The Year in Review- 2005

   It was the year an unconventional love story took the world by storm while Spielberg delved back into the history books. Batman made a surprising return to our good graces, George Lucas gave us his final word on Star Wars, and Johnny Cash and James Braddock got impressive big screen treatments. Philip Seymour Hoffman was the Best Actor, George Clooney grew a beard and Woody Allen changed the scenery. Here are the ten best films in order for 2005.

1. "Brokeback Mountain"(2005)
Homophobia likely kept the cast and crew of Ang Lee's 'gay cowboy movie' seated throughout much of the 2006 Academy Awards broadcast. That will go down as another blunder on Hollywood's biggest night, because history has already recognized it as the best film of the year. Have you heard anyone singing the praises of "Crash" lately? Me neither. I think it's safe to say that the late Heath Ledger will be granted celluloid immortality due to two wildly dissimilar roles, as his iconic Joker couldn't have happened without his sexually conflicted cowboy Ennis Del Mar. Jake Gyllenhall's bravery shouldn't be overlooked either, and the presence of Michelle Williams and Anne Hathaway might make "Brokeback" the most impressive assembly of young actors in the '00s. Straight guys, don't be afraid to saddle up.

2. "Walk the Line"(2005) The musical biopic has to be considered one of the most reliable genres when it comes to turning out quality films(Jamie Foxx had just earned major acclaim for "Ray"). That's not to take anything away from the excellent work done by Joaquin Phoenix and Best Actress winner Reese Witherspoon. I left my house in the winter with little or no interest in the life of Johnny Cash, but Phoenix's brooding charisma had me exiting the theater with a newfound respect for 'The Man in Black'. Reese's sunny Southern charm has never been put to better use as his soothing soul-mate June Carter, and her vocal performance is more than a match for Phoenix. It's safe to say that the "Legally Blonde" star's movie career peaked with this role. Writer-director James Mangold doesn't withhold any of the obligatory 1960s drug-fueled follies, but the melodious memory of rock's greatest couple was otherwise very well-served by this supremely talented trio.

3. "Munich"(2005)
The massacre of 11 Palestinians at the 1972 Summer Olympics and it's mooted aftermath is recalled in Steven Spielberg's smart, handsomely-mounted historical drama. Tony Kershner and Eric Roth's Oscar-nominated screenplay, based on the 1984 George Jonas book "Vengeance", details 'Operation Wrath of God', an Israeli government assassination campaign targeting the 'Black September' terrorist group. Like all true stories, the actual events are mysterious and murky and open to political debate, but the sheer quality of Spielberg's storytelling and present-day parallels are not. Eric Bana, Geoffrey Rush, and pre-Bond Daniel Craig are on the hunt for 11 suspects in an ultimately futile quest for revenge. The result was five Oscar nods, including Best Picture/Director, and a place on many critics' annual top-ten lists.

4. "Batman Begins"(2005)
Bat fans will be forever grateful to Chris Nolan for washing away the memories of those nippled nightmares from the mid-to-late '90s, and presenting this serious and grounded origin story that focused on a young, emotionally scarred Bruce Wayne's journey toward fulfilling his destiny as the crime-fighting legend. Christian Bale proved to be the most committed actor to ever don the cape and cowl and he couldn't have been surrounded by a classier ensemble- Michael Caine, Gary Oldman and Morgan Freeman proved a rock-solid support system. Liam Neeson and Cillian Murphy don't slack in the villain department as we're hurled toward a chaotic climax of fear gas and a runaway elevated train. Gotham's savior was back where he belonged, but little did we know that Nolan was just getting started.

5. "Cinderella Man"(2005)
A crowded summer schedule, Russell Crowe's prickly off-screen persona, and "Million Dollar Baby" probably kept Ron Howard's uplifting period drama from the box office and major awards consideration that it seemed destined for. The movie gods just weren't in Jim Braddock's corner in 2005, but that's fine because film is forever and this is still a damn good one. Howard and his frequent screenwriter Akiva Goldsman("A Beautiful Mind") crafted a pleasingly old-fashioned story that makes it impossible not to root for Crowe's impoverished pugilist as he makes an unlikely run at the Heavyweight Championship in 1930s NY. Rene Zellweger and Paul Giamatti offer stellar support in familiar roles.

6. "Capote"(2005)
Now let's talk about Philip Seymour Hoffman. You know that a Best Actor race was extremely tight when the abovementioned performances of Heath Ledger and Joaquin Phoenix both go home empty-handed, but the prize indeed went to one of the most distinctive actors of this or any other celluloid era. After serving a lengthy apprenticeship as a standout supporting player, Hoffman made the most of his close-up as renowned openly gay writer Truman Capote. The film focuses on Capote's fascination with the accused killer in a 1959 massacre in rural Texas that inspires his final completed literary work, "In Cold Blood". PSH absolutely nails Capote's odd speech and mannerisms, making this a modern acting showcase that's second to none.

7. "Star Wars: Episode III- Revenge of the Sith"(2005)
The fourth best SW movie is a lot closer to what the franchise's legions of hardcore fans had in mind when George Lucas first told us that he would be telling the tragic tale of a young Anakin Skywalker. The likes of Jake Lloyd and Jar Jar Binks had many fantasy film buffs switching their allegiance to Peter Jackson, but Lucas did all he could to try and set the universe back as we remember it in the action-packed conclusion to his divisive prequel trilogy. I was fairly satisfied with the Jedi slaughter caused by Hayden Christensen, en route to a 20-plus year reign of intergalactic tyranny alongside Ian McDiarmid's Evil Emperor. The closing moments tie nicely with Episode IV to bring(most) of George's notoriously nitpicky fan-base back from the dark side.

8. "Syriana"(2005)
A bearded George Clooney went through hell for Hezbollah in this topical "Traffic"-style drama from that film's Oscar-winning writer-turned-director Stephen Gaghan. Was the Middle Eastern quagmire really just an elaborate victory for Big Oil? This sobering, complex story, based on Robert Baer's 2003 book, may require multiple viewings to get a firm grasp on all the shady goings-on at home and abroad. Best Supporting Actor Clooney's grizzled CIA agent makes it time well spent. His frequent collaborator, the politically-minded Matt Damon does his part to make the material accessible as an energy analyst uncomfortably stuck in the tangled web. Jeffrey Wright is a Washington-based lawyer dealing with a dubious merger.

9. "Match Point"(2005)
Just when you thought that Woody Allen was resigned to repeating the same jokes and plotlines for the rest of his professional life, he turned his camera to London and a scorching Scarlett Johannsson for an upper-crust love triangle, and one of the year's most pleasant surprises(translation- this is NOT a comedy) . Jonathan Rys Meyers plays a retired tennis pro torn between the cushy lifestyle provided by the affluent family of his dull new bride(Emily Mortimer) and his insatiable lust for the smoky-voiced temptress pictured above. I urge all Allen haters to put the magnificent "Match Point" on their watch-lists, they can thank me later.

10(tie)."The New World"(2005)
The movie-going public was very reluctant to give Colin Farrell another chance in a historical drama only one year after the disastrous "Alexander". That's a shame because nearly everyone missed out on the visual poetry that Terence Malick brought to the romance between John Smith and Pocohantas. Farrell hasn't had a better film to call his own thanks to the famously philosophical director's dreamy love of the outdoors and the unconventional beauty of newcomer Q'orianka Filcher. Christian Bale's sensitive settler arrives late in the story to compete for her silent affections and evoke memories of Malick's thematically similar "Days of Heaven".

10(tie)."The 40 Year Old Virgin"(2005)
Losing your virginity is no laughing matter. As someone that held onto mine longer than I'd care to admit, I can say that with absolute certainty, but director Judd Apatow and his star/co-writer Steve Carell find loads of humor and heart in this often-painful waiting game. Carell quietly emerged as a major talent in the mid-'00s("The Office" premiered the same year), while Seth Rogen and Paul Rudd would soon find their names above the title too(but no such luck for Romany Malco). The chest-waxing scene instantly entered the realm of classic comedy, and I'd gladly go sexless if Catherine Keener was the light at the end of the tunnel. Welcome to the Judd Apatow era.

Honorable Mentions- "Coach Carter"(2005) Sam Jackson applies his hard-ass approach to high school basketball. "Hitch"(2005) Will Smith as a cocky love doctor. "Because of Winn-Dixie"(2005) AnnaSophia Robb is adorable in her film debut. "Robots"(2005) This self-explanatory animated hit has the voices of Ewan McGregor, Halle Berry, and Robin Williams. "Sin City"(2005) Frank Miller and Robert Rodriguez direct a big cast in this comic book come to life. "The Interpreter"(2005) Nicole Kidman and Sean Penn in Sydney Pollack's swan song. "Madagascar"(2005) Chris Rock and Ben Stiller build the DreamWorks animated empire. "Crash"(2005) Paul Haggis' heavy-handed Best Picture winner explores racism in L.A. "The Upside of Anger"(2005) The upside is Joan Allen and Kevin Costner.

"Mr. and Mrs. Smith"(2005) Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie unite. "War of the Worlds"(2005) Tom Cruise and Steven Spielberg stage an alien invasion. "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory"(2005) Tim Burton enlists Johnny Depp(who else?) to update the kooky candyman. "Fastastic Four"(2005) This Marvel quartet gave us Chris Evans. "Wedding Crashers"(2005) Vince Vaughn and Owen Wilson were a winning team. "The Island"(2005) More summer fun from Michael Bay. "Dark Water"(2005) Jennifer Connelly gets wet. "Must Love Dogs"(2005) Must love Diane Lane. "Red Eye"(2005) Rachel McAdams vs. Cillian Murphy. "Proof"(2005) Gwyneth Paltrow has problems.

"Serenity"(2005) Joss Whedon was a genre wiz. "In Her Shoes"(2005) Sibling rivalry with Cameron Diaz and Toni Collette. "The Constant Gardner"(2005) Best Supporting Actress winner Rachel Weisz is the adventurous wife of Ralph Fiennes' British diplomat. "Prime"(2005) Uma Thurman dates Meryl Streep's son. "Broken Flowers"(2005) A downbeat Bill Murray visits his former flames. "Dreamer"(2005) Kurt Russell buys Dakota Fanning a racehorse. "Flightplan"(2005) Jodie Foster's daughter disappears. "The Greatest Game Ever Played"(2005) Shia LaBeouf wins the 1913 U.S. Open. "The Exorcism of Emily Rose"(2005) Demonic possession with Laura Linney and Tom Wilkenson. "The Legend of Zorro"(2005) This sequel reunites Antonio Banderas, Catherine Zeta-Jones, and director Martin Campbell. "The Squid and the Whale"(2005) A bearded Jeff Daniels gives Noah Baumbach his best reviews.

"Corpse Bride"(2005) Tim Burton and Johnny Depp's animated romance. "A History of Violence"(2005) Viggo Mortensen and David Cronenberg create a cult hit. "Two for the Money"(2005) Al Pacino mentors Matthew McConaughey. "Shopgirl"(2005) Steve Martin is a smart, sensitive man. "The Weather Man"(2005) was played by Nic Cage. "North Country"(2005) Charlize Theron gets sexually harassed in the workplace. "The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio"(2005) The winner of the movie is Julianne Moore. "Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit"(2005) This stop-motion charmer from DreamWorks took the Best Animated Oscar. "Jarhead"(2005) Jake Gyllenhaal joins the Marines. "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire"(2005) The fourth installment of the blockbuster saga. "Good Night, and Good Luck"(2005) George Clooney directs this black-and-white drama about the early days of television broadcast journalism. "King Kong"(2005) Peter Jackson's overlong, occasionally exciting remake of the 1933 classic. "The World's Fastest Indian"(2005) Anthony Hopkins is off to the races. "The Matador"(2005) Pierce Brosnan is at his post-Bond best. "The Producers"(2005) Matthew Broderick and Nathan Lane in the (second)film version of the Mel Brooks Broadway smash.

Franchise Review- Robocop

   The 1980s remake patrol strikes once more on Valentine's Day weekend and the target is another classic Reagan-era creation. You'd be hard-pressed to find a male in my age group that doesn't harbor some affection for Robocop. If you're under the age of 25, you might not understand why I still dust off the DVD once a year without fail, and Hollywood is certainly hoping that history repeats itself. Does this reimaging have any hope of capturing the attention of youngsters already hooked on Robert Downey Jr.'s Iron Man, or will it go the way of 2012's "Total Recall" remake? Does my generation have the nostalgia required to bring Alex Murphy back from the dead yet again? We'll find out soon enough, but first let's recap the big screen legacy of OCP's finest.

"Robocop"(1987)
Dutch director Paul Verhoeven couldn't have picked a better time to unleash his scintillating breakthrough on the American public. Action was the preferred genre in 1987 with "Lethal Weapon" and "Predator" having just blasted their way through the multiplex, leaving a silly grin plastered on the faces of legions of grateful young males just begging for more. They got it in the unlikely form of Peter Weller as the half-man, half-cyborg crime-fighter protecting Detroit in the not-too-distant future from all sorts of vile scum. Kurtwood Smith insured himself a long and healthy career in front of the camera as the memorably nasty, bespectacled gang leader Clarence Boddiker while vet Ronny Cox plays against type as slimy corporate figurehead Dick Jones.

   The target audience was elated by the steady stream of blood-splattering(ratings boards initially assigned the film an X-rating!), but the unexpected doses of heart and social satire turned this seemingly trivial sci-fi shoot-'em-up into something special. Critics joined the general public in embracing Verhoeven's smart, well-executed vision, turning this modestly budgeted affair into a summer smash that would surely lead to a slew of bulletproof sequels. Wait, not so fast...

"Robocop 2"(1990)
After Verhoeven declined follow-up duties to helm Arnold Schwarzenegger's "Total Recall", Irvin Kershner(of "Empire Strikes Back" fame) stepped in to take his place and it seemed like the stage was set for a titanic encore. Sadly, it was not to be. The movie gods were not on Murphy's side as the film dropped in the middle of a sequel-heavy summer to contend with the likes of "Back to the Future Part III", "Another 48 Hrs." and "Die Hard 2: Die Harder" only to draw the short end of the box office stick. It's just as unapologetically violent as the original, but the levity and intelligence is sorely missing.

   Robocop takes on a grungy drug pusher(and his foul-mouthed twelve year old sidekick) and dukes it out with an even bigger OCP robot in the thoroughly anti-climactic conclusion. The tone and sledgehammer-style brutality just feels really cold and unpleasant, even for an R-rated actioner. Weller apparently agreed and turned down the chance to wear the metallic monkey suit in any subsequent installments.

"Robocop 3"(1993)
Robert John Burke(?) replaced Peter Weller in the title role and Fred Dekker(??) directs, but those weren't the only changes that the character's dwindling fan-base had to deal with. The mixed response to the second film led to a PG-13 rating and a conscious effort to make the franchise more kid-friendly, but the removal of all that hard-edged mayhem took away precisely what made the series appealing to preteens in the first place!! It turned out that nobody wanted to see Robocop fly, or fight a cheesy cyborg ninja or defend the forcibly evicted residents of a downtrodden housing project.

   This neutered third entry simply had no chance of impressing audiences in the wake of game-changing epics like "Terminator 2" and "Jurassic Park", and the miniscule box office numbers added up to an early retirement for Detroit's futuristic lawman.

"Robocop"(2014)
While I'm normally allergic to remakes of films that came out during my lifetime, I must admit that Jose Padilha makes a respectable attempt to resurrect the character. The Brazilian director soundly defeats both sequels, but he won't erase the memory of that glorious gore-fest we got in '87. Joel Kinnaman's version of Alex Murphy is a more hardened street cop who is separated from his limbs by an impersonal car bomb rather than a dozen shotgun blasts. Samuel L. Jackson has never been one to turn down a lucrative franchise opportunity, and I appreciate the presence of Michael Keaton, Gary Oldman and Jackie Earle Haley. Murphy's wife(Abbie Cornish) plays a much larger role in the proceedings, but I can't be the only one that wanted Nancy Allen's Officer Lewis called in for backup.

   The lack of a consistent villainous presence is another drawback, and none of the run-of-the-mill action set-pieces matches the original's steel mill fight with Clarence Boddiker and his goons. This new Robocop may be all shiny and new with increased mobility and agility, but the parts that still bring me back to Verhoeven's film after a quarter-century remain stuck on the assembly line.

The 90 Best Scenes of the '90s

   A movie can't be considered great(or even really good) if it doesn't contain some standout moments. I'm talking about the scenes that make you realize you're witnessing something special. The stuff that makes you abruptly stop your channel-surfing and even shell out for the DVD. I did 'The 80 Best Scenes of the '80s' last year, but something struck me when I compiled the '90s edition. This was a HELLUVA decade for movies. Maybe the best ever. Don't believe me? Well, scroll down and enjoy my comprehensive list of the 90 best scenes of the '90s.

90. Heather's apology- "The Blair Witch Project"(1999)
This 'found footage' chiller filled a lot of theater seats in the summer of '99.

89. The price is wrong- "Happy Gilmore"(1996)
I should have known that Adam Sandler wasn't going anywhere after his scrap with 73 year old "Price is Right" host Bob Barker.

88. A, B, C- "Glengarry Glenn Ross"(1992)
Alec Baldwin's blisteringly quotable cameo is the undisputed highlight of this real estate comedy.

87. Subway shootout- "Carlito's Way"(1993)
Doomed drug lord Carlito Brigante came awfully close to a happy ending in Brian DePalma's unofficial sequel to "Scarface".

86. Aliens blow up White House- "Independence Day"(1996)
A Super Bowl commercial gave rabid audiences this tantalizing first glimpse at the mega-hit that would make excessive hype and CGI the new norm.

85. Hair gel- "There's Something About Mary"(1998)
Cameron Diaz has the filthy minds of the Farrelly bros to thank for her lengthy stay on the A-list.

84. Rose pedal dream- "American Beauty"(1999)
Mena Suvari looked like she was headed for big things after starring in Kevin Spacey's daydreams in Sam Mendes' Best Picture-winning black comedy.

83. Snow scene- "Edward Scissorhands"(1990)
Winona Ryder may have been the first but she certainly wasn't the last girl to fall under the kooky spell of Johnny Depp in his inaugural outing with oddball extraordinaire Tim Burton.

82. Jessie's song- "Toy Story 2"(1999)
This heartbreaking number illustrates the finite lifespan of our favorite toys in Pixar's arguably superior sequel.

81. Truman escapes- "The Truman Show"(1998)
Jim Carrey takes off his comedic shackles in Peter Weir's prophetic television satire.

80. Dirk goes to work- "Boogie Nights"(1997)
Julianne Moore is very comfortable with sex scenes. Mark Wahlberg doesn't know how to tell his kids about Paul Thomas Anderson.

79. Wood chipper- "Fargo"(1996)
Frances McDormand's pregnant police chief witnesses Steve Buscemi's shocking demise in the Coen brothers' snow-covered kidnapping tale.

78. Andrew Beckett's sorrow- "Philadelphia"(1993)
This anguished look of total hopelessness to Bruce Springsteen's Oscar-winning title track announced to the world loud and clear that Tom Hanks was a dramatic actor now.

77. Jewelry box clap- "Pretty Woman"(1990)
This onset prank by director Gary Marshall stayed in the movie, and became a seminal moment for '90s queen Julia Roberts.

76. TJ Mackey seminar- "Magnolia"(1999)
Tom Cruise still had plenty to smile about in the '90s as he capped off a succession of signature hits with this turn as a flamboyant sex guru.

75. No crying in baseball- "A League of their Own"(1992)
The Tom Hanks era unofficially began with this unforgettable mantra.

74. Tango- "Scent of a Woman"(1992)
 Pacino didn't lose a step in the '90s as he danced all the way to that elusive Best Actor Oscar.

73. "This is your ransom..."Ransom"(1996)
I miss the days when Mel Gibson only threatened people onscreen.

72. "Inch by inch..."- "Any Given Sunday"(1999)
Al was still a force to be reckoned with when he delivered a speech that should echo throughout every demoralized locker room.

71. Choose life- "Trainspotting"(1996)
Director Danny Boyle throws us right into the squalid lives of Ewan MacGregor and his pathetic pals in this frenzied opening.

70. Phil's suicides- "Groundhog Day"(1993)
There aren't many big studio comedies that would allow it's main character to kill himself. A dozen times.

69. Karl and Frank- "Sling Blade"(1996)
An unusual but touching friendship comes to life between a Southern simpleton and a distressed local boy in Billy Bob Thornton's bleak breakthrough.

68. Red wire or blue?- "Lethal Weapon 3"(1992)
This explosive opener sums up the whole relationship of the greatest buddy cop duo of all time.

67. Wire scene- "Mission Impossible"(1996)
Tom Cruise drops in, box office numbers go up.

66. Lulu and Bobby Peru- "Wild at Heart"(1990)
A grotesque Willem Dafoe leaves a lasting impression on Laura Dern in another lurid exercise from David Lynch.

65. Ballroom dance- "Beauty and the Beast"(1991)
This enchanting number reaffirmed the Mouse House as an animated powerhouse.

64. Stampede/Mufasa's death- "The Lion King"(1994)
Move over, Bambi's mom. Simba's fallen father is this generation's cartoon tragedy.

63. Frank takes the bullet- "In the Line of Fire"(1993)
Clint Eastwood's aging Secret Service agent thwarts John Malkovich's plans in Wolfgang Peterson's highly suspenseful thriller.

62. Genie's entrance- "Aladdin"(1992)
Robin Williams' manic vocals are the reason that A-list stars have been enlisted for EVERY animated movie since.

61. "Show Me the Money!"- "Jerry Maguire"(1996)
Cuba Gooding Jr. provided one of modern filmdom's many unavoidable catchphrases, during these energetic contract negotiations.

60. "You Complete Me/You Had Me At Hello"- "Jerry Maguire"(1996)
We might as well get this immortal exchange out of the way, too.

59. Park bench bonding session- "Good Will Hunting"(1997)
Robin Williams(in rare award-worthy form) finally gets through to Matt Damon's temperamental math genius.

58. Hotel bar hookup- "Out of Sight"(1998)
George Clooney's seduction of J'Lo marked his true arrival as a Movie Star.

57. Keyzer Soze- "The Usual Suspects"(1995)
Kevin Spacey's gimpy walk turns into a confident strut as his enigmatic mastermind puts Brian Singer on the map.

56. Bullet train- "Mission Impossible"(1996)
This bravura climax left the public with little doubt that Cruise had an action franchise on his hands.

55. Foot chase- "Point Break"(1991)
Future Oscar-winning director Kathryn Bigelow showed some undeniable skill in her wildly entertaining debut flick.

54. Plane finale- "Die Hard 2: Die Harder"(1990)
John McClane torches a plane filled with escaping terrorists and lets out the best 'Yippee-ki-ay' of the entire series.

53. "Put your fuckin' mouth to the curb"- "American History X"(1998)
There was no shortage of brutality in the '90s, but Edward Norton's intense neo-Nazi skinhead may take the cake.

52. The Rules- "Fight Club"(1999)
I could have put just about any scene involving Brad Pitt's impossibly cool soap-making psycho anarchist on here, and there would have been no objections.

51. Face lick- "Batman Returns"(1992)
Ditto with Michelle Pfeiffer's take on the most dangerous woman in Gotham.

50. Riggs and Murtaugh vs. Wah Sing Ku- "Lethal Weapon 4"(1998)
The best fight in all four movies? Richard Donner made a U.S. film star out of martial arts wizard Jet Li.

49. Pod race- "Star Wars: Episode I- The Phantom Menace"(1999)
Nobody can say that George Lucas' much-maligned return to the SW universe didn't have it's moments.

48. Train crash- "The Fugitive"(1993)
As soon as Harrison Ford's wrongly convicted doctor was off and running, we knew that the biggest movie star of the '80s was still a reliable source of excitement.

47. Nicky and his brother- "Casino"(1995)
Even Scorsese admitted to having a hard time watching the brutal comeuppance dished out with aluminum baseball bats to hot-headed gangster Nicky Santoro(Joe Pesci) and his brother in a desolate cornfield.

46. The bridge is out- "True Lies"(1994)
Spectacular set-pieces like this is just what James Cameron does.

45. "You're not gonna die"- "Cliffhanger"(1993)
The pulse-pounding opening of Stallone's best '90s offering had me on the edge of my seat.

44. "Houston, we have a problem..."Apollo 13"(1995)
Same goes for the remainder of Ron Howard's fact-based space drama.

43. "I'm flying"- "Titanic"(1997)
Leonardo DiCaprio sailed into the heart of Kate Winslet and every other chick in America in the highest grossing movie of all time.

42. Bus jump- "Speed"(1994)
Realistic? No. Exhilarating? Hell, yes!

41. "I'm funny how?"- "Goodfellas"(1990)
Joe Pesci's psychopathic foot soldier Tommy DeVito is funny and frightening in equal measures.

40. Drexl's crib- "True Romance"(1993)
Yes, Gary Oldman, we ARE too scared to be eating.

39. Copacabana tracking shot- "Goodfellas"(1990)
This legendary bit is just another one of the many virtues in Marty's mob masterpiece.

38. Max Cady meets Danielle Bowden- "Cape Fear"(1991)
Robert De Niro's tattooed and terrifying rapist/ex-con gets uncomfortably close to a naïve 17 year old Juliette Lewis.

37. Street Race- "Toy Story"(1995)
Most action movie climaxes have got nothing on Woody and Buzz racing toward that moving truck.

36. Qui Gonn and Obi Wan vs. Darth Maul- "Star Wars: Episode I- The Phantom Menace"(1999)
Even the most ardent prequel-bashers have to give it up for this climactic three-way duel.

35. Train pushes the Delorean- "Back to the Future Part III"(1990)
This rip-roaring sequence rivals the original's clock tower finale and nicely caps the beloved series.

34. Bring out the gimp- "Pulp Fiction"(1994)
If I have to tell you what happens here, you're reading the wrong blog.

33. Taking the hill- "The Thin Red Line"(1998)
The OTHER great WWII movie from 1998 boasted some terrific sequences and this was definitely one of them.

32. Run, Forrest- "Forrest Gump"(1994)
The most uplifting and oft quoted moment of Robert Zemeckis' crowd-pleasing pop culture phenomenon.

31. "I see dead people"- "The Sixth Sense"(1999)
Speaking of oft quoted moments, Haley Joel Osment's chilling delivery unquestionably entered the zeitgeist in M Night Shyamalan's career-making mega-hit.

30. Pottery scene- "Ghost"(1990)
You couldn't get away from Patrick Swayze and Demi Moore's memorably improbable lovemaking session to the Righteous Brothers' "Unchained Melody" in the summer of 1990 if you tried.

29. Clarice finds Buffalo Bill- "The Silence of the Lambs"(1991)
Jodie Foster's heroic FBI trainee bravely enters the grisly lair of that transient freak Jamie Gumb.

28. Diner scene- "Heat"(1995)
The twin titans of late 20th Century acting grab a cup of coffee.

27. Patricia Arquette vs. James Gandolfini- "True Romance"(1993)
Tony Scott makes Alabama Worley fight for her life in the craziest hotel room fight to the death you'll ever see.

26. "You're his Daddy, Forrest."- "Forrest Gump"(1994)
If you don't get a little choked up when Forrest finds out he has a son, you're made of stone.

25. William Wallace's execution- "Braveheart"(1995)
Nobody does slow, agonizing death like Mad Mel.

24. "Little Green Bag"- "Reservoir Dogs"(1992)
Tarantino's charismatic, black-suited crooks take a slow-motion stroll in one of the coolest moments in all of cinema.

23. Jack Rabbit Slim's- "Pulp Fiction"(1994)
Honestly, just about every scene in Tarantino's magnum opus could've made this list, but I wanted to be fair to other '90s movies.

22. "What's Your Favorite Scary Movie?"- "Scream"(1996)
Drew Barrymore helped Wes Craven usher in a new age of self-referential horror in his franchise-starting sleeper hit.

21. Bullet time- "The Matrix"(1999)
Keanu Reeves bends over backwards and a pre-millennial sci-fi cult is born.

20. Interrogation scene- "Basic Instinct"(1992)
 Sharon Stone mesmerizes Michael Douglas and a roomful of cops and (briefly) becomes the hottest actress on the planet.

19. "Let's keep going"- "Thelma & Louise"(1991)
Susan Sarandon and Geena Davis ride till they die.

18. "Stuck in the Middle with You"- "Reservoir Dogs"(1992)
Michael Madsen dances badly with a switchblade to a forgotten '70s pop tune and kick-starts the indie film movement.

17. Lecter's escape- "The Silence of the Lambs"(1991)
Anthony Hopkins cements Hannibal as cinema's preeminent villain with a daring escape after massacring two security guards.

16. Billy Batts- "Goodfellas"(1990)
This made member of the Gambino crew had a very bad night at the hands AND feet of Robert De Niro and Joe Pesci.

15. Magic bullet- "JFK"(1991)
Kevin Costner's exhausting and controversial breakdown of that fateful day in Dallas may be Oliver Stone's finest hour.

14. "You can't handle the truth!"- "A Few Good Men"(1992)
Speaking of courtroom climaxes, just try changing the channel while Tom Cruise and Jack Nicholson are engaged in this shouting match for the ages.

13. Sledgehammer scene- "Misery"(1990)
The sight of Kathy Bates holding that sledgehammer over a helpless, bedridden James Caan stays with terrified viewers long after the credits roll.

12. Robbery/Shootout- "Heat"(1995)
The greatest bank robbery scene of all time is directly followed by some serious gun-blazing.

11. Truck chase/T-1000 walks out of fire- "Terminator 2: Judgment Day"(1991)
An insanely awesome chase through the L.A. canals is directly followed by the birth of CGI.

10. "I'm gonna kill you, Little Bill...- "Unforgiven"(1992)
Clint Eastwood's introspective gunslinger William Munny suddenly remembers who he was.

9. Andy's escape- "The Shawshank Redemption"(1994)
I don't know if it's the greatest movie ever made as IMDB voters persistently claim, but this rousing finish easily makes it one of the most cherished works of the '90s.

8. Krakow ghetto liquidation- "Schindler's List"(1993)
Blockbuster king Steven Spielberg switches gears and vividly recreates one of the darkest chapters in human history. Oscars are a foregone conclusion.

7. "What's in the box?!"- "Seven"(1995)
Poor Gwyneth's head, and good luck trying to get these last 10 minutes of David Fincher's classic out of yours.

6. Ezekeil 25:17- "Pulp Fiction"(1994)
A star-making moment if there ever was one, and the main reason Sam Jackson has appeared in 1,842 movies since.

5. T-Rex attack- "Jurassic Park"(1993)
The visceral thrill of the T-Rex attacking that jeep in the rain is the reason we go to the movies.

4. Sinking ship- "Titanic"(1997)
James Cameron's boat movie is epic filmmaking of the highest order, hard-hearted haters be damned.

3. The Battle of Stirling- "Braveheart"(1995)
Mel Gibson's stunning achievement on both sides of the camera made historical epics all the rage and helped set the stage for our next entry.

2. D-Day- "Saving Private Ryan"(1998)
The horror and chaos of war has never been captured more unnervingly, than in this heavily-praised 24 minutes of Steven Spielberg's searing tribute to real-life heroism.

1. Dennis Hopper vs. Christopher Walken- "True Romance"(1993)
This unbearably tense, eleven-minute acting master-class captures two cult heroes in peak form, while serving as the ultimate example of '90s boy wonder Quentin Tarantino's celebrated screenwriting.