He Got Game is a 1998 sports-drama film from director Spike Lee and Stars Denzel Washington as Jake Shuttlesworth and Ray Allen as Jesus Shuttlesworth. 

Jesus Shuttlesworth (Allen) is the number one basketball prospect in America and is being pursued by many colleges for his services.  Jake Shuttlesworth (Washington) is a felon in Attica Correctional Facility after he was convicted for accidentally killing his wife, Jesus’s mother.

Jake is released by the Governor, an alumni of ‘Big State’ and a massive basketball fan, for 12 days and is promised early release if he can convince his son to declare for ‘Big State’.   The film follows the father and son over the 12 days before the cut-off point for declaration.  Can Jake convince his son to choose the governor’s college and be granted early release, or will he continue to push his son further away.

He Got Game is a fantastic film and Ray Allen does a commendable job in his acting debut.  The film also features Rosario Dawson, Milla Jovovich as well as a host of cameos from some of the biggest names in basketball at the time.

This is a definite Reel Recommends and features a brilliant Denzel Washington.

Escape from New York is a cult classic from 1981 written and directed by John Carpenter and starring Kurt Russell as Snake Plissken.  The film is set in a futuristic New York in 1997 where the whole city is a massive maximum security prison.

Snake must enter the prison after the president’s place, Air Force One crashes in Manhattan and the inmates announce they will kill him unless all recovery forces leave Manhattan immediately.

Plissken is the typical reluctant hero, once a special forces hero now a criminal who is given a deal to rescue the president and he will receive a full pardon.  The film has a stellar cast including Lee van Cleef, Ernest Borgnine and Donald Pleasance.

It is a typical film of the time with a futuristic plot, over-the-top action and a hero who just wants to blow everything up.  It is the perfect film to put on and just let the brain switch off for an hour or two.

It is a fantastic Sci-Fi film and definitely a Reel Recommneds.  As the tagline says ‘Breaking out is impossible, breaking in is Insane’ sit back and enjoy.

Gone Fishin is one of the funniest films I have ever seen  and is definitely a Reel Recommends.  Released in 1997 and starring Danny Glover and Joe Pesci as Gus Green and Joe Waters, two friends on a trip and all they want to do is fish.

The film was not a financial or critical success but its slapstick humour, one liners and acting from Glover and Pesci make it a must see family film.  It is one of the few films which had me gasping for air with it being a non-stop laugh-a-thin from start till finish.

The on-screen camaraderie between Pesci and Glover is what makes this film funny, with both having worked together on Lethal Weapon 2 and 3, and four some years after Gone Fishin.

Gone Fishin is a Reel Recommends and the trailer and poster can be seen below, enjoy.

Ong Bak is a great Martial Arts film starring Tony Jaa as Ting.  Even though the film is in Thai the fight scenes and chases are epic and is well worth a look.  The film is a little slow to start but when Ting moves to Bangkok to retrieve the villages ancient Buddha the film really explodes.  Ong Bak is a film which any action/martial Arts fan should watch, and is the first Reel Recommends which is no in English which is something that it can add to its list of accolades.

Set in Los Angeles, Die Hard is a classic film starring Bruce Willis as New York copper John McClane .  He is in LA to meet up with his estranged wife at her office party, things go wrong when terrorists, led by Hans Gruber (Alan Rickman).  Twelve terrorists.  One Cop.  The odss are against John McClane....   Thats just the way he likes it.

The fifth installment of the franchise is due to be released next year but the original is by far the best.

Batman is a brilliant  film which has been over shadowed due to the box office phenomenon that was the Christopher Nolan Dark Knight trilogy.  Starring as Batman/Bruce Wayne is Michael Keaton and he goes up against Jack Nicholsons, Joker.  Both Keaton and Nicholson play both of their roles brilliantly, with some good accompanying performances by Kim Bassinger as Vicky Vale, Robert Wuhl as Alexander Know, and Michael Gough as Alfred Pennyworth.

The film has many different aspects but dep down I think it is a love story as both Batman and the Joker fight for Vicky Vale throughout the film.  It is definitely a Reel Recommends and a film which is well worth the watch, even with some of the differences between comic book and film.  After watching it you will definitely want to "dance with the Devil in the pale moonlight".

Pulp Fiction is the 1994 film from Quentin Tarantino which features some classic performances by Samuel l.Jackson, Harvey Keitel and John Travolta.  The film focuses on different stories, depending on the character, but which all become one.  The film was nominated for seven Oscars, including a nomination for John Travolta as best actor.  Quentin Tarantino and Roger Avery won the best screenplay and the film won the Palme d'Or.

It is a fantastic film although it does feature some quite grahic scenes but it is definitely a Reel Recommends.

Love him or hate him there is no denying that 1976s Rocky is Sylvester Stallone's masterpiece and a wonderful piece of Cinema history.  Rocky is a bum who boxes for money is abandoned churches to make ends meat and a debt collector for the local loan shark.  Look falls Rockys way when the heavyweight champion of the world Apollo Creed (Carl Weathers) needs a fighter for his News Years Day fight, the United States Bicentennial.
The film is two hours of magic with a wonderful performance from Burgess Meredith who plays Rockys trainer Mickey.  This is a classic and was nominated for 10 Oscars in 1976 winning three, including Best Picture.