If you see the word "pasteurized" on milk cartons, then you know where that came from: Louis Pasteur. The subject matter is fascinating, and of course, it's an accepted fact by now there's such thing as a "microbe." It only takes a microscope to discover its existence, and soap and alcohol are among those that can kill them. Otherwise, the consequence is fatal by the failure of disinfection.

Full of brilliant writing and brilliant acting, M*A*S*H is the best and most intelligent comedy film ever made. The ensemble cast is unbelievable, playing unforgettable characters. So are the scenes which are so funny. No wonder why this one spawned a highly successful TV show.

Lorenzo's Oil is about Ordone's son who was diagnosed with adrenoleukodystrophy (ALD) and the parents' quest to find a miracle cure for the deadly genetic disease because they refused to stand still and watch him die without taking any action. Nick Nolte gives a brilliant performance as the father.

Paddy Chafesky won three Best Screenplay Oscars for the following films: Marty, The Hospital, and Network. George C. Scott delivers some of the best stuff of his career. There's one particular scene he has in the doctor office with Diana Riggs which is quite good. It's funny that every time a murder occurs, the medical mismanagement and bureaucracy are at blame for it.

12 Monkeys is an unparalleled sci-fi thriller with strong performances by Bruce Willis, Brad Pitt, and Madeleine Stowe. Terry Gilliam's direction elevates it to another level. It's also a confusing movie to follow until the fatalistic ending that will clear up the mystery. What's impressive is the number of red herrings, including Brad Pitt's character, that put everybody on the wrong track.

Sometimes, a bunch of all-stars get together to do an important film, and this one is among them which was based on Randy Shilts' seminal book of the AIDS coverage. The performances are excellent; my favorite is Richard Gere's which may feel two minutes long but is still powerful. The other great one is Jeffrey Nordling as the French-Canadian airline steward.

If you want to see an inspiring story, look no further than The Race for the Double Helix. It was truly a race during the 50's that earned three men (James Watson, Francis Crick, and Maurice Wilkins) the Nobel Prize although Rosalind Franklin should also have been awarded it posthumously. The last ten minutes is what makes the film which is dramatic.

Bad for Each Other is a fine drama starring Charlton Heston. Thanks to him and the intelligent script, it's a short fast-paced picture about medical ambitions and ethics. For the longest time, there's no story; rather, it's this: is the doctor more interested in money or medicine? There are good points being made, especially when it comes to who's doing the actual work. Why should Owen let Dr. Homer Gleeson take credit for something he didn't do?

The Killer That Stalked New York is 70% medical drama and 30% noir with shades of The Naked City. There are two connected stories going on at the same time: the smallpox epidemic and the woman's search for her husband who skipped out on her with the diamonds. The film title may be misleading in the noir sense but is correct when it comes to the word "that" instead of "who" because it's exactly what the authorities are looking for.

The Day After presents a scenario of what it's like to deal with a nuclear holocaust. To this day, it remains the highest rated telefilm, registering over 100 million viewers on November 20, 1983. It's because the subject is fascinating and can happen for real, giving them something to think about.

What particularly impressive is how mature Gross Anatomy is in regard to the serious study of medicine. The viewers are taken through the arduous journey of medical school in terms of studies, giving them an idea how difficult it is for many future doctors to be where they are at. That's why it's easy to have a lot of respect for them.

David Cronenberg delivers a story that's driven by two parallel threads: the things that are happening to the little girl and the role-play therapy sessions between her mother and the psychotherapist. What's not immediately clear from the outset is the connection between the two. When the revelation is made in the last fifteen minutes, it clarifies what the mystery is about.

Tommy Lee Jones is the master of organization, telling people to get on it and do their jobs and refusing to take no for an answer. That's why he won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor although he was in a leading role. Harrison Ford is brilliant as Dr. Richard Kimble while Andreas Katsulas will always be that one-armed guy.

"There are no other cases. This is the case." The Verdict is Paul Newman's finest hour of his acting career. That much is brilliantly shown from the get-go when he's playing pinball while drinking a glass of scotch. His alcoholic character has given up on life, but when a case comes along that's worth fighting for, he finally becomes a changed man and finds meaning in life.

Children with epilepsy are first tried out with drugs which often work, and if they don't respond to them, then either surgery, a medical device like vagus nerve stimulation, or the Ketogenic Diet is the next prescribed course of action. It's frustrating for the parents, who know nothing about medicine, to put their total trust in doctors and hope for the best outcome yet sometimes feel like they haven't really solved the problem.