I try to reserve this rating for movies that I can unreservedly and enthusiastically recommend to all adults. (Some are obviously not appropriate for kids, and a few might not appeal to all tastes--e.g., Speed and Sense and Sensibility, for obviously different reasons.) I enjoy watching these movies over and over again whenever I get the chance and even own several of them on video. (NOTE: Dates covered are mid-1983 through 1996. I didn't start using stars until late 1989, so ratings for movies older than that have been added after the fact. Also, I did not write as many reviews as Siskel & Ebert. These are definitely NOT the only 5-star movies to come out during this period; they're just the ones I have reviews for.)
ALIENS (a sequel better, although just barely,
than the original)
ALL OF ME
AMADEUS
APOLLO 13
BACK TO THE FUTURE, PART 2
BACK TO THE FUTURE, PART 3
(First one is the best, though)
BATMAN
(This series went downhill fast, but I still remember how blown away I was
when I saw the first one.)
BLOOD SIMPLE
CRIMES AND MISDEMEANORS
DEAD POETS SOCIETY
DIRTY ROTTEN SCOUNDRELS
ENGLISH PATIENT, THE
FANTASIA
(Not only wonderful, but also completely unique; definitely not for kids
only.)
FEW GOOD MEN, A
HANNAH AND HER SISTERS
INNERSPACE
KILLING FIELDS (not easy to watch, but AWFULLY
good)
LONE STAR
(Especially a must-see for residents of South Texas.)
NAME OF THE ROSE, THE (book, by Umberto Eco, is
also neat)
QUIZ SHOW
SENSE AND SENSIBILITY
(Yes, I was an English major!)
SPEED
(But not a snooty one 
)
TERMINATOR 2: JUDGEMENT DAY (original was also really good)
TOY STORY
(This is another movie that people without kids might miss out on; don't
do it! It's terrific!)
VERTIGO (re-released in 1984)
WHAT ABOUT BOB?
WHO FRAMED ROGER RABBIT?
(Another kids' movie not to be missed!)
ZELIG
If you want to go to another section of my movie review database, click on the appropriate letter or star rating below.
My rating system, more or less:
Definitely worth a look, even if you usually don't like the stars or the
kind of movie
Could go either way
Only if you are REALLY
bored
Not even if it's free
