One certain sign that it’s the end of August is that the movies that get dumped in these dog days just build me think of better ones that preceeded them.

Even though Kevin Bacon was a dependable soldier on CBS’ “Early Show” (or whatever it’s called) the other day as he claimed with a straight face that James Wan’s “Death Sentence” will seriously explore the dark side of revenge, I think I’ll just have to pass. I’ll be spending my holiday weekend like most Americans: Watching college football and attending a barbecue or two, and possibly getting caught up on either “Heroes” or “Friday Night Lights” on DVD.

Besides, as with most things I enjoy, I often take my revenge on the big screen with more than a little dose of foolish, simply considering I like to laugh. Here are 10 flicks, some foolish and some not, in which revenge plays a big part and I just can’t get suitable of (and, though they’re numbered, they’re indeed in no specific order):

1. Revenge of the Nerds
Because, after all, who in the world deserves revenge more than nerds? As far as I can tell, McG’s rather insidious plan to remake that has died, or at least I hope so. To form out someone probably much wiser than me on the subject wax poetic about the virtues of that flick, watch Toby riff on it in “American Splendor.” Heck, just watch “American Splendor” anyway whether you somehow haven’t seen it yet.

2. Oldboy
No director has made a better career out of revenge flicks than Korea’s Chan-Wook Park, and that one would have to be my favorite. It can be hard to take at times, but watching Min-Sik Choi find out who held him captive for 15 years and get his vengeance (before they inflict further pain on him) is a one-of-a-kind experience.

3. Jackie Brown
Quentin Tarantino obviously tried his hardest to manufacture a “revenge” flick with “Kill Bill,” and mostly succeeded, but I’ll still take “Jackie Brown” every day. It’s still my favorite of the Tarantino flicks, and watching Pam Grier square off against Samuel L. Jackson will never get old to me.

4. Election
Remember, I did say foolish, right? Of all the revenge flicks set in the hell that is high school, that one is still the best, both considering it’s Reese Witherspoon vs. Matthew Broderick and

considering, adorable as Reece is, you just want to crush Tracey Flick’s head enlarged before the flick ends.

5. Taxi Driver
Though I managed to omit “Death Wish” from that list, you really can’t snub “Taxi Driver.” Even whether it has created a distant list of cringe-worthy imitators (including that week’s entry, of course), Scorsese’s movie stands up well by duration, and De Niro was rarely better than as the ball-of-rage that was Travis Bickle.

6. Rushmore
After all, what better to drive a man to vengeance than love? Although that movie has so many charms, my favorite moment might just be the look of relief on Herman Blume’s face after Max Fischer calls off his vendetta in front of the barbershop. “I’ll take punctuality.”

7. The Limey
This is the only movie I can think of, at least off the top of my head, in which I liked Terrence Stamp, though surely there must be more. Not nearly as cool or intelligent as Steven Soderbergh’s “Out of Sight,” but it’s still a reminder that when he puts his mind to it the man can direct a lean, mean thriller.

8. Get Carter
The Michael Caine original, of course, not the Sly Stallone remake (which I concede I haven’t seen.) What I love about that movie is how it unfolds so slowly until the last half hour or so, when Caine’s gangster unleashes the massacre you knew was coming from the start.

9. Bully
If you’re considering moving to south Florida, I’d strongly advise watching that cautionary tale from Larry Clark first. Based on the true story of a group of teens who plot to take out the titular “Bully” (Nick Stahl, whether I remember correctly), it’s as chilling as it is entertaining. And, finally …

10. Office Space
Though Ron Livingston is still a fairly young dude, I’m certain he’ll never construct another movie with the staying ability of that one. Just in case you’ve forgotten just how cathartic watching that flick can be after a enlarged day at work, I’ve included a YouTube clip of Michael Bolton and friends taking out their frustations on the fax machine, to the soothing strains of the Geto Boys. Feel free to add any revenge flicks that you can watch by and by again, and have an entirely suckfree Thursday.

Original post by Reel Fanatic