In this entry, I showcase a variety of classic and contemporary films I feel are masterpieces, and as such, I highly reccommend them to anyone who is a fan of cinema. Let's get started. (BTW, I leave Indy off the list since most SW fans are also Indy fans.)

These are in no order of quality or importance, for it would be hard to rank them.

1. The Lord of the Rings Trilogy (2001-2004) (Extended Versions). Quite simply the finest fantasy series ever made, and among the greatest film trilogies of all, ranked right up there with the SW OT. While the Extended Versions are not for everyone (they are 3 and 1/2 to 4 hour films), if you really enjoyed the theatrical versions and really would like more story, or if you felt some things were missing in the theatre, check these out. They are not just rehashed deleted scenes. They are good sequences ranging from vital character moments, to more battle footage (not to mention more violent!), to continuity fixes (notice in Return of the King Gandalf suddenly doesn't have his staff for the rest of the film? Find out what happened!). the editing between the new and old footage is professionally done. After two years of the Extended Versions, I can barely remember what wasn't in the original versions, as it all melds perfectly. (The books are greatly recommended if you liked the films)

2. To Kill A Mockingbird (1962). A jewel of a film in which Gregory Peck delivers an oscar-winning performance as Atticus Finch, a southern white lawyer and his town's most respected citizen - and the only man willing to defend Tom Robinson (a black man falsely accused of raping a white girl). This film deals flawlessly with racism, honor, growing up, and doing the right thing no matter what the cost. A classic. (Also check out Harper Lee's novel on which the film is based.)

3. Lawrence of Arabia (1962). David Lean's masterpiece epic has stunning landscape and some of the most memorable sequences committed to film. The epic starring Peter O'Toole chronicles the true story of T. E. Lawrence as he leads a revolt of Arabs against the Turks during World War I. The film has great things to say about the nature of war and the human experience, and overall chronicles the extraordinary life of Lawrence, a legend in British history. (Check out Lawrence's book "Revolt in the Desert".)

4. Ben-Hur (1959). William Wyler's biblical epic is the best film of the sword and sandal genre ever. Winner of 11 Oscars (only Titanic and return of the King equaled that tally) Charlton Heston gives his finest performance as a Jewish Prince exposed to the cruelty and savagery of Rome. After his family is cruelly imprisoned and he is enslaved, he embarks on an odyssey of revenge, until a fateful meeting with Christ shows him what truly matters in life. The famous 30 minute chariot race sequence is the highlight of the film, epically staged in the days before CGI.

5. Schindler's List (1993). Spielberg's haunting historical drama tells of the life of Oskar Schindler, a man who saved over 1000 Jews from certain death. The film's period setting is recreated wonderfully and the use of black and white cinematography works amazingly well. The film is far more than the story of the Holocaust, though. It is a story we can all learn from, about how one man can make a difference, a profound one at that. there are thousands of people alive today because of Schindler, those he saved and their descendants.