The last long weekend of the summer is here which also means it’s back-to-school time as well. Some of the best Hollywood movies ever made have been based in school. There are so many “coming of age” teenage/school movies such as Grease, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, Superbad, American Pie, American Graffitti, Dazed and Confused, National Lampoon’s Animal House, 16 Candles, Detroit Rock City, Old School, and probably the biggest teenage/school movie ever, The Breakfast Club. We’ve picked the best of this genre from the last five decades, from the 1970′s to present day. If you plan on staying in and enjoying the last long weekend of the summer of 2012, here are some movie choices for you.

National Lampoon’s Animal House (1978): Directed by John Landis and starring John Belushi, Mark Metcalf, & Kevin Bacon. Based in the 1960′s, this movie focuses on a group of misfit college fraternity kids that challenge the dean of their college. When two freshman try to join the Omega frat, they are instead pledged into Delta House, a frat known for their unorthodox rejects who are on the fringes of the “respectable” side of college. Toga parties, road trips, excessive drinking, and other misadventures run rampant throughout this classic. National Lampoon’s Animal House is a tribute to people who are picked on, ridiculed, and not accepted into regular society. (instant video via Amazon or purchase via Amazon here)

Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (1986): Directed by John Hughes and starring Matthew Broderick, Alan Ruck, and Mia Sara. Ferris, played by Matthew Broderick sets out to have a day off while skipping school. He convinces his girlfriend, Sloane (played by Mia Sara) and his best friend Cameron, (played by Alan Ruck), to also skip classes and head into downtown Chicago. This movie was ground-breaking because it showed Ferris speaking directly to the camera as he explained his thoughts and techniques on how to manipulate his situation. From baseball games, to singing “Twist and Shout” by The Beatles in a parade, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off is a fun movie showing you the perspective of a teenage kid who enjoys having some fun. (instant video via Amazon or purchase via Amazon here)

Dazed and Confused (1993): Directed by Richard Linklater and a cast full of soon to be (at that time), stars with Jason London, Milla Jovovich, Ben Affleck, Adam Goldberg, & Matthew McConaughey in one of his greatest roles as David Wooderson. Dazed and Confused is set in the last day of school in June of 1976. Dazed and Confused was not a box office smash yet has become a cult classic with so many distinctive quotes. The clothing, the cars, and the soundtrack are all authentic 1970′s so if you didn’t know it was made in 1993, you would think it was from the 70′s. If you were a teenager in the 1970′s this movie will bring back memories and if you weren’t a teenager back in the 1970 ‘s, Dazed and Confused will make you wish you were.  (instant video via Amazon or purchase via Amazon here)

Superbad (2007): Directed by Greg Mottola and starring Jonah Hill, Michael Cera, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Seth Rogen, & Emma Stone.  Seth (Jonah Hill) and Evan (Michael Cera) are two high school seniors set out to win over the girls they like at a party thrown by Jules (Emma Stone). The saviour of the movie is Fogell, aka McLovin (Christopher Mintz-Plasse), the geeky kid that gets a fake ID to buy alcohol for the big party. If you’re offended by vulgar language and adolescent behaviour than Superbad is not the movie for you however this is one of the movies that has so many great scenes and great lines that you will find yourself laughing uncontrollably. (instant video via Amazon or purchase via Amazon here)

The Breakfast Club (1985): Directed by John Hughes and starring Judd Nelson, Molly Ringwald, Emilio Estevez, Anthony Michael Hall, Ally Sheedy, & Paul Gleason. No other teen movie has captured the attention of a genre like The Breakfast Club. One of the most popular hits from a soundtrack, “Don’t You Forget About Me’ by Simple Minds is from this movie. Five kids are in detention on a Saturday, all five from total different backgrounds, and all forced to spend the day in the library together. This movie is hilarious and an absolute time piece from the 1980′s. With it’s humor, there are some serious  issues dealt with.  Domestic issues, stereo-types, teenage struggles, teenage crushes, and teens looking for a sense of belonging make The Breakfast Club a multi-generational movie. This movie is considered to be the best of its genre and after twenty-seven years, The Breakfast Club is still as popular as it was back in 1985. A classic to say the least. (instant video via Amazon or purchase via Amazon here) The video clip below features the hit song “Don’t You Forget About Me’ by Simple Minds.

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  1. The Godfather is considered to be the best mafia/mobster/gangster movie ever made. Marlon Brando, Al Pacino, Diane Keaton, James Caan, & Robert Duvall are just a handful of the spectacular cast in this movie.  With a running time of 175 minutes, (five minutes short of three hours!), The Godfather is simply a masterpiece.  Marlon Brando plays Victor Corleone who is the “don” of the Corleone family. Al Pacino plays Michael Corleone, Victor’s son who then takes over for the family after Victor passes away. The Godfather showed everyone how the mafia operates from the gangsters perspective. Critics love this movie and consider it to be the best of its genre and to some, the best movie ever made. There were two sequels, The Godfather: Part 2 & The Godfather Part 3 all which follow the family as it changes leaders and all the trials and tribulations of the mafia lifestyle.  All three movies are a must see.

2. Scarface also stars Al Pacino playing the role of Tony Montana, a Cuban refugee that takes over the underworld of Miami. This is a remake of the 1932 movie with the same name. Tony Montana and his best friend, Manny Ribera (Steven Bauer) overtake the criminal world in Miami in a short amount of time. They arrive from Cuba without any money and work there way up the underground ladder. They start off as dishwashers in a small restaurant and quickly go from carrying out hits on people to having their own empire. Scarface shows the rise and fall of a crime lord. He loses his wife, best friend (which Tony shoots), his workers, and in the end, he loses his life. Scarface  runs for a total of 170 minutes, just ten minutes shy of three hours.

3. Pulp Fiction written by Quentin Tarantino was a surprise hit when it was first released.  Starring Uma Thurman, Bruce Willis, Harvey Keitel, Samuel L. Jackson, and John Travolta (who’s career was rejuvenated because of his role as Vincent Vega). Pulp Fiction is structured around three different stories that all tie in together however since Quentin Tarantino favours a non-linear narrative, each story is out of sequence. Violence, suggestive language, and humour all play a vital role in this movie. The banter between Vincent Vega (Travolta) and Jules Winnfield (Jackson) leaves you laughing uncontrollably, ironic since they are both hitmen. There is so much going on in this movie one has to watch it to understand how brilliant it really is. The soundtrack, the funny one-liners, and the characters will instantly make this one of your favourite movies. Most of us learned what a  “quarter-pounder with cheese” is called in France because of Pulp Fiction.

4. Donnie Brasco, based on a true story, stars Johnny Depp as Donnie Brasco, (real name Joe Pistone) who is an undercover FBI agent sent to infiltrate the New York Bonanno crime family. Donnie is a jewel “expert” and wins the respect of Lefty Ruggiero, played by none other than acting legend, Al Pacino. Lefty vouches for Donnie and is allowed into their network. As the story unfolds, Donnie becomes more intertwined in the underground world and becomes more like Donnie the gangster than Joe the FBI agent. The FBI decide they have enough evidence to charge the Bonanno family with crimes of extortion, gambling, and murder. They abruptly stop the undercover sting and get Joe out of harms way. The acting and the story in Donnie Brasco is so intriguing and so intense, you will feel sorry for Lefty by the end of the movie.

5. Carlito’s Way also stars Al Pacino as Carlito Brigante.  Sean Penn, Penelope Ann Miller, John Leguizamo, and Luis Guzman star alongside Al Pacino is this mafia movie classic. Carlito is a Puerto Rican ex-con that vows to lead a clean lifestyle. Once he is out of prison, Carlito decides to own a night club from money he took from a drug deal that went wrong and finds himself back in the life of crime. Carlito reluctantly assists in a prison break that also goes the wrong way. He then decides it’s best to leave town with his girlfriend, Gail, (played by Penelope Ann Miller). A chase ensues as Italian gangsters go after Carlito. We don’t want to give the ending away so we will stop here but it is highly recommended to watch this movie. Al Pacino gives another great performance.

There are so many great mafia movies to watch in your home theater. These five are just some of our favourites of this genre. If you have not seen any of these or have only seen a few, we recommend a night in with any of these five choices.