Excalibur

Best version of the Arthurian legend. 1981 film from John Boorman stars Nigel Terry, Helen Mirren, patrick Stewart, Liam Neeson, and Nicol Williamson as Merlin.

From the Sword in the Stone, to the Lady of the Lake...Arthur, Lancelot, and all take us along as they conceive of Camelot, help it rise to glory, and fall apart despite their best effrorts to remaijn true to their vision of a magical time and land that became England. Williamson shows us a different kind of Merlin, but a fitting one to guide us along this age-old journey of hope and redemption.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0082348/

Something Wild

1986 Jonathan Demme film stars Melanie Griffith, Jeff Daniels, and Ray Liotta.

Unusual film bounces back and forth between screwball comedy and suspenseful drama...with some scary violence along the way.

Stuffy businessman Daniels meets sexy Griffith and, kooky as she is, is swept away on an days long adventure. The actors keep the improbable plot interesting. Griffith is fun and attractive (read that as hot), Daniels is adequately staid and goofy, and Liotta steals the whole shebang.

Plot twists and turns as the whole movie veers from one genre to another. Different.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0091983/

The Professionals

These guys are good.

Action packed western about a group of professional soldiers of fortune who are hired to go across the border to rescue a kidnapped wife from evil bandito.

1966 film directed by Richard Brooks stars Burt Lancaster, Lee Marvin, Woody Strode, Jack Palance, Robert Ryan, and Claudia Cardinale.

Plot has interesting twist but the real draw here is the nature of the relationship between the tough mercenaries and how good they are at wreaking havoc.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0060862/

At Play in the Fields of the Lord

1991 drama directed by Hector Babenco and starring Tom Berenger, Tom Waites, Aiden Quinn, John Lithgow, and Daryl Hannah.

A long film, seemingly too long after a while, but still powerful. Pilot and buddy become involved with two sets of missionaries in the South American rain forest. All involved affect the lives of an innocent tribe - not necessarily for the better.

Has a lot to say about religion, clash of cultures, and the big question - why are we here?

Worth viewing.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0101373/

The Great Santini

1979 film directed by Lewis Johm Carlino stars Robert Duvall and Blythe Danner.

Peacetime Marine pilot with no war to fight makes his son's life difficult with high expectations, little respect, and discipline.

It's a family drama with great performances and something to say about how life's frustrations affect all around us.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0079239/

Miami Blues

1990 film directed by George Armitage and starring Alec Baldwin, Fred Ward, and Jennifer Jason Leigh.

Twisted tale of a loco crook who goes to Miami, steals a cop's badge, gun, ID, and false teeth and takes up with a prostitute who is so naive she has no clue that this guy is not your average guy next door (Well, maybe he is - I live near Miami).

Great acting helps this film that is wicked, funny, sick, and eventually takes a violent turn that seems somewhat out of place but true to the characters. Interesting to say the least.

Everyone shines. Look for Baldwin counting stolen money is his hotel room ("Are You sure you want to buy this Porche?"), a half-hearted attempt to rob a toy store with a water pistol Uzi, and a dinner scene that is a hoot.

Fun, sick, crazy movie.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0100143/

The Great Race

Ok, so it's overly long. And sometimes stupid. But stupid can be funny too.

1965 effort from Blake Edwards stars Tony Curtis, Jack Lemmon, Natalie Wood, Keenan Wynn, and Peter Falk.

Curtis is "The Great Leslie", a heroic daredevil who proposes a transcontinental automobile race around the turn of the centuiry. His foil is "Professor Fate", Jack Lemmon, who overacts to the hilt and makes this fluff actually funny. Natalie Wood looks great as a feminist reporter, and Peter Falk is hysterical as Lemmon's sidekick.

Gimmicky and tries too hard (and, believe me, Edwards threw EVERYTHING into this one including a bar room brawl, pie fight, and more). But there are some genuinely funny moments. I particularly like the first part of the film - which is sort of a live action Road Runner cartoon with Professor Fate coming up with outlandish ways to do in his rival Leslie.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0059243/