My DVD Collection

When compiling a list of the most influential motion pictures in history, "Blade Runner" should probably be near the top. It's influenced probably 90% of all futuristic science fiction films today (although it owes a great deal to Fritz Lang's "Metropolis"), but that's not what makes this picture a classic. This is probably one of the most beautifully made movies in history with some of the most deeply affecting storytelling ever. Too bad that Ridley Scott has sold out so badly ever since.

Along with "Lawrence of Arabia" and "Doctor Zhivago", "The Bridge on the River Kwai" is one of David Lean's monumental directorial achievements. Alec Guinness gives an amazing performance as Colonel Nicholson, in my book his best ever (yes, it's far superior performance to Obi-Wan Kenobi). It also won him an Academy Award for Best Actor. However, I would be committing a grave misservice if I failed to mention William Holden, whose Commander Shears anchors the entire picture. I love this movie! Can't get enough of it!

I first saw this picture back in 1999 when it first came out in theaters. I didn't like it all that much back then. The other day, however, I was at a used book store and saw it for $5.00, so I decided, "what the hell.. I'm a huge fan of Martin Scorsese, so why not give it a second chance?"I am so glad that I did. Of the more current Scorsese pictures (and by this, I mean post-Kundun), I think that I'd rank this one second only to "The Departed." This is Scorsese in "Mean Streets" and "Taxi Driver" mode. Definitely one of his finest pieces of work. Strong performances all around, but I was particularly impressed with Patricia Arquette and Tom Sizemore. Nicolas Cage is good, but he's basically playing a variation of the Nic Cage he plays in every other movie he's been in. Definitely worth a second look.

What can I say about "Casablanca" that hasn't already been said a thousand times by others a whole lot more eloquent than I am? This is one of the best movies ever made and probably the best romance movie ever made. Humphrey Bogart's at the top of his game in this picture. This movie is probably the reason why Bogey is my favorite actor.

You've got to hand it to the producers of the James Bond franchise. After producing the worst film in the entire 40 year history of the franhise, "Die Another Day," they went right back to the drawing board, and the end result was the best Bond film since at least "On Her Majesty's Secret Service," and maybe even the best since "Goldfinger"! The casting of Daniel Craig as Bond was not only a stroke of genius, it was a breath of fresh air after the last three outings by Pierce Brosnan. At the very least, he is the best Bond since Roger Moore, but I personally believe that he ranks a close second to Sean Connery, an unbelievable feat in and of itself. The film itself is sexy, suave, and sophisticated, and Eva Green is the best, most developed Bond girl since Diana Rigg in OHMSS. I can't say enough good things about this one!

Not since Ridley Scott's "Blade Runner" came out almost 25 years earlier has a futuristic science fiction film made such an impression. While both films, in essence, are morality tales centered around societies ruled by a fear of the unknown, the dystopian cyber-metropolis of "Blade Runner" is the exact polar opposite of the contemporary war-torn ghettos seen in "Children of Men". "Blade Runner" was about the destruction of life whereas "Children of Men" is about the preservation of life (however, the moral of both films is that life is precious). However, I think that both films are, more than any other films of their genre, products of their generation. The future of "Blade Runner" is one ruled by the Cold War paranoia of the Reagan-era whereas the future of "Children of Men" conveys a feeling of post-9/11 uncertainty and intolerance. However, where "Children of Men" truly shines -- and this is something that was lacking in "Blade Runner" -- is in its ability to tell a human story (interestingly, the most human characters in "Blade Runner" were the Replicants themselves) without losing its focus. The cinematography in this picture is outstanding (you'll never see tracking shots more effective than these), Alfonso Cuaron's direction is impeccable, and the pacing couldn't be better. I'm glad to finally see a science fiction film that can truly be placed on the same pedestal as "Blade Runner". My only regret is that it took 25 years for it to arrive.

I don't know whether or not I consider this the best picture ever made, but I can certainly understand why film historians consider it so. There's no doubt that it's the most influential. It's just an all-around incredible motion picture; great acting, directing, and one the best screenplays ever written. Simply amazing.

This film was Sean Connery's first crack at James Bond, and what a star-making performance it was! The first time he appears onscreen as Bond is perhaps one of the most iconic moments in the history of the movies. The film itself might not hold up as well compared to the next two films, but it is still one of the high-points in mainstream cinema. I'd rank the film third among Connery's outings as James Bond, and one of the top 5 in the series as well. Unfortunately, Ursula Andress, while nice to look at, is truly wooden as Honey Rider, the first cinematic Bond girl. That said, she makes a memorable entrance, which can't be said about a lot of Bond girls.

"From Russia With Love" is, in my opinion, not only the best of the Bond movies, but probably the best spy film ever made. Sean Connery is in top form as James Bond, and the supporting cast is superb, with Lotte Lenya as the memorable villainess Rosa Klebb, Robert Shaw as the terrifying henchman Red Grant, Daniela Bianchi as Tatiana Romanova (possibly the hottest Bond girl), and Pedro Armendariz as Bond's ally Ali Kerim Bay. The film includes some of the best Bond moments, including a "North by Northwest"-esque helicopter chase, a claustrophobic brawl on a train, and a high-octane motorboat boat chase. Awesome!

While it's not as sophisticated as its predecessor, "From Russia With Love," "Goldfinger" is nevertheless ranks a close second in the James Bond franchise. This is arguably Sean Connery's most iconic turn as Bond, and it is no surprise that this film is generally considered the best by fans and critics. Gert Frobe is probably the most memorable of all Bond villains as Auric Goldfinger and Honor Blackman steals almost every scene she's in as Pussy Galore (best name for a Bond girl ever!). And let's not forget Harold Sakata as Oddjob, who is right up there as one of the most memorable henchmen in the Bond movie canon.

I believe that if Sean Connery had decided to return for this film, it would undoubtedly be considered the best film in the Bond series. As it is, it is still one of the best, regardless of its star. George Lazenby may not be the most memorable Bond. In fact, he's little more than adequate, but the film itself is terrific. He's gotten a bad rap, though, and probably should've been given another chance to prove himself in the role in "Diamonds Are Forever." However, Diana Rigg is the main reason to see this film as she is arguably the best Bond girl to date. Great stuff, especially if you're a James Bond fan.

How this picture lost the Academy Award to "Ordinary People" I'll never know. This is Martin Scorsese's quintessential masterpiece. Some of the best direction you'll ever see in your life, this movie is a real example on how movies should be made. Watching this, you just know you're watching a true master at work. Simply amazing.

Scene-for-scene, "Thunderball" is probably the most memorable of the James Bond films, even though I don't think I'd rate it as the best. Next to the laser scene in "Goldfinger," this film contains what is perhaps the second most memorable moment in the entire series, in which Bond shoots a henchman with a harpoon and utters the line "He got the point." It also features some memorable performances, including Adolfo Celli as Bond's main adversary, Emilio Largo, and Luciana Paluzzi as vilainess Fiona Vulpe. The only thing I could do without is the wooden Claudine Auger as Domino Derval who, like Ursula Andress in "Dr. No," is little more than eye candy.

This is, quite literally, my favorite movie ever. Never before have I ever seen a film in which every single aspect ranks among the best ever. The most beautiful cinematography ever committed to celluloid, a pitch-perfect musical score, perfect pacing, epic storytelling, and some of the best ensemble acting ever. No other movie has done it for me like this one.

This is by far the most epic film in Akira Kurosawa's entire body of work, and considering that he's responsible for films like "Seven Samurai" and "Throne of Blood", that's no small feat. It's also quite possibly the best film ever based on the works of William Shakespeare (it's "King Lear" set in feudal Japan). And for the record, Mieko Harada is the nastiest villainess I've ever seen in a movie.

There are very few pictures that packs an emotional punch like this one. This is a movie that needs to be viewed multiple times in order to get the full experience, and what an experience it is! A true masterpiece in every sense of the word. Toshiro Mifune gives arguably his best performance in this film. One of Kurosawa's best.

It's hard to believe that this is the only Federico Fellini picture that I've seen, but it definately ranks as one of my top ten favorite movies ever. It's one of the sexiest movies I've ever seen, and Marcello Mastroianni is such a cool actor! His coolness definately ranks up with the likes of James Dean, Steve McQueen, and Marlon Brando. And Anita Ekberg is one of the hottest women in the history of the movies.

"The Great Escape" is probably the greatest and most classic action picture I've ever seen. Thematically, it shares a lot in common with "The Bridge on the River Kwai", but unlike "Kwai", "Escape" is a pure action flick -- and an action flick that has never been topped at that. On the other hand, there has probably never been any other picture that is so unfairly underrated by critics and yet so innovative. A lot of imitators have tried (and failed) to recapture the magic of "The Great Escape". The only film that has even come close is Robert Aldrich's "The Dirty Dozen", but even that falls way short of the mark.

When taken together as a whole, the entire "Lord of the Rings" trilogy is one of the most monumental achievements in the entire history of the movies. And if the trilogy isn't the most ambitious undertaking of all-time, it's certainly ranks up there. They're the "Gone With the Wind" or "The Godfather" of our generation. Of the entire trilogy, however, "The Return of the King" is by far the best. The battle sequences alone would make even Akira Kurosawa green with envy.

Akira Kurosawa is probably my favorite director of all-time, and this incredible film is one of the reasons why. This, along with "Rashomon", "Yojimbo", "Ran", and "Throne of Blood", are the crown jewels of Japanese cinema. And the story is as timeless as they come, having inspired films such as "The Magnificent Seven" and, more recently, "A Bug's Life". The absolute best film in an amazing body of work by one of the great masters of cinema.

I've never been a very big fan of musicals, but this is one of my all-time favorite movies. Perfect in almost every way imaginable. The best musical ever made.

C'mon! It's the fucking Godfather people! How can this not be one of my all-time favorites? From Nino Rota's awesome score to some of the most classic scenes ever committed to film, this is one of the essential must-sees. A lot of people prefer "The Godfather Part II" to the original, but I beg to differ (for the record, Part II is still one of my favorite movies as well). This is the greatest crime movie ever made, even if it isn't the most true to life. It's also one of the most quotable.

The only word that can be used to sum up "King Kong" is 'timeless'. However, if you need another word, try this one on for size: 'genius'. This is a picture that has stood the test of time like no other, loved by cineastes and average moviegoers alike. Even though the Peter Jackson remake is technically superior, nothing about it can even be compared to the original, which is the very definition of perfection. The special effects still hold up, even by today's standards. The energy never lets up for a second, and even the acting (not the sort of thing you watch a picture like this for) is a delight. One helluva an achievement.

Making a sequel to one of the best Bond films in recent memory, "Casino Royale," was a tough act to follow, and while Daniel Craig continues to prove that he's the best Bond since Sean Connery, the movie itself is kind of a disappointment. It's too short and too over-the-top, and there are too many staples of the franchise missing. The biggest problem is that Marc Forster has no idea how to stage action sequences and the end result is a jumbled mess that seems to be aping the Jason Bourne films than building off the success of "Casino Royale." It's still worth a look, but don't build your hopes too high. It is to "Casino Royale" what "Tomorrow Never Dies" was to "Goldeneye." Nevertheless, I'm still looking forward to seeing the next film in the series.