This Means War (2012)

Tuck and FDR are best friends who work as CIA operatives. Lauren is a product tester trying to deal with her recent break-up and the fact that she runs into her ex and his new fiancee everywhere. Encouraged by her obnoxious friend Trish to start dating again, she suggests online dating and without her permission makes a profile for Lauren on an online dating site. From the dating site Lauren meets Tuck and they hit it off right away, while she just so happens to meet FDR and coincidentally the guys end up falling for the same girl. Typical cliched rom-com, and if it wasn't for the chemistry between Hardy and Pine it would not be worth the viewing. Starring Reese Witherspoon, Chris Pine, Tom Hardy, Angela Bassett 6/10 Rated PG-13

The Scarlet Pimpernel (1982)

It is Paris, 1792, during the Reign of Terror of the French Revolution. A mysterious figure is at large called The Scarlet Pimpernel (named after the red flower used as his insignia) who is helping to  prevent the people of France from being sent to the guillotine. Sir Percy Blakeney is a debonair aristocrat who meets and falls in love with a beautiful theater actress named Marguerite St. Just after he rescues her brother Armand. However Paul Chauvelin, a Frenchman who is also vying for Marguerite, plans to stop The Scarlet Pimpernel, afraid he'll try to restore the monarchy. Anthony Andrews is utterly charming in this interesting television movie, based on the novels The Scarlet Pimpernel and Eldorado by Baroness Orczy. Starring Anthony Andrews, Jane Seymour, Ian McKellen, James Villiers, Malcolm Jamieson 7/10

The Crow (1994)

When rock guitarist Eric Draven and his bride-to-be Shelly Webster are brutally murdered by a gang of merciless thugs, Eric comes back to life under the watchful eyes of a black crow to avenge his and his fiancee's death. With the help of a police sergeant, Eric vows to take down one by one the goons responsible and their crime lord leader. Dark, moving and incredibly thrilling; Brandon Lee is so fascinating you can't take your eyes off him. Based on the comic book series by James O'Barr. Starring Brandon Lee, Ernie Hudson, Michael Wincott, Bai Ling, David Patrick Kelly, Rochelle Davis 7/10 Rated R

The Tourist (2010)

Elise, a beautiful and mysterious boards a train that is traveling to Venice, Italy. She sits next to a man named Frank, a not-so-suave math teacher from Wisconsin whose on vacation. While on the train they make chit-chat and when they arrive in Venice, she lets him stay in the high-class luxury hotel she's staying at. However Frank doesn't realize that there are people who are following her to get to her lover, a man named Alexander Pierce, because he stole a lot of money from the Russian mob. A sexy and stylish international thriller; Jolie and Depp make for a terrific pair. Starring Angelina Jolie, Johnny Depp, Timothy Dalton, Rufus Sewell, Paul Bettany 7/10

Breathless (1983)

Jesse loves reading Comic Books (especially The Silver Surfer) and listening to Jerry Lee Lewis music. When he steals a Porsche and gets stopped by the police, he accidentally shoots a cop. Now on the run from the law, Jesse decides to drive from Las Vegas to Los Angeles to find his former French girlfriend Monica, they can go to Mexico together. But she doesn't want to leave because she's still in school, but soon she can't resist his charms and falls in love with him. Good remake of the 1960 film; Richard Gere alone makes the film worth watching. Starring Richard Gere, Valérie Kaprisky, Art Metrano 7/10

Taken (2008)

Bryan Mills was a former highly-trained CIA officer, now retired because he wants to have a relationship with his seventeen year old daughter Kim, which because of his duty to the CIA has kept him from having a normal family life. When Kim begs him to let her go on a trip to Paris, he is hesitant to give in. But eventually he does, despite his worries even though her mother, his ex-wife insists she needs her freedom. However he soon finds out that Kim has been kidnapped by Albanians, who lure young girls and then trade them for sex. So Bryan goes to Paris and stops at nothing to find out where she is. Pulse pounding, and intensely fast-paced thriller; Liam Neeson is terrific. Starring Liam Neeson, Maggie Grace, Famke Janssen 8/10

The Mod Squad (1999)

Julie Barnes, Peter Cochran and Lincoln Hayes are all delinquents of the law; Julie for assault, Pete for robbery and Linc for arson. They are recruited by Police Captain Adam Greer to go undercover at a local nightclub otherwise they have to serve jail time for their crimes. But when they discover that Adam has been killed, they believe it was a setup so they go investigating on their own to find out who did it. As much as critics hated this and it bombed at the box office, this film for me is still a guilty pleasure, despite the lame dialogue and the uninteresting plot. The only thing that is worthwhile to watch is Giovanni Ribisi's eccentric performance. Starring Claire Danes, Giovanni Ribisi, Omar Epps, Dennis Farina, Josh Brolin 5/10

Braveheart (1995)

A Scotsman by the name of William Wallace, who in the 19th Century rebelled against England's King Edward the Longshanks when he tried to take control of Scotland. It starts off when William is a small boy, and his father and brother are murdered. He travels to Europe with his uncle Argyle where he teaches him how to use the sword. William becomes a man and returns home, where he falls in love with Murron, his friend from childhood and marries her in secret. But when she is tragically murdered, he takes his revenge by fighting against the English and going on a mission to free Scotland. Braveheart is in my humble opinion one of the most grand and exhilarating historical dramas ever made; Mel Gibson gives a most extraordinary performance in the film, in which he also directed and produced. One of the best scores by the great James Horner. Starring Mel Gibson, Sophie Marceau, Partick McGoohan, Catherine McCormack, Brendan Gleeson, Brian Cox 9/10

Tequila Sunrise (1988)

Dale McKussic, aka "Mac" is a former drug dealer who's trying to get away from that life and go straight. Nick Frescia, who in spite of being Mac's close friend is a detective lieutenant and he'll probably have to bring him to justice if he is in the drug dealing business again. DEA Agent Hal Maguire hears around that Mac is going to personally move kilos of coke with drug kingpin Carlos, who is supposedly coming to town soon. So Hal wants Nick to use his relationship with Mac so he can get close to Carlos. Mac becomes attracted to restaurant owner Jo Ann Vallenari, while Nick gets chummy with her to find out if she's involved with Mac. Russell is tough, Gibson and Pfeiffer are sizzling together but it's Raul Julia's character that really steals the show. Starring Mel Gibson, Kurt Russell, Michelle Pfeiffer, Raul Julia, J.T. Walsh, Ayre Gross 7/10

Payback (1999)

A man known only as Porter, is shot and left for dead by his former partner named Val Resnick and his ex-junkie-wife Lynn after a one hundred-forty thousand dollar heist. After healing for months Porter returns for payback. He finds out Resnick has joined The Outfit, a criminal organization and using the heist money to pay his debts. So Porter asks for the help of a call girl friend, Rosie, who is in close relations with The Outfit so he can get back his share of the loot. Stylish crime thriller; Mel Gibson is too cool as the bad guy, based on the book The Hunter by Richard Stark. Starring Mel Gibson, Gregg Henry, Maria Bello, Lucy Liu, John Glover, William Devane, Deborah Kara Unger, Jack Conley, Kris Kristofferson, James Coburn, Freddy Rodriguez 7/10

Charlie's Angels (2000)

Natalie, Alex and Dylan are three young, beautiful women who come from different backgrounds and places but have one thing in common; they all work for a mysterious man named Charlie. Their new assignment has them investigating the kidnapping of a man named Eric Knox, an engineer who owns a software company. They suspect that another man named Roger Corwin might be behind the disappearance because Corwin wanted to buy out Knox's company. But the angels find out that things are not at all what they seem, and that their boss is the target of assassination. Sleek, sexy and fun, with killer action and fighting scenes. Starring Cameron Diaz, Lucy Liu, Drew Barrymore, Bill Murray, Crispin Glover, Sam Rockwell, Matt LeBlanc, Tim Curry, Kelly Lynch, Luke Wilson, John Forsythe, LL Cool J, Tom Green 6/10

The Legend of Billie Jean (1985)

Billie Jean Davy is a beautiful young high school girl who lives in Corpus Christi, Texas. Her younger brother Binx gets his scooter stolen by a bully named Hubie Pyatt. After Binx gets it back, Billie Jean goes to Hubie's father's shop to get the money to get the scooter fixed. But when she tries to get the money, Mr. Pyatt tries to rape her. Binx ends up shooting him so he, Billie Jean and their friends Putter and Ophelia go on the run as fugitives from the law. A inspiring cult film about standing your ground for what you think is right. Starring Helen Slater, Christian Slater, Keith Gordon, Yeardley Smith, Peter Coyote 7/10

Smokin' Aces (2007)

FBI Agents Richard Messner and Donald Carruthers are assigned to travel to Las Vegas to get to showman/illusionist Buddy "Aces" Israel before the ex-cons, assassins and hit men bump him off first. It's a race against time between the good and the bad guys; but the agents have no idea that their Deputy Director Locke has other matters on his mind regarding Israel, until one of them is killed and the other discovers the secret that brings the film to a shocking conclusion. With unbelievable stunts, amazing special effects and a smokin' hot cast, this action packed film is one that you won't easily forget. Starring Ben Affleck, Andy Garcia, Alicia Keys, Ray Liotta, Jeremy Piven, Common, Ryan Reynolds 7/10

Scott Pilgrim vs. the World (2010)

Scott Pilgrim is a young man who plays in a rock band, and despite what his friends think he is dating a seventeen-year old high schooler named Knives Chau. Until an encounter at the library, when Scott sees the girl of his dreams with pink hair and falls in love almost instantly. He sees her again at a party and finds out her name is Ramona Flowers. Not long afterward he starts dating her while still going with Knives. But when Ramona's exes (seven in all) start popping up, Scott has to fight them for the girl he loves. A fast paced and unusual movie with some very funny jokes that is just like being inside a huge video-game. Michael Cera is great as the eccentric Scott, whose personality and insecurity resembles that of a Woody Allen character. Starring Michael Cera, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Kieran Culkin 7/10

Equilibrium (2002)

Set in the futuristic city-state of Libria, after a third World War a totalitarian state rose up to get rid of everything that causes emotion and the people who use them. When high ranking Grammaton Cleric John Preston accidentally breaks his vial of Prozium, ceasing to take his dose, he begins to feel while finding it difficult not to show it in front of his son and his partner Brandt. He ends up falling in love with Mary, a woman that was arrested for sense-offense and feels remorse for killing his former partner Errol Partridge. He eventually helps the leaders of the resistance movement known as The Underground to take down a figurehead known as "Father". In the same style of action as The Matrix, an interesting science fiction story; the fight scenes especially are extraordinary. Starring Christian Bale, Taye Diggs, Emily Watson, Sean Bean, Angus Macfadyen, William Fichtner 7/10

The French Connection (1971)

Hackman and Scheider play Popeye Doyle and Buddy Russo, New York detectives who try to stop the progress of a heroin shipment that is coming from France. So they begin trailing the suspects, two nationals that are their "French Connection". Hackman and Scheider make an awesome pair; exciting, thrilling and gritty with one of the best car chases ever filmed. Starring Gene Hackman, Fernando Rey, Roy Scheider, Tony Lo Bianco, Marcel Bozzuffi 9/10

French Connection II (1975)

In the sequel to the 1971 hit, this time around New York Narcotics Detective Jimmy Popeye Doyle is in Marseilles, France to try and find the elusive drug kingpin Alain Charnier that got away in the first one, along with the help of Inspector Henri Barthélémy. But he ends up being kidnapped, and is injected with heroin. He is eventually set free, but in an addicted state. So Barthélémy immediately puts him into quarantine and Popeye goes through a long and terrible cold turkey withdrawal. But even that does not stop him from trying with determination to catch Charnier. An average sequel; Hackman is still terrific but the film lacks the same fire that the original had. Starring Gene Hackman, Fernando Rey, Bernard Fresson, Philippe Léotard, Ed Lauter 7/10

Road House (1989)

Dalton is a cooler/bouncer who is the best in the business. He gets hired by a man named Frank Tilghman, to clean up his rough honky-tonk bar called the Double Duece which has fights breaking out every night. However Brad Wesley, the town crime boss has control over everything that goes on and when he founds out about Dalton, Brad and his gang of thugs try to make trouble for him. A bit cheesy and campy, but some funny dialogue and good action. 6/10 Starring Patrick Swayze, Ben Gazzara, Kelly Lynch, Sam Elliott

Empire of the Sun (1987)

It's 1941, and just at the beginning of World War 2. James "Jamie" Graham, a young British boy who lives with his rich family in Shanghai gets separated from his parents when there is a Japanese army invasion. He goes back to his house but his parents aren't there. He stays for a few months until the food runs out. But when he goes back to Shanghai on his bike, he is mugged by a Chinese boy. He's nearly run over by a truck, which the driver named Frank brings him back to where he and his friend Basie are staying. Not long after they are sent to the Soochow Interment prison camp, which is next to an airbase site. When the war ends, Jamie is eventually reunited with his parents but doesn't recognize them right away because of the long time that has passed since he's seen them. From the autobiography of J.G. Ballard, this is an emotional and exciting story. Christian Bale, only thirteen and in his film debut, is simply mesmerizing. Starring Christian Bale, John Malkovich, Miranda Richardson, Nigel Havers, Joe Pantaliano, Ben Stiller 8/10

Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991)

In this sequel to the 1984 film, the same terminator that tried to kill Sarah Connor comes back again. But this time in the year 1994 and is assigned to protect her and her son from the T-1000, a more sophisticated terminating machine made of liquid metal. John is now ten years old and in a foster home while Sarah is locked up in Pescadero State Hospital, a mental institution. A juvenile delinquent that has been in trouble more than once, John is shocked when he meets the terminator but remembers his mother telling him about it. When his foster parents are killed, John orders the terminator to help him bust his mother out of Pescadero. Once they do that, they prepare to fight the T-1000, getting weapons ready and transportation. But Sarah has other plans in mind; she takes off on her own mission to kill the man responsible, a computer developer called Miles Dyson so it will prevent the war from happening. However, John wants to stop her so he and the terminator go to his house before she does. They then plan to destroy all of Miles's work at the lab, including the chip that was saved from the previous terminator. A roller-coaster ride; with even more awesome special effects, this is one of the best sci-fi sequels ever made. Starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, Linda Hamilton, Edward Furlong, Robert Patrick, Earl Boen, Joe Morton, S. Epatha Merkerson 9/10