Without much more ado...we enter the 90s, which for the first couple of years were comparatively less watchable on-screen than 1989. Was Katherine Heigl in movies then, too? Let's start with 1990:
1990
Air America- a disappointment to this day. My wife and I watched this on Encore somewhat recently. It goes to show that putting two popular "hunky" actors toegether in a movie is not guaranteed success.
Another 48 Hours- another disappointment...of course it was a sequel, so there is that factor. However, I remember laughing a bit as a teenager, but did not bother seeing it again after that.
Bird on a Wire- Mel Gibson apparently let Lethal Weapon 2's success go to his head. If Air America wasn't bad enough, then this was.
Back to the Future 3- now we have a suitable end to a series! Watchable all the way through, I can still watch this and enjoy it to this day.
Die Hard 2- great action, wish they'd made a video game for it!
The Godfather Part 3- Granted, I'd never seen the first or second movies. That fact in itself made me want to see them. This one, however, was bad on a 2nd viewing.
Taking Care of Business- Ordinarily Jim Belushi isn't a box office draw, but this one was and still is funny.
1991
Addams Family- Didn't actually see this until it was 2nd run while I was in college. OK movie, but let's face it: Raul Julia was a great actor, but John Asin WAS Gomez Addams.
City Slickers- Funny then, funny now. I look at it a bit differently now, though, because I'm the age the main characters were at then.
The Doors- I still love Val Kilmer as Jim Morrison! However, it is a 1-sided story that shows the singer going from good to bad to worse. Later readings showed Morrison on more of a rollercoaster ride throughout the years. As a new Doors fan, I loved the soundtrack, then found the original albums to have more value.
Hook- Ummm, another 2nd run viewing in early 92...it was ok, just ran long. This was Dustin Hoffman's movie, not Robin Williams's.
Naked Gun 2 1/2- All right, it's a guilty pleasure to this day, this and its original! Fine, I said it! Let's move on...
Point Break- Looked good on previews, looked bad on actual viewing. Patrick Swayze is never believable as a bad guy and Keanu Reeves is rarely if ever believable as an actor.
Star Trek 6- Antoher 2nd run viewing in a lackluster theater during college. That being said, this was the right movie for the original crew to go out on, and Christopher Plummer IS and always will be a believable villain, especially as a Klingon!
Overall, 1991 was lacking in quality, at least according to this list. Let's see what 1992 has to offer.
1992
Batman Returns- I'm ashamed, deeply ashamed to have looked forward to this.
A Few Good Men- Still good! Tom Cruise should look at this from time to time and realize what a purely cheap thrill can do for an audience without all the FX!
Lethal Weapon 3- Ok, but a dud really. Joe Pesci's scenes just killed it.
Patriot Games- Good action. I wondered, though, what it would have been like with Alec Baldwin instead of an older Harrison Ford as Jack Ryan.
My Cousin Vinny- Saw this on Spring Break in San Diego. It is and was funny. A timeless classic!
Under Siege- Maybe the best Steven Seagal ever, because they actually hired a good director and writer. Gary Busey and Tommy Lee Jones as the bad guys are the scene-stealers.
Hmm, now that I look at it, 1992 is worse than 1990 or 91! Will 1993 improve? Let's find out.
1993
The Firm- great legal thriller! I can always see this.
The Fugitive- this may be my favorite film to this day! Once again Tommy Lee Jones steals the show and he earned his Oscar here!
Groundhog Day- always a feel-good movie, and makes one wonder what other small American towns celebrate. always a feel-good movie, and makes one wonder what other small American towns celebrate. always a feel-good movie, and makes one wonder what other small American towns celebrate.
In the Line of Fire- great Eastwood movie, but once again the villain John Malkovich steals the show.
Tombstone- One of my favorite westerns! Val Kilmer AND Kurt Russell shine in this.
OK...not much of an improvement for a year. I'm almost afraid to see 1994. OK, here goes-
1994
Clear and Present Danger- A good Jack Ryan film...but as usual the plot got convoluted in trying to be true to the novel or being independent form the novel. I have a hard time staying awake thorugh this one.
The Client- I'd read the book already, and I was pleasantly surprised at the film. This was one of many Tommy Lee Jones flicks that capitalized on his Fugitive success...not all were good, but this was!
Exit to Eden- saw this in college with my new friends. It was ok, and I have trouble seeing how funny it seemed then. But...if you're a fan of Dana Delany, it's worth it.
Forrest Gump- A favorite then, a favorite now! Saw it 4 times at the theater and proud of it.
Maverick- I still like this one. Mel Gibson was starting to get funnier in his own right, and James Garner is always a treat.
Pulp Fiction- Ezekiel 25:17...classic quote by a 'Fro-wigged Samuel L. Jackson. I love this one even if others do not.
The Santa Clause- A great Christmas film that we as a family still enjoy every year.
The Ref- I was a Denis Leary newbie fan at the time, but this is a Christmas classic of its own right, about the darker dysfunctional family holidays that besmirch many households each year. It is still a classic!
Speed- a rare classic Keanu Reeves flick, but Dennis Hopper is the winner here, as is new star Sandra Bullock. I can still watch this over and over...as long as Keanu's short righeous speeches are muted now and then.
Star Trek Generations- Yawn! Next!
So yes, that was a fuller year! College really helped me to get out and enojy life at the movies more. It would in the next year as well...
1995
Apollo 13- OK, but too many crises on that mission made it a tense movie...not a favorite.
Batman Forever- Tommy Lee Jones Strikes Again...yawn...next!
The Brady Bunch Movie- now this is the way to honor and lampoon an American classic. Once every 2 years is a good viewing schedule at best.
Casino- long, violent, and too much Joe Pesci...next!
Crimson Tide- good submarine suspense film. Denzel vs Hackman.
Desperado- Antonio Banderas at his best, which isn't saying much, I guess...but a good action flick nonetheless!
Die Hard with a Vengeance- yawn, next!
Get Shorty- when a film is made for John Travolta, you have to know what to expect...not so good anymore.
Goldeneye- my first Bond movie in a theater...good, but it made for a better video game.
Heat- Pacino vs DeNiro, long but I still like it!
Jerky Boys- dumb, dumber and dumbest all at once...even Alan Arkin can't save this
Money Train- fun then, dumb now, even with a young J Lo
The Net- great Sandra Bullock suspense movie. Dated computer-wise but still relevant in the Big Brother sense
The Usual Suspects- Kaiser Sose...apart from that, can't watch this anymore
While You Were Sleeping- another good Bullock film...now SHE was one who capitalized well on a previous hit film...not all of hers were winners, but she's still going strong!
Ah yes, film-going in college was a regular thing and there was a lot to see (but not always enjoy)....next, 1996 to 2002, the Golden Age
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