hard boiled (1992)

AKA Lat sau san taam. Hot-Handed God of Cops.
"Give a guy a gun, he thinks he's Superman. Give him two and he thinks he's God."
Tequila (Chow Yun Fat) is a hard-boiled cop, who loses his partner in a raid on some gun smugglers and vows to bring the gang to justice. To do so he teams up with Tony (Tony Leung), a hitman, who is actually an undercover cop. Together they go after the ruthless Johnny Wong (Anthony Wong) who has the perfect hideout inside a hospital.
Another classic from John Woo. If its action centred around someone who exudes coolness without trying, then this is the film for you.

a better tomorrow (1986)

AKA Ying hung boon sik. The Essence of Heroes. Rapid Fire.
"Don't let me see you again."
Two brothers and how they make their differing ways in the world. One, Ho (Lung Ti), is a career criminal, who on release tries to go straight. The other Kit (Leslie Cheung), a young idealistic cop, who disowns his brother when he finds out he's crooked. Unfortunately the ties to the mob are not easy to break, and Tse-Ho owes a debt of honour to his friend Mark (Chow Yun Fat), who is now crippled and barely scrapping a living on the streets.
A classic gangster flick, thick with honour, gun-play and melancholy, that brought Chow Yun Fat to fame and begat a series of films and an entire genre of gangster films.

cloverfield (2008)

"Oh my God! What is that?"
A leaving party is being held for Rob (Michael Stahl-David), who is moving from New York for a job in Japan, filmed by one of his friends, but during the night an earthquake happens, followed by a series of explosions. The party goers spill into the street in panic and glimpse what looks like a large creature attacking New York. Evacuation of Brooklyn beings, but Rob only has thoughts of his would be girlfriend who is injured in an apartment being attacked.
A Godzilla meets blair witch project, where the story unfolds via a domestic video camera. Generally a well made and breathless ride, with a few plot holes to annoy those picky souls like me, but then we accept that a 200 foot monster is chomping his way though NYC easily enough!

crescendo (1970)

"This is my son George."
Susan Roberts (Stefanie Powers) is working on her thesis about a dead composer and arrives to stay at his house. Also there are the composers widow, Danielle (Margaretta Scott), wheelchair bound son George (James Olson), maid (Jane LaPortare) and butler (Joss Ackland). Susan quickly develops a sense of unease, due to the inter-relationships at the house and George's apparent ability to sometimes exit the wheelchair for the odd stroll.
A would be suspense movie, full of well not a lot, as the suspence and tension never really get going.

big meat eater (1982)

"Whose that man walking down the street?"
Abdullah (Clarence 'Big' Miller), a school caretaker, is sacked by the corrupt town mayor. For which he is murdered by Abdullah. Addullah promptly gets himself a job in a butchers, making nice use of the freezer to store the body. Then the trouble starts...for unknown to everyone aliens has located a rich source of Balonium in the freezer and bring the mayor back to life to help in their plans to extract the precious material.
An interesting mix of cheap and very cheerful comedy, with a hefty side order of music; done in a psuedo 50's style. If Devo made a film, it would be something like this.

sullivan's travels (1941)

"If they knew what they liked they wouldn't live in Pittsburg!"
Hollywood film director John Sullivan (Joel McCrea) argues to be able to make social realism, but his producers would rather he make something comic and light; arguing that he knows nothing of the lives of the general public. Thus he decides to hit the road as a hobo, with a romantic notion about a life of poverty, and ends up with Veronica Lake as his romantic interest and a rude awakening.
Sturges manages to produce a social commentary as well as an extremely funny film. A true classic.

black christmas (1974)

AKA Silent Night, Evil Night. Stranger in the House.
"No Claire, that's the Mormon Tabernacle Choir doing their annual obscene phone call!"
It's Christmas break, and in a Canadian sorority the sisters are making their holiday plans. But they are being plagued by a deep breather on the phone, and when one of their number disappears they are set on edge. Especially when the police don't express much concern. Until they discover the body of a 13-year-old girl in the park and the students start being attacked. Let the stalking begin...
Starring Olivia Hussey, Margot Kidder, and John Saxon, this is a low key but effective thriller.