The Dirty '90s

[TobalRox]

Black Rain: Mostly a by-the-numbers action/noir picture notable for its oustanding visual style, again the product of Ridley Scott. Michael Douglas is the hard-boiled, fish out of water American detective in Tokyo who resolves to avenge his partner's murder.

I believe it was a remake, but I finally got around to seeing this flick last year and I really enjoyed it.

Demolition Man: Shares the urban dystopia backstory of Predator 2 but then runs a play-action fake in a different direction: it's a 1984-style action-comedy picture! After mass murderer Wesley Snipes is released from his cryoprison into the Los Angeles of the future, rogue cop Sly Stallone is thawed out and ordered to catch him. Great idea marred by some horrific product placement and the casting of Stallone in the lead role. Snipes is the best thing in this movie. Oh and Dennis Leary is good too.

I just was having a conversation tonight with some people about this tonight.. I enjoyed it, and I don't care who knows it hehe... My biggest guilty pleasure though is Last Action Hero... just so shitty in all the right ways.

If you go the horror route, I just saw Dr. Giggles for the first time tonight and it was with a group of people who had never seen it and we were all laughing our asses off at it... they just don't make movies like that anymore.

Have you read the story it's based on, Richard Connell's "The Most Dangerous Game?" Great story.

And then watch The Pest

[g0zen]

And then watch The Pest

You think you are so fucking cool, don't you? You think you are so fucking cool. But just once, I would like to hear you scream in pain.


Anyway:

Total Recall - Few people do dystopian futurescapes like Paul Verhoven, and this movie is no exception. Arnie being his usual 'action movie' self, but in Verhoven flicks there's always just a little more of an edge to the action, the gunshots seem more real, the wounds on camera appear more visceral and all females fall into the noir mold of femme fatales or helpless damsels (though this film actually stands that one convention on its head when Arnie selects both slutty AND demure for Melina and she acts it in the film, switching between a self-assured warrior woman to helpless sex object constantly).

Army of Darkness - The cult film made famous by children of the 80s and the Japanese, this film is Sam Raimi's attempt to do a modern adventure film in the vein of the old Sinbad movies. Campbell delivers the comedy through snappy one-liners and a masterful grasp of slapstick. The redone ending (also known the "S-Mart Ending") with Ash having forsaken his potential life of royalty in privilege in the past to come back and work at this chain store because as he puts it "my place is here." While unintentional, this does reflect something of the 'corporate culture' that really began around that time.

Jurassic Park - A movie that seems a shallow popcorn romp with dinosaurs, this was one of the first major pop culture takes on the burgeoning field of genetics, with the Human Genome Project having only begun three years prior in '90, the public was only now really starting to get the most rudimentary understanding and had begun to consider the ethical ramifications. Though not a better movie than Schindler's List, this movie brought home the big bucks to Spielburg.

Home Alone - A stupid comedy that unintentionally displays caucasian paranoia in the wake of the 'white flight'.

Terminator 2: Judgment Day - How could any of you have forgotten about this sci-fi classic of the early '90s? I won't prattle on about it because all of you must know everything there is about the film already.

[Dolemite]

Ah, the early 90's. The "macho" action movies that dominated the 80's were still there, but they were beginning to mutate into strange new forms before almost dying out altogether late in the decade. They're still around today, but they're not even close to being as bad-ass (or gay).

[Chux]

fast food wars ftw.

Taco Bell is the only restaurant in the future.

[Diff-chan]

Ah, the early 90's. The "macho" action movies that dominated the 80's were still there, but they were beginning to mutate into strange new forms before almost dying out altogether late in the decade. They're still around today, but they're not even close to being as bad-ass (or gay).

Considering how shitty the country is again don't be surprised to see a resurgence around 2008.

I've already noted in another thread how videogames are dealing with "America as a dying empire" themes, and you're nuts if you don't think movies will do the same.

[Chux]

It started in MGS2, and MGS4 is going to continue it.

I know you don't like the series Diff, but it's a PERFECT example.

[Diff-chan]

It started in MGS2, and MGS4 is going to continue it.

I know you don't like the series Diff, but it's a PERFECT example.

I brought it up in the MGS4 thread.

[Dolemite]

Considering how shitty the country is again don't be surprised to see a resurgence around 2008.

Well, of course. Everything old is new again.

[g0zen]

Taco Bell is the only restaurant in the future.

ENHANCE YOUR CALM, CHUX!

[Bacon McShig]

I like how their reasoning was that it was the only healthy fast food chain... lawls x infinity.