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Film is but an extension of our collective consciousness, of who were were, who we are, and who we long to be... Having a background in film history can be pretty rewarding sometimes. My tastes, however, are mostly in the mainstream, but I do enjoy a lot of Italian and German cinema as well. I've listed these films because it's very easy to get access to them, as they can all pretty much be bought on DVD or rented at your local video store. These first five films, if you haven't seen them, which I'm sure a lot of you have already, you must go out and find, rent, whatever. You have to. Go. You have no excuse, especially if you have Netflix! So, get some popcorn. Call some friends. Have fun. Eat naughty candy. Lots of candy. And more of the list to come...
 Back to the Future. Directed by Robert Zemeckis with a bit of the ol' Spielberg 1980's genius, this 1985 scifi-action comedy is my all-time favorite film. If you've never seen it, you're missing out. The first part in a 3-part trilogy, BTTF follows the adventures of Marty McFly, his dysfunctional family, the eccentric Doc Brown, and one bad ass souped-up De Lorean. Can I have that car, please? I have so many family memories attached to this movie from when I was little watching it on tv, and I saw the final trilogy installment when I was a child in the theater. This is our American mythology, people. Watch it.
 Casablanca. Directed by Michael Curtiz and starring Humphrey Bogart, this film is what "film history" is all about. Rick (Bogart) is an American who runs a gin joint in French-controlled Moracco. It focuses on Rick's conflict between between his love for Ilsa and his need to help her husband, resistance hero Victor Laszlo, escape from Casablanca and continue his fight against the Nazis. This is a brilliant, emotional film, and most of its script remains part of our popular culture vernacular. Lines like, "here's lookin' at you, kid," and "this could be the start of a beautiful friendship" are from this picture. Winner of three Oscars, including the song "As Time Goes By," let's hope it stays with us forever.
 Indiana Jones & The Last Crusade. This is by far my favorite Indy film. If you haven't experienced the trilogy or the last of the three films in particular, this represents what good ol' fashioned action adventure movie-making is about. Sean Connery is hilarious and touching as Indiana's father. The pacing, climax, sets, minor characters, everything is gorgeous. If Steven Spielberg is a directing god, and George Lucas is his right-hand man, than this proves it. In this installment (the 4th begins production June 2007), Indy's father is kidnapped by the Nazis because he's close to knowing the location of the Holy Grail, which Hitler is obsessed with obtaining. Ah, memories of my childhood. I love this film.
 Top Hat. Directed by Mark Sandrich, this is the best Astaire/Rogers 1930's musical from RKO and also their most celebrated. If you've never seen Fred Astaire dance, you're going to be blown away. Co-starring the hilarious Edward Everett Horton and Helen Broderick, this hammy 1935 musical comedy is funny, frothy, and insane. Hammy as it is, I'm sure you'll want to dance after you watch. If you're a seasoned viewer of the A/R RKO pairings, you'll want to use this as your standard to introduce friends to Astaire-Rogers Land, where life can't happen unless it's through dance.
 Superman. The 1978 film which created the modern superhero film formula we all know and love today. The cast, the sets, everything is gorgeous, fun, and touched by the hand of industry master, director Richard Donner. Although I loved 2006's Superman Returns, there's nothing like the original. Few things are. If you're into the new series starring the insanely handsome Brandon Routh, definately have a look at the first two original films (the second one was essentially directed by Donner, anyway). It's almost thirty years old, but trust me, be open-minded on that note (there was no major computer technology like we have now, remember), and you won't be disappointed.
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