to begin with."
The Stendhal Syndrome
1996
Directed by Dario Argento; Written by Dario Argento and Franco Ferrini
Starring Asia Argento (as Ann Manni) and Thomas Kretschmann (as Alfredo Grossi)
Super dark flick from one of the masters of modern horror. This story is twisted, compelling, and super creepy. This is an example of how the hunter becomes the prey then becomes a real sociopath.
Suspiria
1977
Directed by Dario Argento; Written by Daria Nicolodi and Dario Argento
Starring Jessica Harper (as Suzie Bannion)
A young ballet student discovers her new boarding school is chocked full of black witches.
Texas Chainsaw Massacre
2003
Directed by Marcus Nispel; Screenplay Written by Kim Henkel and Tobe Hooper (1974)
Starring Jessica Biel (as Erin), Andrew Bryniarski (as Leatherface), Jonathon Tucker (as Morgan), Mike Vogel (as Andy), Eric Balfour (as Kemper), and Erica Leerhsen (as Pepper)
This remake of the classic sucks you in and scares the heck out of you. Very frightening and well acted, this flick is not for wimps. Actually, it is very terrifying indeed.
Famous Lines:
Andy: "Well I guess that's what brains look like... Sort of like... Lasagna... Kind of... Okay, I'll shut up now."
Thir13een Ghosts
2001
Directed by Steve Beck; Written by Robb White; Screenplay by Neal Marshall Stevens
Starring Tony Shalhoub (as Arthur Kriticos), Matthew Lillard (as Dennis Rafkin), Shannon Elizabeth (as Kathy Kriticos), and F. Murray Abraham (as Cyrus Kriticos)
An unsuspecting family inherits a mansion from an insane relative and soon finds out there are ghosts living in the basement.
Famous Lines:
Arthur: "He wasn't too popular. My dad said he squandered the family fortune."
Kathy: "We have a family fortune?"
Arthur: "Well, no. Cyrus squandered it."
Science Fiction
Alien
1979
Directed by Ridley Scott; Story Written by Dan O'Bannon and Ronald Shusett
Starring Sigourney Weaver (as Ripley) and Tom Skerritt (as Dallas)
Rated R ***
Acid blooded aliens attack the crew of a spaceship.
Famous Lines:
Kane: "Oh, I feel dead."
Parker: "Anybody ever tell you you look dead?"
Event Horizon
1997
Directed by Paul Anderson; Written by Philip Eisner
Starring Laurence Fishburne (as Captain Miller) and Sam Neill (as Dr. William Weir)
Rated R ****
A crew of astronauts must investigate the mysterious reemergence of the Event Horizon, a spaceship that had been missing for seven years.
Famous Lines:
Dr. Weir: "Our orders were specific!"
Miller: "Rescue the crew, salvage what's left of the ship. The crew is dead, doctor. Your ship killed them."
Mad Max
1979
Directed by George Miller; Written by George Miller and Byron Kennedy
Starring Mel Gibson (as Mad Max)
A few years after Australia is nuked, vicious and violent gangs roam what is left of the cities, wreaking havoc and stinking up the place. After these freaks kill his family, Mad Max hunts them down and kills them. Good clean fun.
Famous Lines:
Max: "I'm scared, Fif. It's that rat circus out there, I'm beginning to enjoy it. Look, any longer out on that road and I'm one of them, a terminal psychotic, except that I've got this bronze badge that says that I'm one of the good guys."
The Matrix
1999
Directed by Andy and Larry Wachowski; Written by Andy and Larry Wachowski
Starring Keanu Reeves (as Neo), Carrie-Anne Moss (as Trinity) and Lawrence Fishburne (as Morpheus)
Our reality does not exist. Human beings are not actually walking around on the Earth, but instead are in a permanent comatose state and mentally project themselves into their "reality" by way of the "Matrix," a computer structured environment that simply makes them feel as though they are real, as in a dream state. Of course, the idea of something like the Matrix forming is ludicrous, but it is entertaining nonetheless.
Famous Lines:
Morpheus: "The Matrix is a system, Neo. That system is our enemy. But when you're inside, you look around, what do you see? Businessmen, teachers, lawyers, carpenters. The very minds of the people we are trying to save. But until we do, these people are still a part of that system and that makes them our enemy. You have to understand; most of these people are not ready to be unplugged. And many of them are so inured, so hopelessly dependent on the system, that they will fight to protect it."
Minority Report
2002
Directed by Steven Spielberg; Story Written by Phillip K. Dick; Screenplay by Scott Frank
Starring Tom Cruise (as John Anderton) and Max von Sydow (as Lamar Burgess)
In the future, law enforcement uses telepathic teens to see into the future so that an individual(s) may be arrested and charged with a crime before he commits it. This movie makes one wonder how far will technology and the government go to protect its interests and the public at large. It also raises a huge moral question about the ramifications of containing and maintaining a free, yet restricted world.
Famous Lines:
Burgess: "Who's the victim?"
John: "Somebody, Leo Crow."
Burgess: "Who's Leo Crow?"
John: "I have no idea. But I'm suppose to kill him in less than thirty-six hours."
Planet of the Apes
1968
Directed by Franklin J. Schaffner; Story Written by Pierre Boulle; Screenplay by Michael Wilson
Starring Charlton Heston (as George Taylor), Roddy McDowell (as Cornelius), and Kim Hunter (as Zira)
An American astronaut crash lands on a planet ruled by apes. He is caged, humiliated, abused, and confused until he realizes (too late) that he and his crew did not land on a distant planet, but they instead landed on Earth thousands of years later, after apes evolved and humans de-evolved.
Famous Lines:
Cornelius: "Well Taylor, we are all fugitives now."
George: "So you have any weapons, any guns?"
Cornelius: "The best, but we don't need them."
George: "I'm glad to hear it. I want one anyway."
Star Wars: Return of the Jedi
1983
Directed by Richard Marquand; Written by George Lucas and Lawrence Kasdan
Starring Harrison Ford (as Han Solo), Mark Hamill (as Luke Skywalker), Carrie Fisher (as Princess Leia), and Billy Dee Williams (as Lando Calrissian)
Jabba the Hutt takes Hans Solo and Princess Leia hostage, Skywalker is in Jedi school, and the evil empire with Dark Vader at the helm is constructing a new and improved, technologically advanced Death Star.
The Terminator
1984
Directed by James Cameron; Written by James Cameron and Gale Ann Hurd
Starring Arnold Schwarzenegger (as the Terminator), Michael Biehn (as Kyle Reese) and Linda Hamilton (as Sarah Connor)
The flick that started it all is the best one of the series. A cyborg hit man from the future is sent to 1984 to kill Sarah Connor, a woman who will one day give birth to a revolutionary who will (hopefully) lead a post-apocalyptic army of humans to rise up against the machines who run the Earth. Of course, at the same time in the distant future, Sarah's son sends a soldier named Reese to 1984 as well to protect Sarah from the maniac cyborg.
Famous Line: "I'll be back."
Drama
Casablanca
1942
Directed by Michael Curtiz; Written by Murray Bennett and Joan Alison
Starring Humphrey Bogart (as Rick Blaine) and Ingrid Bergman (as Ilsa Lund Laszlo)
Rick Blaine (Bogart), a successful nightclub owner, has his life turned upside down when his girlfriend, who mysteriously left him in Paris, re-enters his life.
Famous Lines:
Ugarte: "You despise me, don't you?"
Rick: "If I gave you any thought I probably would."
Doctor Zhivago
1965
Directed David Lean; Novel Written by Boris Pasternak; Screenplay by Robert Bolt
Starring Omar Sharif (as Dr. Yuri Zhivago) and Julie Christie (as Lara Antipova)
Set during the Bolshevik Revolution, a Russian doctor falls for the wife of a political objector.
Forrest Gump
1994
Directed by Robert Zemeckis; Book Written by Winston Groom; Screenplay by Eric Roth
Starring Tom Hanks (as Forrest Gump), Gary Sinise (as Dan Taylor), and Sally Field (as Mrs. Gump)
A mentally challenged man overcomes obstacles to make history on more than one occasion.
Famous Line: "Life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you're gonna get."
The Godfather Part II
1974
Directed by Francis Ford Coppola; Novel Written by Mario Puzo; Screenplay by Francis Ford Coppola
Starring Al Pacino (as Don Michael Corleone), Robert Duvall (as Tom Hagan), Robert De Niro (as Vito Corleone), John Cazale (as Fredo Corleone), and Diane Keaton (as Kay Corleone)
The mob is up to their old tricks again. The Corleone crime family struggles to keep a hold on their family lives and the business while battling other families for power.
Famous Lines:
Michael: "I don't feel I have to wipe everybody out, Tom. Just my enemies."
It's a Wonderful Life
1946
Directed by Frank Capra; Story Written by Phillip Van Doren Stern; Screenplay by Frances Goodrich
Starring Jimmy Stewart (as George Bailey), Donna Reed (as Mary Hatch Bailey), and Lionel Barrymore (as Mr. Potter)
A man in throes of despair and confusion is shown what the lives of his loved ones would be like if he never existed by a kindhearted angel in training.
Famous Lines:
George: "What do you want, Mary? Do you want the moon? If you want it, I'll throw a lasso around it and pull it down for you. Hey. That's a pretty good idea. I'll give you the moon, Mary."
One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest
1975
Directed by Milos Forman; Written by Bo Goldman and Lawrence Hauben
Starring Jack Nicholson (as Randle Patrick McMurphy) and Louise Fletcher (as Nurse Mildred Ratched)
Mental patients revolt against an evil, mean-spirited psychiatric nurse.
Famous Line: "Which one of you nuts got any guts?"
The Pianist
2002
Directed by Roman Polanski; Book Written by Wladyslaw Szpilman; Screenplay by Ronald Harwood
Starring Adrian Brody (as Wladyslaw Szpilman)
Set during World War II, a Jewish pianist fights for his very survival inside the Warsaw ghetto after escaping from the Nazis who want to take him to a labor camp. Gut wrenching and incredibly painful to watch, this film should be shown to everyone who needs a good history lesson.
Famous Lines:
Szpilman: "It's an official decree, no Jews allowed in the parks."
Dorota: "What, are you joking?"
Szpilman: "No, I'm not. I would suggest we sit down on a bench, but that's also an official decree, no Jews allowed on benches."
Dorota: "This is absurd."
Szpilman: "So, we should just stand here and talk, I don't think we're not allowed to do that."
Shindler's List
1993
Directed by Steven Spielberg; Book Written by Thomas Keneally; Screenplay by Steven Zaillian
Starring Ben Kingsley (as Itzhak Stern), Liam Neeson (as Oskar Schindler) , Ralph Fiennes (as Amon Goeth), and Caroline Goodall (as Emilie Schindler)
A callous German businessman hides Jews in his warehouse in Poland to save them from the gas chambers. Based on a true story.
Famous Lines:
Amon: "Today is history. Today will be remembered. Years from now the young will ask with wonder about this day. Today is history and you are part of it. Six hundred years ago when elsewhere they were footing the blame for the Black Death, Casimir the Great - so called - told the Jews they could come to Krakow. They came. They trundled their belongings into the city. They settled. They took hold. They prospered in business, science, education, the arts. With nothing they came and with nothing they flourished. For six centuries there has been a Jewish Krakow. By this evening those six centuries will be a rumor. They never happened. Today is history."
Taxi Driver
1976
Directed by Martin Scorsese; Written by Paul Schrader
Starring Robert De Niro (as Travis Bickle), Cybill Shepherd (as Betsy) and Jodie Foster (as Iris Steensma)
A misanthropic Vietnam War veteran slowly loses his sanity while driving a taxicab.
To Kill a Mockingbird
1962
Directed by Robert Mulligan; Written by Harper Lee and Horton Foote
Starring Gregory Peck and Mary Badham
Set during the American Great Depression in the Deep South, a white attorney defends a wrongly accused black man.
The Sting
Raging Bull
Suburbia
Amadeus
Million Dollar Baby
The Passion of the Christ
The Graduate
The Elephant Man
Cleopatra
Hotel Rwanda
Gone with the Wind
The Grapes of Wrath
All the President's Men
A Streetcar Named Desire
The Lion in Winter
Trainspotting
Gandhi
Rain Man
The Craft
1996
Directed by Andrew Fleming
Starring Neve Campbell, Robin Tunney, and Faruzia Balk
Rated R *****
A new girl moves to a new city with her family to start a new life. She meets up with the girls who are very interested in the occult and together, the four of them have a seemingly unstoppable power. They can do anything; from getting their dream guys to like them to... the possibilities are limitless
Musicals
Singing in the Rain
1952
Directed by Stanley Donen and Gene Kelly; Written by Betty Comden and Adolph Green
Starring Gene Kelly, Debbie Reynolds, Donald O'Conner, and Jean Hagen
Due to the emergence of sound in movies, a troop of silent film entertainers switch gears.
Wizard of Oz
The Sound of Music
Tommy
Pink Floyd the Wall
Suspense
Rear Window
Psycho
1960
Directed by Alfred Hitchcock; Written by Robert Bloch
Starring Anthony Perkins and Janet Lee
Rated R ****
A series of grisly murders are linked to a lonely motel off the main highway in Fairvale California, which are apparently committed by the manically possessive invalid mother of the shy young manager Norman Bates.
Secret Window
Gothika
North by Northwest
Silence of the Lambs
Vertigo
Double Jeopardy
Seven
The Sixth Sense
Spellbound
Shallow Grave
Mystery The Third Man
The Maltese Falcon
Romance
Titanic
Alex and Emma
War
Full Metal Jacket
Apocalypse Now
Saving Private Ryan
Braveheart
The Patriot
The Deer Hunter
Patton
Glory
Platoon
Stalag 17
Western
The Man Who Shot Liberty Valence
The Sons of Katie Elder
High Plains Drifter
Young Guns
Rio Bravo
Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid
Unforgiven
Shane
Rio Lobo
Two Mules for Sister Sarah
McClintock
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