My top 10 dramatic movies in no particular order are:

Braveheart
The Last of the Mohicans
Legends of the Fall
Glory
The Shawshank Redemption
Gladiator
Unforgiven
A River Runs Through It
The Last Samurai
Tombstone

A lot of common threads here, but the basic elements of why I like them:

- They are set in the past, and tell a story of a transcendent story.
- They have great casts with great acting
- They have common themes of honor, perseverance, and are generally virtuous.
- They are have great production value (good soundtracks, costumes, direction, etc.)



SO...... If YOU had to bump something on this list to add one of your TOP favorites, WHAT MOVIE WOULD YOU ADD?

I have seen a ton of movies, but maybe I haven't seen a great movie out there that fits this style.

If you don't mind subtitles, I'd add either City of God or The Lives of Others. Amazing films from Brazil and Germany.

my suggestions? don't restrict yourself to the "epic action drama" if you enjoy good movies. i'd be pretty bummed if that list (while good man movies) was all i could watch.

some movies that i really like that aren't on every "dude's" movie list that deserve a look:
gone baby gone
kiss kiss bang bang
in bruges
midnight in paris
silver linings playbook
leon
spartan
pan's labyrinth - could be considered a qualifier for your original list


now that's a random collection of movies!

Godfather
Cool Hand Luke
Dr. Stangelove

No comedies? Young Frankenstein, Airplane

spaceballs

True Grit - the Coen Bros. version

Since you like "Braveheart", I'll throw in another one from Mel Gibson, "The Patriot".

[This message has been edited by Rex Racer (edited 10/23/2013 4:34p).]

No Goodfellas? Turn in your man card, immediately

I would add that you should check out any or all David Lean movies for starters.

Gangs of New York

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in bruges

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Love this movie. Not sure it really meets OP's criteria, but regardless, it is awesome and everyone should see it.

The Great Escape

It doesn't quite fit the 'past' motif, but Children of Men is brilliant.

I'd check out Black Robe, too.

The Shawshank Redemption (Greatest movie ever made, imo)
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
Almost Famous
Se7en
Forrest Gump
Gladiator
The Patriot
Secondhand Lions
Tombstone
Remember the Titans
Fight Club
The Godfather

Those are some of my favorite drama(ish) movies. I know a lot don't fit in your criteria... but oh well.

You guys misspelled Raiders of the Lost Ark.

The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford

Atonement
Gangs of New York ( if you can get past the fact that Cameron Diaz tries to ruin it)

Bridge on the River Kwai
Cool Hand Luke
The Great Escape

Black Hawk Down
We Were Soldiers

[This message has been edited by Smash Williams (edited 10/23/2013 8:19p).]

Casablanca
The Longest Day

Solid list OP

Master and Commander
Dances with Wolves
Schindlers list
Saving Private Ryan
Gallipoli
Das Boot

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- They are set in the past, and tell a story of a transcendent story.
- They have great casts with great acting
- They have common themes of honor, perseverance, and are generally virtuous.
- They are have great production value (good soundtracks, costumes, direction, etc.)

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Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 3 hits most of these

Forgot about Master and Commander... love that movie.

Does the movie have to be from the 90's ()?

If not, I would also put Bridge on River Kwai in the list - more drama than action (lots listed on here I would consider more action).

Would also add Lawrence of Arabia -- BEAUTIFUL movie.

OP, it seems you are looking for historical dramas.

Lawrence of Arabia
Spartacus
To Kill a Mockingbird
Ben Hur

Apollo 13

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Cool Hand Luke

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Anything with Paul Newman in it.

quote:

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Anything with Paul Newman in it.

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Breaker Morant. Great historical movie that touches on themes that permeate throughout today.

Lots of older and foreign movies fit your criteria, but not everyone is open to exploring those movies.

Out of the ones mentioned, The Lives of Others and Lawrence of Arabia are both films you absolutely must see. I would add maybe my favorite film, The Third Man with Orson Welles. I never get tired of that movie.

Two more:

LA Confidential
Quiz Show

What would you classify Big Fish as? Hits most of those points.

One of my favorites of all time, always thought it was a little underrated.

Saving Private Ryan should be on everyone's list.

Zulu

ditto on

The Godfather

and I suggest

One Flew Over the Cukoo's Nest

I didn't like it, but I'm sure many would support

Citizen Kane

and my darkhorse nominee, even though it's unfortunately pigeonholed as seasonal:

It's a Wonderful Life

I thought Ravenous was a pretty decent movie.