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Duff McKagan recommended L.A.M.F. by Johnny Thunders / Johnny Thunders & The Heartbreakers in Music (curated)
Sean Baker recommended Bad Lieutenant (1992) in Movies (curated)
Cori June (3033 KP) rated Alanna: The First Adventure in Books
Jun 5, 2022
This middle grade series is one great. It's a fast engaging read. I first read it in the late 90s early 2000s not realizing that it was written in the 80s. If you're new to fantasy it's a good intro into the genre. None of the themes run too deeply but at an age where life is starting to get complicated I appreciated that, and it made me think about a lot of different and deep things.
It holds up. I still enjoyed this book as an adult having just finished before writing this review. There are better grow with you books that I've read (even by this author, her skills keep getting better) , but sometimes you want an easy read. Highly recommend.
It holds up. I still enjoyed this book as an adult having just finished before writing this review. There are better grow with you books that I've read (even by this author, her skills keep getting better) , but sometimes you want an easy read. Highly recommend.
David McK (3562 KP) rated Star Wars X-Wing: The Bacta War in Books
Feb 22, 2025
This is the book 4 in the 'original' (as in, Rogue Squadron, not Wraith Squadron) mid-90s series of Star Wars novels, following on from the earlier novels [book:Rogue Squadron|513176], [book:Wedge's Gamble|513198] and [book:The Krytos Trap|513200].
Here' we're still following the exploits - mainly - of Corran Horn and his fellow X-Wing pilots, as they resign from The New Republic (at the end of the previous novel) in order to launch an all-out war on the Imperial dictator Ysanne Isard, who has now taken control of the planet Thyferra where the miracle healing agent Bacta originates from.
So, Top Gun in space, basically.
I still find these more enjoyable than the newer, post-Disney acquisition, novels such as [book:Alphabet Squadron|42207529]
Here' we're still following the exploits - mainly - of Corran Horn and his fellow X-Wing pilots, as they resign from The New Republic (at the end of the previous novel) in order to launch an all-out war on the Imperial dictator Ysanne Isard, who has now taken control of the planet Thyferra where the miracle healing agent Bacta originates from.
So, Top Gun in space, basically.
I still find these more enjoyable than the newer, post-Disney acquisition, novels such as [book:Alphabet Squadron|42207529]
Gareth von Kallenbach (980 KP) rated Mid90s (2018) in Movies
Jul 2, 2019
It doesn’t take much to remember that Jonah Hill (writer and director) had already acted in one of the greatest coming-of-age movies at the age of 24. A cursory glance at Superbad shows it to be a hilarious and quotable movie. But a deeper look at the film reveals the true story. Two high school friends (Hill and Michael Cera) who realize they are drifting apart because of incoming adulthood and that they are powerless to stop it. Keeping that in mind, Hill was quoted during the production of Mid 90s as saying that coming-of-age films are cliché and what he really wanted was to make a skateboarding movie that avoided the 80s “cowabunga” tropes. The result of that focus is Mid 90s.
Sunny Suljic plays 13-year-old Stevie, a quiet and often confused boy looking to escape his bleak and abusive home life by connecting with a group of local skater kids. While Suljic absolutely steals the show with his superb acting, his (mostly no name) costars deserve massive kudos for this endeavor as well. Lucas Hedges (Manchester by the Sea, Three Billboards outside of Ebbing Missouri) plays Stevie’s abusive older brother Ian. Though he is quickly established in the opening shot as the antagonist, his character arc throughout the film is one of the greatest and you find yourself soon empathetic to his plight nearly as much as Stevie’s. The skater gang is comprised of Ray (Na-kel Smith), Fuckshit (Olan Prenatt), 4th Grade (Ryder McLaughlin) and Ruben (Gio Galicia). These four seem apathetically content to take Stevie under their wing after he begins hanging out at their skate shop. During this time they expose Stevie to a world of drinking, smoking, drugs and sex as well as a complex set of personalities that Stevie struggles to understand but tries desperately to emulate. This reverence begins to lead him down a path that worry not only his mother and brother, but also occasionally members of his new social group. The actors playing his newfound friends all bring a beautiful authenticity to their roles. They certainly aren’t playing “themselves”, but their personalities don’t feel concocted or forced.
The original score for the film was done by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross as well as a selection of 1990s Hip Hop. And while the original music by Reznor and Ross accents the film perfectly, the 90s throwback songs struggle to do more than remind the viewer of the period and provide the sporadic nostalgia kick. In fact, most of the 90s nostalgia does little to add to the film. Thus, while the opportunity was there to give us a solid examination and social commentary on 1990s culture, Hill seems to fall short of that concept and instead uses the references as a gimmick to tie in smaller plot points.
In addition to the music, there are a few other elements that add to the hipster vintage nature of the film. It was shot entirely on 16mm and is presented in square 1:1 ratio. While this is certainly an unusual choice as more movies are shifted to wide screen formats and square televisions are no longer produced, it pushes the film closer towards the verité genre that is necessary to keep it within the indie style guide.
Mid 90s, along with Eighth Grade have positioned A24 studios in a fantastic place. They’ve demonstrated their willingness to get behind first time writer/directors and the results have been impressive to say the least. If they can remain on this type of pace I could see how the Academy would take notice come awards season.
So despite his view that they are cliché, Jonah Hill has once again created a poignant and powerful coming-of-age movie and he’s managed to wrap it into just enough skateboarding reality to give us the love letter he was hoping to produce. The film is not without its faults, but it’s not one you should miss.
Sunny Suljic plays 13-year-old Stevie, a quiet and often confused boy looking to escape his bleak and abusive home life by connecting with a group of local skater kids. While Suljic absolutely steals the show with his superb acting, his (mostly no name) costars deserve massive kudos for this endeavor as well. Lucas Hedges (Manchester by the Sea, Three Billboards outside of Ebbing Missouri) plays Stevie’s abusive older brother Ian. Though he is quickly established in the opening shot as the antagonist, his character arc throughout the film is one of the greatest and you find yourself soon empathetic to his plight nearly as much as Stevie’s. The skater gang is comprised of Ray (Na-kel Smith), Fuckshit (Olan Prenatt), 4th Grade (Ryder McLaughlin) and Ruben (Gio Galicia). These four seem apathetically content to take Stevie under their wing after he begins hanging out at their skate shop. During this time they expose Stevie to a world of drinking, smoking, drugs and sex as well as a complex set of personalities that Stevie struggles to understand but tries desperately to emulate. This reverence begins to lead him down a path that worry not only his mother and brother, but also occasionally members of his new social group. The actors playing his newfound friends all bring a beautiful authenticity to their roles. They certainly aren’t playing “themselves”, but their personalities don’t feel concocted or forced.
The original score for the film was done by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross as well as a selection of 1990s Hip Hop. And while the original music by Reznor and Ross accents the film perfectly, the 90s throwback songs struggle to do more than remind the viewer of the period and provide the sporadic nostalgia kick. In fact, most of the 90s nostalgia does little to add to the film. Thus, while the opportunity was there to give us a solid examination and social commentary on 1990s culture, Hill seems to fall short of that concept and instead uses the references as a gimmick to tie in smaller plot points.
In addition to the music, there are a few other elements that add to the hipster vintage nature of the film. It was shot entirely on 16mm and is presented in square 1:1 ratio. While this is certainly an unusual choice as more movies are shifted to wide screen formats and square televisions are no longer produced, it pushes the film closer towards the verité genre that is necessary to keep it within the indie style guide.
Mid 90s, along with Eighth Grade have positioned A24 studios in a fantastic place. They’ve demonstrated their willingness to get behind first time writer/directors and the results have been impressive to say the least. If they can remain on this type of pace I could see how the Academy would take notice come awards season.
So despite his view that they are cliché, Jonah Hill has once again created a poignant and powerful coming-of-age movie and he’s managed to wrap it into just enough skateboarding reality to give us the love letter he was hoping to produce. The film is not without its faults, but it’s not one you should miss.
Lee Ronaldo recommended Slanted and Enchanted by Pavement in Music (curated)
Shaun Collins (3 KP) rated Weapon X: Days Of Future Now in Books
Jan 12, 2018
Recommended to me by a friend, and sadly, I don't feel like I can review this fairly. While the book itself is solid X-Men stuff and good art abounds, it's very much a coda in the Weapon X saga. A wrap up to a VERY long, VERY involved story arc... of which I have no knowledge or information. I come to the Xverse from the 90s cartoon, the movies and a handful of TPB stories like Age of Apocalypse and God Loves, Man Kills. I just don't have a frame of reference to go on with this story. I'm sure some of the events (and deaths) are meant to be epic OMG moments, but I wasn't there for all the set up, so they were left empty.
Alison Pink (7 KP) rated Unbroken in Books
Jan 15, 2018
Louie Zamperini is an amazingly inspiring human being. Unbroken tells the story of his life from his family's move to California due to a bout of pneumonia to his life into his 90s. He went through hell and fought his way back. He went from the deepest, darkest depths of human suffering and emotion to putting himself in a position to help other "lost boys."
This book was a tough read. It is hard to imagine that what Louie lived through is even possible, let alone that people really did experience it and lived to tell the tale... and it is a truly amazing tale. I found myself smiling, horrified, laughing, and with tears streaming down my face through the course of this book. It was a wild ride and well worth the read!
This book was a tough read. It is hard to imagine that what Louie lived through is even possible, let alone that people really did experience it and lived to tell the tale... and it is a truly amazing tale. I found myself smiling, horrified, laughing, and with tears streaming down my face through the course of this book. It was a wild ride and well worth the read!
Erika (17789 KP) rated Ready Player One in Books
May 7, 2018
So, I saw the movie before I read this. After I read through the second chapter, I decided to evaluate it completely separate from the movie.
The nostalgia was high in this, it was a 80s/90s fest. I liked it, because that's my jam, but I can see why some people saw it as forced. The writing wasn't anything to write home about (pun unintended), and I know why Ernie changed some things around for his screenplay of the novel. Some of the scenes would have been really boring to watch.
My one issue with the differences between the book and movie... Seriously, you cast Simon Pegg, then don't use him as much as the book? Lame.
Anyway, I liked the book, and I'm strongly considering reading Armada now.
The nostalgia was high in this, it was a 80s/90s fest. I liked it, because that's my jam, but I can see why some people saw it as forced. The writing wasn't anything to write home about (pun unintended), and I know why Ernie changed some things around for his screenplay of the novel. Some of the scenes would have been really boring to watch.
My one issue with the differences between the book and movie... Seriously, you cast Simon Pegg, then don't use him as much as the book? Lame.
Anyway, I liked the book, and I'm strongly considering reading Armada now.
Hutch (9 KP) rated True Romance (1993) in Movies
Jun 18, 2019
Who said Romamce was dead?
Tarantino really burst onto the scene in unforgettable fashion in the early 90s and sandwiched between Reservoir Dogs and Pulp Fiction is this often overlooked Tarantino penned gem.
Full of the witty dialogue, odd ball characters and great music that we've all come to expect from Tarantino, all bought to life by a stunning supporting cast.
I've always thought Christian Slater has been under rated and he proves my point here. Playing Clarence with so much charm and swagger that you can't help rooting for him and Alabama right from the start.
And the scene with Dennis Hopper and Christopher Walken is so well written and played out that its gotta rank right up there with the best of Tarantino.
Full of the witty dialogue, odd ball characters and great music that we've all come to expect from Tarantino, all bought to life by a stunning supporting cast.
I've always thought Christian Slater has been under rated and he proves my point here. Playing Clarence with so much charm and swagger that you can't help rooting for him and Alabama right from the start.
And the scene with Dennis Hopper and Christopher Walken is so well written and played out that its gotta rank right up there with the best of Tarantino.