MORE THAN A HUNDRED CLASSIC FILMS TO WATCH

 Following is a list of excellent films from the ‘40’s all the way to present day. Sometimes movies that have little cinematic value are still terrific entertainers. The stars are what the critics think. 

1. Seven times seven (**) -- great robbery flick from the seventies.
2. The Italian job (***) -- another great heist flick, both versions are worth watching.
3. Grand Slam (***) – Grand heist flick from the ‘70’s, still worth watching.
4. Steal (**) – Stephen Dorf and Natasha Henstridge face off in this slick heist flick.
5. Mr. Majestyk (**) – great mob movie from the seventies; With Bronson as Majestyk there are always bad guys and good action.
6. The Mechanic – (**) great mob movie from the seventies; Charles Bronson is an assassin with Jan Michael Vincent as his assistant. Didn’t like the ending.
7. Bonnie and Clyde (****) – classic gangster film.
8. The Driver (**) – A mob movie in which Ryan O’ Neal drives a get away car.
9. Speed (****) – Keanu Reeves is a police officer who needs to rescue passengers from a bus that is rigged to explode if its speed drops below 50 mph. 
10. Godfather (****) – The mother of all gangster movies, chilling and thrilling to watch, see all parts.
11. The Sting (****) – The most stylish swindle film with a strong cast and award winning score.
12. The Great Train Robbery (***) – Classic robbery film starring Sean Connery. Donald Sutherland in a good support role (Not a fan of his, but its still great).
13. Where eagles dare (***) – one of the best war action films from the seventies, adapted from the Alistair Mcclean novel.
14. Guns of Navarone (***)– another great war action film, adapted from the Alistair Mcclean novel.
15. Battle of the Bulge (****)– if you love World War II action.
16. Raid on Rommel (****) -- if you love World War II action.
17. The Blue Max (****) -- Just when you thought war films couldn't get better. George Peppard is a WW II German ace out to get the Blue Max medal but is seduced by Ursula Andress.
18. Beu Geste (****)– Telly Savalas is a wicked sergeant out to separate two brothers defending a fort against Tuaregs in the desert.
19. Operation crossbow (**) – good war film. Sophia Loren is seductive.
20. Kelly’s heroes (***)– good war film starring Clint Eastwood. If only he didn’t sell us out with his million dollar trash. Donald Sutherland adds a nice ‘60’s touch in a support role.
21. Force 10 from Navarone (***) – not as good as “Guns of Navarone,” but still worth watching. Barbara Bach sizzles.
22. Platoon (***) – One of the best vietnam war films.  War from start to finish. “Black Hawk Down” is comparable.
23. Tora Tora Tora 1970 (****) -- This 1970's film dramatizes the attack on Pearl Harbor. Gripping drama and screen play makes this historical piece worth watching again and again.
24. Hannibal brooks (**) – war time comedy. Michael J. Pollard at his best.
25. Bear Island (***) – The best adventure film. Most of Alistair Mcclean’s novels were made into films. This has action and suspense in the arctic. Has to be seen on the big screen.
26. Ice Station Zebra (***)-- Also one of the great McClean novels turned into film. Why didn’t they make the movie “Night without end?” Has to be seen on the big screen.
27. Death wish II (**) – Charles Bronson loses a friend and is ticked off. A little bit violent. The others are not worth seeing.
28. Breakheart Pass (***) – Alistair McClean movie, nice western with Charles Bronson in the lead role. Jill Ireland is green around the edges as a colonel's daughter.
29. Khartoum – Charleston Heston defends the British occupied city of Khartoum against local marauders in this exciting film.
30. For a few dollars more (***) – the best western film. Read the novel too.
31. McKenna’s gold (***) – Another best and classic western film from the seventies. Omar Sharif’s finest work.
32. Pale Rider (**)– Tall and incomplete tale starring one-man phenomenon Clint Eastwood. Still worth watching.
33. Enter the Dragon (***)– Classic martial arts film that can be seen any number of times. Anyone heard of Bruce Lee? See Jackie Chan films for lighter fare and Jet Li films for a more serious interpretation. Sorry, cannot quite remember which of their numerous films are worth seeing.
34. Wraith 1986 (**) -- Charlie Sheen re-incarnates after being killed, to wreak revenge on a car gang. See it for the car races filmed in Arizona.
35. Lost in the Desert (**) – Classic kids film from the ‘70’s.
36. Young Sherlock Holmes(****) – An excellent excellent film. Holmes’ fans rejoice, for the film preserves his character.
37. Tess (****)– Thomas Hardy’s novel in the hands of famed director Roman Polanski. What more can we say?
38. The Adventures of Sherlock Holme’s smarter brother (***) – A rousting comedy. Michael Caine and Madeline Kahn give a good performance.
39. Robinhood Prince of Thieves 1991 (****) -- An all star cast, an excellent screenplay and a memorable title song by Bryan Adams makes this immortal story worth watching. 
40. For Richer or Poorer (**) – Good comedy starring Tim Allen and Kirstie Alley.
41. The Gods must be crazy (***) – An excellent comedy with African bushmen. “Gods Must be crazy Part II” is also worth seeing.
42. Coneheads (***) – Dan Akroyd and Jane Curtin give a rousting performance in this sci-fi comedy that is fun for the family.  Now it is dated, but still fun.  Dan Akroyd's acting is memorable.
    
43. Mouse hunt (****) -- If you like slapstick, this is very entertaining.  It nearly broke my ribs.
44. Terminator (****)– All time best sci-fi action film. Arnold Schwarzenegger is a robot out to kill Sarah Connor. Outstanding action adventure film. The other two in the series are water after wine.   The fourth is worth watching again.
45. Gattaca (****) – An excellent sci-fi movie in which an “invalid” wants to become a “valid.” Its sadly one of those films that wasn’t appreciated enough.
46. The Island (***) – An excellent excellent sci-fi film with plenty of action and suspense starring Ben Affleck.
47. Starship troopers (***) – A terrific sci-fi film, if you are willing to put up with poor space ship physics. Based on the Robert Heinlein novel. Movie is better. Avoid the second sequel.  Third sequel is ok.
48. Stargate (***) – The sci-fi movie that started the series with the same name. Worth watching.
49. Total Recall (***) – Famous Arnold Schwarzenegger film and also one of the best sci-fi movies ever made.
50. Independence Day (**) – Aliens invade earth. Plot is thin, but it won an Oscar for effects.
51. Water World (**) – You have to be a Kevin Costner fan to like this film about surviving in a world where there is no water. “The Postman” is also worth an honorable mention if you can overlook the poor plot in the last quarter of the film.
52. Blade runner – (***) Classic sci-fi film. Harrison Ford hunts replicants in a Chinese dominated LA in the 22^nd century. If you don’t enjoy sci-fi, this may not be for you. 
53. Blade runner 2049 -- (****) A somewhat slow paced film for sci-fi lovers with terrific visuals and the right futuristic atmosphere.  Movie didn't get appreciated enough.
    
54. Dr. Zhivago (***) – Classic film from the ‘60’s if you fancy Tsarist Russia at winter time. 
55. Ben Hur (****) -- This is another of Cecile DeMille's masterpieces.  Around 50 A.D. a wealthy jew is betrayed by his best friend, but overcomes his misfortunes to seek vengeance.  
56. Crocodile Dundee (***) -- A newspaper heiress goes into the outback with a croc wrangler and falls in love.  Movie is charming for the most part but the last ten minutes are cheesy.  Still a classic.  Crocodile Dundee II is not that great. 
57. The Fifth Element (**) – Somewhat cheesy story but a sci-fi masterpiece by Luc Besson. Outstanding artistic value. Somehow it didn’t become a hit when released. Break out role for Chris Tucker. Should have been nominated for best supporting actor.
58. Cherry 2000 (**) – Little cinematic value, but entertaining.  A genteel suburbanite searches for a robotic surrogate wife in the wastelands, with Melanie Griffith as a guide. Movie is a little old.
59. Star Wars (***) – The phantom menace, attack of the clones, revenge of the Sith all are worth watching on big screen for the special effects. The story was never convincing to me. I don’t know how the original star wars every became a hit.
60. Fortress (**) – Both fortress films starring Chris Lambert are worth watching. 
61. Roller ball (**) – In the future, countries contest in a violent sport called Rollerball. See only the 1970’s James Caan version. The new one doesn’t capture the magic. It’s a good sci-fi action film if you can ignore the inane dialogs in between. James Caan is at his best as a roller boy.
62. Minority report (**) – An excellent sci-fi film with Tom Cruise.
63. Predator (**) – Good sci-fi action film.
64. Paycheck (***) – Another excellent, excellent sci-fi film with plenty of action and suspense starring Ben Affleck.
65. Chinatown (****) – All time best film noir movie. Jack Nicholson’s and Roman Polanski’s best work.
66. Witness for the Prosection (***)– A really old black and white film directed by Hitchcock, that has white knuckled suspense. Terrific acting and directing. Catch it on a late night TV channel.
67. Rebecca (****) – Joan Fontaine and Laurence Olivier give an outstanding if a little melodramatic performance in this black and white 1940’s classic. Goes to show that good acting is timeless. 
68. The Big Chill (**) – This is the original 1940’s film noir where the good guys are good and the bad guys are wicked. The movie is tame by present standards so its only for serious students of cinema --  Fritz lang is the director. 
69. Breaker Morant (****) -- An Australian army officer is tried for the deaths of Boer POWs during the Boer War.  Outstanding acting, directing, story and casting makes this a fine drama to watch.  Builds up slowly. 
70. Shoot to Kill 1988 (***) -- Sidney Poitier and Tom Berenger play a game of cat and mouse in this suspense thriller. 
71. The Hitcher (**) – A scary and gory suspense film.
72. Psycho (***) – Hitchcock’s masterpiece. Anthony Perkins is outstanding as Norman Bates. Read the novel too.
73. The Pink Panther series (****) -- Jack Clouseau is a bumbling french detective in this comedy series.  While some are slow, most of them are fun to watch again and again.  The series includes "The Pink Panther,""A shot in the dark,"  "The Return of the Pink Panther", "Inspector Clouseau," "Son of the Pink Panther", "Trail of the Pink Panther", "Curse of the Pink Panther", "Revenge of the Pink Panther," and "The Pink Panther Strikes Again." 
74. The Savior (**) – This is a searing tale of an American trying to save a baby in war time Bosnia. Not a kind and gentle movie but terrific entertainment.
75. The pit and the pendulum 1991 (**) -- During the time of the spanish inquisition, inquisitor Torquemeda torments an outspoken woman and her husband. 
76. Shawshenk redemption (****) – Best prison movie ever. Outstanding script, outstanding story and outstanding redemption. Morgan Freeman in a terrific support role. Whatever happened to Tim Robinson?
77. The Good Wife (***) – Bartender arrives in a small town and stirs things up. Terrific acting by Sam Neill and terrific directing.
78. The Mayor of Casterbridge (****) -- This is a two part series.  If you are nostalgic about English country life in the 1800's don't miss this super-faithful adaptation of Thomas Hardy's novel.  Powerful story, superb casting, acting and directing add up to a powerful movie. But its a tragedy! 
79. Titanic (****) – If you don’t mind the boring title song and the immense tragedy, this is truly a masterpiece that deserves all the Oscars it received.
80. Godzilla (1998) (***) – simply the best disaster movie. The original “Poseidon adventure,” and “Airport” are worth honorable mention.
81. The other side of midnight (***) – Is a made for TV movie based on the Sidney Sheldon novel and starring Omar Sharif as a villain.
82. The Memory of Eva Ryker (**) – A terrific 1980’s thriller starring Jason Robards and the late but beautiful Natalie Woods.
83. Massacre at Central High (**) – Don’t be put off by the title, its an excellent suspense film. Script writer goofed on the ending.
84. Delta Force (***) – Nice ‘80’s film where American hostages are rescued in the middle east. The sequel is not worth watching.
85. The spy who loved me (***) – My favorite bond film, but Roger Moore will look unfit by present day standards. Barbara Bach is at her best here. I haven’t found a bond film that wasn’t worth watching.
86. True lies (**) – This is a good spoofy action flic that is excellent entertainment. Bill Paxton’s cameo appearance and speech are outstanding but unfortunately overlooked by the critics. Deserves nomination as best supporting actor.
87. Air Force One (**) --- Deserves a decent mention even though Harrison Ford stretches things a bit when he fights for control of Air Force One.
88. Under Siege II (**) – Excellent Seagal movie although others are not particularly worth watching. Good action and suspense, but unfortunately didn’t become a hit.
89. Hudson Hawk (***) – Offbeat comedy adventure film starring Bruce Willis and Andie McDowell that is really fun to watch over and over again. Its hard to combine music, comedy and adventure, but Michael Lehmann the director has pulled it off. It unfortunately didn’t become a hit. Danny Aiello gives a rousing performance in a support role.
90. Fugitive (****) – A '90's hit pitting Harrison Ford against Tommy Lee Jones. Both are at their best here. Don’t confuse this with “Frantic” which is also a Harrison Ford movie that deserves honorable mention.
91. The Ten Commandments (****) – Almost fifty years after it was made, it is still entertaining and educational. A Cecil D. Mille masterpiece.
92. Cleopatra (****) – Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton sizzle in this Cecil D. Mille masterpiece. Script deserves an oscar, but somehow this was overlooked.
93. 300 (***) – Three hundred heroes hold a Persian Army numbering 20,000 at bay. Done in historical color. Very gripping, a movie for men.
94. Gladiator (***) – Very very powerful film, Russel Crowe in breakout role.
95. The Messenger (****) – About Joan of Arc, directed by Luc Besson. Gripping story.
96. First Knight (***) – Sean Connery is king Arthur and too old to be Julia Ormond’s husband. Wish there was someone else instead of her. But in comes Sir Lancelot to sweep her away. A beautiful film worth watching even if Ormond looks too young.
97. The Killing Fields (****) – Purge in Cambodia by Khmer Rouge. John Lennon sings “imagine” in his haunting voice.
98. Gandhi (****)– As everyone knows, Richard Attenborough is Gandhi in this historical film about the famous man. Includes some original footage.
99. Greystoke, the legend of Tarzan, Lord of the apes (***) – Outstanding film depicts the Tarzan legend, born in Africa, educated by apes and discovered by whites. Its not true to the Edgar Rice Burroughs book, but has its own charm. Not a fan of Christopher Lambert, but he gives an excellent performance.
100. The Right Stuff (****) – A retro on recent American aviation history.
101. Dances with Wolves (****) – Kevin Costner as a civil war officer who befriends a wolf and a Sioux tribe in the Western American frontier. Worth every one of the seven Oscars it received.
102. Renoir 2012 (****) -- Movie about the famous painter, a movie for art lovers only.  Every scene in this movie is like a beautiful painting.  Must see for its beauty and artistic value.
103. Midnight in Paris 2011 (***) -- A vacationing screen writer discovers a writer's wonderland and gets inspiration from it.  This is a slow paced movie and could be a classic but for the ingenuous character of Clive Owen. Score is good but movie could use editing. 
104. Midway 2019 (****) -- Roland Emmerich's version of the battle of midway.  Worth watching.