EXCELLENT FILMS TO WATCH

1. National Treasure (***) -- if you can suspend disbelief about the plot, you will enjoy this fast paced film.
2. IpMan (****) –If you like martial arts this is unbelievable story telling. Ip Man2 is also worth watching and just as good.  Ip Man3 is ok.
3. The Next Three Days (***) -- Terrific "escape" movie with Russell Crowe.
4. The Name of the Rose (***) – Good suspense film starring Sean Connery. Gripping.
5. The perfect murder (***) – This is a thriller in the true sense of the word. Michael Douglas is at his sinister best and he wasn’t even trying. (We can say the same about Morgan Freeman and Hugh Grant in other movies). Didn’t like the ending though.
6. The Guilty (***) – An edge of the seat thriller starring Bill Pullman.
7. Vantage Point (***) -- Gripping tale of the many sides to a political assasination.  
8. Bourne supremacy (***) – Matt Damon at his CIA best. Same goes for Bourne identity. Terrific suspense/action adventure.
9. Fargo (***) – This has become a classic suspense/comedy film about a bungled killing. Acting by Buscemi, Macy and musical score by Carter Burwell is outstanding. 
10. Next 2007 (****) -- Nicolas Cage is Cris Johnson, a small time magician who can also see two minutes into the future.  A terrific suspense film.
11. The Crow (***) -- Not everyone will like this cult classic about a murdered youth who re-incarnates as a crow to wreak  revenge.  Terrific artistic value if you can appreciate it. 
12. Braveheart (****) -- A scottish commoner leads a revolt against a cruel British ruler to avenge the death of his love.  Powerful story and cinematography make this a gripping tale. 
13. I am legend (***) -- This film has been classified sci-fi, but I would classify it as horror. Will Smith is the only man left alive after a plague or is he?  You would not go to a parking lot alone at night after watching this movie!
14. Avatar (****) -- Needless to say this is director James Cameron's 3D masterpiece.  Frequently criticized for its story being a cliche -- savages battle a greedy corporation's security forces for sacred land.  I prefer my sci-fi to have urban settings, but this one takes place in the jungle.  
15. The Passage 1979 (**) -- Anthony Quinn is a shepherd who agrees to ferry a scientist and his daughter across the pyrenees and is pursued by a maniacal Nazi officer played by Malcom McDowell.  His monologue during a prisoner interrogation and the grand vistas make this movie worth watching.
16. The Astronaut Farmer 2006 (**) -- Billy Bob Thornton gives a compelling performance as an astronaut who could not go to space in order to save his farm.  Movie builds slowly, but is still worth watching. 
17. American Pie naked mile 2006 (**) -- If you like teenage humor, this comedy may tickle and break your ribs.
18. Death at a funeral 2007 (***) -- If you like more sedate and slow paced but subtle humor watch death at a funeral.
19. 2012 released in the year 2009 (****) -- Earth's crust is overheated and causes widespread chaos.This is simply the best disaster film.
20. Star Trek 2009 (****) -- Excellent editing, screenplay and special effects makes this movie worth watching.
21. Aliens (***) -- This is possibly the best sci-fi horror film. Prometheus is a somewhat worth watching prequel.
22. The Predator (***) -- A team of commandos including Arnold Schwarzenegger fight an alien in the jungles of Central America. Can't recommend Predator II.
23. Margin Call (***) -- Paul bettany and Kevin Spacey give a taut performance as execs in an investment bank dealing with the onset of financial crisis of 2008.  
24. Sherlock Holmes 2009 and Sherlock Holmes game of Shadows 2011 (****) -- Both faithfully recreate the revered detective along with Victorian England.  See it for the story and screen play.
25. Shooter (***) 2007 -- Mark Wahlberg is a retired sniper brought out of retirement to track another alleged sniper, but is betrayed.  Nice suspense. 
26. Moon44 (**) 1990 -- Michael Pare is an internal investigator trying to find out what is happening with the mining bots on Moon 44.  Good sci-fi effects, planetscape, good story and a charismatic lead makes this B movie worth watching.  One actually feels the stifling atmosphere of Moon44.
27. Blade runner 2049 (***) 2017 -- This is a perfect sequel to the original blade runner.  The only flaw in the movie is its plot thin-ness, but the settings and atmosphere  are perfect.  Definitely a sci-fi masterpiece.
28. Catch me if you can (****) 2002 ---  Leonardo Di Caprio is a con man trying to elude Tom Hanks the persistent FBI agent on his trail.  Intense performance by Di Caprio and the interesting story makes this worth watching although Tom Hanks is not quite the hard nosed FBI agent. 
29. U571 (***) 2000 --American officers in a captured German submarine face a battle for survival.  Gripping movie if you like war.  
30. Enigma (2001) (***) – Film about breaking of Nazi codes during WW II.
31. The four feathers 2002 (***) --  A British army officer in 1880's Sudan is accused of cowardice in the face of battle.  Excellent casting, directing and screenplay make this a riveting drama/action film. 
32. Get Smart (***) -- In this comedy, Steve Carrel is an agent for 'Control' and must take the help of 'Agent 99' to prevent 'Chaos' organization from taking control of the world.  Nice family fun.  
33. Two weeks notice (***) – Hugh Grant and Sandra Bullock hit it off in this romantic comedy. She is an environmental lawyer and he is a developer. Excellent comedy and excellent acting by Grant and Bullock.
34. Look who’s talking too (***) – Nice wholesome comedy starring Kirstie Alley and John Travolta.  The sequel is fun too.
35. Men in Black (***) – Nice incredulous sci-fi comedy about aliens invading earth. Tommy Lee Jones puts in a good performance, Will Smith is a little hyper, but a good rookie. Vincent D'Onofrio plays an excellent support role as Edgar the hick, possessed by an alien.
36. Galaxy Quest (**) – Excellent sci-fi comedy.  Enrico Colantoni gives oscar quality performance in a supporting role. 
37. Original Sin (****) 2001 -- Antonio Banderas is a wealthy plantation owner who imports a bride, trusts her with his bank accounts and pays for his mistakes.  Excellent suspense, sizzling cast and fine story telling make this movie worth watching.  
38. Chronicles of Riddick  (****) 2004 -- this sci-fi masterpiece is unfortunately under-appreciated.  If you liked Dune, you will love this tale of a criminal who fights an invading army.  This is unbelievable movie making that only hard core sci-fi fans and silver screen lunatics will appreciate.
39. League of extra-ordinary gentlemen ( ***) 2003 -- Despite the ridiculous premise of bringing together assorted characters from history this movie maintains a smart pace along with an excellent turn of the century setting. 
40. Flawless (****) 2007 -- Michael Caine is a janitor who tempts an exec to join him in a heist.  Flawless acting and directing make this a nail biter! 
41. Killer Elite (**) --- A retired elite airforce operative has to identify and dispatch assassins sent by a crafty enemy.
42. Blitz (***) -- An assasin is reluctantly drawn into one more job. Terrific action and suspense makes this movie worth watching.  (Probably classified as a 'B' movie).  
43. Indiana Jones (****) – Liked all the Indy films, obviously “Raiders of the Lost Ark” is the best of the series and was a huge box office hit.
44. Congo (***) – Terrific action adventure film that has won some awards. Great cast, great script with only one awkward moment, great music and great action, all fully deprecated by the critics. Laura Linney fits her role well. Dylan Walsh takes the award for a wimpy role. Hopefully there are some countries left in this world where this is a capital offense. Tim Curry makes a nice cameo appearance. Don’t miss Heslov’s awkward moment.
45. Deep Blue Sea (****) – Sharks run amok in a research facility. Terrific suspense/adventure film. Saffron Burrows is outstanding!
46. Clear and Present Danger (***) --  Harrison Ford is Jack Ryan promoted to Deputy Director of the CIA, but finds that his path crosses that of drug cartels as well as people in his own backyard. Gripping tale of high level politics.
47. Syriana 2005 (****) -- High level oil politics and missiles form an explosive mix in this high stakes thriller.  
48. The Score 2001 (***) -- The score was a box office hit and for good reason.  A retired safecracker is pursuaded to take one more job.  It is perhaps the best movie of Robert De Niro. 
49. A Knight's tale (***) -- A peasant aspires to be a knight in this medieval version of rags to riches. 
50. Daredevil (***) -- Ben Affleck is blinded but develops superhuman abilities which he uses to fight crime.  Smart dialogs and nice action sequences makes this movie worth watching.   
51. Contagion (****) -- Taut thriller about the spread of a deadly disease.  
52. Star Trek into Darkness 2013 (****) -- This is JJ Abrams masterpiece.  Gripping action, elaborate sets, special effects, excellent editing makes this movie worthwhile.   
53. Superman Man of Steel 2013 (**) -- Despite its flaws in a thin plot line and too intense action sequences, this film is worth watching as a sci-fi film with lots of special effects.  Be warned that if you could imagine a movie consisting of parts of 'Dune', 'Independence Day', 'Transformers' and 'Day After Tomorrow' you can pass on this one.
54. Dictator (****) -- Sacha Baron Cohen is an oppressive small time dictator of a small middle east country having to go to the UN to give a speech in this hilarious (a little crude) comedy.  
55. The skin I live in (**) -- This is a gripping and stylish thriller but seems like a one man job in a studio setting. Builds slowly but still worth watching.
56.  Red Tails (***) -- Story about the Tuskeegee airmen.  Nice story, nice cast, nice settings and nice dog fights makes this movie a very pleasant experience.
57.  Elysium (***) -- In the 22nd century, the 'haves' have moved to a space paradise called Elysium while the 'have nots' eke out a meagre brutal existence under the rule of bots.  If you are longing for a trip to the future, this is the best, but it does have the flavor of terminator 4.  
58. Arbitrage (****) -- Richard Gere makes some risky investments and enlists help from unexpected quarter in this thriller.
59. Erased (****) -- Security expert Ben Logan finds his life and his daughter's life in danger after he discovers who holds patents to his security design.  
60. Rogue Trader 1999 (****) -- A hotshot trader trying to cover his bad investments bankrupts a staid British Bank.   Ewan McGregor gives a terrific performance.
61. Along Came Polly (***) -- If you don't mind crude humor, this movie will tickle your ribs.  A risk analyst loses his bride on his honeymoon.  
62. Fire with Fire (**) --  A fireman witnesses a cold-blooded killing and after a failed witness protection program takes matters into his own hands.  Terrific suspense makes this worth watching.  Bruce Willis has a minor role. 
63. October Sky (****) -- In this inspiring true story, a group of teenagers battle odds to compete in a science fair. Develops slowly.
64. Spare Parts 2015 (****) – Also an inspiring true story, a group of community college students under the direction of a laid off engineer develop an underwater bot to compete in a robot competition.  Develops slowly.
65. The Ghost and the Darkness 1996 (****) -- In this thriller, an American Hunter is brought in to deal with man-eating lions that had been terrorizing railroad workers, in late 1800's Africa. 
66. The Finest Hours 2016 (****) -- Chris Pine takes us into the atlantic with an ill-equipped coastguard vessel to rescue a stricken tanker in the middle of a terrific storm in this terrific movie.  
67. Ten rules for sleeping around 2013 (**) -- Two couples make up rules for open relationships and suffer the consequences.  If you like screwball adult-comedies, this one may break your ribs.  Develops slowly.
68. Fast Five 2010 (****) – White knuckle racing action in Sao Paulo.  Furious 7 is also worth seeing if you like high speed driving. 
69. Death Race 2008 (****) --  A speed jock is framed for murder and offered a chance to be part of a no-holds-barred car race.  It’s a movie for men.  Death race 2 is also worth seeing.
70. AdAstra 2019 (**) -- A major in Space Command is assigned the task of investigating what happened to the Lima project, a project tasked with investigating Extra-terrestrials. Movie is insipid and plods for most of the time, I am recommending it for the visuals and special effects.
71. Hitman 2007 (***) -- An assassin is told that his hit was not successful and is pursued by Interpol and FSB. Timothy Olyphant is super cool as the hit man.
    
72. Night of the Running Man 1995 (**) -- A Las Vegas cab driver who finds and takes off with mob money is pursued by a relentless enforcer.  Good thriller.