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These are MEG's favorite selections of DVD titles. You won't learn much from them, probably, but hey - everybody needs to take a break sometimes. Most of these are in my library already.

A thru D     E thru G     H thru K     L thru M

Abbott and Costello in the Foreign Legion (1950) Rated: NR Starring: Bud Abbott, Lou Costello, et al. Director: Charles Lamont

Adam's Rib (1949) Arguably the best of the Tracy-Hepburn vehicles, Adam's Rib shows the stars at their finest in roles that not only made their off-screen love so entertainingly obvious, but also defined their timeless screen personas--she the intelligent, savvy, rebellious woman ahead of her time, he the easygoing but obstinate modern man who can't help but love her. Screen teams don't get any better than this. --Jeff Shannon

The Adventures of Baron Munchausen (1989) Monty Python's Terry Gilliam (Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas) directs this wild, wild version of the stories of Baron Munchausen, pushing the limits of 1989 special effects technology to bring us such sights as a horse divided in half and running around in two parts, and a giant Robin Williams with his head flying off his shoulders. There are nice parts for fellow Python Eric Idle, as well as Sting, Alison Steadman, and Uma Thurman as a dazzlingly beautiful Venus on a half-shell.

Africa Screams (1949) Rated: G Starring: Bud Abbott, et al. Director: Charles Barton A&C go on safari in this funny outing full of wheezy but often hilarious gags and routines. Also shown in computer-colored version.

Africa Screams/Jack and the Beanstalk (1949) Rated: NR Starring: Bud Abbott, Lou Costello, et al.

Always (1989) After sacrificing himself to save his best friend, an ace pilot faces his biggest challenge. As an angel no one can see or hear, he must help his girlfriend get on with her life. Remake of "A Guy Named Joe."

Amadeus (1984) A film biography of the Austrian composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. The story is seen through the eyes of rival court composer Antonio Salieri on the eve of Salieri's suicide. He is at once fiercely jealous of and totally awestruck by the young Mozart, whose genius as a composer undeniably exceeds that of any other writer Salieri has heard -- including himself. Salieri's unbridled jealousy of Mozart's soaring reputation, even as his own wanes, leads him to try to drive Mozart to his death by anonymously commissioning Mozart's final "Requiem Mass." Paradoxically, however, it is the obsessed and resentful Salieri who can most truly appreciate the brilliance of Mozart's revolutionary music.

Amazon Women on the Moon (1987)  A series of funny skits lampooning such topics as jerks on blind dates, know-it-all movie reviewers, the Loch Ness monster, "blacks without soul," cheesy late-night old movies, and much more. Showcases a veritable galaxy of stellar bit parts

American Graffiti - Collector's Edition (1973) Highly entertaining, insightful mosaic about youngsters ``coming of age'' after high school graduation in 1962. Often hilarious, always on-target, this film made Dreyfuss a star and boosted many other careers. Reedited to 112m. for 1978 reissue to play up latter-day stars. Look fast for Kay Lenz at the dance. Copyright © Leonard Maltin

American History X (1998) Hard-hitting drama of a young man who's seduced into a white supremacy movement in Venice, California, goes to prison after committing a heinous crime, and has his head straightened out. When he's released, his only thought is to steer his younger brother away from that same existence. Frighteningly powerful--and believable--performance by Norton sparks this intense drama of a family torn apart. Copyright © Leonard Maltin

American Werewolf in London (Not available)

An American in Paris (1951) A GI (Gene Kelly) stays in Paris after the war to become an artist, and has to choose between the patronage of a rich American woman (Nina Foch) and a French gamine (Leslie Caron) engaged to an older man. The plot is mostly an excuse for director Vincente Minnelli to pool his own extraordinary talent with those of choreographer-dancer-actor Kelly and the artists behind the screenplay, art direction, cinematography, and score, creating a rapturous musical not quite like anything else in cinema. The final section of the film comprises a 17-minute dance sequence that took a month to film and is breathtaking. Songs include "'S Wonderful," "I Got Rhythm," and "Love Is Here to Stay." --Tom Keogh

Amistad (1997) This is one of Spielberg's greatest films ever made This movie is one of the best movies I have ever seen. This movie will get you to the heart. It's legendary, full of life, and very well-acted. Anthony Hopkins does a great job playing John Quincy Adams.

And Now For Something Completely Different (1972) Skits include: How Not to Be Seen; Man with tape recorder up his nose and up his brother's nose; Tobacconist and Hungarian with incorrect phrasebook; Nerd with beautiful wife and marital counsellor; Jones and Idle pub skit; Self defense against attacks with fresh fruit; Hell's Grannies; Double-visioned mountaineering expedition; Musical mice; Funniest joke in the world invented and used as ultimate weapon in WWII; animated Killer cars; Dead parrot; Lumberjack; Dirty fork in Restaurant; Stickup in Lingerie Shop; Accountants falling past Window; Dull accountant wants to be a lion tamer; TV Game Show Blackmail; Upperclass Twit of the Year. Copyright 1971 Kettledrum/Lownes Productions Ltd. Film was originally rated GP by the MPAA. Since GP is no longer in use, it was re-rated to a PG.

Angel and the Badman (1947) Rated: NR Starring: John Wayne, et al. Director: James Edward Grant

Animal Crackers (1930) Often considered the best, this second Marx Brothers movie revolves around a stolen painting and is set on the sprawling estate of a wealthy dowager who soon finds Chico, Zeppo, Harpo, and, especially, Groucho turning her life upsidedown. Groucho croons his famous "Hooray for Captain Spaulding" and delivers many of his most famous quips in this film originally based on a play by George S. Kaufman

Apollo 13 - DTS (1995) NASA's worst nightmare turned into one of the space agency's most heroic moments in 1970, when the Apollo 13 crew was forced to hobble home in a disabled capsule after an explosion seriously damaged the moon-bound spacecraft. Tom Hanks, Kevin Bacon, and Bill Paxton play (respectively) astronauts Jim Lovell, Jack Swigert, and Fred Haise in director Ron Howard's intense, painstakingly authentic docudrama. The Apollo 13 crew and Houston-based mission controllers race against time and heavy odds to return the damaged spacecraft safely to Earth from a distance of 205,500 miles. Using state-of-the-art special effects and ingenious filmmaking techniques, Howard and his stellar cast and crew build nail-biting tension while maintaining close fidelity to the facts. The result is a fitting tribute to the Apollo 13 mission and one of the biggest box-office hits of 1995. --Jeff Shannon

Armageddon (1998) Critics hated it, movie goers loved it. US Government recruits motley crew of top-notch oil drillers to save the world by flying them to an asteroid headed our way. The mission? Plant an atomic bomb along a fault line inside the giant rock and blow it to bits before it strikes. Combines action-adventure with comedy, science fiction with drama, and tosses in a bit of patriotism and romance. Something for everyone. Great special effects do not allow science fact to interfere with science fiction, but hey – it’s not real, people, it’s a movie! Relax, quit over analyzing everything and ENJOY!

The Apostle - Collector's Edition (1997) Duvall--in an obvious labor of love as writer, director, producer, and star--is superb as a womanizing Pentecostal minister who is forced to leave his Texas home (and church) after committing a violent act. Fascinating study of a wayward man's journey to understand his life, and the many people who help him find his way. Wonderful small-town Southern atmosphere. Lags a bit, but the performances by Duvall and his supporting cast make up for it. James Gammon appears unbilled. Copyright © Leonard Maltin

Army of Darkness (1992) Army of Darkness is officially part 3 in the wild and wacky Evil Dead trilogy masterminded by the perversely inventive director Sam Raimi. Raimi's favorite actor, Bruce Campbell, returns as Ash (hero of the first two Evil Dead flicks), a hardware-store clerk who is magically transported--along with his beat-up Oldsmobile and a chainsaw attachment for his severed left forearm--to the brutal battlefields of the 14th century. He quickly assumes power (who else in the Middle Ages packs a shotgun and a chainsaw?), and unites his band of medieval knights against the dreaded Army of the Dead. Raimi gleefully subverts almost every horror-movie cliché as he serves up a nonstop parade of blood, gore, and vicious sword-bearing skeletons--an affectionate homage to animator Ray Harryhausen's classic Jason and the Argonauts.

Arrival/Arrival 2 (1998) Calling this 1996 science fiction thriller "a glorified B movie," isn't a criticism. Writer-director David Twohy managed to get interesting material on the screen despite a limited budget, and the film is just believable enough to be satisfying as a tale of paranoid conspiracy. If you can ignore the hokey parts and accept Charlie Sheen as noted radio astronomer Zane Ziminski, you'll get thoroughly involved when the reception of an alien radio signal leads him to Mexico and to a huge underground power plant operated by aliens bent on the eventual takeover of Earth. Ron Silver is suitably chilling as the astronomer's boss, whose real identity is more horrifying than Ziminski ever imagined. The underground alien lair is memorably creepy, and Twohy's film is just smart enough to qualify as more than a guilty pleasure.

As Good As It Gets (1997) Professional malcontent (and full-time phobic) Nicholson is unavoidably drawn into the lives of his favorite waitress and his gay next-door neighbor. Gradually, and against his own judgment, he begins to show signs of humanity. Wonderful comedy-drama (written by Mark L. Andrus and Brooks) takes the viewer on an emotional journey, with laughs and tears along the way. Both Nicholson and Hunt won Oscars for their roles. Writer-directors Harold Ramis, Lawrence Kasdan, Shane Black, and Todd Solondz all have small roles. Copyright © Leonard Maltin

The Assignment (1997) This intense thriller is a work of fiction with a factual basis. Aidan Quinn stars as Annibal Ramirez, an American naval officer with a striking resemblance to real-life international terrorist Carlos "the Jackal" Sanchez, the scourge of innocent people all over the world in the 1970s and '80s. Mistaken for Sanchez by the Israeli Mossad, Ramirez is arrested but subsequently recruited by the Mossad and the CIA to pose as Sanchez and set him up as a traitor to his underwriters. Ramirez leaves his family, receives training in all aspects of Sanchez's life, and is pulled into the netherworld of terrorism and espionage. Director Christian Duguay (Screamers) wisely emphasizes character growth over obligatory action, drawing compelling portraits of an American intelligence official (Donald Sutherland) preoccupied with Sanchez, his Israeli counterpart (Ben Kingsley), and Ramirez himself, a man whose identity has merged with a monster's. --Tom Keogh

At War With the Army (1950)  In their first starring feature, Dean and Jerry are in the service, with some funny sequences, including memorable soda machine gag. Copyright © Leonard Maltin

Awakenings (1990) Powerfully affecting true-life story of a painfully shy research doctor who takes a job at a Bronx hospital's chronic care ward in 1969--and discovers that his comatose patients still have life inside them. Williams is superb as the doctor, and De Niro is his match as a patient who awakens from a thirty-year coma to deal with life as an adult for the first time. Steven Zaillian's screenplay is based on the book (and experiences of) Dr. Oliver Sacks. Copyright © Leonard Maltin

Backdraft (1997) Two brothers whose father died fighting a fire now spend their time on the force battling each other. A hoary B-movie-type script fired up by square-jawed conviction, and stunning special effects; also the first film to ever explore a sheer fascination with fire. The gifted Leigh fails miserably playing a normal young woman. Footage added for network TV showings. Super 35. Copyright © Leonard Maltin

Bad Boys (1995)  Highly formulaic but not altogether disposable Miami actioner about two cops--one married with kids, the other equipped with a bachelor apartment--who are forced to switch roles after they're mistaken for each other during a drug-murder case. A return by producers Don Simpson and Jerry Bruckheimer to the kind of corpse-littered escapism that established them in the '80s; wildly uneven comedy is aided by the spin Leoni puts on her role as a material witness who's hiding undercover with the heroes. Copyright © Leonard Maltin

Baker's Hawk (1976)  Fine family drama about young boy (Montgomery) who befriends hermitlike Ives, and comes of age as he participates in parents' struggle against vigilante forces. Beautifully filmed on location in Utah. Copyright © Leonard Maltin

Bataan (1943)  In his grittiest role to date, Robert Taylor (sans mustache) plays a U.S. Army sergeant fighting a rear-guard action in the Philippine jungle, covering Douglas MacArthur's retreat. His platoon is the usual wartime study in democratic motley: veterans (Lloyd Nolan, Thomas Mitchell, Tom Dugan) thrown together with green recruits (Robert Walker, Barry Nelson), a Latino (Desi Arnaz), a black (Kenneth Spencer), not to mention a couple of stalwart Filipinos (Roque Espiritu, J. Alex Havier), and several officer types (George Murphy, Lee Bowman) with sense enough to defer to the sergeant's judgment. As in John Ford's desert classic The Lost Patrol, the group is whittled down through misadventure, disease, and skirmishes with the ever-advancing Japanese, till only a handful remain for a still-shattering last stand.

Batman (1989)  There's razzle-dazzle to spare in this dark, intense variation on Bob Kane's comic book creation--but there's also something askew when the villain (a particularly psychotic villain, played overboard by Nicholson) is so much more potent than the hero! Still, lots to grab your attention, including Anton Furst's Oscar-winning production design and Danny Elfman's terrific score. Prince contributes several songs. Followed by BATMAN RETURNS. Copyright © Leonard Maltin

Beetlejuice (1988)  Before making Batman, director Tim Burton and star Michael Keaton teamed up for this popular black comedy about a young couple (Geena Davis and Alec Baldwin) whose premature death leads them to a series of wildly bizarre afterlife exploits. As ghosts in their own New England home, they're faced with the challenge of scaring off the pretentious new owners (Catherine O'Hara and Jeffrey Jones), whose daughter (Winona Ryder) has an affinity for all things morbid. Keaton plays the mischievous Beetlejuice, a freelance "bio-exorcist" who's got an evil agenda behind his plot to help the young undead newlyweds. The film is a perfect vehicle for Burton's visual style and twisted imagination, with clever ideas and gags packed into every scene. Beetlejuice is also a showcase for Keaton, who tackles his title role with maniacal relish and a dark edge of menace. --Jeff Shannon

The Bells of St. Mary's (1945)  A viewer from Texas : Every Family Should Watch This The Night Before Christmas I have watched this movie every Chrismas for the past 20 Years. Bing Crosby signs some dated songs but, even they are great. The ending of this movie always brings tears to my eyes. The relationship between Bing and the aging priest demonstrates what makes Christmas special. I hope my children learned the meaning of Christmas by watching this great movie with me.

Benji (1974) Instant classic of a remarkable dog (played by Higgins) who thwarts the kidnappers of two small children. Texas-made feature is ideal for family viewing. Sequel: FOR THE LOVE OF BENJI. Copyright © Leonard Maltin

The Best Years of Our Lives (1946) Winner of seven Academy Awards, including best picture, director, actor, and screenplay, William Wyler's brilliant drama about domestic life after World War II remains one of the all-time classics of American cinema. Inspired by a pictorial article about returning soldiers in Life magazine, the story focuses on three war veterans (Fredric March, Dana Andrews, and Harold Russell in unforgettable roles) and their rocky readjustment to civilian life in their Midwestern town of Boone City. Capturing the contradictory moods of America in the mid to late 1940s, this three-hour drama spans a complex range of honest emotions, from joyous celebration and happy reunion to deep-rooted ambivalence and reassessment of personal priorities. A movie milestone when released in 1946, The Best Years of Our Lives still packs a punch with powerful, timeless themes. --Jeff Shannon

The Big Red One (1980) Fuller returned to filmmaking after a long hiatus with this vivid, autobiographical account of a special infantry squadron and its intrepid sergeant during WW2. Hard to believe one film could pack so much into its narrative, but Fuller does it; a rich, moving, realistic, and poetic film. Copyright © Leonard Maltin

Billy Madison (1995) Spoiled rich kid Sandler must repeat grades 1-12 in order to take over his millionaire father's business. A little of this goes a long way. Sandler (who can be funny and endearing when he wants to be) also cowrote the script. His Saturday Night Live castmate Chris Farley and Steve Buscemi appear unbilled. Copyright © Leonard Maltin

Bird on a Wire (1990)  Gibson and Goldie Hawn, who bring their own established appeal to their roles as old lovers who are reunited under unexpectedly dangerous circumstances. After testifying against some drug-running killers, Mel's been safe under the protection of the FBI's witness relocation program, and Goldie coincidentally enters his life again just as the bad guys are hot on Mel's trail. They join up and go on the run from the villains and ... well, let's just say director John Badham doesn't have any big surprises up his sleeve. Goldie and Mel are enjoyable, as always.

The Black Stallion (1979) A visual feast from start to finish, the timeless tale of The Black Stallion plays out on almost mythic terms. A young boy survives a shipwreck and is stranded on a deserted island with a graceful black stallion, with whom the boy develops an almost empathic friendship. After being rescued and returning home, the two make a winning team as jockey and lightning-fast racehorse under the tutelage of a passionate trainer, played by Mickey Rooney in an Oscar-nominated role. From its serenely hypnotic island sequence to the breathtaking race scenes, this delightful film is guaranteed to enthrall any viewer, regardless of age. The Black Stallion is a genuine masterpiece of family entertainment. --Jeff Shannon

Blade Runner - The Director's Cut (1982) In 21st-century L. A. , a former cop (Ford) is recruited to track down androids who have mutinied in space and made their way to Earth. Loosely based on Philip K. Dick's novel Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? Futuristic stylings by Syd Mead and Lawrence G. Paull. At least 2 alternate versions have been released since the original, followed in 1993 by the ``director's cut,'' which the film's champions hail as a vast improvement: Ford's voice-over has been dropped, footage has been added, and the ending has changed. It runs 117m. Panavision. Copyright © Leonard Maltin

Blast From the Past (1999) Brendan Fraser turns in yet another winning performance in this fish-out-of-water comedy in which Pleasantville meets modern-day Los Angeles, with predictably funny results. Fraser stars as Adam, who was born in the bomb shelter of his paranoid inventor dad (a less-manic-than-usual Christopher Walken), who spirited his pregnant wife (Sissy Spacek, in fine comic form) underground when he thought the Communists dropped the bomb (actually, it was a plane crash). Armed with enough supplies to last 35 years, the parents bring up Adam in Leave It to Beaver style with nary any exposure to the outside world. When the supplies run out, and dad suffers a heart attack, Fraser goes up to modern-day L.A. for some shopping and long-awaited culture shock.

Blazing Saddles (1974) Brooks's first hit movie is a riotous Western spoof, with Little an unlikely sheriff, Korman as villainous Hedley Lamarr, and Kahn as a Dietrich-like chanteuse. None of Brooks's later films have topped this one for sheer belly laughs. Scripted by Brooks, Andrew Bergman, Richard Pryor, Norman Steinberg, and Alan Uger; story by Bergman. Title song sung by Frankie Laine. Network TV version substitutes cutting-room-floor footage for some of the raunchier gags. Panavision. Copyright © Leonard Maltin

Blues Brothers - Collector's Edition (1980)  Engagingly nutty comedy about the title characters (deadpan musical performers introduced on TV's Saturday Night Live) trying to raise money to save their orphanage by reuniting their old band--and nearly destroying Chicago in the process. Off the wall from start to finish, with some fine music woven in, including wonderful numbers by Franklin and Calloway. Numerous cameos include Steven Spielberg, Frank Oz, Steve Lawrence, John Lee Hooker, Twiggy, and Paul Reubens (Pee-wee Herman). Followed by a sequel. Copyright © Leonard Maltin

A Boy & His Dog (1976)  Cult black comedy is definitely not a kiddie movie, despite its title. In the post-holocaust future, young punk Johnson, aided by his telepathic (and much smarter) dog, forages for food and women, is eventually lured into bizarre underground civilization. Faithful adaptation of Harlan Ellison's novella - worthwhile for discriminating fans. Techniscope. Copyright © Leonard Maltin

Brazil (1985)  A wildly imaginative Orwellian comedy about a future society in which a central bureaucracy regulates everything via endless airducts, tubes and plumbing. A typographical error plunges an average man into a Kafkaesque nightmare of bureaucracy and brainwashing. DeNiro plays a heroic non-union plumber unplugging the stopped-up pipes. Academy Award Nominations: Best (Original) Screenplay, Best Art Direction-Set Decoration.

Breaker Morant (1980)  Potent drama based on the true story of three soldiers whose actions during the Boer War are used as fodder for a trumped-up court martial--in order to satisfy the political plans of the British Empire. Based on a play by Kenneth G. Ross. Winner of several Australian Academy Awards. Copyright © Leonard Maltin

Breakfast at Tiffany's (1961)  Charming film from Truman Capote's story, with Hepburn as Holly Golightly, backwoods girl who goes mod in N. Y. C. Dated trappings don't detract from high comedy and winning romance. Screenplay by George Axelrod. Oscar-winner for Score (Henry Mancini) and Song, ``Moon River'' (Mancini and Johnny Mercer). Copyright © Leonard Maltin

Brewster's Millions (1985)  In order to inherit a vast fortune, a man must first spend 30-million-dollars in thirty days, at the end of which, no tangible assets may be left. Pryor is the hopeful inheritor, and Candy is his best buddy. Insightful, sarcastic jabs on the state of the American political machine emerge when Murphy decides to run for public office as a means of disposing of the $30 million.

A Bridge Too Far (1977) This massive 1977 adaptation by director Richard Attenborough (Gandhi) of Cornelius Ryan's novel features an all-star cast in an epic rendering of a daring but ultimately disastrous raid behind enemy lines in Holland during the Second World War. A lengthy and exhaustive look at the mechanics of warfare and the price and futility of war, the film is almost too large for its aims but manages to be both picaresque and affecting, particularly in the performance of James Caan. The impressive cast includes Robert Redford, Gene Hackman, Anthony Hopkins, Laurence Olivier, Dirk Bogarde, Sean Connery, and Liv Ullmann among others.

Brigadoon (1954)  Americans Kelly and Johnson discover magical Scottish village in this entertaining filmization of Lerner & Loewe Broadway hit. Overlooked among 1950s musicals, it may lack innovations but has its own quiet charm, and lovely score, including songs ``I'll Go Home with Bonnie Jean,'' ``The Heather on the Hill,'' and title tune. CinemaScope. Copyright © Leonard Maltin

Brighton Beach Memoirs (1986) Gene Saks, an old hand at directing Neil Simon's work on film (The Odd Couple, Barefoot in the Park), here takes a stab at Simon's most autobiographical work, which stars Jonathan Silverman as an aspiring writer living with two families under one roof in 1937 Brooklyn. Following his old working formula, Saks keeps an eye on the cast's energy and timing but otherwise stays out of the way and lets Simon's story and dialogue tumble wonderfully from the mouths of good actors. Cast in the lead in this 1986 film, the young Silverman (later the star of NBC's Single Guy) makes a very good impression, as does Bob Dishy as his narrator-father. The DVD release has a full-screen presentation. --Tom Keogh

Buck Privates (1941)  Followed by the 1946 sequel "Buck Privates Come Home," also starring Bud Abbott and Lou Costello. "Buck Privates" was the first starring vehicle for burlesque and radio stars Abbott and Costello. The Andrews Sisters sing the following songs: "The Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy of Company B," "Bounce Me Brother with a Solid Four," "You're a Lucky Fellow, Mr. Smith," and "I'll Be with You in Apple Blossom Time."

Buck Privates Come Home (1947)  One of A&C's most enjoyable romps has boys returning to civilian life and trying to smuggle a young European orphan into this country. Climactic chase a highlight. Copyright © Leonard Maltin

A Bug's Life (1998)  More gentle and kid-friendly than Antz, A Bug Life's still has some good suspense and a wonderful demise of the villain. However, the film--a giant worldwide hit--will be remembered for its most creative touch: "outtakes" over the end credits à la many live-action comedy films. These dozen or so scenes (both "editions" of outtakes are contained here) are brilliant and deserve a special place in film history. The video and DVD also contain Pixar's delightful Oscar-winning short, Geri's Game. --Doug Thomas

Caddyshack (1980)  A send-up of the miniature class struggle at a typical country club. Murray as the gopher-obsessed groundskeeper hits a hole in one. Features the quintessential Chevy Chase performance. ITA winner. Ramis would direct Murray 13 years later in "Groundhog Day."

The Call of the Wild (1972)  Not as good as author Jack London's novel deserves, but Heston and awesome Finnish location scenery make it an easy watch.

Camelot (1967) Adaptation of the Lerner and Loewe stage musical about the rise and fall of King Arthur and the court of Camelot. Destined to rule England, the noble Arthur builds a magical and benevolent kingdom with the assistance of the Knights of the Round Table, only to be toppled by the machinations of the conniving Mordred and by the betrayal of his beloved wife Guenevere and her lover Lancelot. The film critics were much too picky with this one - it's one of my personal favorites.

Cannibal Women in the Avocado Jungle of Death (1988)  This movie is so bad, it's almost a crime to miss it. CIA sends anthropologist (Shannon Tweed) to locate tribe of man-eating cannibal women led by Barbeau. Bill Maher (of "Politically Incorrect" T.V show) is on the menu. A cult classic.

Capricorn One (1978)  In order to protect the reputation of the American space program, a team of scientists stages a phony Mars landing. Willingly participating in the deception are a trio of well-meaning astronauts, who become liabilities when their space capsule is reported lost on re-entry. Now, with the help of a crusading reporter, they must battle a sinister conspiracy that will stop at nothing to keep the truth a secret.

Carousel (1956)  Carousel may well be a revelation to first-time viewers. The score is among the composers' most affecting, from the glorious instrumental "Carousel Waltz" to a succession of exquisite love songs ("If I Loved You"), a heart-rending secular hymn ("You'll Never Walk Alone"), and the expectant father's poignant reverie, "Soliloquy." Top-lined stars Shirley Jones (as factory worker Julie Jordan) and Gordon MacRae (as Billy Bigelow, the carnival barker who woos and weds her) achieve greater dramatic urgency here than in the more successful Oklahoma!, with MacRae in particular attaining a personal best as the conflicted Billy, whose anxiety and wounded pride after losing his job are crucial to the plot. It's Billy's impatience to support his new family that drives him to an ill-fated decision that transforms the fable into a ghost story.

Casablanca (1942) A truly perfect movie, the 1942 Casablanca still wows viewers today, and for good reason. Its unique story of a love triangle set against terribly high stakes in the war against a monster is sophisticated instead of outlandish, intriguing instead of garish. Humphrey Bogart plays the allegedly apolitical club owner in unoccupied French territory that is nevertheless crawling with Nazis; Ingrid Bergman is the lover who mysteriously deserted him in Paris; and Paul Heinreid is her heroic, slightly bewildered husband. Claude Rains, Sydney Greenstreet, Peter Lorre, and Conrad Veidt are among what may be the best supporting cast in the history of Hollywood films. This is certainly among the most spirited and ennobling movies ever made. The DVD release has theatrical trailers, a related documentary, optional French soundtrack, and optional English and French subtitles. --Tom Keogh

A truly perfect movie, the 1942 Casablanca still wows viewers today, and for good reason. Its unique story of a love triangle set against terribly high stakes in the war against a monster is sophisticated instead of outlandish, intriguing instead of garish. Humphrey Bogart plays the allegedly apolitical club owner in unoccupied French territory that is nevertheless crawling with Nazis; Ingrid Bergman is the lover who mysteriously deserted him in Paris; and Paul Heinreid is her heroic, slightly bewildered husband. Claude Rains, Sydney Greenstreet, Peter Lorre, and Conrad Veidt are among what may be the best supporting cast in the history of Hollywood films. This is certainly among the most spirited and ennobling movies ever made. The DVD release has theatrical trailers, a related documentary, optional French soundtrack, and optional English and French subtitles. --Tom Keogh

Chaplin (1992)  Robert Downey Jr. does an excellent job re-creating Chaplin's graceful slapstick and getting inside the silent-film superstar's head over many years of triumph, defeat, scandal, official persecution, exile, and inner peace. A huge cast portray the allies, friends, lovers, and enemies in Chaplin's life, including Moira Kelly as his final, longtime wife, Oona, Kevin Kline as Douglas Fairbanks, Geraldine Chaplin as Charlie's mother, and James Woods as a prosecutor working hard to nail Chaplin for anti-American sentiments. Attenborough declines to tell the story in a flat, linear way, employing such clever techniques as detailing one chapter in Chaplin's life as a silent comedy. The climactic scene set at an Oscar tribute for Chaplin will get the tears flowing. The DVD release features a widescreen presentation, production notes, theatrical trailer, cast and crew bios, featurette, and optional Spanish subtitles. --Tom Keogh

Chino (1977)  In New Mexico, circa 1880, a lonesome rancher named Chino decides he's ready to have a family. First he adopts a teenage boy, then goes searching for a spouse. But when Chino meets the love of his life, there's no fairy tale ending. That's because the woman's brother is willing to do anything to run Chino out of the state. Bronson takes a poor script to acceptable heights and you can't lose for nine bucks.

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (1968)  A daydreaming inventor fixes up an old jalopy and, with the vivid imaginations of his two children and a lady friend, it is transformed into a flying, floating wonder car that carries them to a magical kingdom. Inspired by an Ian Fleming idea. Academy Award Nominations: Best Song ("Chitty Chitty Bang Bang").

A Christmas Carol (1951)  The best of the bunch It was not the first or last production of Dickens' classic tale, but it's the best. Perhaps not as polished as modern jaded viewers would like, but it captures the feel of the story better than any other version. On DVD it's clean, too, so like other perennial Christmas shows now available on DVD (It's a Wonderful Life, The Grinch) get it to watch without interruptions, hisses and scratches. Besides, Sims' portrayal of the 'reclaimed' Scrooge is worth the price. His giddiness is catching.

A Christmas Story (1984)  Humorist Jean Shepherd's delightful memoir of growing up in the 1940s and wanting nothing so much as a Red Ryder BB gun for Christmas. Shepherd narrates in the first person, and Billingsley portrays him (delightfully) as a boy. Truly funny for kids and grownups alike; wonderful period flavor. Based on a portion of In God We Trust, All Others Pay Cash. Shepherd appears unbilled as a department store customer. Followed by IT RUNS IN MY FAMILY. Copyright© Leonard Maltin

Clear and Present Danger (1994)  The third installment in the cinematic incarnation of Tom Clancy's CIA analyst Jack Ryan and the second starring Harrison Ford, this follow-up to Patriot Games is a more complex, rewarding, and bolder film than its predecessor. Ford returns as Ryan, this time embroiled in a failed White House bid to wipe out a Colombian drug cartel and cover up the mess. The script, by Clancy and John Milius (Red Dawn), has an air of true adventure about it as Ryan places himself in harm's way to extract covert soldiers abandoned in a Latin American jungle. There are a couple of remarkable set pieces expertly handled by Patriot Games director Phillip Noyce, especially a shocking scene involving an ambush on Ryan's car in an alley. The supporting cast is superb, including Willem Dafoe as the soldiers' leader, Henry Czerny as Ryan's enemy at the CIA, Joacquim de Almeida as a smooth-talking villain, Ann Magnuson as an unwitting confederate in international crime, and James Earl Jones as Ryan's dying boss. The DVD release has a widescreen presentation, theatrical trailer, closed captioning, optional French soundtrack, and optional Spanish subtitles. --Tom Keogh

The Client (1994)  Top-flight adaptation of John Grisham's best-seller about an 11-year-old boy who finds himself in hot water with both the Feds (led by Jones) and the Mob when he learns too much from a Mafia lawyer who's about to kill himself. Sarandon is the lawyer who takes the kid's case. Suspense is neatly woven with character development; really satisfying entertainment. Later a TV series. Panavision. Copyright© Leonard Maltin

Cliffhanger (1993)  Self-doubting mountain rescue expert Sly is pitted against really rotten Lithgow and his gang, who are after $100 million lost in the Rockies. Eye-popping photography (by Alex Thomson), white-knuckle stunts, a swift pace, and entertaining characters add up to what a well-made action film should be: tons of fun. Italy's Dolomites stand in for the Rockies. Panavision. Copyright© Leonard Maltin

The Cocoanuts (1929)  An adaptation of the Marx Brothers' hit Broadway musical, "Cocoanuts" was the comedy team's first film. Made when talkies were still in their infancy, the movie's archaic production values don't detract from the hilarity of the Brothers' routines. A madcap farce set in a Florida hotel, "Cocoanuts" introduces the indomitable Margaret Dumont in her recurring role as respectable grande dame, and features fourth brother Zeppo as the straight man (he later disappeared from the Marx Brothers' movies). A pair of singing lovers provide romantic interludes in the midst of comic mayhem.

Cold Sweat (1971)  Richard Matheson's thriller Ride the Nightmare has been converted into a predictable action movie with Bronson as American expatriate in France forced into the drug trade by crime czar Mason. Copyright© Leonard Maltin.

Collector's Choice Double Feature: Abbott and Costello (1949)  Rated: NR Starring: Bud Abbott, Lou Costello, et al. Director: Charles Barton, Jean Yarbrough For A&C Fans only

Coming to America (1988)  Cute change-of-pace film for Murphy, as the genteel prince of an African royal family who wants to choose his own wife, and decides that he will find her in America. Old-fashioned romantic comedy peppered with director Landis' in-jokes (including an update of TRADING PLACES, in which Murphy starred) and some surprise cameos. Subsequent litigation awarded columnist Art Buchwald with original story credit. Copyright© Leonard Maltin

Conan the Barbarian (1982)  Conan the Barbarian, the movie that turned Arnold Schwarzenegger into a global superstar, is a prime example of a match made in heaven. It's the movie that macho maverick writer-director John Milius was born to make, and Arnold was genetically engineered for his role as the muscle-bound, angst-ridden hero created in Robert E. Howard's pulp novels. Oliver Stone contributed to Milius's screenplay, and the production design by comic artist Ron Cobb represents a perfect cinematic realization of Howard's fantasy world. To avenge the murder of his parents, Conan tracks down the evil Thulsa Doom (James Earl Jones) with the help of Queen Valeria (played by buff B-movie vixen Sandahl Bergman) and Subotai the Mongol (Gerry Lopez). Aptly described by critic Roger Ebert as "the perfect fantasy for the alienated pre-adolescent," this blockbuster is just as enjoyable for adults who haven't lost their youthful imagination. --Jeff Shannon

Conan the Destroyer (1984)  The dark, brooding tone of Conan the Barbarian is replaced in this rousing sequel by a lighter, more humorous tone and one of the campiest casts ever assembled. This time, Conan is assigned by a duplicitous queen (Sarah Douglas) to escort a virgin princess (Olivia d'Abo) on a treacherous trek to a crystal palace where they will retrieve a priceless gemstone. Basketball champ and self-described Lothario Wilt Chamberlain plays Bombaata, a warrior sent on a secret mission to kill Conan, and the androgynous Grace Jones plays Zula, a wild woman who becomes Conan's loyal ally. Some consider this sequel a disappointment, but the film makes no apologies for its silliness, and that's the key to its success as gloriously pulpy entertainment. --Jeff Shannon

Conspiracy Theory (1997)  Gibson plays New York cab driver Jerry Fletcher, whose wacky belief in conspiracies finally hits on a coincidental truth involving an evil figure named Jonas (Patrick Stewart) and a secret program of government-funded mind control. Roberts plays the Justice Department attorney who finally believes in Jerry's paranoid ramblings. With a plot (from LA. Confidential cowriter Brian Helgeland) that's a lot of fun as long as you don't think about it too critically, Conspiracy Theory benefits immeasurably from the charisma of its high-magnitude stars. --Jeff Shannon

Contact (1997)  A woman who has devoted her life to studying the stars--believing there's life Out There--is ostracized by her superior at the National Science Foundation, and eventually cut off, until she actually receives a message from space. Intensely involving story in which we're drawn into Foster's obsession and share her odyssey into the unknown. Passionate and intelligent, this film manages to inspire a feeling of awe and wonder, which makes up for its overlength and false endings. Foster is simply sensational. Based on the novel by Carl Sagan. Panavision. Copyright© Leonard Maltin

Cool Hand Luke (1967)  Paul Newman gives one of the defining performances of his career, and cemented his place as a beautiful-rebel screen icon playing the stubbornly tough and independent title character in Cool Hand Luke. And before he became familiar as a sidekick in 1970s disaster movies (Earthquake and the Airport movies), George Kennedy won an Oscar for playing Dragline, the brutal chain-gang boss who tries to beat loner Luke's cool out of him. It's a classic rebel-against-the-repressive-institution story in the line of One Flew over the Cuckoo's Nest or The Shawshank Redemption. Certain moments have become classics--particularly the hardboiled egg-eating contest, and the immortal line (drooled by Strother Martin, as a sadistic redneck prison officer), "What we have here is a failure to communicate." And don't forget, Luke is also the source of the oft-quoted driving ditty, "I don't care if it rains or freezes, long as I have my plastic Jesus, right here on the dashboard of my car..." He is cool, all right. The digital video disc is in anamorphic widescreen and digital stereo. --Jim Emerson

Cool Runnings (1993) Family-oriented feel-good movie from Disney--based on a true story--about the unlikely formation of a Jamaican bobsled team to compete in the 1988 Winter Olympics. (The participants have never even seen snow, let alone a bobsled!) Candy is well cast as a disgraced former Olympian who redeems himself. Copyright© Leonard Maltin

The Court Jester (1956)  One of the best comedies ever made has Danny as phony jester who finds himself involved in romance, court intrigue, and a deadly joust. Delightfully complicated comic situations, superbly performed. And remember: the pellet with the poison's in the vessel with the pestle. VistaVision. Copyright© Leonard Maltin

The Cowboys (1972)  Well-produced Western about aging rancher forced to take 11 youngsters with him on cattle drive; Bruce Dern as the conniving heavy is deliriously menacing. Panavision.

Crimson Tide (1995)  The producer-director team that brought you TOP GUN fashioned this macho power-play saga aboard a Navy nuclear submarine. Tensions run high when the U. S. is pushed to the brink of war with Russia, especially when veteran sub commander Hackman starts showing Capt. Queeg tendencies and his new lieutenant (Washington) tries to assert himself. Obvious, to be sure, with a foregone conclusion blunting some of the suspense, but highly entertaining just the same. Jason Robards appears unbilled. Hip dialogue added (without credit) by Quentin Tarantino. Panavision. Copyright© Leonard Maltin

Cyborg (1989)  A deadly plague is taking hold on a grimy, post-apocalyptic planet Earth. But a cure for the disease could lie in the computer brain of a cyborg named Pearl Prophet -- who's in the possession of a lowlife gang of mutants, led by the evil, imposing Fender. Attempting to save the world is heroic Gibson Rickenbacker, who pursues and battles the thugs for ownership of Pearl. But Gibson also has revenge on his mind, for Fender murdered Gibson's family many years ago. Bad acting, cheesy set, excellent action/fight scenes. Cult favorite.

Dances With Wolves  Kevin Costner's 1990 epic won a bundle of Oscars for a moving, engrossing story of a white soldier (Costner) who singlehandedly mans a post in the 1870 Dakotas, and becomes a part of the Lakota Sioux community who live nearby. The film may not be a masterpiece, but it is far more than the sum of good intentions. The characters are strong, the development of relationships is both ambitious and careful, the love story between Costner and Mary McDonnell's character is captivating. Only the third-act portrait of white intruders as morons feels overbearing, but even that leads to a terribly moving conclusion. Costner's direction is assured, the balance of action and intimacy is perfect--what more could anyone want outside of an unqualified masterpiece? --Tom Keogh

Dark City (1998) In a city where it is always night, aliens conduct secret experiments to learn what makes us human. Meanwhile, his memory mostly gone, Sewell is suspected of being a serial killer, and finds he now has telekinetic powers. Richly plotted sci-fi has striking set design and excellent use of special effects; complex, with a new surprise every few minutes. Filmed in Australia. Cowritten by the director. Super 35. Copyright© Leonard Maltin

The Dark Crystal (1994) Elaborate fantasy--a cross between Tolkien and the Brothers Grimm--from the Muppets crew, with imaginative (and often grotesque) cast of characters enacting classic quest: a missing piece of the powerful Dark Crystal must be found or evil will take over the world. Takes time to warm up to, but worth the effort. Panavision. Copyright© Leonard Maltin WARNING - These muppets are scarey!

Dark Star (1974)  Absurd, surreal, and very funny. John Carpenter once described Dark Star as "Waiting for Godot in space." Made at a cost of practically nothing, the film's effects are nevertheless impressive and, along with the number of ideas crammed into its 83 minutes, ought to shame makers of science fiction films costing hundreds of times more. The DVD contains both the original 68-minute release and the director's full version. --Jim Gay

Dead Poets Society (1989)  Williams is a charismatic English teacher at a staid New England prep school in 1959, whose infectious love of poetry--and insistence that each boy ``seize the day'' and make the most of life--inspires his impressionable students, not always in the right direction. Well made, extremely well acted, but also dramatically obvious and melodramatically one-sided. Nevertheless, Tom Schulman's screenplay won an Oscar. 13m. added for network showings. Copyright© Leonard Maltin

The Deer Hunter (1978) Stunning film about young Pennsylvania steelworkers, their lives before, during, and after wartime duty in Vietnam. Long but not overlong, this sensitive, painful, evocative work packs an emotional wallop. Story by Cimino, Deric Washburn, Louis Garfinkle and Quinn Redeker; scripted by Washburn. Five Oscars include Picture, Director, Supporting Actor (Walken), Editing (Peter Zinner). Panavision. Copyright© Leonard Maltin

Demolition Man (1993)  Ex-cop Stallone is sprung after 36 years of deep-freeze imprisonment for manslaughter when blond Snipes (his long-ago psycho nemesis) escapes from his own government-imposed hibernation; the joke is that the ``San Angeles'' of 2032 is a pacifistic society that nixes violence and profanity (and where every restaurant is a Taco Bell). Fast, surprisingly funny, bloodletter. Panavision. Copyright© Leonard Maltin

The Dirty Dozen (1967)  Box-office hit about 12 murderers, rapists, and other prisoners who get a chance to redeem themselves in WW2. Exciting, funny, and well acted, especially by Marvin and Cassavetes. Nunnally Johnson and Lukas Heller scripted from E. M. Nathanson novel. Followed in 1985, 1987, 1988 by trio of inferior TV movies with such original cast members as Marvin, Jaeckel, Savalas, Borgnine; then a short-lived series. Metroscope. Copyright© Leonard Maltin

Dirty Harry (1971)  '' Riveting action film with Eastwood as iconoclastic cop determined to bring in psychotic serial killer Robinson, even if he has to break some rules. Brilliantly filmed and edited for maximum impact. Jazzy score by Lalo Schifrin. Filmed ``in tribute to the police officers of San Francisco who gave their lives in the line of duty. '' Followed by MAGNUM FORCE, THE ENFORCER, SUDDEN IMPACT, and THE DEAD POOL. Panavision. Copyright© Leonard Maltin

The Distinguished Gentleman (1992)  Florida con artist Murphy realizes that the real con-game is the political scene in Washington, D. C. --and gets himself elected to the House of Representatives. Satirical barbs about the System blend neatly with Eddie's irresistible huckster persona for this ingratiating (if somewhat overlong) comedy, aided by a strong supporting cast. Copyright© Leonard Maltin

Dr. Seuss - How the Grinch Stole Christmas/Horton Hears a Who (1966)  To heck with the kids--this is one of the best holiday presents you can give yourself. Adapted from the children's book by Dr. Seuss, this charming story is one to watch every holiday season. It is just edgy enough to help you forget the more cloying aspects of Christmas. It is also sweet enough to remind you of the reason for all that holiday cheer. Animation genius Chuck Jones directed this 1966 television production featuring the voice of Boris Karloff as the mean greenie. Bitter and selfish, the Grinch decides to steal Christmas away from the Whos, sweet little folk at the bottom of his mountain home. When little Cindy Loo Who returns his hateful act with kindness, she melts the old miser's heart. There are many reasons to watch this: inventive wordplay, Karloff's impressive narration, and a very memorable soundtrack. --Rochelle O'Gorman

Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb (1964) Arguably the greatest black comedy ever made, Stanley Kubrick's cold-war classic is the ultimate satire of the nuclear age. Dr. Strangelove is a perfect spoof of political and military insanity, beginning when General Jack D. Ripper (Sterling Hayden), a maniacal warrior obsessed with "the purity of precious bodily fluids," mounts his singular campaign against Communism by ordering a squadron of B-52 bombers to attack the Soviet Union. The Soviets counter the threat with a so- called "Doomsday Device," and the world hangs in the balance while the U.S. president (Peter Sellers) engages in hilarious hot-line negotiations with his Soviet counterpart. Sellers also plays a British military attaché and the mad bomb-maker Dr. Strangelove; George C. Scott is outrageously frantic as General Buck Turgidson, whose presidential advice consists mainly of panic and statistics about "acceptable losses." With dialogue ("You can't fight here! This is the war room!") and images (Slim Pickens's character riding the bomb to oblivion) that have become a part of our cultural vocabulary, Kubrick's film regularly appears on critics' lists of the all-time best. --Jeff Shannon

Dragnet (1987)  Aykroyd is a comic reincarnation of Jack Webb, playing Sgt. Joe Friday's dense but dedicated nephew in this parody. Hanks is fun as his freewheeling new partner, with Morgan, Webb's onetime sidekick, now promoted to captain of the L. A. P. D. Starts out quite funny, then goes flat... but the punchline is a howl. Aykroyd coscripted with Mankiewicz and Alan Zweibel. Copyright© Leonard Maltin

Dragonheart - Collector's Edition (1996)  Highly unusual fable about a knight ``of the old school'' (in the 1st century A. D. ) whose youthful king turns evil after having his life saved by a dragon who gives him half of his heart. Years later, the knight befriends that same dragon and joins with him to vanquish the cruel king. Unlikely premise is made plausible by Quaid's persuasive performance and the commanding presence of Connery as Drago (matched by the creature's superior, state-of-the-art digital animation). Fine score by Randy Edelman. Panavision. Copyright© Leonard Maltin

Duck Soup (1933)  The Marx Brothers' most sustained bit of insanity, a flop when first released, but now considered a satiric masterpiece. In postage-stamp-sized Freedonia, Prime Minister Rufus T. Firefly (Groucho) declares war on neighboring Sylvania just for the hell of it. Enough gags for five movies, but our favorite is still the mirror sequence. Zeppo's swan song with his brothers. Copyright© Leonard Maltin

Dune (1984)  David Lynch's baroque rendering of Frank Herbert's epic sci-fi novel. It's 10991 and the desert planet of Dune has been taken over by the Harkonnens, oppressive conquerors who desire the precious spice that lies beneath Dune's arid sands. The story concerns the attempts of a young warrior messiah to lead the native inhabitants in an uprising against the evil empire -- and battle the giant man-eating worms that guard the coveted spice. No matter how the critics viewed it, I found it fascinating AND enjoyable

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