Platoon is a 1986 war film directed by Oliver Stone, which depicts the experiences of a young US Army volunteer, Chris Taylor, during the Vietnam War. The movie explores the brutality and psychological toll of combat, as well as the moral ambiguities of the conflict. The cast includes Charlie Sheen, Tom Berenger, and Willem Dafoe.

Choreography, writing, acting, attitude, and some knowledge of the martial arts can make for an entertaining movie such as we find in the 2011 release of Warrior. Most "sports" related movies are too predictable and technical to make them entertaining enough to please a wide audience but this one covers nearly all the bases to make it a family oriented film. Even the addition of Nick Nolte as the father of a young man training for a mixed martial arts competitive tournament brings plenty of pathos and family values to the film. Nolte is a former boxer and an alcoholic whose two sons, played by Tom Hardy (Tom Conlon) and Joel Edgerton (playing Brendan Conlon) decide to become professional mixed martial arts fighters and ultimately compete against each other. Nolte (as Paddy Conlon) has his hands full with his own demons but tries to be of help for the sake of family ties. Also starring Jennifer Morrison (playing Tess Conlon), William Mapother (David Milligan), and Kurt Angle (as Koba) Warrior is filled with action and great fight sequences.

It's a Christmas time of 2004. An ordinary British family Henry (Ewan McGregor) and Maria (Naomi Watts) visits Thailand on vacations with their three children: Lucas, who is just turned 7, and his younger brothers Simon and Thomas (children are played by Tom Holland, Oaklee Pendergastand and Samuel Joslin, accordingly). As they reach the Thai hotel, their family suit is upgraded to villa, a horrible decision, as it turns after. They are exchanging some Christmas gifts and heading to the coastline the morning after. Nothing has presaged a catastrophe. But meanwhile the terrible roar is heard from the seaside, and, in the moment, a giant wave of Tsunami covers the shoreline with all the tourists on it, including Henry, Maria and their beloved children. The wave is crashing trees, houses, cars, throwing human bodies to right and left. In a few seconds it appears that Henry, Simon and Thomas were picked up by the strong current and wiped to the inner part of land while Maria and Lucas are struggling for their survive in the roaring waves full of fallen tries which strike them inflicting terrible wounds, and making "the happy end" for them almost impossible. The movie, filmed by Juan Antonio Bayona, an outstanding Spanish director and producer, keeps us on the toes these first 20 minutes. The super-realistic 3D sound of imminent Tsunami is awesome, the pictures of scorched post-Tsunami landscape are phenomenally affecting, and the rest of the story based on true life events is very touchable and tragic.

"Elvis" is a biographical drama film directed by Baz Luhrmann and written by Luhrmann and Craig Pearce. The movie stars Austin Butler as Elvis Presley and Tom Hanks as his manager, Colonel Tom Parker. The film explores the life of the iconic musician, from his rise to fame in the 1950s to his transformation into a cultural icon, all while dealing with the pressures of stardom and the challenges of his personal life.

Niels Arden Oplev, who may be familiar to you by his movie The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo comes with his next keep-on-toes drama Dead Man Down. It's not a surprise, that his favorite Swedish actress Noomi Rapace, who played the leading role in The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo, as Lisbeth Salander took the same level role in Dead Man Down. In this movie she plays Beatrice, a desperate, yet prudent and coldblooded woman on the warpath to accomplish the revenge by killing Alphonse Hoyt (Terrence Howard), a mob boss of the New York. On her way she meets Alphonse's guard, Victor (Colin Farrell), who seems to share her thoughts about the boss. She tries to blackmail and use him, but later, the truth reveals, Victor claims that Alphonse is responsible for the death of his wife and daughter. The engrossing desire for revenge unites Beatrice and Victor. Meanwhile, it becomes clear that there are other strong feelings between them, the feelings that have grown in the shadow of vengeance.

Water for Elephants comes out in 2011 as an adaptation from the novel by Sara Gruen published in 2006. The movie, starts as a flashback of an old man and is set during the time of the Great Depression stars Robert Pattinson, of Twilight fame, playing a veterinary student, named Jacob Jankowski, who is orphaned and finds himself jumping aboard a passing train transporting the Benzini Brothers traveling circus. Jacob becomes the de facto veterinarian for the circus animals, including an elephant, name Rosie, who is 'un-trainable' until Pattinson's character finds a way to get through to her. Of course, there is a love triangle involving Pattinson, Academy Award winner Christopher Waltz, and the ever so hot Resse Witherspoon in here as well, but in order to avoid the spoiler, no more will be said. Suffice it to say, those who want to feel that 'tug' at their heartstrings will not be disappointed.