The Godfather is a masterpiece with many big-time actors. There are numerous classic scenes, lines, and movie moments that make the whole thing unforgettable. Gordon Willis' cinematography is fantastic throughout, and that's why he has the moniker: Prince of Darkness. Marlon Brando's Don Corleone is the most imitated character of all time, and it's the beginning of Al Pacino's screen greatness.

Without a doubt, Goodfellas is the hardest-hitting Mafia picture made. There's nothing like it. The first two minutes, complemented by Saul Bass' titles, is what sets the tone for the rest of the film. In order to get Goodfellas made, Martin Scorsese called Nicholas Pileggi, the author of Wiseguy, to say, "I've been waiting for this book my entire life," which was met with "I've been waiting for this phone call my entire life."

The Godfather Part II picks up where the original left off. Al Pacino continues the rise of Michael Corleone. Robert De Niro makes things interesting for the other thread by taking over Marlon Brando's role. John Cazale is more famous in this part than the other one with a classic scene with Al Pacino while Gastone Moschin is excellent as Don Fanucci.

This is the granddaddy of all gangster pictures. It lives up to the reputation for being the most influential of the genre. Paul Muni is the show. If there are films that had escaped the swath of Hays Code, Scarface is among them, thanks to Howard Hawks' defiance to the office's censorship orders, making it a rarity with violence never seen before in a 30's picture.

Because of the full range of colors, Bonnie and Clyde is a beautifully photographed film with impeccable acting performances. Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway have chemistry that's impossible to duplicate. Their violent ending is unforgettable as well.

Powerful and mesmerizing, James Cagney gives the greatest performance of his career. His "Made it, Ma! Top of the world!" scene in White Heat is among the all-time greatest endings. James Cagney's spontaneous reaction after finding out what happened to his character's mother is another famous scene.

The Untouchables is an exquisitely shot picture. The two key scenes are the main reasons for its high replayability value. Also, a lot of it has to do with Kevin Costner, Billy Drago, and Robert De Niro for giving excellent performances. A much-deserved Oscar nomination went to the Costume Design team that's led by Marilyn Vance.

New Jack City is The Godfather of black cinema and continues to be an underrated hip-hop gangster picture. There's an edge to it that exudes style through captivating storytelling and hard-to-beat editing. Wesley Snipes and Ice-T are unforgettable. Using the crack epidemic that ravaged New York City during the late 80's and early 90's, it's a perfect backdrop for a black drug lord like Nino Brown to make his presence known.

On the Waterfront is one of the most important, influential films made. The best and the greatest ever, Marlon Brando is spectacular and is in a class of his own. Because of what he did, the landscape of acting had been forever changed. Any time I think of timeless movies with great performances, great scenes, and great lines, On the Waterfront is among them.

A brutal British gangster masterpiece, Get Carter is that good and clever. The reason why it's so is when the characters are introduced at the beginning of the film, little do I know they'll play an important role in the murder mystery. It's just that the plot takes time to thicken and...oh, how it thickens. This is Michael Caine at his finest.

It can't be any more dramatic than the scene when Tre yelled out to Ricky after the sight of the red Hyundai Excel. Simply put, Boyz n the Hood is the game changer of the genre and sets the standard that all black films are forever burdened to match. Of the ensemble cast, Ice Cube is unmatched as Doughboy.

The best way to think of The Wild Bunch is "honor among thieves." If there's a film that represents Sam Peckinpah the most, it's this one. The editing is amazing. There are some scenes that are stirring and passionate. The display of violence is unbelievable and is best described as poetic.

There are few films that are as exciting and inspiring as Point Break. I bet if anyone watched the movie just once, he may have entertained some thoughts about changing his entire lifestyle. Bodhi perfectly describes the truth-seeking experience: "Pure adrenaline, right?!? The ultimate rush. Other guys snort for it, jab a vein for it...all you gotta do is jump." Sounds pretty simple, eh? Patrick Swayze did the skydiving stunts and is thus captivating. It's easy to see it in Johnny Utah's eyes when he saw what Bodhi could do.

Based on New York State Supreme Court justice Edwin Torres' book After Hours, David Koepp's script is well-written and full of subtleties about the street life in El Barrio. If you pay attention to what Carlito sees, you can predict what he's thinking and planning to do. That's why Carlito's Way is an intelligently crafted picture with a great Latino supporting cast.

Al Pacino once again dominates the film. Andy Garcia is captivating as Vincent Mancini who's a hybrid between Michael and Sonny Corleone and has a powerful scene when his character is christened as the Don. There are many other great scenes such as Vincent and Zasa's spat in Michael's study, the ballroom ambush at Atlantic City, and the assassination attempt on Michael Corleone's life.

What's great about Die Hard is how real John McClane is and, even better, how direct Hans Gruber is. Unlike most action-adventure movies, it's a thrill machine that never lets down from start to finish. The script is well-done, and the special effects extravaganza intensifies the viewing experience even more.

Blood In, Blood Out is everything that Once Upon a Time in America is not. It has a turning point that makes everything crystal clear which pays off in dividends. I love the authenticity in the portrayal of the Chicanos. At first, I was worried about being inundated by the flaunting of their nationality, culture, and mannerisms. But it didn't happen that way. Across the board, the performances are outstanding.

Showcasing police officers' work on the gang-infested streets of Los Angeles, Colors is about approaches in handling gangbangers. Dennis Hopper took a gamble to show the street gangs of Los Angeles to the world for the first time which was a radical idea back then, and it paid off. Impossible to miss is Ice-T's catchy music with a repetitive eponymous hook.

Vincent Bugliosi's Helter Skelter is the best true crime book ever written. You hear a lot about Tom Cruise, John Travolta, and Scientology, but Charles Manson came way, way before them and borrowed a lot from its teachings via The Process. The result is two nights of Helter Skelter that disturbed everybody afterwards.

The performances, the conversations, the style, and the cult feel are what Pulp Fiction is all about. John Travolta is perfect. Uma Thurman is brilliant with him. Their dance scene is timeless. Samuel L. Jackson is special and has the most unforgettable scene of his career.

Benicio del Toro is the reason to watch this film over and over. It's such a classy performance that ends with his character watching a kids baseball game and knowing what he had done. It's not easy to turn a film with many competing storylines into an outstanding picture, but Steven Soderbergh, who's always been a top-notch director in his own right, accomplished this feat which led to an Oscar win for him.

El Mariachi is a stunner of a picture that's set apart from the others through its avant-garde camera work. What's also nice is the romantic tragedy as it suddenly happens at the end. Adding a lot of flavor to the film is the Mexican grittiness. The overall result is the hard-to-capture foreign quality that's more poetic than anything else.

Based on Paul Williams' eponymous biography, The General tells a true story about Martin Cahill, the leader of an Irish gang that pulled off two big-time heists with cunningness and intelligence. This is Brendan Gleeson's show. There are also good performances from his Irish co-stars such as Adrian Dunbar, Maria Doyle Kennedy, Angeline Ball, and Sean McGinley.

The coolest movie of the decade, Snatch consists of all stars giving riveting performances. The convoluted parallel threads, which converge to a single point, are why Snatch is a confusing film to follow from the get-go, but watching it over and over will bring more appreciation for Guy Ritchie's unique style of storytelling.

Can anything be more exciting than Cobra? It's maybe the most aesthetic neo-noir picture made. Sylvester Stallone has outdone himself this time by creating one of the coolest characters in movie history through Marion Cobretti, the pride of the Zombie Squad. He takes on an army of killers, saving the best for last with the Night Slasher in an epic fight at the foundry.

Shot on location all over Los Angeles, Heat is an engrossing crime thriller that spans three hours. Al Pacino is the maestro. Robert De Niro is fascinating to watch as Neil McCauley. Their anticipated meeting is a treat, and the shootout on the streets of L.A. is epic that's unlike anything.

What made Quentin Tarantino special, unique, and, most importantly, fresh? It's simple: the dialogue. The ten-minute opening scene of Reservoir Dogs is a perfect example of this. He would take the art of conversation to the stratosphere in Pulp Fiction. Afterwards, there have been so many imitations but no equal.

James Mangold must have called Martin Scorsese and asked, "Can you give me the guys from Mean Streets, Raging Bull, and Goodfellas?" And Marty said, "Hell, yes!!!" Sylvester Stallone makes a serious comeback and has a surreal meeting with Robert De Niro while Ray Liotta, Harvey Keitel, Robert Patrick, and Arthur J. Nascarella bring a hard edge to the story that's appreciated.

Black Rain is an underrated stylish policier with outstanding Blade Runner-like cinematography which is very Japanese neo-noirish. Michael Douglas knows how to amp it up. Andy Garcia is perfect as his sidekick, and Ken Takakura is great as well. Yûsaku Matsuda is definitely the bad guy as Sato.

The Wild One is a historical movie because it was influential in starting the trend of outlaw biker gangs, black leather wear, and sideburns. What's impressive about Marlon Brando's performance is not how he acts but what his face shows. I can tell, deep down, there has been a series of incidents in the past that've caused him to hate authority with passion. This is his quiet revenge.

A brilliantly written masterpiece that manages to break the mold of the usual black gang pictures, Fresh has deep Shakespearean elements, most especially the analogy of a chess match that's played out in real life. The characters around Fresh are used as pawns, and Esteban acts as the king and is therefore the objective of the game. Fresh's reward is his sister.

Shot on location in Santa Cruz, California, The Lost Boys is an extremely stylish, sexy vampire picture that ranks one of the best in Joel Schumacher's oeuvre. Everybody is famous for appearing in it: Jason Patric, Corey Haim, Kiefer Sutherland, Jami Gertz, Corey Feldman, Brooke McCarter, Alex Winter, Jamison Newlander, Billy Wirth, and Chance Michael Corbitt.

Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai is one of the most innovative movies made because it combines hip-hop, black ghetto, the mafia, indie cinema, animals, and the samurai code of conduct. Incredible. Forest Whitaker is perfect for the role, knowing he's a cool badass guy.

A Fish Called Wanda is one of the wackiest, funniest pictures filmed. Kevin Kline is beyond brilliant as "Don't Call Me Stupid" Otto. "It's K-K-K-Ken! C-c-c-coming to k-k-k-kill me! How you gonna c-c-c-catch me, K-K-K-Ken?" And the joke is on him. Jamie Lee Curtis, Michael Palin, and John Cleese are perfectly cast.

Heavily influenced by Boyz n the Hood, Menace II Society goes around the same block by presenting a survival story in the black ghetto. The direction by Allen Hughes and Albert Hughes is strong. It's absorbing to follow Tyrin Turner's steps as Caine "Kaydee" Lawson. Hence, the movie becomes real this way with a killer soundtrack to boot. These people are dangerous, hence the title Menace II Society.

There was a huge controversy in regard to the portrayal of Indians, but honestly, I don't see it that way as there's a good tie-in with the Thuggee cult. The word "thug" has its origins from an Indian gang of thieving assassins who murdered travelers by strangulation in the name of the Hindu Goddess Kali. It would last for six centuries before the British finally formed an intelligence unit to end the practice before the turn of the 20th century.

A creative post-apocalyptic action movie, The Road Warrior further solidifies Mel Gibson's reputation as an international superstar. He helps out a small community of settlers in the battle against a roving band of marauders. The stunts are out of the world for 1981, and the fantastic opening and closing scenes are unbeatable as well.

Thanks to the debuting actors Omar Epps, who was 17 at that time, and Tupac Shakur, Juice is a fast-paced classic 90's urban youth picture that takes a look at black-on-black violence. Put a gun in the hands of a black male, and he suddenly thinks he owns the world. That's the reaction of Bishop which struck the beginning of the end for him and his crew.

Beautifully shot but slow in pace, The Texas Chain Saw Massacre is a true horror picture with a great knack for sheer depravity and terror. What's conceived as a nightmare, it can be reality somewhere in the country. When the action starts, it's effective as Leatherface comes alive. The family of cannibals is certainly crazy.

If there's anything memorable, it has to be the breathtaking introduction when Sarah meets her fate in a spectacular fall. Sylvester Stallone has so many great rock climbing scenes that they're worth the price of admission. It's why the movie was a box-office hit, thanks to the potential viewers having been sold by the trailer.

Here's another reason why Wesley Snipes is an underrated actor: Sugar Hill. This one has great acting from others such as Michael Wright and Clarence Williams III. It's the direction of Leon Ichaso that makes the film work atop a well-written screenplay. The ending is fantastic and powerful. Sometimes, the pace can be slow. Maybe it's deliberate, who knows? But the performances make up for it.

Year of the Dragon is a violent, hard-hitting, and full-of-attitude picture with a gripping story. Mickey Rourke and John Lone are fantastic. The former's character seems to be haunted by what happened in Vietnam and how the war was totally unwinnable, not wanting a repeat of it in Chinatown. An explosive scene occurs in the picture when Stanley White was ambushed in his own house. Similarly, the restaurant scene is quite good.

"Anybody seen Richie? I'm gonna keep coming back until somebody remembers seeing Richie." To top it off is the look of Gino's displeasure when he gets no answer after beating up everybody in the pool hall for the instant Steven Seagal classic Out for Justice. It has the best and the funniest one-sided beatdown during the finale.

Matt Dillon's performance in Drugstore Cowboy is a royal treatment for all of his fans. Never the one to glamorize drugs, it's about a nomadic group of drug addicts robbing pharmacies and hospitals across the Pacific Northwest to support their habits. Heather Graham scores a nice debut, and William Burroughs has a masterful performance.

The top-notch opening sequence is what ensures film's high replayability value. Because of how smooth the editing is, the transition from one scene to another is hypnotic. In a way, Belly feels like a long but highly-stylized music video with an overriding message that it's about destruction while the black ghetto culture comes alive with emphasis on fashion and style.

The Roaring Twenties is The Unforgiven of the 30's gangster pictures and rightfully so. It carries the message that crime doesn't pay. The performances are excellent, and James Cagney once again delivers a winner. The more gangster pictures Cagney did, the better he became. The educational narrative is reminiscent of Goodfellas.

A young black man who attempts to escape the dangerous projects but is doomed by choices gone awry is the name of the game in Strapped which is shot on location in Brooklyn with great music. Making his screen debut, Bokeem Woodbine is amazing. The reality of black-on-black violence in the projects is spot-on, and it doesn't matter how young the perpetrators are.

Featuring gangsters in business suits, Boiler Room is accurate. That's why there was a strong disclaimer put out in front before the movie began to roll. Back then, people didn't trade online; they had stockbrokers making trades for them over the phone. It cost a huge deal of money for customers to do so. Those who were inside and/or had a seat had the most knowledge and access to information.

Whaddya know? Robert De Niro...the director. Chazz Palminteri wrote the play, going back to 1989 when he was a struggling actor, and Robert De Niro saw his one-man act show on Broadway a year later. That's how the film was a reality. Many instances in the story happened to Chazz, whose real name is actually Calogero, when he was a kid. There's a lot of Italian authenticity throughout.

Class of 1984 may have been extreme in 1982, but it isn't far from the truth of what goes on in classrooms nowadays, especially in urban schools. Teachers try their best to deal with gangs and juvenile delinquent behavior. Alice Cooper's song "I Am the Future" keeps being played, and it's a foreshadowing of what's to come in terms of generational differences.