Though Temple of Doom lacks Sallah, Marcus Brody, and the Nazis, it is an improvement over Raiders in more than a few ways. To start, Ford is even better as Indy for his character is tested more. Douglas Slocombe’s photography is more effective, and John Williams’ music score is even more diverse and genius. Temple of Doom is also more creative, emotionally effective, and imaginative. However, it lacks the spectacle of the first film and is far more controversial and violent.This is the movie that created the PG-13 rating.

Dennis Muren’s stunning Oscar-winning visual effects match Richard Edlund’s effects in Raiders, yet they are not as awe-inspiring or important to the story. Elliot Scott’s production design is terrific, and the cult sequences are very intense. The stunts top the ones in Raiders and are really good. The most memorable sequences have to be the mine car chase, the creature feature dinner, the Shanghai nightclub opening, the duel at the cult platform, and the rope bridge finale, incredible. Though Temple of Doom isn’t as good as Raiders or Last Crusade it is highly recommended and is one of the best adventure films ever made.

`Die Hard’ introduces us to John McClane, NYPD. You’ll want to remember that name, for next to Ripley it’s the only `action star’ name you’ll ever need to know. Forget Ethan Hunt or even James Bond (well, you can remember James Bond I guess) because John McClane is the definition of action star. Well, I guess I should say that Bruce Willis is the definition of action star, but you get my drift. When the LA building his wife happens to be in is taken hostage by a group of terrorists planning a robbery, McClane takes matters into his own hands and wages a war against the terrorists from inside the building. The LAPD isn’t making things any easier, but John has the help of one particular officer.

The plot is fine but it’s the action that really makes `Die Hard’ an instant classic. It breathes new life into the genre and pushes the envelope in ways that no other action film has done. `Die Hard’ is a movie that will never get old or become outdated. It holds up even today, twenty years after its release, proving to be just as good if not better than most of the so called `action’ films that get released today.

The acting is also a highlight, especially that of Bruce. It saddens me that the Academy can often be so dense and blind. In my personal opinion Bruce gave one of the best performances of the year. He was natural and witty, charming and brooding all at the same time. He created an iconic character, and that is hard to do. John McClane is a household name. Alan Rickman is also a pleasure to watch here. As Hans Gruber he creates a prime bad guy, someone cunning, masterful and of course evil. Reginald VelJohnson feels like he playing a lengthened version of his character on `Family Matters’ and comes off a bit mechanical, but it’s forgivable. Bonnie Bedelia nails her performance as McClane’s wife. She filters through her characters emotions well.

In the end `Die Hard’ is a classic film that I’m sure many of you have already seen. If you haven’t seen it then I urge you to go out and see it ASAP. `Die Hard’, like I’ve already mentioned, is a film that stands the test of time. It is just as up-to-date as the films being released today. There is no other film like it, and there most likely will never be an `action’ film that can top it.

Cast

• Bruce Willis Detective John McClane
• Alan Rickman Hans Gruber
• Bonnie Bedelia Holly Gennero McClane
• Reginald VelJohnson Sgt. Al Powell
• Alexander Godunov Karl
• Paul Gleason Deputy Police Chief Dwayne T. Robinson
• William Atherton Richard Thornburg
• De’voreaux White Argyle
• Hart Bochner Harry Ellis
• James Shigeta Joseph Yoshinobou “Joe” Takagi

For anyone who is tired of the prefabricated plot lines that dominate today’s movie industry, you know the ones for teeny-boppers and the sequels to movies unfit for original production, Fight Club is a refreshing alternative. The star-studded cast, Edward Norton, Brad Pitt, and Helena Bonham Carter, provide the perfect chemistry for this deceptively brilliant critique of the modern man. David Fincher, who also collaborated with Pitt in the movie Seven, captures the essence Chuck Palahniuk’s novel with beautiful cinematography.

The junior executive, played by Norton, is struggling to swallow his mundane existence. He suffers from a variety of ailments, from depression to insomnia. Norton’s character, the narrator, whose name is never revealed during the film, an example of the subtle nuances that make this production so appealing, lacks a sense of identity, as is expressed in the following quote: “I’d look through the catalog and think, what kind of furniture defines me as a man?” Palahniuk, very cleverly, illustrates how disillusioned and materialistic society has become. Tyler’s occupation of a soap salesman is yet another example. He sells his luxurious soap, made from lye and the pilfered fat from liposuction clinics, back to the very clients who supplied the materials.

Underneath the comedy, the drama, and, at times, the brutal violence, lays an exceptional social satire. Norton’s character and his partner in crime Tyler Durden, played by Pitt, revolt against the twenty-first century image of man. A prime example of Palanhiuk’s contempt for the feminization of man occurs when the two board a bus. They see a Calvin Klein advertisement of a perfectly groomed young adult male devoid of imperfections and body hair. Tyler asks, “Is that what a man looks like?” They both laugh and express their sympathy for people following the path of superficial self-improvement.

The film broaches some rather controversial social issues, which separate it from most conservative contemporary pieces. Many women, mothers especially, were offended by the line, “We’re a generation of men raised by women; I’m wondering if another woman in my life is really what I need?” I thought that was a goal films; they are supposed to be about eliciting emotion.

This film’s cast and director combined to produce a film that will not be soon forgotten. From the horror of the Norton and Leto fight scene to the compassion and sorrow of support group scenes, Fight Club takes you on an eye-opening voyage through the mind of a man gone mad from banality. If you have not watched Fight Club yet and are tired of the same regurgitated garbage, check it out next time you have a chance.

Pacino plays a Cuban refugee thug , Tony Montana , who claws and scracthes(taking some lives along the way) to the top of the cocaine world in Miami with the help of his right hand man Manny Ray(Steven Bauer).

Pacino plays this part with such passion and energy that he absolutely fuels this film from beginning to end. You can’t take your eyes off the man. He adds humanistic dimensions to Tony Montana. He shows Montana’s humor , machismo , intelligence , leadership , guts , and flaws. He even shows Montana’s tender side(the scene with Michelle Pfeiffer at poolside). Pacino actually gets you to like a character who is basically a sleazeball. Now that is acting!

There are memorable moments throughout this film and some are very graphic but what is probably the highlight moment of this film is the great shoot ‘em up scene at the end ; Sosa’s hitmen infiltrating Montana’s estate to kill him because Montana botched a major hit for Sosa. When Montana , full of cocaine , finally refocus his attention to the hitmen he fights back in complete defiance to them with a machine gun/grenade launcher. “Say hello to my little friend!” is now one of those famous movie lines of film history. He blast them away like dominoes , withstanding the awesome gunfire because of the cocaine in his system. This is a real “guy’s” scene. It’s action fueled by high octane adrenaline and Pacino plays it beyond belief. His performance is so elating that you want to grab a machine gun and fight along side him. Pacino IS Scarface!

Cast

• Al Pacino as Tony Montana
• Steven Bauer as Manny Ribera (Credits list as “Manny Ray”)
• Michelle Pfeiffer as Elvira Hancock
• Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio as Gina Montana
• Robert Loggia as Frank Lopez
• F. Murray Abraham as Omar Suárez
• Harris Yulin as Mel Bernstein
• Paul Shenar as Alejandro Sosa
• Ángel Salazar as Chi Chi
• Pepe Serna as Angel Fernandez
• Míriam Colón as Georgina “Mama” Montana
• Al Israel as Hector “The Toad”

“The Deer Hunter,” next to “Apocalypse Now,” is by far the best Vietnam movie ever. There’s both an epic quality to this film as well as an intimacy about it. It looks at the mental, emotional, and physical toll the war had on American soldiers unlike any other film and it shows what it did to close friends and communities.

The major sequence in the beginning is the wedding sequence. Yes, it’s lengthy, but that sequence is this film’s heart. It wouldn’t be ‘The Deer Hunter’ without it. All major characters are introduced as well as their relationship with one another.

Michael Vronsky (Robert De Niro), is the leader of his pack of four brother-like friends. Michael, Steve(John Savage), and Nick (Chris Walken), are all going to to Vietnam, while Stan(John Cazale) is left in Pennsylvania with Axel(Chick Aspegren. So the wedding sequence is both a celebration of Steve’s wedding as well as a going away party for Steve, Mike and Nick. In the middle of all this, there’s Linda(Meryl Streep)who’s Nick’s fiancee AND the object of Michael’s affections.

In Vietnam, Steve, Nick and Mike are captured by the Viet Cong and are forced to engage in endless games of Russian Roulette and with the efforts of Mike, they all escape but at a cost. Steve and Mike return home while Nick is left in Saigon. Michael is reunited with Linda, but is isolated and alienated from his surroundings.They comfort each other because she is also mourning Nick’s absence as a loss. He attempts to go back to his deer hunting ways, but can’t bring himself to shoot a deer
anymore because he now knows first-hand what it feels like to be hunted.

With a visit to a Veteran’s hospital, Steve, now a maimed, wheel-chair ridden man discloses to Mike about the money he has recieved from an annonymous sender from Siagon. Mike quickly figures out who it is and rapidly departs to Saigon in search for Nick. He finds Nick reliving his Russian Roulette ordeal by gambling with his own life. Mike shows up and desperately tries to get Nick to come back to Pennsylvania and to Linda.The rest I’ll leave to those wanting to buy this movie.

“The Deer Hunter” is an emotionally charged film. It’s a gem! It brilliantly shows ordinary men who led simple lives going into the war and emerging forever scarred and forever changed by their experiences.

The Russian Roulette scenes are the most powerful and heart-wrenching. You immediately feel the tension and fear of who will live and who will die, much like the overall reaction during the Vietnam war. You’ll never forget the looks on De Niro’s, Savage’s, and Walken’s faces in those scenes. They’re a work of art created by rare emotional intensity. All three men give the performances of their careers. Meryl Streep gives a wonderful performance as well. The chemistry between her and De Niro is vivid and captivating.

Great cinematography and wonderful contrasts between peace and chaos; Pennsylvania and Vietnam. It’s a film about friendship and courage and how it’s put to the test. It’s one of the best American films. Period. You’ll never forget it.
As Mike said, “This ain’t something else. This is this!”

The acting is superb with Brando taking the prize in his portrayal of Don Corleone, the Godfather. His raspy voice that suggested reason while disguising intrigue was one of the many keys to the effective tone of the movie. There were scenes of violence, to be sure. However, it was the quiet, calculated moves that created a greater sense of evil. It was the implication of quiet yet ruthless planning that made the horse’s head all the scarier. Sonny (played very well by James Cann) did not understand the subtleties of evil whereas Michael (played even better by Al Pacino) did.

The music was haunting, the costume were well-done, the cinematography was excellent, the writing outstanding but it was the directing that carries the movie. I’m not sure whatever happened to Francis Ford Coppola. I realize that he had other achievements, not the least of which was the sequel of “Godfather II”. However, this man displayed a talent seldom seen. Maybe it was just the right mind and vision for the right project but it sure seemed that we would be seeing a lot more from this man.

Everybody has at least one scene from “The Godfather” that has stayed with them more than others. For many it is the horse’s head, for others it’s “the offer he can’t refuse”, while for others it may be something as subtle as the slowly closing door at the end of the movie. Each of those images appeals to us on a different level. “The Godfather” has worked its’ way into our culture and why not? It is a movie that appeals to most every movie goer from age 14 on up. It is one of those movies that you can enjoy over and over again. Each time you can appreciate even more examples of the artist at work.

Cast

• Marlon Brando as Don Vito Corleone – the boss (the “Don”) of the Corleone family, Formerly known as Vito Andolini. He is the father of Sonny, Fredo, Michael and Connie and adoptive father to Tom Hagen. Husband of Carmella Corleone. A native Sicilian.
• Al Pacino as Michael Corleone – the Don’s and Carmella’s youngest son, recently returned from military service following the end of World War II. The only college-educated member of the family, he initially wants nothing to do with the Corleone family business. His evolution from doe-eyed outsider to ruthless boss is the key plotline of the film.
• James Caan as Santino “Sonny” Corleone – Vito’s and Carmella’s hot-headed eldest son; he is being groomed to succeed his father as head of the Corleone family. He is the family’s underboss.
• Robert Duvall as Tom Hagen – an informally adopted son of Vito and Carmella Corleone, he is also the family lawyer and the new consigliere (counselor). He is not Sicilian, but German-Irish.
• Diane Keaton as Kay Adams – Michael’s girlfriend and, ultimately, his wife and mother to his children.
• John Cazale as Fredo Corleone – the middle son of Vito and Carmella Corleone. Fredo is not very bright and appears to be the weakest of the Corleone brothers.
• Talia Shire as Constanzia “Connie” Corleone – Vito’s and Carmella’s youngest child and only daughter. She marries Carlo Rizzi.
• Richard S. Castellano as Peter “Pete” Clemenza – a caporegime for the Corleone family.
• Abe Vigoda as Salvatore “Sal” Tessio – a caporegime for the Corleone Family.
• Al Lettieri as Virgil “The Turk” Sollozzo – a heroin dealer associated with the Tattaglia family.
• Gianni Russo as Carlo Rizzi – Connie’s husband. Becomes an associate of the Corleone family, and ultimately betrays Sonny to the Barzini family.
• Sterling Hayden as Captain Mark McCluskey – a corrupt police captain on Sollozzo’s payroll.
• Lenny Montana as Luca Brasi – an enforcer utilized by Vito Corleone.
• Richard Conte as Emilio Barzini– Don of the Barzini family.
• Al Martino as Johnny Fontane – a world-famous popular singer and godson of Vito.

Rodat first came up with the film’s story in 1994 when he saw a monument dedicated to eight brothers who died during the American Civil War. Inspired by the story, Rodat decided to write a similar story set in World War II. The script was submitted to producer Mark Gordon, who then handed it to Hanks. It was finally given to Spielberg, who had previously demonstrated his interest in WWII themes with films such as Schindler’s List, and decided to direct Saving Private Ryan after reading the film’s script. The film’s premise is very loosely based on the real-life case of the Niland brothers.

Saving Private Ryan was well received by audiences and garnered considerable critical acclaim, winning several awards for film, cast, and crew as well as earning significant returns at the box office. The film grossed US$480 million worldwide, making it the highest-grossing film of the year. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences nominated the film for eleven Academy Awards; Spielberg won the Academy Award for Best Director for his work on the film. Saving Private Ryan was released on home video in May 1999, earning $44 million from sales.

Cast

• Tom Hanks as Captain John H. Miller
• Tom Sizemore as Technical Sergeant Michael Horvath
• Edward Burns as Private First Class Richard Reiben, a BAR gunner
• Jeremy Davies as Technician Fifth Grade Timothy E. Upham, a cartographer and interpreter
• Barry Pepper as Private Daniel Jackson, a marksman
• Adam Goldberg as Private Stanley Mellish, a rifleman
• Vin Diesel as Private Adrian Caparzo, a rifleman
• Giovanni Ribisi as Technician Fourth Grade Irwin Wade, a medic
• Matt Damon as Private First Class James Francis Ryan, a paratrooper

Scorsese originally intended to direct Goodfellas before The Last Temptation of Christ, but when funds materialized to make Last Temptation, he postponed what was then known as Wise Guy. The title of Pileggi’s book had already been used for a TV series and for Brian De Palma’s 1986 comedy Wise Guys, so Pileggi and Scorsese changed the name of their film to Goodfellas.

To prepare for their roles in the film, Robert De Niro, Joe Pesci, and Ray Liotta talked often with Pileggi, who shared with the actors research material that had been left over from writing the book. According to Pesci, improvisation and ad-libbing came out of rehearsals where Scorsese gave the actors freedom to do whatever they wanted. The director made transcripts of these sessions, took the lines that the actors came up with that he liked best, and put them into a revised script the cast worked from during principal photography.

Goodfellas performed well at the box office, grossing $46.8 million domestically, well above its $25 million budget; it received mostly strong positive reviews from critics. The film was nominated for six Academy Awards but only won one for Pesci in the Best Actor in a Supporting Role category. Scorsese’s film won three awards from the British Academy of Film and Television Arts and was named best film of the year by the New York Film Critics Circle, the Los Angeles Film Critics Association, and the National Society of Film Critics.

Cast

• Ray Liotta - Henry Hill
• Robert De Niro - Jimmy Conway
• Joe Pesci - Tommy DeVito
• Lorraine Bracco - Karen Hill
• Paul Sorvino - Paul Cicero
• Chuck Low - Morrie Kessler
• Frank DiLeo - Tuddy Cicero
• Frank Sivero - Frankie Carbone
• Johnny Williams - Johnny Roastbeef
• Mike Starr - Frenchy
• Frank Vincent - Billy Batts William

The film has become a classic of independent film and a cult hit. It was named “Greatest Independent Film of all Time” by Empire. Reservoir Dogs was generally well received and the cast was praised by many critics. Although it was never given much promotion upon release, the film was a modest success by grossing $2,832,029, which made its budget back. However, it did become a major hit in the United Kingdom; grossing nearly 6.5 million pounds, and it achieved higher popularity after the success of Tarantino’s Pulp Fiction. It is often criticized for its high degree of violence and profanity, and audience members reportedly walked out during a torture scene.

A soundtrack titled Reservoir Dogs: The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack was released featuring songs used in the film, mostly from the 1970s. In 2006, a video game was released to mediocre reviews. The video game—like the film—caused controversy for its violence.

Cast and characters

• Harvey Keitel as Mr. White: A professional criminal and thief. His real name is revealed to be Lawrence Dimmick. Mr. White is portrayed in the movie as a criminal who does not hesitate to kill but is still human enough to care about innocent bystanders, as is evident by his line, “The choice between doing ten years and killing some stupid motherfucker ain’t no choice at all, but I ain’t no madman either.” He blindly believes in Mr. Orange and takes a bullet for him in the final Mexican standoff. After Mr. Orange reveals his true identity, Mr. White, in a state of rage and grief, shoots him in the head. He is then shot in turn by the police, who had just arrived to the scene.

• Tim Roth as Mr. Orange: An undercover police officer, his real name is revealed to be Freddy Newandyke. Later scenes reveal the story of how he went undercover, including the fake “commode story” he told the robbers to gain status and trust. He is shot in the abdomen by a woman trying to defend herself and spends most of the film bleeding on the warehouse floor. He takes a second bullet during the Mexican standoff and is shot dead by Mr. White after he reveals to him that he is a police officer.

• Steve Buscemi as Mr. Pink: The only major character whose real name is never revealed, also the only major character who might still be alive at the end of the film, although faint sound effects could be taken to suggest otherwise. Mr. Pink often reminds the other robbers to be “professionals” and is the only person present to stay out of the Mexican standoff. Off-camera it is suggested he is arrested by the police arriving outside to apprehend the gangsters in the warehouse. Mr. Pink is notable for his anti-tipping monologue from the beginning of the film.

• Michael Madsen as Mr. Blonde: His real name is Victor Vega, also known as Vic or Toothpick Vic. He is a sadistic psychopathic criminal who indiscriminately shot several civilians during the robbery. He also gleefully tortures a policeman for his own pleasure—slashing the young officer’s face, cutting off his ear and dousing him with gasoline—only to be stopped from burning him alive by Mr. Orange, when he shoots Vega several times in the chest, killing him.

• Chris Penn as “Nice Guy” Eddie Cabot: The son of Joe Cabot. Eddie does not take part in the heist; he is also the only one who does not initially believe the heist was a setup. He shoots Mr. White in the Mexican standoff between Eddie, Mr. White, and Joe Cabot, and Mr. White in turn shoots and kills Eddie and his father Joe.

• Lawrence Tierney as Joe Cabot: The mastermind of the heist and father of “Nice Guy” Eddie Cabot, Joe is killed by Mr. White during the final standoff. Mr. Orange, during his meeting with fellow cop Holdaway, compares Joe to The Thing from the Fantastic Four.

• Quentin Tarantino as Mr. Brown: Tarantino plays a small role as he often does in his films; Mr. Brown’s real name is also not revealed. He had the opening lines of the film in Mr. Brown’s insight that “Like a Virgin” is a “metaphor for big dicks”. He is shot in the head and killed by the cops.

• Edward Bunker as Mr. Blue: A small role played by ex-criminal Eddie Bunker. Despite not having much screen time, he is often referenced by the other characters since nobody saw what happened to him after the heist. Near the end of the film, Joe reveals that Mr. Blue was killed by the police.

• Randy Brooks as Holdaway: A police officer and a friend of Mr. Orange. He is shown helping Mr. Orange prepare for his mission and presenting the “commode story” to him.

• Kirk Baltz as Marvin Nash: The police officer who is kidnapped by Mr. Blonde after the heist and tortured during the ear-cutting scene. He is shot to death in a fit of rage by “Nice Guy” Eddie.

• Steven Wright as the voice of K-Billy DJ: The voice of comedian Steven Wright moves in and out of the film as the voice of the DJ of “K-Billy’s Super Sounds of the Seventies”, the radio station referenced several times throughout the film.