Hachiko Monogatari (1987)

Director: Seijirô Kôyama. 

Cast: Kaoru Yachigusa, Mako Ishino, Masumi Harukawa.

Hachikō Monogatari  is a Japanese language film starring Tatsuya Nakadai, Kaoru Yachigusa, Mako Ishino and Masumi Harukawa. The film, directed by Seijirō Kōyama, is a tragic, true story about Hachikō, an Akita dog who was loyal to his master, Professor Ueno, even after his (Ueno's) death. The film was released in 1987 and was the top Japanese film at the box office that year.

Hachikō Monogatari is a melodramatic film that tells the true story of friendship, trust and affection of Japan's most faithful dog "Hachi", whose bronze statue, to this day, stands watch over Shibuya Station, Tokyo.

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The Bucket List (2007)

Director: Rob Reiner. 

Cast: Jack Nicholson, Morgan Freeman, Sean Hayes.

The Bucket List is a 2008 comedy-drama film directed by Rob Reiner, written by Justin Zackham, and starring Academy Award-winners Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman. The main plot follows two terminally ill men (portrayed by Nicholson and Freeman) on their road trip with a wish list of things to do before they "kick the bucket." The film received its premiere on December 15, 2007 in Hollywood. It opened in limited release in the United States and Canada on December 25, 2007 and was distributed by Warner Bros.

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Sang Pemimpi (2009)

Director: Riri Riza

Cast: 

Lukman Sardi, 

Mathias Muchus, 

Nugie, 

Landung Simatupang

Sang Pemimpi (The Dreamer) is a 2009 Indonesian film adaptation of Laskar Pelangi tetralogy second novel, Sang Pemimpi, by Andrea Hirata. The film was directed by Riri Riza with producer Mira Lesmana.

Planned to begin shooting in Belitung (Belitong, in the local language) on July 1, 2009 and scheduled for completion on August 21, 2009, andwill be conducted at several locations in Manggar, Tanjung Pandan,Jakarta and Bogor. The film is scheduled to be aired in theaters in Indonesia began December 17, 2009.

The Dreamer will be the opening film in the Jakarta International Film Festival (JiFFest) 2009 on December 4, 2009, and became the first Indonesian film to be the first opener since JiFFest in 1999. Sang Pemimpi is the second best-selling movie in Indonesia2009 with a total audience of 1.9 million.

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Marley & Me (2008)

Director: David Frankel.

Starring: Owen Wilson, Jennifer Aniston, Eric Dane.

Marley & Me is a 2008 American dramedy film directed by David Frankel. The screenplay by Scott Frank and Don Roos is based on the memoir of the same title by John Grogan. The film was released in the United States and Canada on December 25, 2008, and set a record for the largest Christmas Day box office ever with $14.75 million in ticket sales

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Simon Birch (1998)

Director: Mark Steven Johnson. 
Starring: Joseph Mazzello, Ashley Judd, Oliver Platt.

Simon Birch is a 1998 American comedy-drama film loosely based on A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving. It was directed and written for the screen by Mark Steven Johnson. The film stars Ian Michael Smith, Joseph Mazzello, Ashley Judd, Oliver Platt, and Jim Carrey. It omitted much of the latter half of the novel and altered the ending. The movie does not share the book's title at Irving's request; he did not believe that this novel could successfully be made into a film. The name "Simon Birch" was suggested by him to replace that of Owen Meany. The main plot centers around 12-year old Joe Wenteworth and his best friend Simon Birch.

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3 Idiots (2009)

Starring: Aamir Khan, Kareena Kapoor, Sharman Joshi, R. Madhavan and Boman Irani
Director: Raju Hirani

      Farhan Qureshi (R. Madhavan), Raju Rastogi (Sharman Joshi), and Rancchoddas Shamaldas Chanchad "Rancho" (Aamir Khan) are three engineering students who share a room in a hostel at the Imperial College of Engineering "ICE". Farhan is studying engineering to pursue his father's wishes over his own wish to become a wildlife photographer. Raju is studying to raise his family's fortunes while Rancho, driven by his passion for machines and devices, studies for joy of it. However, due to this different approach Rancho incurs the wrath of dean of college, Professor Viru Shahastrabudhi (Virus) (Boman Irani). Rancho irritates lecturers with his creative and unorthodox answers. He confronts Virus after fellow student Joy Lobo commits suicide. Joy had requested an extension on his major project on compassionate grounds— Virus refused any extension. Rancho denounces the dog-eat-dog, rat race mentality of the institution, blaming it for Lobo's death.

     Virus labels Rancho and his friends as "idiots" and attempts on a number of occasions to break up Rancho's friendship with Farhan and Raju. In contrast, Virus’ favorite student is Chatur Ramalingam or "Silencer", (Omi Vaidya) whose thinking is completely opposite from Racho who toes the line of the system, believes in mindless memorizing over understanding, in order to reach his goals of corporate and social status. On Teacher's Day Chatur is awarded the honour of making a speech. Since Rancho is well aware of Chatur's nature Rancho substitutes some of the speech paper with obscene words which has been written by the librarian. As expected, Chatur mindlessly memorises the speech, aided by his lack of understanding of Hindi. His speech becomes the laughing stock of the audience, infuriating the authorities in the process.

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Chariots of Fire (1981)

Starring: Ben Cross, Ian Charleson, Nigel Havers
Director: Hugh Hudson

     The true story of  two young  athletes who ran for Great Britain in the 1924 Paris Olympics, Chariots of Fire crosses into the bigotry of the day and how sports and common goal can bring each out of the hate. Protestant Eric Liddell  runs to be closer  to God. Jewish Harold Abrahams runs for the love of it but is consistently taunted for his faith. Together their competitive nature forges a friendship where both ultimately race to victory to the tune of Vangelis's unforgettable musical score.


      In 1919, Harold Abrahams (Ben Cross) enters Cambridge University, where he experiences anti-Semitism from the staff, but enjoys participating in the Gilbert and Sullivan club. He becomes the first person to ever complete the Trinity Great Court Run — running around the college courtyard in the time it takes for the clock to strike 12. Abrahams achieves an undefeated string of victories in various national running competitions. Although focused on his running, he falls in love with a leading Gilbert and Sullivan soprano, Sybil (Alice Krige).

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Rudy (1993)

Director: David Anspaugh

Stars: Sean Astin, Jon Favreau and Ned Beatty 

 

      Daniel Eugene "Rudy" Ruettiger grows up in Joliet, Illinois, dreaming of playing college football at the University of Notre Dame. While achieving some success with his local high school team (Joliet Catholic), he lacks the grades and money to attend Notre Dame, not to mention talent and physical size. Ruettiger was much smaller than an average football player, standing just 5'6" (1.68 m) and weighing 165 lb (75 kg).

     Ruettiger takes a job at a local steel mill like his father Daniel Ruettiger, Sr. (a Notre Dame fan); he prepares to settle down. But when his best friend Pete is killed in an explosion there, Rudy decides to follow his dream of attending Notre Dame and playing for the Fighting Irish.

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The Kite Runner (2007)

     Starring: Khalid Abdalla, Homayoun Ershadi, Zekiria Ebrahimi, Shaun Toub
     Director: Marc Forster, Rebecca Yeldham 

     Based upon the autobiographical book The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini, this epic story  journeys from childhood through adulthood beginning in Afghanistan pre-Taliban and ending in modern day San Francisco.  It's the story of two friends split apart by war, shame and a lie.  It's the story of a father struggling to raise his son as the world he knows crashes down around him and he suddenly finds himself on the wrong side of politics.  

     Multifaceted, heartwarming and educational this is a great family film to share with tweens and teens and discuss afterward.  Many life lessons and morality issues the end in redemption and reunification of heart, soul and family. Not recommended for children under twelve.
      In Kabul, prior to the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, well-to-do young boy Amir and his loyal young Hazara servant Hassan are best of friends. Amir enjoys writing and literature, reading stories to the eager but illiterate Hassan. Amir's Baba (father), is contemptuous of Amir's writing and privately regards him as a weakling for letting Hassan protect him from bullies. Baba's friend Rahim Khan demonstrates interest and encouragement to Amir. Assef, a bully with rancor towards Hazaras, and two accomplices confront Hassan and Amir, but Hassan prevents the attack with a slingshot, a birthday gift from Amir. Assef swears revenge, ridiculing their relationship as mere master and servant.

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The Sawshank Redemption (1994)

Starring: Tim Robbins, Morgan Freeman, Bob Gunton, James Whitmore
Director: Frank Darabont

      In 1947, banker Andrew "Andy" Dufresne (Tim Robbins) is convicted of murdering his wife and her lover, based on strong circumstantial evidence. He is sentenced to two consecutive life sentences at Shawshank State Penitentiary in Maine, run by Warden Samuel Norton (Bob Gunton). Andy is quickly befriended by Ellis Boyd "Red" Redding (Morgan Freeman), an inmate serving a life sentence whose parole application was recently rejected. Red is known for obtaining contraband and Andy has him obtain him a rock hammer to maintain his rock collection hobby, allowing him to create small stone chessmen from rock. Andy later obtains a large poster of Rita Hayworth from Red, followed in later years by Marilyn Monroe and Raquel Welch.

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