The MoFo 1990s Countdown pt II - Preliminary Thread

Oh, and as a Godzilla fiend, I'll champion the king.

The 90s covered the Heisei era, with the Millenium era of films beginning in 1999 - the best of this group is Godzilla vs. Destoroyah (1995) - I ask all Godzilla fans to unite, join me!

Maybe this is all in vain, but to paraphrase JFK, "We choose to go to with Godzilla. We choose to with Godzilla in this decade and do the other things not because they are easy, but because the quest to see a giant radioactive lizard make the top 100 is hard... and cool."

Vote Godzilla!

More 90s Comedy recs:

Groundhog Day 1993
Home Alone 1990
The Player 1992
Tremors 1990
Night on Earth 1991
Smoke 1995
Detroit Rock City 1999
A Summer’s Tale 1996
The Postman 1994
Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas 1998
There’s Something About Mary 1998
Fargo 1996
Out of Sight 1998
Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels 1998
Nothing to Lose 1997
The Hudsucker Proxy 1994
Forrest Gump 1994
That Thing You Do! 1996
To Die For 1995
My Cousin Vinny 1992
Wag the Dog 1997
Three Kings 1999
Wayne’s World 1992
Dumb and Dumber 1994
Home Alone 2: Lost in New York 1992
Matilda 1996
Jerry Maguire 1996
Back to the Future Part III 1990
Clerks 1994
Galaxy Quest 1999
Rush Hour 1998
Bill & Ted’s Bogus Journey 1991
Bottle Rocket 1996
Grosse Pointe Blank 1997
The Big Lebowski 1998
Hot Shots! 1991
Buffalo ’66 1998
Gremlins 2: The New Batch 1990
Bad Boys 1995
As Good as It Gets 1997
Shakespeare in Love 1998
Friday 1995
Space Jam 1996
The Truman Show 1998
Bowfinger 1999
Life 1999
The Wedding Singer 1998
Arachnophobia 1990
Blast from the Past 1999
A League of Their Own 1992
It Could Happen to You 1994
Robin Hood: Men in Tights 1993
Barton Fink 1991
Last Action Hero 1993
Showdown in Little Tokyo 1991
Dazed and Confused 1993
Only You 1994
Gridlock’d 1997
Happy Gilmore 1996
Suicide Kings 1997
City Slickers 1991
Liar Liar 1997
10 Things I Hate About You 1999

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Letterboxd
Entertainment log

Looking forward to this. The 90s was the transitional decade for me from being a more casual, just-for-fun film watcher to a more serious and curious film fan. It's also the decade where I've seen most films from, according to Letterboxd. There are a ton of films I haven't revisited in a long time that I might try to revisit, but I will try to share bunches of recommendations while this thread is up.

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Let's start with some 1990 ponderings and recommendations!

Joe Versus the Volcano - I know this was initially dismissed for its odd direction and story, but I really dug its surreal vibe. To this day, I still haven't seen Sleepless in Seattle, but as far as Hanks/Ryan pairings go, this one is easily above You've Got Mail for me.

The Godfather, Part III - I know it's hard to do so, but people need to look at this film solely as the sequel to two of the best films ever made. Despite some flaws, this one is a pretty good film, with some excellent moments, and I'd say a fitting conclusion to the Corleone Saga.

Die Hard 2 - Not as smart or efficient as the first one, but still a pretty good sequel and the second best from the franchise; I'll die on that hill.

Tremors - Recently revisited this one and was surprised by how well it held up. Not a "demanding" watch, but this is an infinitely fun and well executed creature feature.

Internal Affairs - This is one that I will likely try to revisit. Haven't seen it in decades, but I remember it being a pretty good crime thriller with some neat twists.

Jacob's Ladder - Another one I haven't revisited in a long time, but I do remember it being pretty solid with a twist that caught me off guard.

Awakenings - Yet another one that's due for a rewatch, but I do remember this one delivering two great performances from Robin Williams and Robert De Niro.

The Hunt for Red October - Again, another one I've been meaning to rewatch, but I do remember it being pretty good.

The Grifters - This one will most likely make my list. Who knows, but it's probably my favorite 1990 film and it saddens me how little people mention it. It's well written, perfectly acted, and with a kicker of an ending.

Miller's Crossing - I've seen pretty much all of the Coen films (except for The Ladykillers), but this one and Barton Fink are the ones I haven't seen in the most time. It's been too long, but I do remember enjoying it. Another one I will most definitely revisit.

Misery - Overdue for a rewatch as well, but I do remember Kathy Bates delivering a great performance, plus some thrilling moments.

I'm not saying that these will make my list, but I'd say they're all worth considering.

I second all of these, good recommendations. And since you mentioned The Hunt for Red October.. I'll add one of Supermans all time favorite films; Crimson Tide 1995

Yeah, interestingly enough, that's another submarine film I need to revisit.

Some more gems from 1990 that are worth exploring:

Gremlins 2
Jacob's Ladder
Nightbreed (director's cut)
Paris is Burning
Pump Up the Volume
Slacker
The Exorcist III
The Match Factory Girl
The Witches

It's an odd year. Not quite the '80s and not quite the '90s. Can you say that about any year to kick off a decade? Probably, but it's hard to associate the year with any trend in music, film, etc. from either its decade or its preceding one. I've heard the year described as a "waiting room," which fits.

Misery (1990) is one of 30-35 masterpieces that will compete for my ballot.
Hope this movie is going to accumulate enough voters because it is a must for the 90's top 100.

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"Population don't imitate art, population imitate bad television." W.A.
"You can't depend on your eyes when your imagination is out of focus." M.T.

i second Paris Is Burning big time. would also throw out The Garden and Darkman

Darkman is a must.

Some lesser known films from the 90s I would recommend:

Alma's Rainbow (1994)
Angela (1995)
The Cat (1991)
Go Fish (1994)
Hide and Seek (1996)
The Juniper Tree (1990)
Lisa (1990)
The Long Day Closes (1992)
The Mirror (1997)
Set Me Free (1999)
Two Orphan Vampires (1997)
The Watermelon Woman (1996)
When Pigs Fly (1993)

List Submitted

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Survive the Night: My Favorite Horror Movies Thread
https://www.movieforums.com/communit...ad.php?t=71450

I like Part Deux best but Redux is all right in my books. After all you are the Captain, Captain.

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"Don't be so gloomy. After all it's not that awful. Like the fella says, in Italy for 30 years under the Borgias they had warfare, terror, murder, and bloodshed, but they produced Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, and the Renaissance. In Switzerland they had brotherly love - they had 500 years of democracy and peace, and what did that produce? The cuckoo clock."

Or we could call it The Mofo 90s Countdown with a Vengeance.





I feel Die Hard with a Vengeance may be the most 90s movie of all time. Change my mind.

Citizen asked me if I would host the 90s Group Watch, so I'll think of a movie and post a thread soon.

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Let's continue now with some 1991 ponderings and recommendations!

The Rocketeer - The more I see this, the more I fall in love with it. It's just perfect adventure/comic book/superhero. So much fun.

One False Move - It came up during the neo-noir countdown. Smartly written and well acted by Bill Paxton and Billy Bob Thornton.

The Lovers on the Bridge - Such a nice mixture of charm and tragedy. I love to see how this relationship evolves and grows.

Shattered - I think this one came up in the neo-noir countdown as well, at least in conversations. Haven't seen it in a long time, but I do remember the twist. Will probably revisit it.

Toy Soldiers - Used to be a big fan of this one when I was a teen. I think it still holds up.

Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves - Yet another one I remember being a big fan when I was a teen, but haven't seen in ages. Been meaning to revisit for a while. I do remember Alan Rickman and Michael Wincott to be great as the bad guys.

Fried Green Tomatoes - Yet another one that's due for a rewatch, but I do remember enjoying this story about friendship.

The Double Life of Veronique - Make sure you check out this one. It has a strong chance of making my list. Profound, tragic, uplifting, all in the same package.

Cape Fear - Been meaning to revisit this cause I don't think I've seen it since theaters. I do remember it made an impression.

Barton Fink - Like I said with Miller's Crossing yesterday, both films are the Coen films I haven't seen in the most time. I remember enjoying this in an odd way, but I think most of its subtext went way over my head at 19-20.

Like yesterday, I'm not saying that these will make my list, but they're all films that stuck with me for one reason or another.

Once again I have to co-sign a couple of these great recommendations. The first two were on my Noir ballot. And since you mentioned Billy Bob I'll add Sling Blade (1996).
Haven't seen Robin Hood since '91 so I'm not 100% on that one.

More 1991 favorites:

A Scene at the Sea (a silent, inspirational surfing drama)
Dead Again (Kenneth Branagh's best work if you ask me)
Europa (one of Von Trier's best)
Hearts of Darkness: A Filmmaker's Apocalypse (I think it's the only documentary I've re-watched)
Homicide (David Mamet's superb faith-wrestling police procedural)
Little Man Tate (it ain't easy being a child prodigy)
Point Break ("Vaya con Dios!")
Prospero's Books (Peter Greenaway's experimental The Tempest adaptation. Nudity abounds, so be warned)
Riki-Oh: The Story of Ricky (more than just the source of the famous head-smashing GIF)
The Commitments (it was my favorite movie for many years)

I'll second this. Heck of a feature debut, and for people here on world tours, it would be a good choice for Macedonia - and one to think about checking out for those going through the 90s.

It's part of the Criterion Collection, and is also playing on their channel

Here's its page for the disc if you want to see what they say there... https://www.criterion.com/films/858-before-the-rain