Magnum Force

When several criminals, including a prominent mobster, are murdered, Harry Callahan (Clint Eastwood) begins to suspect a cover-up. The sequel to Dirty Harry (1971) provides a bit of irony, considering…

Dirty Harry: Justice with a Magnum

Clint Eastwood. Photo: Warner After the premiere of what has become Clint Eastwood’s most famous film, there was a backlash. Several critics attacked the film for its, in the words…

Hunt for Red October: Run Silent, Run Deep

Sean Connery. Photo: Paramount In 1988, Die Hard had been such a tremendous hit that a sequel was inevitable. The film's director, John McTiernan, was obviously considered for it. In…

Rome: Rise and Fall of a Dictator Perpetuus

Photo: HBO It is obvious where Rome got its primary inspiration. In 1976, I, Claudius was quite the phenomenon, a well-written British drama series that chronicled key events in Rome…

Jaws: A Whale of an Adventure

Robert Shaw, Roy Scheider and Richard Dreyfuss. Photo: Universal In 1975, scientists knew a thing or two about sharks. The public, however, seemed to be largely ignorant. That must be…

Clear and Present Danger 

As Jack Ryan (Harrison Ford) climbs the CIA ladder, the President declares an illegal war on Colombian drug cartels. The sequel to Patriot Games (1992) was made by the same…