"An astonishing work of art and an overpowering motion picture experience" is how one Los Angeles Times critic described Easy Rider. Dennis Hopper, Peter Fonda, and Jack Nicholson will always be identified with this film. Entering the Deep South, the tragic ending is memorable because of what George Hanson said: "They're scared of what you represent to 'em. What you represent to them is freedom."

Why does Smokey and the Bandit work? It's fun to watch! Sure, the story is frightfully simple: transport 400 cases of Coors beer from Texarkana, Texas, to Atlanta, Georgia, in 28 hours. That's it. The rest is filled with action and improvisation. Burt Reynolds and Sally Field have terrific chemistry. The best performance of the show is undoubtedly given by Jackie Gleason.

Birth. Evolution. Mankind. Age. Exploration. Universe. Death. 2001: A Space Odyssey...you'll never see anything like it, a brilliant visionary picture that's abstract, beautiful, complicated, and simple all at once. Considering the year the movie was made in—and that's not 1968—but 1963 which is five years of work to make the vision possible.

There's something nostalgic about American Graffiti whether it's the cars, the cruises, the drive-ins, the rock 'n' roll music, the 50-60's feel, the innocence, or the characters. One thing that's undeniable is it's a timeless classic with a great cast of characters who are engaged in random events. Take away any of them, and American Graffiti ceases to be the picture as it is.

A magnificently made masterpiece, it's David Lean's magnum opus. One of the most remarkable jobs he did with his characters is not only to make them larger than life but also mysterious in terms of their ambitions and desires. Thanks to Freddie Young's spellbinding cinematography, it's impossible to deny the power of the desert that Lawrence of Arabia brings to the screen.

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.

Speed is unique because a mass transit bus is the star of the film. That was all the people talked about back then when it hit the screens. Keanu Reeves is the standout as he's the catalyst of many action scenes. It's impressive to see how professional he is in his demeanor as a SWAT officer.

Planes, Trains & Automobiles is an all-time classic that's relatable for everybody, no matter what decade it's viewed in. Scoring high in comedy, it's almost a laugh-a-minute all the way through. There are many funny scenes and one-liners involving John Candy. Both he and Steve Martin have called Planes, Trains & Automobiles their favorite movie they've done. Honestly, there's not a single flaw in it.

The very first film to be released on DVD in the United States, Twister is purely on-the-edge-of-your-seat entertainment and is famous for one scene: the flying cow. It's cool to see that which does happen for real. So are the scenes when tornadoes are happening and trucks are riding alongside them.

It's an outstanding film with a very strong script that's most likely a variation of John Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men. At age 27, Tom Cruise was a highly mature actor, showing why nobody in modern cinema will ever measure up to him. As for the term "autistic savant," it became part of the national lexicon when Dustin Hoffman introduced it in a big way.

Jon Voight's Manny Manheim is a mean, hard, and tough son of a bitch to ever grace the silver screen. Runaway Train is a spectacular, thrilling machine that never lets down. Against the backdrop of an Alaskan snow-covered terrain, the runaway train heightens the suspense of the plot which is ingenious and full of twists and turns.

Full of action and war, The Last of the Mohicans is a unique masterpiece with a love story to boot. Although it's the best Daniel Day-Lewis movie, the best Michael Mann movie, the best American Indian movie, and the best Colonial movie, nothing is more impressive than Wes Studi's performance as Magua. It's so good that he was sadly robbed of an Oscar. Of course, the title says it all.

Full of iconic scenes and lines, Apocalypse Now is among the best of the decade as it tops madness with more madness. That's what the movie is all about: the exploration of insanity in the journey toward the heart of darkness. Making a case for the deterioration of Marlon Brando's mind may not be far-fetched, either.

Sorcerer is a unique motion picture from William Friedkin that's shot on location in the Dominican Republic. This isn't about the plot per se but an adventure of four men who are down on their luck and will do anything to turn their fortunes around even if it means life and death. Among the finest and most unforgettable scenes in cinema history is the bridge crossing, twice at that, which took three months to film.

The first and only disaster film to win Best Picture, Titanic wipes away all previous pictures about the unsinkable ship. Featuring a sweeping romantic story, it won eleven out of fourteen Oscars. James Cameron is a wunderkind because of how he's able to blend the visual effects with cinema so effortlessly well that it all looks as one.

"Listen, man. I've raced with my legs broke, heart bruised, eyes popping out of my head like they're on springs. This is going to go away just like anything else." The be-all and end-all of auto racing pictures, Days of Thunder is 100% speed, fun, cool, exciting, stylish, thrilling, macho, and rewatchable. Tom Cruise and Michael Rooker play larger-than-life characters: Cole Trickle and Rowdy Burns.

Famous for the characters and the battle between good and evil as indicated in the opening crawl, nobody can forget Star Wars and the next two sequels. It changed everything for the sci-fi genre which hasn't been topped since then. The second part is unique for allowing the bad side to win and not really having a concrete ending.

Perfect and sublime, Alain Delon is all that and more in Plein soleil (Purple Noon), giving one of the finest performances of his career. I have to love the exquisite photography of Italy: land and water. Complementing it is the beauty of three principal stars: Alain Delon, Maurice Ronet, and Marie Laforêt. They all have the vibe and are sumptuous-looking creatures.

"What did happen on the Cahulawassee River?" And the answer to that question is: a lot of bad shit. It's impossible to separate Deliverance from banjo music, the Appalachian Mountains, whitewater rafting, the sound of a squealing pig, and hillbillies. Why...there's a shirt that says: "Paddle faster! I hear banjo music." Burt Reynolds and Billy Redden are unforgettable.

"To survive a war, you gotta become war." So it goes in Rambo: First Blood Part II. Sylvester Stallone has never been more thrilling as he was in this film. It's the role that made him a worldwide icon. My favorite line of the movie is on the definition of expendable: "It's like someone invites you to a party and you don't show up. It doesn't really matter."

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 realize it in Johnny Utah's eyes when he saw what Bodhi could do.

Chalk up The Train as one of the most exciting WWII pictures. Nothing beats the sight of Burt Lancaster in action. He going down the ladder quickly, jumping off the train while it's in motion, running across the bridge, and getting through the mountain range with a injured leg are some of the film's highest points. Also, it has some great aerial shots, especially when the railyard is bombed.

This is Chariots of Fire stuff. The subject is unique: competitive sailing. Epic doesn't come to my mind for most films, but Wind should be labeled so. Putting the sailboats against the backdrop of hundreds of spectators and the ocean makes them look larger than life, and there are the competitors who work furiously to operate these machines. It's truly a spectacle.

Two scenes are unbelievable: Indiana Jones on the rope bridge and the roller-coaster ride in the mine shaft tunnel. They're always thrilling whenever. Of course, logic is often questionable, but it shouldn't be an issue because the movie offers the most fun anyone can have. The action sequences alone are enough to be described as emotionally exhilarating and visually exciting.

The Hell of the West race is dramatic to watch, and the tactics used in the stages are technically correct and sound with authentic crashes. The cinematography of Colorado is wonderful, and the sight of the riders going through the roads over the Rocky Mountains is vertiginously jarring. On the other hand, Kevin Costner and David Grant give excellent performances.

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.

Talk about two actors making something out of nothing. Scarecrow mostly reminds me of Midnight Cowboy. Everybody is dumb but has character. First half is dominated by Gene Hackman, and then, Al Pacino takes over during the second half. They both finish the film at a high but somber note. It's about relationships and earning respect. Yes, this one takes a while to get there, but once it does, you'll be hooked.

If Gene Hackman was a bad dude in Unforgiven, he's an even meaner and more sadistic motherfucker in The Hunting Party. His character's message is pretty simple: nobody fucks with him or steals anything from him. It doesn't matter if he views his wife as mere possession. Do Brandt wrong, and he'll come at you with single-minded intensity. Yet it's Oliver Reed who steals the show.

Shot on location in Selma, Alabama, Payday may have a slow start, but it gets better over time. A lot of it is a reminder of Five Easy Pieces, and Rip Torn, who's famous as Artie from The Larry Sanders Show, is certainly the poor man's Jack Nicholson. Simply put, it's a brilliant film of character study. Everybody is deeply sketched, and the performances are impeccable.

Like The Wild Bunch and The Hunting Party, Ulzana's Raid is a brutal Western picture. Believe it or not, the fighting between the US Army and various Apache nations in the southwest from 1849 to 1886 is the longest war ever in U.S. history which ended with the surrender of Geronimo. The brutality shown by the Apaches did happen for real.