King Kong (1976)
[6] After the world saw its first bona-fide blockbuster, 1975's Jaws, daring Italian movie mogul Dino De Laurentiis decided he needed to go down in history for producing the second one. He settled on a remake of 1933's King Kong…
Jagged Edge (1985)
[6] Jeff Bridges' wife is murdered and Glenn Close goes to court to prove his innocence. Meanwhile, Peter Coyote's convinced that Bridges is the killer and Robert Loggia is doing investigation on the side to help Close's case. And dang…
The Last Valley (1971)
[3] It's the 1600s and Europe is torn apart by religious warfare. Omar Sharif plays a Catholic villager who must help his people get along with their Protestant occupiers, led by Michael Caine. Caine's militia have the power to wipe the…
Out of Africa (1985)
[7] In colonial Kenya, a Danish baroness has an ongoing affair with a big game hunter. On one hand, Sydney Pollacks' Oscar-winning best picture is long and subdued. But on the other hand, it does a great job transporting you to…
Body Heat (1981)
[7] Lawrence Kasdan (The Big Chill, The Accidental Tourist) made his directorial debut with Body Heat, about a woman who convinces her lover to murder her husband. You'll never see William Hurt or Kathleen Turner sweatier (or hotter) than this.…
Howard the Duck (1986)
[6]
This may be a guilty pleasure, but I also think it inherited an unfair reputation, too. George Lucas wanted to produce a comic film noir. No matter how well it was done, it would never be a huge hit. His name proved cancerous to the movie, unintentionally promising universal appeal for what is really a niche movie. The critics took their best shots and Howard the Duck went down as one of the most famous flops in movie history.
The Black Hole (1979)
[8] It may have been Disney's pallid attempt to cash in on the success of Star Wars, but The Black Hole is another kind of animal, a kitschy matinee sci-fi/horror movie that's worth a look in its own right. It's…
Dances With Wolves (1990)
[10]
Kevin Costner’s ambitious ode to the American frontier is grand, romantic storytelling at its best. And talk about an underdog. People were calling it ‘Kevin’s Gate’ months prior to release — and why shouldn’t they? A three-hour long western with most of its dialogue in Lakota Sioux? How could such a movie find an audience, much less sweep the Academy Awards?
On Her Majesty’s Secret Service (1969)
[9] George Lazenby makes his one and only appearance as 007 in this underappreciated installment of the series. Lazenby was a model with little-to-no acting experience trying to take over a role that Sean Connery made iconic. With that said, the…
The Lion in Winter (1968)
[10] Which of King Henry II's sons will succeed him on the throne? This question is rife with political intrigue, personal vendettas, and intense family drama in The Lion in Winter. The relationships are fascinating to watch unfold. The three…