Ben Hur was a classic film that talks about the rise, fall and restoration of a righteous Jew who was wrongfully imprisoned for a petty crime he did not commit. Sentenced to die, scheduled to be thrown in a far off island, and his family thrown to the dungeons, Ben Hur (the name of the main character) succeeded in escaping imprisonment by getting out of a sinking ship and saving the life of an influential Roman General. After finding wealth, success and favor with the general and to Caesar himself, he only had two things left to do: Finding his long lost family, and executing revenge to those who have done him wrong in the past.

In this chariot race scene, Ben Hur reunites with his old friend that betrayed him in the past:

The Godfather - Classic opening scene

The first movie in the "The Godfather" trilogy appeared in 1972, and it became a timeless classic since then. It became a platform of popularity and remembrance for actors and actresses such as Al Pacino, Marlon Brando, James Caan, Robert Duvall and Diane Keaton. The movie tells the saga of a powerful Mafia family named Corleone. It's a tale of crime, power, love, death, ambition and many other underlying themes. Even experienced movie watchers claim that though this film trilogy was released more than thre decades ago, it is still unsurpassed in overall finesse, plot and filmmaking.

Here's the classic opening scene from the Godfather (Part 1):

Forrest Gump - "Run, Forrest, Run!!" scene

Forrest Gump enabled Tom Hanks to win the best actor award for the second time. Playing the role of a retard and social reject, the protagonist captured the hearts of many movie watchers. Forrest Gump is a story of both failure and success. It's about courage and it seems to tell people that there's a reason to live. As we have said earlier, the protagonist is a retard, whom no one believed in, but he was able to get far in life and be an important factor in several momentous events in human history. The theme of the movie was embodied in one popular phrase: "Life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you're gonna get".

Here's one of the most memorable scenes from Forrest Gump:

Gladiator - Strength and Honor scene

The film "The Gladiator" won many Academy Awards after it was released in the year 2000. It shows the glory of Rome during its Golden Ages. Maximus, played by actor Russel Crowe, is an influential general who fought for the Roman Empire. He is a skilled warrior and exhibits battle prowess. Eventually, the righteous emperor who is good to Maximus suddenly died (due to murder). A new wicked emperor assumed power and tried to dispose Maximus and even obliterate his family. In short, Maximus lost everything, became a slave, and sold to a far off colony to become what people call as a Gladiator -a man who fights and risks his life for the entertainment of others.

Here's one of the most popular scenes from the Gladiator, which exhibits Maximus' motto in every battle - "Strength and Honor":

Titanic - The sinking ship scene

Who will ever forget the movie Titanic? It raked in dozens of Oscar and Golden Globe Awards in 1997, including Best Picture and Best Director. It also opened up doors of opportunity for young Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet. The film is about love, freedom, courage and survival. Obviously, when a seemingly unsinkable ship suddenly gets stuck in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, it certainly would make a good story, wouldn't it?

Here's the popular scene from the Titanic film (it's a little bit mushy for me, but I'm posting it anyway):

Saving Private Ryan - The Omaha Beach D-Day battle scene

Very few films have been made about the gruesome and brutal reality of the Normandy Invasion during World War 2. Saving Private Ryan, directed by Steven Spielberg, gives a searing account of this dark yet succesful moment in history. After watching the film, your concept of war will surely never be the same again. This film also has a strong effect on youngsters who love the thrill of being in a simulated war zone, where everything feels and looks real. It's like going back to World War 2 and experiencing the entire thing.

Here's the scene:

Silence Of The Lambs - Conversation Between Clarice and Doctor Hannibal

Silence of the Lambs is a psychological thriller that goes deep inside the mind of a serial killer and a hardworking detective who was depraved during childhood. Surprisingly, the detective and the serial killer (who was a prisoner) develops a strange psychological bond and rapport. While the serial killer's main objective was to escape from prison, the detective's goal is to get in touch with her past and get rid of her inner demons that have been hiding within for her entire life.

Here's a creepy and mind boggling scene from Silence Of The Lambs:

"The Prestige" -- boasting a heavyweight cast composed of Hugh Jackman, Christian Bale, Scarlett Johansson, Michael Caine, David Bowie, Piper Perabo, and Andy "Gollum" Serkis -- is a tale of two rival magicians (Bale as Alfred Border and Jackman as Ruper Angier) who plied their trade in London around the turn of the century. Their fierce competition turns increasingly dangerous, prompting Angier's mentor (played by M. Caine) to suspect that Border has real magical powers.

What makes this film interesting is that both Jackman and Bale have recently played comic book heroes: as Wolverine and Batman, respectively. The Prestige, based on a 1995 book bearing the same title, alludes to the residue that remains after a magician has successfully performed his trick.

The same dual dilemma is also evident in "The Departed", which topbills Jack Nicholson as mob boss Frank Costello. A remake of the popular 2002 Hong Kong thriller "Internal Affairs", the movie also features Leonardio DiCaprio, Matt Damon, Mark Wahlberg, Martin Sheen, Alec Baldwin, etc.

DiCaprio stars as an uncover cop (Billy Costigan) who infiltrates the criminal syndicate headed by Costello, in a parallel move with Matt Damon (Colin Sullivan), a criminal figure who joins the police force as a "mole" for the mob. Both undergo intense stress and fine-tuned tightrope walking as they gather information for their respective sides without divulging their real identities.

Incidentally, this movie also marks the third time that Leonardo DiCaprio and Martin Scorcese have worked together.

Judging from the trailers of both movies, it looks like October is going to be a worthwhile month for moviegoers. The weighty names being bandied about and the high-caliber directors who are crafting these films should be a sufficient magnet for fans of both genres.