The Resident Bitch Prepares for... the Most Recent MoFo Countdown

[Miss Vicky]

99795

In the Heights
(Jon M. Chu, 2021)

This was just too much for me. Too much singing. Too much dancing. Too many characters. Too damn long. I hated the songs. I hated the dances. Even with its overlong runtime I never felt like it spent enough time with any of the characters as individuals to make me give a damn and so I just spent the whole movie being both bored and annoyed.

I'll throw a little credit its way because I liked the look of the movie, but that's really the only positive thing I have to say about it.

1.5

[Miss Vicky]

https://www.angelfire.com/music6/walteregan/NewMFPics/thathing.gif

That Thing You Do!
(Tom Hanks, 1996)

I vaguely remember seeing this movie when it was fairly new and I vaguely remember liking it, but it's not a movie that stuck with me and I never really had any desire to see it again. Having watched it again today, I'm a little torn on how to rate it. On one hand, I think it's a really solid movie. The performances are strong - Tom Everett Scott plays a very believable lovable goofball, Johnathon Schaech is wonderfully hateable as the arrogant jerk frontman, Liv Tyler embodies the supportive but naive girlfriend, and Tom Hanks is good as the guy running the show, both in the story and behind the camera. I also thought the music and costuming suited the era and the tone of the movie very well, and the story was engaging if not particularly original.

And I did mostly enjoy myself, but I also found it just a little bit annoying. That title song, fitting though it may be, is a bit too saccharine for me (and the fact that it gets played over and over again doesn't help matters), main character "Guy" was just a bit too damn goofy and rather frequently crossed the line from lovable to irritating, and Jimmy was maybe just a bit too unlikable. Still, these are relatively minor complaints and this stands a good chance of making it on my ballot.

3.5

[Miss Vicky]

I decided to sign up for Netflix. I'll probably cancel it before it's time to renew but for now I have access...

99899

Thelma the Unicorn
(Jared Hess and Lynn Wang, 2024)

This was recommended to me a little while back and it looked cute, so I decided to give it a try and... it's fine. The story isn't particularly unique or inspired, but the movie was fun, I really liked the design of Thelma herself (though I wasn't crazy about the designs of some of the other characters), and the music was actually pretty good. I enjoyed a lot things about it, but too many aspects of it were far too silly for me to ever go beyond just kind of liking it overall. I do think the positives outweigh the negatives and I acknowledge that this is intended for people far younger than I am - and who therefore may appreciate the silliness - but I don't think this is a movie I'll ever love and I don't think it'll make my ballot.

3.0

[Miss Vicky]

99908

Singin' in the Rain
(Stanley Donen and Gene Kelly, 1952)

For my 50th watch for this countdown I decided to step way, way outside of my comfort zone and give this iconic film a try. And... I can understand why people who love classic movies and people who love musicals would love this. The trouble is that I don't love classic movies or musicals. I thought the dancing was good, but I don't enjoy watching dancing. The singing of Gene Kelly and Debbie Reynolds were good, but I don't like the songs. The performances were solid, but I don't like the characters. I could go on, but to sum it up, I think the movie does well to do what it was trying to do, it's just that what it was trying to do doesn't appeal to me.

Still, I do have to give it credit for the fact that I didn't actually hate it even though I was fully expecting to.

2.5

[Miss Vicky]

99321

Stingray Sam
(Cory McAbee, 2009)

Like McAbee's The American Astronaut, Stingray Sam is a bizarre black and white musical space western. Where this film varies from the other though is that it is divided into 6 different "episodes" (each with its own title and set of intro and end credits), each featuring one song. It follows Stingray Sam, a convict turned lounge singer who is arrested by his old friend and fellow convict The Quasar Kid. In order to repay their debts to society, the two must join forces on a mission to rescue a little girl and reunite her with her father.

But whereas I spent much of The American Astronaut being a little bewildered by its strangeness, I settled into this one rather quickly. I do think having just watched The American Astronaut helped immensely in terms of setting expectations, but also Stingray Sam seemed a lot less convoluted and more polished than its predecessor. It also has some genuinely great songs ("Fredward" being my favorite) and I had an undeniably good time with this one. There's also no doubt that I'll vote for it, though I am docking it some points for the amount of its already very brief runtime (it's only about an hour long) that is spent on the credits.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PNhXYmJ0G8c

Oh and in retrospect I have decided that I do actually like The American Astronaut, but I definitely prefer this one.

3.5

I just rewatched this and I think I love it. This time I wasn't at all bothered by its episodic structure or by the amount of time spent on the credits. It's just delightfully weird and delightfully charming, with equally weird and charming songs. I'm going to upgrade its rating from my initial 3.5 to a 4, but I could see it going even higher if I give it another watch in the future.

4

[Allaby]

Miss Vicky, have you seen Forbidden Zone (1980)? It's a non-traditional, weird musical. It's only 1 hour and 14 minutes and it is fun, if you can vibe with the oddness of it.

[Miss Vicky]

Miss Vicky, have you seen Forbidden Zone (1980)? It's a non-traditional, weird musical. It's only 1 hour and 14 minutes and it is fun, if you can vibe with the oddness of it.

Never heard of it. I’ll add it to my watchlist.

[Allaby]

Never heard of it. I’ll add it to my watchlist.

Cool. Hope you like it.

[Miss Vicky]

99913

The Greatest Showman
(Michael Gracey, 2017)

This movie sure loved to pat itself and P.T. Barnum on the back as a "celebration of humanity" and for "putting people of all shapes, sizes, colours... on stage together and presenting them as equals." If I'd rolled my eyes any harder at this movie, I might've injured myself. Normally I can forgive a lot of historical inaccuracy and creative license, but celebrating a man who abused, exploited (and even enslaved) both people and animals and presenting him as some sort of champion of diversity and inclusion left an extremely bad taste in my mouth. I lost count of the number of times I exclaimed (a more profane version of) "Go screw yourself, movie!" while watching this.

Making matters worse was that I absolutely hated all of the song and the dance numbers, the stupid manufactured interracial romance between Zac Efron and Zendaya's completely fictional characters, and the even more stupid manufactured romantic interest of Jenny Lind towards Barnum. I also thought the CG animals looked about as genuine as Barnums' Fiji Mermaid (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fiji_mermaid), but I do appreciate that they went the route of computer images rather than using real elephants and horses. If I can actually praise anything about this movie, it's the sets, costumes, and color palette. It is a very good looking movie.

However, if what you want is an actual good movie about circus freaks that portrays them humanely, go watch Tod Browning's Freaks instead.

1.0

[Miss Vicky]

99921

Leo
(Robert Marianetti, Robert Smigel, and David Wachtenheim, 2023)

I had some pretty mixed feelings on this one. I thought the animation was good and I really like the character designs. I also enjoyed the story and its messaging. However, I really, REALLY hated those songs. I didn't care for the lyrics and I really dislike listening to children sing. On top of that, I find Adam Sandler's speaking voice to be incredibly grating so having him voice the main character was kind of painful for me and doubly so when he was singing.

I do think it's a good movie overall, but there's no way it's getting a vote.

3.0

[Thursday Next]

Couldn't agree more with your Greatest Showman review. After being forced to listen to them over and over again the songs did grow on me though.

[rauldc14]

Nah, Showman is better than that just based on the songs alone. I'm not saying it's great but the songs are actually pretty good.

[honeykid]

Miss Vicky, have you seen Forbidden Zone (1980)? It's a non-traditional, weird musical. It's only 1 hour and 14 minutes and it is fun, if you can vibe with the oddness of it.

I'll be very interested to see what you think of it. It's one I'd put onto the see it because it exists list and it'll be an experience. Whether that's one you like or not is yet to be seen.

[Miss Vicky]

99957

Cats Don't Dance
(Mark Dindal, 1997)

I had a feeling just based off of images from this movie and based on the fact that it was a musical that I wouldn’t like it, but I decided to give it a try anyway. It turns out that I actually didn’t really have a problem with the musical aspect. Most of the songs were fine - not memorable but fine. What I had a problem with was the animation. I didn’t care for the character designs, I didn’t care for the slapstick comedy, and especially didn’t care for the chaotic nature of its story. This came across far more like an overlong television cartoon than an animated feature. I also couldn’t quite figure out who this movie thought its target audience was. For the most part, it felt very childish, but then it kept making references to classic movies that no child of the 90s was likely recognize. And then it just decided to throw its 1930s setting out the window with its parodies of far more recent Hollywood movie posters.

I kept thinking that perhaps if I had seen this as a child, I would’ve liked it more, but this came out when I was a teenager so it would’ve had to exist about a decade prior to its release for it to have had any chance with me. Still I didn’t exactly hate it, I just didn’t like anything about it.

2.0

[gbgoodies]

99957

Cats Don't Dance
(Mark Dindal, 1997)

I had a feeling just based off of images from this movie and based on the fact that it was a musical that I wouldn’t like it, but I decided to give it a try anyway. It turns out that I actually didn’t really have a problem with the musical aspect. Most of the songs were fine - not memorable but fine. What I had a problem with was the animation. I didn’t care for the character designs, I didn’t care for the slapstick comedy, and especially didn’t care for the chaotic nature of its story. This came across far more like an overlong television cartoon than an animated feature. I also couldn’t quite figure out who this movie thought its target audience was. For the most part, it felt very childish, but then it kept making references to classic movies that no child of the 90s was likely recognize. And then it just decided to throw its 1930s setting out the window with its parodies of far more recent Hollywood movie posters.

I kept thinking that perhaps if I had seen this as a child, I would’ve liked it more, but this came out when I was a teenager so it would’ve had to exist about a decade prior to its release for it to have had any chance with me. Still I didn’t exactly hate it, I just didn’t like anything about it.

2.0


Well you "didn't hate" Cats Don't Dance, even though it's a musical, so I'll consider that a win. :)

[Miss Vicky]

99996

Pennies From Heaven
(Herbert Ross, 1981)

This movie was an absolute chore to get through. Tonally this was all over the place and I found the gimmick of having the characters lip synch to recordings from the era to be extremely irritating and it prevented me from ever engaging with the story. I also absolutely hated the songs themselves. Making matters worse was how unlikeable all the characters were. And I don't just mean that they were bad people. Steve Martin's "Arthur" in particular was this bizarre combination of awkward, creepy, and off-putting that somehow failed to be even a little bit interesting. Bernadette Peters's "Eileen" was just pathetic as was Arthur's wife "Joan." The pacing was also excruciating, making what was actually less than two hours long feel like four. And just what the hell was that ending?

I'm extremely tempted to rate this mess of a movie only 1/2 a popcorn box, but I suppose I'll be generous because I did sort of like the costumes and because there is at least one musical that I hate even more than this, but damn does this come close.

1.0

[Miss Vicky]

100020

Forbidden Zone
(Richard Elfman, 1980)

Owing to a combination of sleep deprivation and how utterly bizarre this chaotic trainwreck of a movie is, I'm not sure I actually understood what the hell this was even about. I'm also not sure that matters at all. This movie is aggressively strange and I can only assume that its creators were strung out on certain substances when it was created.

And with all that weirdness I can't say that I was bored for even a moment - and I totally get why this has cult status - but I also didn't particularly like anything about it. I'm not at all sorry for having seen it but I definitely won't be voting for it.

2.5

[Miss Vicky]

100058

Anna and the Apocalypse
(John McPhail, 2017)

This holiday musical horror comedy tries to do and be a whole lot of things. Unfortunately, I didn't feel like it did any of those things particularly well. I didn't find the songs to be memorable at all, I never laughed, I never felt tense or frightened, and I never really engaged with any of the characters so its attempts at emotionally touching moments never had any effect on me.

I didn't think it did anything exceptionally poorly either so I'll give it credit for that, but I doubt I'll even remember this movie in a few months time.

2.0

[Miss Vicky]

http://www.angelfire.com/music6/walteregan/MovieLog/nightmarebeforechristmas.gif

The Nightmare Before Christmas
(Henry Selick, 1993)

There's not much that needs to be said about this iconic and delightful classic. The animation is great, the songs are great, it's funny, and is a very easy watch. I never had any doubt that I would be voting for this movie and didn't need to rewatch it, but I figured I needed a guaranteed bright spot after sitting through a string of duds.

4.0

[FilmBuff]

http://www.angelfire.com/music6/walteregan/MovieLog/nightmarebeforechristmas.gif

The Nightmare Before Christmas
(Henry Selick, 1993)


Did you ever get to watch the 3D version?

[Miss Vicky]

Did you ever get to watch the 3D version?

I'm not a fan of 3D.

[Miss Vicky]

100071

Newsies
(Kenny Ortega, 1992)

A short list of some movie related thing that I dislike: children singing, choreographed song and dance numbers - especially ones that start in the middle of conversations, and Christian Bale. Wanna guess what things this movie has in excess?

The three biggest reasons why I hate musicals are that the song and dance numbers often break any immersion I have in the story, the songs - whether because of the cheesy lyrics or because of the grating voices of the singers - often cause me to physically cringe, and because the songs often serve to do nothing more than pad out the runtime of a film that could be much shorter and more enjoyable without them. Newsies was guilty of all of this.

1.0

[gbgoodies]

I don't know if these movies are your type of music, but they're about up and coming singers trying to break into the music business, so they're more realistic than the musicals where people break into song and dance for no apparent reason. You might want to check them out.

Thunder Alley (1985) (Trailer)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KcHCkmWHZd4

And the movie is on YouTube:
(It's not a great copy, but I don't think this movie has ever been released on DVD.)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ysXwfiB7G_o


The Idolmaker (1980) (Trailer)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iqwtTfECezg

This movie is also on YouTube:
(It's also available on DVD, and might be streaming somewhere.)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-zlJt3LZbIk

[Miss Vicky]

100164

tick, tick... BOOM!
(Lin-Manuel Miranda, 2021)

I went into this movie knowing pretty much nothing about it. It was just a modern musical available on Netflix and since my subscription is only good for a couple more weeks I figured I would give this a shot. Also I'd remembered skimming over some posts praising it (here and elsewhere), so I figured Why not?

Famous last words, right? Look, I get that this is semi-autobiographical and I get that part of what it's trying to say is that you need to appreciate the people in your life, but holy shit did I hate this film's protagonist - and, by extension, the film itself. What a self-absorbed, douchey, irresponsible sack of crap. I think I was meant to find him charming and relatable, but I spent the majority of the movie actively rooting for him to fail. I was yelling expletives at the screen - both at him and at the people in his life who were tolerating his bullshit. I was THRILLED when Susan finally stood up for herself and left his loser ass. Good for her. I laughed when his electricity got shut off (because, you know, throwing a party is WAY more important than paying your bill, right?). When his world came crashing down around him and he finally had to confront reality, I was left without a single shred of pity for him and so the emotional notes the movie strove for never hit for me.

I will give it some credit for some decent to good performances, but I really don't have any praise for it beyond that.

1.5

[Miss Vicky]

I don't know if these movies are your type of music, but they're about up and coming singers trying to break into the music business, so they're more realistic than the musicals where people break into song and dance for no apparent reason. You might want to check them out.

Thunder Alley (1985) (Trailer)

The Idolmaker (1980) (Trailer)

Thanks.

I'll probably check them out, but I do have to say that I could vote today and be totally satisfied with my ballot so it's starting to get pretty hard to find the motivation to watch more musicals.

[Takoma11]

I really liked tick tick . . . BOOM. I just found it very funny. Yes, the characters were very self-absorbed, but I felt like the film understood that and hung with them anyway. The one song where they are sing-screaming at each other about how they both have to go to therapy in the morning? Perfection.

[Miss Vicky]

I really liked tick tick . . . BOOM. I just found it very funny. Yes, the characters were very self-absorbed, but I felt like the film understood that and hung with them anyway. The one song where they are sing-screaming at each other about how they both have to go to therapy in the morning? Perfection.

See, I didn't find the characters to be self-absorbed. Just Jon specifically. Everyone around him was supportive of what he was doing, while he completely disregarded their struggles and neglected their needs (including the needs of his own pet) because "oMg ThE WoRkShOp Is CoMiNg AnD I hAvEn'T wRiTtEN tHe SoNg!" :rolleyes:

Screw that guy and this movie.

[Takoma11]

See, I didn't find the characters to be self-absorbed. Just Jon specifically. Everyone around him was supportive of what he was doing, while he completely disregarded their struggles and neglected their needs (including the needs of his own pet) because "oMg ThE WoRkShOp Is CoMiNg AnD I hAvEn'T wRiTtEN tHe SoNg!" :rolleyes:

Screw that guy and this movie.

I guess. I thought that it captured a certain kind of mid-20s narcissism that a lot of people, and especially artists, fall into.

[Miss Vicky]

I guess. I thought that it captured a certain kind of mid-20s narcissism that a lot of people, and especially artists, fall into.

He was days away from 30 - they kept bringing that up throughout the movie. He's too damn old to be acting this way.

[seanc]

I really liked tick tick . . . BOOM. I just found it very funny. Yes, the characters were very self-absorbed, but I felt like the film understood that and hung with them anyway. The one song where they are sing-screaming at each other about how they both have to go to therapy in the morning? Perfection.

I’m with you on the movie knowing who Jonathan is as a character. I can see how this could suffer from the Whiplash thing, where maybe in the directors head the ends justify the means because…good art. I think both these movies are making you ask that question though. I think Tick Tick Boom is aware its protagonist is a jerk much of the time.

[Takoma11]

He was days away from 30 - they kept bringing that up throughout the movie. He's too damn old to be acting this way.

I think that I empathized more with his character because I watched a few friends go through something similar. There's this sense that you have to "make it", and that becomes a consuming urgency.

It felt like the movie was able to recognize the absurdity of his behavior while also being sympathetic to his drive to succeed.

I think that the reminders of his age are also a bit of dramatic irony, because, of course, time was running out for him.

[Takoma11]

I’m with you on the movie knowing who Jonathan is as a character. I can see how this could suffer from the Whiplash thing, where maybe in the directors head the ends justify the means because…good art. I think both these movies are making you ask that question though. I think Tick Tick Boom is aware its protagonist is a jerk much of the time.

Right. I think it's important to note that tick tick BOOM was written by the protagonist himself! You sort of have to filter in the fact that this is from his own point of view about how he behaved, how the people around him acted, etc.

I also think that one of the revelations of the film is that he is surrounded by people who are supportive, but he's been too self-involved to really process that fact.

[Miss Vicky]

100179

Leap of Faith
(Richard Pearce, 1992)

I debated on including this write-up here since I've decided that this tale of what faith can do to and for the desperate doesn't really fit for the purposes of the countdown (there are characters that do a lot of singing of some very lively and uplifting gospel music, but they are minor characters that exist only to sing), but f*** it, this is my thread and I'll do what I want.

Although I've never considered myself a fan of Steve Martin (and having recently suffered through Little Shop of Horrors and Pennies From Heaven hasn't changed that for the better at all), I've always thought he was amazing in this performance as evangelical preacher Jonas Nightengale. He is funny, charismatic, and completely believable as a con man whose truck breaks down in a poor small town and he decides to make his money where he can. He's absolutely mesmerizing.

The remaining cast - including Debra Winger, Lolita Davidovich, Liam Neeson, Lukas Haas, Meat Loaf, and Philip Seymour Hoffman - are good, but their talents are wasted here in underdeveloped and largely forgettable characters. The story, too is kind of weak and it fumbles the ending with too much schmaltz and preachiness, but that central performance and the music are so good that I've always been able to forgive it its shortcomings.

3.5

[seanc]

Been soooo long since I have watched Leap Of Faith. You would think it would be a movie that sticks with you, but besides its conceit I remember nothing.

[Miss Vicky]

100198

Grease 2
(Patricia Birch, 1982)

Things I liked about this movie: Maxwell Caulfield looked pretty good as "Michael" - not Johnny Depp in Cry-Baby good, but pretty good.

Things I didn't like about this movie: Pretty much everything else.

I thought the songs were pretty terrible. The dancing was cringey. The characters' over-exaggerated accents and repeated mispronunciations were irritating ("albumens," ugh). The "tough guy" biker T-Birds were about the least intimidating tough guys I've ever seen - and could someone explain to me what is cool about a biker who doesn't have his own bike and instead rides in his buddy's sidecar? Also for being the "cool guys" the T Birds were pretty fugly and Goose in particular looked like he was pushing 35 (I know it's standard practice for adult actors to be cast as teenagers, but come on). I was bothered by the rapey overtones of the "Do It For Our Country" scene, which is played for laughs. I didn't for one second buy that a guy who looks like Michael would be othered and ignored as a "nerd" no matter how good he is at writing essays or what he knows about history and Shakespeare. And speaking of Michael, what the hell was that ending? I'm expected to be happy that the decent and smart guy is falling in with the loser T Bird squad? Yeah, no. About the only thing I liked about the ending was that it meant the movie was over.

What a mess.

1.5

[Miss Vicky]

https://www.angelfire.com/music6/walteregan/NewMFPics/enchanted.gif

Enchanted
(Kevin Lima, 2007)

Disney satirizes itself.

Enchanted is an, uh, enchanting send up of the classic Disney Princess movies and features an absolutely perfect cast. Amy Adams and James Marsden are basically human cartoon characters who absolutely excel at being both ridiculous and adorable. They also boast some pretty impressive singing chops, even if I'm not overly fond of the type of music in this movie. Patrick Dempsey excels at being the uh, (not Mc)dreamy love interest. Timothy Spall excels at being the evil henchman in love with the far more evil queen Susan Sarandon - who also excels. Rachel Covey is kind of the picture perfect cute kid. About the only larger role that is forgettable is Idina Menzel in the non-singing role of Dempsey's girlfriend Nancy.

The movie does a wonderful job of poking fun at itself and its predecessors while still oozing with charm, romance, and fantasy. It's also offers some beautiful costumes and set pieces, very good CGI, and a lot of humor. If I have a complaint, it's that the movie is almost sickeningly wholesome, but it's just so fun (and Patrick Dempsey and James Marsden look so good) that I can pretty easily forgive that. It's also definitely not a favorite movie of mine, but as musicals go I think it's pretty great.

4

[Miss Vicky]

100207

Once
(John Carney, 2007)

Not a lot to say about this one. The story and its characters are fine. It’s simple and sweet. I did like some of the music. "Falling Slowly" is obviously a very pretty song and there were some others I can't name that I thought were good too. But there is one major problem: I really don’t like Glen Hansard’s singing voice. I find it very grating. It was fine when he was singing with someone else, especially if it was a softer song, but just about anytime he sang alone I wanted to turn off the movie. This is especially a problem in the first few minutes of the film when we are subjected to his screeching on two different songs.

Otherwise, I think it's a pretty good movie but I don't think it's one that will stick with me and I won't be voting for it.

3.0

[Takoma11]

I really enjoyed Once when it first came out (and of course it had a ton of buzz). But I've never felt any particular desire to revisit it.

[honeykid]

I really enjoyed Once when it first came out (and of course it had a ton of buzz). But I've never felt any particular desire to revisit it.

Of course not, that's why it's called Once. :D

[Takoma11]

Of course not, that's why it's called Once. :D

BOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!

[Miss Vicky]

100213

Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story
(Jake Kasdan, 2007)

As is typical of Judd Apatow's creations, the comedy in this movie didn't work for me. Not one joke or site gag ever got so much as a chuckle from me. I found it painfully unfunny and the repetition of the same jokes over and over ("The wrong kid died!" :rolleyes:) was incredibly tedious. I also didn't care at all for the characters so I couldn't even enjoy it from that angle.

Where I do have praise for this though is the songs. They're genuinely good. Being parodies, they are derivative by necessity but they do have a certain authenticity to their sound. They really feel like tunes that could easily have come from that era and I like the sound of them. Hell I even cracked a smile a time or two during the performances.

But really good music isn't enough to make for a good movie experience and I just don't like this movie.

2.0

[Miss Vicky]

https://www.angelfire.com/music6/walteregan/NewMFPics/astronaut.gif

The American Astronaut
(Cory McAbee, 2001)

What the hell did I just watch?

This black and white musical space western about a dude who trades a cat for a "real live girl," then trades the "real live girl," for a teenaged boy, and sets out on a quest to trade the boy to a planet full of women in exchange for the body of a dead man - while being pursued by a weird-ass professor hell-bent on killing him without reason - is unlike anything I've ever seen before. It is really, really f***ing bizarre and although I was certainly never bored by its unrelenting weirdness, I also can't decide if I actually liked it.

But the bar for consideration for my musicals ballot is low, so "can't decide if I actually liked it" might just be enough to earn it a spot.

3.0

I just rewatched this. It's definitely confirmed that I do like the movie, but it's also definitely too bizarre to be something I think I could ever love. I'm going to keep my rating at 3.

It's one of a handful of movies currently vying for the #23 and #24 slots so its chances of making it on my ballot aren't looking too good.

[Miss Vicky]

I decided to sign up for a month of DisneyPlus. I'll probably cancel it like I did with Netlfix, but for now...

100214

Disenchanted
(Adam Shankman, 2022)

This movie doesn't quite have the charm of the original and I wish Patrick Dempsey and James Marsden had more screen time (mostly because I like looking at them), but it was still pretty fun. The costumes were gorgeous, it was neat to see the original cast together again, and I thought Maya Rudolph made a pretty good villain. Not great, but as sequels go not bad at all.

3.0

[Miss Vicky]

100242

Grease
(Randal Kleiser, 1978)

Things I liked about this movie:

Things I didn't like about this movie: Everything.

Against my better judgement, I decided to give this a rewatch after there was some discussion of it in the Group Watch thread. Yeah, Danny's a douche. Sandy's an idiot. Their friends are annoying. The songs suck. The dancing sucks. These "kids" all look like they're in their 30s. There were a few super cringey scenes. Overall this movie is just as stupid and problematic as its sequel, but to make things worse it doesn't even have the decency to offer some eye candy.

1.0

[gbgoodies]

100242

Grease
(Randal Kleiser, 1978)

Things I liked about this movie:

Things I didn't like about this movie: Everything.

Against my better judgement, I decided to give this a rewatch after there was some discussion of it in the Group Watch thread. Yeah, Danny's a douche. Sandy's an idiot. Their friends are annoying. The songs suck. The dancing sucks. These "kids" all look like they're in their 30s. There were a few super cringey scenes. Overall this movie is just as stupid and problematic as its sequel, but to make things worse it doesn't even have the decency to offer some eye candy.

1.0


I like the movie Grease, so I disagree with your rating, but some of your comments are accurate.

Danny's a douche.

Yes, but only because he's trying to look cool in front of his friends. Sandy met him over the summer, when he had the freedom to be himself without his friends watching, and that's why she likes him. And he redeems himself at the end when he shows that he's willing to change for her and be the person she fell in love with again.


Sandy's an idiot.

Yes, but mainly because she's in love with Danny, and she doesn't want to give up on finding the guy that she fell in love with over the summer. But I agree that she's an idiot for trying to change for him, rather than trying harder to find the guy she knows he can be when he's not trying to look cool.


Their friends are annoying.

I can't really argue with this one. :shrug:


The songs suck.

I completely disagree with this. I like most of the songs in the movie, especially "Hopelessly Devoted to You".


The dancing sucks.

Yeah, some of the dancing is pretty bad.


These "kids" all look like they're in their 30s.

Yes, but that's common for a lot of these high school movies, so I usually try not to let it bother me.


Overall this movie is just as stupid and problematic as its sequel,

I think the sequel is much worse due to bad acting, bad singing, bad songs, and some very stupid scenes.


but to make things worse it doesn't even have the decency to offer some eye candy.

Frankie Avalon is handsome when he sings "Beauty School Dropout", and Olivia Newton-John is pretty, but that's about it.

[Miss Vicky]

Yes, but only because he's trying to look cool in front of his friends.

So he's a spineless douche.

But I agree that she's an idiot for trying to change for him, rather than trying harder to find the guy she knows he can be when he's not trying to look cool.

I would've rather seen her show some self respect and find someone else entirely.

I completely disagree with this. I like most of the songs in the movie, especially "Hopelessly Devoted to You".

Obviously this is all a matter of taste. I thought the songs were exceptionally annoying.

I think the sequel is much worse due to bad acting, bad singing, bad songs, and some very stupid scenes.

I wasn't impressed with any of the acting, singing, songs, or just about anything else in either movie.

Frankie Avalon is handsome when he sings "Beauty School Dropout", and Olivia Newton-John is pretty, but that's about it.

Neither of them do anything for me. :shrug:

[Miss Vicky]

100271

Wish
(Chris Buck and Fawn Veerasunthorn, 2023)

The animation on this looked great (though it’s Disney, so it would be shocking if it didn’t), but the story, characters, and songs were pretty forgettable. Not terrible, but definitely not good.

2.5

[gbgoodies]

100271

Wish
(Chris Buck and Fawn Veerasunthorn, 2023)

The animation on this looked great (though it’s Disney, so it would be shocking if it didn’t), but the story, characters, and songs were pretty forgettable. Not terrible, but definitely not good.

2.5


The reviews for Wish were pretty bad when it came out, so I haven't been too hyped to see it, and based on your review it sounds like the reviews were right. I'll probably watch it eventually, (when it airs on TV), but I don't have high hopes for it.

[Miss Vicky]

I'm pretty sure that this is the movie Allaby was alluding to in his comments in the Group Watch thread, so because I only have a little bit of time left before my Netflix subscription runs out I thought I'd get a jump on this and get it out of the way now.

Here's hoping that a) I'm not wrong about this being what he was referring to and b) he doesn't change his mind and nominate something else when it's his turn again. :laugh:

https://www.angelfire.com/music6/walteregan/NewMFPics/aweegaway.jpg

A Week Away
(Roman White, 2021)

Being sent away to a week at a Christian Youth Summer Camp sure sounds like cruel and unusual punishment to me, but I can't really buy that this would actually be offered as an alternative to juvenile hall to a repeat-offending delinquent who just got caught stealing a police car. But there I was watching this happen in the opening scene and already struggling with suspension of disbelief before we even get to the religious stuff.

Not that the movie takes its time before it starts pelting my ears with songs about how great God is. Though I do have to say these songs were marginally more tolerable than those in the last two "teen romance" live-action musicals I watched (Grease and Grease 2). I mean, at least I didn't have to listen to anyone sing about girls creaming over the guys' pussy wagon or about how a girl should "do it" for her country. But the songs were still not at all pleasant for me to hear. Besides the subject of the songs, I really disliked the singing itself. "Avery," the main character's crush, has a singing voice that was really grating to me to the point of being physically painful to listen to and her awful lip-synching and the weirdly mismatched tone of her singing vs her facial expressions during the "Awesome God"/"God Only Knows" Medley were equally painful to watch. She had tears streaming down her face, but not even a hint of emotion in her voice and her trembling lips certainly didn't match up with the lyrics. Bizarre.

This movie also goes out of its way to be aggressively wholesome to the point of being nauseatingly so. I get that this is a Christian movie and this is sort of par for the course for this kind of thing, but damn they could've toned it down a touch and made some of the characters at least a little interesting. These kids are such a bunch of goody-goody dorks that even the would-be bully among them has a scene where he complains about "freezing his buttocks off" while working to save the narwhals. Ugh.

But obviously as a 40-something, musical-hating atheist I am very much not in this movie's target demographic so my criticisms of it won't and shouldn't mean much to the people who do or might enjoy it. And I will say it's pretty far from being my least favorite musical, but that's about the highest praise I'll give it.

1.5

[Miss Vicky]

100315

Winnie the Pooh
(Stephen J. Anderson and Don Hall, 2011)

Cute, but I've come to the conclusion that although I really like Eeyore, the rest of the characters are pretty annoying.

2.5

[gbgoodies]

100315

Winnie the Pooh
(Stephen J. Anderson and Don Hall, 2011)

Cute, but I've come to the conclusion that although I really like Eeyore, the rest of the characters are pretty annoying.

2.5


It's been a while since I watched any of the animated Winnie the Pooh movies, but I'm hoping to watch a few of them for the Musicals Countdown. I like most of the characters, but my favorite character has always been Tigger.

I love the 2018 movie Christopher Robin with Ewan McGregor, but it's not a musical.

[Miss Vicky]

100316

Rocketman
(Dexter Fletcher, 2019)

While I would never call myself a fan, I do enjoy what I know of Elton John's music. However, this is not a movie I ever really considered watching. Aside from my aversion to musicals, I'm not at all familiar with star Taron Egerton. Looking at his IMDb page, I've only seen Sing - where he voiced one of the characters - and Legend - which I have no strong memory of any performances that weren't by Tom Hardy. I have seen and liked Jamie Bell in a couple of other movies, but The Eagle and Skin hardly have anything in common with this.

Having seen it now, I definitely don't regret watching it. I thought Egerton and Bell both gave quite good performances, I mostly liked the songs, and I got a kick out of the recreations of Elton's iconic stage outfits. But I am far from loving this. I cringed anytime little kid Reggie sang, I thought that scene near the end where Elton "confronts" the people in his life was corny as hell, and frankly I would've enjoyed this movie a whole hell of a lot more if it was a standard biopic. It was really frustrating for me to get really engaged in the drama of a scene, only for the movie to suddenly remind me that it is indeed a musical and break my immersion with stupid shit like little kid Reggie in a space suit singing at the bottom of a pool to grown up Elton who is trying to drown himself. :rolleyes:

So ultimately I come away with mixed feelings. I do think that the film's positives mostly outweigh its drawbacks for me, but not by a lot. But hey, at least someone has finally nominated something for this Group Watch (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?anchor=1&p=2478416#post2478416) that I didn't hate.

3.0

[Miss Vicky]

http://www.angelfire.com/music6/walteregan/AnimationCountdown/Gifs/100alldogsgotoheaven.gif

All Dogs Go To Heaven
(Don Bluth, Gary Goldman, and Dan Kuenster, 1989)

Although this movie was never a big favorite, I watched it quite a few times growing up and so it does have some nostalgia on its side. That said, so did the American Tail movies and they did not hold up for me. So going into this rewatch today, I had my reservations.

Fortunately those reservations were unfounded. I still don't love it, but I had a good time. I thought the casting and voice performances were really strong, the songs were pretty good, and the story was fun and engaging - if a bit overly silly at times. I was pretty undecided on what to rate it as the movie progressed - going back and forth between a 3 and a 3.5 - but the ending managed to make me tear up and that was ultimately the deciding factor. This also means that it's now a contender for my ballot and I did not expect that.

3.5

[Takoma11]

http://www.angelfire.com/music6/walteregan/AnimationCountdown/Gifs/100alldogsgotoheaven.gif

All Dogs Go To Heaven
(Don Bluth, Gary Goldman, and Dan Kuenster, 1989)

Although this movie was never a big favorite, I watched it quite a few times growing up and so it does have some nostalgia on its side. That said, so did the American Tail movies and they did not hold up for me. So going into this rewatch today, I had my reservations.

Fortunately those reservations were unfounded. I still don't love it, but I had a good time. I thought the casting and voice performances were really strong, the songs were pretty good, and the story was fun and engaging - if a bit overly silly at times. I was pretty undecided on what to rate it as the movie progressed - going back and forth between a 3 and a 3.5 - but the ending managed to make me tear up and that was ultimately the deciding factor. This also means that it's now a contender for my ballot and I did not expect that.

3.5

This film was so intense for me as a kid! Like you, I watched it quite a lot. I thought it had great characters, aside from obnoxious "sexy" heaven poodle.

[Miss Vicky]

This film was so intense for me as a kid! Like you, I watched it quite a lot. I thought it had great characters, aside from obnoxious "sexy" heaven poodle.

Yeah, that was definitely one of the weaker characters. But I thought most of the rest were pretty great and I really liked Burt Reynolds's performance as Charlie.

Unrelated question: Have you watched Stingray Sam? I've watched it three times now and absolutely love it. I know it's a long shot to get it onto the countdown but I'm gonna try anyway and I remembered you saying you liked The American Astronaut.

[Takoma11]

Yeah, that was definitely one of the weaker characters. But I thought most of the rest were pretty great and I really liked Burt Reynolds's performance as Charlie.

Weirdly, it's Dom DeLuise of all people as Itchy that I always gravitated to the most. And I love the performance of the alligator.

I'm sure you're familiar with the tragic backstory of the child actress who played the little girl.

Unrelated question: Have you watched Stingray Sam? I've watched it three times now and absolutely love it. I know it's a long shot to get it onto the countdown but I'm gonna try anyway and I remembered you saying you liked The American Astronaut.

Not yet! I've had it roughly on my watchlist since it came out, but you totally put it back on my radar with your review. I'd almost been nervous to watch it because I liked The American Astronaut so much and was worried about being let down.

[Miss Vicky]

Weirdly, it's Dom DeLuise of all people as Itchy that I always gravitated to the most. And I love the performance of the alligator.

I thought he was really good too, but Reynolds stood out more to me, probably because I've seen several animated movies with DeLuise performances and he's always good.

I'm sure you're familiar with the tragic backstory of the child actress who played the little girl.

Yeah, I know about Judith Barsi's murder - ten years old, slain by her own father. She was also really good as the voice of Ducky in The Land Before Time. :(

Not yet! I've had it roughly on my watchlist since it came out, but you totally put it back on my radar with your review. I'd almost been nervous to watch it because I liked The American Astronaut so much and was worried about being let down.

Fingers crossed you like it and decide to vote for it. Getting people to watch it is the reason why I kept suffering through so many Group Watch noms, though only three people watched it (not including Allaby who'd already seen it a few weeks prior). Citizen really liked it and says he's gonna vote for it, so that's some progress. :laugh:

[Takoma11]

Fingers crossed you like it and decide to vote for it. Getting people to watch it is the reason why I kept suffering through so many Group Watch noms, though only three people watched it (not including Allaby who'd already seen it a few weeks prior). Citizen really liked it and says he's gonna vote for it, so that's some progress. :laugh:

Stingray Sam ending up as the #1 musical in the countdown would be an amazing plot twist. Take that, The King and I!

[Citizen Rules]

...Citizen really liked it and says he's gonna vote for it, so that's some progress. :laugh:Yup, I'll put Stingray Sam as high as I can on my ballot. It won't be my number one of course but hopefully I can wedge it in higher than lower. More points that way and it will need the points. Fingers crossed, it's the dark horse I'm rooting for in this countdown.

[Miss Vicky]

Stingray Sam ending up as the #1 musical in the countdown would be an amazing plot twist. Take that, The King and I!

That'll never happen, sadly, but maybe #100 or #99?

[Miss Vicky]

Yup, I'll put Stingray Sam as high as I can on my ballot. It won't be my number one of course but hopefully I can wedge it in higher than lower. More points that way and it will need the points. Fingers crossed, it's the dark horse I'm rooting for in this countdown.

It won't be my number 1 either, but it is currently sitting in my top 5.

[Citizen Rules]

It won't be my number 1 either, but it is currently sitting in my top 5.Very cool!

[Miss Vicky]

100328

The Broken Circle Breakdown
(Felix van Groeningen, 2012)

This was my third viewing of this movie and although I have come to absolutely love it, this is a very tough watch. It's about two very different people who come together and fall in love, only to endure extreme heartache that tears them apart. It is at times uplifting and even funny and at other times bleak and devastating. And the gorgeous bluegrass music that runs through it echoes and amplifies those feelings.

This is by no means a traditional musical, but music is an integral part of its story and themes and Veerle Baetens and Johan Heldenbergh give incredibly powerful performances in both the acting and singing aspects. Indeed this movie's soundtrack is among my favorites with the covers of "Wayfaring Stranger" and "If I Needed You" being particular standouts, though there isn't a weak song in the bunch.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CkpDDngb1Ew

When it was announced that films like this would be eligible, I never had any doubt that The Broken Circle Breakdown would be very high on my ballot and after tonight's watch there is still not a shred of doubt.

5

[rauldc14]

I should watch it again but I don't know that it fits my definition of a musical. Still it's a great movie.

[Miss Vicky]

100374

Saturday Night Special
(Dan Golden, 1994)

Saturday Night Special is a low budget erotic thriller that boasts a terribly cliche script, truly awful acting, and sex scenes that manage to not be sexy. It is, in a word, crap.

And I knew that going into tonight's viewing. So why did I watch it? (Or, rather, rewatch it since I've seen it probably half a dozen times now and own it on DVD.) Because at one time I was absolutely obsessed with the band Fleetwood Mac and, by extension, the solo work of many of its members both past and present. But what does a legendary band like that have to do with a shitty B movie like this? Well the answer to that is that it stars Billy Burnette - a country and rockabilly musician who was one of two guys hired to replaced Lindsey Buckingham in the late 1980s. (Oh, and Mick Fleetwood makes a tiny cameo in this movie as well.)

For a number of reasons I have lost my interest in Fleetwood Mac but I am still very much a Lindsey Buckingham fan and I do still have a soft spot for Billy Burnette. And Burnette's music is the one bright spot in this movie. He can't act worth a damn, but his lack of talent in that area fits right in with everyone else in the movie. And what he does do well is perform half a dozen or so of his own songs, which I really enjoyed. I also hadn't listened to those songs in several years so I got a little kick out of hearing them again.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SB_hGr5zNSk

I would also be lying if I said I didn't enjoy the movie itself. It's by no means a well made movie. This is not quality cinema, but it is entertaining in a so-bad-it's-good kind of way and I had fun with it. So I'm going to give it a positive rating even if it probably doesn't deserve it.

3.0

[KeyserCorleone]

Oh, god. I'm really gonna have to watch My Fair lady in parts. There's only so much of Higgins I can take at one time, and no way in hell am I finishing this three-hour movie with him at the front after a bad day at work.

[Miss Vicky]

Oh, god. I'm really gonna have to watch My Fair lady in parts. There's only so much of Higgins I can take at one time, and no way in hell am I finishing this three-hour movie with him at the front after a bad day at work.

Okay... What does that have to do with me?

[KeyserCorleone]

Okay... What does that have to do with me?


Posted in the wrong thread apparently. I meant for this to be the preliminary thread. Sorry.

[Takoma11]

Okay... What does that have to do with me?

You're basically in a marathon of movies you aren't enjoying for the most part. Maybe he just needed a pep talk from the master of endurance!

[Miss Vicky]

You're basically in a marathon of movies you aren't enjoying for the most part. Maybe he just needed a pep talk from the master of endurance!

Maybe.

I've seen My Fair Lady and he has my sympathies.

[Takoma11]

Maybe.

I've seen My Fair Lady and he has my sympathies.

LOL. I'm trying to remember how I felt about it. Looks like I gave it 3.5. I preferred Pygmalion, which is the same story but not a musical.

[Miss Vicky]

100428

The Umbrellas of Cherbourg
(Jacques Demy, 1964)

I don't know what the hell possessed me to watch this. I knew going in that there was absolutely no way in hell I was going to enjoy a foreign musical from the 1960s. But I knew of its reputation among MoFos, it was available on Kanopy, and with a runtime of only 91 minutes I thought "How bad can it be?"

Well... It isn't bad - It's well made and is even quite visually beautiful - but holy shit was I bored. This is a sung-through musical and while that style worked for me in Les Miserables, it most definitely didn't work here. I might've been okay with the story and its characters had this not been a musical, but the constant singing prevented me from ever engaging with anyone or anything and consequently the whole thing just dragged terribly. It was an absolute chore to get through.

I'll give it a little bit of credit for how pretty it is but I have no other praise for it.

1.5

[honeykid]

OMG MV!?!?! What are you doing to yourself? Umbrellas? I think we're bordering on self-harm now. :D

Also, just as a little factoid no one cares about, it's called My Fair Lady because they misheard the term Mayfair Lady.

[Miss Vicky]

OMG MV!?!?! What are you doing to yourself? Umbrellas? I think we're bordering on self-harm now. :D

:laugh: I'm gonna need therapy after I'm done with this shit. Still got a month to go before the deadline though.

[Mr Minio]

Miss Vicky is a masochist.

[FilmBuff]

Mon dieu

[Thursday Next]

I admire your commitment to the cause, MV :up:

[Wyldesyde19]

Umbrellas is a pretty good movie. Always liked it.

[rauldc14]

Why even bother?

Anyways, I'm also one who didn't get the love for it, but I'm certainly not in the minority on that thought. And also I only saw one time.

[Miss Vicky]

http://www.angelfire.com/music6/walteregan/MovieLog/pinocchio.gif

Pinocchio
(Norman Ferguson, T. Hee, et al., 1940)

This movie is hokey as hell, but charming and looks great. Also I have to say Geppetto is kind of a terrible father and Jiminy is an even crappier conscience. They both fail Pinocchio multiple times.

Still this was a fun enough watch though I definitely won’t be voting for it.

3.0

[Miss Vicky]

100449

Bohemian Rhapsody
(Bryan Singer, 2018)

I've never considered myself to be a fan of Queen nor am I a fan of anyone involved with this movie so I never really had any strong desire to see it. I do like what I've heard of Queen's music though and I'd heard good things about this movie so I figured I'd give it a shot.

And.. it's fine. There wasn't anything that I disliked about it. It had strong performances, an interesting enough story, and obviously good music. I really have no complaints, but there also wasn't anything that stood out to me as being anything special here. I was never bored but I also never really emotionally engaged with it. Honestly I kind of doubt I'll have much memory of it a month from now when it's time to vote so there's no way it makes my ballot.

3.0

[honeykid]

Still this was a fun enough watch though I definitely won’t be voting for it.

It's not fun. It's an evil, evil movie with the scariest character ever seen on celuloid. :eek:

[Miss Vicky]

It's not fun. It's an evil, evil movie with the scariest character ever seen on celuloid. :eek:

I knew you'd have something to say about that.

[Miss Vicky]

100456

Almost Famous
(Cameron Crowe, 2000)

Almost Famous has always been a movie that I like, but don't love and it never really makes any sort of lasting impression on me. It features some really strong performances, likable characters, good music, and a fun and engaging story, but it also doesn't really pack any kind of emotional punch for me nor is it unique enough for that not to matter.

All in all, I think it's a very solid movie but not a great one.

3.5

[Miss Vicky]

http://www.angelfire.com/music6/walteregan/AnimationCountdown/Gifs/90anastasia.gif

Anastasia
(Don Bluth and Gary Goldman, 1997)

This movie does have a good number of things going for it. The animation is mostly very well done, the voice work is solid (though as a John Cusack fan, I am a bit biased), the songs are pleasant enough though not really catchy or memorable, and the banter between Dimitri and Anastasia was amusing enough. I also thought it was a little bit better than I'd remembered it being.

However, I still don't think it's anything special and my patience with it did begin to run pretty thin towards the end. Not a bad movie but definitely not one that will make my ballot. Also - ten years later - I'm still slightly annoyed that this made it onto the Animation Countdown over some far superior films including some of Bluth's better work like The Secret of NIMH and The Land Before Time.

2.5

[gbgoodies]

http://www.angelfire.com/music6/walteregan/AnimationCountdown/Gifs/90anastasia.gif

Anastasia
(Don Bluth and Gary Goldman, 1997)

This movie does have a good number of things going for it. The animation is mostly very well done, the voice work is solid (though as a John Cusack fan, I am a bit biased), the songs are pleasant enough though not really catchy or memorable, and the banter between Dimitri and Anastasia] was amusing enough. I also thought it was a little bit better than I'd remembered it being.

However, I still don't think it's anything special and my patience with it did begin to run pretty thin towards the end. Not a bad movie but definitely not one that will make my ballot. Also - ten years later - I'm still slightly annoyed that this made it onto the Animation Countdown over some far superior films including some of Bluth's better work like The Secret of NIMH and The Land Before Time.

2.5


It's sad to see Anastasia rated so low. I love this movie, and it's very likely to make my list.

[Miss Vicky]

100484

Begin Again
(John Carney, 2013)

This was my third Carney film and I went into this with some reservations. I was a bit underwhelmed by Once but thought Sing Street was good so this could really go either way. And while those other two films are cast with people I had never heard of, this one is cast with people I’m either apathetic to or mildly dislike.

Well, it turns out this is a sweet little movie about making music, making friends, and rediscovering yourself. The performances are solid, the music is decent, though I’m not particularly fond of Keira Knightley‘s singing voice, and the two leads had good chemistry. It was also refreshing to see a movie where a man and a woman spend time together without falling in love.

That said though, I don’t know that it will make my ballot. I definitely liked it and it’s pretty much on the same level as two or three of the movies already on my preliminary ballot but the trouble is those two or three movies are at the very end, so if it does get my vote it will only get maybe 2 to 4 points.

3.5

[rauldc14]

I liked it and I feel it might grow on me even more next watch.

[Miss Vicky]

http://www.angelfire.com/music6/walteregan/AnimationCountdown/Gifs/54sleepingbeauty.gif

Sleeping Beauty
(Clyde Geronimi, 1959)

It has been a long time since I last watched this movie and I’d forgotten just how gorgeous the animation is. Maleficent also makes for a pretty cool villain. However this movie suffers from some of the same problems as Cinderella. I’m not buying this love at first sight crap (we met for like a minute and don’t know each other’s names or anything but we’re madly in love and want to get married!) and Aurora may have been blessed with beauty but she is sure lacking in personality. Also the whole premise is just stupid. Why not just keep Aurora hidden in the woods until after her birthday has passed? They already waited sixteen years, what’s another day or two? It’s not like it’s some secret that Maleficent is a powerful sorceress, but sure let’s take a chance. I mean there’s no way Maleficent will interfere now, right? Ugh.

Anyway all those issues aside, there’s no way this is going on my ballot. Even if I had loved it, there’s not a lot of singing so it doesn’t even fit the rather loose definition of a musical that I’m working with.

2.5

[gbgoodies]

http://www.angelfire.com/music6/walteregan/AnimationCountdown/Gifs/54sleepingbeauty.gif

Sleeping Beauty
(Clyde Geronimi, 1959)

It has been a long time since I last watched this movie and I’d forgotten just how gorgeous the animation is. Maleficent also makes for a pretty cool villain. However this movie suffers from some of the same problems as Cinderella. I’m not buying this love at first sight crap (we met for like a minute and don’t know each other’s names or anything but we’re madly in love and want to get married!) and Aurora may have been blessed with beauty but she is sure lacking in personality. Also the whole premise is just stupid. Why not just keep Aurora hidden in the woods until after her birthday has passed? They already waited sixteen years, what’s another day or two? It’s not like it’s some secret that Maleficent is a powerful sorceress, but sure let’s take a chance. I mean there’s no way Maleficent will interfere now, right? Ugh.

Anyway all those issues aside, there’s no way this is going on my ballot. Even if I had loved it, there’s not a lot of singing so it doesn’t even fit the rather loose definition of a musical that I’m working with.

2.5


I liked Sleeping Beauty more than you did, but I agree that it doesn't have enough songs to consider it a musical.

[Miss Vicky]

100530

Thunder Alley
(J.S. Cardone, 1985)

I don't really have a lot to say about this one. It was fine. The music isn't really my kind of thing (the look and sound of this movie is very 80s) but I didn't hate it. The performances were okay. Nobody stood out as being exceptionally good or bad, though I never really felt anything for any of the characters, and the story was interesting enough for one watch. There were a few scenes that seemed a bit much and kind of had the feel of an anti-drug after school special (if after school specials had a bunch of TNA), but that was only a minor annoyance. Still, I'm not sorry I watched it but I probably won't ever watch it again.

2.5

[Miss Vicky]

http://www.angelfire.com/music6/walteregan/AnimationCountdown/Gifs/83mulan.gif

Mulan
(Tony Bancroft and Barry Cook, 1998)

I have some really mixed feelings on this one. I liked the story and I do appreciate Disney telling a tale that is not whitewashed. Well, not too whitewashed anyway. I also appreciate that they cast most of the main speaking voices with actors of Chinese descent. However, the supporting cast and singing cast is a mess in terms of representation. This was made in the 90s, so I will give Disney a pass for casting Japanese and Korean people in Chinese roles, but in no way does Harvey Fierstein make a convincing Chinese soldier. Never mind the other white people in the voice cast or Eddie Murphy as the dragon. Also, the singing voices are exclusively white and I was especially bothered by the recognizable sound of Donny Osmond as Shang’s singing voice. To be clear though I would’ve still hated these songs had they been sung by Chinese people, but hearing Osmond just made me hate it that much more. I also found the films attempts at humor to be quite obnoxious (“Let’s go kick some Hunny buns!”). :rolleyes:

I do think the strength of the story does outweigh the movie’s many flaws, but not by much. There is also no way in hell I’m voting for this.

3.0

[Miss Vicky]

100614

Gay Purr-ee
(Abe Levitow, 1962)

I was very underwhelmed by this movie. While there wasn't really anything about it that I hated (Well, okay, actually I did hate the character designs. Those were some weird looking cats with giant paws), there also wasn't anything about this that I liked. I didn't like the artwork, I didn't like the story, I didn't like the characters, and I didn't like the songs. I also suspect there it won't be long before I forget this movie even exists.

2.0

[gbgoodies]

100614

Gay Purr-ee
(Abe Levitow, 1962)

I was very underwhelmed by this movie. While there wasn't really anything about it that I hated (Well, okay, actually I did hate the character designs. Those were some weird looking cats with giant paws), there also wasn't anything about this that I liked. I didn't like the artwork, I didn't like the story, I didn't like the characters, and I didn't like the songs. I also suspect there it won't be long before I forget this movie even exists.

2.0


I'm sorry you didn't like Gay Purr-ee. I just rewatched it a few days ago, and I liked it a lot more than you did. I thought the artwork had a unique style that reminded me of the old Saturday morning cartoons that I watched as a kid. And I loved the music, but that might be because I love both Judy Garland's and Robert Goulet's voices.

[Miss Vicky]

100711

Pure Country
(Christopher Cain, 1992)

I knew going into this that it wouldn’t be my kind of movie. I don’t particularly like country music and I definitely don’t like rodeo and this movie is packed full of both. So it came as no surprise when I didn’t enjoy it - though I was a little surprised to find that I didn’t particularly hate anything about it. Okay, that’s not quite true. I did hate that god-awful 90s Western fashion, but otherwise the movie was just mildly annoying. I disliked pretty much all of the characters. They were all a bunch of jackasses. The story also felt very uninspired and left me unengaged and bored through its runtime.

So yeah, far from being the worst movie that I have watched for this, but also miles away from being anywhere near consideration for my ballot.

2.0

[Miss Vicky]

http://www.angelfire.com/music6/walteregan/AnimationCountdown/Gifs/31snowwhite.gif

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
(William Cottrell, David Hand, et al., 1937)

Every time I watch this movie, I am reminded that I don’t actually like it. I appreciate its historical significance as Disney’s first animated feature and I respect the beauty of its artwork, but princesses and fairy tales have never been my thing.

2.5

[cricket]

Wow you really went off

[Miss Vicky]

100712

The Sound of Music
(Robert Wise, 1965)

It’s probably been about 35 years since I last watched this and I remembered very little about it. Given its age and its length I was in no hurry to watch it again, never mind my general dislike of musicals. I have to say I was a bit surprised by it. It is overlong, I don’t care for the songs, and the story offers few surprises, but I mostly enjoyed it. I definitely didn’t love it - not even close - but it managed to hold my attention and only mildly annoyed me a time or two.

It definitely won’t make my ballot and it might be another couple of decades before I watch it again, but at least I don’t regret this viewing.

3.0

[Takoma11]

I'm sorry you didn't like Gay Purr-ee. I just rewatched it a few days ago, and I liked it a lot more than you did. I thought the artwork had a unique style that reminded me of the old Saturday morning cartoons that I watched as a kid. And I loved the music, but that might be because I love both Judy Garland's and Robert Goulet's voices.

We owned this on VHS when I was a kid, and my sister loved it, so we watched it all the time. I sometimes hum the "Money cat can" song (and specifically when one of my students is struggling, the line "When teacher can't teach you").

[Miss Vicky]

100713

Beyond the Sea
(Kevin Spacey, 2004)

I really didn’t care for the way that this film was structured and thought the constant presence of child Bobby was kind of annoying. I’m also definitely not a fan of Bobby Darin‘s music nor of that style of music in general so this was not and never will be a movie that I love. However, I thought the performances from all involved but most especially from Spacey were really solid and the story was interesting.

There’s no way this makes my ballot and I don’t know if I’ll watch it again, but it certainly wasn’t a bad way to spend two hours.

3.0

[Miss Vicky]

Wow you really went off

I'm aiming for 100 movies watched for this. Currently at 87.

[Miss Vicky]

100718

Happy Feet
(George Miller, 2006)

I’ve always had mixed feelings about this movie. On the one hand, I think the whole heart song/tap dancing premise is kind of stupid. On the other, I really appreciate its conservation messaging. I also appreciate the hard work that went into the designs and the animation, however, I think it strives too hard for photo-realism and the end result are characters that look just sort of weird and a little creepy. I do think its positives outweigh the negatives, but this will never be a favorite of mine and I don’t think I’ll ever go beyond just sort of liking it.

3.0

[honeykid]

100712

The Sound of Music
(Robert Wise, 1965)

It’s probably been about 35 years since I last watched this and I remembered very little about it. Given its age and its length I was in no hurry to watch it again, never mind my general dislike of musicals. I have to say I was a bit surprised by it. It is overlong, I don’t care for the songs, and the story offers few surprises, but I mostly enjoyed it. I definitely didn’t love it - not even close - but it managed to hold my attention and only mildly annoyed me a time or two.

It definitely won’t make my ballot and it might be another couple of decades before I watch it again, but at least I don’t regret this viewing.

3.0
I'll make the same joke I always make just to keep it going.

Didn't you cry at the horribly sad ending? When the Nazis didn't find them and they got away.

[Miss Vicky]

I'll make the same joke I always make just to keep it going.

Didn't you cry at the horribly sad ending? When the Nazis didn't find them and they got away.

You know, I cry at everything. I cry at sad endings. I cry at happy endings. My eyeballs are like little water fountains. It's ridiculous.

But they were mysteriously dry while watching The Sound of Music. :laugh:

[Miss Vicky]

100734

The Idolmaker
(Taylor Hackford, 1980)

It’s really hard to like a movie when you’re actively rooting for the protagonists to fail. Vincent is a controlling, verbally abusive jackass with his head firmly up his own backside. Tommy is a statutory raping scumbag. Cesare is a dumbass. I hated all of them.

It’s also a big pet peeve of mine when movies switch languages and don’t provide subtitles. It’s really hard to stay engaged with a film when there’s whole conversations going on that I can’t understand.

But that’s not to say that this is a bad movie. The performances were good for what they were. The songs are decent if you’re into that kind of music. It just doesn’t appeal to me. About the only thing that did appeal to me was the scene where Cesare punches Vincent in his stupid face.

2.0

[gbgoodies]

We owned this on VHS when I was a kid, and my sister loved it, so we watched it all the time. I sometimes hum the "Money cat can" song (and specifically when one of my students is struggling, the line "When teacher can't teach you").


That's not my favorite song from Gay Purr-ee, but it's a catchy song. :)

[gbgoodies]

100713

Beyond the Sea
(Kevin Spacey, 2004)

I really didn’t care for the way that this film was structured and thought the constant presence of child Bobby was kind of annoying. I’m also definitely not a fan of Bobby Darin‘s music nor of that style of music in general so this was not and never will be a movie that I love. However, I thought the performances from all involved but most especially from Spacey were really solid and the story was interesting.

There’s no way this makes my ballot and I don’t know if I’ll watch it again, but it certainly wasn’t a bad way to spend two hours.

3.0


I thought Kevin Spacey was great as Bobby Darin in Beyond the Sea. I loved the movie, and it has a chance to make my list.

[Takoma11]

That's not my favorite song from Gay Purr-ee, but it's a catchy song. :)

Which one is your favorite? Honestly, "Money Cat Can" is the only one I really remember. Unless you count "Bubbles!! . . . . .Bubbles!!!!"

[gbgoodies]

100718

Happy Feet
(George Miller, 2006)

I’ve always had mixed feelings about this movie. On the one hand, I think the whole heart song/tap dancing premise is kind of stupid. On the other, I really appreciate its conservation messaging. I also appreciate the hard work that went into the designs and the animation, however, I think it strives too hard for photo-realism and the end result are characters that look just sort of weird and a little creepy. I do think its positives outweigh the negatives, but this will never be a favorite of mine and I don’t think I’ll ever go beyond just sort of liking it.

3.0


It's been a long time since I watched Happy Feet, so I don't remember much about the movie, but I remember that I was looking forward to it after I saw the trailer, and being disappointed when I saw the movie.

[gbgoodies]

100734

The Idolmaker
(Taylor Hackford, 1980)

It’s really hard to like a movie when you’re actively rooting for the protagonists to fail. Vincent is a controlling, verbally abusive jackass with his head firmly up his own backside. Tommy is a statutory raping scumbag. Cesare is a dumbass. I hated all of them.

It’s also a big pet peeve of mine when movies switch languages and don’t provide subtitles. It’s really hard to stay engaged with a film when there’s whole conversations going on that I can’t understand.

But that’s not to say that this is a bad movie. The performances were good for what they were. The songs are decent if you’re into that kind of music. It just doesn’t appeal to me. About the only thing that did appeal to me was the scene where Cesare punches Vincent in his stupid face.

2.0


The characters aren't great in The Idolmaker, but I thought it was interesting seeing how Vincent took two nobodies and knew what he had to do to make them into stars. (It's loosely based on the guy who discovered Frankie Avalon and Fabian.)

At least you didn't hate the music. Thanks for giving it a try.

[gbgoodies]

Which one is your favorite? Honestly, "Money Cat Can" is the only one I really remember. Unless you count "Bubbles!! . . . . .Bubbles!!!!"


My favorite song from Gay Purr-ee is "Roses Red, Violets Blue".

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T-sjqbINSDs

[Miss Vicky]

100736

Pete's Dragon
(Don Chaffey and Don Bluth, 1977)

I vaguely remember watching this a few times as a child and liking it quite a bit, but I have not seen it in many years. Watching it again tonight I’ve come to the conclusion that child me had really shitty taste in movies. (Yeah, I know adult me probably does too.) The songs were awful. The acting was awful. The story was stupid. And the combination of animation and live action was hardly seamless. If this movie didn’t have nostalgia on its side, I probably would’ve absolutely hated it. With nostalgia on its side, I only kind of hated it.

2.0

[gbgoodies]

100736

Pete's Dragon
(Don Chaffey and Don Bluth, 1977)

I vaguely remember watching this a few times as a child and liking it quite a bit, but I have not seen it in many years. Watching it again tonight I’ve come to the conclusion that child me had really shitty taste in movies. (Yeah, I know adult me probably does too.) The songs were awful. The acting was awful. The story was stupid. And the combination of animation and live action was hardly seamless. If this movie didn’t have nostalgia on its side, I probably would’ve absolutely hated it. With nostalgia on its side, I only kind of hated it.

2.0


I haven't seen Pete's Dragon since I was a kid, so I have it on my watchlist to rewatch it for the Musicals Countdown.

If it was anyone but you writing this review, I would remove it from my watchlist, but you haven't liked most of the musicals that you've watched, including some that are among my all-time favorites. Your review definitely lowered my expectations for it, but I'll probably still watch it anyway.

[Miss Vicky]

I haven't seen Pete's Dragon since I was a kid, so I have it on my watchlist to rewatch it for the Musicals Countdown.

If it was anyone but you writing this review, I would remove it from my watchlist, but you haven't liked most of the musicals that you've watched, including some that are among my all-time favorites. Your review definitely lowered my expectations for it, but I'll probably still watch it anyway.

Yeah, our tastes are pretty wildly different so definitely still give it a shot. My friend Funny Face still likes it and says she pretty regularly sings the songs to herself.

[Miss Vicky]

100739

Robin Hood: Men In Tights
(Mel Brooks, 1993)

I have long had a soft spot for the story of Robin Hood and I’ve always liked this particular version, though it’s never been a huge favorite. After watching it again tonight, I think I like it a little less than I used to. The jokes are very dated and the humor often doesn’t land. Aside from a quick chuckle or two, I barely laughed. Still it was amusing enough and Cary Elwes looks pretty damn hot in it so I never got bored. As to the musical aspect, it does have three songs so it technically qualifies, but there’s no way this makes my ballot.

3.0

[Gideon58]

100739

Robin Hood: Men In Tights
(Mel Brooks, 1993)

I have long had a soft spot for the story of Robin Hood and I’ve always liked this particular version, though it’s never been a huge favorite. After watching it again tonight, I think I like it a little less than I used to. The jokes are very dated and the humor often doesn’t land. Aside from a quick chuckle or two, I barely laughed. Still it was amusing enough and Cary Elwes looks pretty damn hot in it so I never got bored. As to the musical aspect, it does have three songs so it technically qualifies, but there’s no way this makes my ballot.

3.0

The only thing that made me laugh in this movie was the late Richard Lewis

[gbgoodies]

I haven't seen Pete's Dragon since I was a kid, so I have it on my watchlist to rewatch it for the Musicals Countdown.

If it was anyone but you writing this review, I would remove it from my watchlist, but you haven't liked most of the musicals that you've watched, including some that are among my all-time favorites. Your review definitely lowered my expectations for it, but I'll probably still watch it anyway.

Yeah, our tastes are pretty wildly different so definitely still give it a shot. My friend Funny Face still likes it and says she pretty regularly sings the songs to herself.


I watched Pete's Dragon today, and it wasn't as bad as your review made it sound, but it wasn't great either. It has a great cast, and I loved Helen Reddy and Jim Dale in it, but the movie was too childish. And with the exception of "Candle on the Water", (which I loved), most of the songs weren't very good.

[gbgoodies]

I'm trying to watch some of the Disney animated musicals that I haven't seen yet. I've seen most of the older classic ones, and the well-known ones, but I've missed some of the lesser known ones, like The Rescuers, Tarzan, Hercules, Pocahontas, etc.

Are there any that you would recommend?
Or are there any other animated musicals that aren't Disney movies that you would recommend watching?

[Miss Vicky]

I'm trying to watch some of the Disney animated musicals that I haven't seen yet. I've seen most of the older classic ones, and the well-known ones, but I've missed some of the lesser known ones, like The Rescuers, Tarzan, Hercules, Pocahontas, etc.

Are there any that you would recommend?
Or are there any other animated musicals that aren't Disney movies that you would recommend watching?

My dislike of musicals extends to most animated musicals so it's hard to say. Have you watched Sing? It's not Disney. I don't think it's great but it is pretty fun and has a lot of singing. I won't be voting for it and my ballot is pretty much set, but it was one of the last to get cut.

[Miss Vicky]

http://www.angelfire.com/music6/walteregan/AnimationCountdown/Gifs/40frozen.gif

Frozen
(Chris Buck and Jennifer Lee, 2013)

I watched this movie once or twice when it was still pretty new and I didn’t like it then. A decade or so later, I couldn’t quite remember why I didn’t like it. Against my better judgment, I decided to give it another watch. It turns out that what I didn’t like about it is just about everything. I don’t care for the story. The characters are annoying. The songs are annoying. The animation is pretty enough, but it doesn’t stand out as being anything special. Actually nothing about this movie stands out to me as being anything special. I cannot understand why the hell people love it so damn much.

I will say I don’t think it’s terrible, I just think it’s painfully unremarkable.

2.0

[gbgoodies]

My dislike of musicals extends to most animated musicals so it's hard to say. Have you watched Sing? It's not Disney. I don't think it's great but it is pretty fun and has a lot of singing. I won't be voting for it and my ballot is pretty much set, but it was one of the last to get cut.


I knew that you didn't like Disney's princess movies, but I didn't realize that you didn't like most of the Disney musicals. I figured that you were the expert on the animated movies, but I guess I'll have to ask elsewhere for help with the animated musicals.

I recently watched both Sing and Sing 2, and I liked both movies. They're both in consideration for my list if I can find room for them. (My list is not nearly set, but it's very crowded, so I have to find reasons to cut movies, rather than reasons to include them.)

[honeykid]

I will say I don’t think it’s terrible, I just think it’s painfully unremarkable.
Really, I think you just need to let it go.

I'm sorry. It's an affliction.

[Miss Vicky]

I knew that you didn't like Disney's princess movies, but I didn't realize that you didn't like most of the Disney musicals. I figured that you were the expert on the animated movies, but I guess I'll have to ask elsewhere for help with the animated musicals.

The only Disney animated musicals that are contenders for me are The Nightmare Before Christmas, The Jungle Book, and Alice in Wonderland. Oh and Coco, but that's Pixar.

If I hadn't gone through the trouble of watching all of these movies, I might've ended up voting for The Little Mermaid and Moana but they're definitely not in consideration now.

[gbgoodies]

The only Disney animated musicals that are contenders for me are The Nightmare Before Christmas, The Jungle Book, and Alice in Wonderland. Oh and Coco, but that's Pixar.

If I hadn't gone through the trouble of watching all of these movies, I might've ended up voting for The Little Mermaid and Moana but they're definitely not in consideration now.


The Nightmare Before Christmas, The Jungle Book, Coco, The Little Mermaid and Moana are all being considered for my list. I'm hoping to fit at least two or three of them on it.

[Miss Vicky]

100789

London Road
(Rufus Norris, 2015)

This might be the worst musical I’ve sat through yet for this countdown. The songs were truly awful - so many “ums,” “uhs,” and “likes” in song. Absolutely maddening. The acting was shit. The story was boring. I only even gave it a chance because Tom Hardy is in it and I love Tom Hardy, but his role lasts like two minutes. The movie is only 90 minutes long, but it sure felt like four hours. I kept checking the time hoping I was getting close to finishing only to find that it had been just a few minutes since the last time I checked.

1.0

[Miss Vicky]

100790

Fame
(Alan Parker, 1980)

Not a lot to say about this one. It’s fine. There’s nothing wrong with it. I don’t have any complaints really (well maybe the length) but it’s not my kind of movie. I much prefer more intimate stories that focus on maybe two or three characters and really take the time to develop them. This movie just has too much going on - too many characters, too many stories, too much to follow, and I never felt like I knew any of these people well enough to care about them.

2.0

[Miss Vicky]

100810

The Doors
(Oliver Stone, 1991)

I have really mixed emotions about this. I do like what I know of the music of The Doors, I think this is very well acted and it’s full of atmosphere, but holy shit is this movie over long, bloated, and meandering. Jim Morrison, at least as he is in this movie, is a completely insufferable space cadet and nearly 2 1/2 hours of his shit is too damn much.

2.0

[Miss Vicky]

100814

Mary Poppins
(Robert Stevenson, 1964)

I know I saw this movie at some point in my childhood, but I don’t remember what I thought of it then. What I can say for sure though, is that as an adult I hate it. I simply do not have the patience for something so aggressively stupid and nauseatingly wholesome, especially when it lasts for nearly 2 1/2 hours. There is precisely nothing that I liked about this movie. I hated the songs, I hated the dancing, I hated the characters, I hated the story, I hated the costumes, and I really hated Dick Van Dyke’s obnoxious accent. I’m not even sure how I managed to trudge through the entire thing, but I certainly won’t ever be doing that again.

1.0

[Miss Vicky]

100826

West Side Story
(Jerome Robbins and Robert Wise, 1961)

Why are so many musicals so damn long? My patience for this crap is short as it is and I might hate this stuff less if the creators of them had the decency to make them shorter. Of course, being shorter wouldn’t have saved this shit from me hating it. From the awful dancing to the awful songs to the stupid story to the incredibly not intimidating gangs (made up of a bunch of skinny clean cut looking white boys), to the obnoxious characters, to the shit fake Puerto Rican accents, to the even more shit obvious brown face, this thing amounted to a little more than 2 1/2 hours of a cringe inducing, torturously bad time.

I think I’ve found a new contender for my least favorite movie ever.

0.5

[Miss Vicky]

100834

The Wizard of Oz
(Victor Fleming and King Vidor, 1939)

In which a dipshit teenager lets her little dog bite the neighbor, then flees to a far away land where she murders a woman, steals her shoes, then takes up with three strange men, gets high on opiates, and also kills the dead woman’s sister.

I can vaguely recall watching this a few times as a child and liking it well enough, then about 10 years ago, I watched it for the first time as an adult and absolutely hated it. (https://www.movieforums.com/community/showthread.php?anchor=1&p=1183664#post1183664) Against my better judgment I decided to give it another try tonight. What is it that they say about insanity and doing the same thing over and over again?

I still hate the songs. I still hate the characters. I still hate the story. Though I’ll give it some credit for being mercifully under two hours.

1.5

[Miss Vicky]

100838

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
(Tim Burton, 2005)

I haven’t watched this movie since it was still fairly new and honestly I had kind of forgotten about it. After tonight’s watch, I definitely have to say that this is not one of Tim Burton‘s best nor is it one of the best from Johnny Depp, but it is fun. It relies a little too heavily on weirdness and whimsy to the point of being overly silly and it’s not a movie I’m likely to watch again anytime real soon, but it’s not a bad way to spend a couple of hours.

3.0

[gbgoodies]

100834

The Wizard of Oz
(Victor Fleming and King Vidor, 1939)

In which a dipshit teenager lets her little dog bite the neighbor, then flees to a far away land where she murders a woman, steals her shoes, then takes up with three strange men, gets high on opiates, and also kills the dead woman’s sister.




I love your synopsis of The Wizard of Oz. I know that everything you wrote there is true, but I still love the movie. :rotfl:

[gbgoodies]

100838

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
(Tim Burton, 2005)

I haven’t watched this movie since it was still fairly new and honestly I had kind of forgotten about it. After tonight’s watch, I definitely have to say that this is not one of Tim Burton‘s best nor is it one of the best from Johnny Depp, but it is fun. It relies a little too heavily on weirdness and whimsy to the point of being overly silly and it’s not a movie I’m likely to watch again anytime real soon, but it’s not a bad way to spend a couple of hours.

3.0


Have you seen the original version, Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (1971) starring Gene Wilder?

You probably won't agree with me, but IMO, it's so much better than the Tim Burton/Johnny Depp version.

[gbgoodies]

100814

Mary Poppins
(Robert Stevenson, 1964)

1.0

100826

West Side Story
(Jerome Robbins and Robert Wise, 1961)

0.5

100834

The Wizard of Oz
(Victor Fleming and King Vidor, 1939)

1.5


It kills me to see such low ratings for these movies because they're some of my favorites, but I know how much you hate musicals, and I give you a lot of credit for watching them anyway. :up:

[Miss Vicky]

Have you seen the original version, Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (1971) starring Gene Wilder?

Yes, but it’s been like 30 years.

[gbgoodies]

Yes, but it’s been like 30 years.


Maybe it's time for a rewatch, (if you think you might not hate it).

[Miss Vicky]

Maybe it's time for a rewatch, (if you think you might not hate it).

I vaguely remember not really liking it, but it's fairly short so I might give it another shot.

[rauldc14]

Please don't.

[Miss Vicky]

100841

Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory
(Mel Stuart, 1971)

Although I saw this movie as a child, it was never a favorite. I am not overly fond of the story of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and I wasn’t one of those kids that read Roald Dahl’s work. Add to that my hatred of musicals and you end up with something I’m not going to like.

But I didn’t hate it. I really don’t like the songs but the rest of it is mostly fine. I am in the minority though in preferring the Tim Burton version. I like his brand of weirdness more plus the more vivid colors of the 2005 version. I also much preferred the Deep Roy Oompa Loompas over these weird orange things but I’m not super fond of either movie and won’t be voting for them.

2.5

[Miss Vicky]

100842

The Princess and the Frog
(Ron Clements and John Musker, 2009)

I watched this once before but had pretty much forgotten about it to the point that I didn’t even remember if I liked it or not. Now that I’ve seen it again I can say the story, songs, and characters are pretty fun and I like the look of the movie. However, I don’t think this is anything special and it doesn’t have any kind of emotional impact on me so it’ll never be a favorite and I definitely won’t be voting for it.

3.0

[gbgoodies]

100842

The Princess and the Frog
(Ron Clements and John Musker, 2009)

I watched this once before but had pretty much forgotten about it to the point that I didn’t even remember if I liked it or not. Now that I’ve seen it again I can say the story, songs, and characters are pretty fun and I like the look of the movie. However, I don’t think this is anything special and it doesn’t have any kind of emotional impact on me so it’ll never be a favorite and I definitely won’t be voting for it.

3.0


I pretty much felt the same way about The Princess and the Frog. I enjoyed it while I was watching it, but I didn't remember much about it a week or so later. After watching it a second time, I liked it while I was watching it, and I enjoyed the music, but it didn't interest me enough to consider it for my list. :shrug:

[Miss Vicky]

http://www.angelfire.com/music6/walteregan/MovieLog/loveandmercyjc.gif

Love & Mercy
(Bill Pohlad, 2014)

I've seen this movie a few times now and, while I've never really been a Beach Boys fan, I've always been impressed with this. I think it has some really strong performances from both Paul Dano (who I normally can't stand) and John Cusack - both as Brian Wilson in different points of his life, as well as Paul Giamatti and Elizabeth Banks. It tells a really compelling story about a musical genius, his creative process, his struggles with mental health, and about the abuse he suffered at the hands of some of the people in his life.

When this countdown was announced, I put this on my list to rewatch because I know it's a really good film, but I was uncertain about whether I thought it worked as a musical. It's undoubtedly about a musician, but the focus is really on his personal struggles. Having rewatched it tonight, I think it does work - though by a very small margin - and so it may just sneak onto my ballot.

4

[honeykid]

Please don't.
:rotfl:

[Miss Vicky]

100929

Hearts Beat Loud
(Brett Haley, 2018)

I don’t have a lot to say about this one. I thought the music was pretty good and I mostly like the story. However, something about Offerman’s character really rubbed me the wrong way. I disliked him from the opening scene and that never changed as the movie progressed, which really hindered my enjoyment of the movie as a whole. I didn’t hate it or anything and I do think that it has more positive aspects than negative, but I doubt I’ll be watching it again.

3

[gbgoodies]

100929

Hearts Beat Loud
(Brett Haley, 2018)

I don’t have a lot to say about this one. I thought the music was pretty good and I mostly like the story. However, something about Offerman’s character really rubbed me the wrong way. I disliked him from the opening scene and that never changed as the movie progressed, which really hindered my enjoyment of the movie as a whole. I didn’t hate it or anything and I do think that it has more positive aspects than negative, but I doubt I’ll be watching it again.

3


I liked Hearts Beat Loud, and I thought about suggesting it to you, but I didn't think it had enough songs to consider it for a musicals list. (If I remember correctly, there were only 2 or 3 songs in the movie.)

[Miss Vicky]

I liked Hearts Beat Loud, and I thought about suggesting it to you, but I didn't think it had enough songs to consider it for a musicals list. (If I remember correctly, there were only 2 or 3 songs in the movie.)

There are definitely more than two. I think there's enough to qualify. It won't make my list either way though.

[Miss Vicky]

100937

Cyrano
(Joe Wright, 2021)

I went into this film known very little about it other than that it was a musical starring Peter Dinklage. Having now seen it I come away with very mixed feelings. There was definitely a lot to like here. I thought the performances were very good, particularly from Dinklage. I also really like the look of the film. I thought the lighting, costuming, and sets were fantastic. I can’t say that I particularly liked the songs, but I didn’t hate them either.

But as much as I liked those aspects, I cannot get away from the fact that the notion of “love at first sight” is one of my pet peeves when it comes to storytelling. I get that the film kind of goes back on that and shows that Roxanne was not truly in love with Christian, however it still left a bad taste in my mouth and I really, really disliked Roxanne. The bulk of the story of this film reminded me strongly of the part of Les Misérables that I hated - with Roxanne being this story’s Marius and Cyrano its Eponine and I’m simply left rolling my eyes.

3

[Gideon58]

100937

Cyrano
(Joe Wright, 2021)

I went into this film known very little about it other than that it was a musical starring Peter Dinklage. Having now seen it I come away with very mixed feelings. There was definitely a lot to like here. I thought the performances were very good, particularly from Dinklage. I also really like the look of the film. I thought the lighting, costuming, and sets were fantastic. I can’t say that I particularly liked the songs, but I didn’t hate them either.

But as much as I liked those aspects, I cannot get away from the fact that the notion of “love at first sight” is one of my pet peeves when it comes to storytelling. I get that the film kind of goes back on that and shows that Roxanne was not truly in love with Christian, however it still left a bad taste in my mouth and I really, really disliked Roxanne. The bulk of the story of this film reminded me strongly of the part of Les Misérables that I hated - with Roxanne being this story’s Marius and Cyrano its Eponine and I’m simply left rolling my eyes.

3

I, too, thought Dinklage was brilliant but hated the songs.

[Mr Minio]

MoFos: Minio, you troll, why do you rate movies so low!!!

Meanwhile Miss Vicky:

https://i.imgur.com/ZQZMXAa.gif

[TONGO]

http://www.angelfire.com/music6/walteregan/MovieLog/loveandmercyjc.gif

Love & Mercy
(Bill Pohlad, 2014)

I've seen this movie a few times now and, while I've never really been a Beach Boys fan, I've always been impressed with this. I think it has some really strong performances from both Paul Dano (who I normally can't stand) and John Cusack - both as Brian Wilson in different points of his life, as well as Paul Giamatti and Elizabeth Banks. It tells a really compelling story about a musical genius, his creative process, his struggles with mental health, and about the abuse he suffered at the hands of some of the people in his life.

When this countdown was announced, I put this on my list to rewatch because I know it's a really good film, but I was uncertain about whether I thought it worked as a musical. It's undoubtedly about a musician, but the focus is really on his personal struggles. Having rewatched it tonight, I think it does work - though by a very small margin - and so it may just sneak onto my ballot.

4
Hm. I'll check it out.

[Miss Vicky]

http://www.angelfire.com/music6/walteregan/MoFoTop100/walktheline.gif

Walk the Line
(James Mangold, 2005)

This is not a movie that I needed to watch for this countdown. As soon as I knew it was eligible, there was never any doubt that it would get my vote. But it's been a few years since I last watched it and I'd kind of forgotten just how jam packed full of music it is and just how much that I enjoy that music. Which isn't to say that I'm a Johnny Cash fan. I am not. I think I have an "essentials" CD plus Unchained - the album he did with Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers - but besides a handful of his hits, especially his cover of "Hurt," I never had much interest in his music. But I really enjoy the soundtrack to this film and am impressed with the vocal performances from its cast.

But besides just the music, the acting here is really strong. Joaquin Phoenix in particular brings a huge amount of intensity to his portrayal of Cash and I cannot take my eyes off him (of course the fact that he looks so damn good in it doesn't hurt). He is absolutely mesmerizing. But the other performances are also very strong with the obvious standout being Reese Witherspoon in her Oscar winning turn as June Carter Cash.

Speaking of awards, despite Phoenix's Golden Globe win for "Best Actor in a Musical Or Comedy" with this performance, obviously this isn't a musical with a capital M. But I do think it's very worthy of inclusion in the countdown and will rank quite high on my ballot.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y_fgX9MUfVM

4.5

[gbgoodies]

There are definitely more than two. I think there's enough to qualify. It won't make my list either way though.


I can only remember three songs in Hearts Beat Loud. The title song “Hearts Beat Loud” that he uploaded without telling her was good. Then the song that she wrote for her girlfriend was okay, but not great, and I vaguely remember that there was a third song when they were closing the store, but I don't remember the actual song or if I liked it.

If there were any more songs in the movie, I don't remember them.

But as a movie, I liked the story a lot. It won't make my musicals list, but it's a very good movie.

[Miss Vicky]

I can only remember three songs in Hearts Beat Loud. The title song “Hearts Beat Loud” that he uploaded without telling her was good. Then the song that she wrote for her girlfriend was okay, but not great, and I vaguely remember that there was a third song when they were closing the store, but I don't remember the actual song or if I liked it.

If there were any more songs in the movie, I don't remember them.


I'm not sure of the title, but there was at least one instance where the dad sings a song by himself. I think that last song you were thinking of was "Everything Must Go." I believe the minimum to qualify for the countdown is 3 songs. This one has at least 4.

[Miss Vicky]

http://www.angelfire.com/music6/walteregan/MovieLog/hedwig.gif

Hedwig and the Angry Inch
(John Cameron Mitchell, 2001)

I first watched Hedwig in 2013 after its appearance on the MoFo Millennium Countdown and I have no idea how many times I've seen this movie since. And it's an odd little gem of a movie. It's pretty unusual for me to enjoy live action comedies, especially after multiple rewatches, and it's exceptionally rare for me to enjoy a live action musical but I've liked it from the start and it's never gotten old.

The comedy in particular is really witty and it's thick with innuendo and sarcasm that has me laughing every time. But I think the thing that brings me back to it time and again is the story and the performances. The soundtrack is incredible, all of the actors really bring their characters to life, and holding it all together is a the universal theme of self discovery. It really is a beautiful film and one that I hope will take a deservedly high position when the countdown is finally revealed.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_zU3U7E1Odc

5

[Takoma11]

I love Hedwig and the Angry Inch and have since it first came out. Like you say, the music is great and the writing is really fun. For several years I enjoyed describing myself as being in "my early late twenties".

And of course the quote that never gets old: "You can't put a bra in a dryer . . . IT WARPS!!!!!!"

[gbgoodies]

I believe the minimum to qualify for the countdown is 3 songs. This one has at least 4.


I understand that the rules of the countdown are that 3 songs qualifies it as a musical for the countdown, but IMO, only 3 songs makes it a movie with some music, not a musical.

I'm not sure of the exact number, but if it has a bunch of long stretches of movie with no songs, it just doesn't feel like a musical to me.

[Miss Vicky]

I just finished the last movie on my watchlist, which I will write up and post later. Gonna have a look over my ballot. I might finalize it and vote tonight

[Miss Vicky]

https://www.angelfire.com/music6/walteregan/NewMFPics/funktowel.gif

Joe's Apartment
(John Payson, 1996)

In 1996, MTV released their first movie - Joe’s Apartment, a feature length musical adaptation of a short of the same name (http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=wj3ra_B1PVU) that used to air on the channel. Featuring a hoard of cockroaches that talk, sing, and dance, the movie is stupid, crude, and disgusting… and I’d be lying if I said it didn’t appeal to 15-year-old me.

But I’d also be lying if I said it doesn’t appeal to 43-year-old me. Granted, I’m sure nostalgia has something to do with that, but I actually find the movie to be genuinely funny. I laughed several times which is more than can be said for a lot of comedies. I also liked the musical numbers and the film boasts some surprisingly good CGI. Now of course this is by no means any kind of masterpiece. It is a very stupid movie. But it’s fun. It’s also had a spot in my personal movie collection for many years and it will surely take a spot on my ballot as well.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ru_EiJgTodQ

3.5

[Thursday Next]

Miss Vicky, your dedication to watching so many films of a genre you hate just to prep for the countdown deserves some kind of medal!

[Miss Vicky]

Miss Vicky, your dedication to watching so many films of a genre you hate just to prep for the countdown deserves some kind of medal!

I'll just be happy if a good number of the movies I voted for make it, especially one particular movie that I campaigned for.

Also other than Joker: Folie à Deux, I plan to not watch anymore musicals for a long time. I'm just a little bit burnt out. :laugh:

[FilmBuff]

Too bad you're gonna miss out on Wicked. ;)

[Takoma11]

Miss Vicky, your dedication to watching so many films of a genre you hate just to prep for the countdown deserves some kind of medal!

I will admit that I lazily used this thread to just remind me of musicals that exist and that I might want to watch before voting.

[Miss Vicky]

103416

The Long Kiss Goodnight
(Renny Harlin, 1996)

So today I decided to watch a 90s action movie and accidentally found myself watching my first Christmas movie of the season. :laugh:

I've seen this movie a few times before, but the last time was so long ago that I remembered almost nothing about it. Having now seen it again, I think it's fun but far from great. Geena Davis and Samuel L. Jackson have decent chemistry and I don't really have any complaints about their performances. The story was interesting enough and I think it does the whole strong woman thing better than a lot of more recent movies, but overall it just felt really superficial and I suspect it won't be too long before I forget about it again.

3.0

[seanc]

Long Kiss takes me back to my Blockbuster days. I know I watched it, but don’t remember it at all. 30 years will do that to you.

[Takoma11]

Long Kiss Goodnight is so enjoyably over-the-top that I really dig it despite finding certain parts of it really corny.

[Miss Vicky]

103670

The Ref
(Ted Demme, 1994)

I've been really struggling to get into the Christmas spirit this year, but decided to put on this old holiday favorite tonight. Despite not really being in the mood, I was able to have a good time with this. I think the performances are all quite good, with Kevin Spacey in particular proving he could do comedy pretty well (too bad he's a garbage person). And even after 30 years (holy shit!) this ridiculous tale of a burglar that takes a bickering couple hostage on Christmas Eve and poses as their couples therapist when their relatives show up for dinner still manages to make me laugh.

3.5

[Miss Vicky]

103692

The Boondock Saints
(Troy Duffy, 1999)

The Boondock Saints is stupid, juvenile, racist, misogynistic, homophobic... and really, really entertaining. It's violent. It's profane. Its performances are ridiculously over the top and it's just a whole lot of fun. If you had asked me to list my favorite movies a decade ago, this likely would've been among my answers, but during tonight's viewing - the first in many years - I just wasn't feeling it the way I used to. I don't know if it's just a reflection of the current state of my mental health or if my tastes have changed a bit since the last time, but the love just wasn't there. I had fun with it, but not like before.

This movie made my 90s ballot at #21 back in 2013, but we'll see if it makes it this time around.

3.5

[Miss Vicky]

http://www.angelfire.com/music6/walteregan/MoFoTop100/claypigeons.gif

Clay Pigeons
(David Dobkin, 1998)

Produced by Ridley Scott and directed by David Dobkin, Clay Pigeons is a comedy-thriller about a hapless mechanic in a small town who - following a series of crazy incidents that might have something to do with his new fishing buddy - finds himself the prime suspect in a series of murders.

I first watched this movie in the early days of my Joaquin Phoenix obsession and loved it immediately, but not for the reason that I thought I would. Don't get me wrong, this pre-Gladiator Phoenix performance is plenty strong - and full of bewilderment, rage, and trauma - but for me Vince Vaughn is the real stand-out here. He's charming, he's chilling, and he's hilarious as a killer who uses a dim-witted and amiable facade to disarm both his victims and his pursuers. This movie made me love him and I continue to have soft spot for him despite the many missteps of his career. Strong too is the (admittedly type-cast) 90s darling Janeane Garofalo as the smart and cynical FBI agent giving life to the strong feeling of "WTF" regarding the ineptitude and absurdity surrounding the case. She also gives balance to the small town's (and, perhaps, film's) "dim view of women" and to the other female characters who are either vapid or spiteful. The other supporting characters also bring plenty of laughs to the proceedings.

But there's more to the movie than just the acting. The film is also beautifully shot using angles and lighting that do well to enhance a sense of isolation and paranoia that remind us that the film is also a thriller while the rather whimsical soundtrack (that I love nearly as much as the movie itself) never lets us forget that it's primarily a comedy.

Clay Pigeons is a very dark movie that manages to both crack me up and creep me out. It has long been one of my favorite movies and tonight's rewatch only cemented its place in my heart and, of course, on my ballot.

4.5

[Miss Vicky]

http://www.angelfire.com/music6/walteregan/MovieLog/pulpfictiongimp.gif

Pulp Fiction
(Quentin Tarantino, 1994)

I was 13 years old when Pulp Fiction was released. My mom was never much on sheltering me, especially once I reached my teen years, so I was allowed to watch it back then. I'd seen plenty of sex and violence in other movies, but this was my introduction to gimps, ballgags, and the kind of blood-soaked fun that is Tarantino's trademark. It was also my introduction to non-linear storytelling, Ezekiel 25:17, and that badass motherf***er Samuel L. Jackson. It was incredibly stylish, in your face, and unlike anything I'd ever seen before. Teenaged me LOVED it.

30 years later, that feeling just isn't there anymore. It's still wildly entertaining and I had a damn good time with this rewatch, but at this point in my life I'm more interested in films that favor substance more than style. I want something that packs an emotional punch. As time has passed and my tastes have changed, I find myself drawn away from many films that favor style over substance and more to films that pack an emotional punch. As such, after 25 years my love of Pulp Fiction is not what it once was, but I absolutely cannot deny that it is still one wildly entertaining and unforgettable ride. And while Christopher Walken telling a kid about how he hid a watch up his ass in a POW camp for two years is memorable, it doesn't exactly move me to tears or warm my bitter little heart.

That said, this movie is definitely not yet out of the running for a place on my ballot and certainly there will be plenty of pure-entertainment titles that do make the cut for me.

4

[gbgoodies]

Clay Pigeons
(David Dobkin, 1998)

but for me Vince Vaughn is the real stand-out here. He's charming, he's chilling, and he's hilarious as a killer who uses a dim-witted and amiable facade to disarm both his victims and his pursuers. This movie made me love him and I continue to have soft spot for him despite the many missteps of his career.


Have you seen Vince Vaughn in the movie Freaky (2020)? It's basically a slasher comedy version of Freaky Friday.

I don't like slasher movies, but I watched it specifically for Vince Vaughn. (I found it on DVD at a garage sale for $1 and it piqued my curiosity.) It's a fun movie and he's terrific in it.

[Miss Vicky]

Have you seen Vince Vaughn in the movie Freaky (2020)? It's basically a slasher comedy version of Freaky Friday.

I don't like slasher movies, but I watched it specifically for Vince Vaughn. (I found it on DVD at a garage sale for $1 and it piqued my curiosity.) It's a fun movie and he's terrific in it.

I've heard of it, but haven't seen it. I may check it out.

[Miss Vicky]

I watched this a few days ago and just realized I never posted it here:

104068

Now and Then
(Lesli Linka Glatter, 1995)

It’s been quite a few years since I last watched this one. I remember liking it, and I remembered a lot of the lighter moments like the girls watching the boys skinny dip at the lake and then stealing their clothes, or the vanilla pudding balloon boobs one of the girls stuffed her bra with. However, I’d kind of forgotten about the darker parts and about how well the young actresses performed in this. The scenes with the characters as grownups were unnecessary and and I think the film would be better off without them, but I still really enjoyed this. It probably won’t make my ballot as there are too many movies from the 90s that I like and too many with more nostalgic value than this one, but I’m glad I gave it another watch.

4.0

[Miss Vicky]

104124

Citizen X
(Chris Gerolmo, 1995)

I know I watched and enjoyed this movie at some point back in the 90s and it may well have been among the many movies my family recorded onto VHS (probably during one of HBO's "free preview" weekends). However, in the 30 or so years since then I had completely forgotten about it and so tonight's rewatch might as well have been a first viewing... and an impressive one at that.

I expect movies about serial killers to be creepy or at least really sad - and it was sad and maybe a little creepy, but the emotion I felt more than anything was frustration and in no way is that statement a criticism of the movie. This is because Citizen X is not really a movie about a serial killer. It's a procedural film about a detective who doggedly tried for many years to battle against the infuriating bureaucracy of the USSR and the incompetence of those in charge so that he could identify and stop a monster. This man is played by Stephen Rea, who gives a stellar performance that really kept me gripped to the screen - and who made me realize that I really ought to seek out more of his work. (I remember him in Interview With the Vampire and I know I need to rewatch The Crying Game since I barely remember anything about it, but I'm open to other suggestions). He really carries the movie. But Donald Sutherland as Rea's commanding officer (and one of the few competent men in the film) and Max Von Sydow as the psychiatrist who aides in the investigation are also excellent. Really though I don't think there were any weak performances and the story the movie tells is really quite compelling, so I'm really glad to have been reminded of this movie. Sadly its chances of making my ballot are slim, but only because there is a lot of competition and only 25 slots to fill. This decade just leaves me too spoiled for choice.

4.0

[Miss Vicky]

104301

Paradise
(Mary Agnes Donoghue, 1991)

For a movie that is about what this movie is about, I was really expecting a much bigger emotional impact than what it had to offer. Don't get me wrong, I thought the performances were all fine and the basic story was good, but I really struggled to connect with its characters. In particular, I found Ben a difficult man to root for (which I was not expecting, given the casting). So I wasn't exactly pulling for him and Lily to work things out, which made it difficult to be invested in their story. The scene where a drunken Ben nearly rapes Lily didn't exactly help matters either.

Willard's story and his friendship with Billie was a little better, but I still felt mostly detached from what was going on. Which is a shame really, because the movie does have a good cast and a decent premise. Perhaps if I ever give it a rewatch it might grow on me, but as it stands there's no way this gets my vote.

2.5

[Miss Vicky]

104376

Lawn Dogs
(John Duigan, 1997)

I really don't have a lot to say about this one. I really strongly disliked Mischa Barton's character and was pretty apathetic to everyone else. I think movies about classism can be really engaging and well made, but I didn't feel much of anything watching this one and nothing about it stood out to me as anything special.

2.0

[Miss Vicky]

104457

The Big Lebowski
(Joel Coen, 1998)

At one point, this was a top ten movie for me. It's one of a rare few movies that I loved on first watch and it has continued to hold a special place in my heart since then. That said, after tonight's viewing I definitely don't feel the same way about this movie that I once did. I still love it - it still had me laughing at a bunch of the scenes (especially the "Gutterballs" sequence and anytime Jesus appeared) - but comedies often have diminishing returns for me and though this movie held up way better than many others have, it ultimately is not immune to the problem.

Still it's pretty much guaranteed a slot somewhere on my ballot.

4.0

[cricket]

Just a heads up because someone could recommend it to you

Do not watch Bad Boy Bubby

Due to a scene with an animal, you would lose your mind

[Miss Vicky]

Just a heads up because someone could recommend it to you

Do not watch Bad Boy Bubby

Due to a scene with an animal, you would lose your mind

I'd never heard of that and just read up about it. JFC that's horrific. I will definitely avoid it.

[Miss Vicky]

104470

Truly Madly Deeply
(Anthony Minghella, 1991)

If there's one thing that can reliably take me out of just about any live-action movie or television show it's ghosts or the resurrection of any dead character. So when I watched the trailer for this and saw that Alan Rickman plays a ghost, I had reservations. A lot of reservations. Having now seen the movie I can say those reservations were well founded. It's nowhere near as egregious as something like 2017's A Ghost Story (Sheet Affleck :rolleyes: ) or that part of the show Grey's Anatomy where Izzy was having sex with her boyfriend's ghost, but I was never able to get past my aversion to the spirit BS and actually engage with the movie and its characters. Weirdly though I don't mind Ghost from 1990 (probably because Patrick Swayze was hot. Alan Rickman is no Patrick Swayze).

Which is not to say there's really anything wrong with it. The performances were fine. If this sort of story was my kind of thing, I would probably like it, but it isn't my thing and I didn't like it so here we are.

2.0

[Miss Vicky]

104491

Mystery, Alaska
(Jay Roach, 1999)

I give precisely zero shits about hockey - or sports in general - so despite my love of Russell Crowe, this isn't a movie I watch often. Actually it had been so long since my last viewing that I had completely forgotten almost everything about it. But for whatever reason I had an urge to watch it and it is a 90s movie so here we are.

And I had a good time with it. It gets a bit silly and really cheesy at times but I like the characters and it's got a strong cast. Also I'll never object to watching Russell Crowe in his prime (and damn does his hair look great in this) so, yeah I was happy. This doesn't have a hope in hell of making my 90s ballot - though if we ever do a sports movie countdown it'll get my vote - but I'm happy.

3.5

[Miss Vicky]

104593

An Affair Of Love (Une liaison pornographique)
(Philippe Blasband, 1999)

I really liked the look of this movie. The use of color, the angles, and the way the shots were framed were all quite impressive. However, if I notice and remember these sorts of things in a movie, it usually means I was bored - and that was very much the case here. I hated the structure of this movie. It was like a mockumentary without the comedy - it kept going back and forth between scenes of the two characters together during the affair and separate interviews with them some time after it had ended. It also had very little story to tell and we the audience never really get to know the characters. In fact, the characters don't even get to know each other, at least not until near the end of movie. We don't even learn their names and they don't learn them either. And the first act of the movie is a whole lot of talking. For a film with a title that literally translates to "A Pornographic Affair," it's incredibly tame. The characters kept alluding to some sort of really kinky/unusual sexual act, but they never name it or describe it and we never see it - just repeated scenes of them entering and exiting a hotel room. There are some sex scenes, but it's all pretty vanilla love-making. And I'm not saying that I needed to see some crazy sex act, but a movie needs to give me something - something to watch or something to feel - and it did neither. I think I was meant to feel something at the very end but the movie had so completely alienated me by that time that all I felt was relief that it was over.

2.0

[Miss Vicky]

104639

Cutthroat Island
(Renny Harlin, 1995)

Upon its release, this movie was a massive failure. It bankrupt the studio behind it and earned a Guinness World Record as the biggest box-office bomb of all time. It has a 40% score on Rotten Tomatoes and 5.7 IMDB rating.

And I truly could not care less. I've seen it many times over the years and consider it good, stupid fun. I like the characters, I like costumes, I like the story, and I like the cheesy one-liners like "Bad Dawg!" It's a swashbuckling good time that does the girl-power thing in a way that doesn't irritate me, plus Matthew Modine looks great in it so I'm good. It's by no means a big favorite and I probably won't vote for it, but I like it.

3.5

[Takoma11]

Also I'll never object to watching Russell Crowe in his prime (and damn does his hair look great in this)

Have you seen Proof (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0102721/)?

It features a very engaging performance from Crowe and also some great hair.

[Miss Vicky]

Have you seen Proof (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0102721/)?

It features a very engaging performance from Crowe and also some great hair.

Yes, but it's been ages and I'd kind of forgotten about it. I used to have it in my collection but got rid of it because it was on VHS and I no longer had a way to play it. Looks like I can stream it for free on Prime or get the DVD for $10, so I'll have to give it another shot.

[Takoma11]

Yes, but it's been ages and I'd kind of forgotten about it. I used to have it in my collection but got rid of it because it was on VHS and I no longer had a way to play it. Looks like I can stream it for free on Prime or get the DVD for $10, so I'll have to give it another shot.

Not sure how much you'll enjoy it (I'm still not feeling like I have a great grasp on your film tastes), but I liked it overall. I thought all three central performances were pretty great, although the story sometimes didn't totally come together.

[Miss Vicky]

Not sure how much you'll enjoy it (I'm still not feeling like I have a great grasp on your film tastes), but I liked it overall. I thought all three central performances were pretty great, although the story sometimes didn't totally come together.

I vaguely remember liking it and I remember it having something to do with a blind man taking photos, but that's all I can recall. I really should revisit all of Crowe's 90s work. There are some gems there. The Quick and the Dead, Romper Stomper, and L.A. Confidential are all definitely contenders, but I remember liking some of the others as well.

[Miss Vicky]

104671

The War Zone
(Tim Roth, 1999)

This was a really challenging watch. After cricket's content warning, I did a little reading about the movie before committing to watching it so I had some idea of what I was getting into - or at least I thought I did. I was expecting a movie that would make me feel for its characters but this did not. Instead all I felt was revulsion - and not just because of the abuse that is shown and fully acknowledged or the even more disgusting abuse that is implied near the end - but because of the interactions between its two young stars. The relationship between Tom and Jessie bothered me immensely and it served as an obstruction to my ability to connect with them and feel for their situation. My revulsion to this film was so strong that I had to take repeated breaks which, while it gave me relief, only furthered my disconnect.

So ultimately I can't say that I liked it. I do think the performances were all very strong and the way that it is filmed certainly captures the bleakness of its story. I also think as a piece of art, the movie probably deserves a higher rating than I am giving it, but my rating system reflects my viewing experience more than anything else and it is for this reason that I settled on the rating that I did.

3.0

[Miss Vicky]

104734

Sleepy Hollow
(Tim Burton, 1999)

Love him or hate him, I think one has to acknowledge that Tim Burton knows how to make a good looking movie and Sleepy Hollow is no exception here. The color palette and costuming are absolutely gorgeous. That the film stars Johnny Depp and Christina Ricci - two gorgeous people - adds a lot to its visual appeal. The film also features Christopher Walken and Miranda Richardson - a couple of oddball actors that I also enjoy (unfortunately the cast list includes Jeffrey Jones as well, but I'm willing to overlook that), so I'm quite happy to look at it.

As for the story and other aspects, it's a little up and down. The movie is... a lot. Tim Burton takes great liberties with Washington Irving's original work, but the basic idea of a headless horseman terrorizing people lends itself well to Burton's style. Having said that though, this is a much darker movie than I remembered it being and also darker than I typically expect from the director. It's more violent and gory than I had remembered as well, though it retains plenty of the whimsey and (perhaps too much of) outright silliness that is typical of Burton's movies.

While an earlier Tim Burton/Johnny Depp 90s collaboration is certainly a lock for my ballot, this remains firmly in the "maybe" category. I did have a good time though and I'm happy to have seen it again. Also I now have a really strong urge to rewatch 2002's Brotherhood of the Wolf, which has very similar vibes.

3.5

[Miss Vicky]

http://www.angelfire.com/music6/walteregan/MoFoTop100/armyofdarkness.gif

Army of Darkness
(Sam Raimi, 1992)

It's been long enough since I last watched it that I'd kind of forgotten how much I love this dumbass movie. The puns and one-liners are cheesy as hell, the prosthetics and practical effects are crudely charming, and Bruce Campbell hams it up like crazy, making for one hell of a fun time.


4.5

[Miss Vicky]

http://www.angelfire.com/music6/walteregan/MoFoTop100/inventingtheabbotts.gif

Inventing the Abbotts
(Pat O'Conner, 1997)

Inventing the Abbotts is about some very ordinary things. Set in the late 1950s, it follows brothers Doug and Jacey Holt and their relationships with the wealthy Abbott sisters, Eleanor, Pam, and Alice, as all of them struggle to find their own identity and deal with the awkwardness of young love and the jealousies and conflicts that spring up between them.

A film about such mundane topics could easily be forgettable (and unfortunately some of the reviews I've found online would have you believe that it is), but it's always stuck out to me as being very human and relatable. And what makes it so remarkable to me is the strength of its performances. Of course, Joaquin Phoenix is adorable as younger brother Doug but he also brings the role some really heartfelt emotion that brings me to tears in more than one scene. But he's not alone in talent here. Liv Tyler also gives a strong performance as his love interest Pam and the two have really good chemistry together here (enough so that they were an item for awhile after working together on this movie). Billy Crudup is also excellent as older brother Jacey - a man obsessed with the misguided notion that something is owed to him by the Abbotts and Jennifer Connelly equally so as Eleanor Abbot, a girl obsessed with escaping the expectations of her family. Will Patton is also solid as Lloyd Abbott, patriarch of the Abbott family and a man obsessed with keeping up appearances and with keeping Jacey away from his daughters. But watching it tonight, one performance that stood out to me was Kathy Baker as Helen Holt, mother of the two boys. Hers was probably the most understated of the group, but also perhaps the most powerful - of a working single mother trying her best to guide and support her sons while receiving no support from anyone else.

The pacing is a bit meandering, but at under two hours it never overstays its welcome for me and it allows plenty of time to just sit and observe its characters and to understand their motivations. It's a really sweet movie and one that will almost certainly secure a place somewhere on my ballot.

4.5

[Miss Vicky]

104826

The Mission
(Johnnie To, 1999)

Gangster movies are not my cup of tea. It's very rare for me to enjoy one, mostly because they tend to fall into that subset of movies about shitty people doing shitty things to each other - which usually makes me just not care. Unfortunately, The Mission was not an exception to that. Which is not to say that there's anything wrong with the movie. It looked good, the performances were fine, and I did like the shootout that started on the escalator as well as the final sequence, so I'll give it credit for that. But that's just not enough to earn any consideration from me for the countdown.

3.0

[Gideon58]

https://www.angelfire.com/music6/walteregan/NewMFPics/cry-baby.gif

Cry-Baby
(John Waters, 1990)

I have a rocky history with this movie and with John Waters movies in general. I liked Serial Mom a lot when I was a kid, but didn't care for it at all the last time I watched it. I thought Pecker was just okay and that Pink Flamingoes was absolute dog shit. As for Cry-Baby? I saw it a few times growing up and kind of liked it, but I hated it the last time I watched it (around 15 years ago).

It's been in my DVD collection for probably 20 years now so I figured I had nothing to lose by giving it another shot and... well, I guess I'm back to kind of liking it? As is typical of Waters, the movie is weird and stupid and trashy, but that weird, stupid trashiness has its charm and Johnny Depp looks pretty damn good in it so I was amused enough to not get too annoyed by the songs... this time, at least.

That said, I probably won't watch it again anytime in the next decade or so - but it just might sneak onto my ballot.

3

I loved this movie

[Miss Vicky]

104839

Demoliton Man
(Marco Brambilla, 1993)

There's just nothing quite like a dumbass 90s actioner when I'm in the mood for some mindless fun and Demolition Man is the perfect choice for that. The premise, the performances, and the dialogue are all over the top and ridiculous, but also just so damn charming and memorable. This is just one of those flicks that I never grow tired of and it is absolute pure, solid entertainment and will no doubt make it somewhere on my ballot.

4.0

[Miss Vicky]

104945

Heavenly Creatures
(Peter Jackson, 1994)

I'm a bit torn on how to rate this movie. On one hand, pretty much everything about this movie is done well. The performances, the story, the representation of obsession and with losing touch with reality - I have no complaints, at least from as close to an objective perspective as I am capable of getting.

But I'd be lying if I said I actually liked it. I realize that it is based on a real life case, but I found everyone in the story to be really off-putting and so when the girls commit their crime, I didn't really feel anything. Also, while I thought the Plasticine characters coming to life worked well in terms of what they represented, I became more and more disengaged from the movie every time they appeared. I think the simple reality of it is - with Lord of the Rings, Meet the Feebles, and now this movie - Peter Jackson simply isn't a director for me.

3.0

[Miss Vicky]

105006

The Last Boy Scout
(Tony Scott, 1991)

I've seen this movie before, at least a couple of times, but not since the 90s. It's precisely the sort of violent, smart aleck-y, not at all PC type of thing my older brother enjoyed watching back then and since he often had control of the family TV, I got stuck watching that sort of thing too. And back then I didn't really mind. But now that several decades have passed and I have developed my own tastes, this just didn't work for me. Now there's nothing wrong with it. The story was fine. The look of it was fine. Willis and Wayans had decent chemistry, but I just wasn't really into their characters. Willis's character especially just kind of felt like he was trying too hard to pass off that "I don't give a f***" kind of cool, which is a little odd since I think he does just fine with that sort of portrayal in other movies like Die Hard and The Fifth Element (but maybe it's just that I have too much nostalgic appreciation for those other movies that I don't have for this one). Whatever the reason, I found myself a little bit bored with this at times.

As an aside, I had unknowingly been thinking about this movie recently when one its scenes (with the football player and the woman in the hot tub) randomly popped into my head. I couldn't for the life of me place where the scene was from and it had been kind of driving me nuts. So it was a little odd and relieving to have seen that here, though I've no idea why I had thought of it in the first place.

3.0

[Miss Vicky]

105077

Sommersby
(Jon Amiel, 1993)

Sommersby is one of those movies that I watch once in a blue moon, thoroughly enjoy, and then forget about until that blue moon comes again. Well I guess the moon was blue again because here we are. From an objective standpoint, this post Civil War drama is probably not a great movie. Not really bad, but not remarkable either. But I give no shits about objectivity. I’m a sucker for a good redemption story and this tale of deceit, jealousy, love, and sacrifice fits the bill quite nicely for me. I’m also a sucker for an attractive guy and 90s Richard Gere fits that as well. So again, I thoroughly enjoyed this movie. I’ll probably forget about it soon and not think about it again for another decade or so but when I do I’m sure to be in for a good time once more.

4.0

[Miss Vicky]

105141

Hide and Seek
(Su Friedrich, 1996)

At just over an hour in length, this should have been an easy watch even for my attention span deficient brain. It was not. I really disliked the structure of the film and I think I would've had a better time had this been either a straight forward documentary film or a narrative film, but this tried to be both (though the narrative elements had very little in the way of a story to tell) and that mish mash just didn't work for me. I'll give it some credit because I did enjoy some of the anecdotes from the people being interviewed, but overall I was pretty bored by this.

2.0

[Miss Vicky]

105181

The Negotiator
(F Gary Gray, 1998)

It has been a very long time since I last watched this movie and I'm really not sure why. Although stories of police corruption are not exactly unusual in movies, I've always thought this one had a really interesting twist on that. It's also loaded with a really talented cast who are all on their A game - Samuel L. Jackson, Kevin Spacey, Paul Giamatti, and David Morse are all among the familiar faces. The action scenes are exciting. It's got a lot of tension. And it gives us enough insight into its characters and their motivations that I can get invested in them. It's just overall a really solid movie and an enjoyable watch. Unfortunately there probably are too many 90s movies that I like better than this for it to make my ballot, but it's not out of the running just yet.

4.0

[gbgoodies]

105181

The Negotiator
(F Gary Gray, 1998)

It has been a very long time since I last watched this movie and I'm really not sure why. Although stories of police corruption are not exactly unusual in movies, I've always thought this one had a really interesting twist on that. It's also loaded with a really talented cast who are all on their A game - Samuel L. Jackson, Kevin Spacey, Paul Giamatti, and David Morse are all among the familiar faces. The action scenes are exciting. It's got a lot of tension. And it gives us enough insight into its characters and their motivations that I can get invested in them. It's just overall a really solid movie and an enjoyable watch. Unfortunately there probably are too many 90s movies that I like better than this for it to make my ballot, but it's not out of the running just yet.

4.0


The Negotiator is one of those guilty pleasure movies that I watch anytime I'm flipping channels and I find it's on. I'm not sure yet if it's going to make my list, but it's definitely in the running.

[Miss Vicky]

105183

Romper Stomper
(Geoffrey Wright, 1992)

I've seen a fair number of movies that deal with racism and several that specifically depict Neo-Nazi skinheads, but - outside of holocaust movies - none stand out to me the way that Romper Stomper does. It is unrelentingly, realistically brutal. It is gritty, it is chaotic, it is bloody, and it feels authentic. I also really appreciate the way that it never comes across as preachy or even particularly critical of its characters - it merely allows us to observe them in all their monstrosity as the natural consequences of their actions unfold and none of them are ever truly redeemed.

But of course what stands out the most to me are its performances and none moreso than Russell Crowe - who all but disappears into the role of the mesmerizing, terrifying, and charismatic skinhead leader Hando. He is absolutely chilling and this has always stood out to me as one of his greatest performances.

This movie has also long stood out to me as one of the best that the decade has to offer and it will no doubt earn itself a spot on my ballot.

4.5

[Miss Vicky]

The Negotiator is one of those guilty pleasure movies that I watch anytime I'm flipping channels and I find it's on. I'm not sure yet if it's going to make my list, but it's definitely in the running.

Not sure why it would be a guilty pleasure, I guess because action's not really your genre? I think it's a genuinely good movie.

[gbgoodies]

Not sure why it would be a guilty pleasure, I guess because action's not really your genre? I think it's a genuinely good movie.


I think it's a very good movie too. But like you said, I guess in my mind, it's a "guilty pleasure" because that's not a genre that I usually like that much. I don't mind watching those types of movies every once in a while, but I rarely rewatch them, especially if they have a lot of violence. But for some reason, I rewatch The Negotiator often.

[Miss Vicky]

105199

Encino Man
(Les Mayfield, 1992)

Encino Man is stupid, juvenile, ridiculous, and rather dated... but it's also sweet, funny, and I have always loved it - and not even in a guilty pleasure kind of way. I just genuinely love it. Brendan Fraser was really hot in the 90s and as much as I love him as a dramatic actor, this silly role as a teenaged caveman thawed out in modern day will forever be my favorite from him. He's absolutely adorable and infuses Link with curiosity, sadness, and love. But he's not the only performance that I enjoy here. Pauly Shore's normally irritating "weasel" schtick actually works well here in the context of a dorky high schooler whose motive is only to befriend Link, unlike Sean Astin's Dave, who is out to use the naive caveman to boost his own popularity. Michael DeLuise is also hilarious as the douchey Matt, the popular bully who loses his girl to Link's charms.

I know there's no real hope for this movie to make the countdown proper, but there's no way it misses out on my ballot at least.

4.0

[Miss Vicky]

105271

Election
(Alexander Payne, 1999)

I can't quite decide if I liked this weird little political satire about ambition, desire, and bad choices. On the one hand, the performances were all excellent, the story feels unique, and I did laugh a few times. On the other hand, I found pretty much every character to be pretty off-putting, including the ones that were portrayed as being good people, like Paul. I was never bored with the movie, but I also never felt fully engaged with it.

Ultimately, I think this is a movie that I need to revisit and that has the potential to grow on me. It's unlikely that a rewatch will happen before the deadline though and even if it did I doubt it would gain enough of my appreciation to make the cut for my ballot. But I do think I like this the best of the first time watches I've seen for the countdown so far.

3.0

[Miss Vicky]

105352

Misery
(Rob Reiner, 1990)

It's been so long since I last watched this movie that I'd pretty much forgotten everything about it so tonight might as well have been a first time watch. And yeah, holy shit did Kathy Bates deserve the Oscar for this performance. She was terrifying. James Caan was excellent as well but Annie Wilkes has got to be one of the greatest female villains in all of movie history. The story itself is really great and the movie is full of tension, but is lightened with just enough levity to keep it from being too much. There really wasn't anything about the movie that I didn't like, but it remains to be seen if this will get my vote. I'm definitely not writing it off yet though.

4.0

[Wyldesyde19]

Just watched Misery finally, as well, this past week. Was ok, but Caan seemed almost….indifferent perhaps? Didn’t buy his performance during certain scenes.

[Miss Vicky]

105418

Defending Your Life
(Albert Brooks, 1991)

Oh boy here we go, another movie with dead characters only now it’s some weird mashup of romance, comedy, and courtroom drama set in a purgatory-like afterlife. Ugh. The “courtroom” scenes were tedious, the humor fell flat, I disliked Albert Brooks's character and never got invested enough in the romance to care if it worked out or not (and had to roll my eyes when it did work out in about the most predictable way ever), and I was just left bored and detached from the whole thing.

2.0

[Miss Vicky]

105639

Clean, Shaven
(Lodge Kerrigan, 1993)

I don't have a lot to say about this one. There wasn't anything about it that I felt was done poorly. Peter Greene gave a very strong performance. I thought the depiction of his character's mental illness was done well. The premise was good. The sort of grainy look of the film and the various sounds we hear suited the movie well as did the ambiguity of what was happening on screen. But I really struggled to engage. Short though it is, the slow pacing made it feel really long. I've watched 3 hour movies that felt shorter than this.

Anyway, suffice it to say that Clean, Shaven falls squarely in the category of movies that I respect but don't actually like.

3.0

[Miss Vicky]

http://www.angelfire.com/music6/walteregan/MoFoTop100/thequickandthedead.gif

The Quick and the Dead
(Sam Raimi, 1995)

I've been a bit stressed out lately and I decided that I needed a guaranteed good time: something fun, something mindless, something with eye candy. Russell Crowe (again with the great hair) provides the eye candy, Sam Raimi provides the mindlessness, and all involved (including Sharon Stone, Leonardo DiCaprio, Gary Sinise, Lance Henriksen, and Keith David) provide the fun - and probably none more so than the scene-chewing recently departed Gene Hackman as villain John Herod.

Western purists (like our own Holden Pike) hate this style-over-substance excuse to watch a bunch of gun fights, but I have loved it since before I had any idea who Russell Crowe is and before I gave a shit about Leonardo DiCaprio. It's just fast-paced pure entertainment and was exactly what I needed today and have needed many times in the 30 years since its release. It will absolutely appear on my ballot (alongside Raimi's Army of Darkness), I just have to decide how high.

4.5

[Miss Vicky]

105704

Heart and Souls
(Ron Underwood, 1993)

Heart and Souls is a fantasy comedy that is corny and sappy and it features dead characters (yet again! This seems to be a popular thing with Group Watch participants) and WAY too much singing (something I thought I had left behind when I finished preparing for the last countdown!). It is, put simply, not my kind of movie. Which is not to say that I hated it. I did tear up a time or two and I thought Robert Downey Jr.'s performance was very good, particularly any time another soul took control of his body, but I don't think this is a movie I'll watch again and it definitely won't make my ballot.

3.0

[Miss Vicky]

105731

Point Break
(Katheryn Bigelow, 1991)

Point Break is a near perfect action movie - tons of a adrenaline, thrilling sequences (that foot chase!), breathtaking scenery, and gorgeous people (not Gary Busey) - that also acts as a romance in more ways than one. An undercover FBI agent trying to catch a gang of bank robbers falls in love with a woman, but he also falls in love with the surfing and, perhaps, with the man he's been assigned to stop. It's a movie I first watched when I was a kid and have seen countless times since then and I've never not loved it. It's thrilling, it's funny, it's beautiful, and it's guaranteed a spot somewhere on my ballot.

4.5

[Miss Vicky]

105864

Con Air
(Simon West, 1997)

With its dumber than shit plot, over the top action, stupid as hell dialogue, Nicholas Cage being his ridiculous self with a hilariously awful southern accent, John Malkovich and Steve Buscemi being their weirdly awesome selves, and John Cusack looking hot, how could I not love this dumbass movie? It's iconic and guaranteed a slot on my ballot. I'll be pissed if it somehow manages to miss the countdown proper.

4.0

[Miss Vicky]

105935

Arizona Dream
(Emir Kusturica, 1994)

Well, that was... something. Unfortunately it was not something I particularly enjoyed. It had a few moments that I found mildly amusing, but overall it just had too much weirdness for the sake of weirdness and not enough that I could really invest in. Depp looked great though so it at had that going for it.

2.5

[Robert the List]

This thread has an interesting variety of 90s films.
I've picked up a couple to rewatch, plus one which I think is new to me..

[Miss Vicky]

105962

Untamed Heart
(Tony Bill, 1993)

I was OBSESSED with this movie when I was about 13 years old. My family had recorded it off of cable and I watched this every day after school for weeks. At the time, I thought that this tale of a shy loner who wins the love of his crush after saving her from a vicious attack was the most romantic thing ever and that Christian Slater was just dreamy. Granted, Slater does a great job of infusing his portrayal of Adam with a child-like innocence and curiosity that keeps him endearing - and he looks damn good doing it - but my nostalgia for this movie is doing a lot of heavy lifting in keeping me from hating it because holy shit is that man a walking red flag. I read a review of this on Letterboxd that simply said "If Christian Slater were ugly this would've been a horror movie" and that reviewer is not wrong, because the reality is that this movie is about a stalker who gets his victim to fall in love with him by saving her from some even worse men - and only manages to do that because he was stalking her. And the feminist in me wants to hate this movie for that, but that 13 year old girl in me still thinks Christian Slater's Adam is dreamy and romantic and I'd be lying if I said I don't still love it.

4.0

[gbgoodies]

105962

Untamed Heart
(Tony Bill, 1993)

I was OBSESSED with this movie when I was about 13 years old. My family had recorded it off of cable and I watched this every day after school for weeks. At the time, I thought that this tale of a shy loner who wins the love of his crush after saving her from a vicious attack was the most romantic thing ever and that Christian Slater was just dreamy. Granted, Slater does a great job of infusing his portrayal of Adam with a child-like innocence and curiosity that keeps him endearing - and he looks damn good doing it - but my nostalgia for this movie is doing a lot of heavy lifting in keeping me from hating it because holy shit is that man a walking red flag. I read a review of this on Letterboxd that simply said "If Christian Slater were ugly this would've been a horror movie" and that reviewer is not wrong, because the reality is that this movie is about a stalker who gets his victim to fall in love with him by saving her from some even worse men - and only manages to do that because he was stalking her. And the feminist in me wants to hate this movie for that, but that 13 year old girl in me still thinks Christian Slater's Adam is dreamy and romantic and I'd be lying if I said I don't still love it.

4.0


I think I may have seen Untamed Heart many years ago. Is that the movie where Christian Slater's character has a baboon's heart?

[Miss Vicky]

I think I may have seen Untamed Heart many years ago. Is that the movie where Christian Slater's character has a baboon's heart?

That’s the story he was told as a child in an orphanage, yes. He doesn’t really have a baboon heart.

[gbgoodies]

That’s the story he was told as a child in an orphanage, yes. He doesn’t really have a baboon heart.


Thanks.
I vaguely remember liking that movie. I added it to my 90s movie watchlist.

[Miss Vicky]

106032

Edward Scissorhands
(Tim Burton, 1990)

With the lackluster movies he's created in the last few years, it can be easy to forget what an immense talent Tim Burton actually is. But one need only watch this movie to jog the memory. It's such of a perfect blend of fantasy, whimsey, and darkness. Central of course to all of this is the wonderful performance from Johnny Depp, who infuses Edward with wonder and innocence and makes him one of the most endearing and memorable characters of the 90s - or any decade really. Winona Ryder, Dianne Wiest, and Kathy Baker are also great. Combine these wonderful performance with a great script, Burton's eye for color, and Danny Elfman's haunting score and you end up with a perfect little fairy tale that oozes charm.

I had this movie at #6 on my ballot for the original 90s countdown. I don't yet know if it'll maintain such a high rank, but there's no doubt that it'll still make the cut.


4.5

[gbgoodies]

106032

Edward Scissorhands
(Tim Burton, 1990)

With the lackluster movies he's created in the last few years, it can be easy to forget what an immense talent Tim Burton actually is. But one need only watch this movie to jog the memory. It's such of a perfect blend of fantasy, whimsey, and darkness. Central of course to all of this is the wonderful performance from Johnny Depp, who infuses Edward with wonder and innocence and makes him one of the most endearing and memorable characters of the 90s - or any decade really. Winona Ryder, Dianne Wiest, and Kathy Baker are also great. Combine these wonderful performance with a great script, Burton's eye for color, and Danny Elfman's haunting score and you end up with a perfect little fairy tale that oozes charm.

I had this movie at #6 on my ballot for the original 90s countdown. I don't yet know if it'll maintain such a high rank, but there's no doubt that it'll still make the cut.


4.5


Edward Scissorhands is one of my favorite movies of both Tim Burton and Johnny Depp. I haven't watched it recently, but I'm planning to rewatch it soon and hoping that I still love it enough that it makes my list.

[Miss Vicky]

106108

The Sandlot
(David Mickey Evans, 1993)

A movie about a bunch of boys playing baseball in the 1960s should not be something that's up my alley, yet somehow this has always been one of my favorites. I really couldn't care less about baseball or any sport, as someone who was born the in 1980s I have no nostalgia for the 1960s, and I wasn't the kind of kid who got up to the sort of shenanigans the kids in the movie did so it's not even something I can relate to... but it's just so damn silly and ridiculous that I can't help but love it. It's also got it's share of heartfelt moments and I got choked up a time or two watching it again. I voted for it in the previous 90s countdown and it'll likely make my ballot this time as well.

4.0

[Miss Vicky]

106117

Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves
(Kevin Reynolds, 1991)

I had a whole review typed out and was almost ready to post it but then my needy ass cat walked all over the keyboard and deleted everything. So yeah, the short of it is: I give no shits about Kevin Costner's lack of an English accent, this movie is still fun as hell, Costner looks handsome, Christian Slater looks hot, Alan Rickman is awesome, the theme song still sucks, and my cat is an assh*le.

4.5

[honeykid]

I could've told you that last bit. All cats are. :D

[Miss Vicky]

106147

Noises Off
(Peter Bagdonovich, 1992)

Comedies in general are not really my thing. Sometimes they can work. If there's a good romance involved or some other kind of emotional glue holding it together or even if it's just so out there and bizarre that it can't help but be amusing, then it's got a chance at working for me. But slapstick? No. Just no. It's not for me and neither is this movie.

1.5

[Miss Vicky]

106177

Se7en
(David Fincher, 1995)

Although I've loved this movie for 30 years now, I don't think it's ever been a huge favorite of mine. It offers great performances, thick tension and atmosphere, and an interesting twist on its subject. It does a great job of everything that it tries to do, but it just doesn't have the kind of emotional punch or true uniqueness that would really elevate it for me. And so after tonight's viewing I'm left torn on whether to include it in my ballot. I think it absolutely deserves a place in the top 100 of the decade, but it definitely doesn't need my help getting there and I'm not yet convinced that it deserves a place in my personal top 25. So for now it remains a firm maybe.

4.0

[Miss Vicky]

106249

A Perfect World
(Clint Eastwood, 1993)

For whatever reason, movies about men who become father figures to children really resonate with me and this was one of the first such movies that I really fell in love with. That it stars Kevin Costner certainly doesn't hurt and in this he turns in what is perhaps my favorite performance of his career. He does a wonderful job of portraying the different facets of Butch's personality. And while the movie never lets you forget that he's a dangerous man, Costner turns on the charm and it's really easy root for him. Now I won't deny that the movie has some scenes that are a little ridiculous and it doesn't always take the unexpected path in its storytelling, but every time I watch it I'm just so damn emotionally invested that I really couldn't care less about any of that. There's definitely no doubt that I'll be voting for this movie and I think at this point I'm pretty set on which movies will make the cut, but damned if I know how I'm going to go about ranking them.

4.5

[Miss Vicky]

106353

Philadelphia
(Jonathon Demme, 1993)

I've always had a great deal of respect and love for this movie. It came out at a time when you just didn't really see serious portrayals of gay characters in mainstream film and certainly didn't expect Hollywood and its A List elite to produce something that so effectively touched on homophobia, the AIDS crisis, and the struggles its victims faced. Granted, compared to today's films, Philadelphia is a bit sanitized and chaste, but I think it still holds up well and it owes much of its strength to the amazing performances of both Tom Hanks and Denzel Washington. The supporting cast are all at least serviceable in their roles - with Antonio Banderas standing out as being particularly good as Hanks's partner - and I applaud the decision to cast so many extras who actually had AIDS.

The film is a really moving experience and I have little complaint about it. Actually the only thing that has ever bugged me about it is that I struggle to wrap my head around the fact that Andy slept with some fairly average looking rando in the porn theater when he had this at home:

106355

4.5

[Miss Vicky]

106393

What's Eating Gilbert Grape
Lasse Hallström, 1993)

Parentification. That's the answer to the question posed by this movie's title. It centers around Gilbert Grape, a young man saddled with the responsibility of caring and providing for his younger siblings, including his mentally disabled teenaged brother, and his shut in mother following the suicide of his father. Johnny Depp gives a very strong performance as Gilbert, showing us the quiet desperation that fills his life. Leonardo DiCaprio also gives an incredible - and Oscar nominated - performance as Arnie, Gilbert's disabled younger brother who is constantly getting into trouble. The supporting cast are also quite good, with Juliette Lewis playing a very sweet and sympathetic love interest (and ray of hope) to Depp's Gilbert, Darlene Cates showing the tragic humanity inside Gilbert's mother, Mary Steenburgen offers a glimpse of an equally desperate and trapped resident of Endor, and Crispin Glover and John C. Reilly as Gilbert's oddball friends.

I've always really liked the way this movie presents that feeling of isolation and quiet struggle. You see it in Depp's face. You see it when he lashes out or tries to run, only to return to his stifling obligations. You see it in the way he interacts with the people around him and you even see it reflected in the condition of the house he and his family share - its foundation sinking into the earth, the structure itself buckling under the immense weight of its burdens, barely holding together, ready to crumble at any moment. It's just a really solid and bittersweet drama that is no doubt among the best of its decade. I really make the countdown, but I'm really spoiled for choice so I don't yet know if it'll make my ballot.

4.0

[Miss Vicky]

106398

The Devil's Advocate
(Taylor Hackford, 1997)

When I was 15 years old, this was my favorite movie and it held that position until a certain Ridley Scott Roman epic came along. I was kind of a weird kid. Yet I couldn't tell you how long it's been since I last watched it and there was a lot about it that I didn't remember.

It is a lot of fun. With its trippy visuals, delicious scene-chewing and over the top performance from Al Pacino - who pokes a bit of fun at God and religion, strong performance from Charlize Theron, and surprisingly solid turn from Keanu Reeves, I was certainly never bored. I liked it a lot. However, I definitely no longer rank this as a personal favorite movie and I don't think it'll make the cut for my ballot.

4.0

[John W Constantine]

Free will. It is a bitch.

[Miss Vicky]

106404

Dances With Wolves
(Kevin Costner, 1990)

This might just be the only movie I have ever referred to as a "masterpiece" and I stand by that assessment. Everything about it is simply breathtaking, the story, the score, the performances, the landscape, the cinematography, everything. If I hadn't already known that this was a lock for my ballot, this rewatch would certainly have convinced me of it.

5.0

[Miss Vicky]

106433

School Ties
(Robert Mandel, 1992)

I've long been a fan of Brendan Fraser and I think this movie does a fine job of showcasing his talents as a dramatic actor. Here he plays a working class Jewish teen who attends a prestigious prep school in the 1950s and chooses to conceal his faith after encountering anti-semitism from his classmates. It also features a number of then up and coming actors like Ben Affleck, Chris O'Donnell, and Matt Damon - the film's main antagonist who does well as the uppity bigoted prick who falsely accuses Fraser's character of cheating.

As expected, the film deals with themes of fitting in, deceit, jealousy, bigotry, and classism. And while the actors do a fine job in their roles, the movie itself often crosses the line of being overly heavy handed in its messaging and a bit predictable in its outcome. Still, I think its positive aspects outweigh the negative and it is a solid watch overall, but I'm not sure it's good enough to get my vote.

4.0

[Miss Vicky]

106490

Face/Off
(John Woo, 1997)

Once again there is just nothing like a dumbass 90's action flick to bring the fun and John Woo's Face/Off is some S-tier shit. You've got Nicolas Cage cranking the Nicolas Cage to 11; you've got John Travolta channeling Nicolas Cage; you've got Nicolas Cage channelling John Travolta, and you've Nicolas Cage channelling John Travolta channelling Nicolas Cage. It's a Nicolas Cage-ception and I'm here for it.

4.0

[Miss Vicky]

106522

U Turn
(Oliver Stone, 1997)

I usually find movies about shitty people doing shitty things to each other to be really off-putting. However, these particular shitty people are just so over the top, weird, and amusing that I can't help but love them and love this movie for it. Even Billy Bob Thornton is great in this as the dumbest dumb hick in a town full of dumb hicks and I usually can't stand him. Sean Penn does unsurprisingly well playing a total prick, Jennifer Lopez brings a lot of heat to her role, John Voight is great as the homeless blind man spouting wisdom and begging for change, and - of course - best of all is Joaquin Phoenix as the short-fused and stupider than shit Toby N. Tucker (folks 'round there call him "TNT") who steals every scene he's in.

I'm not entirely sure yet whether this will make the cut, but the more movies I rewatch from this decade the more heavy my ballot is weighted with dumb but amusing shit like this and frankly I'm not mad at it.

4.0

[Miss Vicky]

106577

Interview With The Vampire
(Neil Jordan, 1994)

I'm not usually big on fantasy and I'm not usually big on horror, so horror fantasies are generally not my thing. But when the horror fantasy in question stars Brad Pitt, Antonio Banderas, and Christian Slater in their prime, is essentially a period piece, and features an impressive performance from Tom Cruise and heavy doses of melodrama and homoeroticism, I'm in.

4.0