|
Published: January 16, 2008 04:17 pm
MOVIES: Films of recent past merely eye candy
By Paul Lane/lanep@gnnewspaper.com
Greater Niagara Newspapers
During a discussion about movies in the newsroom last week, Tonawanda News reporter Phil Dzikiy went on an informative and entertaining diatribe about 1990s blockbusters.
From “Independence Day” to “Men in Black” and anything else from that era — most of which included Will Smith, even if that wasn’t a requirement for inclusion in this conversation — these films were corny, over-the-top and without a shred of believability, he said.
This got me thinking. I got first-day seats to “Independence Day,” “The Rock” and many of that era’s biggest films. I remember awaiting them with unrivaled teenage enthusiasm and enjoying them like each one was “Citizen Kane.”
You have to watch these movies again, Phil said, if for no other reason the unintentional comedic value they hold. After happening upon “Con Air” on cable this past weekend, that’s exactly what I did.
And the results could not have been better.
For those who do not remember, “Con Air” was the Nicolas Cage blow-em-up epic about a just-released prisoner who becomes a captive in a convict transport plane when the prisoners take it over. This film features a lot of stars — John Cusack, John Malkovich, Ving Rhames, Steve Buscemi and Dave Chappelle among them — and plenty of explosions, but not quite as much plot as I remember.
Like many of its peers, “Con Air” requires the viewer to pack away its common sense. If you find yourself asking, “Why would they transport all of the nation’s worst criminals on one plane with so few guards on board” or, “Why would they not shoot down a plane full of convicts in about 10 seconds,” you’re not ready.
When you are ready, though, what you’ll get is a solid two hours of, well, nothing that hasn’t already been said here. Things explode, none of the good guys get hurt and all ends well.
Film studios seemed more content in the 1990s to show off all the special effects they were newly able to create than to make a story worth savoring. They made money while advancing the graphic effects field, so all was not bad, but plots sometimes got caught in the blast radius.
When you think of great 1990s films, what comes to mind? Maybe “The Shawshank Redemption” or “Schindler’s List,” or perhaps “Silence of the Lambs.” But for every “American History X,” there seems to be 10 versions of “Batman and Robin,” films that were fun to look at but contained nothing redeeming.
Basically, the 1990s were all about creating a bunch of Jessica Simpsons.
As one would expect, “Con Air” soared at the box office ($101 million domestic gross). But upon further inspection, it was found that “Con Air” received two (TWO!) Academy Award nominations. Even if they were for sound and music, one is left wondering how this happened.
Was that a weak year for the competition?
Has my eye gained a jaded view since my adolescence?
Were our standards that low a decade ago?
The answer probably lies somewhere in between. In a year that included “Titanic,” “Air Force One” and “Tomorrow Never Dies,” “Con Air” didn’t even have enough firepower to crack the year’s top five earners and might have actually been one of the deeper creations.
Not surprisingly, meanwhile, is that I’d consider “Titanic” as the worst of the lot (even it won the best picture Oscar that year). While it featured plenty of destruction, “Titanic” failed to appeal to the college-age senses of myself and my peers that year, which cared more about fire than romance.
And that’s where I fall into the “good old days” mentality that, at 29 years old, I may be encountering for the first time. This is the same trap into which elders fall all the time (think of the people who still consider “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre” a scary film or wax poetic about The Monkees). But if that’s what works for a person, then let them have it.
So in that respect, as long as you keep an open mind about something you once loved, it’s a wise investment of your time to re-examine the films of last decade. Jut don’t revisit the past without planting your tongue firmly in your cheek and putting your expectations of finding your cinematic Rosebud aside.
Contact reporter Paul Laneat 693-1000, ext. 116,or lanep@gnnewspaper.com.
|
|
|
|
 |
Echo Tech
ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY TECHNICIAN, Full-time. Certification by ARDMS or registry eligible. Up to $7500 Sign On Bonus!; MEDICAL...>MORE
Activities Director
Activities Director FT AS Degree and /or or 3-5 yrs exp working in adult home. Send Resume To: Ransomville Manor at 35...>MORE
Nursing
NURSING. ElderWood Senior Care, "Care Without Compromise". We invite you to stop by and learn how you can become part of...>MORE
Certified Pharmacy Tech's & Certified Medication Tech's
Certified Pharmacy Tech’s & Certified Medication Tech’s Competitive wages. Call Lisa McKensie Ransomville Manor 79...>MORE
Nursing
NURSING. RN's. Up to $7500 Sign on Bonus. Thinking of a change? Consider Mount St. Mary's Hospital. Various positions av...>MORE
Assistant Director
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR Alumni Relations (ft) sought by the Alumni Relations Department of Niagara University, a private...>MORE
Instructors
Join Our Team! Would you like to work on a top performing team who is ranked 17th in the nation and have the opport...>MORE
Customer Service
Customer Service Immed. F/T position. Includes weekends. Must be customer oriented, computer ...>MORE
FLOOR ASSISTANT
Floor asst. needed for approx. 30-35 hrs/wk in a podiatry office, no exp. nec., will train, call between 12-2:30 pm for ...>MORE
COLLECTORS
Exp. collectors, high hrly., low cash goals, 20% overage, 500 4 hitting, Chuck @ 597-2538...>MORE
See all ads |
1996 Mazda L3000
MAZDA L3000 pick-up 1996, 6 cyl, runs good, new tires & battery, just inspect., $1500. 284-7529....>MORE
1991 Dodge Caravan
DODGE 1991 Caravan, exc body, runs great, full power, needs TLC. $1200 or BO. Call 754-4608....>MORE
Chevy 2007 Impala LT
CHEVY 2007 Impala LT 25,800 mi, ext. warranty Exc. Cond, $16,500 297-2199...>MORE
1995 Plymouth Neon
Plymouth ‘95 Neon, 4 cyl, auto, 4 dr, exc in & out, 1 owner, only 56k orig. mi, no rust. $2195. 523-7102 ...>MORE
Ford 1999 Ranger
FORD 1999 Ranger, 5 speed, 130K, fair condition, $2000 or best offer, 716-310-0531...>MORE
Pontiac 1999 Montana
PONTIAC 1999 Montana 57,000 original miles, full options, like new, $3300, 694-0441...>MORE
2000 Dodge Caravan
DODGE 2000 Caravan, V6, power everything, excellent body, runs great, $2195. Call 754-4608....>MORE
Ford 1995 Crown Victoria
Ford 1995 Crown Victoria 4 dr, loaded, new tires must see & drive $3500. red. 860-2854...>MORE
Ford Windstar 1998
FORD 1998 Windstar $1000 or best offer. 298-5220...>MORE
Mazda 1995 Millenia
Mazda 1995 Millenia loaded, leather, only 26k mi. exc. cond. $2995. Best Offer 531-3548 or 297-1526...>MORE
See all ads |
|
 |
|