Alien (1979)

DIRECTOR: Ridley Scott
WRITERS: Ronald Shusett, Dan O'Bannon
CAST: Sigourney Weaver, Tom Skerrit, John Hurt, Veronica Cartwright, Ian Holm
RATED: R
OPINION STARS: 3.5 out of 5
THIS FILM IS: Dark, Intense, Unsettling
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DESCRIPTION: When the space freighter Nostromo is sent to investigate strange signals from another planet, a deadly alien life-form is accidentally allowed to board the ship. When the lethal creature disappears, and begins to wind its way through the air shafts of the ship, a desperate attempt is made to locate and kill it before it does any more damage to the Nostromo... and it's crew.
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VIOLENCE AND GORE:   0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
FRIGHTENING CONTENT: 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
LANGUAGE:            0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
MATURE THEMES:       0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
INDECENT CONTENT:    0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
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NOTE: If you're a sci-fi buff like I am, you'll probably enjoy Alien. The story is intelligent and extremely well-paced, making for one of the most intense movie rides you'll ever take. Excellent acting overall - Sigourney Weaver does an especially good job as Ripley, the determined Warrant Officer who matches wits with one of the creepiest movie monsters of all time. (P.S. Not quite sure why this one is considered a "horror" flick. It's more of an out-of-this-world thriller than anything else. Unsettling, yes. Pointlessly terrifying, no. At least, that's my consensus, considering I got way more thrills than chills out of it.)      
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For Ages 16+

"Here Jonesy, Jonesy..." 

The Manchurian Candidate (1962)

DIRECTOR: John Frankenheimer
WRITERS: John Frankenheimer, George Axelrod
STARRING: Frank Sinatra, Laurence Harvey, Janet Leigh, Angela Lansbury, James Gregory  
RATED: PG-13
OPINION STARS: 4.5 out of 5
THIS FILM IS: Suspensful, Clever, Disturbing
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DESCRIPTION: Decorated Korean War veteran Raymond Shaw (Harvey) is a man with a deadly secret: during his service, he was captured by communists and brainwashed. Now back in the U.S., he is not only a war hero, but a sleeper assassin under communist control.  With one phone call, the Reds can transform Shaw into a lethal political killer - unless fellow veteran Bennett Marco (Sinatra) can stop them first. Nominated for 2 Academy Awards including Best Supporting Actress 1962 (Lansbury).
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VIOLENCE AND GORE:   0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
FRIGHTENING CONTENT: 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
LANGUAGE:            0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
MATURE THEMES:       0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
INDECENT CONTENT:    0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
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NOTE: Based on the novel by Richard Condon.The Machurian Candidate is, in my opinion, one of the greatest political thrillers ever made. After watching it, all I could think was, "Wow." Brilliant performances by Lansbury, Sinatra, and Harvey lend even more gravity to the already chilling storyline. I was literally on the edge of my seat during the entire film - especially during the final scenes, which add new meaning to the word "intense". 
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For Ages 15+

"Why don't you pass the time by playing a little solitaire?"

The Maltese Falcon (1941)

DIRECTOR: John Huston
WRITERS: John Huston, Dashiell Hammett
STARRING: Humphrey Bogart, Mary Astor, Peter Lorre, Sydney Greenstreet
RATED: NR
OPINION STARS: 4 out of 5
THIS FILM IS:  Suspenseful, Clever, Dramatic
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DESCRIPTION: Humphrey Bogart stars as the Sam Spade, private investigator. When young Miss Wonderly (Astor) comes seeking protection from a man named Thursby, Spade's partner eagerly takes the case... and winds up with a bullet in his chest. In the ensuing hunt to track down his friend's killer, the wily detective is drawn into a tricky world of deception and double-crossing, involving a trio of crooks and a priceless statuette called the Maltese Falcon. Nominated for 3 Academy Awards including Best Picture 1941.     
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VIOLENCE AND GORE:   0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
FRIGHTENING CONTENT: 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
LANGUAGE:            0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
MATURE THEMES:       0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
INDECENT CONTENT:    0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
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NOTE: Based on the novel by Dashiell Hammet. Smart, suspenseful, and even funny at times, The Maltese Falcon will keep you guessing till the last possible moment. Bogart turns in a definitive performance as tough guy detective Sam Spade, who tries to keep his cool as the deceit thickens around him. The supporting cast is brilliant (especially Peter Lorre) and the dialogue is snappy and fierce - particularly when sharp-tongued Spade is doing the talking. All in all, this one is a must for anyone who enjoys suspense/mystery. 
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For Ages 11+

"When you're slapped, you'll take it and like it!"

Firewall (2006)

STUDIO:     Warner
DIRECTOR: Richard Loncraine
STARRING: Harrison Ford, Paul Bettany, Virginia Madsen, Mary Lynn Rajskub, Carly Schroeder
RATED:        PG-13
OPINION STARS: 3 out of 5
THIS FILM IS:  Intense, Eerie, Dramatic
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DESCRIPTION: As a security expert who specializes in designing theft-proof financial computer systems, Jack Stanfield (Ford) has cemented his reputation as a man who has thought of everything. Things begin to spiral out of control, however, when a ruthless criminal (Bettany) takes his family hostage, and forces Jack to take part in a large-scale bank theft. With the lives of his wife and children on the line, Jack must race against time to find a loophole in the thief's own impenetrable system of subterfuge... and beat him at his own game.
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VIOLENCE AND GORE:   0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
FRIGHTENING CONTENT: 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
LANGUAGE:            0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
MATURE THEMES:       0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
INDECENT CONTENT:    0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
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NOTE: Firewall isn't an outstanding contribution to the thriller genre, but it's not a bad one either. Most of the story, if not thoroughly original, is taut, and there are some interesting action sequences, including one where (believe it or not) Stanfield kills an opponent with a blender. Harrison Ford is good as the bank security expert, whose most likeable quality (in my opinion) is his readiness to beat the stuffing out of anybody who threatens his family. Kudos to Bettany for his role as the eerie, soft-spoken criminal mastermind. 
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Iffy for Age 15

"You get the money when I get my family back..."

The Birds (1964)

STUDIO: Universal Studios

DIRECTOR: Alfred Hitchcock

STARRING: Tippi Hedren, Rod Taylor, Jessica Tandy, Suzanne Pleshette

RATED: PG-13 

OPINION STARS: 2.5 out of 5

THIS FILM IS:  Unsettling, Dark, Intense

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DESCRIPTION: Largely considered to be one of Hitchcock's best films, The Birds follows chic socialite Melanie Daniels (Hedren), who travels to Bodega Bay to hook up with an eligible attorney (Taylor) she's only just met. Upon her arrival, however, the bird population inexplicably runs amok, and the town becomes the center of a terrifying chain of events, as the feathered marauders begin to viciously attack and kill the townsfolk.
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VIOLENCE AND GORE:   0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
FRIGHTENING CONTENT: 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
LANGUAGE:            0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
MATURE THEMES:       0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
INDECENT CONTENT:    0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
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NOTE: Based on the story by Daphne Du Maurier. One of the most creepy, psychologically-intense films I've seen. The movie itself is very well done, with superb direction from Hitchcock and good acting from Hedren and Taylor. What is disappointing is the story, which in the end is only a platform for creating pointless fear and terror in the audience. It's scary only for the sake of being scary. And I just can't see how that's edifying - especially for Christians, who should be fearing God rather than man... or birds.   
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Not Recommended

"These birds didn't just get in: they came in!"

Double Indemnity (1944)

STUDIO:     Universal Studios
DIRECTOR: Billy Wilder
STARRING: Fred MacMurray, Barbara Stanwyck, Edward G. Robinson, Porter Hall, Jean Heather
RATED:        NR
OPINION STARS: 4 out of 5
THIS FILM IS:  Suspenseful, Eerie, Clever
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DESCRIPTION: Femme fatale Phyllis Dietrichson (Stanwyck) - who is unhappliy married to a stingy oil executive - seduces smooth-talking insurance salesman Walter Neff (MacMurray) into helping her murder her husband and collect the insurance money. It's the perfect crime... too perfect. Robinson co-stars as the wily Barton Keyes, an insurance investigator who has a hunch that something isn't right. Nominated for 7 Academy Awards including Best Picture 1944.
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VIOLENCE AND GORE:   0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
FRIGHTENING CONTENT: 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
LANGUAGE:             0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
MATURE THEMES:       0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
INDECENT CONTENT:    0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
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NOTE: Based on the novel by James Cain. With it's cleverly unpredictable plot and snappy dialogue, Double Indemnity is a film that could easily give the famous suspense-master Alfred Hitchcock a run for his money. The acting is superb as well: Stanwyck is suitably chilling as the sadistic Mrs. Dietrichson; MacMurray is convincing as Walter Neff, the love-struck sap; and Robinson turns in a top-notch performance as Keyes, the short, smart insurance investigator. 
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For Ages 12+

"Who’d you think I was anyway? The guy that walks into a good looking dame’s front parlour and says, 'Good afternoon, I sell accident insurance on husbands… you got one that’s been around too long? One you’d like to turn into a little hard cash?'”

Valkyrie (2009)

STUDIO:     United Artists
DIRECTOR: Bryan Singer
STARRING: Tom Cruise, Bill Nighy, Tom Wilkinson, Kenneth Branagh, Terence Stamp, Eddie Izzard
RATED:         PG-13
OPINION STARS: 4.5 out of 5
THIS FILM IS:  Intense, Gritty, Sad 
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DESCRIPTION: After being seriously wounded in Africa during World War II, Colonel Claus von Stauffenberg (Cruise) returns to his native Germany. Outraged at Hitler's atrocities and mismanagment of the war, Stauffenberg joins a secret organization bent on killing the Führer. Soon a central player in the group, Stauffenberg proposes a unique plan: that of linking Hitler's death with an official policy to safeguard Berlin during a government crisis - a contingency plan known as "Valkyrie".
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VIOLENCE AND GORE:   0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
FRIGHTENING CONTENT: 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
LANGUAGE:            0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
MATURE THEMES:       0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
INDECENT CONTENT:    0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
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NOTE: Valkyrie is a factual, unpretentious, and straightforward tale of heroism and sacrifice, revolving around the last attempt to assasinate Adolph Hitler. History tells us the assaination plot failed, and that Hitler committed suicide months later - but that doesn't stop this movie from being as taut and suspenseful as any thriller. Highly recommended.
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Iffy for Age 15

"Look them in the eye. They'll remember you."

Sherlock Holmes (2009)

STUDIO:     Warner Bros.

DIRECTOR: Guy Ritchie

STARRING: Robert Downey Jr., Jude Law, Mark Strong, Rachel McAdams, Eddie Marson

RATED:         PG-13

OPINION STARS: 4 out of 5

THIS FILM IS:  Dark, Suspenseful, Clever

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DESCRIPTION: As a murderer and a practicer of occult arts, Lord Blackwood (Strong) was condemned to death by hanging. He was pronounced dead by Dr. Watson (Law), and his body was removed for burial. But now, shortly after his execution, Blackwood is back from the dead and abroad once more, cunning and devious as ever. However, he finds his match in Sherlock Holmes (brilliantly played by Downey Jr.), who takes on the case and begins a harrowing game of cat-and-mouse with the criminal mastermind. The game's afoot! Winner of the 2009 Golden Globe Award for Best Actor (Downey).   
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VIOLENCE AND GORE:   0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
FRIGHTENING CONTENT: 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
LANGUAGE:            0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
MATURE THEMES:       0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
INDECENT CONTENT:    0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
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NOTE: I am an ardent fan of Sherlock Holmes. I love the original stories by Doyle, having read quite a few of them. And I must say that this film contains the most accurate rendering of Doyle's famous detective I have ever seen on screen. Ever. That's not an exaggeration, either. The Holmes in Doyle's stories was not just a man of peerless intellect - he was also a boxer, could shoot and fence well, and knew an early form of martial arts. He also had serious bouts with depression, was often unpredictable and blunt, and kept an untidy apartment. It may sound odd, but the Holmes was the epitomy of oddness, and this film shows him as such. Another plus is that Watson is shown, not as a bumbling fool, but as the muscular, intelligent Army doctor he was. The one flaw is Irene Adler - her character is a much different than the one Doyle created. (And while Holmes did admire her, they never had a relationship). This aside, however, the movie is blast, and definitely worth watching. Just ignore the guff from the "critics" and the people-who-think-they're-true-Doyle-fans-but-really-aren't.         
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Iffy for Age 15

"He's killed the dog...again."

Conspiracy Theory (1997)

STUDIO:     Warner Bros.
DIRECTOR: Richard Donner
STARRING: Mel Gibson, Julia Roberts, Partick Stewart, Cylk Cozart, Steve Kahan
RATED:        R
OPINION STARS: 4 out of 5
THIS FILM IS:  Intense, Unsettling, Suspenseful
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DESCRIPTION: Jerry Fletcher (Mel Gibson) is a New York City cab driver who moonlights as a conspiracy theorist. Convinced that someone is out to silence him, Fletcher turns to the only one who will listen: Alice Sutton (Julia Roberts), a Justice Department attorney. Sutton disbelieves Fletcher at first, but becomes suspicious after a series of bizarre and unsettling events. Before she can do anything to help Fletcher, however, she must unravel a mysterious murder that could be connected to his theory.
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VIOLENCE AND GORE:   0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
FRIGHTENING CONTENT: 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
LANGUAGE:            0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
MATURE THEMES:       0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
INDECENT CONTENT:    0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
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NOTE: Conspiracy Theory has it's flaws, but that doesn't stop it from being an entertaining, edge-of-your-seat thrill ride. It's smart, eerie, and even funny at times. Mel Gibson is utterly convincing as the unhinged protaganist, and Patrick Stewart plays the smooth and sinister Jonas with eerie panache. Definitely worth watching - especially if you're something of a conspiracy theorist yourself.  
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For Ages 15+

"I don't know what I know but I know that it's big."

Minority Report (2002)

STUDIO:     Dreamworks
DIRECTOR: Steven Spielberg
STARRING: Tom Cruise, Colin Farrell, Max Von Sydow, Samantha Morton
RATED:        PG-13
OPINION STARS: 4 out of 5 
THIS FILM IS:  Suspenseful, Thought-Provoking, Unsettling
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DESCRIPTION: John Anderton (Cruise) is a top "Precrime" cop in the late 21st century - when technology can predict crimes before they're committed. But when Anderton is targeted for a murder charge by another investigator (Farrell), he must find a glitch in the system and prove his innocence before it's too late.
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VIOLENCE AND GORE:   0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
FRIGHTENING CONTENT: 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
LANGUAGE:            0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
MATURE THEMES:       0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
INDECENT CONTENT:    0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
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NOTE: Based on the story by Phillip K. Dick. Set in the chillingly possible future of 2054, Minority Report easily ranks as one of the most intelligently provocative sci-fi thrillers you'll ever see. Period. The premise - intriguing and eerie at the same time - is top-notch. Were it not for several tastelessly indecent scenes, this movie would definitely get 5 stars. 
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Iffy for Age 16

"You know I can't see without my glasses..."

The Village (2004)

STUDIO:   Touchstone Pictures
DIRECTOR: M. Night Shyamalan
STARRING: Joaquin Phoenix, Bryce Dallas Howard, Adrien Brody, William Hurt
RATED:    PG-13
OPINION STARS: 4.5 out of 5
THIS FILM IS:  Thought-Provoking, Unsettling, Intense
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DESCRIPTION: Full of some chilling surprises and unexpected twists and turns, The Village tells the story of an isolated, tight-knit community that lives in constant dread of the evil that lurks in the surrounding forest. Fear prevents anyone from venturing into the forbidden woods... until one villager dares to face what nobody else will.
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VIOLENCE AND GORE:   0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
FRIGHTENING CONTENT: 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
LANGUAGE:            0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
MATURE THEMES:       0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
INDECENT CONTENT:    0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
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NOTE: One of the best psychological thrillers I've seen, and a bit remeniscent of Hitchcock. Under the engaging premise, there's plenty for the viewer to think about (such as the fact, nature, and unversality of human sin) . A personal favorite, and highly recommended.   
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Iffy for Age 14

I Am Legend (2007)

STUDIO:     Warner Bros. Pictures
DIRECTOR: Francis Lawrence
STARRING: Will Smith, Alice Braga, Emma Thompson, Dash Mihok
RATED:        PG-13
OPINION STARS: 4.5 out of 5
THIS FILM IS:  Thoughtful, Unsettling, Intense 
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DESCRIPTION: Somehow immune to an unstoppable man-made virus, military virologist Robert Neville (Smith) is now the last human survivor in New York City and maybe the world. But he is not alone. Mutant plague victims lurk in the shadows... watching Neville's every move... waiting for him to make a mistake. Working by day and hiding by night, Neville is driven by only one remaining mission: to find an antidote using his own immune blood. But he knows he is outnumbered... and quickly running out of time.
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VIOLENCE AND GORE:   0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
FRIGHTENING CONTENT: 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 
LANGUAGE:            0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
MATURE THEMES:       0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
INDECENT CONTENT:    0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
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NOTE: Based on the novel by Richard Matheson. A surprisingly thoughtful film that raises question about sin, human nature, and redemption. On the aesthetic side, it really is impossible not to be fascinated by the extraordinary, computer-generated rendering of a decaying Manhatten. Another plus is Smith's remarkable performance as the lonely but determined Neville.  A superb, under appreciated sci-fi film, and highly recommended. 
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Iffy for Age 14

"I'm listening..."