#1990movies

[ghostbusters-101]

From 1990 film Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

[adamwatchesmovies]

A Wind Named Amnesia (1990)

A Wind Named Amnesia gets real nutty, even laughable during its conclusion. This misstep isn't enough to detract from its great premise and interesting characters.

In the near future of 1999, a wave of amnesia has swept the globe. All humans have forgotten their names, how to drive, write, communicate… everything but their most basic survival instincts. In this post-apocalyptic world, Wataru (voiced by Adam Henderson) has re-learned how to speak. Accompanied by a mysterious woman named Sophia, he searches for any inkling of re-emerging civilization.

It's refreshing to see a post-apocalyptic setting free from Mad Max wannabees. In this world, civilization disappeared overnight. There’s plenty of stuff to scavenge and even a decent amount of people around, but they’re cavemen-like brutes. Common knowledge and being able to recognize something as a machine and not as a god makes Wataru the most intelligent man on Earth. Despite his advantages, there are dangers on all sides: the many barbarians he encounters, as well as remnants of the futuristic civilization fallen into disrepair. One of the best scenes introduces a large, armored, semi-intelligent law enforcement robot (kind of like ED-209). It asks people to drop their weapons and get down on the ground. Of course, nobody understands, so it attacks. There’s a nice bit of irony as the peace-keeping machine becomes a danger to everyone.

Wataru's episodic adventures have him meet multiple characters, each of which makes you wonder what will come next. My one issue with the movie is the character of Sophia. She is only in the film to give a ludicrous explanation for the titular “Wind Named Amnesia” and to spew some pseudo-philosophical jargon. It's yet another example of a film that explains too much. What does it matter if Wataru finds out what caused the memory loss? What is he going to do, travel back in time, and prevent it from happening? Sometimes things are better left to the unknown.

The explanation is bad, but not nearly as much as the “deep” message Sophia asks us to contemplate. She asks Wataru whether or not mankind is not better off, or more comfortable with its ignorance. On the surface, you see why Sophia might think so. People aren’t tied to jobs they hate all day making money to pay their debts, corrupt government officials are all gone and humanity has reverted to its roots, living off the land and enjoying freedoms we'd forgotten about. Well, in theory anyway. The further into the plot we get, the more you realize her argument is nothing more than a shallow teenage mentality. Humans obviously are not better off. How many people died on the very first day because they suddenly couldn’t remember how to fly a plane or drive a car? How many died of starvation because they couldn’t figure out how to open their front door? How many have become sick from easily treatable diseases since? Let’s not forget the numerous amounts of people who have been killed in tribal warfare. And what about all of the good things that civilized society has brought us, like music, art, or… anime?

The film concludes on a note that hardly makes any sense and for good measure, there’s a sex scene thrown in that tries way too hard to convince you that there might be some merit to abandoning civilization. It’s too bad because for the most part, it's solid.

Although it morphs into the ridiculous and flat-out dumb, the film - complete with its ending - did get a reaction out of me. A Wind Named Amnesia is surprisingly good until it isn't but the idea is there and what it does well make it worth checking out. I’d like to see this one re-made with Sophia omitted, or turned into a villain! Now that would be something. In the meantime, “A Wind Named Amnesia” is an entertaining, but flawed anime. (On VHS, March March 17, 2016)

[sonic-cinema]

Good morning. I have a very important announcement to make. #soundtracks #1990movies #moviesoundtracks https://www.instagram.com/p/CXBZg5vLWjj/?utm_medium=tumblr

[rudejasper]

FILM: Ever After: A Cinderella Story (1998)

Last night, I was really craving some comfy down time.  I desperately wanted simple food loaded with fat and calories, a big soft blanket and a movie I could just sink into and feel like all was right with the world.  So, I dug out my VHS video tape (it’s not available on Netflix or Hulu and costs money on Amazon Prime) of Ever After starring Drew Barrymore, Dougray Scott, and Anjelica Huston.

I LOVE this movie y’all. So much.  I mean the acting is a little questionable at times and Drew Barrymore puts on what must be the WORST British accent of all time which is odd since the movie takes place in France so why did she have to put on a fake, not French accent?  Probably because Dougray Scott was British and it would’ve seemed weird if she had a different accent and, you know, England’s closer to France so more authentic or something.  ANYhoo. Also the story is riddled with cliches and tropes and silliness (Leonardo DaVinci plays the “fairy godmother”).  But as soon as I lose myself in its cozy folds all of that fades to unimportance.  

In my opinion, Drew Barrymore was generally killing it in this era.  I’m also a big fan of (and own) Never Been Kissed (1999) which features Drew as a big dork who must go back to high school on an undercover reporting gig.  Both movies feature an ordinary, overlooked woman, finding her power and getting the guy and in both cases the guy is very dreamy (Michael Vartan in Never Been Kissed). The combination of female empowerment and romance is at the heart of why these movies speak to me.  

Ever After has the added bonus of being a fairy tale retelling which I am a BIG fan of and it is of one of my favorite fairy tales.  It  is ridiculously feel good and so sweetly romantic.  It is also beautiful, from the costumes to the lush scenery and cinematography.  Anjelica Huston is terrific as the wicked stepmother and the film manages to give her some nuance while still making her wicked enough that the scene where she gets her comeuppance in the end is punch-the-air cheer worthy.  

It also has one of my favorite awkward-sweet romantic exchanges...

So are there any other fans of this movie hiding out there?  What do you love most about it?  Or am I crazy for adoring the pants off of this one?

[storiesfromthetoyshelf]

Been eyeing these guys for over a year. Finally bit the bullet :) #teenagemutantninjaturtles #tmnt #heroesinahalfshell #1990movie #tmnt1990movie #jimhenson #neca #necatoys #leonardo #raphael #donatello #michaelangelo #splinter #mastersplinter #cowabunga #100toydays #storiesfromthetoyshelf https://www.instagram.com/p/CPTDieVA33M/?utm_medium=tumblr

[tokka]

✌🏽🔧🐢🦖 #LeifTilden @leifbag #TMNT 1990movie ,#TMNTIItheSecretOfTheOoze #Donatello;#ABC's #DINOSAURS "#RobbieSinclair" Suit actor , puppeteer 8x10" glossy from @coolwatersprods https://www.instagram.com/p/CCF_1Ltgna-/?igshid=ezdhwz0h0dus

[jenniferneyhart]

Favorite Movies from 1991-1990: 1. Hook (91) 2. Back to the Future Part III (90) 3. Beauty and the Beast (91) 4. Father of the Bride (91) 5. Terminator 2: Judgment Day (91) . Several people have been asking me how far back I plan on going with this movie series. I keep telling them pretty much the same thing: I would like to at least go back to 1983, but that won't even get me back to the first two Star Wars movies! But I also figured that at some point, I would need to start combining years to have enough titles to warrant a post. And it appears I have reached that point. I have only seen 7 movies that were released in 1991, so I combined those with the 15 I've seen from 1990. . See the rest at www.jenniferneyhart.com (Link in profile!) . #hook #backtothefuture3 #beautyandthebeast #fatherofthebride #terminator2 #movies #favoritemovie #favoritemovies #1991 #1991movie #1991movies #1990 #1990movie #90smovies #90smovie #film #films #MovieBuff #FilmBuff #MovieNerd #MovieGeek #FilmGeek #MovieAddict #FilmNerd #MovieJunkie #MovieFanatic #MovieFan #MovieLover #ILoveMovies #iLoveFilm

[bayoubennett]

Cute #Halloween #costume!! #et #1990movies #1990

[adamwatchesmovies]

Ducktales the Movie: Treasure of the Lost Lamp

If you’re going to give a television series a big-screen movie, don’t do what Ducktales the Movie: Treasure of the Lost Lamp does - unless your objective is merely to make a buck. This film is little more than a few episodes stitched together and padded out until it reaches a feature-length running time. The animation isn't noticeably better, the characters don’t evolve, no big plot points are resolved and the adventure ultimately has no impact on the show. It doesn’t even have the courtesy of introducing you to the characters to serve as a springboard for new fans.

On an expedition to somewhere in the Middle East where they have camels and ancient ruins, Scrooge McDuck (Alan Young), Huey, Dewey, Louie, and Webbigail Vanderquack (all voiced by Russi Taylor) find the ancient treasure of Collie Baba’s pyramid. They don’t realize the REAL treasure is a magical lamp (Well of course there’s a genie in it, why do you even ask) coveted by a millennia-old evil wizard named Merlock (voiced by Christopher Lloyd).

What I look for when I see a show move up to the big screen isn’t too demanding. Either give me something I’ve never seen before, like the kind of visuals a big budget can deliver (like Star Trek: The Motion Picture), a jumping point for new fans to come in (The Powerpuff Girls Movie), shocking revelations about what you thought you knew (Batman: Mask of the Phantasm), game-changing events that you CANNOT miss (Transformers: The Movie) or closure (Serenity). You don't get that here.

Let’s set aside the immediate disappointment and treat this as something you'd watch at home. It still isn’t great. The writing - particularly the dialogue - is poor. The jokes are juvenile and written on the level of a children’s Saturday morning cartoon.

There’s nothing inventive going on here. We get a Genie interacting with the residents of Duckburg and he feels like a watered-down version of every cool genie you’ve ever seen in any movie. Just like the Genie from Aladdin or The Seventh Voyage of Sindbad what does he want above all? freedom. You instantly know how the story will end. Yawn! The wish-granting is equally disappointing. I chuckled when one of the triplets asked for “a million wishes”, only to be turned down, but that's where the originality ends. No dinosaurs brought back to life, no superpowers granted, no trips back in time, or anything of the sort. These kids are wishing for ice cream and new pets, but they live with the world’s richest duck! They could have gotten that kind of thing any day of the week!

If you think the villain will turn things around, you better keep wishing Merlock is a basic, stock evil sorcerer with a bumbling assistant (voiced by Richard Libertini). He’s not interesting. His sidekick is just an excuse to bring in some bad jokes. I bet you a duck’s fortune no one who ever saw this film remembers anything about them except for Dijon's exaggerated and stereotypical Indian accent, Christopher Lloyd's voice and his character's mustache, which he keeps regardless of what form he shapeshifts into.

There are some shots where we see vehicles moving in 3 dimensions that are very well done (no distortions or shortcuts taken that I could see) and there are some cool visuals during the climax too. The characters are consistently on-model and it looks exactly like the show does so it blends seamlessly with the episodes you saw at home. I will also admit that there were some amusing sight gags. I didn’t sit through the whole thing stone-faced contemplating myself jumping out of a window.

If you remember enjoying Duck Tales: The Movie as a kid, stick with your memories. If you want proof that your tastes have matured over time, watch it again or take my word for it. I suppose I’d recommend it for kids because they won’t notice how generic it is, but they're the only ones who should view this. (On VHS, March 11, 2015)

[adamwatchesmovies]

Dick Tracy (1990)

Dick Tracy ranks among the most visually stylish comic book movies I’ve ever seen. If you’re not familiar with the titular character (I wasn't), Dick Tracy (Warren Beatty, who also produced and directed the picture) is a hard-hitting, no-nonsense detective committed to ridding his city of organized crime. His opponent is Alphonse “Big Boy” Caprice (Al Pacino) a ruthless mobster with an affinity for walnuts. While these two juggernauts go at it, Dick must resist the tempting Breathless Mahoney (Madonna) and stay true to his longtime girlfriend Tess Truehart (Glenne Headly) and keep a bright-eyed ragamuffin simply known as “The Kid” (Charlie Korsmo) out of trouble.

When it comes to pictures that are as visually brilliant as Dick Tracy, words fall short. This movie’s color scheme is quite distinct. All of the costumes, sets, and props are either red, green, yellow, or blue. With the addition of black and white, and the flesh tones of the actors the film (appropriately) feels like a 1930's newspaper strip brought to life. That would be enough for most movies, but here, it’s just the beginning. In addition to having this very unusual palette, the actors wear extensive makeup and prosthetics. You might wonder why a mobster called “Scarface” or “The Rat” got their name in any other movie but not here. It's obvious why this one's called “Flat Top” or that one “Prune Face”. This world is filled to the brim with zany characters, each more outrageous than the last. I loved it and the extensive use of matte paintings throughout. They're some of the best I've ever seen.

More than anything, the film's look stands out but even without it, you have a compelling battle between two determined individuals with the soul of a city hanging in the balance. Balancing out the loony villains are key down-to-earth characters that reign the picture in. Beatty as Dick Tracy is not chewing the scenery like Al Pacino is, but his straight-laced, single-minded attitude makes him a cartoon too. You get a real kick out of seeing brave Dick struggle when it came to confronting his true feelings towards his girlfriend. It’s like if the guy can’t punch a problem, he has no idea what to do with it. When it comes to Madonna, I’m sure if I didn’t have a tin ear on the particular day that I watched this film I’d be able to tell you all about how good the songs were, but I might've also been too distracted by her... other assets to notice her musical skills.

I found Dick Tracy to be a pleasant surprise. For years I put off watching it because I knew it came out around the same time as Batman and assumed it was just some cheap knockoff. It might've been green-lit to ride the wave but it stands out. This movie is a feast for the eyes.  Some of its characters I'll never forget (Dustin Hoffman as Mumbles is an instant favorite). I’ve come to love any film in which Al Pacino acts like a lunatic and this ranks among his nuttiest performances. Its visuals are inspired and the story is pretty good too. (Theatrical version on the big screen, February 1, 2015)

[adamwatchesmovies]

Rocky V (1990)

After Rocky V, the series continued with another sequel in 2006 and two spinoffs, Creed (2015) and Creed II (2018). Thank goodness, as a final chapter, this is a massive letdown.

Set immediately after his fight with Ivan Drago (see Rocky IV), Rocky Balboa (Sylvester Stallone, who also writes) officially retires from boxing. Once home, he receives dire news: his brother-in-law Paulie (Burt Young) unknowingly signed the “power of attorney” over to Rocky’s accountant and now, the family's lost everything. Rocky, his wife Adrian (Talia Shire) and their son, Robert (Sage Stallone) settle in a simpler life but are endlessly pestered by big shot promoter George Washington Duke (Richard Gant) who wants a comeback. Their family life is further strained when Robert feels neglected by his father, who spends all his days training a new boxing protege, Tommy Gunn (Tommy Morrison).

After the impossibly high stakes of the previous film, it was the right move to bring Rocky and the family back to their home turf. Gone are the endorsement deals, the mansion, and stupid robot. Now it’s just this guy who may not have the brains necessary to know what’s right every time but is compelled to try. There are nice reflective moments as Rocky and Adrian begin their lives anew, and since the Italian Stallion was supposed to retire after the second movie, doing any more fighting would’ve been unrealistic. Unfortunately, the way we're brought back to that familiar Philadelphia street is pretty weak. What’s follows is worse.

The drama between Rocky, Tommy and his son is so predictable it feels out of place in a theatrical release. Everything about it feels phony, obvious or melodramatic. Every problem could be fixed in 15 minutes if people sat down and talked. Admittedly this isn’t Rocky's strength, so you’d think Adrian would step in but she’s absent for large chunks of the story. They kind of paint the former boxer as an idiot for not seeing what everyone else does and some of the fault lies in the director. Rocky V doesn’t have any of the energy found in the previous films.

By the time we get to the ludicrous ending - which is made worse by being a flat “what just happened” kinda conclusion - you're left dumbfounded. Rocky V isn’t good but it’s such a letdown you don’t want the series to be over. Then again, what more is there to say about Rocky? We’ve already started borrowing numerous elements from the earlier films, the new stuff isn’t interesting. 

Although attempts are made to make this feel like the final keystone in a great legacy with numerous callbacks to the other Rocky films during the end credits, all they end up doing is reminding you of better times past. Rocky V is easily the worst and most forgettable of them all. (On Blu-ray, January 15, 2019)

[adamwatchesmovies]

The Dark Side of the Moon (1990)

In the year 2022, the crew of the salvage/repair vessel Spacecore 1 is orbiting Earth to repair nuclear-armed satellites. When a sudden power failure maroons the crew, they encounter a NASA shuttle that has been inoperational for 30 years. Inside, they discover a horrifying secret.

The reason for the power outage, the NASA shuttle, what caused it to "disappear" years ago are what make this film truly terrible but I can't tell you what's going on there without giving away too much (we'll get to it in a bit). Setting aside the premise, certain story-telling choices are nothing short of terrible. The Spacecore 1’s computer is not a traditional computer, but a gynoid, who, of course, is dressed in an outfit whose plunging neckline leaves little to the imagination. Why? Because it would be sexy, that’s why! I expected all sorts of different things from this computer lady. Maybe she would be unaffected by the threat plaguing the rest of the crew and we’d get something similar to Bishop's role in Aliens. Perhaps the phenomenon affects her extra hard and she turns into a slasher villain. Why else have the computer in the shape of a human being unless it’s to have her move around or talk?

The only thing that kept me watching this trainwreck was curiosity. How clumsy would it get? Once you know what's happening, it's so obviously the product of a hack writer you want to see how bad it will get. Unfortunately, The Dark Side of the Moon is much more interesting to talk about than watch. Most of the time, it bores you. You'll be mostly left to your thoughts, which does this picture no favors. For instance, I’m unsure what to make of the way the female actresses are treated. Alex MacDonald as Alex doesn’t really have a role to play in this story or a character. She’s just there to be sexually harassed/seductive, and only briefly. She's the only woman aboard the Spacecore 1. It's weird. Maybe it would have made more sense if it was an all-male crew or a 50/50 mix. As is, it raises unintentional questions.

Alright, so what is the big secret? Why is that NASA shuttle drifting in space? What does it have to do with our heroes? Well, it’s all part of a sinister plot by Satan himself. He’s trapping ships in the Bermuda triangle to steal the souls of humans and increase his power. With enough souls, he’ll be able to take on God himself. Got that? Good, because we're just getting started. You see, the Bermuda Triangle isn’t a triangle. It’s a polyhedron: one triangle face on Earth, another on the dark side of the Moon. Ships caught in this geometric shape are teleported to the surface of the Moon and their souls harvested. The Discovery is the 666th ship that’s gone missing. That doesn’t really mean anything because there are 5 crew members in peril here, and I can assure you that none of the marooned vessels we see were piloted by a single crew member, so it's just an amusing coincidence. Throughout, this revelation has been foreshadowed by the overuse of triangular shapes. Large triangular chunks of people’s stomachs go missing, on computer screens we see data arranged in triangles, etc. The funniest part of the film has to be when Paxton (Joe Turkel) looks at the coordinates that form the points of the Bermuda triangle and asks the computer to remove each number that isn’t a 6. What does he get? 666!!!! Might have been spooky, but what did he expect to see? 532?

You can’t make a movie as dull and as consistently puzzling as The Dark Side of the Moon on purpose. This picture is a train wreck, utter non-sense that would need to be completely re-written to resemble coherence and quality. It's a shame I can’t even really recommend it as a guilty pleasure. The only time to watch The Dark Side of the Moon is in a double-feature whose goal is to make Event Horizon look like a masterpiece - rather than entertain. (On VHS, September 22, 2015)

[adamwatchesmovies]

Darkman (1990)

As a nutty, comic book popcorn movie, Darkman is fun. Made way before Spider-Man, this is Sam Raimi’s first attempt at a superhero picture and plays somewhat like a cross between Robocop and Batman.

Scientist Dr. Peyton Westlake (Liam Neeson) was just minding his own business when vicious thugs attack and leave him horribly disfigured. Driven mad by the pain, he swears revenge. Using the synthetic skin he developed to create masks and sneak around unseen, he settles his score one by one while also attempting to get back with his girlfriend, Julie (Frances McDormand)

I like Darkman, the story, and the way it borrows from The Phantom of the Opera and other horror and superhero films. There are just a few too many strange elements here for me to love it. Let’s begin with what works. Darkman is a cool avening angel. His shredded visage means he wears bandages everywhere he goes, and his costume otherwise consists of a dark overcoat and fedora - nice and simple. He’s a brilliant scientist, his nerve endings have been severed so he’s more resistant to injury than your typical doctor and lastly, he frequently goes full-on crazy. He throws wild tantrums, screams out loud, gets needlessly violent. What better way to channel this rage than to destroy the very people who created him? When he does, he’s as cold as ice. Sometimes he doesn't even reveal to his victims why they're about to die!

An interesting aspect of the character is his ability to blend in. The film uses it in several creative ways. Another aspect of the picture to look forward to are the villains. They’re so senselessly cruel and sadistic you can’t wait to see them pulverized under the fists of justice. The head mobster, Robert Durant (Larry Drake) is a standout. The makeup and special effects hold up surprisingly well for something made in the early nineties that uses computer graphics extensively. The action scenes are great. All this good stuff makes me fully endorse the movie. I see why people have come to think of it as an underappreciated gem.

And then there are times where it gets a little bit too crazy. Darkman's psychotic episodes are fine but the visuals which accompany them are excessive. There are points of unintentional hilarity because Liam Neeson is way over-the-top in his performance of Darkman. He’s pretty good overall but probably wasn’t right for the role. While overall the action is solid, the action sequences towards the end are badly written. Darkman is either being able to prepare way too much for his attacks against the baddies, or the villains make moves that simply make no sense. Perhaps the unpolished aspects will endear you to Darkman but they also make it feel like more of a prototype than a fully-realized breakthrough.

I like Darkman, but I don’t love it and thought that frequently, it was simply bad. That’s just me though, the average viewer is likely to enjoy it more than I did and ignore my nitpicks. Even with my problems, they only add up to knocking the film down to a 3,5/5 rating, which is solid. (Theatrical version on the big screen, February 2, 2015)

[adamwatchesmovies]

Ghost (1990)

Ghost is a great date movie. Whether you’re trying to impress a girl with your Swayze-like charms, or your feminine side wants to test your date's ability to respond to emotions.

After Sam (Patrick Swayze) is murdered, he stays on Earth as a ghost but is unable to interact with his lover, Molly (Demi Moore). When he realizes his death was no random event, he enlists the help of Oda Mae Brown (Whoopi Goldberg), a reluctant psychic.

Ghost isn’t just a romance. It isn't just a comedy. You begin and essentially end with a romance. Two people, in love, torn apart by a tragedy. The most famous scenes in this film are from right at the beginning where see Sam and Molly make some sexy pottery together (not a metaphor) and there's a lot to enjoy from there. It has one of the most romantic and tastefully done love-making scenes I've seen. Your interest in the couple is greatly amplified by the actors' chemistry. This is what you use to rope in your partner. They’ll be hooked by the romance and will eagerly await what's next (you will too). Consider it a bit of a test. If your date thinks the scenes where that juke box is singing ballads to our couple are hoaky, give them the boot right there. Don’t waste any more time of your time.

Then, we get to the body. Here, we get a good balance of big laughs courtesy of our straight man Swayze and our funny lady, Whoopi Goldberg. Often, comedians are cast in comedies as a way to boost a lousy script. Director Jerry Zucker and writer Bruce Joel Rubin play to the actresses’ strength. She’s got snappy lines and excellent timing. Sam and Oda Mae are placed in a series of hilarious situations, the best of which have the two of them working together to protect Molly from a threat she has no idea is coming.

There’s a third part to this film that a lot of people probably haven’t thought of or noticed but that’s what I’m here for. This movie has a lot of romantic scenes, and many funny ones as well. It also contains is a villain you'll love to hate. Not only because they’ve offed our dear Swayze, but because of what they do afterward. You just know they're going to get what's coming to them, and that it's going to be a deliciously ironic fate like you would in an episode of Tales from the Crypt.

As for criticisms, I must point to two scenes that establish both Molly and Oda Mae as dumber than the audience. I understand seeing a ghost or believing in the supernatural is a pretty big revelation that might get you upset. The issue is that anyone who has seen any movie ever knows better than to try to convince other people that ghosts are real. Imagine your house was suddenly under siege by werewolves. You wouldn't tell that to the 9-11 operator. You would say some scary-looking thugs in animal masks are trying to break in, and that they have guns. Not in this world. It’s nowhere near enough to sink the movie, but worth mentioning as a weakness.

There’s a little bit of something for everyone in Ghost. It’s not just a chick-flick that will have you teary-eyed and weepy. It’s got heart, comedy, and great performances. Whoopi Goldberg, in particular. It even has a few dark laughs to offer and an original take on a ghost story. You can tell why it has endured. (On DVD, July 31, 2015)