Great movies every guy must see has to include all of the theatrical elements that make going to the movies an enjoyable experience. They have a great storyline that appeals to the male audience; a simple, yet effective plot of good vs. evil; actors and actresses that bring heroes and villains to life; memorable moments and/or one liners that are remembered several years later; a rousing score or soundtrack that enhances the action and adventure; special effects that captivate your imagination; and explosions, unstoppable forces and immovable objects that remind us of the action figures and comic books that we used to collect (or still do). A gorgeous heroine is not a pre-requisite, but it doesn't hurt. There are many great films to choose from, but this list should receive a few thumbs up.
The Untouchables (Rated R) A big screen version of the famed television series with an all star cast. Eliot Ness and a few good men join forces to bring crime lord Al Capone to justice. Cast includes: Robert De Niro, Kevin Costner, Sean Connery and Andy Garcia.
First Blood (Rated R) Before John Rambo displayed his prowess as a one man wrecking crew against communists and Russian commanders in Rambo II and III respectively, he was an ex-Green Beret who was simply minding his own business. In Rambo's case, he didn't go looking for trouble - trouble came looking for him. He wanders into a small town with a no-nonsense sheriff and gets arrested. Rambo is harassed repeatedly by local law enforcement. When one of the officers pulls out a blade to ensure Rambo is "clean shaven" for his trip to the courthouse the next day, Rambo snaps. Memories of the torture he experienced while serving for his country transform him into the soldier who must do the one thing he knows how to do best - survive. Cast includes: Sylvester Stallone, Richard Crenna and Brian Dennehy.
Transformers (Rated PG-13) What happens when you mix action, comedy, young gorgeous actors, awesome special effects, missiles, shoot-outs, fast cars, tanks...well you get the picture. You have Transformers....the best action film of 2007. Based on the kids show from the 80's, the Autobots and Decepticons are battling over the All Spark....a great power that once represented their home world (which was destroyed because of the vicious feud between the rival robots). Cast includes: Shia LaBeouf, Tyrese Gibson, Jon Voight and Megan Fox.
Top Gun (Rated PG) Maverick - Goose - Iceman - F14 Tomcats and an awesome soundtrack. When fellow ace fighter pilot Cougar is startled by a MIG threat, Lieutenant Pete "Maverick" Mitchell and his partner Lieutenant Nick "Goose" Bradshaw are sent (reluctantly by their commander) to the United States Navy Fighter Weapons School (Top Gun) - an academy for only the elite United States Navy fighter pilots. Maverick is an excellent pilot, but very reckless and consumed with being number one. He goes "wing-to-wing" with his chief rival Iceman, romances the gorgeous flight instructor Charlotte "Charlie" Blackwood, copes with a tragic loss, and learns the value of teamwork. Cast includes: Tom Cruise, Anthony Edwards, Kelly McGillis and Val Kilmer.
Aliens (Rated R) Ellen Ripley, the sole human survivor of the first Alien movie, is discovered after being adrift in space for half a century. Ripley is still haunted by the nightmares of an alien creature that singlehandedly wiped out her entire crew aboard the Nostromo. The planet where her original crew discovered the alien life form is now inhabited by colonists, but all contact with the colonists has been lost. She is asked by Carter Burke, a representative of "The Company", to go back to planet LB 426 to investigate with a team of marines.
Ripley, fearing that the aliens have destroyed the colonists, reluctantly goes along (with assurances from Burke that the team is going in for one reason - not to study or bring back - but destroy the aliens). However, Ripley's worst fears are answered and the crew is forced to survive long enough to get back to their mother ship. Time is running out and they are faced with surviving two serious threats: an overwhelming number of alien life forms and Burke's secret agenda for The Company to bring an alien back to Earth. Cast includes: Sigourney Weaver, Michael Beign, Bill Paxton, Lance Henriksen and Carrie Henn.
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (Rated PG-13) One of the best films from director Ang Lee and a great martial arts/fantasy film. During the early 19th century, the martial arts master Li Mu Bai would like to retire. Yet he seeks to avenge the murder of his master, who was murdered by the evil Jade Fox. He gives his sword, an ancient 400 year old weapon called the Green Destiny, to his friend and true love Yu Shu Lien. She is to deliver the sword to Sir Te at the request of Li Mu Bai, but a thief steals the sword. Thus setting the stage for a series of well choreographed martial arts fight sequences. The heroes fight to retrieve the stolen sword and identify the thief. Cast includes: Chow Yun-Fat, Zhang Ziyi and Michelle Yeoh.
Unforgiven (Rated R) Unforgiven is arguably the best western of Clint Eastwood's career. When a prostitute's face is horribly slashed by a patron, the corrupt Sheriff Little Bill Daggett fines the cowboys responsible seven ponies as payment to the saloon owner. The prostitutes do not feel the payment is enough to justify such a criminal act. Led by Strawberry Alice, they band together to offer a $1000 bounty to anyone who kills the cads responsible for the deed. A young gunslinger requests the help of Eastwood's William Munny to collect the bounty. Munny is now a farmer and doesn't kill anymore, but he needs the money. He enlists the help of his friend Ned Logan and together they ride into the town of Big Whiskey to see that justice is served. However, Little Bill is very cunning and has plans to have the trio killed. Thus forcing Munny into gun slinging action one more time. Cast includes: Clint Eastwood, Gene Hackman and Morgan Freeman.
Scarface (Rated R) A Cuban refugee named Tony Montana starts working for a drug lord in Miami and quickly moves up the criminal ladder. It's comical listening to Al Pacino with that accent, but he is all business in this one. This film is graphically violent with lots of shootouts and murders. Scarface is also well known for an infamous "chainsaw" scene. Remember the classic line - Say hello to my little friend. Cast includes: Al Pacino, Michelle Pfeiffer and Robert Loggia.
The Lord of the Rings Trilogy (Rated PG-13) J.R.R. Tolkien's classic tale brought to life by director Peter Jackson. The epic trilogy follows the tale of Frodo Baggins, as he and his companion/gardener Sam take a perilous journey to Mordor. They must destroy the One Ring of power before it falls into the hands of its true master Sauron. Sauron has many creatures and the wizard Sauramon at his disposal, which makes life difficult for Frodo. However, our hobbit hero receives help in the form of Aragon (the true heir to the throne of Gondor), Legalos, (an Elven prince and magnificent archer), Gimli (a dwarf of strength and courage) and Gandalf the Grey (who is reborn).
The Fellowship (forged by their bond to destroy the one ring) hope to buy Frodo enough time to complete his task. There are plenty of confrontations as the heroes try to prevent middle earth from falling under the dark rule of Sauron and his minions. The true star of the movie is Gollum. Cursed by the One Ring, Gollum is obsessed with taking the ring away from the hobbits (who he holds responsible for stealing it from him). He serves as a guide to Frodo and Sam as they travel to Mordor, but secretly plots to get back his "precious" by any means necessary. Andy Serkis (who briefly appears in the opening of Return of the King as Smeagle - Gollum's human form before the one ring cursed him) provides the voice and movements for the CGI character. Cast includes: Ian McKellen, Elijah Wood, Viggo Mortensen, Orlando Bloom, John Rhys-Davies and Liv Tyler.
King Kong (Rated PG-13) Peter Jackson does an incredible job with this Hollywood classic. You cannot go wrong with the classic starring Fey Wrey, but Jackson's version is a visual masterpiece. This time Jack Black portrays Carl Denham, a 1930's filmmaker who travels to Skull Island to shoot his next film. Ann Darrow (played by Naomi Watts) is his leading lady for the project. However, Skull Island is inhabited by many prehistoric creatures which include dinosaurs, giant bugs and the king of all beasts - Kong. Denham has plans to capture the mighty ape to display him as the greatest discovery ever seen. Big Ape plus Big City equals trouble for everyone. Cast includes: Jack Black, Naomi Watts and Adrien Brody.
Indiana Jones and The Raiders of the Lost Ark (Rated PG) A return to the old Saturday Matinee theme with Harrison Ford starring as teacher/archeologist/adventurer Indiana Jones. In the first installment of this very successful franchise, Jones learns that the Nazis are searching for the Lost Ark of the Covenant. In order to find it, he must secure a special medallion that is being protected by an old friend named Abner Ravenwood. However, his former flame (and Abner's daughter) Marion Ravenwood makes life "interesting" for Dr. Jones. The two embark on a journey to find the arc and stop the Nazis before it's too late. Cast includes: Harrison Ford, Nancy Allen and John Rhys-Davies.
Star Wars: A New Hope (Rated PG) The Empire has constructed a new weapon called the Death Star. This space station has the power to destroy an entire planet. Princess Leia has secret plans that could destroy the Death Star, but the evil Sith lord Darth Vader has captured her ship. And this sets the stage for Episode IV of the Star Wars trilogy. The only hope for the rebellion: two droids who constantly bicker with one another, a Jedi Knight and former hero of the Galactic Republic, a swashbuckling pilot and his wookie companion, and a Tatooine farm boy who is about to embark on a journey that will lead him to his true destiny. Cast includes: Sir Alec Guinness, Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher and Harrison Ford.
Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back (Rated PG) Episode V has it all: action, adventure, romance, etc. The story centers on Darth Vader's frantic search for the hidden base of the Rebel Alliance and those responsible for destroying the Empire's ultimate weapon....the Death Star. His main targets include the captain of the Millennium Falcon Han Solo, his wookie companion Chewbacca, and Princess Leia. But the most important target is Luke Skywalker, who has grown strong in his knowledge and abilities with the Force. Luke is not a complete Jedi Knight yet and the Sith lord hopes to capture young Skywalker and turn him to the dark side of the Force. Cast includes: Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, Harrison Ford, Anthony Daniels and James Earl Jones.
Star Wars: Return Of The Jedi (Rated PG) The final episode of the Star Wars trilogy. Our heroes have a lot to accomplish in two hours and thirty minutes. First, a trip to the planet Tatooine, where Luke Skywalker has devised a plan to rescue his friend Han Solo from the evil crime lord Jabba the Hutt. Next, a reunion with the rebel alliance as the group bands together for an attack against the Empire's second Death Star. And by the way....Luke is really good with that Jedi stuff and he plans on confronting Darth Vader one more time. Luke must defeat Vader in order to truly become a Jedi. But the Emperor has other plans....destroying Luke's friends and goading young Skywalker to the dark side of the Force. Cast includes: Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher and Harrison Ford.
Kill Bill (Rated R) Uma Thurman plays an assassin who decides to give up a life of killing and live a more simple life. This does not bode well for our heroine, as her former boss (Bill) orders the DIVAS (The Bride's former colleagues/assassins) to kill the entire wedding party. Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned (or left for dead). The Bride miraculously awakens from a coma four years later and plans to wipe out all the DIVAS one by one until she realizes her ultimate goal - killing Bill. Cast includes: Uma Thurman, David Carradine, Vivica A. Fox, Daryl Hannah, Michael Madsen and Lucy Liu.
The Terminator (Rated R) In the future, machines have taken over. A human named John Connor is the one that is destined to lead the human resistance during their war against the machines. In order to stop his existence, a Terminator has been sent back in time to kill John's mother - Sarah Connor. Sarah must survive, but The Terminator will not stop until his mission is successful. Cast includes: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Michael Biehn and Linda Hamilton.
Terminator II (Rated R) Some fans believe the sequel was better than the first one. Their opinion may have been swayed by the T-1000, a newer more advanced liquid Terminator. Once again a machine has been sent back in time to destroy John Connor. However, the liquid Terminator has to deal with: John (now a wise cracking and rebellious teenager), his mother Sarah (who is now a lean, mean fighting machine herself) and the first Terminator (reprogrammed to protect John instead of kill him). Cast includes: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Edward Furlong, Robert Patrick and Linda Hamilton.
Rocky (Rated PG) The ultimate tale of an underdog who rises to the top. Rocky Balboa was once a promising fighter, but has done nothing with his life. He still boxes (non-competitively) and serves as a lackey for the town loan shark. When boxing champ (and ego-maniac) Apollo Creed comes up with the idea to fight an unknown for the upcoming Bicentennial celebration, Rocky is the perfect "chump." However, Rocky gives the champ an unexpected challenge - never giving up and showing the world he had a lot of heart and character. Cast includes: Sylvester Stallone, Carl Weathers, Burgess Meredith and Talia Shire.
Iron Man (Rated PG-13) The long awaited arrival of this Marvel Comics superhero was well worth the wait. Robert Downey Jr.'s portrayal of millionaire/playboy/genius Tony Stark was perfect. Stark is carefree and enjoying his life - women, fast cars and plenty of toys to play with at home. But when he is ambushed during a trip to Afghanistan and almost killed, he begins to have a totally different perspective on life. Instead of building a missile for his captors, Stark builds an indestructible suit of iron and blasts his way to freedom. Once back home on American soil, he learns that a trusted Stark Industries executive (Obadiah Stane) is double dealing Stark Industry weapons to the same villains who captured him. He perfects his armored suit and uses it to fight the villains and save the world. Cast includes: Robert Downey Jr., Jeff Bridges, Terrence Howard and Gwyneth Paltrow.
The Dark Knight (Rated PG-13) Finally - a big screen version of Batman that resembles the character's comic book origins. In this sequel to Batman Begins, The Dark Knight and Commissioner Gordon have been successful in their attempts to rid Gotham of crime. The bad guys decide to join forces because they fear the Batman. Enter The Joker - who uses his psychotic mind games to create chaos and fear. Always one step ahead, The Joker is even a challenge for Batman. As Batman struggles with overstepping his boundaries as a "vigilante" against Gotham's latest villain, a new white knight appears on the scene - Harvey Dent. Is Gotham's newly formed trio of good capable of defeating the Joker before he takes control of Gotham City? Cast includes: Christian Bale, Aaron Eckhart, Michael Cain, Gary Oldman, Maggie Gyllenhaal and the late Heath Ledger.