Strike Commando (1987)

This Italian action film directed by Bruno Mattei is an blatant rip-off of Rambo, First Blood Part II, not to mention several other films. It stars Reb Brown as Sgt. Ransom, the lone survivor of mission gone bad during the Vietnam War. He is saved and nursed back to health by some benevolent Vietnamese villagers. Ransom returns the favor by taking it upon himself to lead the natives to safety and away from the Communist enemies that continue to attack their community. Unfortunately, the band of refugees are attacked by not only the Viet Cong, but actual Russian soldiers. Ransom is not able to fight them all although he is able to reach the rendezvous point and be picked up by his men.

Back at base, Ransom has some words with Colonel Radek (Christopher Connelly), the commanding officer that was responsible for his squadron's massacre. He tells Radek that he can get proof that the Russians are in Vietnam and volunteers to return to the village to get that evidence. Once there he runs into Jakoda (Alex Vitale), the Russian killing-machine. It's up to Ransom to take down Jakoda using all means available to him.

Alternate Titles: Kobra Commando

Available: Netflix, Amazon

The Illustionist (2010)

This animated film is from the director of The Triplets Of Belleville and is adapted from an original screenplay by Jacques Tati. 

The story is centered around a magician who makes his living performing in the music halls of Great Britain during the 1950s. Sometimes he plays to empty houses but other times he gets an appreciative audience, such as the occasion when he entertains a pub full of people on a remote Scottish isle. During his stay there, he befriends a young girl. She quickly attaches herself to him. And when it is time to leave, the girl follows along. The two of them end up residing in Edinburgh, where the older man must take on extra work to be able to afford the finer things that the young girl wants. Over time she blossoms into a fine young lady.

Available: Netflix, Amazon

Scars Of Dracula (1970)

Fairly poor sequel in the series of Dracula films starring Christopher Lee and produced by Hammer Films. This time we're back in Transylvania after a group of villagers have tried to burn down Dracula's castle. Simon (Dennis Waterman) and his fiancee Sarah (Jenny Hanley) are looking for Simon's brother Paul (Christopher Matthews). A bit of a Don Juan, Paul is on the run after being caught with the Burgomaster's daughter. Simon and Sarah trace him to Dracula's castle but the trail goes cold there. Of course Dracula tries to make a meal of the couple. However his servant Klove (Patrick Troughton) is in love with Sarah and tries to prevent his Master from doing harm. His help is enough to allow good to triumph over evil.

Available: Netflix, Amazon

Steamboat Bill, Jr. (1928)

William Canfield (Ernest Torrence), is known on the river as Steamboat Bill. He is an old riverboat captain that has been running his ship for years and unfortunately it shows. Recently he has been losing his business to J. J. King (Tom McGuire) a rich man who not only has the nicest paddle-boat in town, but owns just about every other business in the area as well.

One day Canfield gets a visit from his son whom he hasn't seen since he was born. Expecting someone rugged like himself, Canfield is disappointed when Junior (Buster Keaton) turns out to be a tiny, skinny weakling. Canfield does his best to make him over, but Junior just doesn't measure up.

Things get complicated when Junior starts showing interest in King's daughter Kitty (Marion Byron). It seems that Junior and Kitty knew each other up in Boston at University. While their fathers bicker, the couple try to get them to make peace.

Available: Netflix, Amazon

Stalker (1979)

This surreal Russian film is directed by Andrey Tarkovskiy, the man behind Solaris and Andrei Rublev. It is written by Boris and Arkady Strugatsky and based on their short novel Roadside Picnic.

The movie centers on a "Stalker", one of the very few guides who can navigate "The Zone". The Zone is a desolate area that was formed when a meteorite or some other object from space devastated the region. There is supposed to a room in The Zone that, when entered, will fulfill ones innermost desires. But the path to the room cannot be taken directly. Only the Stalker is able to lead his clients on the correct course to their destination.

Available: Netflix, Amazon

Taste The Blood Dracula (1970)

When three rich family men have become bored with their secret decadent lifestyles, they employ the help of Lord Courtley (Ralph Bates). Courtley is an outcast who practices the dark arts and promises the men experiences greater than they can imagine. He gets them to buy the last possessions of Count Dracula which includes a vial of his blood in powder form. The men then go with Courtley to an abandoned Church where he performs a ritual that requires the men to drink the reconstituted blood. When the men refuse, Courtley drinks it himself and then subsequently dies. However, the ritual causes Dracula (Christopher Lee) to come back to life and vow death to the three men. With the help of Alice Hargood (Linda Hayden), the daughter of one the men, Dracula is able to lure the men to their deaths with the assistance of their children. Deeply in love with Alice, Paul Paxton (Anthony Higgins) does what he can to stop the master vampire.

Available: Netflix, Amazon

Gatling Gun (1968)

Richard Gatling (Ennio Balbo) has invented a new secret weapon, the machine gun. When Gatling is kidnapped along with his gun, the authorities blame Chris Tanner (Robert Woods). Tanner is one of the only ones that knew about the gun and that was not killed during the abduction. Luckily for Tanner, Pinkerton (Tom Felleghy) believes that he is not responsible. He covertly arranges for Tanner to be released from prison under another convict's name so that he can find out who is really behind the dastardly plot. During his investigations, Tanner finds out that half-breed Tarpas (John Ireland) has something to do with the crime. Tarpas is hoping to make $2 million dollars by getting $1 million for the return of Gatling to the Union and another $1 million from the Confederates for delivery of the gun. Tanner must not only stop this crook, but find out who the brains are behind this operation.

Alternate Titles: Damned Hot Day Of Fire, Machine Gun Killers, Quel Caldo Maledetto Giorno Di Fuoco

Available: Netflix, Amazon

Sweetie (1989)

This is the first feature film by New Zealand director Jane Campion. It stars Karen Colston as Kay, a timid, superstitious young woman. Her relationship with her boyfriend Louis (Tom Lycos) is starting to cool off after Kay covertly removed a tree that he had planted for them. It doesn't help matters much when Kay's unstable sister Sweetie (Genevieve Lemon) shows up at their home. Soon after that, their father (Jon Darling) also arrives, upset that his wife has left him. Kay can't get her own life together until she deals with her insane family.

Available: Netflix, Amazon 

Gonin 2 (1996)

A man who owns a lumberyard is attacked by the Yakuza because he owes them money. During the assault, the thugs also rape his wife. That night the wife kills herself. Completely heartbroken, the man fashions a sword out of steel in his factory and sets out to get his revenge.

At around the same time, some of the gang hired by the Yakuza decide to rob a jewelry store. It's an inside job since one of the sales assistants is in on the heist and disables the security video. Unfortunately for them, a young woman also has plans to rob the store of it's valuable "Cat's Eye" ring. With the help of three other women who just happen to be at the scene of the crime, the women rob the robbers and get away with all the jewelry.  Now the women are being hunted by the gang and the Yakuza. They also run into the swordsmen because he too is after the ring as a last gift to his dead wife. Together they must eliminate their common enemy while trying to stay alive.

Available: Netflix, Amazon

Back Street (1941)

Margaret Sullavan stars as Ray Smith in this melodrama directed by Robert Stevenson. Ray is an independent woman at the turn of the 20th century. She pays no attention to her step-mother who would rather that Ray stay to work at their store taking inventory than going out with the traveling salesmen and gambling. One day Ray meets Walter Saxel (Charles Boyer) and falls madly in love. Even thought Saxel is engaged to be married, the two spend considerable time together. When Saxel finally has to leave, he decides that he will marry Ray. However, circumstances and misunderstandings cause the couple to part unhappily. Five years later the two meet again and realize that they still are deeply in love. Unfortunately, Saxel is now married and a father. He also has an important job in banking. Ray and Walter decide to continue seeing each other even though it is dangerous to do so. What will society think of this illicit affair?

Available: Amazon

Ed Hardy: Tattoo The World (2010)

This documentary chronicles the life of legendary tattoo artist Don Ed Hardy. It is directed by filmmaker Emiko Omori who is obviously a huge fan of Hardy and tattoos. There is actually footage of Omori getting a massive back tattoo done sometime in the eighties. While most young people of today with know Hardy from the clothing and merchandise that bear his name, he is actually a renowned tattooist whose influence in the tattoo world is legendary. Tattoos have come a long way from the back street stores that specialized in inking sailors on payday, and it would not be where it is today without Don Hardy.

 Available: Netflix, Amazon