Holiday

1938 George Cukor comedy starring Cary Grant and Katherine Hepburn was a follow-up to the success Grant and Hepburn had with Bringing Up Baby.

Free-thinking, happy-go-lucky Grant is enaged to an heiress but when he begins to question the meaning of his life he finds he has much more in common with her spirited sister (Hepburn).

Smart writing, great cast, and very funny screwball comedy.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0030241/

Bringing Up Baby

Howard Hawks directed this comedy starring Cary Grant and Katharine Hepburn.

One of the best movie comedies ever.

Grant plays a nerdy professor who is drawn into the life of a wacky heiress who changes him forever. A totally screwball comedy if there ever was one.

Grant and Hepburn are wonderful together. Lots of abusrd situations but it all works. The stars shine in this one.

Remade (sort of) as "What's Up Doc?" with Ryan O'Neal and Barbara Streisand.

Don't miss this one.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0029947/

The Awful Truth

1937 Leo McCarey comedy stars Cary Grant and Irene Dunne.

A separated couple are both about to remarry but spend their time trying to foil each other's plans for wedded bliss.

Very funny screwball comedy which set the tone for the Cary Grant "character" which was honed over his next few movies.

Funny, and holds up even today.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0028597/

Gorgo

1961 film directed by Eugene Lourie.

British film that cashed in on the popularity of Godzilla tells the story of a baby dinosaur that is displayed in the circus until its mother comes to rescue it and tears up London.

Surprisingly engaging considering how derivative it is.

Love dinosaur flicks.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0054938/

First Men in the Moon

1964 sci-fi film directed by Nathan Juran and starring Edward Judd, Martha Hyer, and Lionel Jeffries.

H.G. Wells story about Victorian era scientists who devise a way to propel themselves to the moon is filled with comic relief thanks to Jeffries.

Fun and entertaining and suitable for the kids.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0058100/

McLintock

Andrew V. McLaglen directed this 1963 western comedy starring John Wayne and Maureen O'Hara.

John Wayne is a force of nature as cattleman McLintock who rules his ranch with an iron fist...until the return of O'Hara, his estranged wife. Sort of a take off on Taming of the Shrew. O'Hara is great and is a good match for Wayne.

Giant mud pit fight and public spanking add to the slapstick fun you'll find here.

Corny at times but amusing.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0057298/

Jason and the Argonauts

1963 fantasy directed by Don Chaffey and starring Todd Armstrong, Honor Blackman, Nigel Green.

Ray Harryhausen effects are the centerpiece of this filmed version of the Greek legend of Jason, who seeks the Golden Fleece. Spectacular scenes with a statue that comes to life, swordfighting skeletons, and a 7 headed Hydra.

Fun fantasy film. A classic.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0057197/

The 7th Voyage of Sindbad

Nathan Juran directed this 1958 fantasy starring Kerwin Matthews.

Evil magician reduces a princess to miniature size with stalwart Sindbad to the rescue. Great Ray Harryhausen effects make this one fun...especially the fight scene between Sindbad and a skeleton.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0051337/

It Came From Outer Space

Jack Arnold directed this 1953 film based on a Ray Bradbury story and starring Richard Carlson and Barbara Rush.

Aliens land on Earth to make repairs to their ship and try to pass as humans. Surprisingly good for its time with good performances and a tense storyline. And who doesn't love alien movies?

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0045920/

Unforgiven

Clint Eastwood directed this taut western. 1992 film stars Clint Eastwood, Gene Hackman, Morgan Freeman, and Richard Harris.

Maimed prostitute and her co-workers put out a bounty on the two cowboys who disfigured her. Two aging gunfighters and a young upstart set out to avenge her and collect the money.

Great drama that explores the morality of an immoral West and also depicts a quest for redemption by many characters on many levels.

An outstanding film made even better by its stars. Gene Hackman is superb as Little Bill, the town's lawman who lives outside the law. Richard Harris has a cameo as "English Bob", a notorious gunman.

But it's Clint Eastwood who carries the film with a silent brooding and determination that lets us in on the torment he feels for the death and destruction he has caused in the past and the loathing he has towards the job at hand.

Great western, great drama. Not to be missed.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0105695/

Kelly's Heroes

1970 Brian G. Hutton film stars Clint Eastwood, Donald Southerland, Telly Savalas, Don Rickles, and Donald Southerland.

Group of soldiers during World War Two deceide to forego their R & R and go behind the lines on their own to pull off a heist...stealing gold the Germans are guarding in an occupied town.

Combination of a standard war action film and comedy gets absurd at times...but that's what I like about it.

Look for Sutherland as a hippyish tank commander in a comic turn that adds an element of craziness to the whole escapade.

Long, but fun.

The Warriors

Walter Hill directed this 1979 film starring Michael Beck, James Remar, and Deborah Van Valkenburgh.

Violent drama depicts a street gang's journey from the Bronx to their home base as other rival gangs try to stop them.

Interesting look at the various types of gangs and gritty view of the city and its inhabitants.

Many violent segments but worth seeing Hill's vision of a very tough New York.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0080120/

Black Hawk Down

This film should be required viewing for military leaders, hawkish politicians, or anyone else thinking of going to war. Whatever can go wrong usually does.

2001 film directed by Ridley Scott stars Josh Hartnett, Ewan McGregor, and Tom Sizemore.

Small U.S. force in Somalia tries to apprehend a small group of insugents in what is supposed to be a quick and easy foray. But all hell breaks loose when they are met by a large, organized group of Somalis.

Follows the courageous team of soldiers who are determined to not leave anyone behind.

Intense war flick with realistic effects. Unlike many war films the characters here seem real, not contrived. Great sound.

Scary, suspenseful, and long, but worth it.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0265086/

Tin Cup

Ron Shelton directed this 1996 romantic comedy starring Kevin Costner, Rene Russo , Don Johnson, and Cheech Marin.

Under achieving golfer could have hit the big time but instead is content to run a Texas driving range. That is until he meets a therapist who, coincidentally, is the lover of his old friend and nemesis. So he sets out to win the U.S. Open.

You don't have to be a golfer to enjoy this movie. Not riotous, but amusing. And the cast is great.

Great "philosophy of golf" speech from Costner as he gives Russo her first lesson. And look for cameos by some golf greats.

Fun and engaging. Costner is a winner in this one and Cheech Marin is perfect as Costners caddy, friend, and confidente.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0117918/

Wonder Boys

Curtis Hanson directed this 2000 film starring Michael Douglas, Tobey Maguire, Frances McDormand, Robert Downey Jr, Katie Holmes, and Rip Torn.

Michael Douglas is an stressed, stoned English Professor who has had a successful first novel but has been working on his second for a long time...seven years. And his agent is coming to see him. And his wife is leaving him. And his affair with his boss the dean of the college is not going so well. And to top it all off, one his his students is a brilliant writer.

Quirky, funny, and it has some depth and feeling to it.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0185014/

Noises Off

1992 farce directed by Peter Bogdanovich starring Michael Caine, John Ritter, Carol Burnett, Christopher Reeve, Nicolette Sheridan, Marilu Henner.

Hysterical farce about a theatre director trying to whip his cast and show into shape before its opening. We see it from the audience's point of view as well as from backstage.

Great cast makes the most of it...with many laughs along the way.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0105017/

The Hollywood Knights

1980 comedy starring Tony Danza, Michelle Pfieffer, Fran Drescher, Robert Wuhl.

Largely stupid but funny film about a group of Hollywood delinquents and rabble rousers who set aside a night of mischief to lament the closing of their favorite drive-in restaurant.

Danza's first film also features a decent soundtrack and a very young Michelle Pfieffer.

Off the wall...it has its moments.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0080881/

Them!

Gordon Douglas directed this 1954 sci-fi classic starring James Whitmore and James Arness.

Giant ants terrorize a small town in the desert and then branch out to Los Angeles. Call in the Army's Monster Squad!

Fun, well thought out, and suspenseful.

Look for a cameo by Fess Parker, TV's Davy Crockett.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0047573/

Summer School

Carl Reiner directed this 1987 comedy with Mark Harmon, Kirstie Alley, and CourtneyThorne-Smith.

Easy going teacher is preparing for a summer vacation in Hawaii when he is tapped to teach summer school to a bunch of loser students.

Harmon is congenial, some of the kids are genuine characters, and the film itself actually is quite funny at times.

Light...but likeable.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0094072/

True Stories

1986 mockumentary directed by David Byrne of the Talking Heads.

Byrne takes us on a tour of a fictitious Texas town, introducing us to some sights and inhabitants that make the place...unusual.

John Goodman co-stars. Some bright moments. Creative. Sometimes fun, sometimes depressing.

Look for a rousing cinematic version of karaoke Byrne style with "Wild Wild Life".

Worth a look.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0092117/

Earth Vs The Flying Saucers

Hugh Marlowe and Joan Taylor star in this Fred F. Sears film from 1956.

Remarkable special effects for its time created by Ray Harryhausen. Aliens invade our planet demanding our surrender, leading to war of the worlds.

Not your typical B-movie.

Fun and literate.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0049169/

The Cider House Rules

Michael Caine, Tobey Maguire, Charlize Theron star in this Lasse Hallstrom film adapted from a John Irving novel.

Lessons about life and love and finding your way in the world.

Young man grows up in rural Maine orphanage and is mentored by the doctor who runs the place. But instead of easily stepping into his role as the doctor's successor, he leaves to work at an apple orchard where he falls in love and finds out where his heart really belongs.

Touching story, well acted.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0124315/

Clockwork Orange

Masterful film from a master movie maker. Stanley Kubrick adapted the William Burroughs novel for the screen. Amazing how both of them had a vision of the future that is remarkably accurate in retrospect....gangs, drugs, street violence, alienation, youth culture.

Street thug ( Malcolm McDowell) is arrested and put into a rehabilitation program geared toward turning him away from violence. It is so strange and disturbing that by the end of the film we are actually hoping our anti-hero goes back to his old ways.

Fascinating, disturbing, violent, and surprisingly funny at times.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0066921/

Tender Mercies

Quiet, moving film from 1983 directed by Bruce Beresford and starring Robert Duvall, Tess Harper, Ellen Barkin, Wilford Brimley.

Country singer with issues gets his life together with the help of a widow and her child.

Tender story has no great fireworks but is warm and touching. Duvall won an Oscar for this role and also wrote the songs.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0086423/