Shot from the movie

, 1989

While many of the Hollywood films about the Vietnam War depict Americans as the good guys, there are a few that depict the less savory side. One such film includes Casualties of War, which depicts some of the real life atrocities that occurred at the time. Director Brian De Palma brings his signature flourish to throw fresh-faced Michael J. Fox into the brutality, having him to face the frustration of the troops and the ensuing cruelty they inflicted as a result. It’s a harrowing watch, especially as Fox’s career-best performance depicts an innocence lost, but it was a needed one. While a departure from De Palma’s usual works, Casualties of War confronted a deeper, more realistic horror that emerged in this tough time in history.

Genre: Drama, History, War

Actor: John Leguizamo, Michael J. Fox, Sean Penn

Director: Brian De Palma

Shot from the movie

, 1975

Of course, there are plenty of great films from the Italian Master of the Thrill, but one of the best from Dario Argento is Deep Red (1975), released just before his Three Mothers trilogy. The film follows a musician and a journalist, linked together by the body they found of a psychic medium, and the ensuing rush to investigate the murder before they become the next victims. Released at the peak of the giallo genre, Deep Red heightens the tension and terror through Argento’s trademark kaleidoscopic shots, eerie score, and excellent performances. While the lizard scene was genuine, Profondo Rosso nonetheless is considered to be one of the director’s best.

Genre: Drama, Horror, Mystery, Thriller

Director: Dario Argento

Shot from the movie

, 2008

While best known for his Western work, including directing the second Mission Impossible, John Woo made his start in China, returning more than a decade later to film this historical war epic. Based on the Battle of the Red Cliffs, the film may not be 100% factual, but Woo is clearly more at home here, taking his signature action choreography on a much larger scale. The production design, the costumes, the score, and the visuals are all dialled up to eleven, and the cast, including the iconic Tony Leung Chiu-wai, matches this intensity with stellar performances. Red Cliff is John Woo’s triumphant return back to his home country, taking his Hollywood experience to push Chinese cinema even further.

Genre: Action, Adventure, Drama, History, War

Director: John Woo

Shot from the movie

, 1978

Comparison to the latest adaptation aside, there’s plenty to enjoy from the 1978 version of Death on the Nile. For one, the cast is stacked– Maggie Smith, Angela Lansbury, Bette Davis, Mia Farrow, and Jane Birkin join Peter Ustinov in his first stint as the detective Hercule Poirot. And for another, as Poirot goes through his murder investigation, the humorous script allows the cast to shine. The combination, along with the Academy Award winning costumes, spectacular locations and great cinematography, made this adaptation an enjoyable one. Death on the Nile might not live up to Murder on the Orient Express, but nonetheless it was a fun time seeing these stars suspect each other in this riverside cruise.

Genre: Drama, Mystery

Director: John Guillermin

Shot from the movie

, 1980

Chicago, 1972. When an elderly woman hands Richard Collier (Superman's Christopher Reeve) a pocket watch, Richard becomes obsessed with finding out who she is. He discovers she is Elise McKenna (Jane Seymour), an actress who used to do plays in The Grand Hotel. Richard then time travels to 1912 to meet Elise and pursue her. Unapologetically romantic and delightfully magical, Somewhere in Time will enchant most viewers if they forgive the other aspects of the film, like its patchy rules on time travel. The rest of the film's elements, particularly the unforgettably stirring rendition of Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, strong chemistry between Reeve and Seymour, and lush design and details (for which it was nominated for an Oscar) will have you forgiving and fawning over the film in no time.

Genre: Drama, Fantasy, Romance

Director: Jeannot Szwarc

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