This Expressionist silent film by Fritz Lang was made in Weimar Germany. Based on a socialist novel by Thea Von Harbou, Metropolis is a cinematic masterpiece and classic of the sci-fi genre. With its Art Deco and Modernist aesthetic it is a truly visually stunning and arresting movie. Metropolis has been cleaned up and restored as closely as possible to its original condition for the DVD release.

Peter Weir's dream like 1975 film is the supposed true story of the mysterious dissaperance of three boarding school girls and a teacher at Hanging Rock, in the Australian state of Victoria. Set in the year 1900 this film is very elegant, moody and impressionistic with its story of a pleasant outing in the sunny Aussie bush going tragically wrong.

This entertaing and sweet natured film is certainly a pleasure to watch. Coming from the unique imagination of Jim Henson it is more light hearted and humorous than The Dark Crystal and is fun to watch on a rainy day. David Bowie as the "goblin king" is fey, debonair and as always, handsome.

This enchanting Spanish language film is incredibly sweet natured... yet at times confrontingly brutal. Set in 1940s rural Spain during the rise to power of the Fascists it follows the imaginative adventures of a twelve year old girl, Ofelia. Pan's Labyrinth is made by the director of Hellboy, Guillermo Del Torro and this broodingly dark fairytale is his best effort to date.

The Doors is a bio-pic of the life and times of the broodingly handsome, highly talented and charismatic lead singer of the Doors. Jim Morrison (1943-1971) was a highly temperamental and volatile artist who explored the darker aspects of the counterculture. The hunky Val Kilmer was perfectly cast to play this musical and poetic genius who tragically died at the peak of his career.

The Wicker Man is the tale of an uptight Protestant police officer investigating the disappearance of a young girl. He travels to an isolated Scottish island where the community has reverted to nature worshiping paganism. However the truth is rather different than he is led to believe... and he means more to this community than he could ever realize!

This 1990s version of the Robin Hood legend is for me the most realistic, gritty and yet romantic made into a film so far. Patrick Bergen is well cast as the honorable, proud, fey and irrepressible Saxon nobleman cum freedom fighter. A British made movie it is much better than many other bigger budget Hollywood films made about Robin Hood and his merry band of outlaws.

The Rocky Horror Picture Show is the most camp, orgiastic and outrageous Rock 'n' Roll musical I have ever seen. It follows the story of an amoral transvestite and uninhibited bisexual alien stuck on earth who is out to gratify his every carnal desire... no matter what the cost. Made in 1975 this sinfully subversive movie has attained cult status and is as funny as the year it came out.

This version of Queen of the Damned is the "sequel" to the timeless Interview with the Vampire. It is a fairly enjoyable cinematic journey through Anne Rice's dark and romantic world of charismatic, seductive, graceful and immortal vampires, and beautiful witches. But I must say that it is nowhere near the calibre of Neil Jordan's baroquely gothic 1994 masterpiece.

Lieutenant-Colonel T. E. Lawrence (1888-1935) was an officer in the British army who was stationed in the Middle East during World War I. This enigmatic and eccentric man was actively sympathetic to the Arab uprising against Turkish colonial rule. Loosely based on his autobiography The Seven Pillars of Wisdom the epic Lawrence of Arabia is a must see for any serious film buff.

Dune is the controversial film version of Frank Herbert's classic novel. It follows the story of young Paul Atredies on the harsh desert plant of Arrakis. After his fathers murder he and his mother are taken in by the native Fremen tribes, they see him as a messiah who will liberate them from oppressive Harkonnen rule. This atmospheric and surreal film is superior to the Sci-Fi Channel series.

The Matrix Trilogy follows the metaphysical awakening and evolution of "Neo" from oblivious slave... to enlightened overman. Most of humanity are used by self aware machines as an energy source, being plugged into a vastly complex virtual world called "the matrix" few people ever question their reality. These films have breathtaking action, revolutionary CGI and a deeply philosophical message.

I remember viewing Fantastic Planet as a child and finding it strangely frightening. This eerie Czech/French coproduction was made in 1973 and has an intense psychedelic quality. Set in the distant future on a bizarre alien world, "tamed" humans (Oms) are kept as pets by giant blue humanoids (Draags). Fantastic Planet is essentially an allegory of revolt against foreign oppression.

Monty Python's Life of Brian is the most consistently hilarious and pointedly satirical film ever made. Set in ancient Judea during Roman occupation, humble Brian Cohen has been mistaken by "the three wise men" as the Messiah... setting off a farcical chain of events. This blasphemously subversive film ridicules both the blind faith of his followers and the political factions who manipulate him.