Sissi (1955)
Comedy | Drama | History
In the first of a trilogy of movies about Elisabeth "Sissi" of Austria, the young vibrant princess catches the eye of her sister's fiancé, Emperor Franz Josef.
Starring: Romy Schneider, Karlheinz Böhm, Magda Schneider, Uta Franz, Gustav Knuth, Vilma Degischer, Josef Meinrad
Director: Ernst Marischka
Once Upon a Time in China and America / Once Upon a Time in China VI / Wong Fei Hung VI: Sai Wik Hung See (1997)
Action | Adventure | History | Western
The story is set in both Hong Kong and the U.S. So goes to the U.S. to open a martial arts school. Around this time, many Chinese people were sold off to U.S. railroad companies, and were brutally treated by the Americans under the harsh working conditions. Thus, the American workers' hatred towards the Chinese immigrants is high. As a result, So gets into trouble with the Americans and the mob, and calls Master Wong for help.
Starring: Jet Li, Rosamund Kwan, Xin Xin Xiong, Kwok-Pong Chan. Jeff Wolfe. Joseph Sayah, Chrysta Bell, Richard Ng
Director: Sammo Hung
Once Upon a Time in China III / Wong Fei Hung III: Si wong jaang ba (1993)
Action | Adventure | Biography | History
Wong Fei-Hung and sidekick Chung arrive in Peking just as the Empress announces a Lion Dance martial arts contest. Also accompanying him is cousin Yee, his young, Westernized aunt-by-adoption, to whom Wong is secretly betrothed. Wong faces a possible romantic rival in a Russian diplomat, Tumanovsky, whom Aunt Yee knew back in school, and a martial arts rival in the brutal Club Foot, who beats up Wong's father. Club Foot works for the slimy Leung Fun, who is determined to win the prestigious Lion Dance contest at any cost. However, by the time the spectacular Lion Dance contest occurs many things will change.
Starring: Jet Li, Cunzhuang Ge, Rosamund Kwan, Shun Lau, Siu Chung Mok, John Wakefield, Xin Xin Xiong, Chunzhong Zhang
Director: Hark Tsui
Once Upon a Time in China II / Wong Fei Hung II: Nam yee tung chi keung (1992)
Action | Adventure | Biography | History | Romance
In the sequel to the Tsui Hark classic, Wong Fei-Hung faces The White Lotus society, a fanatical cult seeking to drive the Europeans out of China through violence, even attacking Chinese who follow Western ways. Wong must also defend Dr. Sun Yat Sen, a revolutionary, from the military. With his friends, loved ones, and the future of China itself at stake, Wong must once again use his martial arts skills to defend the innocent.
Starring: Jet Li, Rosamund Kwan, Donnie Yen, Siu Chung Mok, David Chiang, Xin Xin Xiong, Tielin Zhang, Paul Fonoroff
Director: Hark Tsui
Once Upon a Time in China / Wong Fei Hung (1991)
Action | Adventure | Biography | Drama | History
Set in late 19th century Canton this martial arts film depicts the stance taken by the legendary martial arts hero Wong Fei-Hung (1847-1924) against foreign forces' (English, French and American) plundering of China. When Aunt Yee arrives back from America totally westernised, Wong Fei-Hung assumes the role of her protector. This proves to be difficult when his martial arts school and local militia become involved in fierce battles with foreign and local government. As violence escalates even Aunt Yee has to question her new western ideals, but is it possible to fight guns with Kung Fu?
Starring: Jet Li, Biao Yuen, Rosamund Kwan, Jacky Cheung, Steve Tartalia, Kent Cheng, Jonathan Isgar, Shi-Kwan Yen, Mark King
Director: Hark Tsui
Three Kingdoms: Resurrection of the Dragon / Saam gwok dzi gin lung se gap (2008)
Action | Drama | History | War
His country torn asunder by civil war, Zhao, a common man heeds the call of duty and from the humblest of roots rises through the ranks on wings of courage and cunning to command an army charged with liberating the land from an evil warlord. Inspiring by action, honor and a dream of unifying his divided nation, Zhao's heroism becomes legend, but as the years pass and the throne changes hands the war still rages on. When a newly enthroned king decides peace can only be achieved by defeating the warlords once and for all, the aging Zhao embarks on his final and greatest campaign, a road to adventure that will crown his name in glory for all time.
Starring: Andy Lau, Sammo Hung, Maggie Q, Vanness Wu, Andy On
Director: Daniel Lee
Boardwalk Empire (TV Series 2010- )
Crime | Drama | History
Chronicles the life and times of Nucky Thompson, the undisputed ruler of Atlantic City, who was equal parts politician and gangster.
Starring: Steve Buscemi, Stephen Graham, Vincent Piazza, Kelly Macdonald, Michael Shannon, Shea Whigham, Michael Kenneth Williams, Paul Sparks, Gretchen Mol, Michael Stuhlbarg, Anthony Laciura, Jack Huston, Anatol Yusef
Creator: Terence Winter
Cave of Forgotten Dreams (2010)
Documentary | History
Werner Herzog gains exclusive access to film inside the Chauvet caves of Southern France, capturing the oldest known pictorial creations of humankind in their astonishing natural setting.
Starring: Werner Herzog
Director: Werner Herzog
Chariots of Fire (1981)
Drama | History | Sport
The story of two British track athletes, one a determined Jew, and the other a devout Christian who compete in the 1924 Olympics.
Starring: Ben Cross, Ian Charleson, Nicholas Farrell, Nigel Havers, Ian Holm
Director: Hugh Hudson
Róza / Rose (2011)
Drama | History | War
A harrowing tale of survival centers on Rose, a Masurian woman, whose husband, a German soldier, was killed in the war, leaving her alone on their farm. A single woman had no defense against Russian soldiers who raped as a form of revenge, nor against plundering Poles who found themselves in desperate straits. The law of the jungle had replaced the rule of law. Help arrives for Rose in the form of Tadeusz, a former officer in the Polish Home Army who survived the Warsaw uprising and is attempting to hide his identity.
Starring: Marcin Dorocinski, Kinga Preis, Marian Dziedziel, Edward Linde-Lubaszenko, Eryk Lubos
Director: Wojciech Smarzowski
The Samurai of Ayothaya / Samurai Ayothaya (2010)
Action | Drama | History
Based on a true historic figure during Ayothaya Era, the film depicts the life of Yamada Nagamasa, a Japanese adventurer who gained considerable influence in Thailand and became the governor of Nakhon Si Thammarat province in southern Thailand.
Starring: Seigi Ozeki, Kanokkorn Jaicheun, Sorapong Chatree
Director: Nopporn Watin
The King's Speech (2010)
Biography | Drama | History
Tells the story of the man who became King George VI, the father of Queen Elizabeth II. After his brother abdicates, George ('Bertie') reluctantly assumes the throne. Plagued by a dreaded stammer and considered unfit to be king, Bertie engages the help of an unorthodox speech therapist named Lionel Logue. Through a set of unexpected techniques, and as a result of an unlikely friendship, Bertie is able to find his voice and boldly lead the country through war.
Starring: Colin Firth, Helena Bonham Carter, Derek Jacobi, Robert Portal, Richard Dixon, Geoffrey Rush
Director: Tom Hooper
Madrasapattinam / Madras Town (2010)
Drama | History | Romance
After the death of her husband, Amy Smith, an elderly English woman, decides to return to India to search for her long lost lover and to return a necklace she was given. Through memory flashbacks we see how Amy as a young girl first arrived in Madrasapattinam, India in 1945 to join her father who was the governor of the city. Through some events of fate she meets Paritihi, a young Indian boy. Amy, feeling drawn towards Paritihi and intrigued by Indian culture, asks him to be her guide around the town and to show him the ways of his country. Soon a tender romance develops between them. However, Amy is too be married to officer Robert Ellis, a cruel man appointed by her father, forcing Amy and Paritihi to fight for their love.
Starring: Arya, Amy Jackson, Cochin Hanifa, Alexx O'Nell, Mike Parish
Director: Vijay
A Frozen Flower / King Protector / Ssang-hwa-jeom (2008)
Drama | History | Romance
A historical drama set in the Koryo dynasty and focused on the relationship between a king and his bodyguard.
Starring: Jin-mo Ju, Ji-hyo Song, In-seong Jo
Director: Ha Yu
IMDb Info
The Killing Fields (1984)
Drama | History | War
Sydney Schanberg is a New York Times journalist covering the civil war in Cambodia. Together with local representative Dith Pran, they cover some of the tragedy and madness of the war. When the American forces leave, Dith Pran sends his family with them, but stays behind himself to help Schanberg cover the event. As an American, Schanberg won't have any trouble leaving the country, but the situation is different for Pran; he's a local, and the Khmer Rouge are moving in.
Starring: Sam Waterston, Haing S. Ngor, John Malkovich
Director: Roland Joffe
Memorial Day (2011)
Action | Drama | Family | History | War
Memorial Day, 1993. When 13-year-old Kyle Vogel discovers the World War II footlocker belonging to his grandfather, Bud, everyone tells Kyle to put it back. Luckily, he ignores them. Although Bud has never talked about the war, he finds himself striking a deal with his grandson: Kyle can pick any three souvenirs, and Bud will tell him the stories behind each one. Memorial Day not only takes us on a journey into Bud's complicated wartime past, but also into Kyle's wartime future. As the two men share parallel experiences in combat, they come to realize how that magical day on the porch shaped both of their lives.
Starring: Jonathan Bennett, James Cromwell, John Cromwell
Director: Sam Fischer
IMDb Info
Thirteen Days (2000)
Drama | History | Thriller
In October, 1962, U-2 surveillance photos reveal that the Soviet Union is in the process of placing nuclear weapons in Cuba. These weapons have the capability of wiping out most of the Eastern and Southern United States in minutes if they become operational. President John F. Kennedy and his advisors must come up with a plan of action against the Soviets. Kennedy is determined to show that he is strong enough to stand up to the threat, and the Pentagon advises U.S. military strikes against Cuba–which could lead the way to another U.S. invasion of the island. However, Kennedy is reluctant to follow through, because a U.S. invasion could cause the Soviets to retaliate in Europe. A nuclear showdown appears to be almost inevitable.
Starring: Kevin Costner, Bruce Greenwood, Shawn Driscoll
Director: Roger Donaldson
IMDb Info
Beginning of the Great Revival / The Founding of a Party / Jian Dang Wei Ye (2011)
Drama | History
A chronicle of the events that led to the founding of the Chinese Communist Party.
Starring: John Woo, Yun-Fat Chow, Andy Lau, Daniel Wu, Bingbing Fan, Leehom Wang, Ye Liu, Xun Zhou, Nick Cheung, Jie Dong, Xueqi Wang, Kun Chen, Daoming Chen, Alex Fong, Chao Deng, Miriam Yeung, Xiaodong Guo, Lei Huang, Benshan Zhao, Wei Fan, Tao Guo, Xuebing Wang, Guoli Zhang
Director: Sanping Han, Jianxin Huang
Red Tails (2012)
Action | Adventure | Drama | History | War
A crew of African American pilots in the Tuskegee training program, having faced segregation while kept mostly on the ground during World War II, are called into duty under the guidance of Col. A.J. Bullard.
Starring: Cuba Gooding Jr., Terrence Howard, Bryan Cranston, Gerald McRaney, David Oyelowo
Director: Anthony Hemingway
A Night to Remember (1958)
Action | Drama | History
Based on Walter Lord's popular book, A Night to Remember recounts the sailing of the Titanic, billed as the "unsinkable ship," and its inevitable voyage toward the Grand Banks of Newfoundland and doom.
Starring: Kenneth More, Ronald Allen, Robert Ayres, Honor Blackman, Anthony Bushell
Director: Roy Ward Baker
