The MoFos Top 100 of the 90s Countdown - Redux

Msg

Victim of The Night

2 days ago

I just re-watched Dances With Wolves for the first time in easily 20 years and I was surprised by two things:
1. It's a really good movie.
2. It's not a White Savior movie as everybody claims. The movie (and specifically the character) makes it very clear that he is the reason they come to ruin at that time although ruin was coming for them anyway. He makes friends with them and is accepted by them but he does not save them in any way shape or form and then the rest of the White people come and bring ruin upon them. He even goes so far as to say, to paraphrase since I don't remember the exact words, "I brought this on you, this is my fault."
So that narrative out in the ether, which I also believed and was primarily the reason I didn't watch it for 25 years, is nonsense.

Robert the List

Registered User

2 days ago

Leon was close to my ballot. Would probably have made it into a top 30.

pahaK

Registered User

2 days ago

L�on was my #3. I've seen it multiple times and think it's Besson's best. Great cast, emotional yet funny, stylish, controversial, what's not to love? Its place in my top 5 was pretty much guaranteed.

Ed Wood is yet another "should've rewatched, but didn't" type of deal. I've rewatched Braveheart years ago, and while OK, I don't remember it being top 25 caliber for me. And my attempt to rewatch Dances with Wolves a few years ago ended with me never finishing it.

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Seen: 33/66
02. Starship Troopers (1997)
03. L�on: The Professional (1994)
08. Cure (1997)
14. Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels (1998)
16. Interview with the Vampire (1994)

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SpelingError

AKA Popcorn Reviews

2 days ago

Originally Posted by Wooley

This was my impression of the film as well. While Costner clearly helps the Sioux out at various points of the film (like in their fight against the Pawnee), it's also fairly balanced with how it depicts the ways they help each other. The Sioux are clearly able to defend themselves just fine,

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considering how they save Costner from the U.S. Army in the final act. And then the film ultimately ends on a bleak note where it's revealed the Sioux would go on to lose the rest of their land.

Same with Lawence of Arabia, I just scratch my head whenever I see both films get criticized on these grounds since it's clearly not the case with either film at all.

In fact, I don't even mind the white savior trope as long as the group the white character is defending or supporting aren't shown to be dumb or incompetent, and I don't think Dances With Wolves succumbs to that pitfall at all.

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pahaK

Registered User

2 days ago

And the state of my ballot as I see it at the moment:

1. 90%
2. Starship Troopers (1997)
3. Leon: The Professional (1994)
4. 5%
5. 0%
6. 5%
7. 35%
8. Cure (1997)
9. 0%
10. 15%
11. 0%
12. 99%
13. 99%
14. Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels (1998)
15. 0%
16. Interview with the Vampire (1994)
17. 90%
18. 0%
19. 1%
20. 0%
21. 0%
22. 0%
23. 75%
24. 100%
25. 90%

Citizen Rules

Trouble with a capitial 'T'

2 days ago

Dances With Wolves (Kevin Costner, 1990)

Kevin Costner not only stars in this but directed and produced it too. You can tell this movie is a labor of love as there is so much packed into the movie, it's truly an epic, and yet it feels so personal.

One of the important aspects of film making is to give the audience a character they can relate to...someone who serves as a proxy as we experience the world of the movie through their character. And Costner is perfect for that, he's the everyday guy, someone who's fed up with the killing in the Civil War and just wants to escape the stupidity of it all. And he does escape it and ends up in the middle of nowhere, which to him is the most beautiful place on Earth.

I love the cinematography AND I respect the fact that Costner as the producer spent a quarter of million dollars on animatronic buffalo that were used in the hunt. No buffalo were killed during the film! Costner is not the type of person to do that and that fits with the theme of embracing nature as his character John Dunbar does.

I have to say the voice over narration was a thing of beauty. It gave me a sense of awe and longing that his character experienced.

My favorite interaction was between Costner and Graham Green as Kicking Bird. I've seen other movies that respect and show Native Americans as a proud people, but even better, we see that they are just people and that's even more important. I loved the way Kicking Bird interacted with his wife, he reminded me of myself...Kicking Bird was a well developed character, but so was many of the Sioux and that's very rewarding to see in a movie.

I think so highly of Dances With Wolves, that it was #1 on my ballot.

Citizen Rules

Trouble with a capitial 'T'

2 days ago

I have posted this before, my ballot

1. Dances with Wolves (1990)
2. What's Eating Gilbert Grape (1993)
3. ...
4. Starship Troopers (1997)
5. Raise the Red Lantern (1991)
6. ...
7. ...
8. ...
9. ...
10. Ed Wood (1994)
11. ...
12. ...
13. ...
14. ...
15. The Player (1992)
16. ...
17. ...
18. ...
19. ...
20. Apollo 13 (1995)
21. ...
22. ...
23. ...
24. ...
25. Mrs. Parker and the Vicious Circle (1994)

John-Connor

Registered User

2 days ago

Communication followed by mutual understanding is often the only way to end conflict in the world. John Dunbar and Kicking Bird show curiosity, eagerness and willingness to communicate and engage with another culture or species (A lone Wolf in this case). It takes courage and an adventurous spirit. From all the army men and multiple tribes, only two characters in the film displayed these traits, which is a pretty realistic ratio. Besides all that, there is of course the stunning cinematography, nature and landscapes. More than enough reason to secure a place for Dances with Wolves on my ballot. L�on was also very much in consideration, great film, top hundred 90s for sure.

Seen 59/66
Ballot 6/25

5. A Few Good Men (1992)
6. The Remains of the Day (1993)
7. Carlito�s Way (1993)
8. Dances with Wolves (1990)
12. Point Break (1991)
21. Home Alone (1990)

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stillmellow

Msg

Basic Non-B

2 days ago

I've never seen Dances with Wolves. I'm not into Kevin Costner. I really should check it out though.

Leon is number 20 on my list! The complex relationships, exciting action, great performances and exceedingly gritty atmosphere make this one of the all time greats. I also loved how it never takes the easy way out, especially in the emotional scenes. Life and feelings are messy, and cause problems. But within them we find meaning for our lives. "A"

Seen: 30/66
List: 7/25

stillmellow

Msg

Basic Non-B

2 days ago

Leon only has a 75% approval score on Rotten Tomatoes? What's wrong with 25% of people?!

Here's my list so far:

1. Nightmare Before Christmas, The
2. Toy Story 2
3. Beauty and the Beast

4. ?
5. ?
6. ?
7. ?
8. ?
9. ?
10. ?
11. ?
12. ?
13. ? (I was really hoping this would make it, but now seems doubtful)
14. ?
15. Perfect Blue
16. ? (Probably won't make it)
17. ?
18. ?
19. Interview with the Vampire
20. Leon
21. Lost Highway
22. ?
23. ?
24. ?
25. ? (Highly doubtful)

Omnizoa

Hullo

2 days ago

Originally Posted by LeBoyWondeur

L�on The Professional is a solid action thriller,

However, I made the cardinal mistake of watching Kick Ass first.

That is quite a comparison.

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Captain Quint

Registered User

1 day ago

I still love Leon, still holds up as film, It's Besson's best work on that level, and while I think the action is well choreographed it wouldn't have been on my 25 if that was all it had. What sets it apart for me is its heart, the story moved me, that closing scene (the Sting song was just perfect), these broken people and these messed up lives and yet I felt for them, even if one is an assassin giving lessons on how to do the job to a kid. And I think Reno's performance is key, there's an innocence to him, he's a simple, non-sexual being (and would probably be that way were she an adult) and that's the right way to play it - he was well cast and gave a top-notch performance, as did Portman. A nice contrast to Oldman who's chewing scenery like it was the yummiest thing ever.

I own it on disc and would easily rank it among my top 5 for the year (behind Three Colors: Red, for sure, but up there among my faves for '94)

Citizen Rules

Trouble with a capitial 'T'

1 day ago

L�on: The Professional (1994)

Very interesting and a very, very different type of movie! I thought young Natalie Portman did an amazing job of acting. I really liked her in V for Vendetta but had never seen her when she was a kid actor, and could she act up a storm!

Mathilda was a great character too. I really liked Jean Reno also, last time I seen him was in The Big Blue, I didn't like that movie but I thought he was pretty good in it and here he's even better.

On the other side of the fence, so to speak is the evil drug dealing cop who ordered Mathilda's family executed...and he's looking to finish the job! Gary Oldman plays the wildly, over the top cop with so much zest that you might just root for him, but don't!...as he's really really bad. But as an actor he's really really good!

L�on: The Professional was well made movie and looked great, even the soundtrack was very efficient. The subject matter is not generally what I would watch but I have to say the film makers did a fine job with the movie and it certainly has it's charms.

mrblond

Society researcher, last seen in Medici's Florence

1 day ago

36. Dances with Wolves (1990) :

This movie, together with Batman (1989) and Cocktail (1988), were the first VHS cassettes which landed at our home when my father bought a video player in the autumn of 1991. He became a huge admirer of the film while it took me several years to finally watch the whole big movie, after resigning many times because of boredom. After all, I liked it but never had a desire for rewatch and now I barely remember the main story.

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I_Wear_Pants

Pair of pants, shorts from France...

1 day ago

Originally Posted by mattiasflgrtll6

I started watching it years ago with some friends, but there wasn't enough mutual interest involved for us to finish it.

Ah okay. I can see that. Sorry my reply is late; I didn't see your message until now.

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I_Wear_Pants

Pair of pants, shorts from France...

1 day ago

I have too many movies out right now from the library, but I think I should give Dances With Wolves another watch. I watched it like 15 years ago and barely remember it, except being a tad disappointed. The problem is I can't remember why. It's not because I'm mad it beat Goodfellas for Best Picture, because I hate Goodfellas, so I'm not sure what it was. Maybe the length? Hm... I should give it another watch.

Leon is okay I suppose. I was never a big fan of it. Jean Reno and Natalie Portman and Gary Oldman did fine, as they usually do. Otherwise, the writing and other performances weren't my favorite. I don't remember it well either apart from not liking it much.

Addendum; I didn't think of this until now, but one thing I have a hard time doing now, and not when I watched Dances With Wolves, is not seeing Kevin Costner as Anderson Hatfield. He played that role so well that, in the handful of films I've seen with him since watching Hatfields & McCoys (not necessarily that came out after it), I can't help but picture Anderson Hatfield. I had that trouble with Aliens and Bill Paxton, too; he was naught like Randall McCoy in Aliens, so I kept forgetting it was him. And I will now forever link Costner and Paxton because of Hatfields & McCoys even though they are totally dissimilar.

Last edited by I_Wear_Pants; 1 day ago at 07:47 PM.

mrblond

Society researcher, last seen in Medici's Florence

1 day ago

35. L�on: The Professional (1994)

For some reason, I've missed this film when it came out. Although I've noticed its popularity, nothing made me search for it through all the years since. Couple of years ago, I bought the DVD at some clearance sale but it still stands untouched somewhere on the shelves.
Now, I've calculated the stats and... Wow! Out of the countdown so far, it is the second most popular movie world wide, behind Home Alone and above Good Will Hunting. These three are the only Diamond level films of the present list, in terms of popularity:

Home Alone (1990) I▷ 6.36M
L�on: The Professional (1994) I▷ 5.42M
Good Will Hunting (1997) I▷ 5.25M

△___ diamond level 5.00M+ ___△

American Beauty (1999) I▷ 4.35M
Toy Story 2 (1999) I▷ 3.97M
Trainspotting (1996) I▷ 3.35M
...

Let's see if other films of the coming reveals gonna be so popular...

LeBoyWondeur

Registered User

1 day ago

Originally Posted by John-Connor

Besides all that, there is of course the stunning cinematography, nature and landscapes.

I find the praise for beautiful nature and landscapes in film a bit overrated.
Of course it looks beautiful but it was already there, no effort was needed, unlike a set specifically designed and created for a movie.

I_Wear_Pants

Pair of pants, shorts from France...

1 day ago

I expect Goodfellas will show up somewhere in the Top 20 of this Countdown regardless of my negative opinion of it. My favorite movie from 1990 is Hunt for Red October, although I honestly don't expect to see it on this Countdown at this point. 34 seems too high.

Thief